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
Nicole Lu

Nicole Lu, Assistant Sports Editor

Nicole Lu is the Assistant Sports Editor for her second year on the Portola Pilot. This year, she is excited to write fun and engaging stories with the rest of the pilot members! When she’s (hopefully) not stressing over AP Physics, you can find her curating an immaculate Spotify playlist, adding more items to her online shopping carts, or hopefully working on getting her driver’s license (trust).

All content by Nicole Lu
Portola High’s assistant cafeteria lead Keri O’Melveny works the register at Portola High’s mini cafeteria, located underneath the 1000s building. “Being at Woodbury for all those years and now being at Portola, I have all those kids back, and so it's so exciting to see them grown up,” Prunty said. “Just building relationships with the kids is really special to me.”

Portola High’s Cafeteria Staff Serve Students With Dedication

Nicole Lu and Nicole Ferguson | September 26, 2025

Rating Chobani Flip Flavors!

Moer Koey and Nicole Lu | September 22, 2025
Irvine is seeing major developments with the upcoming Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum and T&T grocery store, while UC Irvine and Portola High School earn prestigious awards. The city’s recent growth reflects a commitment to culture, education and sustainability, bringing more diversity to the city, according to IUSD.org and UC Irvine Digest.

News Recap: Irvine Grows as a Dynamic City

Siri Kolanupaka and Nicole Lu | June 3, 2025
Ben Matsuda finishes his swing on the fairway. “Ben’s a freshman, and he’s playing solid,” boys’ golf coach Wind Ralston said. “His average is way below what it was for general rounds, which is good because that means he is playing better golf under more competitive circumstances.”

Freshman Ben Matsuda ‘Swings’ Into Excellence on Boys’ Golf

Nicole Lu and Moer Koey | May 14, 2025
To stay motivated while studying, junior Emma Saighani-Mirbaz takes breaks after each unit block she reviews. “This helps prevent burnout and makes it easier to focus, whereas a four-hour session would likely decrease your efficiency,” Saighani-Mirbaz said.

A Look Into How Bulldogs Are Preparing For Their AP Exams

Nicole Lu, Staff Writer | May 13, 2025
The album cover of “Hope, Alaska” captures Castelli’s grandfather, who moved to Hope as a young man and built a cabin, as pictured in the photo. Though he never met his grandfather, Castelli appreciated the cabin in the woods that he left for his family.

Ralph Castelli’s New Album “Hope, Alaska” Contains Mountains of Emotion

Nicole Lu, Staff Writer | May 8, 2025
A student places their phone in the designated classroom chart. With California schools cracking down on phone use, tools like these help minimize distractions and promote a more respectful, focused learning environment.

[Photo] Hands Off Your Phones: Redefining Classroom Culture at Portola High

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | May 2, 2025
Each year, families and friends gather to give thanks over a grand feast filled with a variety of side dishes that fill their bellies. Together, these sides bring all the flavor to this holiday.

The Best Side Dishes of a Thanksgiving Feast

Moer Koey and Nicole Lu | November 21, 2024
California Proposition 2 and 32 are heavily impactful to students both short-term and in the long-run. If passed, these propositions could negatively increase Californians’ tax debts but positively increase minimum wage.

The Pros and Cons of California Proposition 32 and 2

Nicole Lu and Moer Koey | November 6, 2024
The new phone guidelines spark engagement in various class settings since students are no longer allowed to use their cell phones and must devote their attention to learning instead. “My [advisement] students are more engaged in whatever's happening,” Principal John Pehrson said. “[By] having the cell phones put aside, now they can just naturally get their heads up and interact with people around them.”

New Phone Practice ‘Disconnects’ Students From Their Phones to ‘Connect’ Them to Class

Nicole Lu and Kayley Winata | September 25, 2024
South Korean band Wave to Earth’s third album, “play with earth! 0.03,” explores themes of self-fulfillment, love, heartbreak and identity that often intertwine in unexpected ways — from apocalyptic symbolism to languid moments under the sun.

Wave to Earth ‘Plays’ with Sound in Latest Album Release

Marianne Chan and Nicole Lu | September 16, 2024
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Nicole Lu