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Upcoming Dates

• HADESTOWN: Teen Edition* - 3/28 & 29, 4/4 & 5
• 30-minute Early Release - Thursday, 4/17
• Spring Break! - Friday, 4/18 - 4/25
• PTA Meeting* - Monday, 4/28 @ 6:30
• Athletic Boosters Meeting* - 4/28 @ 6:30
• Special Olympics Track Meet - Saturday, 5/3
• No School (Professional Development Day) - Wednesday, 5/7
• Spring Choir and Orchestra Concert - Wednesday, 5/7
• PROM* - Saturday, 5/10
• Spring Bands and Bells Concert - Thursday, 5/15
• PTA Meeting* - Monday, 5/19 @ 6:30
• No School - Monday, 5/26
• LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Thursday, 5/29
• Graduation Rehearsal* - Friday, 5/30
• GRADUATION* - Saturday, 5/31

Recurring Dates

• Whetstone Chess club - after school Tuesdays, 2:30PM-3:30PM, Room 220
  
• Journalism club - after school Wednesdays, 2:30PM-3:30PM, Room 220
  
• WAPA - 2nd Monday each month, 6:30PM, Library
• PTA Meeting* - 3rd Monday each month, 6:30PM, Google Meet
• Athletic Boosters, last Monday each month, 6:30PM, Café
• Coffee Connect with the Principal, 1st Wednesday each month, 7:00AM, Library

*See below for more info

Whetstone PTA Calendar

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

CCS District Calendars

https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2704

In March, 48 of our 9th-grade Humanities students competed in the Regional Contest at the Ohio Statehouse, and 20 qualified for the State Competition. The 2025 Ohio State Contest will take place on Saturday, April 26, at Capital University.

Graduation Rehearsal is mandatory and scheduled for Friday, May 30th at 7:30AM.

Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 31st at 6PM. Each graduate gets 10 tickets which will be distributed during Graduation Rehearsal along with Cap & Gowns.

Location is still TBD.

Graduates must have all uniforms turned in, outstanding fees and fines paid.

Dear Whetstone High School Students and Parents,

We are excited to announce that beginning on Saturday, April 5, 2025 (and continuing on April 12, May 3, May 10, May 17), APEX support will be available for students on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This initiative aims to provide additional support to help students complete their APEX coursework and meet graduation requirements.

During these hours, students will have the opportunity to not only get assistance with their APEX assignments, but also to earn internship hours by completing tasks within the building and on school grounds. This is a great chance for students to stay on track with both their coursework and internship requirements. It may also be a way for some students to avoid the need for summer school.

We highly encourage Juniors and Seniors to take full advantage of this support. Please keep in mind that all APEX coursework must be completed in order to attend prom. Additionally, Seniors must have all their internship hours completed to attend prom, while Juniors must have at least 90 internship hours completed.

We strongly advise students not to wait until the last minute to complete their APEX work. By attending these Saturday sessions, students will receive the help they need to stay on top of their assignments and meet graduation requirements. This extra support is designed to ensure that all students are on track to matriculate and graduate on time.

Thank you for your attention to this important opportunity. We look forward to seeing you on Saturdays and supporting your academic success!

Is Your Parent Portal Account Activated? Stay engaged in your child’s education by setting up and

signing into the Columbus City Schools Parent Portal. Through the Parent Portal, you’ll be able to securely access valuable information on your student(s):

• Teacher Contact
• Grades and Course Schedules
• Daily Attendance
• Missed Assignments
• Paperless Applications for: School Choice, Summer School, and Career Tech
• Update Contact Information**
• Pay Fees

For more info, visit ccsoh.us/domain/188.

Get detailed instructions and help at secure.smore.com/n/upq6z!

The next PTA Meeting will be on Monday, April 28th, 6:30-8:00 via Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/snv-wifn-oxz). We hope you can join us! Meeting agenda and financial updates will be posted as soon as available to our calendar event page, at https://www.whetstonepta.org/home/calendar.

A tradition that goes back to 1977 and is an important part of our Whetstone PTA heritage!

Each year, Whetstone PTA selects an educator to receive the Educator of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments and service to students. Students, staff, parents, alumni, and other community members can nominate an educator based on the educator’s impact and actions to improve the climate and standards of excellence at WHS for individual students or for the school community.

