The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• First day of School - Monday, 8/25
• WHS PTA meeting* - Wednesday, 9/17, 6:30-7:30, WHS Library
• Homecoming - Friday, 9/26

*See below for more info

Whetstone PTA Calendar

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

CCS District Calendars

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

It is an honor to return to Whetstone High School—not only as principal, but as a proud alumna and parent of two Whetstone graduates. This school holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to begin the 2025–2026 school year alongside our students, staff, and families. Together, we will continue building on Whetstone’s strong traditions while ensuring every student has the support, opportunities, and encouragement to thrive. I look forward to partnering with you to make this a year of growth, achievement, and Whetstone pride.

-Kimberly Rodriguez, Principal

Columbus City Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Sibyl Barber as the Leadership Intern at Whetstone High School for the 2025–2026 academic year. Ms. Barber has been a dedicated member of the CCS community since 1993. Most recently, she served as a Matriculation Coach at Walnut Ridge and Independence High Schools.

Ms. Barber earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Tuskegee University, her Master’s Degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education from The Ohio State University, and holds an Education Administration License from The Ohio State University.

She looks forward to fostering academic growth, empowering students to reach their full potential, and becoming a valuable asset to the Whetstone High School community.

Check out a few highlights below, or get all the first week of school information - including School Day breakfast, Lockers & Bags, Chromebook distribution, New bell schedule, cell phone and AI policies, and a link to the student and family handbook - at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wdoeV4O93rrGBuyWoG_qeCYzBaaPT0LxVZRjbN_leWw/edit

The District's transportation department no longer mails bus route information to families' homes.

Arrival

Please remember that no cars are permitted to enter the front-office parking lot before school. No vehicles should park in the front lot prior to 7:30 AM. All students, staff and parents should park in the south parking lot next to the stadium. After 7:30 AM, staff, parents, and visitors may park in the front lot.

Dismissal

Car rider pick-up will take place in the south parking lot. Please look for a Whetstone staff member and signage indicating where to line up. Buses will also be lined up in the same lot. Our CCS buses have priority to leave promptly at 2:35 PM to ensure they can complete their high school routes, including picking up students from their next route at our elementary schools on time. Car drivers will not be able to exit the parking lot until all buses have departed. We ask that all drivers be respectful of this schedule and follow the directions of Whetstone staff managing traffic flow. Our goal is safety first. If everyone slows down and remains patient, we will all get where we need to go safely and on time. Students who are staying for athletics or an activity should report to their respective activity locations immediately after school.

For more info and maps about the new arrival and dismissal protocols for the 2025-26 school year, visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o7CvFZ2nHhMfUIG7nhYQ3RrfnqkzEt--/edit?tab=t.0

Dan Cline, project manager from the Building Improvements team is here to give you an exclusive behind the scenes look at the auditorium and gymnasium upgrades Northland, Walnut Ridge, and Whetstone high schools are receiving this summer.

Learn about all the 2025-2026 Building Improvements at: https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/13145

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 sign-up and use the Parent Portal, visit: https://www.ccsoh.us/parentportal.aspx

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!

This year’s Pathway Express kicks off in September at Lynd Fruit Farm, followed by the Lincoln Theatre in December and 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.

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

As part of the School Health Services of Columbus City Schools, and in fulfillment of Ohio Law 3313.69, school nurses conduct periodic student health screenings. The screenings include: vision, hearing, and dental. The school nurses perform the various screenings in pre-kindergarten, special needs pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th , 9th and 11th grades and also when students are new to the school district.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the screening, please contact the school nurse at (614) 365-6060, Monday – Friday from 7:15 to 2:45.

Ohio Law requires that all students must be fully immunized in order to continue to attend school. The Immunization Exclusion Date this year is 9/15/25. This means that if the nurse has not received proof of a complete immunization record for your student, they will no longer be allowed, by law, to continue to attend school starting 9/16/25. Once we have proof that your student has received the necessary immunizations they will be allowed to return to Whetstone.

Not sure if your student has all of their immunizations? Call (614-365-6060) or Email me at nhubschman8506@columbus.k12.oh.us and I will be happy to check.

There are many places to get your student immunized including their family doctor or Columbus Public Health. Reach out to me if you need help.

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Nationwide Children’s Hospital is coming to Whetstone on 9/5/25 to give students needed immunizations during school hours! Make sure to complete the NCH Vaccine Consent form below and get it to me ASAP (you can email it me or send it in with your student). No need to drive your student anywhere! Just send them on time to school on 9/5/25 and I will take care of the rest!

NCH will bill insurance or Medicaid. If students do not have insurance, they can still be vaccinated and the family will be referred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Financial Assistance team.

