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Upcoming Events
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Annual Whittier Food Drive
Help us make this year's Whittier Food Drive a big success!
Non-perishable food items will be collected, starting next
Monday, November 6
th through
Thursday, November16
th.
Donation boxes will be in your child's classroom and in the Whittier Lobby.
Safeway gift cards
would also be greatly appreciated;
drop these off in the Whittier office
.
Donations benefit the Ballard Food Bank.
Thank you for helping those in need in our wonderful community!
Kindergarten and First Grade Performance!!
Mark your calendars for Friday, November 17th. The kindergarten and first grade wildcats are going to
WOW you with an annual Veteran's Day/ Thanksgiving performance. The performance will start at 1:15 and will be in the cafeteria/gym. Please contact
Ms. Steph with any questions.
Whittier Ice Skating Party!
When: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Highland Ice Arena: 18005 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline
What: Need something fun to do during Thanksgiving break? Come join your friends and family and skate the morning away.
The Whittier PTA has reserved a rink for you. All you need is $4.00 per person for ice skate rentals or bring your own for no charge. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Warm layers, long socks, and bike helmets are advised.
We hope to see you there!
Should you have any questions, please email
[email protected].
Seattle Kids Marathon 2017
Wildcats! Put your sneakers on. It's marathon time! The Seattle Kids Marathon is a great way to get you on your way to being physically fit. W
ildcat runners will have to run/walk most days and keep track of their miles as they work towards their goal of 25 miles before Nov. 25th. Wildcat Running Club miles at school count towards marathon miles. Along the way, runners earn incentives in the form of foot tokens and certificates. When they cross the finish line November 25th and finish their last 1.2 miles at the Seattle Center, they will be
given a shirt
and a goodie bag. Of course, Mr. Pule will be there to run that final 1.2 miles with you.
Whittier has had 40-60 participants each year. Let's keep it up!
Registration forms are now available outside gym. Return your form to Mr. Pule and he will take care of the rest or
register on-line with our Whittier Elementary team (password: Wildcats).
The fee is $25. Deadline is Nov. 3rd for Whittier Team sign-up.
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PTA Information
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Fall Carnival Wrap-up
A couple of quick follow up details regarding the Fall Carnival:
- We would like to recognize community member Peyton and 1st grader Vera B. for their excellent analytical skills - your are our Candy Corn Count winners this year! Your prizes will be delivered soon.
- Please take a few moments to complete this quick survey to provide feedback on this year's Fall Carnival. We value your input!
PTA Nominating Committee is looking to fill a spot!
We have one more spot to fill on the PTA Nominating Committee. We are looking for a PTA member who is
NOT currently a board member to join us! The committee meets near the end of the year and then again in the late winter/early spring, ending with the Board Officers being voted on at our Spring Community meeting in May.
This committee helps find PTA Board Members for the following school year (2018-2019). The primary duty of a committee member is to attend 3 or 4 meetings to find out which PTA officers and board members will be returning, figure out what positions are left to fill, and who is best to fill those spots. Then the committee contacts potential candidates to gauge their interest and willingness to join the board.
If you are interested in the committee, please send Kellie Pecoraro an email by midnight, Wednesday, November 1st at
[email protected]. Please include why you are interested in participating and any previous volunteer involvement you have had with Whittier (both school and PTA).
If you are looking to get more involved and have an impact on our school, this opportunity is for you!
Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DANDI)
The Whittier PTA has launched a Diversity & Inclusion Committee
partnership with school leadership. If you are interested in joining this Committee, our next meetings will be Monday, November 6th and Tuesday, December 5th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Whittier Library.
Please contact co-chairs Kristin Wiggins and Donna Chavis at
[email protected] to join (so we can ensure you're on the email list) or if you have any questions.
There are many opportunities and challenges to address and we welcome your participation. Generally, we envision our work will be about supporting, creating, and promoting a respectful culture of inclusivity so that members of our community (e.g. students, families, and staff) feel welcome and able to engage.
Spirit Gear Update
Spirit Gear orders were delivered to your youngest child's teacher last Friday. Please ask if it hasn't come home yet. If you have any questions or concerns about sizing, contact Jen and she'll do her best to help you (
[email protected]). Also, there are scarves, cinch packs, and assorted clothing sizes still available for purchase, let Jen know if you're interested. Thanks for showing your wildcat pride and supporting the Whittier PTA at the same time!
