Whittier WildChat
May 30, 2018
Whittier School photo
We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems. It's what Wildcats do!

Upcoming Events
Spring Family Movie Night- Friday June 1st
Join us for our annual  SPRING FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE on Friday, June 1st, 6.30-8.30 pm in the Whittier Lunchroom / Gym. Bring the whole family and watch Ice Age: Collision Course. Kids can bring pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets. Only low back chairs permitted. A bake sale supporting next year's 5th grade Nature Bridge trip will be happening during the movie. Cash only!

Jog-a-thon & Playground Celebration - Friday, June 8th!
We need you! Volunteers are needed to help the jog-a-thon run smoothly - please sign up today!
With the help of families and community partners, Whittier PTA has met its fundraising goal for the 2017-18 school year. Rather than cancel the Jog-A-Thon, we are excited to announce that the Whittier PTA membership voted at the May 10 Community Meeting to use the 2018 Whittier Jog-A-Thon to extend our partnership with Bailey Gatzert Elementary.

The first $10,000 of funds raised through this year's Whittier Jog-A-Thon (June 8) will directly benefit Bailey Gatzert students, families, and staff by supporting RULER / social emotional curriculum programming; improved parent communication including translation services; and parent-teacher partnerships that support student learning, community events celebrating culture and diversity, and essential classroom and art supplies.
Fundraising beyond $10,000 will benefit the Whittier PTA as it considers additional programming for the 2018-19 school year. Be sure to set up your student’s online pledge tool! If you prefer, you can contribute directly to Whittier via the Annual Give donation link.

Running Schedule:
8:55 - 9:20: Kindergarten Run
9:25 - 9:50: 2nd Grade Run
11:05 - 11:30: 4th Grade Run
1:05 - 1:30: 3rd Grade Run
1:20 - 1:45: 5th Grade Run
1:40 - 2:05: 1st Grade Run
2:25 - 3:05: All grades run - bonus laps!
Come for the run, Stay for the fun!
After your student has gotten in their bonus laps, we will celebrate our brand-new playground and end the day with a free performance by The Not Its at 4 pm. Don't miss it!

Field Day is Friday, June 15th: World Cup Russia 2018
Old hands or new, everyone is welcome! Let's celebrate World Cup Russia 2018 in true Wildcat fashion and have a blast!

Volunteers are asked to wear the colors of the host country, Russia... It is an easy one. Red, White, and Blue. 

Ask your Wildcat which team their class is representing! From Senegal to Argentina, Japan to Sweden... Wildcats will be come clad in the colors of 21 different World Cup teams. Face paint and dyed hair a bonus!

STATION VOLUNTEERS SHOULD MEET MR. PULE IN THE WHITTIER GYM @ 11:15 AM. Mr. Pule will present a quick Field Day Activities 101 wiki-course. In a few minutes, you will be an expert in the field day arts! Bring a friend and really have a World Cup of a Day.

To help make field day memorable for our Wildcats, simply follow our World Cup Russia 2018 link to Sign up Genius  Be a part of Wildcat history.


PTA Information
Volunteers Needed for the Fall 2018 Carnival
We are now building our 2018 Fall Carnival team and are seeking volunteers for the following open positions:
  • Carnival "Activities" (manage / update 8 existing activities - e.g., cake walks, balloon sales, candy/popcorn sales, etc.)
  • Hogwarts / Stage Experience (we have a team lead who is seeking anyone and everyone who has 1/4 ounce of creativity and would like to get involved!)
  • Volunteer Recruitment (work with Fall Carnival teams to determine volunteer needs, manage recruitment of parent and community volunteers)
Detailed task lists are available for every position.
 
Interested and/or want to learn more? Join us at Tarasco (1452 NW 70th St.) on Wednesday, May 30, at 6:30pm to celebrate success in 2017 and plan for 2018. Or, email Amy Bryan for more information.

