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
Mary Lee

Mary Lee, Managing Editor

Mary Lee is a Managing Editor for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. While immersing herself in ambient pomodoro music or playing Korean music on full blast, she enjoys reading the Metropolitan Diary section from The New York Times and sharing stories with family members. Throughout this school year and beyond, she hopes to discover more sources of genuine fulfillment. She looks forward to writing stories on topics she cares about while building lasting relationships with the school community.

All content by Mary Lee
Interim SRO Justin Russell looks forward to bringing safety and security to Portola High. “There’s a lot of different things that happen on high school campuses,” Russell said. “If I can help mitigate some of those issues or some of those crises, whether be the counseling staff or the mental health staff or provide additional resources through the police department or anything like that, then I want to be kind of a gateway to helping get those problems solved.”

Supporting Students and Keeping them Safe: Meet Interim Student Resource Officer Justin Russell

Mary Lee, Managing Editor | October 2, 2025
Boys varsity lacrosse coach and physics teacher Matthew Pantalon works with athletes to develop proper shooting form and cradling techniques. “I've loved getting to know the team,” Pantalon said. “When we've been able to get a good turnout at practice, it's been fantastic.”

New Coaches Prepare to Take the Field at Portola High

Mary Lee and Riya Chandan | September 26, 2025
Basketball athlete Audrey Shiono decorates her backpack and her water bottle to bond with her teammates by making something unique to them that encourages her during games. “I got my first Squishmallow keychain at Walgreens shopping with my friend because she said that it represents my personality,” Shiono said. “My other friend then bought me the blue Squishmallow keychain for the same reason. I love having them on my bag as a reminder of staying positive while playing and practicing.”

Form and Function: How Athletes Decorate Their Gear for Team Bonding and Self-Expression

Stephanie Hwang and Mary Lee | June 3, 2025
Students should not participate in academic dishonesty; instead, building habits such as preparing for exams earlier can benefit them in the future.

Academic Dishonesty Undermines One’s Own Future

Mary Lee, Assistant A&E Editor | May 30, 2025
Junior Jane Ryu stands in front of her winning art from over the past three years. “I think it helps to think about how your message will be received by people beyond Portola,” Ryu said. “Choosing something that’s both personal and relatable universally can make your work really stand out.”

Junior Jane Ryu Paints Her Way Towards Growth in the Congressional Art Competition

Mary Lee, Assistant A&E Editor | May 16, 2025
Torpis decorates a ceramic piece. “Since they've used almost all of the glazes in the classroom, I make test tiles as well for the kids so they know what it looks like,” Torpis said. “I'll show them different pieces I've made or different test tiles I've made, so they can see it and feel it, and they understand what it looks like.”

Class Act: Student TAs Support Classrooms

Marianne Chan and Mary Lee | March 4, 2025
Freshman Akhilesh Kuppili plays chess using Chess.com, a platform that provides practice through puzzles, matches and videos. “I think playing chess to begin with, not just competitively, is always a skill that can help you in anything,” Kuppili said. “This is always something that will help you with anything, because you’re using your mind on the game.”

Freshman Akhilesh Kuppili ‘Plays’ Chess as a Passion

Mary Lee, Arts & Entertainment Assistant Editor | January 30, 2025
Freshman Nikitha Thota rummages through her pencil case in search of her favorite stationery item. Thota’s initial love for stationery was largely influenced by her older sister’s obsession with stationery, Thota said. “She used to always bring a bunch of pens home, then when I a little kid I would just see all this stuff, and I would think it's really cool. It wasn't me really going out and getting [stationery]. It was really just me taking it from her.”

Students Dive Into Stationery: A Look Into Portola High’s Pen Connoisseurs

Annie Xiao and Mary Lee | November 1, 2024
During practices for CIF, the girls’ volleyball participates in new activities, according to setter and sophomore Jane Park. For example, the team has been participating in activities where the athletes can have more fun, according to setter, defense specialist and junior Jojo Liu.

Girls Volleyball ‘Sets’ Portola High History with CIF Qualification

Mary Lee and Catherine Li | October 28, 2024
Offshore wind energy is a key example of the complexities of renewable energy sources. The public should interpret the word “renewable” with caveats as there are many side effects, both positive and negative, along with a lack of information surrounding the newer technologies that fall under this category.

Renewable Energy Sources Are Not As Straightforward As You May Think

Mary Lee, Assistant A&E Editor | October 28, 2024
Setter and sophomore Jane Park jumps for the volleyball during the first set of the game. Park scored multiple points throughout the game through her serves, including the Bulldogs’ final point that won them the fifth set. “The first two sets there were definitely moments where we were playing our normal subs, but then for the most part, I feel like it was a lot of still trying to figure out what we could do to get points,” co-captain, libero and senior Izzy Macasero said. “Once we finally did realize that, that's what helped us get these victorious moments.”

