The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• PTA Meeting* - Wednesday, 9/16
• Open House - Thursday, 9/17, 6-7:30
• Senior Parent Meeting @ 5:30
• CCS HBCU Fair* - Friday, 9/25
• Picture Day - Friday, 10/2
• Kiwanis Fair - Tuesday, 10/6
• Homecoming Parade & Game (vs. Northland) - Friday, 10/9
• Homecoming Dance - Saturday, 10/10
• College Career Fair - Thursday, 10/15

*See below for more info

CCS WHS Calendar

https://whetstonehs.ccsoh.us/calendar

CCS District Calendars

https://www.ccsoh.us/our-district/calendars

As part of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce required health education curriculum, students will receive age-appropriate instruction that was formerly commonly referred to as Erin’s Law. This instruction focuses on personal safety, healthy boundaries, recognizing unsafe situations, and identifying trusted adults and resources for help. Schools are required to provide this instruction to students each year. Parents and guardians have the right to opt their child out of this instruction. If you would like to opt your child out, please email Principal Rodriguez at krodriguez@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Whetstone’s lesson dates:

Thursday, September 10th: Suicide Prevention

Wednesday, September 23rd: Social Inclusion-Start with Hello

Tuesday, October 6th: Dating Violence Prevention

Monday, November 16th: Violence Prevention

• The homecoming parade will be October 9th, parade line up starts at 4p.

• We have hired a new strength and conditioning coach, Tom Jones. He is not at all new to Whetstone as he currently serves as the PE/Health Teacher and has coached numerous sports teams at Whetstone over the years. Congratulations, Coach Jones! He will be in touch with coaches soon to organize plans and schedules for all our teams!

• Whetstone Alumni Recognition Night

• Join us on Friday, October 9, as the Whetstone Braves take on Northland for our Homecoming football game and celebrate the alumni who have helped shape our school and community.

• All Whetstone alumni are invited to stop by the Alumni Table near Riverside Café inside the stadium. The first 30 alumni to visit the table will receive a free commemorative shirt!

• At halftime, we will recognize and celebrate all Whetstone alumni in attendance.

Link: https://canva.link/0jsiv22ccmpl1v8

Whetstone Athletic & WAPA Boosters are raising funds to continue our support of Whetstone athletes, musicians, and stage performers. The Boosters traditionally fund expenses that coaches and teams need to be successful during a season, monetary awards for graduating students, banners for senior athletes, musical instrument maintenance, uniforms, stage sound and lighting, and upgrades to facilities, among other student needs.

Please help us to continue to provide crucial support for enriching experiences for our Whetstone students!

How you can Help:

Parents: Students will be going door to door on Saturday, October 3, from 10 am to Noon. We need drivers to take the students out on the 63 planned routes. Parents, please sign up at this link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B0E49ADAA22A13-65753431-athleticswapa?useFullSite=false

Students: Athletes and WAPA students, we need you! Students, please sign up at this link to canvas Clintonville homes on Oct 3:

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B0E49ADAA22A13-65753542-athleticwapa?useFullSite=false

Share the campaign. The Booster drive will also consist of an online campaign. Please share this link with friends and family who aren't in the area or may not be available the day of the door-to-door campaign: https://www.whetstoneathleticboosters.com/copy-of-booster-drive-1

Thank you for your support!

Celebrate your fall sports athlete and show your pride with a yard sign! Available for purchase here: https://www.whetstoneathleticboosters.com/shop

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.

The Whetstone Athletic Boosters organization exists to enhance the experiences of our student-athletes. Selling concessions at football and soccer games is our largest source of income, and the money raised benefits athletes in all sports! To make it happen, we need YOU to volunteer for a shift in the concession stand. In addition to helping our athletics programs, it’s a great way to meet new people. Plus, it will get you into the game for free!

Please follow this link to our website, where you will find links to sign up for shifts for either football or soccer games. https://www.whetstoneathleticboosters.com/about-1

• Friday, November 13, 2026
• 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Whetstone High School Performing Arts Center

Alice's adventure begins with a fall down the rabbit hole and into the strange, unpredictable world of Wonderland—a place where ordinary rules no longer apply and nothing seems to make sense.

As Alice searches for a way home, she encounters an unforgettable collection of characters, including the hurried White Rabbit, contrary Caterpillar, eccentric Mad Hatter and March Hare, argumentative Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and commanding Red Queen, and more. Each encounter challenges Alice to question where she belongs, what she believes, and whether she can trust herself to make up her own mind.

