Golden Bear News: August 14, 2026

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

• First Day for Grade 9
  Monday, August 17 | 8:05am-3:05pm
  South End of Golden Bear Boulevard by 8:05am
• Freshmen Picture Day
  Tuesday, August 18 | 9:30am-3:00pm
  Note: Freshmen may get their pictures taken during lunch periods and during Forum after attendance and approval from your Forum Aide.
  Field House

• First Day for Grades 10-12 (all students attend)
  Tuesday, August 18 | 8:05am-3:05pm
  UAHS (follow student schedule)

• Picture Day for Grades 10 & 11
  Wednesday, August 19 | 9:30am-3:00pm
  Note: Students may get their pictures taken during lunch periods and during Forum after attendance and approval from your Forum Aide.
  Field House

• New Student Lunch
  Friday, August 21 | Student's Lunch Period
  1st Floor North Learning Commons

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

• 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

Please see the following information regarding street closures from the city.

1. Mt. Holyoke near the school has returned to one-way traffic. We expect the initial confusion among drivers to work itself out over the next few days. If the issue persists, the UAPD will be asked to assist with enforcement of the one-way traffic pattern.
   
   

2. Ridgeview between Brandon and Mt. Holyoke should be open.
   
   
3. Columbia Gas construction is continuing on the road east of Mt. Holyoke, and through access to North Star will remain affected and is not expected to be available permanently during the first few months of the school year.
   
   

4. The Northwest Boulevard project initially resulted in some driver confusion, including instances of wrong-way driving. Additional signage and traffic barrels have since been added, and traffic flow has improved significantly. The placement of cones continues to be monitored to help maintain clear and consistent traffic patterns throughout the construction area.

   
   

5. With the start of school, the Ridgeview/Zollinger/Northam traffic signals will be monitored and adjusted as needed to help keep traffic moving efficiently during school rush hours.

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.

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.

If you ordered a 2025–2026 Norwester yearbook, it will be shipped directly to your home from Jostens in early fall.

If you did not purchase a yearbook last year, a limited number of extra copies will be available for purchase during lunch the first week of September, provided they have arrived. If the shipment arrives earlier, sales may begin sooner. Additional details, including sale dates and pricing, will be shared once the yearbooks are received.

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.

The start of a new school year is a great time to get connected, and one of the best ways to do that is by joining the Upper Arlington High School PTO. The UAHS PTO plays an important role in supporting our students, staff, and school community by sponsoring programs, organizing events, recognizing teachers and staff, and helping enhance the high school experience for all students.

Whether you have a little time or a lot, there are many ways to get involved. It all starts by becoming a PTO member! To learn more about the UAHS PTO, membership, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events, visit the UAHS PTO website.

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.

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.