|
Upcoming Events
|
|
|
Curriculum Night - September 28th from 6:00-7:30
This even provides parents with an overview of their child's classroom and curriculum. Parents will meet in the lunchroom for a brief introduction from Melissa.
After that, parents go to homeroom, then visit math classroom.
Event is for adults only. Childcare is not available, parents should make arrangements for their children.
|
|
|
 |
|
PTA Information
|
|
|
Reminder - Spirit Gear Order Forms Due Sept 25th
Spirit Gear orders are due to your child's teacher or the school office by Monday, September 25. There are lots of items to show your Whittier pride - shirts, hoodies, soccer scarves, and more! Order forms are available on the
website
. All proceeds support the Whittier PTA. For more info, contact Jen (
[email protected]
).
PTA Fundraising
The PTA Fundraising Team looks forward to meeting you on September 28 at
Curriculum Night
. We'll be talking about the many ways you fuel our school, but you can preview
the full list here
!
Whittier Playground Grant Application Due Sept. 25th
THANK YOU Whittier families for your pledged volunteer hours in support of the 2018 playground upgrade - we have nearly met our Whittier Elementary quota! We will submit our Dept. of Neighborhoods grant application in less than two weeks.
As a final piece of the application, we are busy identifying and securing community support (e.g., local businesses, churches, preschools, etc. not directly attached to Whittier Elementary). In particular, we are still looking for:
- Donation of landscaping materials for Build Day 2
- A Build Day "party planner"
- Community partners to pledge future use of the space
Do you have connections to community groups that may be interested in participating? If so, please contact us at
[email protected] or direct your non-Whittier friends and connections to the
SignUp Genius. Thank you for helping us cross the finish line!
Save the Date! Whittier Auction -
April 28th!
The Whittier PTA's biennial auction is set for Saturday, April 28th, 2018 at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. Plans are moving full steam ahead, but we need a few more people to help us make this a spectacular event. Please stop by the auction table at the Back-to-School Potluck to sign up or find out more information about the following positions:
- Procurement Lead and Procurement Team
- Sponsorship Lead
- Writer
- MailChimp Lead
- Photography Lead
- Communication Team
- Classroom Art Coordinator
- Website Administrator
PTA "Reflections" Art Contest
The National PTA "Reflections" art contest welcomes all grades and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Annually, thousands of students reflect on a common theme and create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.
This year's theme is "Within Reach". We hope our Wildcats spent some time this summer thinking about entering this year's contest. The deadline will be in late October; more information will be sent home in KidMail once the school year begins. For resources, entry details - including criteria by category - and official rules, visit the
WSPTA Reflections website.
Winners are selected at the school, district, state and national level. 1st place national winners in each catagory win an expense paid trip (with an adult) to the national PTA convention and $800.
C'mon Wildcats, let's get creative!
|
|
|
|
|
School News
|
|
|
Whittier Bell Times
Reminder!
Every Wednesday, students will be dismissed 75 minutes early (at 1:10pm) to support teacher collaboration and instructional planning.
Wildcat Running Club (before school and during recess)
All Wildcats are welcome to jog/walk every day before school as part of the Wildcat Running Club. It is free and open to all. Students record their own distance (it's an honor system, be pono!) and earn a foot token for every 1 mile completed (8 laps around the playground = 1 mile). Other incentives earned upon completion of each marathon distance throughout the year. This is a great way to start a school day, so come on out and start a Running Club card. Walk and talk! Jog with friends! Set your goal! Strive for success!
Before-School Recreation Program
Program starts the week of Sept. 18th
Continuing our Wildcat morning tradition, Before School Recreation runs Monday through Thursday from 7:25 to 7:50 throughout the entire school year. Various activities will be provided and the program will often be an expansion of skills being taught in Physical Education class. Intermediate grades (2-5) will attend Mondays and Wednesdays. Primary grades (K-2) will come Tuesdays and Thursdays. Due to normally large K-1st participation, 2nd grade students can choose either the M/W or the T/Th session. Students will come to the gym as soon as they arrive at school (includes bus riders). For accountability, students must attend the sessions if signed up and at school. Though provided at no cost, this is not a "drop-in" program; however, it is a great way to get the mind and body started in the morning. Wildcats may join later when schedule permits or comfort level increases.
Download a registration form or find one outside the gym. Questions?
Email Mr.
Pule.
Spanish Language Program
Hola! Whittier Parents!!
Did you know that we are working on getting an after school enrichment Spanish Language program at Whittier?
It is offered by Language Links, a program that was at Whittier a few years ago and was very well received. The proposed schedule will be for 3rd-5th graders on M/F and Spanish K-2nd graders on T/Th. The class will be right after school from 2:30 to 3:30pm. If you are interested please email
Jessica Pierard.
News from Mr. Buck and Ms. Steph
Welcome back Wildcat families!
The Arts classrooms are so happy to see all of our old friends and meet our new wild-kinddie-cats, who have brought so many new smiles and positive energy to the school. Our curriculum this year will focus on genres of music and art, engaging students in the diverse cultures and movements through time. Keep your eyes peeled for a start of the year newsletter next week as well and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or comments you might have. In the mean time we hope you all had a splendid summer and are as excited as we are to jump right in for another great year.
