Portola High plans to open the previously closed and under-construction buildings in order to accommodate for the additional 400 freshmen joining this upcoming August.

In Portola High’s first year, most academic classes were concentrated in the 600 and 700 buildings, with the exception of the science department that occupied the first floors of the 800 building in order to use the installed chemical fume hoods.

“First year felt kind of empty and I felt like I knew all the people who went to the school. It felt more like just a classroom instead of a whole school,” junior Jimmy Kang said. “We were all told about the huge school but in reality we were only using such a small portion.”

In its second year, although both the student population doubled, the administration only opened the second floor of the 800 building for the chemistry department. The 900 and 1000 buildings remained empty and often closed with do-not-enter signs but only until this August.

“In order to open the school as soon as possible, the classrooms in the buildings away from student union was completed during the school year,” principal John Pehrson said. “Now that the classrooms are finished and we have more people, we are excited to use our campus to a greater extent.”

The 900 and 1000 buildings will be filled with brand-new chairs, desks and other classroom equipment. This expansion offers more room for the wide range of courses offered next year, as well as the club meetings. Especially, the 1000 building provides a large shaded area in its center, which will help with the overpopulated Student Union. In addition, the second floors of the two buildings offer a remarkable scenery towards the vast fields that extend towards the Irvine Spectrum Center.

“I really look forward to it,” junior Shelly Li said. “Watching Portola grow and expand is really fun to watch and be a part of.”

<Ki Joon Lee (Portola HS 11th Grade)>