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
Dania Yamani

Dania Yamani, Sports Editor

Dania Yamani is the Sports Editor for her second and final year on the Portola Pilot. Passionate about sharing meaningful stories, she enjoys highlighting the people and moments that bring the community together. Beyond the newsroom, Dania loves playing with her cat Leia, going on long drives, and listening to Gracie Abrams. She looks forward to her final year on the Pilot and making a lasting impact on the sports section!

All content by Dania Yamani
Heritage Park Library, now officially under the Irvine Public Library system, will offer various activities for community members to participate in, as part of an effort to create a hub for learning and connection.

Irvine Libraries Reopen Under City Management

Dania Yamani, Sports Editor | September 18, 2025
The Irvine City Council is in the process of creating the Irvine Cares Family Housing Assistance Program, aimed primarily at IUSD students and families. “We are hopeful that these housing programs will provide individuals and families the necessary support to create long-term housing sustainability, improve their quality of life, and provide the tools to support their financial needs moving forward,” Irvine Chief Health and Wellness Officer Heather Dion said.

City of Irvine and IUSD Partner to Launch Affordable Housing Program

Dania Yamani, Staff Writer | May 30, 2025
Physics teacher Ryan Johnson speaks to junior Chloe Chen about the AP Physics and Engineering boat project outside the engineering classroom. In his new classes, Digital Electronics and Honors Engineering Design and Development, Johnson is excited for more hands-on projects. “We'll be able to create products that are directly relevant to society's needs, as opposed to practicing doing something which is what most high schoolers are doing,” Johnson said.

[Photo] New Year, New Classes: Teachers Introduce Course Changes

Senna Kahf, Staff Writer | May 23, 2025
Social studies teacher Virginia Nguyen uses her social media platform to promote her non-profit, Educate to Empower, as well as share her classroom values. “If you want to know who I am, how I navigate and live my life, my classroom teacher self, my nonprofit director self, my mom self, my friends self, my daughter self, [the account] is very much who I am,” Nguyen said. “When they look at the social media, I hope that authenticity comes through where students are like, ‘Oh, that's so Ms. Nguyen.’” Photos Courtesy of Virgina Nguyen, Otto Lopez and Kearci Thompson.

Posting with Purpose: Teachers Redefine Instagram as a Platform for Connection

Dania Yamani and Senna Kahf | May 16, 2025
This year’s out-of-state college fair was planned through careful collaboration between Portola’s college and career department and PTSA to allow students to explore various colleges. “We created some questions that we can have students ask the colleges that come, and the colleges participate by stamping on the little card,” college and career coordinator Monica Yang said. “The more stamps they have, the more prizes they can get. That was a huge success.”

How Planning and Partnership Made Portola’s Out-of-State College Fair Its Most Successful Yet

Dania Yamani | May 12, 2025
Senior Ray Tong and special education student and junior Clark Bogosh collaborate on an art project during a Bulldog Crew meeting. “A lot of the activities that the board comes up with have been really well received, and all the students seem to really enjoy doing it,” extensive support needs education specialist Desiree De Santos-Shaffer said. “They really look at the whole picture of what they can do and what people are feeling, and art has been a really big part of what we do as well.”

Building Bridges: How The Bulldog Crew Unites Portola High

Senna Kahf and Dania Yamani | March 12, 2025
Though Galentine’s Day isn’t a holiday senior Renee Tan usually celebrates, she and her friends decked out in everything girly for an aesthetic Galentine’s party this year. “We baked heart shaped pizzas, baked some cookies and goods too,” Tan said. “Other people brought sugar cookies and cupcakes.”

Gals Over Pals: Bulldogs Celebrate Galentine’s Day

Dania Yamani, Staff Writer | February 28, 2025
Pohle helps a student understand a calculus lesson during office hours. To help strengthen her relationships with her students, Pohle incorporates elements of her classroom in Madrid into Portola High. “It was cool to see how teachers run classes there because it's just very different,” Pohle said. “I feel like we're just so pressed for time especially in a high school environment. A big focus in Spain itself is connections with people, so everyone is just so friendly and nice.”

From Madrid to Math: How Teaching Abroad Shaped Math Teacher Evelyn Pohle’s Classroom

Dania Yamani, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025
From Game Plans to Lesson Plans: Teachers Who Shined as Varsity Athletes

From Game Plans to Lesson Plans: Teachers Who Shined as Varsity Athletes

Senna Kahf and Dania Yamani | January 8, 2025
Peer tutoring adviser and math teacher Ran Gu supervises the program in the Learning Commons. “It is very interesting to see how students interact with other students,” Gu said. You're rarely ever put into a position where you have to explain something. As a teacher myself, I found that I learned a lot in trying to teach someone else, and I enjoy coaching students how to teach other students.”

Cultivating Collaboration: The Teachers Behind Portola’s Peer Tutoring Program

Kayley Winata and Dania Yamani | December 16, 2024
Quarterback and sophomore Alondra Hernandez passes to running back and sophomore Irene Kim in a game against Garden Grove High. “As the running back, I feel like we're a lot closer to the other receivers,” Kim said. “So if there's a situation where [Hernandez] has to get the ball out at the last minute and no one else is open, I'm always there for her, and that's where I feel like the communication comes into play.”

Flag Football Quarterback and Sophomore Alondra Hernandez ‘Tackles’ Leadership on the Field

Senna Kahf and Dania Yamani | November 9, 2024
Quarterback and sophomore Alondra Hernandez speaks with coach Desmond Hamilton during halftime about her throwing technique. According to head coach Julie Primero, the team has been working towards refining their strategies for the game.

Flag Football Fights Hard but Falls Short Against Sage Hill High

Dania Yamani and Senna Kahf | September 26, 2024
The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, which ended a 16-year-long Olympic medal drought, according to NPR. “Since it became kind of popular over the course of the Olympics, more boy gymnasts kind of see themselves represented in a very highly televised event, where usually it doesn't happen,” former gymnast and senior Hutchison said. “A lot of the promotion for gymnastics is focused on female gymnasts instead of male gymnasts, so it trending over time is really helpful.”

Defying Gravity and Expectations, Men’s Representation in Gymnastics Soars to New Heights

Mia Jong and Dania Yamani | September 24, 2024
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Dania Yamani