Golden Bear News: August 21, 2026

Our Mission: Challenge and support every student, every step of the way.

• STAR Enterprise Reading & Math Assessment Window
  Monday, August 24 - Friday, September 25

• UAHS Homecoming Spirit Week
  Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28

• Bear Essentials Community Shopping Hours
  Thursday, August 27 | 3:15pm-4:30pm

• Open House
  Thursday, August 27 | 6:00pm-8:00pm
  Open House Schedule
  Upper Arlington High School

• Homecoming Dance
  Saturday, August 29 | 8:00pm-11:00pm
  Marv Moorehead Stadium
  Purchase Homecoming Tickets

• New Student Lunch
  Wednesday, September 2 | Student's Lunch Period
  1st Floor North Learning Commons

• College Planning Meeting for Seniors
  Wednesday, September 2 | 7:00pm
  Performing Arts Center

• Senior Cap & Gown Order Date

  Friday, September 4 | Periods 4 & 5
  South Golden Bear Boulevard

• The Hope Garden Dedication
  Friday, September 4 | 5:30pm
  Near the South Entrance of Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium

• Labor Day (School Closed)
  Monday, September 7

NOTE: Summer Community Service Requirement due Wednesday, September 30.

Help your child explore exciting career paths with our monthly Lunch & Learn series! During these casual sessions, students bring their lunch and hear directly from local industry professionals, gain real-world insights, and learn what it takes to succeed in various career fields.

Featured First Session: Architecture & Construction

Kick off the school year by encouraging your child to explore careers in building, trades, and design!

• Date & Time: Thursday, August 27 (4th & 5th Periods)
• Location: College & Career Center Conference Room
• Career Cluster: Architecture and Construction
• Guest Presenter: Builders Exchange of Central Ohio
• How to Register: Students can reserve their spot directly on MaiaLearning

If you're interested in sharing your profession with students, contact Leah Miller at lmiller@uaschools.org.

Join us for Open House on Thursday, August 27!

Take time to explore Golden Bear Boulevard, where a variety of UAHS activities and groups will be showcased. Our school store, Bear Essentials, will also be open. Stop by during your student’s lunch or forum to discover the many opportunities and experiences that make our school community unique.

NOTE: Please remember to bring your child’s schedule—either printed or on your device.

Below is the schedule for the evening. We’re excited to welcome you and hope you enjoy your visit!

Period 1 6:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Period 2 6:22 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Period 3 6:37 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Period 4 6:52 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Period 5 7:07 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Period 6 7:22 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Period 7 7:37 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Period 8 7:52 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Get ready to celebrate! The Homecoming Dance is Saturday, August 29 from 8:00pm–11:00pm at Marv Moorhead Stadium.

This Year’s Theme: Tropical / Hawaiian / Beach

Presale tickets are $30 through Sunday, August 23. Beginning Monday, August 24, tickets will increase to $35, so be sure to purchase yours right away!

Purchase Homecoming Tickets

Have questions? Please reach out to Taylor Naples at tnaples@uaschools.org or Amanda Strine at astrine@uaschools.org.

Thank you for your patience as the district has been working with our vendors to determine the damage and timeline for addressing concerns. Expect an update from the district early next week that will include a timeline for resuming normal activity in Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium.

We are reaching out to ask for your support in empowering our students in the Honors Science Research Program. As part of this program, our students design and conduct independent, high-level research projects, which they will present at two science fairs in early spring.

To help them succeed, every student needs an adult mentor working in a science-related realm. We are looking for professionals from a wide range of fields—including engineering, medicine, skilled trades (such as electricians), psychology, environmental science, technology, and beyond. As a mentor, you would guide a student through their project. Depending on your availability and the nature of the project, mentorship can take place at school, at home, at a lab, workshop, or workplace, or even remotely.

If you or someone you know might be interested in mentoring a high school scientist this school year, please reach out to Emma Zglinicki, the Director of the Honors Science Research Program at ezglinicki@uaschools.org.

Thank you for supporting our young researchers and contributing to our vibrant STEM community!

The UAHS PTO is excited to welcome all of our students and staff back for a brand-new school year! We kicked things off Monday by welcoming our freshmen with a sweet treat—doughnuts greeted students as they made their way into the building. 🍩

Throughout the year, the PTO provides programming, events, and supplies that support our students and staff, but we can’t do it without the support of our UAHS families.

We need your help! Our membership drive is currently at just 19% of our goal, and every donation makes a difference.

Support the UAHS PTO

Help us reach our goal and make this a great year for our students and staff!

We know parking around campus can be a challenge, so we’re thrilled to share a new solution! The City of Upper Arlington has given our district permission to use the top level of the Kingsdale parking garage during school hours. This extra space should go a long way in easing neighborhood traffic and congestion.

