Whittier WildChat
March 14, 2018
Whittier School photo
We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems. It's what Wildcats do!
 
Upcoming Events
Whittier PTA Auction Tickets are on Sale
The race is officially on! Get your bets ready to go as Tickets for the Auction are official on sale for the auction on Saturday, April 28th.

Please head to www.whittierauction.org to purchase your tickets
Don't miss this amazing event. A night of fun, cheer and amazing auction items! 

New to Whittier? Afraid you won't know anyone? Make a request to sit at a table with adults from your child's class. Tables accommodate 10 so plenty of room for old friends and new!

Regular Tickets: $65 per person/ $130 per couple
VIP Tickets: $85pp/ $170 per couple

Please support your school! Go Wildcats!

NatureBridge 5th Grade Parent Information Night
Wednesday, March 14th at 5PM in Room 307
Information meeting for 5th grade parents about our May 7-9 trip to NatureBridge in Olympic National Park.
  • Come learn about what your student's experiences will be like!
  • Get a gear list!
  • Ask questions!
Whittier STEM Fair- Volunteers Needed!!!!


Thursday, March 22nd 2018 6pm-8pm

Please come and share your projects with our Wildcat community! There will be many changes to this event and we hope to get the Whittier families more involved. 

Get challenged with your entire family by working together on different projects and experiments to earn popcorn, prizes, and also enter into the drawing for a family package to the Pacific Science Center. 

There also will be a bake sale to benefit Nature Bridge 2019!
Contact us at events.whittierpta@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

Volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Without your support, we may not be able to make this event happen!
Wildcat Dance Off March 30th
Mark your calendars for March 30th 1:15 PM. Your wildcat B Boys and B Girls will be showing their moves in a big, all school, breaking battle. Massive Monkees are doing a 3 week residency with all of our wildcats which will culminate in the Wildcat Dance Off 2018. 
Don't miss it. YEAAH BOYEEEEE!
Check Ms. Steph's Schoology page for updates.

SAVE THE DATE!! Mariners Games on April 15th
Coming soon, we have a large group of seats to the April 15th Mariners vs. Oakland game! Tickets will be $13 and the game starts at 1:10. It's a great opportunity to cheer on our Mariners while hanging out with your fellow Whittier friends and families.
Watch your kid mail and wildchat next week for more details.
Any questions? Email events.whittierpta@gmail.com

PTA Information
Whittier PTA Community Meeting & Staffing Grant Vote-March 15th
Join us in the Whittier Library Thursday March 15th, 6:30-8:30pm. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7pm. Following is our planned agenda and some documents you may want to review for this community meeting. Childcare is provided for this meeting for the first 25 children to sign up (see details below). We hope to see you there.
Whittier PTA Community Meeting Agenda
·     President Welcome
·     Approval of May, November, and December minutes
·     Community Grief & Tribute to Tiffany Jones
·     Treasurer Report
·     Principal Update
·     2018-2019 Staffing Grant and Instructional Support Proposal & Vote (You must be a PTA member to vote)
Vote 1 represents the staff ask for the 2018-2019 year and is a total ask of $93,735. The board is recommending voting in favor of this ask and more detail will be provided at Thursday's meeting.
.2 Nurse = $26,465
.1 Literacy Specialist = $9,938
.1 Library = $12,332
F&P Version 3 kits = $8,000
LLI Curriculum = $7,000
Math Support (Tutoring, Mastertrack, Coaching) = $30,000
Vote 2 represents the additional .1 of Instrumental Music instruction for 2018-2019. The board is recommending not voting in favor of funding this proposal for reasons that will be discussed at Thursday's meeting.
.1 Elementary Instrumental Music = $12,264
·     Playground Update
·     SPS Gun Violence Resolution Vote (view here)
·     Getting Involved & Looking Ahead
·    Staffing Grant Vote Results
·     2018 Catucky Derby Auction Update


Childcare for Whittier PTA Meeting on March 15th
Girl Scout Troop #45301 is offering free childcare at the next Whittier PTA Meeting on March 15th. Our troop of 13 Cadettes will be in the midst of earning their Babysitter Badge. We will have all sorts of activities available for the kiddos. We can accept ages 3 through 5th grade. Snacks will not be provided, so please make sure your child is well-fed.