Thanks, Jen
Co-Chair for the STEM Fair Needed!
We are looking for a science-minded volunteer to co-chair the STEM fair in 2018! Do you have ideas how to improve our annual STEM fair? Or just feel like you would like to be part of this tradition at Whittier? Please contact the PTA Volunteer coordinators and thanks for being a part of the wonderful Whittier volunteer community.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: PTA Community Meeting, November 9th, 7pm
We hope you can join us for the first PTA Community Meeting of the 2017-2018 school year! The meeting will be in the library, Thursday, November 9th at 7pm (6:30 light refreshments served).
Tentative agenda listed below. Highlights include our Annual Give success, a visit from Washington State Representative Noel Frame, and hopefully an SPS Board Director. (SPS District II Director Rick Burke, who represents Whittier, will be traveling. He is trying to secure a colleague to come in his place.)
- Welcome
- Approval of May Community Meeting minutes
- Invited Guests:
- Representative Noel Frame
- SPS Board Director (TBA)
- Introduction of 2017-18 PTA Board members
- Treasurer Report
- Annual Give Recap
- 2018 Auction Update
- Playground Update and Vote
- Upcoming School Events
- Principal Update
- Building and Leadership Team Update
- PTA Financial Review Summary
- PTA Standing Rules Revision
- PTA Nominating Committee Vote
Auction News
Hey all you fillies and geldings, don't miss out on the opportunity for great auction outfits at your local thrift shops during this Halloween season. Big hats, fascinators, pretty dresses for the ladies; straw hats, bow ties, fun suits for the gents. Who among you will be the winning jockey?
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School News
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Coaches Needed for Girls on the Run!!
Girls on the Run empowers girls to reach their full potential. Through an intentional curriculum led by volunteer coaches, our girls learn about self-esteem, healthy relationships, and contributing to their community! Coaches lead practices twice a week for ten weeks and receive a full training before the season begins. Coach applications due January 12th.
Please contact
Julie Childers
by email or phone (206.252.1684) for more information!
Claim Your Lost and Found Items
Please remember to check the Lost and Found inside the double doors off of the playground on a regular basis. The racks are full and the items keep coming in from the playground daily. There are jackets, lunch boxes, shoes, even school notebooks!
Thank you!
New Books Have Arrived in the Whittier Library!!
Ask your students about all the new books that have arrived in the library. There are new series books! New non-fiction! New picture books! And new graphic novels! Younger students can look forward to Ms. Nygard reading aloud the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominees for 2018. Students will join in the state-wide vote for their favorite.
See examples
of these new additions to the book collection.
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District News
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Annual LGBT Families Dinner - Nov. 2nd
The annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Families Dinner will be held Thursday, November 2nd from 6-8pm at Meany Middle School. Members of the school board will be there to welcome LGBT families and their friends. All SPS students, families and staff are welcome to attend! This donation-funded event is brought to you by the Health Education Office. Dinner and entertainment will be provided. To reserve space at this popular event, please RSVP with the number of people in your party to Lisa Love in the Health Education Office at 252-0982 or
[email protected].
You are invited to join Seattle Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Nyland, for the annual State of the District.
- Tuesday, November 14, 2017
- Reception: 5-5:30pm, Program: 5:30-7pm
- West Seattle High School Theater, 3000 California Ave. SW
You are invited to learn about the district's vision for preparing students for success, our progress and our focus for the school year. Hear from students, school leaders and community partners and leave committed to our collective work.
Every Student. Every Classroom. Every Day.
2017-18 District Calendar
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Community News & Events
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Join Cub Scouts NOW!
Ballard Elks Lodge
6411 Seaview Ave.
Do you have a son or daughter in the first through fifth grades, 7-10 years of age, or friends with kids? Get the adventure started. Whittier's First Grade Parent, Alex Osenar, is our Tiger (1st Grade Level) parent leader. Contact Alex at: 206-313-6948 or email
[email protected] for more information.
Monthly Pack meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of the Month.
Northwest Boychoir
Next audition date: Saturday, November 4 or at a time convenient for you.
The Northwest Boychoir is holding auditions for boys who love to sing. Classes for new members begin in January 2018. Boys who are currently in 1st - 4th grade are invited to sign up to audition and no previous music training is needed. The Northwest Boychoir offers the perfect blend music training and Serious Fun! For more than 40 years, the Northwest Boychoir has trained young singers to be fully skilled musicians and perform in professional settings with confidence.
