Press Releases

Click the link below to read the December Superintendent's Update!

DecemberSuperintendentsUpdate.pdf

Upland High School celebrated student innovation during its annual Science Fair on Dec. 11, where nearly 100 students presented 67 imaginative, research-driven projects. Entries spanned seven scientific categories, giving students the opportunity to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to judges, staff, and peers.

The Science Fair concluded with an evening Open House, where families viewed standout projects and joined the celebration of student achievement during an awards ceremony. In addition, UHS hosted a Districtwide Computer Science Family Night that offered hands-on activities, student demonstrations, and a Careers in Computer Science panel.

“The Science Fair gives students a meaningful opportunity to dive deeply into topics that inspire them,” UHS Science Department Chair Chris Morgan said. “When students present their work, they develop essential skills such as planning, communication, and the ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and confident way.”

Projects were evaluated by a panel of judges that included local rotary members, university professors, and parents of former UHS students with science expertise. Entries were scored using a comprehensive rubric that considered clarity of presentation, depth of student understanding, originality, and the ability to articulate the project’s purpose and findings.

Awards were presented for first, second, and third place in each of the seven categories: behavioral science, biology, botany and zoology, chemistry, health and medicine, physical and earth science, and physics and engineering. Several entries also received honorable mentions. Additional awards were presented for Inquiry and Inspiration as well as Excellence and Creativity. The first place entries in each category are eligible to advance to the San Bernardino County Science Fair later this school year.

Junior Elizabeth Ribak earned first place in the botany category for her project “From Vine to Value: Assessing How Brix Percentage Impacts the Price of Table Grapes.”

“Participating in the science fair was an extremely fun experience,” Ribak said. “I loved getting to meet all of the extremely smart judges and getting to share my research with them and my peers.”

The first place winners in each of the remaining categories were:

·         Behavioral Science: Sergio Zapata and Mariella Nakhleh, “Determining a person’s true intellect: A better way to find how different people perform on an exam that measures their type of intelligence”

·         Biology: Jeremy Lam and Cyrus Ortega, “Boil it Clean!”

·         Chemistry and William Schlegel Award “Excellence and Creativity”: Damon Terry, “Influence of Hydrophobic Coatings on Piezoelectric Voltage Production”

·         Health/Medicine: Evan Bravo and Sophia Reyes, “Globular Glucose: Modeling the Effects of Blood Glucose on Anticoagulants”

·         Physical Science/Earth Science: Evelyn Tiong and Michael Randazzo, “Does Bigger Always Mean Better?”

·         Physics/Engineering: Kayla Fash and Katelyn Sawin, “Short Story vs. Tall Tale: Who can increase faster?”

·         Steve Levy Award “Inquiry and Inspiration”: Dylan Dela Cruz and Ryan McMillin, “The Float Serve is Predictable”

UHS offers rigorous science instruction, including several Advanced Placement courses as well as Career Technical Education pathways in subjects such as engineering and sports medicine.

“We are extremely proud of our students for the curiosity and dedication they demonstrated throughout this process,” UHS Principal Martin Gomez said. “Their hard work, along with the guidance and encouragement from our teachers and staff, truly reflects the spirit of learning at Upland High School.”

 

Click the link below to read the November Superintendent's Update!

NovemberSuperintendentsUpdate.pdf

Upland Unified School District’s incoming freshmen got a first look at the high school experience during Upland High School’s signature transition events, Highlander Day and Incoming Families Night, which introduce future Highlanders to the school’s vibrant academic, arts, athletic, and extracurricular offerings, helping students and families build excitement and confidence as they prepare for the year ahead.

Highlander Day invites approximately 800 eighth-grade students to Upland High School for an immersive, hands-on introduction to high school life. Students spend the day touring classrooms, exploring Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, participating in a club fair, meeting student-athletes, connecting with peer leaders, and taking part in a spirited pep rally led by Associated Student Body (ASB), cheer, and performance groups.

