The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• Spring Break! - 4/3-10
• National Honor Society Induction - Wednesday, 4/15
• International Celebration - Friday, 5/1
• Senior and Parent Dinner - Thursday, May 7
• Prom* - Saturday, 5/9, 7-10
• Class of 2028 EOY Skate zone 71 Trip - Wednesday, 5/13
• Academic Hall of Fame - Wednesday, 5/19
• NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day) - Monday, 5/25
• Last Day of School - Thursday, 5/28
• Graduation* - Saturday, 5/30

*See below for more info

CCS WHS Calendar

https://whetstonehs.ccsoh.us/our-school/calendar

CCS District Calendars

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

We had a great showing at our Braves Track Invitational last Saturday. Thirteen teams came out to compete despite the chilly temperatures. Our girls placed 4th and our boys placed 7th in the first meet of the season. Thank you to all parents that volunteered for field events. Your time and effort contribute greatly to the success of the meet.

Football Cheer tryouts will take place the week of April 20th-21st-22nd. See the flyer to register.

Drill Team tryouts have not been solidified yet but information on that will be forthcoming.

The Athletic Booster Association is looking for a committed volunteer, or group of volunteers, to operate Concessions for the 26/27 school year.

The Athletic Booster Association exists to provide funds and support to WHS Athletics programs. These funds are available to all teams and go directly to benefit WHS Athletes to help 'close the gap' when the school Athletics budget is exhausted. In recent years, the Athletic Boosters have provided uniforms, training and practice equipment, athletic facilities improvements, camp & clinic opportunities for athletes, coach training, and team management technology. This is all made possible by volunteers committed to seeing our Whetstone athletes succeed and have a great experience!

If you are interested in supporting our WHS athletes and would like to find out more information, please contact Jill Langhals (419-348-3709 or jlanghals01@gmail.com).

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.

SpongeBob the Musical was a smash hit! The actors, story, music, lighting, stage design, and interactive elements dazzled crowds the past 2 weekends.

Looking ahead to next year, we will need to backfill several roles within the WAPA Boosters. Please seriously consider taking on one of these positions. Without the necessary parental support, WAPA programs and the opportunities for our students will be scaled back if not eliminated. Key needs for next year include:

• Treasurer: This is a roll that takes about 5 hours a month but is mostly done at home with a flexible schedule. Colleen has things well organized and there will be plenty of support to get a new person up to speed. WAPA literally cannot exist without a treasurer. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but ALL finances flow through the WAPA Boosters, not through the school. If something costs money, (i.e. play rights, set cost, instrument repair, choir robe dry cleaning, etc.) WAPA Boosters writes the check to pay for it.

• Marching Band Uniforms: This is a short lived but critical role that is primarily in August and July as we ramp up for the marching band season.

• Coordinators for Fall Mum Sale, Winter Greenery Sale, and Spring Plant Sale. These can be done by three different coordinators, or one person can take on all three.

• Scholarship: Coordinate the WAPA Scholarship process in the Spring

• Sponsorship: Coordinate and track our individual and corporate sponsors throughout the year

For any of these roles you will have plenty of support and knowledge to be transferred to help you get up to speed. I promise you will not be thrown into the deep end of the pool without a life jacket. If you would like to learn more about any of these rolls please reach out to Brad Phillips or Colleen Rogers directly or through wapaboosters@gmail.com.

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.

It's that time! Nominate a deserving teacher for the Whetstone PTA Educator of the Year award! The winning educator will be recognized at the Whetstone Academic Hall of Fame on May 19th. Students, staff, parents, guardians, and other community members can make nominations. Submit nominations here.

Attention graduating Whetstone Seniors! Please apply for the Whetstone PTA scholarship! 14 scholarships are available for $500 each for graduates pursuing additional education, whether at a 4-year college or an Associate's Degree. The applications are open through Friday, April 17th. Awardees will receive their scholarship at the Academic Hall of Fame in May.

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!

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 7-10

Where: Hilton Columbus at Easton (3900 Chagrin Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43219)

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.

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...

Columbus Public Health is coming to Whetstone on 5/5/26 to give students needed immunizations! See the flyer for more info (in English, Spanish, Arabic, Somali, and Swahili).

Whetstone Parents: Did you know that there are Nationwide Children’s Hospital doctor’s offices inside several Columbus City Schools? Your child can be seen during school hours for well visits, vaccines and many more services! Unfortunately, Whetstone currently does not have a school-based clinic, but we offer transportation to one! Our students are transported once a month to the NCH school-based health clinic at Columbus International High School. NCH is even working on getting transportation for Whetstone students to be seen at their Fort Hayes clinic where they provide vision services (exams & glasses).

Setting up an appointment requires 2 steps:

1. Alert Nurse Nancy that you are interested in having your child seen at a SBHC so I can arrange transportation from Whetstone High School.