Auditions and rehearsals take place at the University Heights Center in Seattle. The Northwest Boychoir is proud to be an inclusive and equitable organization and is firmly committed to assisting families with financial aid.
To schedule an audition appointment or for more information:
BHS Gymnastics Kids Camps
Due to popular demand, the Ballard High School Gymnastics team is hosting 2 more Kids Camps!!
BHS Gymnastics Kids Camps for Grades K-5 will be held on the following dates at the Ballard High School gym. Tickets are $45 per date, per camper (additional campers from the same family are $40 per date). No gymnastics experience is needed!
- Camp 1: Saturday, December 2nd from 9am to 12pm
- Camp 2: Saturday, January 27th from 1pm to 4pm
Feel free to contact Kimball Mullins (Kids Camp coordinator) at
[email protected] with questions.
Thanks,
Stephanie Gundel
Ballard High School Gymnastics Head Coach
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| Thank You |
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A HUGE thank you to the following people who helped with the vision and hearing screening for 300 of our Whittier students a couple weeks ago.
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nurse Joan
Rachel Knecht ~
April Musick
Shelley Curtis ~
Stephanie Chamberlin
Kirsten Blair ~
Megan Caldwell
Autumn Skeel ~
Ann Ilgen
Meagan Tomlinson ~
Jen Sullivan
Ben Williams ~
Kimberly Harms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A great, big THANK YOU to our generous and hard-working Whittier Fall Carnival co-chairs
Amy Bryan &
Vanessa Knudson! The event was a wonderful success due largely to their excellent project management and the great support they gave to all carnival category leads.
> Food Truck Chair, Ashley Martin
> Light-Up and Candy Store Chair, Emily Clark,
> Arcade Game Chairs, Hugh MacMillan and Katrina Hoch
> Hogwarts Experience Chair, Kristin Ford and Kate Avneri
> Volunteer Chairs, Catherine Mutti-Driscoll and Helen King-Desai
> Decor Chairs, Hilarie Sander and Sandy Hawley
We'd also like to recognize Ms. Rebecca, Ms. Monica and our fabulous custodial staff Will and Juan, for their tremendous support. We appreciate you all!
A special Whittier woo-hoo to the volunteers who gave extra time to the Hogwarts Experience, including:
Marianne Chandler, Kathleen Durham, Michael Welke, Gary Geiss, Asimina Kubaitis, Andrea Boon, Emily McCann and the wonderful cast, including
Ron Avneri, Justin Fenton, & Paul Ford as the Professor Snape(s), middle school actors:
Rowan, Jackson, Sydney, Charlotte, Alex C., Ada, Lana, Kate E., Raelyn, Finn and Kian. Stagehands and Gatekeepers:
Hannah, Niamh, Charlie, Cora, Lucy, Lili, Tiyya Tafarraa and
Alex A. And our great Trolley Witches & Wizards.
Heidi Wachter was a super Minerva McGonagall ~~
Thank You!! Bravo everyone for sharing your talents with our community and for helping begin a new tradition within a tradition at Whittier!
With Gratitude,
~Kristin Ford & Kate Avneri,
Hogwarts Experience Co-chairs
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Lunch Menu
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View the November lunch menus
here.
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Calendar
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Deadline for
Seattle Kids Marathon Whittier team sign-up
Mon., Nov. 6
DANDI Committee Meeting
6:30-8:00
Whittier Library
Annual Food Drive Begins
Thurs., Nov. 9
Student Picture Retake Day
PTA Community Meeting
6:30-8:30
Whittier Library
Fri., Nov. 10
NO SCHOOL
Veterans' Day
Tues., Nov. 14
State of the District
5:00-7:00
W. Seattle High School Theater
Thurs., Nov 16
Annual Food Drive Ends
Fri., Nov. 17
Kinder and 1st Gr Performance
1:15pm
Whittier Cafeteria/Gym
Mon., Nov. 20 - Wed., Nov. 22
NO SCHOOL
Parent Teacher Conferences
Tues., Nov. 21
Whittier Ice Skating
10:00am-12:00pm
Highland Ice Arena
Wed., Nov. 22
UW Volleyball Game
4:00-6:00
Thur., Nov. 23 - Fri., Nov. 24
NO SCHOOL
Thanksgiving Break
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Contact Us
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Contact the
WildChat Editor
with questions about or submissions to this newsletter.
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