Whittier WildChat
December 14, 2016

helping hands
We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems. It's what Wildcats do!
Upcoming Events
Ugly Sweater Day - Show your spirit THIS Friday!
Remind your students to dig around for their favorite "Ugly Sweater" - the next Spirit Day is THIS Friday! 

SAVE THE DATE: Winter Family Movie Night - Friday, Jan. 20
Join us in the lunchroom on Friday, Jan. 20, for our next Whittier Family Movie Night featuring "Garfield"!

PTA Information
November 16 Community Meeting Presentation Posted
If you missed the November 16 PTA Community Meeting, feel free to review the meeting presentation to learn about the PTA's work through November. 

Shop for Whittier
Don't forget these simple ways to support Whittier with your everyday shopping, at no additional cost to you!

School News
Request from the Health Room
The Health room is in need of gently used leggings, pants, jeans and underwear. Please consider sending those items you no longer need. 

PE Classes on Razor Scooters Thursday and Friday
PE classes  on Thursday  (Group A) and  Friday  (Group B) will be riding Razor scooters. Students need to bring their labeled helmets. 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.
Contact  Mr. Pule for more information.

Volunteer Information
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 the following PTA positions:
  • Movie Nights (Fall, Winter and Spring)
    Seeking Co-Chair(s) to shadow in 2016-17, lead in 2017-18
Contact the  PTA Volunteer Coordinator to express interest; visit the  Current Volunteer Openings page for more details.

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.

District News
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., Jan. 5, 6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Broadview Branch Library (12755 Greenwood Ave N)
Community News & Information
LHCC Winter After-School Enrichment Classes
Winter after-school enrichment classes, facilitated by staff from Loyal Heights Community Center / Seattle Parks and Recreation, are around the corner. The Winter 2017 Enrichment Catalog  went home with students last week. Programs will cover a wide variety of interests and activities. Registration begins  January 3 ; programming begins January  17 .

Seattle Celtic Soccer Club Spring Season Registration Now Open
Seattle Celtic will be holding Spring season tryouts the week of January 9. Celtic has 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.

Little League Registration is Open
Attention all Baseball, Softball, and Tee-Ball players! Northwest Seattle Little League, Ballard Little League and North Central Little League - each chartered through Little League Baseball - serve Whittier families and are open for registration. Use this  Little League Finder  tool to confirm your league (based on address). There are a variety of divisions for baseball and softball as well as numerous volunteer opportunities. 
  • Northwest Seattle Little League
    • Register online 
    • Contact NWSLL by email to learn more
    • On-time Registration: December 1-January 15
  •  Ballard Little League
    • Learn more and register online
    • On-time Registration: December 1-January 31
  • North Central Little League
    • Learn more and register online 
    • On-time Registration: December 1-January 20 (February 15 for tee-ball)
PLAY BALL!

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.

Calendar
Fri., Dec. 16
Spirit Day: "Ugly Sweater"

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

Fri., Jan. 20, 2017
Spirit Day: "Crazy Hair"

Winter Family Movie Night
7:30pm - 9:00pm
"Garfield"

PCP Schedule
Weds, Dec 14 / Thurs, Dec 15
A = PE, B = Art, C = Perf Arts

Fri, Dec 16
A = Perf Arts, B = PE, C = Art


Email us with upcoming event details.
Thank You!
THANK YOU Wildcat community for a great Fall Book Fair! It was a great time and we raised more than $1900 for the library, including more than 90 books purchased for our teachers and classrooms. HUGE THANKS to our sponsor, Phinney Books, for bringing in a great selection of books and staffing the check out. MUCH GRATITUDE to our hard-working volunteers who made it such a successful event:  Brenda Bourns, Femeke Cabenard, Becky Dobbins, Karen Gustafson, Ann Ilgen, Julie Kennedy, Patrick McCann, Allison Osenar, Danielle Poll, Carrie Riney, Deborah Shiff, and Jennifer Sullivan. And a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to  Mr. Buck for superb crafting in the kids' corner while the grown-ups shopped, and  Ms. Nygard for supporting Whittier readers.

Helping Hands was a was a wonderful success thanks to the generosity of our Whittier Community! THANKS TO YOU we were able to provide gifts, books and gift cards to 92 children, and grocery gift cards to QFC/Fred Meyer or Safeway for 41 families. Thank you for all of your participation! It is a pleasure to be in the midst of such a generous community. Happy holidays!

Contact Us

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.

Please use the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this message if you do not wish to receive further issues of the WildChat.