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
Helena Hu

Helena Hu, Editor-in-Chief

Helena Hu is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Portola Pilot this year. As Centerspread Editor and Social Media Director for the past two years respectively, she is thrilled to be leading such an amazing staff for her third and final year in the production. Aside from being on the Pilot, Helena is a member of the varsity tennis team at Portola, and she also enjoys travelling and photographing her adventures during her free time. Helena also loves spending time with her friends and family, watching Netflix, and taking naps with her dog Olive.

All content by Helena Hu

A Happy Ending

Helena Hu, Co-Editor-in-Chief | June 5, 2020
A Fond Farewell

A Fond Farewell

Helena Hu and Simrat Singh | June 5, 2020
Literary and language arts teacher Jeanne Jelnick, also lovingly known as "Momma J" by students and staff alike, has taught high school students for several decades at University High and Portola High. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her dedication to education, having made a home for students in her classroom.

Thank You, Momma J

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | May 29, 2020
A local tennis court in Portola Springs is blocked with caution tape. The stay-at-home order left the usually packed courts vacant on a Saturday afternoon.

COVID-19 in the Community

Bia Shok, Helena Hu, and Jordan Lee | April 24, 2020
Spring Athletes Reflect on Highlights from Unfinished Season

Spring Athletes Reflect on Highlights from Unfinished Season

Helena Hu, Co-Editor-In-Chief | April 7, 2020
Portola High’s class of 2020 will be the first class to plan a senior gift. The executive board for the gift will consult administration as well as local colleges for help in planning once school resumes, according to ASB treasurer and senior Kyle Sugita.

Gifting the Class of 2020 the Opportunity to Be Remembered

Ava Caleca and Helena Hu | March 19, 2020
Plant supervisor Leo Diego and literary and language arts teacher Jeanne Jelnick attended the seventh annual Parenting OC Top Teachers & Top School Employees of Orange County award ceremony. Principal John Pehrson nominated both of them by writing and sending a recommendation letter last October.

Two Staff Members Awarded for Excellence

Helena Hu and Ajinkya Rane | February 20, 2020
As guests get ready to board the ride, an army of Stormtroopers are there guarded by cast members dressed as soldiers for the First Order to contribute to the theming of the ride.

Take a First Look at the First Order with Disneyland’s New Attraction

Ava Caleca and Helena Hu | February 10, 2020
Freshman Molly Lamon-Paredes practices in the gym during her physical education period. Adaptive PE teacher Erie Eastman closely assists students to teach correct form and helps ensure each student enjoys the activity.

Special and General Education Meet on the Court

Maya Sabbaghian and Helena Hu | January 28, 2020
IGNITING PASSION. Sophomore Maya Vanek, senior Maddy Noh, sophomore Sophia Steinert, seniors Kaitlyn Nguyen-Pham and Grace Tu, junior Haley Hosokawa and sophomore Safah Faraz represented the yearbook staff at the annual IGNITE yearbook camp held at Pepperdine University. While they have won gold in the past, they were only one of four programs to win a gold award this year.

Art Groups Bond Students of All Ages

Helena Hu and Tiffany Wu | January 27, 2020
Many colleges give prospective applicants the option to use either the Common Application or the Coalition Application to submit their application; students will be able to use both of these applications, ensuring that the 20-school limit on the application is not a large issue.

Maxing Out on Common App is Not a Common Problem

Helena Hu, Co-Editor-in-Chief | December 3, 2019
As a solution to the academic honesty problemon campus, some teachers have created multiple forms of exams for their students. Math teacher Eric Graham created nine different versions of his AP Statistics midterm in order to prevent students from cheating.

