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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

As one of the only five films in history to gross over $2 billion, “Avengers: Endgame” was an immense box office hit and is projected to pass “Avatar” as the highest-grossing film of all time within the next few weeks.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Closes the Curtain on the Infinity Saga

Jenny Won, Business Team | May 7, 2019

Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” the finale to an 11-year cinematic universe of 22 films, hit theaters worldwide on April 26. Directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, the film passed $2 billion in...

Produced by the Event Horizon Telescope on April 10, a golden ring where the event horizon is surrounds the silhouette of a black hole in the center.

First Image of Black Hole Attracts Public Interest

Jane Zou and Aamina Khaleel | May 7, 2019

Astronomers took the first image of a black hole in Messier 87 (M87) on April 10, achieving a new astronomical advancement by capturing what astronomers thought was unseeable. M87 is in the constellation...

As the finale of the concert, freshman Garrett Lee showcases his saxophone skills in musicality and improvisation with the jazz classic “Mambo Inn,” a song highlighting two unique instruments: timbales and congas.

First-Ever Jazz Night? No Treble

Julia Kim and Tiffany Wu | May 6, 2019

Flowers and dim candles adorned the tables, and swaying blues filled the air on April 20 as jazz musicians showcased a preview of their hard work and their trip to Reno on April 25-28. Jazz II Combo,...

Four out of eight teams remaining in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have the opportunity to win the team’s first-ever Stanley Cup.

From Going Down in History to Lost in History: 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets

Manan Mendiratta, Contributing Writer | May 3, 2019

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been one of the most anticipated postseasons in the National Hockey League’s 102-year history. Fans expected a few dominant regular season teams to thrive in the playoffs....

‘Snowplow Parenting’ Leads to Avalanche of Negative Consequences

‘Snowplow Parenting’ Leads to Avalanche of Negative Consequences

Annie Qiao, Features Editor | May 2, 2019

“Helicopter parenting” of the 1980s has evolved into today’s “snowplow parenting.” Parents, many of whom tend to be of a higher socioeconomic status, often feel the need to clear any obstacles...

Choir and tech theater teacher, Adrian Rangel-Sanchez,  helped to create the Footnotes, University High’s first a cappella group, when he was a junior almost 10 years ago.

Choir Teacher’s Musical Roots in Irvine Run Deep

Ariana Wu, Contributing Writer | May 1, 2019

As Adrian Rangel-Sanchez stands in front of the classroom teaching choir, anyone can tell that he loves teaching almost as much as he loves music just by looking at the smiles on both his and his students’...

Nearly 60 years later, Jordan Peele, the director behind “Get Out” and “Us”, revives Rod Serling’s role as host in the 2019 reboot, which premiered on April 1.

Will the 2019 ‘The Twilight Zone’ Please Stand Up?

Jane Zou, Staff Writer | April 30, 2019

In an abyss between science and imagination lies “The Twilight Zone”, a CBS television series that popularized science fiction and dystopian fiction before its time in 1959-1964. Hosted by Rod Serling,...

Naan & Kabob offers a variety of Persian cuisine and is located in Tustin.

Naan & Kabob: From Unbeatable to Uneatable

Manan Mendiratta, Contributing Writer | April 29, 2019

Described as a “casual Persian storefront cafe” by Google, Naan & Kabob has built a reputation over the years of serving delicious halal food that stays true to Persian culture. However, a recent...

Freshman AJ Moore leaps into the air during his serve against Irvine High’s first ranked player. Moore won the match 6-3 and placed third individually at the Pacific Coast League Finals on April 24.

Boys’ Tennis Slides Past Vaqueros for First League Win

Helena Hu and Jordan Lee | April 26, 2019

After an eight-game losing streak, boys’ tennis (8-8) had its first-ever league win against Irvine High 11-7 at the Game of the Week on April 16. The boys had a strong start to the match, leading the...

Middle blocker and junior Saif Habibeh leaps up in position to spike a ball from setter and junior Shivank Gupta during the second set; this time, players like Habibeh were able to score points against Irvine High due to a renewed sense of vigor and determination that put the Bulldogs ahead by a few points at one time.

Boys’ Volleyball Comes up Short in Game of the Week

Naomi Luper and Annie Qiao | April 25, 2019

Boys’ volleyball (13-17) lost 0-3 against Irvine High April 19’s Game of the Week, marking the end of one of the team’s final games this season. Since this week’s theme was “Black-out,” a crowd...

Sophomore Jun Kim swims in the butterfly portion of the 200-yard medley relay with juniors Bryce Nishikawa and Belal Ibrahim and sophomore Justin Pai swimming the backstroke, freestyle and breastroke, respectively. The swimmers obtained a 2nd place finish with a time of 1:42.93.

Boys’ Swim Is Out-Touched by Warriors in Last Home Meet

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | April 24, 2019

After a close race, boys’ swim (2-6-1) lost its last duel meet against Woodbridge High 91-79 on April 17. Although the team ultimately ended the season with a defeated league record, many of the swimmers...

Lil Nas X’s addition of Billy Ray Cyrus to his newly released remix of “Old Town Road” sent a clear message to the Country Billboard Charts about its legitimacy as a country song.

‘Old Town Road’s’ Rise and Fall on the Charts

Aaron Sha and Nicholas Hung | April 23, 2019

Rising American rapper, singer and songwriter Montero Lamar Hill, also known as Lil Nas X, released his hit single “Old Town Road,” in December 2018. The genre-bending song quickly became a national...

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