The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
Senior Maariyah Arif appreciates Dress to Impress for its various styles — from lace to gingham — and its costumes. “I've been playing Roblox for years, and Dress to Impress just started going viral,” Arif said. “I think it's cool to see all the different costumes.”

Glitz and Glamor: Dress to Impress Dazzles Portola High Players

Marianne Chan and Moer Koey | September 27, 2024

One of the online gaming platform Roblox's most popular pageantry games, “Dress to Impress,” has seen a sharp spike in popularity among Portola High students this year. Students across every grade...

Senior Landon Durazo speaks with campus control staff member George Mares during lunch in the parking lot. “Some students get mad at the security guards because they don’t realize it is their job to tell students to get back to class,” Durazo said. “It gets good once you get to know them because they are interesting, and they are interested in stuff I am interested in.”

Safety First: Meet the Campus Control Staff

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | September 26, 2024

All students have seen them on campus, but getting to know them is a different story. Campus control spends countless hours making sure the students are safe. Not only do they patrol the campus, they ensure...

Quarterback and sophomore Alondra Hernandez speaks with coach Desmond Hamilton during halftime about her throwing technique. According to head coach Julie Primero, the team has been working towards refining their strategies for the game.

Flag Football Fights Hard but Falls Short Against Sage Hill High

Dania Yamani and Senna Kahf | September 26, 2024

Flag football (2-9) lost 7-26 in a home game against Sage Hill High on Sept. 13. The team hopes to put their best effort into the practices leading up to their next home game against Woodbridge High...

The new phone guidelines spark engagement in various class settings since students are no longer allowed to use their cell phones and must devote their attention to learning instead. “My [advisement] students are more engaged in whatever's happening,” Principal John Pehrson said. “[By] having the cell phones put aside, now they can just naturally get their heads up and interact with people around them.”

New Phone Practice ‘Disconnects’ Students From Their Phones to ‘Connect’ Them to Class

Nicole Lu and Kayley Winata | September 25, 2024

As the school year begins, an evident change has been implemented in many classrooms: the bond students have with their phones has been broken by phone jails, pockets or baskets. High school students...

The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, which ended a 16-year-long Olympic medal drought, according to NPR. “Since it became kind of popular over the course of the Olympics, more boy gymnasts kind of see themselves represented in a very highly televised event, where usually it doesn't happen,” former gymnast and senior Hutchison said. “A lot of the promotion for gymnastics is focused on female gymnasts instead of male gymnasts, so it trending over time is really helpful.”

Defying Gravity and Expectations, Men’s Representation in Gymnastics Soars to New Heights

Mia Jong and Dania Yamani | September 24, 2024

They soar, they flip and they twist. In a blur of motion and muscle, the electrifying performances of Stephen Nedoroscik, Shinnosuke Oka and Fred Richard at the 2024 Olympics are not only showcasing incredible...

Formula One club founder and junior Keerthana Pillai recaps F1 competitions and their drivers to club members to open up discussions about them amongst one another. “We’re just like reading and yapping about different things,” Pillai said. “I think that's really nice because there aren't as many F1 fans as there are basketball fans or NFL fans, so it's nice to have a space specifically for that sport where we can talk about it with other people who are interested in it.”

The F1 Club is Off to a ‘Roaring’ Start

Nora Aljazzar and Stephanie Hwang | September 24, 2024

As the popularity of Formula One racing has surged in the last couple of years, Portola High has witnessed a growing enthusiasm for the sport among its student body. In 2023, club founder and junior Keerthana...

Assistant Principal Brandon Emery discusses how the new school year is progressing with sophomore Tiran Ng and freshman Arshdeep Makar, an integral task that ensures smooth and productive days for the rapidly growing student population. “I think Portola is definitely striving to find its identity in the district,” Emery said. “Being the most populated school on campus in the district, it's emerging as a forefront — like a school that’s testing new ideas and serving as a model for new schools in the district,” Emery said.

New Assistant Principals Steven Chai and Brandon Emery Brew Up a New Campus Culture

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | September 23, 2024

As the school year kicks off, students are not the only ones settling into fresh routines — two new assistant principals have arrived, ready to make their mark. Both with ample experience in K-12...

NAMI Co-Presidents and juniors Such Yang and Chloe Shin work diligently on the 600s staircase to finalize their plans for the first NAMI club meeting on Thursday, Sept. 6.

NAMI Club: The Newest Wellness Haven on Campus

Alice Ahn and Sophia Kim | September 20, 2024

As the school year gains momentum following a refreshing summer break, high school students with demanding academic and extracurricular schedules are likely to experience waves of stress and lose motivation.  Regardless...

Dance 4 member and junior Ria Peregrin performs a solo part alongside period six Dance 3 and Dance 4 students to “Omigod You Guys,” an energetic jazz piece inspired by the dance from the film "Legally Blonde” at the inaugural Broadway Night on Sept. 13 in the theater. Broadway Night consisted of all performing groups on campus each showcasing their work from the last couple weeks in hopes to get more excitement for the upcoming performances during the school year, according to choir director Adrian Rangel-Sanchez.

Portola High’s First Broadway Night is a ‘Curtain Call’ for Success

Nina Krish and Zoha Syed | September 20, 2024

   

Portables on campus have varying levels of quality control — although some teachers have reported little issues, other teachers such as business teacher Katherine Dillon have had to deal with issues such as malfunctioning ACs. “My air conditioning wasn't working for the first two or three weeks, and it was reaching temperatures in the classroom of 87 degrees when we had students in the classroom,” Dillon said. “I had to go teach in the Learning Commons two times when it got unbearable.”

The Pitfalls of the Portables: Maintain Better Quality Control for Portables

Sonia Wang and Senna Kahf | September 19, 2024

Ever since the start of the 2023-24 school year, students have had classrooms outside of the main buildings: the portables. Placed on the blacktop where outdoor sport courts formerly resided, the portables...

Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump at the second presidential debate. As the election nears its final stretch, both Harris and Trump are busy proving to voters that they are prepared to steer the country away from crisis. “I would like someone that has an actual plan,” AP Economics teacher James Ferrel said. “But I also want an element of humbleness to understand that their plan may not be perfect, and they may adjust as needed. Effective leadership requires them to make those difficult decisions.”

Harris vs. Trump: The 2024 Presidential Debate

Claire Liu and Sky Nguyen | September 17, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump participated in a 90-minute debate hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. Reaching an estimated 67 million Americans, the debate took place in the...

South Korean band Wave to Earth’s third album, “play with earth! 0.03,” explores themes of self-fulfillment, love, heartbreak and identity that often intertwine in unexpected ways — from apocalyptic symbolism to languid moments under the sun.

Wave to Earth ‘Plays’ with Sound in Latest Album Release

Marianne Chan and Nicole Lu | September 16, 2024

Up-and-coming South Korean indie rock band Wave to Earth dropped their new album, “play with earth! 0.03,” on Sept. 6. The album is composed of seven songs, including a spacey remaster of their previous...

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