Nominations open now through April 30 – submit your nomination today!

To submit a nomination, visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAi5Kqb2MHimYZm28mTZ-_zjNGbmP9C5TpcRnMTHYLKpppAg/viewform or view the flyer with more info (including past winners!) and scan the QR code.

It's still winter (ugh!), but before you know it, spring and graduation will be upon us. And that means it's time to start planning for transitions in your Whetstone PTA to replace outgoing parents.

Amidst all the craziness in the world these days...are YOU potentially willing to step up and contribute an hour or two of your time each week next year as a PTA leader? It's a really good feeling to help make Whetstone HS a better place for ALL the kids and staff.

For the 2024-'25 school year, we're looking to fill the following roles:
- Secretary
- Fundraising Chair
- Communications Chair

If you have any interest in being one of these heroes or heroines, please just drop us a note at whetstonepta@gmail.com, OR join us for our March 17th meeting online (see link above). Thanks!!

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 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!

Lots of exciting stuff to share! Keep in mind that rain-outs may result in cancellations and reschedules for our outdoor events.

• We are very excited to announce that Javon Walker is the new Head Coach of Whetstone Boys Basketball. Coach Walker started his coaching career in 2013-2019 at Eastmoor Academy as a Varsity Assistant and Freshman coach. For the last 4 years, he has spent his time coaching basketball at Africentric as the Head Coach of the middle school team and a Varsity Assistant for the high school team. As the middle school head coach, he coached them to back-to-back city championships. He is no stranger to high-level athletics as he ran track at The Ohio State University, where he was a 2X All American, 2X All-Big10, and Big Ten Champion. While in high school, he participated in track, football, and basketball. Coach Walker will be starting open gyms soon so be sure to be on the look out for that schedule in next week’s roundup. His experience in coaching and developing student-athletes paired with his plan and desire to create an exciting and positive culture around Whetstone basketball makes him the perfect fit. You can reach Coach Walker at jwalker1@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Senior basketball player, Noah Knostman, has earned a state level award - 3rd-Team All-Ohio. We are so proud of you, Noah!
• Junior bowler, Sydney McMullen, was featured in the Columbus Dispatch as “All-Metro: Who are the best high school girls bowlers in Central Ohio?”. I have attached the article to the email if you would like to read it.
• Thank you to all who helped out on Saturday at the Braves Track Invitational! The day was beautiful and went very well.
• Football Cheer tryouts are coming up! The clinics are 4/14 and 4/15. The tryout day is 4/16. See below for more details

Did you know that your old shoes can help support Whetstone Football 2025 season?

This year, our team, in conjunction with Whetstone Athletic Boosters and Fund2Org is hosting a shoe drive fundraiser until May 31, 20205. We are looking for family, friends, and members of our community to participate in it by recycling their gently worn, used, and new shoes. Can you help us collect 25 pairs of shoes to reach our goal?

Here's how it works:

Start by checking around your home for pairs of shoes you have outgrown, don't fit correctly, or are no longer in style or season. These shoes can be tennis shoes, sandals, boots, dress shoes, heels, or flats. Once you have gone through your stash, ask your family or neighbors to do the same! Once you have collected a total of 25 pairs, you can drop them off at the Whetstone High School Front and South Offices.

Even if you can’t collect a total of 25 pairs, it’s okay. Remember that every pair of shoes helps!

Where do the shoes go?

The shoes our team collects will help raise funds for team meals, updated equipment, new uniforms, road travel expenses and kept out of landfills! After that, they are repurposed to help support microenterprises in developing nations such as Haiti, Cambodia, and Ghana.

We look forward to your help!

Sincerely,

Whetstone Football Program and Athletic Boosters

Whetstone HS cheerleading tryouts start soon! And, for the first time, WHS is forming a Dance Team! Get more info below and sign-up at volunteersignup.org/YC4HX.

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

Get WHS Baseball news and information at the Whetstone High School Baseball Website. Still got questions? See Coach Broskie in Room 141B or at broskcity@yahoo.com.

