Whittier WildChat
March 21, 2018
Whittier School photo
We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems. It's what Wildcats do!
 
Upcoming Events
Whittier STEM Fair- Volunteers Still Needed!

Volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Without your support, we may not be able to make this event happen!


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. 

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.

We are still accepting donations for the Catucky Derby!  Please get them into the front office or online at www.whittierauction.org 

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!

Mariners Game on April 15th
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
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
Whittier's Spring 2018 After-School Recreation Program
8 sessions starts Tuesday, April 17th (K-2nd Grade) and Thursday, April 19th (2nd-5th Grade)

OVERVIEW: This is an hour's extension of our physical education program once a week that will build on the variety of activities enjoyed in Whittier's gym program. Program will include individual skills building, small and larger group activities, etc. We may also include skating, archery, biking, circus arts and other interests over the 8 classes. K-2nd Grade sessions are Tuesdays, 2nd-5th Grade sessions are on Thursdays. Note: 2nd Grade participants may chose either the Tuesday or Thursday session. 
COST: $30
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 gym from 2:25-2:40 pm.
PICK-UP: Class ends at 3:40pm. Please pick up your child on time at the Whittier Gym.
Registration forms available on PE Schoology page and outside the gym
QUESTIONS? Contact Bryan Pule @ bspule@seattleschools.org

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!

"Jazz Cats" Jazz Band
Enrollment is now open for Jazz Band, led by Instrumental teacher, Mark Oseterele. The session runs from March - June. A great opportunity for a young musician to get more playing time on their instrument.

WHO: Open to all 4th and 5th graders. Instruments include, trumpets, saxophone, flutes, clarinets and trombones. Rhythm section includes piano, drums, bass and guitar.
WHEN: Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30; March 8 - June 7. NO class April 7 due to Spring Break
WHERE: Salmon Bay school
COST: $85 for returning students; $95 for new member ($10.00 for t-shirt)

Questions: Contact Mark Oesterle at meoesterle@seattleschools.org
If you are interested in having your child be part of a walking "train" from Whittier to Salmon Bay, please contact Susan Willis at susanewillis@yahoo.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
Pennies for Patients
The last day for Pennies for Patients is this Friday, March 23rd. We have had an overwhelming response from our Wildcat students! As of Tuesday morning we have reached $1137.31 of our $1200.00 goal. To celebrate our success, students are encouraged to dress as a Super Hero this Friday, 3/23/18, for being part of the Pennies for Patients "Hero Squad". Well done Wildcats!

Massive Monkees Dance Off, March 30th
The Massive Monkees Dance Off is around the corner! The kids have been practicing their moves and in an effort for every parent to see their child perform we are going to ask you to move too!

This is how it will work: there will be an area designated with tape on the floor for parents of the kids performing to stand right behind the viewing students (who are seated). Once your kid(s) have finished performing please move back to allow the next group of parents to step in and view their kids. The dance off will start with kindergartners and move up through the grades.

Doors open at 1:15pm. Parents are asked to wait outside the school until all classrooms have cleared the hallways and have been seated.

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
Share your community news.

Thank You!!
Thank you to the lovely ladies how volunteered for the North Beach Auction: Karen Gustafson, Kelsey Toppenberg, and Claire Fenton! Shine on!
Lunch Menu
View the March lunch menu here.
Calendar
Thursday, March 22nd
STEM Fair 6-8 pm

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

Monday, April 2nd,
Dine out for NatureBridge at the HighLife

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

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.