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
Emma Haag

Emma Haag, Sports Editor

Emma Haag is the new 2020-2021 Sports Editor! It is her second year as a part of the Portola Pilot, and she is more than thrilled to see what the new year has to offer. Emma has a strong interest in sports in general, as well as sports reporting and photography. Outside of the Portola Pilot, her favorite classes are any in S.T.E.M. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family in the outdoors when she gets the chance.

All content by Emma Haag
With all of the issues people had with this album’s release, Kanye West repaid that debt tenfold with amazing hooks, vocals, production, and features. West, again, solidifies himself as the creator of one of the best albums of the year so far. Rest in peace Donda West.

Kanye West’s Long Awaited Album is Finally Done-da

September 15, 2021
CDC Lifting of Safety Requirements Poses a Huge Threat

CDC Lifting of Safety Requirements Poses a Huge Threat

May 27, 2021
While students may challenge themselves by taking on a rigorous course load packed with APs, they should have the self-knowledge to drop courses if their mental health falters.

To Manage AP-Related Stress, Student Initiative Is the Key to Success

May 10, 2021
The effects of climate change will become irreversible by 2030 unless drastic measures are taken to protect the planet, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “I feel like every day should be Earth Day. It’s important to recognize just how precious the planet that we live on is,” science teacher Michael Tang said. “There’s nothing like it. As of now, we don’t know of any planet that’s habitable like ours, and so it's very important for us to learn and to remember that we need to be good stewards of the Earth.”

Students and Staff Plant Awareness to Celebrate Earth Day

May 5, 2021
Mainstream pop artists: Doja Cat and J Balvin; rap artists BROCKHAMPTON, A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky; and r&b artists SZA and Khalid released their long-awaited music on April 9 that had fans anticipating the release.

Hot New Releases to Add to Your Spring Jams

April 21, 2021
Vice president candidate and junior Stella Jung and newly elected ASB president and junior Amitoj Singh hang posters around Portola High to publicize their campaign. ASB candidates used a combination of posters and flyers and hung them on stairwells and bulletin boards.

Introducing the 2021-22 Elected ASB Officials

March 26, 2021
AP U.S. History teacher Wind Ralston prepares his students for their online AP exam by practicing analyzing a political cartoon. AP U.S. History is one of the classes that includes all units from the curriculum and will not exclude any units due to the pandemic.

Portola High Selects 2nd Testing Window for Upcoming AP Exams

March 4, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to exacerbate socioeconomic disadvantages for students, as was made clear by last year's AP testing missteps. As AP season approaches in May, measures must be taken to ensure that external impacts on students' performances from slow Internet connections, disabilities, or family responsibilities are minimized.

Equity Remains Key to 2021 AP Testing

January 29, 2021
Netflix's hit television series

Season Three of Netflix’s ‘Cobra Kai’ Honors Original ‘Karate Kid’ Films

January 29, 2021
After going viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, teens all around the world are watching Megan Is Missing, a horror/thriller movie all about a teenager going missing after meeting a fake person online.

Mediocre Movie Gains Popularity for Obscene Content: ‘Megan is Missing’

January 13, 2021
Looking for a means to support their families by driving to school themselves, student drivers must grapple with whether the stress alleviated with a parking permit is worth its $40 per semester cost. Despite this, it is important to keep in mind that lowering the price of a parking permit would raise more serious concerns from a campus perspective than it would resolve.

[Photo] Look To Student Responsibilities In Lieu of Lower Parking Costs

January 6, 2021
Shalonda Abubakar, the newest addition to IUSD’s community liaison team, is a resource for anyone in the Black and African-American community. She believes a positive mindset can hear everyone for success.

Shalonda Abubakar Joins IUSD as Community Liaison for Black and African-American Families

December 11, 2020
Due to Covid-19 safety guidelines, Portola locker rooms remain closed until case numbers fall. The closure has caused concerns for some students, while others do not mind.

[Photo] Locker Rooms Remain Closed Due to COVID-19

December 9, 2020
Mindfulness Despite Madness

Mindfulness Despite Madness

December 7, 2020
It is believed that every zodiac sign has their own distinct traits. While one’s zodiac sun sign plays a large part in determining personality traits, the moon and the rising signs can attribute individuals with more specific traits.

Do Their Zodiac Signs Make These Teachers Compatible?

December 7, 2020

VAPA Requirement Restricts Students from Finding True Passions

November 30, 2020
Families from every part of the United States have their own Thanksgiving traditions, many of which include unique recipes. From something as classic as pumpkin pie, to a variety of cultural foods, Thanksgiving dinner is guaranteed to bring people together.

A Guide to the Perfect Thanksgiving Table

November 26, 2020
While Grande has been able to produce a number of popular songs, “positions,” “34+35” and “pov” from her new album “Positions” are currently ranked in the top 50 songs of the Billboard Hot 100.

Ariana Grande Releases Third Hit Album in Past Two Years

November 23, 2020
As both one of Portola High's key graduation requirements and a prerequisite to many colleges including the UCs, visual and performing arts classes are a part of every student's high school experience.

H2H: Can VAPA Requirements Expand Student Learning?

November 11, 2020
Senior Sonia Goyal wraps each sticker with tissue paper and twine when packaging her products. She usually orders in bulk and packages each sticker separately for different customers, or she orders in bulk and sends the entire box of stickers to the buyer.

Student Small Businesses : Senior Sonia Goyal’s Art Sticks Out From the Rest

October 23, 2020
After many years of debate experience, Singh says testing his abilities at an extremely high level, he is finally able to see his progress, and is proud of how far he has come.