Troop parents will also be on hand for extra supervision. We as leaders, have had background checks (as have most of the parents that will be helping) and are CPR and First-Aid certified. We also have two Cadettes that have gone through both the Babysitting Class and the Child CPR/First Aid Class through Seattle Children's.
There are only 25 available slots, so sign up today!
 
 
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a49a9af2da64-childcare
 
Thank you!
Karen Gustafson and Stacy Tischler, Troop #45301 Co-Leaders

Become a Member of the Whittier PTA
Your PTA serves an important advocacy role! Membership adds your voice to the tens of thousands across Washington and millions across the United States who are advocating for children.

Our next PTA Community Meeting is Thursday, March 15th. If you're not already a member, it's not too late to join. Membership forms can be found in the office or you can submit your form online:

When you join the Whittier PTA, you're making a difference in the education of your children at the local, state and national level. Big or small, get involved however you can! For starters, members can:  
  • Attend Whittier PTA General Meetings with faculty and school staff
  • Meet (maybe even make friends!) with other Whittier PTA families
  • Volunteer for Whittier events and activities that support our school
  • VOTE on important decisions!
  • Take advantage of benefits and discounts from: Key Arena/McCaw Hall, Xfinity Arena at Everett, Wild Waves Theme Park, Great Wolf Lodge, FedEx Office, Office Depot, Hertz, Avis and Budget Car Rentals
Questions? Contact your PTA Membership Representative: Barb Dally ( membership.whittierpta@gmail.com)

Spring Book Drive for Bailey Gatzert 
This year's Book Drive starts March 19th and ends March 30th. Please donate new and gently-used books for students at Bailey Gatzert Elementary (Pre-K through 5th grade). Bailey Gatzert Elementary is our sister school in South Seattle. The goal of our Book Drive is inspire reading by supplying engaging elementary books for the students to read over Spring Break.  We are collecting gently used or new books as well as money (check made out to Whittier PTA) to purchase books for the drive. The books can be dropped off in the Book Drive Box located outside the front office. Please no outdated, holiday or religious themed books. For questions contact
outreach.whittierPTA@gmail.com

 
School News
Final Vote for Playground Upgrade Coming Soon
Heads up Whittier! We will be seeking your vote between the top 2 finalists of our playground equipment upgrades March 15-19th. Students will be given a chance to vote using a yellow ticket before/during/after school. Adults can vote using a blue ticket at the PTA meeting March 15th, before/after school or using an online survey monkey. Only 3 school days to vote so keep your eye out for the opportunity, and thanks!

It's Yearbook Photo Time!
We need your photos to make our yearbook great! Please be on the lookout for an email from your class room rep with details on how to upload the photos to our private Whittier Photo website. We need the photos uploaded by Tuesday, 3/20 to give our Yearbook editor ample time to include them. If you have questions, please contact Kellie Pecoraro at photos.whittierpta@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help!

Updates from the BLT
The Building Leadership Team (BLT) has been meeting weekly as the school prepares its budget for the next school year. Minutes from these meetings and the next meeting's agenda are usually posted on Whittier's website. If you'd like to know what's been discussed, especially as the PTA prepares its own vote on staffing grants for next year, you can find the minutes here. (hyperlink here?). Sara Schmidt and Kathleen Durham are your parent reps on the BLT. If you have questions or comments relative to the BLT's efforts, email WhittierBLTParents@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed for Student Tapestry Project
The PTA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DANDI) is about halfway through our Student Tapestry Project. We need parent volunteers to help each student sew a small square onto the tapestry to create a beautiful piece of artwork that represents acceptance and inclusion for all our Wildcats. This student art project will be displayed in our school. Sign-up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/5080e4baba92caa8-tapestry
DANDI has been working in partnership with school leadership and Mr. Buck to bring this project to fruition. Supplies have been provided through the PTA. Please contact parent volunteer Kate Avneri  with any questions. We are grateful to Kate, all the parent volunteers, and school leadership and Mr. Buck who are helping with this creative project.

