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Upcoming Events
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Whittier PTA Community Meeting &
2018-2019 Budget Vote this Thursday,
May 10th
Join us in the Whittier Library Thursday May 10th, 6:30-8:30pm. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7pm. Following is our planned agenda for this final PTA Community meeting of the 2017-18 school year.
Whittier PTA Community Meeting Agenda
* President Welcome
* Approval of March minutes
* Volunteer Appreciation
* Golden Acorn Award
* Treasurer Report
* 2018-2019 Budget Proposal
* 2018-2019 Officer Nominations & Vote:
Co-Presidents: Kate Mathews & Amy Bryan
Vice President: Kellie Pecoraro
Treasurer & Assistant Treasurer: Kelsey Toppenberg & Stephanie Pirtle
Co-Secretaries: Sascha Demerjian & Beth Goldsmith
* Playground Update
* Principal Update
* DANDI update
* Vote Results
* Getting Involved & Looking Ahead
Free childcare is available for Thursday's PTA Community Meeting. There is room for up to 20 children ages 3 and older - no diapers, please. All parents have completed Seattle Public Schools volunteer requirements, including background checks. Activities will be provided.
A big thank you to Whittier's Diversity and Inclusion committee (DANDI) and our parent volunteers for making this effort possible. RSVP at the link below. We hope to see you there!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094ea4a72eaafe3-ptacommunity
Gun Safety Presentation on May 8th
The Whittier PTA will be hosting a presentation from the Be SMART campaign. By informing adults about responsible gun storage and safety, the Be SMART campaign intends to reduce child deaths and injuries caused by guns. The presentation is for both gun owners and non-gun owners, helping parents understand how to secure guns in their own homes and ensure that there are no unsecured guns in other homes and environments that their children may visit. We hope that you will join us to learn about simple steps that all adults can take to reduce gun violence.
More information about the campaign can be found at besmartforkids.org
Date: May 8th
Time: 7-8:00 pm
Location: Whittier Library
Whittier's Bike (Unicycle) To School Day, Friday, May 11th
Get on your bike and ride to school this Friday, May 11th. Mr. Pule will have a bike station set up and, as you enter, incentive rewards will be earned. For those who might need a new helmet, Cascade Bicycle Club is providing a certificate for 20% of a helmet, courtesy of nutcase helmets.
Mr. Pule will have stickers and other incentives.
To manage the large number of bicycles arriving that day, there will be an additional bike corral to park your bikes. Remember May is Bike Everywhere Month. Ride safe. Ride Pono.
Seussical Jr. the Musical - May 18th and 18th
From the Jungle of Nool to The Whos in Whoville, Whittier Wildcat Players Presents: Seussical Jr., based on the collective works of Dr. Seuss. Performances are Friday, May 18th at 7:00pm and Saturday, May 19th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $10 for adults/$7 for ages 3-11; kids 2 and under are free (scholarships are available). Tickets will be on sale in the Whittier Lobby every morning from 7:45am - 8:05am and every afternoon from 2:15pm - 2:45pm and at the door before each performance. Cash or check only. We hope to see you there!
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PTA Information
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Whittier's Tapestry Project- Thank You and Congrats
Hey, Wildcat families, an awesome tapestry representing the beauty of diversity and inclusion has been completed by all our incredible students and will be displayed in our school on the sky bridge over the lobby. This project of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee (aka DANDI) was made possible by funding for supplies from the PTA, a lot of dedicated volunteers, our willing staff, and our amazing students who brought their open hearts and minds to contribute to this project. Each student hand sewed a felt square onto a tapestry with a large heart at the center to represent that we are all special individuals and can be united in a sense of community and togetherness based on inclusion.
Please join us in thanking Kate Avneri who not only brought so much heart and warmth to ensure a wonderful vision became reality but also spearheaded the on-going logistics of this project. Kate's team of volunteers included: Cara Seaver, Hilarie Sander, and Helen King-Desai. Also parent volunteers Elizabeth Harris, Wendy Deaton, Yi Lin Naumann, Kristin Ford, Joanne Marone, Femeke Britschgi Cabernard, Kate Mathews, Jen Sullivan, Kellie Pecoraro, and the 5th grade volunteers who helped with so many students. Additionally, Brennan Buck, Jason Sciarrone, and all our homeroom teachers as well as DANDI co-chairs Kristin Wiggins and Donna Chavis and PTA board member Amy Bryan who worked hard to shepherd this project along under Kate's direction.
Let's thank all these wonderful individuals, our
PTA, and most importantly our students for making this project possible. Congratulations to our Wildcats for creating such meaningful art.
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School News
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Playground Renovations are Underway
Volunteers Needed!
The time has come! We need your help (and muscles!) to install the new Whittier play structure, including the HUGE task of hauling and spreading new gravel and wood chips. You may have signed up in the Fall to help. This is the new and revised signup, so please sign up here.
We have more than 200 volunteer shifts we are still looking to fill. For those who have childcare considerations, Illumination Learning Studio is providing free onsite childcare on 5/19 from 9am - Noon for up to 20 children (link here).
Please pass along to your neighbors and friends - many hands are needed to pull this off! Troops, teams, classrooms or groups can sign up and tackle a piece of the job - including food or beverage donations.