IUSD Plans to Update Academic Honesty Policy

Akshay Raj and Helena Hu | December 2, 2019

Neighborhoods in the Halloween Spirit: Ranking the Top Trick-or-Treating Communities Close to Campus

Helena Hu and Julia Kim | November 1, 2019
Stephanie Tang, Nicholas Delianedis, Grace Tu, Nishad Francis, Esther Jung, Joyee Chen, Angelica Chi, Dorsa Zahedi, Tianxin Guo, Stephanie Zhang, Xian Lun Zeng, Jason Chen, Andrew Wang, David Jang and Annie Qiao were the highest-scoring students on campus in fall 2018.

Bulldogs Qualify for National Merit Scholarships

Helena Hu, Co-Editor-in-Chief | October 25, 2019
Neighborhoods in the Halloween Spirit: Ranking the Top Trick-or-Treating Communities Close to Campus

Neighborhoods in the Halloween Spirit: Ranking the Top Trick-or-Treating Communities Close to Campus

Helena Hu and Julia Kim | October 18, 2019
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
Coco Gauff is the youngest player to qualify for the main draw of the U.S. Open, playing three qualifying matches in order to obtain her spot. She then stunned the world by defeating Venus Williams, who is a five-time Wimbledon champion, in straight sets, according to CNN.

Coco Gauff Takes the Tennis World by Storm in 2019

Helena Hu, Co-Editor-in-Chief | September 19, 2019
How Bulldogs are Making Bank This Summer

How Bulldogs are Making Bank This Summer

Helena Hu and Krisha Konchadi | June 3, 2019
Head tennis coach Natasha Schottland awards tennis player and junior Kameran Mody with the top dog award. Mody was chosen because of his overall perseverance, from being defeated during varsity tryouts to being able to compete at Pacific Coast League Finals.

Athletes Awarded for PRIDE and Positivity at Spring Top Dog Awards

Helena Hu and Ki Joon Lee | May 31, 2019
Spring Carnival

Spring Carnival

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | May 30, 2019
Juniors William Hsieh, Rane, and Ki Joon lee (left to right) pose in front of a painted mural at the convention.

[Photo] Portola Pilot Participates in National Journalism Convention

Maya Sabbaghian, Opinion Editor | May 14, 2019
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
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
Junior Tyler Sylvester competes for Orion house in a game of capture the flag on the last day of the Olympics. Despite coming in second place in the Olympics, Orion still maintains a steady lead over the other three houses in overall standings.

Pegasus Brings Home Gold in House Olympics

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | March 21, 2019
Presidential candidate and junior Anthony Lu speaks with junior Thomas Chen and sophomore Sandra Lu about why he wants to be president and his aspirations for ASB. Lu will be in the Election Convention on March 26 along with junior Mustafa Hassan.

Campaign Week Comes to Campus

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | March 19, 2019
History teacher Katie Wi competes for the Orion house in a game of Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch. As she was blindfolded, Orion house vice president and sophomore Allyson Tabayoyong gave her instructions on where to go.

[Photo] Riding into Spring at the Mario Kart Pep Rally

Maya Sabbaghian, Opinion Editor | March 18, 2019
Irvine Boasts Greatest Tax Surplus in America

Irvine Boasts Greatest Tax Surplus in America

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | February 28, 2019
These three pieces of equipment use a multitude of sensors for users to track performance and progress; this data is easily accessible through mobile apps and helps athletes recognize their strengths and weaknesses.

The Top Tech Gadgets That Enhance Athletics Today

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | February 6, 2019
In the pitch-black gym, sophomore Ian Aros waits in the spotlight ready to hit the high notes of the national anthem.

[Photo] White-Out Pep Rally Snows off Winter Athletes

Jane Zou, Staff Writer | December 21, 2018

Making the Ultimate Gingerbread House

Helena Hu and Aneska Smith | December 17, 2018
“Flannel and Frost” brought student’s original choreography to the stage. Dancers showcased their talents through groups, duets and solos. Soloists include sophomore Chloe Le from Dance 2, and junior Jasmine Asami and freshman Sofia Topete from Dance Company.

