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Month: September 2025

The Wildchat: 9/24/2025

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

What's Happening:

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🚨 Annual Give Countdown: 56% To Go! 🚨

We’re 44% of the way to our $130,000 goal—math whizzes will note that means we need a big finish. Your suggested $395 per student fuels 58% of Whittier PTA’s total fundraising for the year, keeping the good stuff rolling:

🎨 Daily specialists (including, regular art class)
📚 Math & reading support and challenge
🎉 Community events that turn strangers into friends
🍎 Curriculum & instructional support for our teachers
…and so much more.

If we don’t hit the goal, those programs wobble. If we do? Our kids keep thriving, and you’re officially a hero with bonus raffle bragging rights—every student whose family submits their form (regardless of donation amount) is entered to win cool prizes.

Right now, we’ve had about 38% of our Wildcat families participate in Annual Give–let’s get that participation number to 100%!

Donate today and remeber amplify the impact with your employer’s matching program if you can! Let’s finish strong so every Wildcat can keep pouncing on art, music, math, and memories. 🐾

👉 Give Now 👈

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It starts on September 15 (because that day marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries) and runs through October 15. 

The theme for 2025 is Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future. It’s all about celebrating and learning from the past while also looking forward to the contributions and promise of future generations. 

Why is it important for schools and families to know about Hispanic Heritage Month?

  • Recognizing and respecting diverse cultures helps all students feel seen and included
  • Learning about Hispanic history, art, music, science, and language builds empathy and knowledge
  • It’s a chance for families and children to share heritage, stories, and traditions

What can you do to celebrate?

There are lots of fun ways children and families can observe Hispanic Heritage Month together or in school! Here are a few:

Want to learn more?

Check out these resources:

Friday Glazed Donut Disaster

SPS nutrition services has introduced a curious new Friday tradition in Whittier’s lunchroom: every student who buys lunch now receives a six-pack of mini doughnuts.

Kids cheer; teachers cringe. Six doughnuts take time, leaving apple slices and carrot sticks untouched. Staff worry the sugar rush—and the lack of anything green—won’t help students stay focused through the afternoon.

Parents with thoughts can share them with Seattle Public Schools’ Nutrition Services here: https://www.k12insight.com/Lets-Talk/Dialogue.aspx?k=WF7G2YLT@DY9Z5RXLT

Join us on 10/14!

Would-be Volunteers: Our School Needs You!

Think PTA work is all late-night meetings and endless emails? Think again. Here’s a lightning-round of ways to jump in, meet fun people, and maybe even power-wash a giant sea creature:

  • Fall Carnival Crew (6-8 people) – Help throw the silliest, spookiest, snack-iest party we throw all year on 10/24.
  • STEAM Lab Setup (2-3 people) – Peel-and-stick wallpaper, magnetic chalkboard magic, and supply sorting. Think home decor meets Bill Nye.
  • Math & STEAM Helpers (20+ people) – Join a volunteer roster to inspire mini Einsteins during small-group math and science sessions.
  • Communications Chair (1 hero) – Be the info hub: collect announcements, feed them to newsletters and Konstella. Perfect for a K/1 parent who likes knowing everything first.
  • Spring Fling Leads (1-2) & Team (10-15) – Our only grown-ups-only bash/auction. Venue and caterer are booked; you plan the fun. First meeting 9/30.
  • Membership Chair (1) – Remote, low-lift, big impact. Spread the word and keep members in the loop.
  • Family Dance & Game Night Chair (1-2) – Organize the ultimate kids-vs-parents dance-off on 2/12.
  • Co-President (1) – Share the gavel, craft agendas, and run hybrid meetings. Power suit optional.
  • Snorkel Rejuvenation Team (3-4) – Restore our beloved front-yard creature statue to its former shiny glory—on your own schedule, with provided supplies.

Want to help Whittier grow? Email the PTA today and snag your spot! Psst–you can always find a complete listing of volunteer opportunities at Whittier here >>

After School Program Registration Happening Now!