Artfully yours,
Mr. Buck and Ms. Steph
|
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Information
|
|
|
STEM Fair Co-Chair Needed
We are looking for one more volunteer to co-chair this traditional event at Whittier Elementary. If you are creative, inquisitive, artistic and scientific-minded, we urge you to considering making this event better and more amazing! You will be communicating with the school and teachers to continue this tradition and work side by side with another volunteer that has already stepped forward to help save this event. Please contact
[email protected] to be another amazing volunteer of our Whittier family.
Whittier Elementary PTA Volunteer Form
Volunteers, in support of our teachers and staff, strengthen our school and help provide a rich learning experience for our children. Complete
this form and indicate which events and programs catch your interest. Questions? Volunteer coordinators are Kimberly Harms and Elena Aldinger (
[email protected]).
|
|
|
|
|
District News
|
|
|
Advanced Learning Parent Referrals Due by September 22
All k-8 applications are due by Sept. 22, 2017 to determine eligibility for school year 2018-19.
K-8 eligibility testing for the 2018-19 school year begins in September. Applications for students in grades 9-12 will be available in January.
Read more about how to submit a referral on the
Free and Reduced Price Meals
All students who qualify for free and reduced price meals receive meals for free. Submit an application for free or reduced price meals before the start of the school year to ensure your application will be processed before classes begin. Submit your application on the SPS Nutrition Services webpage
.
Contact the SPS Nutrition Services Office at 206-252-0675 with questions.
2017-18 District Calendar
SPS Meeting This Thursday - Whittier Boundary Changes for 2018-19
A Seattle Public Schools community meeting is scheduled for this Thursday evening, Sept. 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm at at the Ballard High School Library (1418 NW 65th St.) to discuss scheduled boundary changes that affect Whittier's attendance area in 2018-19, and hear feedback from the community.
Loyal Heights Elementary is currently being expanded to provide more elementary capacity in the northwest region. Whittier Elementary has scheduled attendance area boundary changes as a result of this expansion to relieve crowding at Whittier over time. These changes were approved by the Seattle School Board in fall 2013.
An additional proposal recommends that the four-block area in the northeast corner of the current Whittier boundary, originally approved to move to the Viewlands attendance area in 2017-18, also move to the Loyal Heights attendance area in 2018.
SPS will recommend to the Seattle School
Board that grandfathering be approved for all currently enrolled
Whittier students. Note that transportation is not provided for grandfathered students.
In the future, families will be able to apply during open enrollment to send siblings to Whittier but there are no guarantees of placement.
The Seattle School Board will review all boundary changes and grandfathering recommendations at the Oct. 18 School Board Meeting (4:15pm - 8:30pm, John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence - Auditorium, 2445 3rd Ave S., 98134).
Click
here to learn more and see maps of the affected boundaries.
|
|
|
|
|
Community News & Events
|
|
|
6th Annual QAQS Fall Girls Lacrosse Clinic - October 1
Discover Girls Lacrosse with Queen Anne Quick Styx! Join QAQS Girls Lacrosse Club on
October 1 for a first-hand look at the sport at our 6th Annual Fall Girls Lacrosse Clinic!
When:
Sunday, October 1, 2017 9:30am-11:00am
Who: All girls grades 2-8
Cost: $5 (payable at the clinic)
A fun opportunity to experience the fastest growing sport in the Northwest!
Registration will be limited to the first 60 players.
**Ballard High School Girls Lacrosse Team Members and Coach are anticipated to be in attendance as instructors
Queen Anne Quick Styx Lacrosse Club is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization and is associated with the Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Association
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you!
|
|
|
Thank you to all our Wildcat families and staff who came to the potluck and movie night on Friday the 15th.
Special thanks to the volunteers who made the potluck a reality, includin
g: PTA Board Hospitality Co-Chairs Kristin Wiggins and Gail Olson Laing; wonderful parent volunteers Amy Bryan, Sarah English, Kellie Pecoraro, Andrew Liese, Kristin and Gene Anderson, Justin Fenton, Mark Butler, Leslie Pierson, and Kate Scales; outstanding student volunteers Justin Bryan (Wildcat alumni), Haley Chambers, Lusa Wornath, Carli Pecoraro, and Hazel Hartman; and helpful custodial staff Mr. Juan and Mr. Will.
In addition, a big round of applause to Josh Lang,and James Goldsmith.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunch Menu
|
|
|
View the September lunch menu
here.
|
|
|
|
Calendar
|
|
|
Thursday, Sept. 21
Whittier Boundary Change Meeting
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Ballard High Library
Fri., Sept. 22
Advance Learning Referral Deadline
Thur., Sept. 28
Curriculum Night
Tues., Oct. 3
Individual school photos
Fri., Oct. 13
State in service day, no school
Fri., Oct. 27
Fall Carnival
|
|
|
|
Contact Us
|
|
|
Contact the
WildChat Editor
with questions about or submissions to this newsletter.
WildChat content should be submitted via email no later than Tuesdays 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.
|
|
|
|
|
