As students received their yearbooks at the end of the 2017-18 school year, many were confused by the organization of the student portrait section. Students were grouped by houses instead of classes, and freshmen and sophomore portraits were laid out side by side, with no distinction between the two.

The upcoming yearbook will include both houses and traditional classes, creating a compromise that integrates both into one portrait layout.

“This year we’re going to separate into houses, and within the houses. We’re going to separate by different grades…I think that by incorporating both houses and grades it creates a better sense of unity,” yearbook co-editor-in-chief Grace Tu said.

Houses were especially effective as Portola started with only a freshman class and slowly added more students each year. As the student population approaches a full set of classes, the house system is still important to recognize because it is a unique aspect of Portola.

“I believe the house system is important because it is an integral part of the Portola experience,” junior Alexander Hwang said. “It’s something that we take pride in and have as part of our identity as Portola students. [Organization by classes] allows people to easily find themselves because, with a lot of students, it might be difficult to find your picture.”

A yearbook organized by houses and classes together will remind students of the two sides of their Portola identities, both of which are equally important. Ultimately, the yearbook is made for the students, and the yearbook team is dedicated to creating the best yearbook for this and future years.

“It all depends on what our perspective for this year and the years to come is. There is no really set rule that we have to do it this way every year,” Tu said.