Golden Bear News: September 4, 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

• 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

• Bear Essentials Community Shopping Hours
  Thursday, September 10 | 3:15pm-4:30pm
  Note: No returns or exchanges.

• Altered Schedule for Fostering a Conversation
  Tuesday, September 15

  - Period 1 ~ 8:05-8:45

  - Period 2 ~ 8:50-9:30

  - Period 3 ~ 9:35-10:15

  - Period 4 ~ 10:20-11:00

  - Period 5 ~ 11:05-11:45

  - Period 6 ~ 11:50-12:30

  - Period 7 ~ 12:35-1:15

  - Period 8A ~ 1:20-2:10

  - Period 8B ~ 2:20-3:05

• Altered Schedule for Early Dismissal
  Wednesday, September 16
  - Period 1 ~ 8:05-8:40
  - Period 2 ~ 8:45-9:20
  - Period 3 ~ 9:25-10:00
  - Period 4 ~ 10:05-10:45
  - Period 5 ~ 10:50-11:30
  - Period 6 ~ 11:35-12:10
  - Period 7 ~ 12:15-12:50
  - Period 8 ~ 12:55-1:30

• Student Activity Fair
  Friday, September 18 | Periods 4 & 5
  Golden Bear Boulevard

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

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.

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!

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.

To help protect our students and staff from unnecessary illness, we ask parents/guardians to check how their student is feeling before sending them to school each day. This is especially important because we have students and staff at the high school who may be immunosuppressed or medically vulnerable. Keeping our school community healthy and safe is a priority.

Please do not send your student to school if they are ill and experiencing any of the following:

• Fever of 100.4°F or higher within the last 24 hours

• New or worsening cough

• Significant sore throat

• Significant nasal congestion or discharge

• Headache

• Body aches

• New or worsening fatigue

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Other significant symptoms of a contagious illness

Students with a fever should be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.

In addition, please notify the Health Office and/or Attendance Secretary of communicable illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, chickenpox (varicella), pertussis (whooping cough), measles, strep throat, pink eye, or other contagious illnesses.

If you have any questions, please contact the UAHS Health Clinic at 614-487-5278 or email UAHShealthclinic@uaschools.org. We sincerely appreciate your help in making school a healthy experience for all of our students and staff.

The fall survey window is September 21st - October 2nd. The district office will email parents/caregivers links to survey questions and to topic alignment with our Profile of an Engaged Learner. Families will also receive the link to opt their student(s) out of the survey if they so choose. The opt-out form will accept responses through September 17th.

On November 3, residents will vote on a combined operating levy and bond issue that would maintain the district’s current educational programming and fund the second phase of the facilities master plan, which calls for rebuilding Hastings Middle School and Burbank Early Childhood School as well as renovating and rebuilding Jones Middle School.

As residents consider Issue 7, we are providing opportunities to get a first-hand look inside each of these schools. All three buildings will be open on Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday October 8, with tours beginning at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

To learn more about the building tours or Issue 7, please click here.

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.

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.

Jostens, our official graduation supplier, will be on the UAHS campus on Friday, September 4th during lunches on the south end of Golden Bear Boulevard to display products and answer questions about online ordering options for cap & gowns and graduation packages.

Jostens is offering a special 10-day group ordering period for all UAHS seniors. The group order deadline is Monday, September 14th. While online ordering will remain available after this date, placing your order by the deadline ensures access to the best discounts and delivery experience.

Link to online ordering: Upper Arlington High School UPPER ARLINGTON, OH - Graduation | Jostens

If you have any questions regarding Jostens orders, please call 1-800-JOSTENS (567-8367).

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.