Golden Bear News: August 30, 2024

Dear UAHS students and families,

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day, which honors the American worker and their social and economical achievements. We want to thank all of the workers around the nation, but especially for the professionals from the Upper Arlington Education Association (UAEA), the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE), the Education Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO), and all of the professionals who make up the Upper Arlington High School Community. Thank you for challenging and supporting our students!

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Sincerely,

Andrew C. Theado

Principal

History of Labor Day. U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

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

• Sep 1 ~ Golden Bear Bash, 6-10 PM at Amelita Mirolo Barn
  
• Sep 2 ~ Labor Day - School Closed for Students and Staff
  
• Sep 4 ~ Senior College Planning Meeting, 7-9 PM in the Performing Arts Center
• Sep 6 ~ Senior Cap & Gown Order Day, 11 AM-12:35 PM (lunch periods) on Golden Bear Boulevard
  
• Sep 10 ~ PTO Meeting, 8:30-9:30 AM in W1308J (1st Floor Student Support Office)
  
• Sep 14 ~ Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM at UAHS
  Note: Ticket sales begin 8/31: https://uaschools.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/1096

• Sep 20 ~ Student Activity Fair, 11 AM-12:35 PM (lunch periods) on Golden Bear Boulevard

• September 22 ~ Fostering a Conversation

• Sep 18 ~ Altered Schedule for Early Dismissal at 1:30 PM
  

  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
  

• Sep 18 ~ Community Shopping Hours at Bear Essentials, 1:45 PM-3 PM (use north entrance)
  Note: No refunds or exchanges.
• Sep 27 ~ Picture Retake Day, 7:30 AM-12:30PM in the Field House
• Sep 30 ~ Summer Community Service Due Date
• Sep 30 ~ Senior Financial Aid Meeting - Rescheduled for October 24
  

Please come and visit the UACS table at the UA Arts festival on Labor Day. Our table will be under the large tent with other community organizations. We will be engaging with the community alongside the Upper Arlington Education Foundation and the HS AAPI student organization. Stop by to help color one of two amazing student designed posters!

Pre-sale Tickets to this year's Mamma Mia-themed Homecoming Dance (Homecoming, Here We Go Again!) are on sale starting this Saturday, August 31. From August 31 to September 6, the pre-sale ticket price will be $30 per person. Beginning September 7, ticket prices will be $35 per person. Tickets: https://uaschools.hometownticketing.com/admin/events/view/1096

September 3- 10 is "Join Your AP Classroom" week at UA! If your student is taking an AP class, be sure to ask them if their teacher has given them their "join" code to register for the AP test. It may sound silly because May of 2025 seems so far away, but by joining the AP Classroom, your student will have access to videos, practice tests, seminars, and many other study aids to help them in their pursuit of knowledge. Also, the College Board has specific deadlines for everything! Although our district is paying for your student to take the AP test, they will not pay your "late" fees. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Ballheim at cballheim@uaschools.org.

The annual junior-senior prom, initially set for Saturday, April 19, 2025, falls within a three-day weekend, when many families may be traveling or unavailable. We are actively seeking a new date and will share it with you as soon as it’s confirmed.

Are you interested in learning more about what makes humans happy? If so, you won't want to miss the upcoming talk by Dr. Laurie Santos, a psychologist who studies happiness, as part of the Fostering a Conversation speaker series. This series is a collaboration between the Upper Arlington City Schools, Upper Arlington Education Foundation, Upper Arlington Alumni Association, and the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.

Click here for more information

Norwester has a limited supply of the 2023-24 yearbook. It was the 100th volume and the yearbook staff is very proud of this edition. If you missed buying one last year this is the only chance to purchase one. The yearbook staff will be on Golden Bear Boulevard Tuesday, September 3 through Friday, September 6. Cost is $95 and they will accept cash and checks made out to UA Schools.

To order this year's 2024-25 yearbook, please visit Jostens.com.

Support the PTO today! 100% of all donations goes to supporting the amazing staff and students at UAHS.