Girls’ Volleyball Wins Hard-Fought Reverse Sweep Against Sage Hill High

Mary Lee and Catherine Li | October 8, 2024
Softball poses together after their senior night game, getting ready to eat out together per tradition. “I’m going to miss the people,” outfielder and senior Smira Sonthalia said. “I really love my teammates, and the only reason why I love softball so much is really because of the people that I'm with every day, so I'm really going to miss that team energy and that family. My second family, basically.”

Close-knit Softball Athletes ‘Team’ Together with Friendship

Stephanie Hwang and Mary Lee | May 20, 2024
Parent volunteers from the Portola High Indian Parent Group serve traditional dishes to staff members Julie Primero and student teacher Cole Kong. “I was very thankful to my community and the kids who participated for this event, because it's because of them that staff and teachers were feeling appreciated,” luncheon co-organizer and Portola High Indian Parent Group member Dolly Malani said. “They felt that lively spirit around them, so for me, when they are happy, that means our event is going good. I'm grateful for what they do for students at school.”

Spooning Food, Activities and Gratitude: Students and Parents Celebrate Staff Appreciation Week

Marianne Chan and Mary Lee | May 10, 2024
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
Students themselves benefit most by actively participating in the exercises within their PE class. “Coaches or PE teachers get disappointed because it's like, ‘I'm not upset that you're not doing what I asked you to do. I'm upset that you're going to continue to be like this,’” PE teacher and Athletic Director Peter Abe said. “And that's only going to hurt you long term, which will lead to things that they can't even fathom in terms of illness and disease.”

Yes, PE Classes Are Worth Your Effort

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | April 12, 2024
Junior Bill Song, senior Gabe Mutsvangwa, junior Sophie Guilfoile, junior Evelyn Lai, senior Kate Abalos and junior Mia Jong (left back to front right) represented Portola High at the 2024 IUSD Sacramento student advocacy trip. The trip encourages critical thinking and student engagement in political discussion, according to Resendez. “You have to sit in a room with a legislator, and have the courage to stand up and say, I have a story to tell, and you need to know about it,” Resendez said.

Portola High Students Join Annual IUSD Sacramento Student Advocacy Trip

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | March 21, 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 they're promoting a lot of toxic relationships that people are now perceiving as commonly acceptable,” senior Zara Hommez said. “So I think it's 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
Junior Yash Malani accepts the first-place award at the IUSD Science and Engineering Fair. “It feels like we accomplished a lot,” Malani said. “It got me looking into the possibility of robotics and the hardware part of computers.”

Portola High Students Win High Honors at 2024 IUSD Science Fair

Mary Lee and Aditi Salunkhe | February 5, 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
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

Daylight Savings Should be a Permanent Fixture

Mary Lee and Stephanie Hwang | November 17, 2023

Club Merging is an Opportunity, Not a Deprivation

Mary Lee and Elizabeth Gao | November 6, 2023
Senior Haniya Hassaan and juniors Zoe Nguyen and Anaika Nagireddy prepared their sports and entertainment marketing presentation for a panel of judges. Students were given 10 minutes to prepare for their event and were split into groups of two to three attendees.

Students Stay ‘Busy’ in Portola Business Club’s Fourth Annual Mini-Conference

Aditi Salunkhe and Mary Lee | October 30, 2023
Dance and French teacher Megan Kirby instructs Dance 1 students on the proper form and technique of pique turns. “There's a lot of learning from mistakes involved and developing skill[s] and having a growth mindset,” Kirby said.

French Teacher Megan Kirby ‘Turns’ to the Dance Studio

Mary Lee and Aditi Salunkhe | October 5, 2023
A geography course can help students learn the importance of critical thinking and understand the world around them on a deeper level. Without such courses, this opportunity may be missed.

Students Deserve to View the World with Geographical Knowledge

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | September 28, 2023
Fears that time is running out and the environment will collapse in the near future has spurred feelings of helplessness and desperation among young individuals. “I think there should be a lot more to be done to educate citizens on how you can take action in ways such as making public comments at city council meetings and just getting to know your representatives in general,” animal and environmental protection club president and senior Katherine Chang said.

Eco-anxiety Is a Step Forward to Saving the Environment

Jana Malek and Mary Lee | April 13, 2023
Science teacher Leanne Jimenez explains the next year’s different course options to eighth-period honors chemistry students on Friday. According to Jimenez, physics is a required course to take in junior year, whether it be a CP or AP level.

Science Teacher Leanne Jimenez Applies Uruguayan Educational Methods in the Classroom

Kayleen Kim and Mary Lee | April 10, 2023
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The student news site of Portola High School
Mary Lee