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Upcoming Events
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Whittier Helping Hands "Wraps" Up THIS Friday!
But...we still have mittens hanging on the lobby wall! What does this mean for you?
- IT'S NOT TOO LATE to take part in this rewarding gift giving campaign. There are still a few gift mittens and plenty of grocery card mittens in need of a donor. If you've thought about participating but haven't, forgot about it altogether, or just want to participate more, grab a mitten and help our drive end with a bang. What is that "bang"? Fulfilling all of the wishes for our families in need this holiday season.
- All of those gifts/gift cards and mittens are due THIS Friday by the end of the school day. If you want to participate but can't get it to us by then, please send me an email.
- We will be bringing holiday music and wrapping paper to the school library on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:00pm to get these gifts ready for delivery. Feel free to join us! Bring the kids or come solo. It's a fun way to get into the spirit of the season. More hands make light work, we'd love to have your help!
The beauty of a giving drive is that it only works when a community, like ours, is supportive of it. Thank you for all of your support, I'm grateful!
If you have any questions or concerns, please
contact me
.
Katie Dahlen,
Helping Hands Event Chair
Whittier Book Fair Continues at Phinney Books
Did you miss last Thursday's Book Fair? It's not too late! Shop at Phinney Books (7405 Greenwood Ave N) now through
December 8th
, mention Whittier at checkout, and 25% of your purchase will go to support the Whittier library fund. Check out the teacher wish-list board in the Whittier lobby and pick up something special for your teacher, too. Happy reading!
Spirit Day: Ugly Sweater Day!
Remind your students to dig around for their favorite "Ugly Sweater" - the next Spirit Day is next Friday, Dec. 16!
Winter Family Movie Night - Friday, Jan. 20
205 ballots have been counted and the Winter Family Night movie to be shown on Friday, Jan. 20 is...Garfield! Garfield was the clear popular vote winner with 101 votes; Robots claimed 57 votes and Horton Hears a Who 47 votes. Thanks to all who participated - your vote counts!
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PTA Information
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Scrip Gift Cards On Sale Before, After School Through FRIDAY
Scrip gift cards are available for purchase every day before and after school through Friday, Dec. 9, in support of Helping Hands and holiday gift purchases. Need a teacher gift? Something for your co-workers or in-laws? Consider a gift card!
iTunes, Starbucks, Amazon, Target, Macy's, Land's End, Barnes & Noble, QFC, Majestic Bay, Safeway and California Pizza Kitchen are available. Questions? Contact
Cara.
Shop for Whittier
Don't forget these simple ways to support Whittier with your everyday shopping, at no additional cost to you!
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School News
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Whittier Virtue of the Month: Generosity
Whittier is highlighting an important virtue each month and invites families to participate in a discussion of that virtue. December's virtue is "Generosity".
We encourage you to discuss the following questions with your family:
- What does it (i.e., generosity) look like?
- What does it feel like?
- What does it sound like?
5th Grade Fundraiser: Brown Bear Car Wash Tickets on Sale
Brown Bear Car Wash tickets will be for sale in the lobby THIS week, a fundraiser for the 5th Grade NatureBridge trip. Tickets are 1 ticket for $7, 3 for $20, or 20 for $100. Tickets make great teacher gifts and stocking stuffers!
Skate Unit!
The annual skate unit is underway in PE. Students need to bring a labeled bike helmet. Whittier has quad skates, wrist guards (mandatory), and knee and elbow pads (optional). Wildcats may use their own quad or in-line skates. All personal equipment must be labeled with the student's name and stored in an unbreakable bag in the student's classroom cubby (there is no storage option in the gym).
Schedule by PCP Rotation (UPDATED):
- A: Wed., 12/7; Wed., 12/14
- B: Thu., 12/8; Fri., 12/9
- C: Mon., 12/12; Tues., 12/13
PE classes on Thursday, Dec. 15 (Group A) and Friday, Dec. 16 (Group B) will be riding Razor scooters in class. Students need to bring their labeled helmets on these dates as well. Whittier PE has enough scooters for all Wildcats to use.
Winter After-School Recreation (10 classes)
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade: Tuesdays starting
Jan. 10, 2017
2nd Grade - 5th Grade: Thursdays starting
Jan. 12, 2017
- OVERVIEW: This is a 1-hour extension of Whittier's physical education program offered once a week. The program builds on the variety of PE activities at Whittier and will include individual skills building, small and large group activities, and more. We may include skating, scooters, bowling, circus arts and other interests over the 10 classes.
- COST: $35
- PAYMENT: Please attach a check, payable to WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, to your student's completed registration form. Registration forms can be downloaded here (K-2nd) or here (2nd-5th), are available outside the gym, and on the PE Schoology page.
- SNACKS: Snacks are not provided. Please send a small non-messy snack with your student to enjoy before each after-school recreation class. Participants may relax and snack in the gym from 2:05pm - 2:20 pm.
- PICK-UP: Class ends at 3:20pm. Please pick up your child on time at the Whittier gym.
Girls on the Run - Spring 2017
5th Grade teacher and Whittier parent Julie Childers coaches Girls on the Run, an after-school program that uses the power of running to give girls the tools to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, recognize their gifts and activate their power! Girls on the Run is for 3rd - 5th grade girls of ALL fitness and ability levels. The only requirement is to believe in GIRL POWER!
