The Whetstone Weekly

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Upcoming Dates

• 🧽The Spongebob Musical* - 3/27 & 28
• PTA Academic Committee Meeting* - Wednesday, 4/1, 6:30
• 30 Minute Early Dismissal - Thursday, 4/2
• Spring Break! - 4/3-10
• Prom* - Saturday, 5/9, 7-10
• Academic Hall of Fame - Wednesday, 5/19
• 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

As we approach the end of the year, we are excited to share our plans for the 3rd and 4th Quarter Matriculation Celebrations. These events are designed to recognize students’ hard work and to encourage them to stay on track for successful matriculation to the next grade level.

📅Thursday, April 2, 2026

✅Freshmen & Sophomores

• Ice Cream Sundae Bar & Gym Time, 7th and 8th Periods

✅Juniors

• Katie’s Pancakes in the cafeteria, 8:30 AM

📅 Friday, March 27, 2026

✅Seniors

• Donuts, 4th Period

On March 30 and March 31, sophomores will take the OST English test. Students must earn a score of at least 684 to meet competency, a 700 meets proficiency. This test is an important graduation requirement. Students can prepare by practicing released test items on the Ohio Department of Education website. Sign in as a guest to access the practice tests and sample questions. Here is the link.

Upcoming additional OST testing dates:
April 20 – Geometry
April 21 – Algebra I
April 22 – Biology
April 23 – American Government
April 24 – American History

Our spring teams started scrimmaging and playing games last week. This weekend, we host the 2026 Braves Track Invitational. We have 14 teams attending, with field events starting at 10am and running events at 12pm. The Athletic Boosters are in need of additional volunteers for the concession stand. Please sign up here: Whetstone Athletic Boosters: 2025-2026 Whetstone Athletics Spring Concession Stand Volunteers

Know someone interested in Whetstone Athletics or an incoming freshman next year? Fill out the interest form to be included on the Weekly Whetstone Athletics Roundup: https://rebrand.ly/AthleticsInterestForm

Online applications for the 2026 Whetstone Athletic Boosters Senior Award are now available!

There will be 8 awards given this year, each in the amount of $750.00.

We appreciate your help in getting the word out to all eligible Seniors about this award opportunity. All details are outlined in the application form which is found through the "Senior Awards" tab on the WHS Athletics Boosters Website

Minimum Requirements for eligibility - The applicant must:

• be a current senior student.
• have played at least three (3) seasons for a Whetstone High School athletic team.
• have a cumulative weighted GPA of 2.5 or higher
• be OHSAA eligible

Applications, as well as accompanying Coach’s Rating and Character/Leadership Reference, are online and are due no later than 11:59 PM ET on March 27, 2026.

Questions? Please contact the Booster Award Committee Co-chair: matthewhittle@hotmail.com

Some of our volunteers will no longer have students at Whetstone next year, so we need your help to continue to make our great Athletic Boosters programs possible. We are looking for people to fill the following roles:

• Recruit a committee to score applications using a rubric
• Update the application and deadlines, promote the opportunity, monitor submissions
• Compile applications and remove the candidate names for the committee's review
• Compile committee scores; prepare for honoree announcement in May

• Monitor inventory and purchase items needed for concession sales
• Create/update Signup Genius for volunteers to staff concession stand
• Coordinate opening/closing of stand and train volunteers in their duties (Athletic Boosters officers help with this, as well)

• Coordinate with Athletic Director and photographer to capture senior and team photos
• Verify seniors' preferred names and spellings for banner production
• Assist with setup, props, and directing student athletes on picture days
• Organize digital photo files from photographer and send to banner vendor
• Proof banners, pickup from local vendor, deliver to school

Thank you for your support!

The Athletic Boosters Board

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.

• Friday & Saturday, March 27 & 28, 2026
• 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• WAPA Performing Arts Center

Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.

An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical.

Tickets on Sale NOW at https://www.wapa.net/performances-gashZ

SpongeBob the Musical is upon us and we need lots of help the night of each performance to ensure things run smoothly. Last year we sold over 1800 tickets across the four shows. This year we might set a new record!

The concessions for the four musical performances is typically our second largest fundraiser we have each year behind the Fall Booster drive. These funds support all of the WAPA programs so please see the sign up below and help where you can.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E49ADAA22A13-62912859-concessions

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.

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...

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.

There have been enough requests for additional tours that we've decided to offer one final one!

The final WHS tour of 2026 will be offered Wednesday, April 1, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm.

Please visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BADAD2EA4FCC61-59912441-202526#/ if you would like to sign-up.

Urban Aviators Society is offering a hands-on experience for middle and high school girls to explore careers in Flight and STEM. High school students who show proof of attending may be eligible to receive internship hours! Check the flyer for more details.

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!

Show up! Win stuff!

WHS is holding an attendance competition between cohorts during the month of March. The cohort with the highest attendance will win a parade, and any student with 95% attendance or more can attend a pizza party!

How are they doing so far? Check out these stats...

Week of March 2 - 6

Cohort 2026 - 81.82%

Cohort 2027 - 79.22%

Cohort 2028 - 79.90%

Cohort 2029 - 80.71%

Week of March 9-13

Cohort 2026 - 82.76%

Cohort 2027 - 79.19%

Cohort 2028 - 79.68%

Cohort 2029 - 86.04%

Week of March 16-20

Cohort 2026 - 80.43% 🔽

Cohort 2027 - 76.33% 🔽

Cohort 2028 - 78.89% 🔽

Cohort 2029 - 80.52% 🔽

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!

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor some of the world's smartest, most courageous, creative women history has seen, and a time to celebrate the women in our lives who make the world go -round.

Below you will find links to educational information, local celebrations, and historical facts surrounding Women's History Month. Be sure to click on the CCS Climate and Culture link for daily activities, videos, and more!

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