Jog-a-thon Information Coming Home this Week
Check your child's back pack for information about the jog-a-thon with all the details for this great event on Friday, June 8th
School News
Whittier Elementary School 2018 Physical Education Summer Enrichment Program- Spots still available
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.
Camp Details: Mr. Bryan Pule, Whittier's PE specialist, and Ms. Barbara Bruecher, Olympic View's PE specialist will offer a 4-day (Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri...) program at Whittier.
  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.

Opening for a Building Leadership Team (BLT) Parent Representative for 2018-2019
Whittier's Building Leadership Team (BLT) is seeking a parent rep for a two year term beginning summer 2018. The BLT includes the principal, teachers, PCP/library teachers/tutors/assistants, administrative staff, community representatives, and two parent representatives who serve in alternating two-year terms. We are in need of a parent rep for 2018-2019, beginning this summer! The commitment includes regular meetings on Mondays after school, generally once per month, with more frequent meetings during budget season (February and March). There is also a retreat one day in August to prepare for the upcoming school year. Interested in learning more about how we work to improve the school? Contact Sara Schmidt or Kathleen Durham, your current BLT reps, at [email protected].



District News
Interested in Advanced Learning?
View this flyer for more information.
Eligibility criteria and instructions are available
beginning May 15, 2018 at www.seattleschools.org/advlearning

2017-18 District Calendar 
Notes From the Front Office
Things are getting busy! Mark your calendars for all the events!
There is a lot going on as we close out the school year. Relisting many of the school-wide events below with more details coming as we have them.

Friday, June 1, 6:30 pm- Movie Night
Thursday, June 7- Rock Star Spirit Day
Friday, June 8- Jog-a-thon followed by The-Not-its Concert after school at 4 pm
Wednesday, June 13- Spring Sing and Art Walk
Friday, June 15- Field Day
Thursday, June 21- End of Year Assembly and 5th Grade Graduation


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
Whitman Jazz Festival 2018
Featuring the Whitman Senior and Junior Jazz Bands! Please consider joining us on Sunday, June 3, at 1 pm at the Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. NW. All ages are welcome (cash bar available for the adults!). Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults, and $15 for families. Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash or credit card. All proceeds benefit the Friends of Whitman Music Program. Come support young local musicians and provide a great opportunity to your future WMS students to see the school jazz bands at a fun and exciting venue.

Registration Open for Ballard Youth Soccer Fall Leagues
Ballard Youth Soccer Registration is open until June 5th for Fall Recreational League Soccer which starts in September. Yes, September is a long ways away. Training and games are an evening & weekends for boys & girls 4-18 years old and run 8-12 weeks, from Sept-Nov.

Ballard Youth Soccer Club is primarily a recreational club for youth who reside in the northwest neighborhoods of Seattle, including Broadview and Bitter Lake. All youth ages 5-18 are eligible to play and experience is not required. Ballard Youth Soccer Club fields teams at all ages and skill levels. Below are some details, but if you have more questions email [email protected]

Teams-Players are assigned to teams after registration closes. Players may request friends during registration. Teams may have different skill sets and genders depending on age level. The under age 8 teams are co-ed.

Coaches- The 8-12 week Fall League is taught by volunteer coaches and may be augmented with certified coaches. Parents are encouraged to be a Fall League volunteer coach. Be a coach and a positive impact.

Development- Part of player development is getting lots of touches on the ball. In our curricula players learn and build foot skills, work on ideas of ball movement using teamwork and learn good sportsmanship through positive coaching and modeling. Every player plays regardless of skill level.

Visit the website to register and for more details.


Thank You!!
Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the playground project. It looks great.

Lunch Menu
View the May lunch menu here.
Calendar
Friday, June 1st
Spring Movie Night

Thursday, June 7th
Rock Star Spirit Day

Friday, June 8th
Jog-a-thon (during the school day) and The Not-Its! Concert at 4pm

Tuesday, June 12th
New Family Popsicle Playdate

Wednesday, June 13th
Spring Sing and Art Walk

Friday, June 15th
Field Day

Thursday, June 21st
End of Year celebration and 5th Grade Graduation

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

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