As Wonderland becomes increasingly chaotic, Alice begins to find her voice, question its ridiculous rules, and stand up for what she believes. Charlotte B. Chorpenning's Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical, fast-moving adventure filled with comedy, imagination, larger-than-life characters, and a meaningful journey about growing up, finding your voice, and learning to trust yourself.

Get your tickets at https://www.wapa.net/performances-gashZ

• The performing arts do not receive regular financial support from CCS so we typically have four main fundraisers throughout the year that need adult support

  • Fall Booster drive we do with athletics
  • Fall Mum sale
  • Winter Greenery sale
  • Spring plant sale

• In addition to the fundraisers, we also need adult support throughout the year for a variety of thing including helping with concessions, special events, theater meals, etc. More information on these as we go through the year

• We also welcome corporate and personal sponsorship. Please visit the store front on wapa.net for more information

The Band App helps keep WAPA families and students connected and informed. Access to the WHS Band group on the Band App requires an invitation. Reach out to the directors or you can email wapaboosters@gmail.com and we will 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.

WAPA is the umbrella structure for all the performing arts at Whetstone. It is not a separate entity from Whetstone High School and there is no application to join. If a student participates in any of the performing arts at Whetstone, they are in WAPA.

For more info, visit wapa.net.

Please note that students must have their own transportation to and from meetings, as neither the school nor the district is able to provide it.

Sophomores and Juniors are encouraged to take advantage of this wonderful leadership opportunity!

Interested in getting involved? Our PTA typically holds open meetings on the 3rd Wednesday each month from 6:30-7:30 PM in the WHS library. Join us to hear the latest news, get updates from Principal Rodriguez, and learn how you can contribute to our wonderful school community.

The next PTA meeting is Wednesday, 9/16.

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

Join the Academic Committee of the PTA next Weds, October 2 at 6:30 pm in the WHS Library for our first meeting of the year!

The committee was newly formed last year to lead PTA efforts in supporting co-curricular (for instance, National History Day) and extracurricular (for instance, student clubs/grants) activities that aren't the focus of the other booster orgs. We also manage the Teacher of the Year and Senior Scholarships awards processes and try to connect families with information about Whetstone academics by inviting school staff to speak at meetings.

Our first meeting will focus on reflecting on last year's activities and brainstorming plans for the upcoming year - we'd love to have you there!

• Join the WHS PTA as parent/guardian or community member for $10/school year
• https://whetstonepta.givebacks.com/shop
• Link your Kroger card to WHS through the Kroger Community Rewards program
• https://www.whetstonepta.org/home/kroger-community-rewards-for-whs-pta
• Donate throughout the year but especially for Homecoming (Oct 9) at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUgYdrCGWYcOCyi04gcIkZanWxMZj5b5565dYFV3O6x6S9MQ/viewform
• Volunteer with the PTA (email us at whetstonepta@gmail.com, link coming soon)
• Purchase your WHS Spirit Wear from the PTA here and at each of the home football games

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 ways to keep informed and connected on the latest PTA info!

• Website
• https://www.whetstonepta.org
• Social Media
• Facebook PTA page
• https://www.facebook.com/whetstonehighpta
• Facebook PTA Family group
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/472994289728615 (be sure to answer the questions)
• Instagram
• https://www.instagram.com/whetstone_pta
• Join us on the Band App
• https://www.band.us/band/99715157/post
• Bookmark our Linktree (which will also have the above links)
• https://linktr.ee/whetstonepta
• View and/or download our PTA calendar to your Google calendar (click on the "Add to Google Calendar in the bottom left corner)
• https://www.whetstonepta.org/home/calendar

Columbus City Schools has expanded their partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital! Whetstone now offers transportation during the school day to Fort Hayes for Vision Services. You can schedule using the QR code in the flyer below or call Nurse Hubschman at 614-365-6060. Our next transportation day from Whetstone is 9/23/26.

The American Diabetes Association and current Ohio Law deems that it is medically necessary to allow diabetic students to have access to their cellular devices when using a continuous glucose monitor.

Students who drive to school this year will have the opportunity to choose and purchase their own parking space and make it their own! As a Senior Class Fundraiser, participating student drivers can select an available parking space and personalize it with an approved painted design. All designs must be submitted and approved before painting and must follow school guidelines. More information and the application are linked here. Please return completed forms to Ms. Ottey.

