September 18, 2026

Dear Students and Families,

We had another great week at Upper Arlington High School, highlighted by our "Foster a Conversation" series featuring guest speaker Damon West. Damon shared his inspiring story with our students during the school day, followed by an evening presentation open to the entire community. He left a lasting impression by emphasizing the importance of being a "coffee bean"—transforming the environment around us through servant leadership.

It is hard to believe, but we are halfway through the first quarter. Enjoy some restful time this weekend.

Best,

Tom Lombardi

Principal

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

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

Lunch & Learn: OSU Engineering Student
Wednesday, September 23 | Periods 4 & 5
College & Career Center
Senior Financial Aid Meeting
Wednesday, September 23 | 7:00pm
Performing Arts Center
Make-up Picture Day
Thursday, September 24 | 9:30am-3:30pm
Note: Students can get their pictures taken during their lunch period, during Forum (after attendance and teacher's permission), and after school.
Bear Essentials Community Shopping Hours
Thursday, September 24 | 3:15pm-4:30pm

September is Suicide Prevention Month

Talking openly about suicide can save lives. Suicide prevention begins before someone is in crisis, and everyone can play a role by learning the warning signs, supporting those who may be struggling and knowing where to turn for help. It's important to know the risk factors and also to build protective factors. Protective factors can be supported by practicing strength at school and at home. Feel free to try the Sources of Strength family conversation prompts at home.

If you or someone you know needs support, talk with your school counselor or call or text 988 any time, day or night, to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Families can also find suicide prevention and mental health resources at www.uaschools.org/familyresources.

Sometimes, starting a conversation can make all the difference. It’s always OK to ask for help or reach out to support someone else.

Building Tour Opportunities

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.

All Students: DOUBLE-CHECK Your Summer Service Hours

Please check your MaiaLearning service dashboard to ensure you have a green check mark next to the Summer Service Hours 2026 goal.

NOTE: If you do not have a check mark next to the goal, then, according to MaiaLearning, your service-hour requirement has not been met. Please follow the steps below to correct anything that may be preventing Maia from counting your hours toward the service requirement.

You must push the "Send for Verification" button to email your supervisor.
Your supervisor's email must be correct (double-check spellings; fix any errors by clicking on the pencil icon in the top-right corner).
You must enter the correct dates for the experience to count for this summer: June 1–September 30, 2026.
The category for the experience must be Community Service (not Extra-curricular, for example).
Your supervisor must receive the verification email. Ask them to check their spam folder (an email template is available here.

If you have not yet logged and verified your 6 required hours, you have until September 30, 2026, to do so. If you still need service opportunities, see the upcoming events below or this doc for more opportunities.

DSACO High School Social Group: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (1.5–2 hours). Sign up HERE.
DSACO Buddy Walk Volunteering (T-Shirt Pick-up): Saturday, September 19, 2026. Sign up HERE.
Barrington PTO’s Clown Around: Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:45–5:00 PM (2+ hours earned). Sign up HERE.
A Kid Again: Various upcoming events (2+ hours earned). Sign up HERE.

Youth at the Booth

Juniors and seniors who will be at least 17 years old by Election Day are eligible to work the polls on Tuesday, November 3, through Franklin County’s Youth at the Booth program. Students must be available to work the full day and attend required training. Participants will be paid, and a training session will be held at UAHS.

Interested students can find program details and application information on the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 Canvas pages.

Students can also reach out to Mr. Soccorsi (rsoccorsi@uaschools.org) with any questions. The deadline to apply is October 2.

Reporting an Absence

In order to streamline the absence reporting process, we ask that parents/guardians leave a voicemail on the attendance line (614-487-5213), or complete the Absence Notification Form available on the high school website and on the Upper Arlington City Schools APP. We will no longer accept emails. By using the Absence Notification Form, we are able to organize and record absence requests in a more efficient manner. Note that the form will collect your email address, which we will use to verify the request, so please use an email address that is on file in PowerSchool. Additionally, parents/guardians should follow the instructions in the online form to submit Pre-Planned Absence Requests.

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.