Whittier WildChat
April 18, 2018
Whittier School photo
We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems. It's what Wildcats do!
 
Upcoming Events
The Whittier PTA Online Auction is LIVE!!
This catalog contains the listing of ALL the incredible online auction items by closing date and category. Remember these online items WILL NOT be for sale during the Live Auction on April 28th.

Please head to  www.whittierauction.org  and take  some time to look 
through all the amazing items Whittier families and local businesses have donated this year. Included in this online auction is the famous Gringots Bank playhouse from the Daigon Alley project! Don't miss out on this one of a kind item!

Each closing will have different types of items, including a few you may want to use/wear for the live event, April 28th. Highlight your favorites so you know when to bid. There will be one closing at 10:00pm on each of the following nights, so mark your calendar!

Friday, April 20 Monday, April 23 Wednesday, April 25 Friday, April 27
To start bidding go to www.whittierauction.org and click on the "Online Auction Now Open" button at the top of the page. This will take you to the online catalog. In order to bid you will need to create an account. Just click on the Sign Up button. If you'd like to bid in private, make up an 'Online Handle'. Then choose a password and you're off and shopping! Please email questions to the auction team at
whittierauction@gmail.com.

NOTE: If you have already bought your auction night tickets, you have an account already. Your login name is your email address. Use the Create/Reset Password link if you do not know your password. After logging in you can go to 'My Account' to change your password or create an 'Online Handle'.

WildCash Raffle Tickets Due Back This Friday, April 20th
A quick reminder that all WildCash Raffle tickets - sold AND UNSOLD - are due back to school this Friday. A few reminders:
  • Tickets went home on Thursday, April 5 - check backpacks if you haven't seen them yet.
  • Tickets are $2 each (10 / $20).
  • Tis no obligation to purchase or sell tickets, but all tickets must be returned.
  • The winning raffle ticket will be drawn at the live auction on April 28.
  • The winner takes home $1000 and does not need to be present to win.
  • Payments can be made with cash or check (made out to Whittier PTA).
  • Complete ALL tickets with the name, phone number and email address.
  • Tickets can be returned to the office or in your child's school folder (KidMail).
  • Email whittierauction@gmail.com to request more tickets.
The Raffle Team is in the lobby every day after school this week. Stop by with questions or to drop off your tickets and money.

SAVE THE DATES: Volunteers Needed for Playground Install
Many families pledged volunteer hours last fall to help install the new Whittier playground. The time is here! Please save the following dates and look for a SignUp Genius in the next week to reserve your spot. In addition to the opportunities below, we will be asking for food and beverage donations each day.

Note that gravel installation is tentatively scheduled for two WEEK NIGHTS the week of May 13 - we hope you can join us to keep the project on track!
Thank you, we look forward to a grand opening of the new playground in early June for our Wildcats.

Playground Equipment Build
May 12, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm
May 13, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm
Gravel Installation (TENTATIVE DATES)
May 15, 5pm - 8pm
May 16, 5pm - 8pm
Wood Chip Installation
May 19, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm
May 20, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm
IF NEEDED
June 2, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm
June 3, 8am - Noon and/or Noon - 4pm

PTA Information
Seeking Nominations for Golden Acorn Award
Whittier PTA is seeking nominations for the Golden Acorn Award. This award recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding service to children in the Whittier community. The recipient(s) of this award will receive loads of Wildcat appreciation, a Golden Acorn pin, special recognition at the May 10th General PTA meeting, a contribution in their name to the Washington State PTA Financial Grant Program, and their name engraved on the Golden Acorn plaque in the lobby.

Please help us recognize and reward those amazing individuals within our school and community who meet the criteria for this award. Email your nomination along with a brief explanation for why your nominee deserves this recognition by April 20th, 2018 to vp.whittierpta@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed for Auction Night
Is the auction not your "thing", but you would like to help out that night. Then you are our person!!

We need 3 "night of volunteers" for the night of the auction only, that is April 28th. You would need to come to the Seattle Marriott Waterfront around 4:15pm and leave around 9:30pm (or stay and enjoy the dance party).  We will provide you with food and snacks to nibble on.

Your job would be to collect drink orders during the silent and live auction. 