“Highlander Day gives students a true sense of what it means to be a Highlander,” event organizer Laura McMullen said. “We want them to walk the campus, talk to our students, see our programs in action, and feel the energy of this community. It is so much more meaningful than simply hearing about what we offer.”

More than 100 student volunteers from Link Crew, ASB, cheer, athletics, and various clubs contributed to bringing the event to life. Their efforts were supported by staff across the campus, including administration, custodial teams, Nutrition Services, program coordinators, athletic directors, and club advisors.

UHS sophomore Anjali Shah remembers attending Highlander Day and now volunteers to help eighth graders during the event.

“This event really cleared up all of my fears, and actually got me excited for my freshman year,” Shah said. “In my experience, the most helpful thing from Highlander Day is being able to ask the leaders questions about high school.”

Katie Marotte, who will transition from the homeschooling experience, attended Highlander Day to get familiar with the campus and the electives offered. “The fun atmosphere made me really excited to experience UHS,” Marotte said. “I also really liked seeing things I didn't know about like the auto shop class, because if I hadn't visited, I wouldn't have known I may be interested in something like that.”

Following Highlander Day, Upland High School hosted Incoming Families Night, an event designed to help families see what their students experienced at Highlander Day. The night began with a video highlighting the school’s programs and culture, followed by a rotation through four informational stations.

Families learned about Dr. Loren Sanchez U-College Academy, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) offerings, Special Education, and the Counseling Department’s four-year planning process. They also explored a program fair featuring academic departments, student activities, and tours of CTE classrooms.

“Incoming Families Night allows parents to explore the campus alongside their students and ask questions that help them feel informed and supported,” Assistant Principal Ana Martin said. “It reassures families that Upland High School has opportunities for every student, regardless of their interests or background.”

These events are part of a larger system of support for incoming freshmen. Upland High School also offers Freshmen Summer Academy, a free three-day program focused on campus orientation, academic refreshers, and community building. All participants receive a complimentary ASB card to encourage early involvement. In addition, Link Crew hosts Freshman Orientation, where upperclassmen mentors guide new students through activities that promote connection and belonging.

“Helping students feel at home from day one is our priority,” Principal Martin Gomez said. “Whether it is through Summer Academy, Orientation, or Highlander Day, we want our newest Highlanders to know that this is a community that cares about them. Upland High School is proud to continue the long-standing tradition of preparing incoming students and families for a successful high school experience.”

 

Upland Unified School District’s 14 schools have been honored by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for their strong implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), highlighting the District’s ongoing work to build supportive, inclusive campuses where students feel connected and ready to thrive.

This year marks the first time that 13 out of 14 schools in Upland Unified earned recognition at the gold or platinum levels. Upland Elementary and Cabrillo Elementary received platinum recognition for the second time, while Baldy View and Pepper Tree elementary schools earned platinum for the first time. Citrus Elementary and Hillside High School achieved gold recognition for the first time and Foothill Knolls, Magnolia, Sierra Vista, Sycamore, and Valencia elementary schools earned repeat gold recognition. Upland High School received a repeat silver recognition.

Schools in San Bernardino County are recognized annually for effective PBIS implementation at four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Platinum-level schools demonstrate the highest level of implementation and maintain strong systems that reflect exceptional dedication to fostering positive, student-centered school cultures.

 “We are proud of all Upland Unified schools for not only helping to set clear, high expectations for our students, but for providing the support and consistency those students need in order to reach them,” Director of Child Welfare and Attendance Richie Varga said. “These awards represent the collective effort of our students, families, teachers, support staff, and administration working together toward the best possible school culture.”

PBIS is a proactive, schoolwide approach that supports student well-being and improves academic outcomes. The framework sets clear expectations, affirms positive behavior, outlines ways to correct errors, and offers support for families and staff, while helping schools understand students’ social-emotional needs and training educators in practices that drive lasting change.

“Our schools are deeply committed to nurturing students not only academically but socially and emotionally,” Superintendent Dr. Lynn Carmen Day said. “It truly takes a community to build strong school culture, and this honor shows that Upland Unified is doing that exceptionally well.”