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Upcoming Events
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Wildcat Dance Off TODAY at 8:10am
Are you still scratching your head about the "Massive Monkeys" that your kiddos have been talking about at home? Join us in the gym today at 8:10am to see your B-boys and B-girls show off their new moves!
YEAHHHH BOYEEEEEEEE!
Yearbook Deadline Extended!
Yearbook orders have been extended to April 21st for online ordering only! Order online
here.
We also need more candid shots for the yearbook. If you snapped some pictures while volunteering in your child's class or enjoying an event, please upload your photos ASAP. You should have received an email from your child's Parent Room Rep with both classroom and event photo upload links. Contact the
PTA Communications Chair if you have any questions.
RULER Family Night #3: Meta Moment, THIS Thurs., 7pm
The third and final RULER Family Night of the year will be this Thursday, April 6,
7:00pm-8:30pm
(NOTE: this time has been pushed back 30 minutes) in the Whittier library. Parents are invited to join staff for an interactive workshop to learn about the Meta Moment, a RULER Anchor tool that helps us to deal more effectively with unpleasant feelings (e.g., anger, frustration, fear). Learn how to use the steps of the Meta Moment to be the parent you want to be - not the one who gets hijacked by stress, acts in haste, and regrets it later.
NOTE: This is a parents-only event.
S
pring Fling Tickets on Sale NOW
Get your tickets to Whittier PTA's inaugural Spri
ng
F
ling, Ma
y 6 from 7:00pm-11:00
pm at the Ballard Elks Lodge!
- Enjoy an evening dancing to the beats of our very own DJ Ms. Steph while grazing on appetizers and desserts;
- catch up with old friends and make some new ones at the cash-only bar;
- peruse (and bid heavily!) on fabulous themed-buckets provided by each classroom; and
- sign up for Whittier parent-hosted parties.
Tickets are $30 per person and $50 per couple. Click
here
to buy tickets. You can pay with credit card, cash, or checks made out to Whittier PTA. Cash and checks must be dropped off to the "Spring Fling" folder in the front office. There are only 220 tickets available so get yours today!
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PTA Information
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Special PTA Community Meeting THIS Thursday, 6:30pm
Learn more from Principal Schweitzer and the PTA Board about the impact of the "Levy Cliff" extension on
Whittier's 2017-18 budget and vote on the updated PTA staffing grant recommendation(s) this Thursday, April 6 at 6:30pm in the library. You must be a paid PTA member to vote. View draft minutes from the March 15 Community Meeting
here. These minutes will be approved at the regularly scheduled May 24 Community Meeting.
Save the (NEW) Date: PTA Fall Carnival Kick-Off 
The Fall Carnival Kickoff meeting has moved to April 27, 7:00pm at Tarasco's
(1452 NW 70th Street).
Is Halloween your favorite holiday and you cannot wait to celebrate it in communal style? Or, do you relish in long-standing traditions? Are you creative? Would you like to organize something more than just your kids' schedule?
If you answered 'YES' to any of these questions, then joining the Whittier Fall Carnival Team is the way to go!
We do have great news - a volunteer has already stepped forward to organize food trucks for next year, thank you Ashley Martin! Team members are still needed to lead the haunted house, coordinate volunteers, order games and prizes, manage ticket sales, and more.
A team needs to be formed by May 15 to help run the 2017 event, or the event will be cancelled. :(
Bring a friend, we hope to see you there! And if you can't make the 27th but want to join, please email
events.whittierpta@gmail.com
and we'll help you find the right fit.
Thanks! Ann Ilgen and Karen Gustafson, PTA Events
Mark Your Calendars: Final Community Mtg. May 24
The final PTA Community Meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, May 24. We will finalize the 2017-18 PTA budget. A full agenda will be posted in mid-May.
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School News
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Help Keep Our Kids Safe!
Please make sure you are following the rules when dropping your student(s) off in the morning before school.
We have had many reports of unsafe drop-off activity:
- Cars parked in the bus zones.
- Cars pulling in the driveway and backing up, causing near-misses with students walking/riding bikes on the sidewalk.
- Cars making U-turns in the middle of the street.
- Students being dropped off in the middle of the street and not using the crosswalks.
This page on the Whittier website provides a great overview on "Driving in the School Zone: Moving People and Cars Around Whittier."
Thank you for doing your part to help keep our Wildcats safe!
Spring After-School Recreation with Mr. Pule (8 classes)
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 8 classes.
- Kindergarten - 2nd grade: Tuesdays starting April 18
2nd grade - 5th grade: Thursdays starting April 20
- Cost: $30
- 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 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.
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Volunteer Information
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Open 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 school and/or PTA positions:
- Lunchroom and recess volunteers, regular or once in a while; sign up online
- 2017 Fall Carnival Co-Chair(s) / Team
- 2017-18 Movie Nights Co-Chair(s), shadow in 2016-17
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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Family Survey Coming in April
The annual Seattle Public School Family Survey
is scheduled to be distributed the week of April
17. Please ensure that your contact information is
up to date with the front office.
