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Month: May 2024

Open Positions for the 2024-2025 School Year

Whittier PTA is seeking community members to volunteer for key volunteer roles for the 2024-2025 school year. These positions have different commitment levels, including some that can be accomplished remotely. Whittier PTA is an all-volunteer run organization that aims to have fun, build community, and support Whittier Elementary’s educational excellence.

Open 2024-2025 PTA Roles

  • Wildchat Editor: Our biweekly newsletter, the Wildchat, is an essential way to keep families informed and connected. But without an editor, we won’t have a newsletter (which can also impact our fundraising effectiveness)! Content inputs are organized by the Communications Chair, so this role primarly inputs prepared content into the existing Wildchat newsletter template on our WordPress-based site. Easy to learn and no website experience necessary! This is a great remote-only role for new families looking to learn more about Whittier! Without a volunteer, we’ll lose this important communication vehicle! Learn more about this role >>
  • Website Editor: The PTA’s website (whittierptaseattle.org) is our community’s main resource for Wildcat information. With SPS’ limited website tools, both PTA and Whittier Elementary resources are housed on this site. Whittier’s website editor is a remote-only position that sees most of its work at the beginning of the year, with smaller tasks after that. The website uses a simple WordPress theme, with guided instructions that anyone can learn! Without a volunteer, we’ll lose this important resource! Learn more about this role >>
  • EDI Co-Chair: This role works with returning EDI Co-Chair, Kiana, to develop important programs focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. K-2 families are strongly encouraged to consider this position to ensure this key work continues. Learn more about this role >>
  • Are you a graphic designer? We’d love your help! We have one-time and on-going graphic design needs to support our PTA activities. These include:
    • Designing Takehome Tuesday flyers (on-going, 2x per month)
    • Designing IG posts (on-going, 2x per month)

Whittier PTA has a Canva pro account, so design can use this tool or any other graphic design software.

Want to learn more or sign-up? Please contact volunteers@whittierptaseattle.org.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

None of these suit your needs but you'd still like to get involved?

The Wildchat: 5/28/24

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

There's 17 school days left! Here's your summary of important upcoming dates:

Thank you, Wildcats and the Spring Fling Team!

Congratulations to our Spring Fling team and community for an amazing event earlier this month! Thanks to our community’s participation and generosity, we raised over $83,500–exceeding our $60,000 fundraising goal! Great job, Wildcats!

And a HUGE thank you to our amazing community volunteers, without which this event couldn’t have happened! A special shout out to Brie Gardner, Spring Fling Chair extraordinaire, along with:

  • John Shaw
  • Laura Zingg
  • Emily Grosse
  • Sara Lukas
  • Joni Larson
  • Jess Twardzik
  • Melissa Ivancevich
  • Jess Templeton
  • Melinda Nett
  • Shannon Luoma
  • Elan Simonson
  • Andrea Pungoti
  • Angie Lundstedt
  • Mendy Minjarez
  • Rebecca Grandin
  • Sarah Okun
  • Meg Herscher
  • Kate Scher
  • Mike Nett
  • Ron Sievers
  • Renee Hartnett
  • Courtney Sievers
  • Jenn Foreman
  • Sandy Hawley
  • Sherry Lawson
  • Chris Wylcinski
  • Josette Jeffery
  • David Peabody
  • Rebecca Adamson
  • Katie Stiver
  • Megan Wildenradt
  • Leah Lansberry
  • Anna Reeve
  • Jill Muscatel
  • Courtney Miller
  • Anjean Vanden Bosch
  • Katie Kreiger
  • Ashley Sullivan
  • Erin Lancione
  • Katie Hambley
  • and of course Danny Adamson and The Late Shift

And it’s not too late to contribute to our Spring Fling fundraising goal! We have some hosted parties (fun, themed events hosted by members of our community–some for adults and some for kids!) with spaces left, including Beauty and Bubbles Workshop, 4th-5th grade Skate Party With Mr Pule, Bootcamp and Brunch, Discovery Park Adventure, Dreaming of Dragons, First Grade Moms Happy Hour, and more! Learn more about these hosted parties and buy your tickets here.

