Golden Bear News: August 28, 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

• 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

• EF Tour Info Meeting: Australia & New Zealand
  Thursday, September 3 | 7:00pm
  1st Floor North Learning Commons

• 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

• PTO Meeting
  Tuesday, September 8 | 8:30am-9:30pm
  College Center Conference Rooms C2101 & C2102

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

If you plan to cheer on your Golden Bears this season, please keep in mind the following important rules. These expectations will be enforced throughout the football season in order to create a positive and enjoyable environment for Golden Bear fans of all ages.

• If you choose to participate in a tailgate, please be aware that state law prohibits the possession or use of alcohol or controlled substances on school grounds or at school-related events. This includes any school parking lot.

• If you have a young fan in your family, please remember that elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by a supervising adult throughout the entirety of the game. These students should sit in the stands during the game unless they are using the restroom or waiting in line at the concession stands. There should be no loitering at the concession stands, restrooms or under the bleachers.

• Footballs and other sports equipment are not allowed at the game and will be confiscated. Students should not throw these or other items, spit or touch each other.

• Elementary and middle school students are not permitted on the field after the game until the visiting team is off the turf and the alma mater has concluded.

• Students must leave the stadium within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the game.

• Finally, the turf practice fields will be off limits during and after varsity football home games.

If a student is not able to meet these expectations during the game, a parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up the student immediately.

We are thrilled to launch High School 101, a new course designed to guide all incoming 9th graders through a smooth and successful transition into high school. Built directly in Canvas, this interactive program equips students with the tools they need to navigate their high school journey and beyond.

Every Tuesday during Gold Period, freshmen will actively engage with the course. They will alternate between dedicated work time on their Canvas modules and interactive sessions with their Link Crew Leaders—reconnecting with the upperclassmen who led their Freshman Orientation for fun activities.

HS 101 ensures our 9th graders get both the academic grounding and social connection they need to thrive. We encourage you to ask your students about what they’re discovering in High School 101 each week!

2025–26 Yearbooks
If you ordered a 2025–26 yearbook, it will be delivered directly to your home address within the next few weeks.

If you missed the opportunity to order last year’s yearbook, we will have a limited number of extra copies available for purchase during both lunch periods on Tuesday, September 1, and Wednesday, September 2. The cost is $110.

The Norwester staff will have a table set up on Golden Bear Boulevard, across from the cafeteria entrance. Payment may be made by cash or check payable to UA Schools.

2026–27 Yearbooks
Ready to order this year’s yearbook? You can purchase your 2026–27 Norwester Yearbook here:

Jostens Yearbook Order Form

Questions about the Norwester Yearbook? Please contact Robin Mollica at romollica@uaschools.org.

Join the Upper Arlington Education Foundation, Upper Arlington Schools and the Short family for the dedication of the Hope Garden at Upper Arlington High School on Friday, September 4, at 5:30pm.

The brief ceremony will be held at the garden, located near the south entrance of Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium, between the high school building and the tennis courts. This space is a peaceful, welcoming space where students, families, staff and community members can pause in times of heartache, find hope in difficult moments and honor the memories of those they have lost.

Made possible through the generosity of donors to the Hope Garden Fund through the Upper Arlington Education Foundation, the garden honors the life of Sam Short and other Upper Arlington students who passed away during their time in our schools. Sam, the beloved son of Mike and Tori Short, was the first graduate of Upper Arlington High School's 100th class. His courageous spirit and enduring optimism inspired his family to create a place that not only celebrates his life but also provides comfort, hope and remembrance for members of the Upper Arlington Schools community who have experienced the loss of a student.

Parents and families, please review the AP/IB May Testing Schedule for 2027 and keep it handy throughout the school year. If your student is enrolled in an AP or IB course, they are expected to take the corresponding exam.

We are fortunate that Upper Arlington Schools covers the cost of these exams for our students. AP and IB exams provide valuable opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and gain experience that can help prepare them for success in college and beyond.

If you have questions about AP/IB testing, please contact Cynthia Ballheim at cballheim@uaschools.org.

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 place in their car.

• 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.

If you want your student's senior portrait in the 2026-2027 Norwester Yearbook, the deadline is January 15th, 2027.

You or your student will upload directly to Jostens this year. More information will follow with the link and photo specifications. Norwester will not use the student's photo ID as a default. If a senior portrait is not submitted by the deadline, the photo will not be included. Jostens will turn off submission on Friday, January 15.

If you have any questions email Robin at romollica@uaschools.org

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.