‘Flannel and Frost’ Brings the Heat in Annual Winter Dance Concert

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | December 14, 2018
Screen Shot 2018-11-26 at 12.06.50 PM

[Photo] Saturday Night Stroll Through Spectrum

Maya Sabbaghian, Opinion Editor | November 27, 2018
Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” played by junior Ashley Pagador, wowed audience members with her intense expressions and intonations. Pagador’s acting prowess gave life to her character, a young maiden who has accidentally caught the attentions of the handsome Demetrius (sophomore Mccoy Cariaso) and Lysander (sophomore Ian Aros).

All the World’s a Stage for the Annual Fall Play

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | November 20, 2018
Each poke shop has many toppings that customers can choose from in order to customize upon arrival. Despite the fact that many of the stores had similar toppings, all three of the poke bowls created an explosion of different flavors bursting in our mouths, contributing to a unique experience each time.

Fishing for the Best Poke in Irvine

Helena Hu, Annie Qiao, and Aneska Smith | November 20, 2018
Suicide Prevention: What You Can Do

Suicide Prevention: What You Can Do

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | November 14, 2018
The plaintiff argues that the percentage of high achieving Asian-American students receiving a high personality score is extremely low compared to those of other races, according to NPR.

National Discussion Continues as Harvard Court Case Closes

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | November 13, 2018
Following the myth of Orpheus presentation, concert orchestra played composer Christoph Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice.” Both students pointed out how the descending line later in the video contributed to Orpheus’ grief and the piece’s overall sad tone.

Interdisciplinary Learning: Students Speak the Languages of Word and Music

Priscilla Baek and Helena Hu | October 30, 2018
Members of Rising Dynamics practice their rendition of “For the Longest Time” by Billy Joel. While the song was originally sung with all-male parts, the female voices add a much richer harmony overall, making this song more popular amongst a cappella groups.

No Instruments Required: Portola High’s First A Cappella Group

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | October 19, 2018
Junior Elias Tchapadarian tries to win a free Forthcoming ticket at the “Out of This World” balloon popping game. As an attempt to gain more student interest, ASB advertised a free Forthcoming ticket to one participant as an incentive, with junior Leonardo Pena winning the free ticket.

Students Get Spirited for Five Days of Forthcoming

Helena Hu and Aneska Smith | October 10, 2018

Evolution of Portola

Helena Hu and Aneska Smith | September 17, 2018
Physics teacher John Olivares is blindfolded in an intense game of musical chairs, competing against his colleagues. The game drew applause and cheers from the crowd, especially when physics teacher Anthony Pham won by stealing the chair from his competitors.

[Photo] Bulldogs are Back to the Bleachers for Pep Rally

Annie Qiao, Staff Writer | September 7, 2018
President and sophomore Liz Moerman passes the microphone to future president and sophomore Jason Chen at the last pep rally of the year.

For the Students, By the Students: An Inside Look at Student-Run Groups on Campus

Helena Hu and Simrat Singh | June 6, 2018
Feature on New Marching Band Leadership

Feature on New Marching Band Leadership

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | June 4, 2018
Athlete of the Month: Wan Jo

Athlete of the Month: Wan Jo

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | June 1, 2018
Hung anticipates for his doubles partner, co-captain and sophomore Taira Asakura, to serve the ball over to their opponents so the two pairs can begin a volley.

[Photo] Ethan Hung ‘Serves’ as an Example to Student Athletes

Annie Qiao, Co Editor-in-Chief | June 4, 2018
Spring Top Dog Award recipients: (top row from left): Garrett Lim, Thaha Afridi, Tyler Olsen, Justin Tam, Adrian Valerin, Nolan Nam, Kaveh Wojtowich, Jason Chen, Donia Maymoun, Jane Kim,Yarden Gilat, Kaelene Siribandan, Tiffany Wu, Logan Dang, Eden Yeh. and Maddie Vo

Recognizing Athletes in a Paw-sitive Way at Spring Top Dog

Priscilla Baek and Helena Hu | May 25, 2018
When Status Equals SAT Success

When Status Equals SAT Success

Helena Hu and Dylan Thakarar | May 22, 2018
Spirit and rally commissioner and future vice president Lauren Hwang leads the crowd in a cheer to kick off the rally.