Ms. Rebecca performing in The Late Shift!
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Wildcats showed up dressed to impress!
Local cover band, The Late Shift, inspired disco dance moves.
Amazing volunteers (of all ages) helped set up!
Wildcats answered the call!
Spring Fling decor team brought it with a DISCO light up letter sign
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Seeking 5-6 Volunteers for Financial Review Committee

Seeking volunteers to complete the 2023-24 PTA Financial Review. There is a checklist to divide up and work through. First meeting via zoom and then follow-ups via email. Work on July-Sept and present brief findings at Sept PTA Meeting. To learn more or sign-up, please contact Michelle, PTA Treasurer. Thanks for considering!

After-School Program Survey

We want to hear from you! How was your experience with after-school programs this year? What clubs would your child be interested in next year? This survey is open to all families, even if your child did not participate in clubs this year. Your feedback will help us plan our program offerings for the next school year! Complete the survey >>

Learn more about this year’s Drag Queen Story Hour.

Help Shape SPS' 2025-2030 Strategic Plan

SPS is asking families to share their voice as they develop a new strategic plan to guide the district’s 2025-2030 work. We’re asking all our Whittier families to complete this SPS survey before June 7.

You can also attend special School Board meetings about this strategic plan on May 29 (6-7:30pm) at Robert Eagle Staff, June 5 (6-7:30pm) at Cleveland STEM High School, or June 12 (6-7:30pm) online. Learn more about SPS’ engagement around this strategic planning work here.

Finally, the regular School Board meeting on June 10 is slated to include an update on SPS’ “Well-Resourced Schools,” including a list of closures for the 2025-2026 school year. Learn more about how to watch, attend, or testify during a school board meeting.

Submit Nominations for Volunteer Award!

Do you know someone who has been an exceptional volunteer for the Whittier community over the past year?  If yes, please consider nominating them for the Golden Acorn Award!  This award is given out each year by the PTA  to recognize outstanding dedication to our children and youth, and we know Whittier would not be the special place it is without all the love and energy poured into it by our many volunteers.  Please email nominations to Jess by June 6th.  The recipient does not need to be a PTA member. 

PTA Positions We're looking to Fill for the 24-25 School Year

  • Co-President
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • EDI-Co Chair
  • Comms Website Editor
  • Comms Wildchat Editor
  • Back to Business Chair
  • Fall Festival Chair
  • Spring Fling Chair
  • Student Directory
  • Yearbook
Contact Jess if you’re interested in learning more about any of the roles or have additional questions. 

Great Job, Really Rosie Cast & Volunteers!

Congratulations to the Cast & Crew of this year’s Spring Musical, Really Rosie! Fans and supporters packed Ballard High School’s Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center last Thursday and Friday to catch this exciting, funny performance. This cast and crew of Whittier 4th and 5th graders could only have succeeded thanks to the stewardship of their amazing director team: Ms. Steph (Director), Ada Scales (Assistant Director), and Mr. Collin (Music Director). Click here to check out the musical’s virtual program. This year’s Really Rosie cast includes:

5th graders:
Sydney Hartnett
Reese Pecoraro
Graysen Hawley
Ben Toppenberg
Elsie Smith
Lydia Gaspard
Zoe Johnson
Denali Swearingen
Henry Neuman
Ruby Pope
Isla Herndon-Farnam
Maeve Herndon-Farnam
Henry Gudmastad
Zoe Intawong
Abby Gruber
Vivi Robertson
Myla Gardner
Felicity Foreman
Greta Leuschke
Karolina Makmatova
Margaret Robillard
Rowan Ritchie
Neko Hickey
Hailey Lawson
Michael Mayo
Shoyer Mayo
Madeline Nett
Poppy Tallarico
4th graders:
Aleita Hendricks
Arlo Marshak
Bea Poll
Brook Bahru
Charlie Rust
Claire Chertack
Claire Crockford
Colette Davis
Corrine Kostis
Emersen Rider
Emma Kirschbaum
Everly Grandin
Everly Ringler
Grace Curran
Harlow Hatter
Lauren Egging
Lulu Cook
Leo Wildenradt
Madeleine Gartin
Matilda Boysun
Riley Hammond
Ruby Medina
Ryan Mcdougal
Santi Montesinos Martos
Silas Bendickson
Simone Herten
Sophia Hartnett

