Whittier WildChat
October 17, 2018
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We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems.
It's what Wildcats do.
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It's great to be a Wildcat!
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Fall Carnival!
9 days until the biggest community event of the year!
Friday, October 26, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
(Food trucks begin serving at 5:15pm)
Food trucks, games, prizes, Light Up Store, popcorn & candy, and "Hogwarts Experience II: Herbology" - we look forward to seeing you there!
- Tickets on sale every day NEXT WEEK in the lobby before and after school!
- Food trucks begin food service on the playground at 5:15pm—Dante's Inferno Dogs, Veraci Pizza and El Camion.
- School doors and carnival games open at 6:00pm.
- Dippin' Dots will be serving ice cream in the cafeteria (cash only).
160+ volunteers still needed—yikes! If you have high school (service hours!) and middle school kiddos, sign them up and have them bring a friend; Grandparents encouraged to join, too!
Week of Oct. 22 (days / times vary):
- 20 Hogwarts Experience set up (mostly day-time, one evening shift)
- 4 Ticket Pre-Sales (before or after school)
On Carnival day (Oct. 26):
- 11 cake bakers (or buyers!) still needed - drop off before 5:30pm
- 13 to help set up the Light Up Store, games and decor @ 2pm - 6pm
- 34 game runners, ticket sales and floaters @ 5:45pm - 7:00pm
- 36 game runners, ticket sales and floaters @ 6:45pm - 8:00pm
- 38 game runners, ticket sales and floaters @ 7:45pm - 9:00pm
- 10 to help clean up, 9pm - 11pm
For more information:
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Thurs, October 18,
Earthquake Drill
Fri., October 19.
Whittier Wildcat Spirit Day
Fri., October 26
Fall Carnival
6-9 pm
Wed., November 14
Flu Shots at Whittier
Thurs., November 15
Talking to Our Kids About Race
7-8:30 pm
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Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS)
Whittier Elementary School is in our second year of PBIS. Staff and students are reinforcing and celebrating the Whitter Way – Respect, Responsibility and Safety! The broad purpose of PBIS is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of school. PBIS improves social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.
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Help! The Whittier Annual Give ends on Monday and we are $17,000 short of our fundraising goal
Our goal is that every student, every teacher, and every family benefits from your support. Last week, at the PTA Community Meeting, we helped your contributions fuel two new projects (
on top of the dozens of existing family-funded projects
): additional laptops for Whittier classrooms and seed money for a Maker Space at our school. We absolutely could not have supported Principal Clark and the staff’s vision for updating our technology without you.
But now, we really need you and your support more than ever.
Ready to make great things happen? You can
make your donation online
right now - or drop off your response card and check (made out to Whittier PTA) at the Whittier office before or after school all week. (And if you need to pick up a response card, we’ll have extras in the office.)
To help us get to our goal, consider becoming a donor at the $250 per student level and get a Whittier Wildcat insulated water bottle from Miir. And double your contribution with employer matching! (Donated already, but think you are eligible for matching? We’ll help you sort it out if you e-mail us at
fundraising.whittierpta@gmail.com
.)
Remember, there’s power in participation – volunteering, PTA membership, and simply turning in your Annual Give Response Card. (No donation needed!) The classroom with the highest participation rate spends the week with the giant Wildcat Stuffie.
The Annual Give ends on October 22. Let’s do this, Wildcats! Paws up!
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Free Flu Shots for Whittier Students
Seattle Public Schools and the school nurses have teamed up with HEALTHY SCHOOLS --the nation’s largest in-school vaccine provider to provide NO-COST, IN-SCHOOL FLU SHOTS to our students.
The date for Whittier Elementary is set for
November 14th 8:15am-Finished.
Forms were sent home with your Student. Please fill out the form completely and returned it to school as soon as possible, if you choose to have a flu shot for your child.
If you have specific questions, go directly to the Healthy Schools website www.healthyschoolsllc.com.
Flu shots protect everyone--your child, your family and our school community!
Email “
Nurse Joan” our School Nurse or call 206-252-1697 with questions.
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Earthquake Drill on Thursday
On Thursday, October 18, 2018, the students will participate in the state wide earthquake drill. Please take a moment to prepare your students.
After the earthquake drill we will practice an evacuation drill. We really encourage zero voices during our drills. We want our students and staff to be able to hear any information that may be shared during an emergency.
Friday, October 19th is Whittier Spirit Day! Please wear your Whittier Wildcat gear.
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Congratulations Mr. Peterson!
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Fifth Grade NatureBridge Car Wash Fundraiser – FINAL DAYS!
Our fifth graders are finishing up their Brown Bear Car Wash ticket sales this week. Ticket sales will offset the costs of their spring NatureBridge science camp. If you have not yet bought tickets, please find your favorite fifth grader or return the order form that came home in kidmail (checks payable to Whittier PTA). Or simply email
Cherise Gaffney to arrange purchase. Fifth grade families: please make sure your student turns in their envelope by Friday, October 19. Please help our fifth graders reach their science camp fundraising goals!
