Skip to Main Content
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 Chris Choung works on her college applications with the help of counselor Ryan Itchon. Many of the questions asked at the workshops relate to the Common Application, which requires students to not only input not only all of the colleges they are applying to, but also their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal information and school or teacher information.

Counseling Helps Students Find Comfort in College Applications

Helena Hu and Julia Kim | October 1, 2019

In order to provide college application assistance to mostly seniors, the counseling department began on Sept. 4 hosting college application workshops in Room 1002 during office hours on select Wednesdays....

Some of the most popular novels in the United States have been banned or censored for their controversial ideas. A high number of the novels read in Portola High English courses have been censored or banned at some time.

Lifting the Censor Bar on Knowledge: Banned Books Week Comes to the Commons

Maya Sabbaghian, Co-Managing Editor | September 30, 2019

Librarians, avid bookworms and casual readers alike celebrated Banned Books week from Sept. 22-28. The annual campaign, promoted by the American Library Association (ALA), began in 1982 and celebrates...

Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung in Costa Mesa, CA.

Overrated and Overpriced: OC Asian Foods Not Worth the Hype

Jaein Kim and Kelthie Truong | September 27, 2019

Business after business in Orange County is emerging to claim the title of the next trendy food that breaks the Internet. With reimagined Asian classics a rising dining trend, the amount of new options...

School Resources Now in Demand More Than Ever

School Resources Now in Demand More Than Ever

Farhad Taraporevala and Bia Shok, Co-News Editor and Staff Writer | September 27, 2019

Jeralyn Newton witnesses Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s weekly event where the mammals that have recovered from sickness or injuries are released back into the ocean.

Science Teacher’s Fulfilling Summer Working with Marine Life

Claudia Lin, Staff Writer | September 26, 2019

Many teachers use their summer to relax and take the vacations they have been anxiously waiting throughout the year, but science teacher Jeralyn Newton craved a return to her roots as a zoologist. “I...

Although the causes of the Amazon rainforest fire can be attributed to a combination of factors, the election of Jair Bolsonaro represents a turning point for Brazil’s stance on the environment. In fact, the government continuously downplayed the crisis and even went so far as to deny its existence in a Sept. 11 speech at the Heritage Foundation.

Fighting Fire with Environmental Concern: Brazil’s Responsibility to the Amazon Rainforest

Charlotte Cao, Social Media and Marketing Team | September 26, 2019

When Jair Bolsonaro was elected Brazil’s president in late 2018, his appointment ushered in a new age of relaxed deforestation laws. Over the next few months, Brazillian farmers took advantage, burning...

Portola Singers and Canta Bella perform “The Prayer of the Children” by Kurt Bestor. This coming April, all choir groups are invited to attend the spring break tour in Chicago, Illinois, where they will receive specialized coaching from expert conductors.

Music Department Kicks Off the School Year with Annual Informance

Lauren Hsu, Staff Writer | September 25, 2019

Roaring applause filled the theater as audience members took their seats, and the spotlights flickered on to reveal a sea of polished instruments. The music department hosted its annual Informance Concert...

Junior Mahum Khan and sophomore Lavanya Gupta observe their case packets to try to come up with strategies which will enable them to create strong arguments.

Mock Trial Unravels the Mystery of a Family Murder

Junhee Ryu, Co-Business Manager | September 25, 2019

A brand-new case was delivered to the hands of the mock trial club members on July 12. Throughout the season, they will decide for themselves the outcome of the trial by competing against other schools. The...

Burger King’s Impossible Whopper is a vegetarian spin on the regular Whopper, retaining the same familiar tomatoes, onions, pickles and lettuce while substituting the beef patty with an Impossible Meat vegan one.

Impossible Vegan Meat Goes Beyond Typical Fast-Food

Manan Mendiratta and Akshay Raj | September 25, 2019

The fast-food market has recently embraced a new wave of vegan and vegetarian alternatives to meat with open arms. Companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are pioneers of this trend, producing...

Cappies members sophomore Paris Suttle, junior Raksha Rajeshmohan, senior Nick Sanchez, sophomore Sushmitha Koomar and sophomore Kristen Fong attend “American Mariachi” at South Coast Repertory for their first show as a team. After the show, the group participated in insightful conversations regarding the set, lighting and design of the production.

VAPA Sets Stage for New Cappies Program

Claudia Lin, Staff Writer | September 24, 2019

Established by new drama teacher Samantha Sanford, Portola High’s first Cappies program invites all artists who possess a passion deeply rooted in theater to take their understanding of the performing...

From left to right, counseling interns Jamie Murphy, Diana Gutierezz, and Chloe Pines help orient and support students throughout the tumultuous times of high school.

Chat with New Counseling Interns

Erin Choi and Claudia Lin | September 23, 2019

We met and talked with counseling interns Jamie Murphy, Diana Gutierrez, and Chloe Pines on their roles. As interns, they are mainly tasked with ensuring that students are placed in the right classes,...

After a long day in the classroom, coach Allison Leyva readily heads to three hours of pep squad practice.

Welcoming New Cheer Coach Allison Leyva to the Bulldog Family

Emma Haag, Staff Writer | September 20, 2019

The start of the new school year brings many exciting changes, including a new cheer coach, Allison Leyva, who cheered all four years as a member of the Laguna Hills High pep squad. After graduation, she...

Donate to Portola Pilot
$200
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Activate Search
The student news site of Portola High School
Showcase