Junior Amitoj Singh Cuts Close to Nationals at Yale Invitational Debate Tournament

October 22, 2020
Musicians Joji (left), Bryson Tiller (middle) and 21 Savage (right) all released new hit albums within the last month for fans to play on repeat. Each artist made a comeback with a refreshing twist to their old styles, surprising many fans but disappointing others.

Finally, New Music to Add to My Playlist: Bryson Tiller, Joji and 21 Savage

October 16, 2020
With the increased use of social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, cancel culture has grown to take a larger toll on celebrities and influencers than it ever has before.

The Toxic Rise of Cancel Culture

October 14, 2020
Zendaya Coleman makes history with her Emmy Award for her role as Rue Bennett in HBO drama series “Euphoria,

Zendaya Makes History after Winning Emmy for HBO’s ‘Euphoria’

October 7, 2020
PHS Ambassadors typically give campus tours before the start of the school year, but due to COVID-19 regulations, changes had to be made.

PHS Ambassadors Find New Ways to Work Under COVID-19 Regulations

October 7, 2020
The University of California's(UC) vote to phase out the SAT/ACT helps and benefits students to their advantage or are a detriment to other students compared to others.

H2H: University of California Drops SAT/ACT Requirements

September 18, 2020

UCs Dropping SAT/ACT Benefits Classes 2021 to 2024

September 18, 2020
Although AP classes on campus typically start junior year, some sophomores had the option to take AP Computer Science Principles and AP Human Geography. Specific APs, like world language APs, had unique submissions such as portfolios and voice recordings.

College Board’s Lack of Concern for Students Landed Them a Lawsuit

June 3, 2020
Video Production teacher Tina Murphy and junior Madison Empalmado, the new social media producer, special segment producer and reporter, wanted to display the key features of their studio: the painted-on green screen and lights. PNN often uses their Instagram (@portolanewsnetwork) to publicize their show.

PNN Anchors Down their Leadership for the 2020-21 School Year

May 28, 2020
Portola High obtained the 1st Team Safe Sports School Award for following both the requirements and the recommendations set by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Examples of categories include athlete injury protocol, athletic clearance processes and procedures for emergencies like earthquakes or fires.

[Photo] Portola High Becomes First IUSD School to Secure Safe Sports School Award

May 22, 2020
Literary and language arts teacher Doris Schlothan is one of the teachers who has been using the TikTok app to connect with students through their witty videos.

Teacher TikToks: Spread Positivity during Quarantine

May 7, 2020

With Social Media, Maybe Isolation Isn’t So Bad After All

April 23, 2020
Uzi may have meticulously planned the release date of March 6, the 66th day of 2020, to show the numbers “666” to represent his affiliation with satanism.

Lil Uzi Vert Debuts His Three Personas in ‘Eternal Atake’

March 27, 2020

Spring Sports Postponed

March 18, 2020
The Alley had its grand opening on Feb.17, when the first 100 people were eligible to receive free merchandise and a half-off drink price. Since its opening, there is often a line outside the store.

The Alley is an Ally for All Boba Lovers

March 16, 2020

High school Relationships Positively Benefit Teens

March 2, 2020
In an interview with Elite Daily, Robert Glatter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, explains how having a crush on someone can cause the release of dopamine and serotonin. Due to the release of these

How Does Your Crush Make You Feel?

February 26, 2020
Boys basketball celebrates its league win after senior Mohsen Hasheimi shoots a game-winning shot in the last second of the game. The teammates celebrate their comeback after losing to Beckman 49-60 earlier in the season.

Bulldogs Take First in League with Last Minute Shot

February 4, 2020

Teachers React to TikToks

January 28, 2020
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?

January 17, 2020
Freshman Moka Saiki shoots a two-point shot during practice to prepare for the upcoming winter season. The next varsity girls’ basketball game will be on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. against Capistrano Valley High.

Freshmen Girls Take on Varsity Winter Sports

November 19, 2019
Athletic trainer Kathryn Cleek tapes a student’s ankle before practice. Approximately five hours of Cleek’s day is designated for treating athletes with both short-and-long term injuries.

New Athletic Trainer is “Living the Pedigree”

November 19, 2019
Kombucha is a probiotic-rich beverage that provides many health benefits including enhancing digestive and liver health. The company, Health-Ade Kombucha is a Los Angeles-based company that strives to have the “best tasting and highest quality kombucha,” according to their website.

Reviewing Kombucha, the Famously-Fermented Fizzy Drink

November 18, 2019
Club adviser Shelley Godett stands with (left to right) seniors Harry Song, William Hsieh, Nikhil Jha, junior Anthony Tan, seniors Joyee Chen and Nicholas Delianedis at the Math Day at the Beach competition.

Math Club Has Much in Store for Portola

November 3, 2019
Tight end and senior Joey Omar scores a touchdown in the first quarter, putting Portola in the lead with the score of 6-0.

First Ever Bulldog Win Against Beckman High

October 15, 2019
Freshmen side flyers Demetris Owens and Katelyn Toulmin stands next to sophomore center flyer Hailey Kim, in a stunt at a junior varsity football match against Laguna Hills High.

[Photo] Cheer Flies Into Season with New System

October 9, 2019
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

September 20, 2019
Senior and co-captain Dylan Gates aggressively swims towards a Crean Lutheran player, in an attempt to steal the ball. Being able to quickly transition from defense to offense with swift turnovers was one of Portola’s strengths that lead to the team’s victory.

[Photo] Boys’ Water Polo Makes A Splash

September 13, 2019
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Emma Haag