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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

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks on the platform of Medicare for All, which raises taxes for middle and upper-class, but brings the overall costs of affording healthcare down.

Democrats Attempt to Reach Common Ground

Junhee Ryu, Business Team | January 14, 2020

The seventh Democratic debate, hosted by CNN and The Des Moines Register, will take place on Jan. 14 at Drake University, where six candidates (Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders,...

During break, students can often find music directors Desmond Stevens and Kyle Traska conversing in the music room about topics ranging from instrumental compositions to the many ways that one can decorate a water bottle.

Instrumental Music Teachers Work Together in Perfect Harmony

Charlotte Cao, Social Media & Marketing Team | January 13, 2020

Sounds of melodic arrangements and the cacophonic dissonance of instruments tuning is suddenly interrupted, as a room full of music students erupt into a peal of laughter, their faces lively as they watch...

Setting New Year’s Resolutions is a common tradition seen all over the world, and encourages people to improve their lifestyles or achieve certain goals in the upcoming year.

New Year, New Me: Who’s on Track to keep their New Year’s resolutions?

Jaein Kim, Staff Writer | January 10, 2020

As many as 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, reflecting on the past and making new efforts to improve themselves, according to ProactiveMindfulness.com. Common resolutions include saving...

Protesters in front of the White House rally against the internment of Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang Province. According to CNN, up to a million Muslims are being detained in China’s internment camps.

China Calls Muslim Detention Camps ‘Humane’ Among International Outrage

Minnah Tanzeen, Staff Writer | January 9, 2020

On Jan. 8, a United States government commission led an effort to convince the Trump administration to put sanctions on China due to the country’s human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, according...

Writing down and creating a plan for your resolutions makes it 42% more likely that you will accomplish them, according to Forbes Coaches Council.

A New Year Needs New Resolutions, Not Recycled Ones

Manan Mendiratta, Sports Editor | January 8, 2020

As the year comes to a close, it is a tradition for many to set goals or create New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year in hope of bettering themselves. However, setting these goals with no...

“Especially growing up with a little brother and my dad, since I wasn’t allowed to paint my nails or wear makeup, I tried to take on a more ‘tomboy’ approach,” Siribandan said. “If I pretended that I wasn’t interested in doing things that considered girly, I wouldn’t be as hurt that I wasn’t able to do them. But because I put myself in that whole mindset, it was harder for me to embrace the things that I wanted to do, even after I was allowed to do them.” 
After cutting 17 inches off her hair, Siribandan hopes to influence younger girls at her church to not let others’ opinions hold them back, especially when embracing femininity.

Junior Makes a Cut Above the Rest

Tiffany Wu, Staff Writer | January 6, 2020

Eight-year-old Kaelene Siribandan is at a sleepover with a dozen other little girls. The acrid smell of cheap nail polish hangs in the air, stolen from a mother’s cabinet, and various palettes boasting...

While other individual teachers may be blocking access to students’ grades over the break, this is the first time the entire social studies department will be testing this new procedure.

Social Studies Department Blocks Out Grades Over Winter Break

Manan Mendiratta and Annie Qiao | December 20, 2019

Over winter break, the entire social studies department will be blacking out grades on Aeries in an attempt to decrease grade-related stress and prepare students for college, where students are also blocked...

Social Studies teacher Daniel Hunter extends his appreciation for American history by learning about colonial period recipes and trying them out.

Cooking in the 1700s with Daniel Hunter

Simrat Singh and Erin Choi | December 20, 2019

Several students in his classes profess that Social Studies Teacher Daniel Hunter has an interesting practice of watching “Medieval cooking videos.”Upon further investigation, we discovered he enjoys...

Adrian Rangel-Sanchez’s classroom has a tree lit with lights and red-color-schemed collection of ornaments based off his affection for lights and decorations that was developed early-on in his childhood. The decorations are something he does every year after Thanksgiving break to encourage students to get into the holiday cheer.

Teachers Wrap Their Classrooms in Festivity

Bia Shok and Shawyan Rooein | December 19, 2019

Ranging from colorful Christmas lights in math teacher Shelley Godett’s room to spiffy Christmas trees in the music rooms, many teachers decorate their teaching environments for the soon-approaching...

73 Questions with Michael Tang

Jaein Kim, Staff Writer | December 19, 2019

Get to know the ins and outs of science teacher Michael Tang: a passionate teacher, loyal father, and avid film enthusiast/filmmaker. These 73 questions catch a glimpse of Tang’s opinions on movies,...

A Mac Pro with its case removed shows the internals. From top to bottom, there is the CPU heat sink, Afterburner card, two GPU units and power supply.

Redesigned Mac Pro is ‘Grate’

William Hsieh | December 19, 2019

Apple unveiled the long-awaited Mac Pro on Dec. 10; the computer model received its first refresh since 2013. The Pro Display XDR was also released along with the Mac Pro. The 2019 Mac Pro features...

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