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The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

The student news site of Oakton High School

Oakton Outlook

Portia Dai, Editorial Board

Hi my name is Portia and I'm a senior. This is my fourth year writing for the Oakton Outlook, and my first year as a member of the Editorial Board. I enjoy writing Oakton news, politics, and feature stories. Outside the Oakton Outlook, I enjoy reading, dancing, and listening to music.

All content by Portia Dai

New teachers and their experience returning in-person

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | September 22, 2021

The entire student body has returned back in-person, initiating an adjustment period for students and teachers alike. To add an additional layer to the adjustment, new teachers Ms. Chough and Ms. Kondisko...

Image courtesy of Heidi Fin on Unsplash

Culturize, commercialize, and watch religion walk out the door

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | April 15, 2021

When you think of holidays, what are some of the first ones that come to mind? Most likely Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas is that Christmas is a...

Image Courtesy of Oakton Counseling Department

The return of student yoga sessions

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | March 10, 2021

With students and staff alike accumulating stress due to the new virtual/in-person hybrid teaching style as well as the upcoming end of the third quarter, the return of the counselor department-led yoga...

Comparing Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines

Comparing Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | January 14, 2021

Below is a closer look at the similarities and differences between the two COVID-19 vaccines.

Courtesy of Cougar Chorus

Cougar Cabaret presents “Quarantunes”

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 31, 2020

Cougar Cabaret is a chance for chorus students to showcase their hard work and feature solo and duet performances. Cougar chorus has faced many challenges during quarantine, hence the theme of this year’s...

How did Trump’s actions affect the way Pence had to debate?

How did Trump’s actions affect the way Pence had to debate?

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 17, 2020

The discussion of who will become the next President of the United States officially began two weeks ago with the first Presidential debate broadcasted across the country. During the debate between President...

New teachers and new environments

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 6, 2020

The new norm of virtual learning is now in full swing with the first month of school passing in a blur. Students have varied feelings on how the online setting compares to in-person schooling, but how...

Photo Courtesy of Cole Keister on Unsplash

Senior advice to underclassmen

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | May 30, 2020

Seniors have worked hard to get to where they are today and even if they won’t get the graduation they imagined, they will still get greeted by a college, or maybe a gap year in the coming school year....

Construction during quarantine

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | May 7, 2020

Oakton is finally starting to look like the artist renderings that have been front and center walking down the main hall to the cafeteria; the ceiling-less and drywall halls that students left in mid-March...

Art by Sarah Naidich

EOL Presentations

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | April 20, 2020

The EOL. An exhibition of learning. A presentation aiming to allow students to share their passions. While many students don’t take the EOL seriously because many teachers don’t attach grades to it,...

Courtesy of Sean White

Spring Sports Tryouts

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | February 19, 2020

Spring sports tryouts are set to begin the week of February 24th just as the third quarter begins and students are scrambling to get all the required forms completed. The sports that will be holding tryouts...

Governor’s School

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | January 14, 2020

Governor’s school is something many students may not have heard of unless they are in the arts (orchestra, band, or chorus) and although it offers programs in the arts, it also provides programs in academics...

Former New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Michael Bloomberg vs Donald Trump

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | January 5, 2020

Michael “Mike” Bloomberg and Donald Trump: two billionaire businessmen who are running for the 2020 presidential elections—one who had no political experience before being elected president, and...

Opting-out of AP exams

Opting-out of AP exams

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 31, 2019

Many sophomores and the majority of upperclassmen are taking advanced placement (AP) classes this school year. The pinnacle of stress always culminates towards the end of the year in the form of AP exams....

Meet the Teachers!

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | September 15, 2019

This year saw the reveal of Oakton’s new cafeteria and while this is exciting, it’s not the only new thing at Oakton. Here’s an introduction to some of Oakton’s newest staff members. Miss. Birnie Miss...

Teacher Appreciation Week

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | May 6, 2019

It’s May and while that means the end of the year is approaching, it also means that our teachers have been teaching us for nine months. This week is teacher appreciation week and this provides a perfect...

The Benefits of Yoga

The Benefits of Yoga

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | April 26, 2019

During the morning announcements, you may have heard that “yoga will be in the aux gym today.” These yoga sessions are led by Jenny Ferguson who has been teaching these classes since they started....

Spring Break Destinations

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | April 11, 2019

Spring break is coming up and it seems like everyone is spending it somewhere fun. Here are some places you could go to enjoy your break. Beaches always seem to be a prime destination and from the west...

This is a picture of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders during his campaign in the 2016 elections. He will be running again for the 2020 elections. Credit to Flickr.

2020 Presidential Campaigns

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | March 11, 2019

The season of presidential campaigns for the upcoming 2020 elections is nearing and as of now, there are already a superfluous amount of Democrats running for President or considering it, and only a handful...

This is a picture of best actress winner Olivia Colman accepting her Oscar. Picture credits to Getty Images.

The Oscars

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | March 1, 2019

The Oscars are an annual award ceremony held to recognize excellence in the film industry and are given out by the Academy. The Academy chooses one winner in each category of film and the winner receives...

Saudi Arabian Journalist Disappearance

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 17, 2018

A Saudi Arabian journalist went missing two weeks ago on October 2nd and it is now speculated that he was murdered. Turkish officials have investigated the situation and say that Jamal Khashoggi entered...

Air Force One Experience

Air Force One Experience

Portia Dai, Editorial Board | October 9, 2018

Who wouldn’t want a personal plane? The President of the United States has that privilege among many others. This month, a replica of the Air Force One will be on display at the National Harbor in Maryland....

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