Lastly, in May while the playground is under construction, students will have less outside space during recess. We need more help during recess to keep our kids safe and active. Can you donate some balls to our ball rack? How about lots and lots of sidewalk chalk? Bring in to Ms. Rebecca and Ms. Monica in the front office. And can you come in during recess from 10:30am-12:10pm to lead or play some games? You are welcome for any segment of that time, and you must have completed your volunteer paperwork and sign in at the front office. Closing down the playground during the month of May is tricky timing to say the least. Many factors and smart minds came to this decision so please lend a hand to help our students be active and safe.
May is Bike Everywhere Month
Now that the Bicycle Skills and Safety Unit is winding down, time to get on that bike and ride. All our Wildcat bikers (and unicylists) can track their minutes on their bikes of the entire month of May. Bike to school, to the library or market, bike to the park, practice, etc.
Track your minutes on the Bike Everywhere calendar available for download here, on Mr. Pule's Schoology page and outside the gym. Calendar was also sent to classroom teachers for electronic distribution. Hand it in to Mr. Pule by June 4th to add to Whittier's total.
Whittier Elementary School 2018 Physical Education Summer Enrichment Program
P.E. in the summer? Why not?
Download the registration form (also available on Schoology and outside the gym) for more information. Return form to Mr. Pule. Limited enrollment of 44.
When: Monday 7/2, Tuesday 7/3, Thursday 7/5, Friday 7/6 (no session on Wednesday, July 4th)
Time: 9:00am-12 noon
Who: Students currently enrolled at Whittier K-5th grade during the 2017/18 school year.
Where: Whittier Elementary School Gym/Playground
Camp Objectives:
The program will provide a "success-oriented" experience with emphasis on individual skills building, small and large group activities, and the creation of a safe, cooperative environment where students will explore new challenges, improve skills, and participate in various healthy activities. It is our goal to build confidence, ability, and a true love of physical activity that will develop into a life-long habit.
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District News
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2017-18 District Calendar
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Notes From the Front Office
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Let Us Know Your Plans for Next Year
Forms went home last week requesting information about your school plans next year. Please return them as soon as possible as the information helps us with our planning.
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
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Whittier Kids Summer Camps
Open to all kids entering Kindergarten-5th grade
Registration is open now and more information can be found online.
Join us for a summer full of engaging weekly themes, activities and interesting field trips! Learn new skills, explore new friendships and provide your child a chance to grow and learn in a safe, fun environment.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Testing for Accelerated Math at Whitman
Any student interested in Accelerated Math placement at Whitman for the 2018-19 school year will need to take a math skills assessment at Whitman. Accelerated Math for 6th grade at Whitman is Math 7. Students will have to take the assessment even if they have already been recommended for Math 7. The assessment will be held at Whitman in the Library on the following dates:
June 2nd - AM session start time 10am. Students can begin arriving by 9:30.
June 9th - PM session start time 2pm. Students can begin arriving by 1:30.
June 25th - AM session start time 10am. Students can begin arriving by 9:30.
The assessment is timed and students will have approximately two hours to complete it; two 50 minute windows with a 10 minute break in between. Students should bring two, sharpened #2 pencils. You are welcome to send a snack and water with your student. No calculators, no cell phones or smart watches. If you would like your student to have access to their cell phone you can leave it with the teacher proctoring the assessment.
An RSVP would be preferred to Miste Chandler, [email protected]; however, we won't turn students away if they show up without one.
The assessment will not be the only determining factor for Accelerated Math placement. The Whitman Math department will also take into consideration the district/school placement recommendation as well as SBA scores from this year and last year.
Roosevelt High School Youth Football Camp
Sign up now for Roosevelt High School Youth Football Camp!
July 17-20th at Roosevelt High School.
Join RHS coaches and current players for an exciting week of football in a fun and positive environment. Non-contact. Current grades 1-7.
Download registration form: http//roughridersfb.org/camp.
Registration Open for Ballard Youth Soccer Summer and Fall Leagues
Registration is open for Summer Development League and Fall Rec League. See the club website for more details.
Parents Night Out at the Barking Dog on
Wednesday, May 9th
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Thank You!!
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Thank you everyone for helping set up/clean up and also all the wonderful donations that showed our staff at Whittier that we really appreciate them: Shelly Curtis, Kristine Gilmore, Cheryl Adams, Laura Williams, Caleb & Sonya Couch, Cara Hohenstein, Jen Baldwin, Courtney & Ron Sievers, Mendy Minjarez, James Grandin, Mary Lieberman, Donna Chavis, Hilarie Sander, Phuong Le, Jen Sullivan, Rebecca Hoyt, Nina Rohlich, Heidi Mladenovski, Ann Illgen, Cara Davidson, Sara Bathum, Christiana DelloRusso, Tricia Schalenkamp, Sarah Olsen, Barb Dally, DAnette May, and Sarah Okun.
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Lunch Menu
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View the May lunch menu
here.
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Calendar
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BeSmart Presentation
Thursday, May 10th
PTA Community Meeting
Friday, May 11th
Bike to School Day
Thursday, May 17th
Spirit Day-Rainbow Day
Friday/Saturday May 18th/19th
Suessical The Musical Jr. by the Whittier Wildcat Players
Thursday, May 24th
Instrumental Music Concert
Friday, June 1st
Spring Movie Night
Friday, June 8th
Jog-a-thon and The Not-Its! Concert
Tuesday, June 12th
New Family Popsicle Playdate
Friday, June 15th
Field Day
Thursday, June 21st
End of Year celebration and 5th Grade Graduation
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Shopping for Whittier
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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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Contact Us
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The WildChat has a new contact email address!
Delete the old Hotmail address! [email protected]
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.
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