After School Enrichment
Outdoor Wilderness at Whittier
Spring Quarter Details:
Grades K-3: Fridays from 2:25 to 4:10
Classes April 6- June 15 (no classes 4/13)
Cost: $257.50
Registration: www.schools.seattleadventuresports.com/WhittierK3
Welcome to spring quarter at Outdoor Wilderness. Spring quarter is focused on developing skills that will help with camping or hiking trips you have planned with the family- navigation, what to do if you get lost, and how to survive the wild. As the weather can still be fickle, we'll practice good outdoor living skills to stay warm and dry- some days in our lavvu- a Scandinavian tipi- and some days in shelters we build ourselves.
Topics we'll be covering this quarter include: animal tracking & identification, leave no trace wilderness ethics, rope-making, and of course lots and lots of games and fun activities! Every quarter we do different activities, so whether this is your first quarter with us or your 5th, we'll all be outside having fun together!
*If anyone needs assistance with warm/weatherproof clothes, Seattle Adventure Sports does have loaners- please ask!*

District News
2017-18 District Calendar 
Notes From the Front Office
Spirit Day
Our next spirit day is Thursday, March 15th, Book Character Day. We can't wait to see what you come dressed up as!
Love, Elephant & Piggy



Help Wanted: Lunch & Recess Volunteers
Lunch and recess times provide important social, emotional and physical breaks for our students. We are at lunch and on the playground with your children everyday but can always use extra help to:

·  Monitor play to ensure safety
·  Help students with playground equipment
·  Assist students who are learning new games and social settings
·  Referee sports games on the playground
·  Encourage kids to eat
·  Remind students to stay in their seats
·  Open food containers
·  Assist students with cleaning up and putting away their lunches
·  Grant bathroom permissions

Volunteering at lunch and/or recess is a fun way to help out, and a great way to be involved in your child's school day!

~~~~~IT'S GREAT TO BE A WILDCAT~~~~~

-Miss Monica & Miss Rebecca
 
Community News & Events
Parents Night Out at the Barking Dog Alehouse
The next PNO event is Wednesday, March 14th. See the website for details.   www.thebarkingdogalehouse.com

Talking to Your Kids about Race with Sharon Chang
Tuesday, March 20, 7:30-9:00 pm at Greenlake Elementary

According to research, 75% of white parents almost never talk to their kids about race. When left to themselves they make misinformed generalizations about groups of people. Considering the things we learn as children are the hardest to unlearn, these early years are critical in setting the stage for who our children become.
The Green Lake PTA is pleased to welcome the Seattle based author and activist Sharon Chang to speak at our PTA meeting in March. We are also opening up this meeting to everyone in the community.
Sharon's presentation "Talking With Our Children About Race" will break down basic racial justice concepts and then delve into a discussion of deeper racial identity understanding. The ultimate goal will be to equip us as parents to keep learning about race and gaining more perspectives to keep talking to our children.
This is a free event for not only the families at Green Lake Elementary but for all parents and community members who would like to join us.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1635921716502647/

Thank You!!
Send us your thank yous.
Lunch Menu
View the March lunch menu here.
Calendar
Wednesday, March 14th
Safe Schools event 10-10:30 am
NatureBridge Info Night- 5 pm

Thursday, March 15h
Spirit Day- Book Character

Thursday, March 15th
PTA Community Meeting

Saturday, March 17th
St. Patrick's Day Parade Unicycle Performance

Thursday, March 22nd
STEM Fair 6-8 pm

Friday, March 30th
Wildcat Dance Off- 1:15 pm

Sunday, April 15th
Whittier Wildcats at the Mariners Game

Saturday, April 28th
Whittier PTA Dinner/Auction

Email us  with upcoming event details.
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.

Get Involved

Contact Us
The WildChat has a new contact email address!
Delete the old Hotmail address! whittierwildchat@gmail.com

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