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
Opinion
Proactively deleting emails to reduce nonrenewable electricity usage raises awareness about the power plants where electricity comes from, according to AP Environmental Science teacher Courtney Moder. “It’s the next generation that has to figure out climate change,” Moder said. “It’s something that’s not really well known but is something that you can get people to get behind.”
Too Many Emails in Your Inbox? Support Environmental Sustainability by Deleting Them
Mary Lee, Staff Writer | April 26, 2024
The rise in the coquette aesthetic has forced femininity to be characterized by dependent and delicate ideals, contrasting a society moving towards female empowerment. Though coquetry can bond girls and women, it is important to move away from such trends that constitute retrogression.
The Shadows Behind the Frills and Pink Bows of the Trending Coquette Aesthetic
Kayleen Kim and Ruhi Samudra | April 25, 2024
Many contemporary historical films have sparked controversy over how much creative license is too much and in what ways producers can balance both accuracy and art, such as in the film “Napoleon.” “I am a present proponent of creativity and being able to show things in a different way,” history teacher Heidi Martasian said. “But I think I like when the film says something at the start like ‘Hey, this is based on something, but its not going to be fully accurate.’”
The ‘Reel’ Truth: Filmmakers Should Strive for Historical Accuracy in Cinema
Catherine Li and Ruhi Samudra | April 22, 2024
Students themselves benefit most by actively participating in the exercises within their PE class. “Coaches or PE teachers get disappointed because its like, ‘Im not upset that youre not doing what I asked you to do. Im upset that youre going to continue to be like this,’” PE teacher and Athletic Director Peter Abe said. “And thats only going to hurt you long term, which will lead to things that they cant even fathom in terms of illness and disease.”
Yes, PE Classes Are Worth Your Effort
Mary Lee, Staff Writer | April 12, 2024
A ban on the sale of fur clothing is the most straightforward way to discourage animal cruelty. “Fashion brands that use real fur have no regard for animal welfare,” Biology Club member and sophomore Grace Li said. “That’s why more and more public attention is being directed towards fur alternatives.”
Faux Fur, Real Ethics: Why It Is Time for the United States to Ban Fur
Claire Liu, Staff Writer | April 10, 2024
Students need to normalize taking a variety of classes that are not necessarily APs so that they have non stressful and fun classes in between their more challenging ones. “I’m not against APS,” junior Nero Xu said. “I think APs are a good challenge and can help you look good for colleges. What I’m against is students cramming APs even though they clearly don’t like it or are overwhelmed by it.”
APs or Actually Problematic?
Elizabeth Gao and Stephanie Hwang | March 29, 2024
Most people don’t consider dropping a class when it’s dragging them down. Here’s why they should.
The Hard Question of Hard Classes: Drop or Stay?
Jordan Hata, Staff Writer | March 15, 2024
Comedians hosting award shows should tailor their jokes to focus attention on the achievements of their guests in the audience rather than bringing them down. “I think its inappropriate for them to be making jokes that could offend others, and instead, they should be making jokes that could make everyone laugh,” junior Anaika Nagireddy said.
Award Show Hosts Need to Step Back From Offensive Jokes
Parmin Zamani, News Editor | March 8, 2024
Recent movie musicals, including “Mean Girls” and “Wonka,” were not properly advertised as musicals, resulting in many audience members being surprised when the actors eventually broke out into song. “There was literally no singing in the trailer and I was very confused as a fan of the musical for Mean Girls,” senior Kody Lin said. “I have friends in theater that didnt know the movie itself was going to be a musical.”
Movie ‘Thespian-age’: Hollywood Should Not Hide Movie Musicals
Sonia Wang and Catherine Li | February 29, 2024
Many young Sephora shoppers spend money on expensive products in order to keep up with trends showcased online, according to math teacher Melanie Clark. “I dont really agree with young kids spending so much money on beauty products,” Clark said. “I feel like they should start at CVS and just learn how to take care of themselves. I feel like it creates an entitled generation where they think that they deserve certain things, when in reality theyre pretty expensive.”
Sephora 10-Year-Olds Are Getting Out of Hand — Here is What Should be Done
Kayley Winata and Sonia Wang | February 27, 2024
Though BookTok encases a wide range of genres and titles, novels are often recommended more for their aesthetic rather than their content, according to Varsity. Many readers do not approach these books critically and can fall into harmful patterns of romanticization that bleed into real life. “I think that some books are promoted as romances when in fact theyre promoting a lot of toxic relationships that people are now perceiving as commonly acceptable,” senior Zara Hommez said. “So I think its important to draw the line between what is constituted as fiction and what is constituted as reality.”
Novel Sensations: Booktok Fans Should ‘Read Between the Lines’
Mary Lee and Catherine Li | February 23, 2024
Portola High can implement a better rain protection system by opening up more space for students at school. “Because it’s a Southern California school, it’s an outdoor school, so there’s really not much to do to protect kids from the rain,” junior Lulu (Jingxin) Zhao said. “However, I think it would be good if we could open more classrooms during rainy days too, so kids don’t have to eat out in lunch or crowd in the gym.”
Rain, Rain Go Away: Advocating for School Protection
Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | February 20, 2024
Clubs would greatly benefit from being offered a second chance to restart their clubs in second semester. “I think that allowing these clubs to have a second chance would help them appreciate their culture and their passions, and allow students to draw closer and to keep some continuity in our own likes and values,” president of the Black Student Union and senior Gabe Mutsvangwa said.
Clubs Should Be Given a Second Chance in Second Semester
Shaina Taebi and Marianne Chan | January 18, 2024
Unconscious biases can affect anyone, including teachers, according to social studies teacher Shameemah Motala. Though she did not use anonymous grading at first, grading for the AP exams taught her to implement anonymous methods into her own class.
It's Time to Start Evening Out the ‘Grading’ Field
Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | January 17, 2024
Art projects can add a splash of color to coursework that is otherwise considered mundane or repetitive, increasing students’ enjoyment in the class. Visual arts teacher Mat Pace says that giving students’ chances for original artistry can enrich learning experiences and provide balance in more arduous classes. “Taking a break from a heavy math class would be nice to just focus on a spectrum of color or something thats so different than what theyre doing,” visual arts teacher Mat Pace said. “We can put a mathematical equation in almost anything as well, so maybe when theyre thinking about that art project they’re thinking how math relates to that.”
Teachers Should Liven Up Regular Coursework with Creative Art Projects
Parmin Zamani and Jordan Hata | January 12, 2024
Environmental legislation that directly affects individuals can teach students crucial life skills that can help them with decision-making not only in the environmental sector but also their day-to-day lives.
Environmental Legislation Awareness Opens Doors for Students’ Futures
Mary Lee, Staff Writer | January 9, 2024
Rather than give in to the knee-jerk impulse to “flesh out” antagonists through tragic backstories, authors should focus on other aspects of their villainous characters. “The background story is just the background board,” sophomore and fiction lover Anyu Zhang said. “The character’s personality and performance are the most important.”
Unveiling the Untold Power of Villainy: Why a Tragic Backstory Is Not Needed
Claire Chan and Marianne Chan | January 9, 2024
Although the stream of assessments may seem endless as 2023 comes to a close, students should become more aware of the stress teachers face. This new perspective can help students take steps to alleviate the pressure on educators’ shoulders and potentially abate the amount of pressure they face during exam season.
You Are Not Alone: Teachers Feel Stressed During Finals Too
Mary Lee, Staff Writer | December 20, 2023
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The student news site of Portola High School
Opinion