The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• Clintonville Choral Festival* - Friday, 4/24
• 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
• Orchestra and Choir Concert - Thursday, 5/14
• Academic Hall of Fame* - Tuesday, 5/19
• Senior EOY trip to Scene 75 - Wednesday, 5/20
• Last Day of School (Seniors) - Friday, 5/22
• Freshman Trip-Bowling at Star Lanes, Junior trip Urban Air - Friday, 5/22
• 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

Dear Whetstone High School Families,

As we move to conclude the school year, I want to take a moment to revisit the traffic expectations we established at the beginning of the year. Your partnership in keeping our campus safe is essential, and we appreciate your attention to the following reminders.

It appears that some drivers have not always been following safe practices recently. We have made it through most of the year without a serious accident because the majority of our families consistently observe safe driving expectations. We want to ensure that this continues.

Please continue to follow the designated traffic pattern when entering and exiting the school grounds. This helps maintain a steady flow of vehicles and reduces the risk of accidents during our busiest times of day.

We also ask that you drive slowly and cautiously through the area. Student safety is our top priority, and reduced speeds make a meaningful difference.

When dropping students off, please use the marked drop-off zones only. These areas are designed to keep students visible and safe as they exit vehicles.

During high-traffic moments, especially in the morning, we ask for your patience while waiting in line. It is always better to arrive a few minutes late, to school or to work, than to rush and risk an accident.

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.

Whetstone and WAPA will be hosting the vocal groups from our pathway schools tonight at 7:00 p.m. It is always fun to see future WAPA vocalist perform and rumor has it the Whetstone Show Choir will make its official debut!

There will be a light reception after the concert. Vocal parents, or anyone else in attendance, will need some help with the reception. No need to duck out of the concert early but please come straight to the cafeteria to help serve drinks and make sure the cookie table is full. Thank you in advance for your help.

Always a crowd favorite, the Whetstone Drumline will be once again be on site to perform for the crowd and lead the parade.

Join us Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for Whetstone’s first ever Night of Jazz. The Dominion Jazz Band opens the show followed by Whetstone. The evening then wraps up with the Clintonville Community Jazz Band.

It is going to be a great night and a lot of fun.

We will be having a concession stand that evening so please consider volunteering your time, baked goods, or both!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F49A4AC2AA4F58-63630307-clintonville#/

Every year the WAPA Boosters awards five $500 scholarships to seniors that can be used for any post high school education or training. Be aware, things are running a little late with the New York trip so the May 4th deadline is coming very quickly.

The application can be reached via this link: https://forms.gle/8YhMA68iPdBdb4RLA

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.

Nominations close May 1st at end of day.

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!

This is such a special time of year as we celebrate the many years of hard work and dedication that lead to milestones like prom, commemorative events, and graduation. It's truly hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by.

We would like to remind all students of the importance of checking their school email regularly. All official and time-sensitive information will be communicated through school email only, not personal accounts.

Students who are currently on track to graduate and have completed all requirements to date have received an email invitation to a Senior Celebration Dinner on May 7. To help us plan appropriately and ensure we have adequate food and seating, RSVPs are required.

Below, you will find important information and key dates. Please review everything carefully to stay informed and prepared for the exciting weeks ahead!

Important Dates:

May 7 - Senior Celebration Dinner: Invitation Only - must RSVP

May 20 - Senior Trip to Scene 75, students who have not received an during the school year will be invited to attend. Look for an invitation in your email.

May 22 - Senior Clap out: Parents are invited to meet graduates in the South parking lot.

Prom - Masquerade:

May 9, 2026, 7-10pm Hilton Columbus at Easton,

3900 Chagrin Dr.

Columbus, Ohio 43219

Price: $65 for single ticket; $120 for couple tickets. Students will be required to use their student ID# to purchase tickets when asked for an access code. NO REFUNDS.

• Ticket sales open Wednesday April 22 at 7am and closes May 6 at 9pm
• The guest permission form can be found in the main office and attached to this message. It must be completed prior to purchasing the ticket.
• Prom ticket Link

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.
• 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

Graduation:

May 30, 2026, 12:00pm, Columbus Convention Center

• Rehearsal ( mandatory ) - May 26, 2026 7:30am, Whetstone Auditorium
• Cap and gowns, cords, stoles, etc. will be given at rehearsal.
• Tickets will be given at rehearsal (we do not have the number of tickets that will be given).
• Graduates arrive at Convention Center at 11:00am.
• Students may select any staff member from Columbus City Schools to hand them their diploma. The individual MUST sign a form. The form will be available in the main office on May 1st. It will be due to Ms. Ottey by May 15th. Mrs. Rodriguez will hand diplomas to those students who do not turn in a form.
• Yard signs will be available for pick up in the main office beginning May 1st. Ms. Jakob will have a list of students to receive yard signs.

Prior to seniors receiving their cap and gown, there are some obligations that they must meet prior to getting the gown. The list is below:

• Pay ALL school fees. This can be completed in Infinite Campus.
• Complete exit survey on SchoolLinks. If you need assistance with this, please see your counselor.
• Upload acceptance and award letters in SchoolLinks.
• If you are attending college or going to military, be sure that it is listed in SchoolLinks.

All of this must be completed prior to receiving your cap and gown.

Please feel free to email Ms. Ottey with any questions.

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.

Join us for the 15th Annual CCS Poetry Slam is April 25, 2026!

From four to nine, the mic will glow,
At Eastmoor where brave voices flow,
Each word a spark, each line a stand—
A night where truth is spoken, loud and unplanned.

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!

Harmony Project Concert For Humanity

May 14, 2026

7:30 pm

Columbus Commons

This spring, the Harmony Project brings their Concert for Humanity back to Columbus Commons. More than 500 choir members will take one stage proving music doesn’t erase our differences, it gives us a way to connect across them. You won’t want to miss the powerful free performance!

Tickets are FREE, but are required. Visit the link below for tickets.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/harmonyprojectproductions/event/concertforhumanity1976/

Atlanta, GA

Tuskegee, AL

Montgomery, AL

Selma, AL

Memphis, TN

Louisville, TN

Returning for another tour? Receive a 15% discount! CODE: ALUM15

For questions, please reach out to:

Toni Bell

Executive Director

toni@theheritagetours.com

(614) 307-0483

or visit the Heritage tour website: https://www.theheritagetours.com/2026civilrightstour

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.

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