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
The Australian megafires as seen by the Himawari 8, a Japanese weather satellite show the overhead conditions of the continent. Smoke from the fires in Australia has reduced air quality, forcing citizens to evacuate, and has reached as far as Chile, according to NPR.

1.25 Billion Animals Killed as Australia’s Megafires Continue

Minnah Tanzeen and Krisha Konchadi | January 21, 2020

Following a lengthy dry spell in Australia, a megafire has destroyed 6.3 million hectares of land as of Jan. 10. The 135 bushfires that have been raging since September across New South Wales and Victoria...

Teachers will be using interdisciplinary projects throughout the remainder of the school year to break barriers between different subjects. Through these collaborations, teachers hope that students will become more aware of interdisciplinary connections in their own lives and think creatively using skills they’ve acquired in the classroom.

Teachers Break Barriers Through Interdisciplinary Learning Projects

Charlotte Cao, Bia Shok, and Lauren Hsu | January 20, 2020

The 1920s: Literary & Language Arts and Social Studies Sophomore Honors American History and American Literature classes will host a collaborative project centered around American culture in the 1920s....

Literary and language arts teacher Kate Avery has been teaching for a total of four years, three at Portola High. She teaches three sections of Honors Dystopian Literature and two sections of Honors American Literature.

Writing or Grading Essays: Who has the Easier Job?

Emma Haag, Staff Writer | January 17, 2020

The process students undergo to write a graded essay is often difficult and stressful, as it is complicated by last-minute assignments, studying for finals and timed in-class essays. Teachers grading...

Senior Victor Loyola smiles as he explores different environments through the VR headset without leaving his seat. Among 8-to-17-year-olds who own virtual reality technology, 33% use the device for exploring environments, while 22% use it to learn something, according to a survey by Common Sense Media.

Virtual Reality Enhances Learning in the Social Studies Classroom

Maya Sabbaghian and Ki Joon Lee | January 17, 2020

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative tool that allows a person with the right equipment to transcend the limitations of travel and time. After Portola High won the Irvine Public Schools Foundation’s...

After months of preparation, the DECA team competes in its first competition in Anaheim where they competed against other schools located in Orange County.

DECA Business Club Prepares for Inaugural Competition

Claudia Lin, Staff Writer | January 17, 2020

Donned in formal suits and professional attire, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) members direct their attention to their meticulously planned business proposals along with heaps of papers...

In his high school years, music teacher Desmond Stevens says he loved OutKast, especially ‘Hey Ya!,” which he attributes as one of the top songs of his senior year. Now looking back in history, Stevens notes that ‘Hey Ya!’ symbolized a confluence between rap and pop, and a push in musical boundaries.

Diving into TikTok Trends with Music Teacher

Tiffany Wu, Co-News Editor | January 16, 2020

With the recent craze over TikTok, a viral streaming app for short lip-sync, comedy and talent videos, various songs have skyrocketed in popularity due to their catchy riffs and choruses. We listened to...

Shooting guard and junior Allyson Tabayoyong shoots a three-pointer in the second quarter of the game while being closely guarded by Northwood High captain and senior Amanda Endres. Overall, Tabayoyong scored 24 points for the team (55-43).

Girls’ Basketball Shoots for the Win Against Northwood High

Tiffany Wu, Co-News Editor | January 16, 2020

Once echoing with the shrill squeaks of rubber soles hitting the waxed floor, the gym is silent as the basketball is tossed by the referee and quickly stolen by center and senior Donia Maymoun. Girls’...

Trinh’s career as Portola High’s computer specialist began in 2017 after transferring from Ladera Elementary school. Shortly after his move in 2018, he was put in charge of the school’s one-to-one chromebook device program. He works behind the scenes during the school day and even breaks to troubleshoot and repair students’ personal devices.

Computer Specialist Works Double Shift as Tech Hero

Jordan Lee and Tiffany Wu | January 15, 2020

Lord of the Chromebooks. Warden of the school WiFi. Certified computer surgeon. Whatever you call him, there is no doubt that Portola High’s innovative technological culture would not be the same without...

Senior and Girl Scout Troop 2065 member Lauren Kettner successfully achieved her Gold Award by introducing her project “Reach Out to Knowledge,” which focused on helping educate children on concepts they may forget throughout the summer at local libraries.

Empowered Girl Scouts Pursue Gold Award Projects

Claudia Lin, Staff Writer | January 15, 2020

Through Girl Scouts, a nationally-recognized empowerment program for girls, young and ambitious women pursue passion projects that initiate a lasting impact on their communities. Upon completion of this...

To reconnect with their culture, bilingual individuals must commit more time toward mastering their mother tongue.

Learning One’s Native Language is not a Lost Cause

Charlotte Cao and Jordan Lee | January 14, 2020

An immigrant family gathers for dinner and begins to reflect on their day, the familiar sounds of their native language ringing across the dining table. A child tugs on their mother’s arm and asks, “I...

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...

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