Parking Spot Sale: September 9 - September 16, 2026. Decorating will be September 19., Price:$35

Behind every person doing meaningful work is someone who helped make that work possible. At Whetstone, we succeed because colleagues answer the call, solve the problem, offer encouragement, and show respect, integrity, and compassion, often without being asked or recognized.

In school, gratitude often loses to urgency. We appreciate someone, the bell rings, and the moment to tell them passes. We would like to create space for those moments, and preserve them. Each month, every staff member may nominate one colleague for Staff of the Month. Anyone may be nominated, including but not limited to teachers, instructional assistants, secretaries, custodial and food-service staff, safety and security personnel, or administrators.

In August, there were 15 nominees. Winners were Deanna Moorer and Octavia Hickman.

The 2026 Homecoming Dance is October 10, 2026 7:00pm-9pm, The theme is Red Carpet! Price: TBD, Eligibility: No In School Suspension or Out of School Suspension

Much more info is coming soon!

Prom: May 7, 2027, 7pm-10pm

Location: Hilton Easton

3900 Chagrin Dr.

Columbus, Ohio 43219

Price: TBD

Your Columbus Board of Education wants to hear from you! Join us for an upcoming Board meeting at 3700 S. High Street:

• Aug. 4 & 18
• Sept. 8 & 15
• Oct. 6 & 20
• Nov. 4 & 17
• Dec. 1 & 15
• Jan. 5, 2027

Board meetings begin at 6 p.m. Community members can meet one-on-one with Board members during office hours from 5:15–5:45 p.m. before each regular business meeting. Come ask questions, share your thoughts, and make your voice heard!

On June 29, 2026, Columbus City Council approved updates to the city's curfew ordinance for minors. The legislation maintains age-based curfew hours, clarifies exemptions, creates a graduated enforcement process focused on intervention and family engagement, and establishes new parental responsibility provisions that take effect in 2027. Learn more below and at https://www.columbus.gov/Government/City-Council/Programs-Initiatives/Curfew

The Columbus Metropolitan Library has fun and educational activities going on all the time – stop in to see what’s happening! Get more info below and at https://www.columbuslibrary.org/school-age/

The 2026 HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) College Fair is Friday, September 25. Space is limited! See the flyer for more info ad contact Ms. Nicole with questions at nmartin@iknowican.org.

Boss Up is an eight-week youth development and career exploration program that helps high school students build life skills, financial confidence, leadership habits, and exposure to future career pathways.

The program includes financial literacy with an introduction to stock investing, helping students understand saving, budgeting, investing basics, and long-term wealth-building habits. The program combines classroom learning, hands-on activities, guest speakers, site visits, and credential-building opportunities to help young people prepare for life after high school.

For more information, see the flyer below, call 614-252-2799 or email afterschool@impactca.org

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://secure.smore.com/3jk0e

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

• Whetstone HS (website) - whetstonehs.ccsoh.us
• Whetstone HS (Instagram) - instagram.com/whetstonehigh
  
• Whetstone HA PTA (website) - https://www.whetstonepta.org
• 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 CC/Track and Field - instagram.com/whetstonetrackandfield
• 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: whetstonehs.ccsoh.us

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, Ravin Pandey: rpandey@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Administrative Secretary, Martina Jakob: ejakob@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Attendance Secretary, Lisa Hord: lhord4655@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Social Worker, Diamond McCoy, dmccoy1@columbus.k12.oh.us
• I Know I Can, Nicole Martin, nmartin@iknowican.org
• Internship Coordinator, William Eagle, weagle4897@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Counselors

• Marie Fiascunari (9th), mfiascunari9064@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Marie McClain (10th), mmcclain415@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Matt Agee (11th), magee@columbus.k12.oh.us
• Annie Schwab (12th), aschwab6520@columbus.k12.oh.us

Thanks for reading!

The Whetstone Weekly is a regular, digital digest intended to help keep families informed, educated, and up-to-date on our school. If you have suggestions, questions, comments, concerns, or content, please feel free to contact me. I'm here to help!

If you missed a past issue, visit the Whetstone Weekly Archive.

For much more info, visit the WHS PTA Family Ambassador Page.

Damian Synadinos

WHS Family Ambassador

dsynadinos@columbus.k12.oh.us