The Whetstone Weekly
Friday, February 28th, 2025
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Dates & Calendars
Upcoming Dates
- No School (PD Day) - Wednesday, 3/5
- Senior Cap & Gown Pictures Make-up Day* - Thursday, 3/6
- PTA Meeting* - Monday, 3/17 @ 6:30
- End of 3rd Quarter - Friday, 3/21
- No School (Records Day) - Wednesday, 3/26
- 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
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
Academics
Graduation Info
Cap and Gown Photos (makeup and early grads) is March 6, 2025, 11am-3pm (by appointment after 2pm, email Ms. Ottey). Ms. Green has proofs from the first round of Cap and Gown photos. Pictures can be ordered, the forms are in the main office.
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 TBD.
Graduates must have all uniforms turned in, outstanding fees and fines paid.
SAT Info
The SAT is coming up for all students in Cohort 2026. The SAT will be given on Tuesday, March 4th. Students will need to arrive to school by 7:25am. Testing room assignments will be posted outside of the cafeteria when they are available.
Students must have a fully charged Chromebook when they arrive to testing. Please note the following items will not be permitted during testing.
- Cell Phones
- Smartwatches
- Headphones/earbuds
All of those items must be turned off and in your bookbag when you arrive to testing. Failing to follow the procedures will result in an irregularity and/or invalidation of test score(s).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Lewis at alewis3@columbus.k12.oh.us
Infinite Campus / Parent Portal
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!
PTA
PTA Meeting
The next PTA Meeting will be on March 17th, 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.
Ohio PTA Memorial Scholarship Program
2025 Ohio PTA Memorial Scholarship Information and Links - Application Deadline is March 1st
The Ohio PTA Memorial Scholarship program, in its 78th year, is pleased to offer your graduating seniors once again the opportunity to apply for an Academic, Post-Secondary/Certification, or Special Education Scholarship of $500.00. The awards are based on the student’s scholarship achievement, school and community involvement, leadership qualifications, and an essay. The applicant must be a senior, who attends an Ohio public high school, in a school district having one or more PTA units with membership in the Ohio PTA.
Scholarship applications can be electronically viewed and completed at the following links:
Digital Forms
Academic Scholarship
Post-Secondary Scholarship
Special Education
Applications must include:
- Ohio PTA Scholarship cover sheet
- Ohio PTA Scholarship application
- School transcript (UNOFFICIAL COPIES ARE ACCEPTABLE.)
Scholarship form must be submitted by March 1st!
Help Out with the PTA Next Year?
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!!
Kroger Card
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.
About
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!
Athletics
From the AD, Hannah Bleikamp
Softball is underway...baseball, track, and boys volleyball are starting...and soon enough boys tennis will begin!
- Congratulations to the following athletes for advancing in post-season OHSAA tournaments within the last week:
- Derek Skinner advanced to Bowling Districts.
- Sydney McMullen advanced to Bowling Districts.
- Calder Erickson-Miyamoto advances to Wrestling Districts at Hilliard Darby this weekend. He placed 2nd in his weight class at sectionals.
- Maggie Oliphint advances to Wrestling Districts at Big Walnut this weekend. She placed 2nd is her weight class at sectionals.
- Elizabeth Lowry advances to Wrestling Districts at Big Walnut this weekend. She placed 4th in her weight class at sectionals.
- Mac Plank finished 16th at the State Diving meet last Tuesday.
Schedules & Tickets
See past and upcoming matches for all WHS sports at WHS Athletic Schedule and buy your tickets at WHS Athletic Tickets.
Baseball
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.
...and more!
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!
Spirit Wear
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!
Athletics Boosters
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.
Arts
HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
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.
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!
WAPA
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.
Extracurricular
Prom Info
- 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.
PBIS
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a three-tiered, proactive approach used to improve school safety and promote positive behavior. At Whetstone, PBIS is a school-wide program of Behavioral Expectations based on The Whetstone Way:
- Have Integrity
- Give Compassion
- Show Respect
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit whetstonepta.org/home/family-ambassador-page/pbis, reach out to the WHS PBIS Administrator, Sarah Jaffy (sjaffy6286@columbus.k12.oh.us), visit pbis.org, and watch this space for more Whetstone-related PBIS news and information!
District News
District Messages on Immigration for Families and Staff
Please see this special Newsletter full of information, links, and resources regarding Immigration for Families and Staff.
Beyond Whetstone
Clintonville Rotary/Dr. Brian H. and Carrie L. Kvitko Peace Scholarship
Interested in a chance at winning a $4,000 scholarship? Check out the Clintonville Rotary club's tenth annual scholarship competition!
Endowed by Dr. Brian H. and Carrie L. Kvitko, the award provides funds for post-high school education at an accredited college, university, or career training program.
The key element of the application is a 500 word essay describing how the applicant advocates and acts for peace in his or her daily life, as exemplified by peer interactions and life experience. This 2025 theme reflects Rotary International's Humanitarian Peace Mission. Applications due by March 31, winner announced April 1, and award presented in late June.
For much more information, check the flyer or visit scholarship.clintonvillerotary.org.
Our Community
CRC Volunteers Needed
Is your student looking for a way to help their community and make a little money? Community members are needed to help a CRC Senior Supportive Services client with mowing from 4/27 - 10/15. Pays $20/mow!
For more info, see the flyer. Got questions? contact Aly at Aly.Hartung@ClintonvilleCRC.org.
Online
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/
- 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
Contact
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
Family Ambassador Note
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