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Reflections Art Contest in October
Now that school has started its time to start thinking about this year's Reflection's art contest!
Tables and art supplies will be set up under the covered area outside the gym on several early release Wednesdays (weather permitting) this month after school to help students with they're art pieces. Entries must be turned in by November 2nd to the main office.
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PTA Nominating Committee is looking for people!
Are you a people person? We have a couple spots to fill on the PTA Nominating Committee, and we are looking for an interested PTA member to join us! Both board and non-board PTA members are welcome!
The Nominating Committee helps find PTA Board Members for the following school year (2019-2020). The primary duty of a committee member is to attend a few committee 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.
The committee meets in November or December, and then again in the late winter/early spring, ending with the Board Officers being voted on at our Spring Community meeting in May. Much of the work is done via email and in face-to-face communications with people.
If you are interested in the committee, please send Kellie Pecoraro an email at
vp.whittierpta@gmail.com. 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 new to Whittier, that is okay too, we just need someone who likes to talk to people!
If you are looking to get more involved and have an impact on our school, this opportunity is for you!
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Chinook Books are on sale through 10/31!
There is still plenty of time to get your Chinook Book. There are so many great local restaurants, activities, plus grocery coupons.The book will pay for itself within just a few uses! Half of the proceeds for every book or app sold come back to the PTA - which means that Whittier students directly benefit from this fundraiser.
Just download this form and return it to the Whittier office. Books or apps will be sent home via kidmail.
Contact Karen Gustafson,
gustafson.karen@gmail.com
directly with any questions or if you would like to make a purchase in person. Books + app is $25; App only is $15
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Talking to Our Kids about Race on Thursday, November 15th
The Whittier Elementary PTA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee is pleased to welcome
Seattle-based author and activist Sharon H. Chang for a community dialogue. We will develop shared language around privilege and oppression, build tools for having tough talks, and equip ourselves not only to have more transformative race conversations within our families, but also to act for change.
Thursday, November 15th
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Whittier Elementary Cafeteria
This is a free event for not only families of Whittier Elementary but for all parents and community members who would like to join us.
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American Lung Association's FREE Healthy Home Checkups
Worried about your indoor air quality? The American Lung Association’s Master Home Environmentalist program offers FREE Healthy Home Checkups to residents in Seattle. While they don’t do any testing or cleaning, they do help you identify health hazards affecting indoor air quality and give you recommendations on creating a healthier home environment! Sign up
here
or contact Xamantha at
Xamantha.Curameng@lung.org
for more information.
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They say time is on your side, but if that’s the case why do I feel like a chicken with my head cut off? Sound like you? If so, maybe it’s time for you to Lose Your Mind and Lead by Example! Join us for some encouraging and inspirational Whine Down Time with the Author & Motivational Speaker Ashley Smith of Whine Down LLC. If you did not get a chance to see Ashley at MamaCon, you don't want to miss this one! You can expect to have many laughs and leave with immediate tips that will help you get more time back in your life.
The FREE event will be at Ballard Church at 7pm, and beverages will be available for purchase.
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Need Math Help?
Check out Mathnasium of Northwest Seattle, located at 14th and Market Street in Ballard. Mathnasium helps students in grades 2 – 12 catch up, keep up and get ahead in math. Students take a math skills assessment and receive a custom learning plan to meet their individual needs. The unique curriculum and teaching methods are designed to strengthen math foundations and boost confidence by making math make sense. Ballard parents, Andrew & Julie Tempest, are the owners of Mathnasium of Northwest Seattle. Contact them to schedule an assessment and learn more about their Fall Promotion at: 206-588-0460 or
northwestseattle@mathnasium.com
. Visit the website to learn more at
http://www.mathnasium.com/northwestseattle
.
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Thank You!
A huge thank you to the team of volunteers who helped screen hearing and vision October 11th. With this dedicated team, we were able to screen 300 Whittier Wildcats!
Alice Chang, Barb Tehrani, Todd Simonson, Jennifer Wallace, Sarah Bendickson, Spencer Visick, Tamsin Sarich Youmans, & Elena Aldinger
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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 at12 PM for Wednesday publication.
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Shopping for Whittier
Support our Wildcats by shopping! (Really!) These retailers donate a % of your purchases to Whittier...
- AmazonSmile - Select "Whittier PTA Seattle Council" during the easy set-up at smile.amazon.com. Bookmark it and click it every time you shop! (Tech support tip: Amazon Smile only works on browsers, not the Amazon app.)
- Fred Meyer - Link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to Whittier PTA (NPO# 85919). You keep your Rewards points!
- Ballard Market - Look for the jar labeled Ballard Market receipts on the table in the lobby and stuff your collected receipts inside.
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