Thank you,

Nancy Hubschman, BSN, RN, LSN

Whetstone School Nurse

Happy first day of school! Whetstone athletics have been hard at work (practices and games) for the last couple weeks and the work is about to get tougher! This is your reminder that being a student-athlete at Whetstone is just that, a student first and then an athlete. Be sure to find ways to take advantage of your time and stay ahead on school work while balancing demanding practice and game schedules.

Our boys football team traveled to Youngstown East over the weekend for Week 1 football. Although we did not come home with a win, the team was able to have a comfortable travel experience in a charter bus and play in a nice stadium with a turf field. We will host Grandview Heights this week on Thursday at 7pm! Be sure to come support football, cheer, and band!

Football Game Day Reminders:

• Spectators must pass the security check through Evolv. No bags larger than 5x8”. I will not and cannot overrule the security teams protocols.
• Entry gates will close at the end of the 3rd quarter. There will be no admission after the 3rd quarter. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• If you leave, you must purchase a new ticket and go through security again to re-enter. NO EXCEPTIONS
• Entry gates will open at 6pm. The game starts at 7pm.
• Want free entry? We are looking for a 3rd member to join our chain crew this Thursday. No experience needed. You can earn volunteer/service hours!

Boys and girls basketball will be starting open gyms and weight lifting sessions in September. Please contact Coach Gibbs (rgibbs@columbus.k12.oh.us ) for girls basketball info and Coach Walker (jwalker1@columbus.k12.oh.us ) for boys basketball info.

Home game tickets: https://rebrand.ly/whetstonetickets

Whetstone Athletics General Info: https://rebrand.ly/WhetstoneWeeklyRoundup

What’s happening this week?

Monday:

Varsity Girls Soccer @ Franklin Heights, 5:30pm,

JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Groveport Madison, 5:30/7pm

JV/V Girls Tennis @ Hilliard Darby 4pm –

JVB Boys Soccer @ Marysville, 5:30

Whetstone Athletic Boosters Meeting, 7pm

Tuesday:

JV/V Boys Soccer @ Delaware Hayes, 5:30/7

JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Mifflin, 5:30/7

Varsity Girls Soccer vs Worthington Kilbourne, 5:30pm

JVB Boys Soccer vs Hilliard Bradley, 7pm

Varsity Girls Tennis @ Northland, 3:30pm

B/G Golf Clinic at Golf Depot

Wednesday:

JVB Boys Soccer vs Worthington Kilbourne, 5:30pm

JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Beechcroft, 5:30/7pm

Thursday:

Varsity Girls Soccer @ Grove City Christian, 7pm

JVB Boys Soccer @ Hilliard Davidson, 5:30pm

Football vs Grandview Heights, 7pm

B/G Golf Clinic at Golf Depot

Friday:

Saturday:

JV/V Boys Soccer @ Thomas Worthington, 10am both games – one on stadium, one on north practice field

Varsity Cross Country @ Westerville North, 9am

JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Whitehall Yearling, 11:30/1pm

Help turn popcorn and Gatorade into uniforms and equipment for Braves Athletics!

Whetstone Boosters are looking for awesome people to staff the Stadium Snack Shack for THIS WEEK'S Soccer home openers, and the rest of our fall season. Proceeds are used to support ALL WHS sports, athletes and seasons.

For more info and to sign up, visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044AAFA62EA20-58000089-20252026

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

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.

She Kills Monsters tells the story of high schooler Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly.

Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8, 2025

7:00 PM & 9:00 PM

WAPA Performing Arts Center

Get more info and tickets at https://www.wapa.net/performances-gashZ/kt9ogqm254gg128klfaf2lrjbc5fu8

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.

Our PTA holds open meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the school library. Join us 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.

Homecoming is right around the corner!

Homecoming weekend is September 26-27 this year, and PTA is already hard at work planning the parade, festival, silent auction (Sept. 26) and student dance (Sept. 27). If you have some time and energy to lend to helping plan any of these events, please let us know by completing this form ASAP!

We are looking for business sponsors and donations for the silent auction. Please complete the form here with donation information.

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!

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

Girls on the Run at Clinton Elementary is looking for a few high school girls to serve as coaches. Volunteers must be 16+ and must enjoy exercise (walking or running) and spending time with girls in grades 3-5. Volunteering is very flexible. The team meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:00 at Clinton Elementary, but you can come as you are able. The program head coach will sign off on volunteer hours and will write college recommendation letters. For more information, please contact clintongotr@gmail.com.

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

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 a past issue, visit The Whetstone Weekly Archive is coming soon.

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