ASB Closes Out School Year with End-of-Year Rally

Helena Hu and Julia Kim | May 18, 2018
Fashion Through the Decades

Fashion Through the Decades

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | May 16, 2018
2018-19 House Presidents IDs

2018-19 House Presidents IDs

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | May 9, 2018
What's the Best Way to Get Lunch?

What’s the Best Way to Get Lunch?

Helena Hu and Maryam Shama | May 1, 2018
Work Hard, Play Hard: Why the Minimum GPA to Compete Should be Raised

Work Hard, Play Hard: Why the Minimum GPA to Compete Should be Raised

Helena Hu and Aaron Sha | April 23, 2018
Sophomore Stephanie Tang helps an incoming freshman sign up for the National Organization of Women club. Students were able to watch performances from the visual and performing arts department and learn about the available activities on campus.

Bulldogs Welcome a New Pack of Pups at Eighth Grade Family Night

Helena Hu and Maya Sabbaghian | April 19, 2018
Sophomore Kameran Mody fist-bumps his team as he runs down the lineup at the start of the match in order to increase team spirit.

Spreading the “Love” of Tennis

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | March 29, 2018
Freshman Luna Lin dances to “Partition” during dance company’s “Iconic” performance.

Sports Spring into New Season at Pep Rally

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | March 12, 2018
Students, Staff and Guests Speak at Second Passion Day

Students, Staff and Guests Speak at Second Passion Day

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | March 6, 2018
"It is important to start preparing and reviewing early. Your previous tests and judge's comments can also help you work on things that may need more attention."

Tips and Tricks on Preparing for Certificate of Merit

Helena Hu and Simrat Singh | March 2, 2018
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[Photo] Setting Traditions for Winter Formal

Jenny Zhang, Staff Writer | February 26, 2018

The Most Awkward Valentine’s Day Stories

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | February 14, 2018
Dating Then vs. Now

Dating Then vs. Now

Helena Hu and Maryam Shama | February 13, 2018
Valentine's Day Playlist: Give your Heart a Musical Beat

Valentine’s Day Playlist: Give your Heart a Musical Beat

Priscilla Baek, Helena Hu, and Ajinkya Rane | February 12, 2018
ASB members invite the student body to “A Night at Gatsby’s,” the official title for the 1920s-themed winter formal. In order to promote student attendance, there will also be a chance for students to win free tickets by sending a picture to the official winter formal account, @phs.askings.

[Photo] ASB Announces Winter Formal Theme at Pep Rally

Annie Qiao, Co-Editor-In-Chief | January 29, 2018

Give me a Break!

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | January 15, 2018
Should Finals be Before or After Break?

Should Finals be Before or After Break?

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | January 15, 2018
Sophomore and center mid Mustafa Hassan works around opposing players to keep the ball in his possession and passes to his teammates.

JV Boys’ Soccer Heads into Holiday Season with a Win

Helena Hu and Maryam Shama | December 22, 2017
Sophomore and shooting guard #4 Omar Habibeh attempts to work around a defensive Pakuranga player in order to pass the ball to a teammate.

Basketball Defends Undefeated Home Record against New Zealand

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | December 18, 2017
Sophomore Jeffrey Chen attempts to make a basket during a drill at practice.

JV Boys’ Basketball Shoots for a Strong 2017-18 Season

Helena Hu, Social Media Director | December 4, 2017
Sophomore Zaid Khan signals to his teammates as he gains possession of the ball.

JV Boys’ Soccer Shoots Forward into New Season

Helena Hu and Maryam Shama | November 13, 2017
Freshman Ashley Presnell leaps in the air into a perfect split during Hercules' segment in the halftime show.

Students Travel Across the U.S.A. in Forthcoming Halftime Show

Helena Hu | October 13, 2017
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Helena Hu