And congrats and thank you to Principal Watters for her special guest performances! Finally, thank you to the amazing team of volunteers and crew who helped make this special musical happen:

Aarron Lawson
Angela Buck-Hatter
Angie Bianco
Ashley Ward Gaspard
Ben Peterson
Brie Gardner
Camille Peterson
Chuck Rust
Clark Wildenradt
Diane Clausen
Erin Lancione
Eva Wong
Isaac Hatter
Jennifer Foreman
Jerrica Kostis
Julia Massey
Julie Childers
Julie Vano
Kai Herndon-Farnam
Katherine Abraham
Katie Stiver
Kellie Pecoraro
Kelly Rider
Kendall Scales
Laura Zingg
Lindsay Fasser
Lindsay Robillard
Lisa Davis
Liz Young
Megan Wildenradt
Melinda Nett
Melissa Caviezel
Michelle Nemeth
Mike Boysun
Mike Kostis
Mike Nett
Mindy McGuane
Paul Bianco
Rebecca Grandin
Renee Hartnett
Sandy Hawley
Sarah Bendickson
Sarah Gartin
Scott Ringler
Sherry Lawson
Stacy Tischler
Steve Neuman
Sue Tallarico
Toby Ross
Trisha Kostis
Tyler Gaspard
Valerie Rust
Will Scales

Some pictures of both casts captured by Whittier parent and photographer, Kellie Pecoraro:

Thank you, Wildcats!

The Wildchat: 5/7/24

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Only 31 Get Ups Left in the 2023-2024 School Year!

Here are all the key events remaining this year:

SPRING FLING is 11 days away! Are you ready to follow the call of the disco ball?

It’s already MAY and Spring Fling is less than 3 weeks away! If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you can here! When you purchase your ticket, you will have the option to buy one for a staff member, too.

Remember, this is kid-free event, so get your babysitter booked!  

Some highlights to look forward to at the event include:

  • Food trucks from Delfino’s Chicago Style Pizza (vegetarian options) and Bai Tong on Wheels (vegetarian and gluten free options)
  • Drinks tent with featured cocktail
  • Live music from the Late Shift, a youth cover band from Ballard (returning for its second year)
  • Art gallery with your kiddos’ art
  • Golden ticket- chance to win $$!
  • “Raise the Paddle” opportunity to learn more about why we fundraise and to donate
  • Silent Auction including:
    • A magical evening of dragons with the 1st grade teachers (6/7)
    • A culinary trip through France with dinner and wine pairings (9/21)
    • 2 tickets to the UW Huskies
    • Tickets to Seattle Storm
    • Backyard Pizza party classroom bucket … and more!

We hope to see you there!

Volunteers Needed!

Join our day-of team! We’re seeking volunteers in a variety of shifts and roles. Sign up here!

Spring Fling Art Preview!

Join us on the blacktop after school on Friday, May 10 to preview classroom art for this year’s Spring Fling auction. Art will be displayed from 2:30 – 3:15. Many thanks to our volunteers and Wildcat artists for their amazing work!

We Love our Wildcat Staff!

Thanks to our Wildcat families for bringing flowers and to our Room Reps for providing vases and crafting arrangements for our staff! We continue our Staff Appreciation Week celebration with:

  • Tuesday: Staff Lunch from Barking Dog
  • Wednesday: Custom Smoothie Bar
  • Thursday: Morning Coffee and Donuts
  • Friday: Don’t forget to help your Wildcat dress like a staff member!

THANK YOU, Wildcats! Move-a-thon Raised Over $29,000!

Our Wildcats showed their incredible spirit to our community as they helped raise $ during Move–a-thon on April 26th. We surpassed our $15,000 goal, inching us even closer to this year’s total fundraising goal of $155,000. 

