An immigrant family gathers for dinner and begins to reflect on their day, the familiar sounds of their native language ringing across the dining table. A child tugs on their mother’s arm and asks, “I…

If you’ve seen several students scrambling to film, assemble and edit, they are most likely on a mission to submit their entry for the Orange County Film Festival (OCFF) before the Dec.16 deadline.

OCFF,…

Slimy peas, salty beans and preservative-packed cranberry sauce are just some of the foods donated during the holiday food drive season. Portola students collected over 200 cans for the Second Harvest…

Assistant cross country coach Rodney Anzai made significant history as the first Japanese-American to attain the rank of colonel in the Air Force Medical Service Corps in 1981.

Inducted into the…

Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was published in 1985 when my mother was a teenager. It’s sequel “The Testaments” came out last month. A generation later, the story seamlessly reopens…

From the Clean-Up Crew to its mail delivery system and gardening program, the Special Education department is constantly finding ways for its students to get involved in the school community. As of this…

Special education expanded its program in the 2019-20 school year, ushering in a slew of community projects designed to foster its students’ social development skills and to build community relationships. 
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Sophomore Andrew Harriger adjusts the camera. With a smile on her face, sophomore Elena Kim declares “PNN 10/1 take five.” Junior Skye Lee and sophomore Tiffany Park take a deep breath and began.

“What’s…

While the art studio on campus is filled with buckets of worn brushes and pungent paints, senior Katherine Hung needs only the elegant glide of her pen over her tablet screen to make her characters come…

Established by new drama teacher Samantha Sanford, Portola High’s first Cappies program invites all artists who possess a passion deeply rooted in theater to take their understanding of the performing…

As the Bulldogs fall into stride with the new school year and mature alongside their school, it is easy to forget that many staff members have been growing and reaching major milestones in their personal…

Freshman Erin Choi lifts her carbon coated arrow and loads it into her bow as she eyes the target in front of her. She strenuously pulls back the braided string and rests her hand underneath her chin….

There have been many enduring sports curses, from the Madden cover curse of the NFL to the curse of the Bambino that plagued the Boston Red Sox. Now, Portola’s baseball team has its own: the Anthony…

Hours of jury-rigging planes and practicing maneuvers culminate with shattered pieces, but junior Justin Tam is not deterred. With the patience and expertise developed over the past five years, he is eager…

After cultivating a philosophy club for a year, junior Stephanie Zhang and her devoted team of philosophy fanatics advanced from club founders to curriculum developers as they became the first students…

The steady pulse of the drum permeates the air, providing a solid background that accompanies the harmonic blend of the acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano. A melodious voice layers onto these complex…

Eighteen performers shared moving stories on “Perspective” to students from all Irvine Unified School District high schools, who gathered in the Portola theater on Dec. 15 for “Chapter 2” of Irvine…

Within the horde of frantic juniors cramming for upcoming tests in office hours sits doe-eyed and fresh-faced freshman Sabreen Alam. She carries a passion for the field of Science, Technology, Engineering…

With melodious voices rising and falling in beautiful phrases, the soprano, alto, tenor and bass lines blend in harmony for the musical arrangement. The members of Rising Dynamics, Portola High’s first…