The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• End of Quarter - Friday, 1/16
• No School (MLK Jr. Day, PD day, Records day) - Monday, 1/19 - Wednesday, 1/21
• Athletic Booster Meeting - Monday, 1/26 @ 7PM
• Parent-Teacher Conferences* - Thursday, 1/29, 3-6:30PM
• Parent-Teacher Conferences* - Tuesday, 2/3, 3:30-7PM
• Brave The Future* - Tuesday, 2/3, 5:30-7PM
• No School - Monday, 2/16-17

*See below for more info

Whetstone PTA Calendar

https://www.whetstonepta.org/home/calendar

CCS District Calendars

https://www.ccsoh.us/calendars.aspx

Show your Whetstone pride and support your Whetstone athlete! There are many options and sites to support WHS Sports and Cheer.

Visit the Athletic Booster Spirit Wear store at https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/OH/Columbus/Whetstone%20High%20School to browse and buy hoodies, t-shirts, hats, blankets, drinkware, and more. Personalization is available on select items. There are Parent/Family, Alumni, and Teacher/Staff logos, too. And most importantly, all proceeds benefit our kids!

Interested in Whetstone Bowling Spirit Wear? Get some at https://whetstone-bowling.square.site

Get your Softball-specific sportswear at https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/stores/whetstone-softball#/lockers/whetstone-softball

See past and upcoming matches for all WHS sports at WHS Athletic Schedule and buy your tickets at WHS Athletic Tickets.

WHS Boys and Girls Bowling Info, Schedule, and more can be found at https://www.cohsbc.com/index.aspx

The WHS Athletic Boosters provide team support - paying for various expenses that coaches and teams need to be successful during a season and annual monetary awards for graduating student athletes that have demonstrated excellence in academics. Visit whetstoneathleticboosters.com for more info.

• Friday & Saturday, March 20 & 21, 2026
• Friday & Saturday, March 27 & 28, 2026
• 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• WAPA Performing Arts Center

Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.

An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical.

Tickets on Sale Late February

Currently there are groups for Whetstone Band, She Kills Monsters, Jazz Ensemble, Whetstone Vocal Music, Whetstone String Orchestra and WAPA Volunteers. Your student *should* already be a member and can send you an invitation to join via the app. If not, reach out to the directors or you can email wapaboosters@gmail.com and we will do whatever we can to help get you connected.

Get the Band App at https://www.band.us/en

WAPA IS...A place to experience inspiring music and theater. A place for students to grow. A place for instructors to shine. A place for our community to come together. WAPA is here to inspire.

WHETSTONE. ACADEMY. of PERFORMING. ARTS.

For more info, visit wapa.net.

Parent-teacher conferences are 1/29 & 2/3!

Can you help make the next one fun & filling? This time we’re paying homage to the Wendy’s Super Salad Bar. Heck yes. 🥗 🌮 🥔

Sign up here ⬇️ to provide some food for January 29th.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AAAAD2BA20-61428559-whsconference

Can you help for an hour or two? That’s in the sign up, too.

New year, new gear! Get some WHS merch! We have hoodies, mugs, t-shirts and even stadium seat cushions for those exciting basketball games!

https://whetstonepta.givebacks.com/shop?category=35618

Interested in getting involved? Our PTA holds open meetings each month:

• PTA Academic Committee - 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the school library
• Come to learn and help grow and recognize the academic elements at WHS.
• PTA - 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the school library
• Join to hear what’s going, get updates from Principal Rodriguez, and learn how you can contribute to our wonderful school community.

All are welcome but in order to be a voting member, you need to pay $10 for a membership. Click here for membership options.

If you're not already participating, take three minutes and enroll your Kroger Plus card with their Community Rewards program to benefit Whetstone PTA. Visit whetstonepta.org/home/kroger-community-rewards-for-whs-pta for more info.

The Whetstone Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a community of parent volunteers, working to provide scholarships for students, grants for teachers, connect school leadership with parents, and enrich the high school experience for ALL the students at Whetstone High School. See below for selected PTA-related information, and visit whetstonepta.org to join and get even more!

New this year: We’ve started a group on the Band app to better facilitate communication. Join us here!

WHS students enjoyed the Military Exploration day. They were engaged, showed genuine interest, and learned a lot about the different branches and the opportunities they offer. We had the following branches in attendance:

• Air National Guard
• Marines
• Army
• Coast Guard
• United States Air Force

Here is a link to purchase Senior Photos. You can use this link to view and purchase Cap and Gown pictures. We will have a make-up date in March. Information coming soon.

