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
News
Senior Yunxin Tao and sophomore Aditya Nair manufacture t-shirts for Portola Printing, Portola Highs first ever business. “Sometimes after school, we have a little party with about five to 10 students, heat pressing and folding and quality checking,” business teacher Katherine Dillon. “The next day, we count the orders and make sure we have all the right sizes, all the right numbers [to] make sure theyre all good and then we just go deliver it to the classrooms.”
‘Pressing’ On: Portola Printing Makes Progress In Business Goals
Marianne Chan and Alice Ahn | May 6, 2024
The new temporary Great Park music venue Great Park Live will open this July and feature picnic seating near the stage, according to Great Park Board Director and City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Ph.D. “Its going to take several years for the permanent amphitheater to be finished,” said Treseder. “We heard from a lot of residents that didnt want to go so long without live music, so were putting up the temporary one to fill that gap.”
City of Irvine Plans to Open New Temporary Music Venue for Summer Festivities
Camille Clement and Madeline Chung | April 18, 2024
Juniors Jimin Han, Ruhi Samudra, Hailey Van, Viola Xie and Shriya Ravipadi pose between Morgan Hall and Li Ka Shing at the University of California, Berkeley, after presenting their biomedical solution presentation to a group of judges.
BMES Attends Annual BioEngineering Competition in Medical Research
Hannah Ko, Assistant Opinion Editor | April 17, 2024
FIRST Robotics president and senior Amy Shok adjusts the robot created for the Orange County Robotics competition before a game. “We had to make sure that everything was going according to plan, and if there was any problem, we were prepared to fix it,” Shok said. “I think that problem-solving mindset was evident in our robot as well. Our robot had a lot of different changes made because the original design didnt account for things such as how the robot would be made.”
FIRST Robotics Team Creates a ‘Crescendo’ at Orange County Competition
Sonia Wang and Kayley Winata | April 9, 2024
People of Portola High
Junior Luke Porter and senior Mathias Lee committed to the Naval Academy, and junior Abby Miller committed to the Air Force Academy to pursue their passions and desire to serve their country. “Im honestly super excited to work in the military after graduating,” Miller said. “I know that might be a weird thing to say, but that is something that kind of drew me to the military academies: it’s knowing that after I graduate, I have a job for at least five years. I honestly think that jobs in the military are just so incredible, and theyre so honorable. I dont really want an office job and being in the military is definitely kind of a way to find a job with a larger purpose.”
Answering the Call to Command: Meet Three Military Academy Commits
Hannah Ko and Maya Tedini | May 3, 2024
Hair has become a vessel for self-expression for many due to its versatility. “I just love my hair,” freshman Kate Song said. “Style is something that you could switch up. But my hair is kind of something that shows how I love this color, or I love this style.”
Bulldogs Express True ‘Colors’ Through Dyed Hair
Kayley Winata | April 12, 2024
Girls Who Code (GWO) co-President and senior Injila Adil hands a microphone over to Planet Protectors President and junior Sahana Ananth during their meeting on March 20. The two clubs plan on collaborating to code an app designed by Planet Protectors that promotes environmental consciousness, according to GWO co-President and sophomore Avnit Kaur.
Girls Who Code Club Celebrates STEM Field Trailblazers for Women’s History Month
Maya Tedini | March 28, 2024
Sophomore Avnit Kaur works to strengthen her case with her speech and debate teammates. “The thing I love about the Lincoln-Douglas style is that we have to debate on both the affirmative side and the negation side of the resolution,” Kaur said. “It really helps you think on both sides rather than being fixated on one idea.”
From Prep to Podium: Sophomore Avnit Kaur Lands a Spot at the State Debate Tournament
Alice Ahn and Maitri Allani | March 26, 2024
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Features
Junior Luke Porter and senior Mathias Lee committed to the Naval Academy, and junior Abby Miller committed to the Air Force Academy to pursue their passions and desire to serve their country. “Im honestly super excited to work in the military after graduating,” Miller said. “I know that might be a weird thing to say, but that is something that kind of drew me to the military academies: it’s knowing that after I graduate, I have a job for at least five years. I honestly think that jobs in the military are just so incredible, and theyre so honorable. I dont really want an office job and being in the military is definitely kind of a way to find a job with a larger purpose.”