How It Works for Juniors

To make the most of this opportunity, we’re introducing a parking perk system for the Class of 2028:

• Get Your Placard: Any junior who opts into this parking location will receive a dedicated placard to hang from their rearview mirror.

• Scan & Earn: Each placard features a unique QR code. When your student parks on the top level, they simply scan the code to check in. Students are not obligated to park in the garage everyday. This code is only scannable while parked in the lot.

• Perk for Senior Year: Every verified park earns a point! At the end of the year, juniors will be ranked by their point totals, giving top scorers priority when choosing their individual reserved parking spot for senior year.

How It Works for Everyone Else

• All students without an assigned spot are permitted and encouraged to park in the Kingsdale lot.
• Only Juniors will be working off the "point" system for preferred parking their senior year.

What does it mean to be a coffee bean? According to Wall Street Journal bestselling author Damon West, it's choosing to transform the world around you instead of letting difficult circumstances change who you are.

Join our student-led Fostering a Conversation committee this fall for an inspiring evening as Damon West shares his remarkable journey of redemption and resilience — and challenges each of us to become a positive influence in our schools, workplaces and communities.

Tuesday, September 15 | 6:30 p.m.
UAHS Performing Arts Center | 1625 Zollinger Road

The Fostering a Conversation series, led by UAHS students, connects our community across generations through a collaboration between the Upper Arlington Community Foundation, UA Schools, and the UA Education Foundation and Alumni Association.

Tickets — $25, or $10 for students/faculty or senior citizens (65+) — are available for purchase at fosteringaconversationua.com. A ll proceeds will support future Fostering a Conversation events.

Just a reminder that all students are required to log 6 hours of service on MaiaLearning between June 1–September 30, 2026. If you need help, see the links below or reach out to Leah Miller at lmiller@uaschools.org.

• How to log service hours in MaiaLearning
• MaiaLearning Troubleshooting Tips
• What counts as service?
• Ongoing Service Opportunities
• Awards and honors for logging additional hours
• Students who don't log 6 hours by Wednesday, September 30 will be subject to retroactive marking of an unexcused absence for August 12, 2026, and ineligibility for Early Release, Late Arrival, and parking privileges.

Upper Arlington Schools is participating in the Ohio Direct Admission program, a pilot opportunity designed to make the college admissions process a little simpler for members of the Class of 2027. Through the program, participating Ohio colleges and universities may offer admission to eligible students based on information already on file with the school, such as GPA and standardized test scores—meaning students who meet a college’s admission requirements may receive an offer without completing a traditional college application.

Families are encouraged to learn more about the program and participating colleges using the links below. Information will also be shared with seniors during the school day next Thursday and at the Class of 2027 College Planning Meeting on September 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the UAHS Performing Arts Center. Additional information about how to opt out of participation will be shared next month, before any student information is provided to the Ohio Direct Admission program or participating colleges and universities.

Learn More About Ohio Direct Admission
View Participating Colleges and Universities

The Student Life Department is excited to launch a new monthly newsletter! Check out the first edition below for updates, announcements, and information from Student Life.

Student Life Newsletter - August 2026

Attendance is a critical component to learning. Students need to show up in order to take full advantage of the education programs we offer. Student and parents/guardians will be notified of the unexcused absences. Consequences (detention) may be assigned for each unexcused absence. Be sure to check your attendance each day to ensure it is accurate.

Please submit your medical notes to uahsattendance@uaschools.org. In order for attendance hours to not accumulate towards habitual absence triggers, medical documentation is needed.

Parents/guardians may find additional information, including new attendance requirements in effect beginning the 2026-27 school year on our website.

In addition to School Counselor classroom visits throughout the year, students and families have 24/7 access to College and Career information through MaiaLearning which can be accessed through ClassLink or maialearning.com.

Maia Learning is a platform that equips students with comprehensive career readiness tools and resources.

• Students can explore various career paths, develop essential skills, and make informed decisions about their future.
• Explore career readiness by discovering one's passions, strengths, and skills through assessments. These assessments help individuals gain insights into their interests, aptitudes, and abilities, enabling them to identify potential career paths that align with their unique attributes.
• Identify potential career paths and research those careers thoroughly. This includes gaining an overview of the field, exploring programs and majors, understanding demand and compensation, and identifying companies hiring, training required or colleges to attend.
• Individuals can create a list of potential careers that align with their interests and goals.
• Students can create a plan outlining the necessary steps to enter their potential careers.

Maia career resources can help students to unlock their future by providing personalized resources for education and career planning. These include pathway options in various industries, trades and military as well as careers leading to opportunities into programs such as the Peace Corps. Please login to check it out, and see your School Counselor or visit the College & Career Center with any questions.

Announcements for the current week are available on the high school website.

The website for school portraits, club photos, senior class photo

Contact familytechhelp@uaschools.org for tech support questions or situations

Click HERE to see previous issues of UAHS Golden Bear News.