Please see Ms. Ottey for assistance.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026

Where: TBD

Class of 2026 Requirements to attend Prom:

• Have ALL 120 Internship hours completed AND entered in School Links.
• Have passed all of your courses for 1st semester AND 3rd grading period.
• Have100% of your required VCAP/EDMENTUM courses completed by May 1, 2026.
• NO suspensions, this is including ISS and OSS from October 1 - May 6, 2026

Class of 2027 Requirements to attend Prom:

• Have a minimum of 90 Internship hours completed AND entered in School Links.
• Have passed all of your courses for 1st semester AND 3rd grading period.
• Have 100% of your required VCAP/EDMENTUM courses completed by May 1, 2026.
• NO suspensions, this is including ISS and OSS from October 1 - May 6, 2026

Questions can be sent to Ms. Ottey, Mr. Eagle, Mr. Haffele or your student's counselor.

A graduation date has been set!

Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 30 at 12:00 PM in the Battelle Grand Ballroom at the Columbus Convention Center.

More info to come...

At Ohio State, grandfather and grandson learn together and from each other.

Check out this cool article about WHS Student Oliver Yetman and his grandpa Randy Marker: https://news.osu.edu/my-grandpa-is-my-classmate/

Brave The Future (BTF) is the signature event at Whetstone High School!

BTF is an annual, free, in-person event hosted at Whetstone High School. This event helps prospective Whetstone students, families, and community members learn more about the many opportunities and academic offerings available at this strong and vibrant neighborhood school. For some families, BTF is the reason that they decided to attend Whetstone!

Like previous years, this year will feature an opening session including a warm welcome from new principal Kimberly Rodriguez and student, parent, and teacher panels. Also enjoy numerous info centers to learn about WAPA, athletics, and counselors, live music by the WHS band, and mini tours. And new this year will be light snacks and a fun photo booth!

Reserve your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brave-the-future-2026-tickets-1980276998811 and spread the word!

***The first 50 arrivals will receive a FREE WHS seat cushion! (one per family)***

Parent-Teacher Conferences are here! These conferences are a great way to meet one-on-one with your student's teacher(s) and discuss their individual progress.

Upcoming Parent Teacher CONFERENCES will be:

• Thursday, 1/29 from 3pm-6:30pm
• Tuesday, 2/3 from 3:30pm-7pm

Visit the Conference Signup Document and reserve your spot (NOTE - Links have been updated!)

Need some help planning for your conference? Check out these helpful resources:

• Parent-Techer Conference Checklist - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NtgwnmkCxaadeBxeydrcPltuskaKEHFA/view
• Parent Teacher Conference Worksheet - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nAYuvraUUnxKE_4ZH9ASu3KMjpbJ2mlp/view

CCS is excited to officially launch our Attendance Matters Month campaign across Columbus City Schools!

This midyear season is an important time to reinforce routines and remind students that attendance is connected to belonging, relationships, and confidence. When students show up consistently, they stay connected to learning and the people who support them.

Our Restart–Refocus–Rise Challenge ended Friday, Dec. 9. Our schools will be acknowledged Jan. 20-24, we now shift into our next phase…

🌟 February 2026 — Attendance Matters Month: “Show the Love — Every Day Counts!”

Dates: January 12 – February 13

Key Message: “Show yourself some love — show up every day! When you’re here, we’re better together.”

For sample activities, family connections and more, please click here.

Each month, schools may provide activities, themes, and recognition to support daily attendance.

🏆 Winners Announced: February 23–26

Thank you for helping your child show love through showing up. Every day counts!

CCS is actively engaging our community in developing a Portrait of Family Partnership. Its purpose is to create a shared understanding among families, educators, and community partners about what strong family partnership looks like in practice in Columbus City Schools. The Portrait Design Team will meet three times to design the Portrait of Family Partnership, and each meeting builds upon the other.

Time: 5:00pm-5:30pm Dinner, 5:30pm-7:30pm Portrait Design Team Meeting

Dates:

• Meeting 1: January 28, 2026
• Meeting 2: February 24, 2026
• Meeting 3: March 25, 2026

A formal invite with location information will be emailed prior to the first meeting.

Visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckE48ek0aV39O95bnUvb5vCfyxNeax8_z9m1gtG-v6aPYMKg/viewform to learn more and participate!

For many, the Whetstone Website at https://www.ccsoh.us/whetstonehs is the first place to look for timely and relevant WHS-related information. In early 2026, CCS District will soon be updating all school websites. Watch for a new look, feel, and even better information coming soon! Until then, thanks for your patience...

This survey is being conducted by the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to help better understand families' math-related priorities, challenges, and preferred ways of engaging with schools. The results of this survey will help inform statewide initiatives to improve math learning for all Ohio students and families.