Easy Peasy! Lemon Squeeze-y!
You could dress up or dress down, what ever you want- just don't wear skates while walking down the stairs.
I promise you will have fun, 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you are interested please email Jennifer Mannheim at nurse_barker@hotmail.com

School News
Bike Unit Started this Week
Whittier's bike unit started this week. Here's the schedule. 
C Week  4/16th - 4/20th  ... 
A Week  4/23rd -4/ 27th ... 
B Week  5/1st- 5/4th  
Make sure you bring your helmet and your bike to school. For those that can't bring them in, Mr. Pule will have them on hand for your child to use.

Sign-up now! for Tues. Comic Club & Thurs. Gamer Group
5 Week half sessions will be starting early May.

Spots will be fill fast on a first come first serve basis and space is limited. Forms may be found in the main office or you may contact Mr. Buck directly for one at BCBuck@seattleschools.org.

General Info- Both classes will consist of 5 sessions.
WHERE: Room 103 (Art) *Students will meet in the gym after school and walk down with Mr. Buck at 2:45.

Tuesday Comic Club, All Ages- Come and develop skills in comic design and illustration and learn how to create characters, scenes and comic strips.
WHEN: Every Tuesday, May 8-June 5 
2:45-3:45
COST: $15 Check Payable to Whittier Elementary School. Please contact Mr. Buck directly to inquire about scholarships. BCBuck@seattleschools.org

Thursday Gamers Group, All Ages- Bring your favorite board, tabletop, card games to share and play with friends and learn and play new games with Mr. Buck.
WHEN: Every Thursday, May 10-June 7 
2:45-3:45
COST: $20 Check Payable to Whittier Elementary School. Please contact Mr. Buck directly to inquire about scholarships. BCBuck@seattleschools.org

Next DANDI Meeting Cancelled-5/1
Whittier's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, DANDI, will not be meeting on 5/1. We have several DANDI focused projects ongoing. If you are interested in joining please contact co-chairs Kristin Wiggins and Donna Chavis at dandi.whittierpta@gmail.com Thank you!


District News
2017-18 District Calendar 
Notes From the Front Office
New Bulletin Board is Up - Add Your Flower
We have a new bulletin board up. Please stop by and pick up a flower to decorate and bring it back to post on the board.



Spirit Day
This Thursday, April 19th is Wacky Hat Day!
 
5th Grade SBAC Testing this Friday
Reminder for 5th graders to get good sleep on Thursday night and bring a snack and headphones on Friday. 

As previously noted, Grades 3-5 will be taking the SBAC test this spring. Contact your teachers for more details if you haven't heard from them already.

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
Ballard Elks Club Bike Rodeo
You're Invited to A BIKE RODEO
SATURDAY APRIL 21, 2018 10am to Noon
BALLARD ELKS LODGE 6411 SEAVIEW AVE NW

We're looking to help get our kids prepped and ready for biking. The rodeo is a great way to get the dust off the bikes and practice. The rodeo is a series of skill and practice stations and even a little bike ride from the Elks to Golden Gardens Park and back. 

We'll have most of the Elks parking lot set aside for the event. We'll have some swag, bike maintenance station, bike decorating, and even Lime Bike will be on hand to show off how their bike share program works.

A Savvy Parents Safe Kids Workshop with Jill Goetz
Monday, April 23rd, 7-8:30 pm at Ballard Church
PNW Parent Education is putting on their next event:

She will be sharing information with us about how we can keep our kids safe, with topics such as:
  • Talking about safety at home
  • The Fab 5 questions parents need to be asking
  • Teaching children about body safety
  • What safety tools work and which ones don't?
  • Teaching safety when out and about
  • The Super 10 Rules for Safety
  • Red Flags and Warning Signs
  • Prevention tips to keep kids safe
Please register on the Eventbrite event page here.

Birds+Bees+Kids: The 3 Biggest Myths that get in the Way of the Sex Talk
Hosted by Seattle Therapy Network
Wednesday, May 2 at 7-8:45 pm
Amy Lang, MA has been teaching about sexual health and education since 1991. Her mission is to help every kid grow up to a whole and healthy adult by teaching the grownups who love and care for them how to openly and confidently talk about sexuality.
This evening with Amy Lang will focus on busting open 3 Myths that get in the way of the sex talk! https://www.facebook.com/events/1649469171812442/


Thank You!!
Thank you to the PTA Auction Team for putting together a great catalog for the online auction this year. Make sure to check it out!

Lunch Menu
View the April lunch menu here.
Calendar
Thursday, April 19th
Wacky Hat Spirit Day

Saturday, April 28th
Whittier PTA Dinner/Auction

Friday/Saturday May 18th/19th
Suessical The Musical Jr. by the Whittier Wildcat Players

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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