Summer Learning Opportunities
Seattle Public Schools offers several summer learning opportunities to help students engage in ongoing learning, enrichment, and skill building. To learn more about the opportunities available to elementary school students, click
here.
Taking Applications for Seattle Preschool Program
Apply by April 25 to maximize your child's chances of being enrolled in the
Seattle Preschool Program. The Seattle Preschool Program is a partnership between
SPS
and the City of Seattle to provide preschool for
Seattle families. Applications received after April 25
will be considered in the second round of application review. See how to apply and other information on the SPS
preschool page
.
'First Student' Looking for Drivers
First Student
, the district's contracted school bus provider, is looking for more drivers to support the district's growing needs.
Here is more information if you think First Student could be the right fit for you.
Ivar's and Kidd Valley Looking for Inspiring Teachers
Ivar's and Kidd Valley Restaurants are looking for your help to find some of Washington State's most inspiring teachers in their 14th
annual Teacher of the Year Contest.
If you
know of a great, inspirational teacher, fill out an official entry form at any Puget Sound-area Ivar's or Kidd Valley
restaurant or online (
Ivars
or
Kidd Valley
)
.
Nominations will be accepted
through May 19; winners will be announced in late May or early June.
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Community News & Information
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LHCC Spring After-School Enrichment Classes
Spring after-school enrichment classes, offered at Whittier and facilitated by staff from Loyal Heights Community Center / Seattle Parks and Recreation, are around the corner. The Spring 2017 Enrichment Catalog is available and registration is open. Programs will cover a wide variety of interests and activities. Programming begins April 17.
Whittier Kids Preschool - Enroll for 2017-18 School Year
Come learn more about Whittier Kids preschool. Our onsite, play-based preschool focuses on dynamic curriculum that fosters creativity, instills a love for learning, builds social skills,
and raises awareness of the community. We are beginning
to enroll for next school year and invite you to come learn more about our preschool program!
- Preschool hours: 8:00am - 2:00pm
- Mixed-age classroom for 3-5 year olds
A preschool tour will be offered on April 5 at 9:15am. Email for more info or visit us online.
Whittier Kids Summer Camps - Register Online Now
Students entering Kindergarten - 5th Grade are invited to join us for a summer full of engaging weekly themes, activities and field trips! Learn new skills, explore new friendships and provide your child a chance to grow and learn in a safe, fun environment.
Ballard Youth Soccer Club Offers New Summer League
Ballard Youth Soccer Club is excited to offer a new 7-week summer league, July 10-August 30! The Ballard Youth Soccer Club - Summer
Development League is a daytime summer coed league for boys and girls 8-12 years old (birth years 2009-2004).
There are 2 practices
(M/W or Tu/Th) and one game (Fridays) each week between 8:30am and 1:00pm at Lower Soundview Park (1590 NW 90th St). Registration is
open now through April 25th; the cost is $220 (scholarships available).
Learn more and register here.
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Lunch Menu
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View the April lunch menu
here
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Calendar
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Wildcat Dance Off!
8:10am, Whittier Gym
Thurs., Apr. 6
Special PTA Community Mtg.
6:30pm - 7:00pm
Whittier Library
RULER Family Night
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Whittier Library
Mon., Apr. 10 - Fri., Apr. 14
NO SCHOOL
Spring Break
Mon., Apr. 17
BLT Meeting
2:25pm,
Library
Weds., Apr. 19
Staff Luncheon, Hosted by Kindergarten Families
Thurs., Apr. 27
Fall Carnival Kick-Off Meeting
7:00pm, Tarasco's
1542 NW 70th St.
Sat., May 6
Spring Fling
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Ballard Elks Lodge
6411 Seaview Ave NW
Weds., May 10
2-hr Early Dismissal
Mon., May 22
BLT Meeting
2:25pm, Library
Weds., May 24
PTA Community Meeting
7:00pm, Library
Mon., May 29
NO SCHOOL
Memorial Day
PCP Schedule
Weds, Apr 5 - Fri April 7
A
= Perf Arts, B = PE, C = Art
Mon, Apr 17 / Tues, Apr 18
A = Art, B = Perf Arts, C = PE
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Thank you!
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Thank you to our Whittier community who made our Spring Book Drive to benefit students at
Bailey Gatzert Elementary a huge success. Our goal was to collect ~700 books and this year we have nearly doubled that quantity. We collected many great titles from favorite authors like Mo Willems, Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier and Rick Riordan.
Whittier is a community of readers and we are proud to share our enthusiasm for books with the students at Bailey Gatzert to inspire their reading over spring break. We will be delivering 750 books in time for each classroom to hold a pre-break party and every student will select two books to keep. Donated books will also be used to lower student library fines by replacing books that have been lost. We are excited to use all our extra books to sponsor an additional book party for Bailey Gatzert students in late June to supply great reading material for the summer break.
Thank you to
Kate Avneri, Femeke Cabernard, Jessica Carr, Donna Chavis, Jennifer Mannheim, Danielle Poll,
Tracy Yetter,
Whittier PTA,
Phinney Books, and
our generous book donors for supporting learning across our Seattle Public Schools community.
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Contact Us
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