The survey is open now and closes on January 31, 2026. The first 40 families to complete this survey will receive a $10 gift card to Walmart and all families who fill out the survey will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Walmart. The survey is available in 10 languages.

The survey is available at https://go.osu.edu/familymathsurvey

IN ADDITION, the group is also seeking assistance from parents for an Ohio Math Advisory Group. Members will share their experiences and priorities to guide statewide efforts to strengthen family engagement in math across grade levels, communities, and student needs, including students with disabilities. Members will also give ongoing feedback to help make resources and strategies easier to access, more inclusive, and more useful for families. Get more info at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jJk6aNJW3cH3pKk6PEpnJUyMvCnnnzXr/view?pli=1 and join at visit https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_37RcOOl3oWGVOMm

MLK, Jr. Winter Coat and Shoe Giveaway January 17th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm | 4411 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, OH 43229. See the flyer for more info

Stay engaged in your child's education! The Parent Portal (through Infinite Campus) is your link to real-time information on your Columbus City Schools student(s), including class schedules, assignments, grades, attendance, and more.

To access the Parent Portal, visit: https://columbusoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/columbusCity.jsp

For information on how to access and use the Parent Portal, visit: https://www.ccsoh.us/parentportal.aspx

or

https://secure.smore.com/n/3jk0e-ccs-infinite-campus-parent-portal

Parent Portal App info is available at: https://secure.smore.com/3jk0e

The Pathway Express program is back for another year with three unique destinations for students and families to explore!

Pathway Express demonstrates how learning extends beyond the classroom walls. These transformative experiences shape and empower our students for success, as they align with our goals of increasing math and reading proficiency and help close opportunity gaps. Create lasting memories with engaging hands-on learning experiences at each of our Pathway Express stops!

The next Pathway Express is at Indian Village Outdoor Education Center in April. These learning opportunities will lead us through the 2025-2026 school year, right up to our 2026 Summer Experience. See event details below.

April 25

• Saturday, April 25, 2026

• Location: Indian Village Outdoor Education Center (3232 Indian Village Road)

• Time: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

To learn more visit the Pathway Express page at https://www.ccsoh.us/pathwayexpress

Want even more WHS info? Visit these WHS-related groups and pages online.

• Whetstone HS (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstonehigh/
  
• Whetstone HS PTA (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstone_pta/
• Whetstone HS PTA (Facebook) - facebook.com/whetstonehighpta/
• Whetstone HS PTA Family Group (Facebook) - facebook.com/groups/472994289728615
• Whetstone HS Athletic Boosters (Facebook) - facebook.com/WHSAthleticBoosters
  
• Whetstone AD (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstone_athleticdirector/
• Whetstone Football Program (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstonehsfootball/
• Whetstone HS Cheer (Instagram) - instagram.com/whsbraves.cheer/
• WHS Baseball (Facebook) - facebook.com/Whetstone-Braves-Baseball-199500710084504
  
• WHS Baseball (Twitter) - twitter.com/WhetstoneBraves
• Whetstone HS boys soccer (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstoneboyssoccerofficial/
  
• Whetstone HS girls soccer (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstonegsoccer/
  
• Whetstone Baseball (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstonebaseball1
  
• WAPA (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstoneapa/
• WAPA (Facebook) - facebook.com/WhetstoneAPA/
• WAPA Boosters (Facebook) - facebook.com/groups/127079587751458
• Columbus City Schools (website) - ccsoh.us/district
• Columbus City Schools (Facebook) - facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools

Location: 4405 Scenic Dr, Columbus, OH 43214

Website: ccsoh.us/WhetstoneHS

Email: whetstonehs@columbus.k12.oh.us

Hours: 7:30AM - 2:30PM

Phone: (614) 365-6060

Principal, Kimberly Rodriguez: krodriguez@columbus.k12.oh.us

Assistant Administrator (11th & 12th), Tara Ottey: tottey@columbus.k12.oh.us

Assistant Administrator (10th), Daniel McElroy: dmcelroyjr4864@columbus.k12.oh.us

Assistant Administrator (9th), Sarah Jaffy: sjaffy6286@columbus.k12.oh.us

Leadership Intern, Sibyl Barber: sbarber@columbus.k12.oh.us

Administrative Secretary, Martina Jakob: ejakob@columbus.k12.oh.us

Attendance Secretary, Lisa Hord: lhord4655@columbus.k12.oh.us

Thanks for reading! If you missed a past issue, visit the Whetstone Weekly Archive.

For much more info, visit the WHS PTA - Family Ambassador Page. And, as always, if you have suggestions or content for inclusion - or any other questions, comments, or concerns - please feel free to contact me. I'm here to help!

Damian Synadinos

WHS Family Ambassador

dsynadinos@columbus.k12.oh.us