Answering the Call to Command: Meet Three Military Academy Commits
Hannah Ko and Maya Tedini | May 3, 2024
Hair has become a vessel for self-expression for many due to its versatility. “I just love my hair,” freshman Kate Song said. “Style is something that you could switch up. But my hair is kind of something that shows how I love this color, or I love this style.”
Bulldogs Express True ‘Colors’ Through Dyed Hair
Kayley Winata | April 12, 2024
Arts & Entertainment
The banner of the village and the Seven Samurai, which serves as a symbol of hope for the protagonists.
Seven Samurai: A Japanese Classic 70 Years On
Jordan Hata, Staff Writer | May 6, 2024
Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” is a melancholic reflection of Swift’s identity and past relationships. This album is arguably more dreamy compared to Swift’s previous ones, going along with the “Folklore” style with a more synth-pop vibe.
Taylor Swift Proves She “Can Do It With a Broken Heart” in Eleventh Studio Album
Claire Chan and Maitri Allani | May 2, 2024
For decades, artist rivalries have pervaded the hip-hop scene. While Drake’s beef primarily concerns artists Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, controversial rapper Kanye West has injected himself into the beef with the April 22 release of his “Like That” remix. It appears West’s fear of missing out is at play here, as he was initially unrelated to the drama.
The Latest Hip-Hop Craze: Dissecting Drake’s Beef
Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | April 28, 2024
Opinion
When Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick of the WNBA draft, was revealed to receive a significantly lower wage than Victor Wembanyama, last year’s NBA No. 1 pick, injustice towards female athletes became evident to sports viewers. “It needs to balance out a little bit more, especially now with Caitlin Clark and everything that shes done for womens college basketball,” prospective Wellesley college girls’ basketball player and senior Emaleena Elson said. “Shes brought in so many more viewers and so much more attention to the WNBA. So at the end of the day, if the wage gap is about viewers, then shouldnt it be more balanced now?”
A ‘Slam Flunk’ in Sports: Caitlin Clark Controversy Stirs up Gender Pay Gap Discussion
Kayley Winata and Sonia Wang | May 1, 2024
Taking sick days when you are not sick makes it unfair for students who are actually ill and harder for teachers to fairly create make-up tests. “Its getting harder for us to distinguish sick students because students are just saying theyre ill when in reality theyre not,” AP Physics and engineering teacher Anthony Pham said. “Were at a point where we should consider just always having a different, harder exam for students no matter what the scenario might be, which will really hurt students that are actually sick and who need the time to recover before they can study.”
A Doctor’s Note on Test Day Keeps the ‘Sick’ Students Away
Stephanie Hwang and Jordan Hata | April 29, 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
The rise in the coquette aesthetic has forced femininity to be characterized by dependent and delicate ideals, contrasting a society moving towards female empowerment. Though coquetry can bond girls and women, it is important to move away from such trends that constitute retrogression.
The Shadows Behind the Frills and Pink Bows of the Trending Coquette Aesthetic
Kayleen Kim and Ruhi Samudra | April 25, 2024
Sports
Attacker and sophomore Olivia Ganes scoops the ball and cradles it through two Vaquero players. Ganes was able to play more aggressively during this game, according to head girls’ lacrosse coach Julie Primero. “Olivia scoring three goals was crazy,” said utility player and sophomore Claire Hsin. “Im super proud of her for that.”
Girls’ Lacrosse Uses Adaptive Strategy to Secure Victory Against Irvine High
Sky Nguyen and Kelly Yeh | May 1, 2024
Junior Bronson Pearson passes the baton to senior Rider Cooper, who acts as the anchor during the 4x100 relay at the Portola vs. Laguna Hills dual meet on April 9, allowing him to sprint to the finish and secure the win for the Bulldogs. “All my teammates have been super supportive by pushing me in practice and racing me,” Cooper said.
Senior Rider Cooper Shatters Records and Rises to the Top
Aditi Salunkhe and Sonia Wang | April 24, 2024
Issues
April 2024: Volume 8 Issue 6
April 2024: Volume 8 Issue 6

 

February 2024: Volume 8 Issue 5
February 2024: Volume 8 Issue 5

 

January 2024: Volume 8 Issue 4
January 2024: Volume 8 Issue 4

 

December 2023: Volume 8 Issue 3
December 2023: Volume 8 Issue 3

 

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The student news site of Portola High School
The student news site of Portola High School