Learn more about the PTO by visiting our website or email uahighschoolpto@gmail.com

If your student is driving to UAHS, please take a moment to complete this Student Vehicle Information form. We will use this information to notify students if there are any issues with their vehicle during the day.

With our students increasingly on the go during the school year, we encourage families to have conversations about electric scooter safety at home. Please remind your children to wear the appropriate safety gear and follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe. Let's work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Does your student like helping others solve their tech issues? Volunteers are needed to work at the 2nd floor Student Technology Help Desk during all forum periods. The Student Tech Help Desk provides Tier 1 Tech support for students and staff. We are open every period of the school day and run by students who are learning IT skills while providing tech services to the school. We will train students and they will earn service hours. Students must be highly responsible independently.

If interested, please apply at https://forms.gle/gYiP5bcw5SaWbadi8. If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Kahle at dkahle@uaschools.org.

All 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students are required to complete six hours of community service to have been excused from school on August 14. As a friendly reminder, it is essential to record your service in x2VOL. Instructions on how to record your hours can be found on the community service page of the high school website. To ensure timely completion, please enter your hours online by Monday, September 30. Failure to do so will result in the retroactive marking of an unexcused absence for Wednesday, August 14 and a potential Saturday School.

Please do not apply stickers or write on the iPad keyboard cases, as devices may be reassigned to other students throughout the year. Reassignment occurs when students graduate, transfer, or when devices need repair. The new keyboard cases are district property and are durable assets intended to last for several years.

Instead of stickers we encourage students to personalize their iPads using other means, such as utilizing colorful silicone bands to provide a way to uniquely identify your device from other students.

The UACS Technology department provides 2 ways for caregivers to manage screen time, review web history, manage apps and internet access after school hours. The typical built-in Apple ScreenTime and Parental controls do not work because the district manages iPads for school use at a district level - the typical consumer level settings are not available. Caregivers can review web activity and disable internet access through the Lightspeed Relay Parent Portal. Additionally, caregivers can control app access and set rules through the JAMF Parent app. Questions may be directed to FamilyTechHelp@uaschools.org.

• JAMF Parent Guide for Parents
• JAMF Parental Controls Manual
• JAMF Parental Setup and Guide Videos
• Lightspeed Parent Portal

Click HERE for important senior dates and information.

Click the following link for the 2024-25 Senior Checklist: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19yBO1cAvOhpYQW5QHep_g31uR3zelNGUZqgTRJ9_0IA/edit?usp=sharing

Attendance is a critical component to learning. Students need to show up in order to take full advantage of the education programs we offer. When a student has an unexcused absence from class, both student and parents/guardians will be notified the next day and a consequence (detention) may be assigned for each unexcused absence. Be sure to check your attendance each day to ensure it is accurate.

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.

A Planned Absence Excuse Form should be printed, signed and turned in to the Attendance Secretary in the Main Office at least 10 days in advance, when possible.

If a parent/guardian submits an Absence Notification Form or calls Attendance at 614-487-5213 to inform the office that their student needs to be dismissed during the day, they will receive an e-hallpass (EHP) to leave class at the designated time. The student can use the EHP to notify their teacher of the dismissal and then should come to the Attendance Office to sign out before leaving.

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.

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

Online form for absences (no longer accept emails)

Email if you’ve stopped receiving communication from us

The Daily Bell Schedule and Modified Bell Schedules (Early Dismissal & Two-Hour Delay)

Links to the District Calendars, the UAHS Calendar and the UAHS Athletic calendars

Our webpage with community service options and the link to enter hours

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

Use LightSpeed Parent Portal Support Page to monitor your student’s internet activity

2024-25 Program of Studies including courses descriptions, academic options, graduation requirements, awards, etc.

The form to report a concern related to safety, bullying, harassment, etc.

The link to purchase season passes for UAHS athletic events

How to Get Help at the high school and familytechhelp@uaschools.org for families with tech support questions or situations