2. Call (614) 355-2590 (option 3) to register for an appointment.

Visit https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/school-health-services and see the flyer for much more info, and reach out to Nurse Nancy if you have any questions! 614-365-6060.

Parents: Has your child recently had a serious injury or surgery? Are they returning to Whetstone on crutches or in a boot? Will they need special medical accommodations once they return?

If so, it is important to note: Whetstone does not have an elevator and many of our classrooms are on the second floor. And...

BEFORE a student can return to school after surgery or a serious injury, they must complete the form below. All students must be at least toe-touch weight bearing in the affected extremity to return to school safely if on crutches or in a boot. If your student’s doctor deems that it is unsafe for them to use our stairs, I need to know ASAP so that appropriate accommodations can be made. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nurse Nancy at 614-365-6060 or nhubschman8506@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Hello parents of Whetstone Student Athletes! Columbus City Schools has partnered with OhioHealth to offer Free Sports Physicals at some of their schools.

I need at least 10 completed permission slips so that I can book them at Whetstone in early May. No need to drive your student anywhere! Your student would be pulled from class to be seen in the building by the OhioHealth Wow team.

If you are interested in having your student athlete participate, please complete the 2025/26 OHSAA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation packet and return it to the nurse ASAP. Once I receive 10 I can have them come to Whetstone! Please note that parents/guardians (if student is under 18) must complete and sign pages 1,2, 6, 7, 12 & 13. If these pages are not complete, OhioHealth will not give your student a sports physical. Page 3 is only for athletes with disabilities. Pages 4 & 5 are for the physician to complete.

This packet can be found online at: https://www.ohsaa.org/medicine/physicalexamform

Please have your student give their completed PPE Form to Nurse Nancy as soon as possible. Space is limited. Sports Physicals are good for one calendar year – so if you have students participating in fall or winter sports, this will cover them for the next season.

Reach out to the Whetstone School Nurse – Nancy Hubschman at 614-365-6060 with any questions.

Is your student a budding journalist? If so, good news: the WHS school newspaper is back online and seeking student contributions! Learn more at https://bravesmessenger.com/. Questions? Contact Mr. Smith at dsmith6840@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Getting FOMO because you missed the WHS tours and the Brave the Future event? Relax! You can still get all (ok, most) of the info you need in the 2025-26 WHS Brave The Future Guide! Get it digitally below, or grab a hardcopy in the school office.

For the past few months, students have been earning and accumulating points in ClassBank for good behavior and attendance. Now they can cash in their points for prizes! The PBIS store is open Fridays at lunch! Students can exchange points for snacks, candy, drinks, school supplies, water bottles, phone chargers, free WAPA and WHS athletic tickets, spirit wear, and much more! Ask your student how many points they've earned and what they're getting!

We’re excited to officially launch our April Attendance Challenge across Columbus City Schools today!

As we move into the spring season, this is an important time to combat the spring slump and help students stay focused, consistent, and connected to their learning communities. Small daily habits—like showing up—create the conditions for growth.

🌸 APRIL 2026 — Stay Strong for Spring Attendance Challenge — Starts TODAY!

Theme: Bloom Where You Learn
Challenge Dates: March 16 – April 17

Goal: Combat spring slumps and promote growth through consistency and daily attendance.

Key Message:
“Great things grow from showing up!”

🏆 Acknowledgments Announced: April 21–25

We're proud of the successes happening across CCS!

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:

• February 24, 2026
• March 25, 2026
• April 29, 2026

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

Summer VCAP is the high school credit recovery program for Columbus City Schools. Overseen by the Virtual Credit Advancement Program (VCAP), rising 10-12th grade students who need to complete or continue coursework toward graduation are able to do so this summer. VCAP Students will work with licensed CCS teachers using Edmentum in a structured, in‑person model across 16 high school sites.

Students can enroll for Summer VCAP through their home school counselors.

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit https://www.ccsoh.us/students-families/virtual-credit-advancement-program and contact the VCAP office via email or phone at 614-365-5485.

The Ohio State University Student Life Disability Services is proud to announce two webinars for high school students preparing for college. These sessions will explain the key differences between high school and collegiate services and how to register for accommodations. The webinars are open to any students who plan to attend college.

Our upcoming sessions, “Next Stop: College! Navigating Disability Supports After High School,” will guide students through the changes to expect after high school graduation. Students will learn:

• How to choose a campus that fits their needs
• How disability is broadly defined
• The steps to register for accommodations (including key resources and documentation tips)
• The importance and value of self-advocacy in college
  

This is a great opportunity for students to learn how they can transition successfully to college with confidence and clarity!

Register Below!

April 16 @6pm

Overview ⋮ Next Stop: College! Navigating Disability Supports After High School ⋮ : Blackthorn Even…

​​​​​

Questions? Email us at slds@osu.edu.

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 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: 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