If you didn't see it here, you can probably find it in the Weekly Whetstone Athletics Roundup. Visit https://rebrand.ly/WhetstoneWeeklyRoundup for more WHS athletics info!

Show your Whetstone pride and support your Whetstone athlete! The Booster store has options to support WHS Sports, Band, and Cheer. There are Parent/Family, Alumni, and Teacher/Staff logos, too. And most importantly, all proceeds benefit our kids!

Visit the Athletic Booster Spirit Wear store to browse and buy hoodies, t-shirts, hats, blankets, drinkware, and more. Personalization is available on select items. There is something for everyone!

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.

This intriguing and beautiful folk opera delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and lady Persephone – Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage New Orleans jazz, Mitchell’s beguiling sung-through musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.

Get info and tickets at whetstonemusic.ludus.com/index.php

Showtimes:

FRIDAY MARCH 28TH @ 7PM

SATURDAY MARCH 29TH @ 7PM

FRIDAY APRIL 4TH @ 7PM

SATURDAY APRIL 5TH @ 7PM

We simply cannot WAIT to tell this story onstage! Tickets on sale MARCH 7TH @ NOON!

Sale Ends April 13th!

Pickup May 3rd, 12-2 at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 4131 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43214

Pull into the parking lot and we will load your plants for you!

Order and get more info at wapa.net/spring-plant-sale-2025

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty is inviting high school artists who reside in Ohio’s Third Congressional District to participate in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition! This annual nationwide contest showcases the creativity of young artists, and the grand prize winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year—plus receive a complimentary trip to Washington, D.C.!

Learn More & Download Forms at beatty.house.gov/services/art-competition.

For questions or assistance, email andrew.markovitch@mail.house.gov or call (614) 220-0003.

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.

• 7 - 10 PM
• Hilton at Easton (3900 Chagrin Dr, Columbus, OH 43219)

Requirements to attend Prom:

• SENIORS - Have ALL 120 Internship hours completed AND entered in School Links.
• JUNIORS - Have 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 APEX courses completed by May 3 rd.
• No suspensions from November 1 - May 10, 2025

If you have any questions, please speak to Ms. Ottey, Mr. Eagle, Mr. Haffele or your counselor.

Please see this special Newsletter full of information, links, and resources regarding Immigration for Families and Staff.

Real talk. Real issues. YOUR voice matters.

Black Girl Rising, Inc. is excited to invite YOU to Get Woke With Us on Saturday, April 5, 2025! This is YOUR day to have honest conversations with Black girls and Black boys (ages 13-18) about the things that affect YOU every day ~ Friendship, Love, Relationships, Sexism, Colorism, and more! No sugarcoating, just real talk in a safe space.

Best part? It’s FREE! But space is limited, so register ASAP to save your spot!

See the flyer for more info, and sign up at eventbrite.com/e/get-woke-with-us-tickets-1270838816109

FREE Music, Art, and Family Fun!

Join us at the Columbus Museum of Art on Sunday, April 13 from 10-5 to see live CCS student's musical and vocal performances and over 140 pieces of CCS student artwork! Explore and play in your CMA!

See the flyer for more info...and sign-up to volunteer at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMnSWtQx7V4OMt1YWDCIn2Qhog_P_FMVN3N4yt4ZVQPLLp0g/viewform

Support Young Artists!

Enjoy an evening of art, music (see below!), and community. If you'd like to participate in the show, reach out to Ms. Hurley at jhurley2347@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Join us May 17th, 4-10PM @ Studio 18, 18 Orchard Lane, Columbus, OH

The Dads will be at Global Gallery for an end of the year shindig on Saturday, May 17th, 7-10. Selected WHS Student Art will be on display (see above!) as well. Many of the Dads have WHS graduates this year, so it will be a special show. Come join the fun!

Get more info at facebook.com/events/679791277729390

Can't get enough 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, Janet Routzong: jroutzong2475@columbus.k12.oh.us

Assistant Administrator (11th and 12th graders), 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

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

Records Secretary, Susan Jeffers: sjeffers@columbus.k12.oh.us

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

Thanks for reading! If you missed or want to revisit an issue, visit The Whetstone Weekly Archive to find it and catch up!

For lots 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

dsynadinos@columbus.k12.oh.us