Dates:
March 6 - May 23
Days & Time: Tuesdays / Thursdays,
2:15pm - 3:45pm
Cost: Fees based on a sliding scale; scholarships available
Contact
Julie Childers
for more information or visit
Girls on the Run to register. Registration deadline is
Friday, Feb. 17.
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Volunteer Information
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Open 2016-2017 Volunteer Positions
Team up with a friend and contribute your own flavor to the Whittier community. Volunteers are needed ASAP to fill several event and PTA positions. A few urgent positions include:
- *NEW* STEM Fair (mid-Dec. / early Jan. through March)
Seeking Co-Chair
- Movie Nights (Fall, Winter and Spring)
Seeking Co-Chair to shadow in 2016-17, lead in 2017-18
- 2016-17 School Yearbook (year-long position)
Seeking an Editor(s)
Required Volunteer Paperwork
To volunteer at Whittier during the 2016-2017 school year, you will need to complete the necessary paperwork. Printed volunteer packets are available in the office, or you can find the information and documents you need
here.
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District News
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Early Registration for Kindergarten Underway
SPS Schedule Recommendations for 2017-18
Twenty (20) minutes of core instructional time will be added to the school day in the 2017-18 school year, and one hour of teacher collaboration time will be implemented each week to support common planning and improved student outcomes. More than 11,000 family members, teachers, principals and community partners responded to last month's SPS survey on how to implement these changes. The following SPS recommendations were informed by survey feedback:
- The additional 20 minutes per day will be split between the morning and afternoon (school will start 10 minutes earlier and end 10 minutes later).
- Students will be dismissed one hour early on Wednesdays in support of teacher collaboration.
The split schedule for the additional 20 minutes assumes a continuation of the 3-tier bus system (i.e., three school start times). Decisions regarding the number of start times and associated transportation standards will be influenced by the School Board's budgeting process. The 2017-18 bell schedules will be finalized and communicated in January.
Find the SPS announcement
here. To provide additional feedback to staff and the School Board, email
arrivaltimes@seattleschools.org.
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Community Meetings
Several upcoming community meetings have been scheduled for the
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School community. Robert Eagle Staff is the recommended HCC pathway middle school for the Whitman attendance area. At these meetings, join Principal Campbell and the Robert Eagle Staff community to learn about the new school and share your ideas.
- Thur., Dec. 8, 6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Loyal Heights Elem. at Marshall (520 NE Ravenna Blvd)
- Thur., Jan. 5, 6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Broadview Branch Library (12755 Greenwood Ave N)
SPS Community Budget Gap Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Ballard High School (1418 NW 65th St)
SPS is soliciting feedback on 2017-18 budget priorities from staff, families and community partners. Hosted by the Seattle Council PTSA. Find more information
here.
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Community News & Information
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Seattle Celtic Soccer Club Spring Season Registration Now Open
Seattle Celtic will be holding Spring season tryouts the week of January 9. Celtic have teams at all levels for players born between 2002 and 2010 and a coaching staff with the perfect mix of energy, passion and expertise to help players develop and excel in a fun environment.
Tryouts are free to attend and details can be found at
www.seattleceltic.com
.
Questions? Contact us at
info@seattleceltic.com
for further information.
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Calendar
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Now through Fri., Dec 9
Wed., Dec. 7
4:15pm
School Board Meeting
John Stanford Center
(2445 3rd Ave S)
Thur., Dec. 8
Staff Luncheon
Hosted by 4th Grade Families
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Comm. Mtg.
Loyal Heights Elem. @ Marshall
Mon., Dec. 12
2:25pm - 4:25pm
BLT Meeting
Library
Tues., Dec. 13
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Community Budget Gap Mtg.
Ballard High School
(1418 NW 65th St)
Fri., Dec. 16
Spirit Day: "Ugly Sweater Day"
1-hr Early Dismissal (
1:05pm
)
Mon., Dec. 19 - Fri., Dec. 30
Winter Break
NO SCHOOL
Mon., Jan. 2, 2017
New year's Day Observed
NO SCHOOL
Thur., Jan. 5, 2017
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Comm. Mtg.
Broadview Branch Library
Mon., Jan. 16, 2017
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
NO SCHOOL
PCP Schedule
Weds, Dec 7
A = PE, B = Art, C = Perf Arts
Thurs, Dec 8 / Fri, Dec 9
A = Perf Arts, B = PE, C = Art
Mon, Dec 12 / Tues, Dec 13
A = Art, B = Perf Arts, C = PE
Weds, Dec 14
A = PE, B = Art, C = Perf Arts
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Thank You!
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Last week's Book Fair was a huge success under the volunteer leadership of
Kimberly Harms. Is it her love of books, of Wildcat readers, or both that inspired her?
THANK YOU for stepping forward again this year to lead a festive, community-oriented event that raised needed funds for our Whittier library and supported a favorite local small business at the same time!
A huge THANK YOU to Monica Ganyard, Misha Graham, and Cherise Gaffney for their data entry skills and generous donation of time in creating the handy, always-by-your-side 2016-2017 Whittier Elementary Family Directory!
If you have someone you want to thank or give a virtual high-five, please email us.
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Contact Us
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Contact the WildChat Editor with questions about or submissions to this newsletter.
WildChat content should be submitted via email no later than Mondays at noon for Wednesday publication.
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