This amazing community accomplishment couldn’t have happened without the participation and support of our Whittier community and volunteers. Huge kudos and shout-outs to the amazing David Peabody, who chaired this event (and made incredible hype videos!), along with a team of volunteers who helped before and during the event: Bonnie Smith, Emily Robertson, Angie Lundstedt, Lauren Zerbey, Silvana Moncayo, Lana Sturmer, Glenda Elley, Michelle Nemeth, Kimberly Gilsdorf, Megan Herscher, Katie Hambley, Sara Lukas, Jon Reckers, Renee Hartnett, Kate Scher, Jess Tuardzik, Kristin Laughlin, Kathleen Donahoe, Megan Wildenradt, Jerrica Kostis, Jessica Milman, Anjean Vanden Bosch, Courtney Miller, April Soliman, Sara Elmore, Natalie Gromoff-Hiatt, Kara Stone, Tricia Schalekamp!

Learn more about this year’s Drag Queen Story Hour.

Click here to join the virtual meeting.

Last Whittier PTA Meeting of the School Year is TONIGHT!

Join the last Whittier PTA Meeting of the school year is TONIGHT (Tuesday, May 7th) only on Zoom! Password: wildcats

PTA Members will vote on next year’s board volunteers and budget, which reflects how the Whittier PTA will raise and invest donated funds for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Updates from the PTA's Advocacy Team

  • We have a new school board director for our district, Sarah Clark, who lives near Whittier and is the Director of Policy at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.  You can read Sarah’s statement of interest here.  
  • There is an important SPS board meeting on May 8th! They will be talking about the plans for “Well Resourced Schools” with potential implications for the 25/26 school year (changes to bell times, transportation, and school consolidation). You can find out more about the meeting here.
    • For a refresher on the district’s budgetary issues, we recommend listening to the Seattle Hall Pass podcast episode 32.  Funding will be a big topic next year so stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved in advocacy.  
  • SPS will be updating their Strategic Plan this year and will be holding community engagement meetings over the next two months. We will let you know when we hear of opportunities to engage!

"1000% Me" Screening = 1000% Success!

Thank you to our EDI team, facilitators, Whitter Kids childcare team, and families who participated in last month’s viewing of the film “1000% Me: Growing up Mixed.”

Looking for Ideas to Support Our Wildcat Staff?

We’ve been updating our Teacher and Staff Wish Lists to guide families interested to support Whittier, especially specialists, the front office, Nurse Marissa, and other staff. As always, families are encouraged to look at Wish Lists for inspiration and purchase items outside of the Amazon site should they choose. Know of a staff wish list that’s not included or needs updating? Please contact us!

Click here to purchase tickets!

From Our Ballard Community

Fundraiser for Take 5 Urban Market after Natural Gas Explosion Damages Building

Take 5 Urban Market, local beloved deli and Whittier Elementary community partner, was damaged after a natural gas explosion occurred Thursday morning. Luckily, there were no injuries. 

From the Seattle Times: Around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, the Seattle Fire Department responded to a blaze at Take 5 Urban Market in Ballard. The fire, which only damaged the Take 5 building, was the result of an accidental natural gas explosion, the Fire Department confirmed Thursday afternoon. The building was empty at the time of the explosion and subsequent fire, and nobody was injured. In addition to the building being vacant, “nobody was outside when the windows blew out from the gas leak,” said Take 5 co-owner Rebecca Rouleau. “We’re grateful nobody was hurt at all,” she said, and “right now we’re just trying to process.” 

If you would like to support Take 5 and their rebuilding effort, a fundraiser has been set up here. 

Learn more about this event!

SPS Healthly Schools Seminar at Whitman MS: Fentanyl Awareness Seminar

Please join us on the evening of May 9th for a special seminar on Fentanyl Awareness, provided by SPS Healthy Schools Coordinator, Lynnet Mitchell at Whitman Middle School. This event aims to provide crucial information and insights into the dangers of Fentanyl, an opioid that impacts all Seattle communities. This seminar is geared toward adults. Whitman students will attend a separate seminar during school. 

  • Date: May 9th
  • Time: 6-7:30pm
  • Location: Whitman Cafeteria
  • Some food and snacks will be provided.
  • Ms Mitchell will bring Narcan for participating families.

We would appreciate a head count for this event so we can be prepared. Thank you in advance for emailing your RSVP to Jan Johnson (PTSA President Whitman Middle School).

Thank you, Wildcats!