Whittier PTA coordinates After School enrichment programs for Whittier families across Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions. Registration for Fall session is open now through October 3rd with spots still available for:

  • 1ON1 After School Hoops (Mondays, grades 2-5)
  • Kong Academy Parkour (Tuesdays, grades K-2)
  • Jump on Languages Spanish (Thursdays, grades 1-5)

Learn more about Whittier PTA’s After School programs and how to register here >>

From the Community...

Youth Strength and Conditioning Classes in Phinney Ridge Start October 8!

CFPR Functional Fitness teaches youth physical fitness with a focus on form and fun! Our classes can help athletic kids become stronger, faster, and more agile, and build confidence and body awareness in children who just want to have a good time and move their bodies.

From bodyweight movements like squats, planks, and burpees, to cardio with rowers or scooters, every exercise is scaled to each child’s ability. And we’ll play fitness-oriented games that make exercise fun!

We’ll also introduce older children to weighted movements—starting with extremely light dumbbells and barbells, then increasing weight as they develop good form. 

Interested? Details are below.

CFPR Kids (ages 7-11) 

  • Wednesdays, Oct.8-Dec.17 (no class Nov. 26)
  • 2:30-3:05 p.m. 
  • 10-week series: $140 + tax
  • 5-week series: $85 + tax
  • Single drop-in class: $20 + tax

CFPR Teens (ages 12-15)

  • Wednesdays, Oct.8-Dec.17 (no class Nov. 26)
  • 3:15-4 p.m.
  • 10-week series: $175 + tax
  • 5-week series: $100 + tax
  • Single drop-in class: $25 + tax

 Email info@cfpr.fitness to learn more or sign up!

Girls on the Run at the PNA

Attention 3rd-5th grade families! Girls on the Run at the PNA is seeking needs two more participants to join other Whittier and community members for their Fall session in order for the session to happen! They’re also seeking adult volunteers to coach. If you’d like to learn more information, please visit www.gotrpugetsound.org

Thank you, Wildcats!

PTA Meeting Minutes: 5/15/25

Whittier PTA Board Meeting
May 15, 2025
7:00pm Whittier Library & Zoom
Meeting ID: 817 3911 8250
Passcode: wildcats

BOARD MEMBERS / CHAIRS IN ATTENDANCE
Kate Lindsay Scher – Co-President
Allie DeLong Thomas – Co-President
Renee Hartnett – Vice President / Spirit Gear
Melissa Ivancevich – Co-Secretary
Emily Robertson – Co-Secretary
Michelle Nemeth – Treasurer
Meg Herscher – Communications Chair
Ashley Schiavone – Fundraising Co-Chair
Kathleen (Erin) Donahoe – Hospitality Co-Chair
Jess Twardzik – Hospitality Co-Chair
Meg Pietz – Events Chair
Emily Schweiger – Family and Community Engagement – Outreach Chair
Laura Zingg – Programs Co-Chair; Student Directory
Jen Foreman – Programs Co-Chair
Jon Overman – Legislative Representative
Anjean Vanden Bosch – Membership Chair
Kristin Laughlin – Volunteer Coordinator
Kiana Swearingen – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair
Jill Muscatel – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Co-Chair
Elan Simonson – Spring Fling Chair
Sara Lukas – Room Parent Coordinator
Nicole Kaczmarek – Member at Large

Courtney Sievers – Member at Large
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
● Principal Watters
● Mary Ann Rozance (PTA member)
● Brianna Mercker (PTA member)
● Yifat Gortler (PTA member)
● Haydee Wali (PTA member)
● Kyle Hiatt (PTA member)
● Dafna Amster Kahn (PTA member)
● Natalie Gromoff-Hiatt (PTA member)
● Aisling McCarron (PTA member)
● Therese Miranda-Blackney (PTA member)
● Brian Wold (PTA member)
Meeting Called to Order at 7:04 PM
Welcome & Call To Order
● Call to Order
● Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions
● Agenda
● Presentation

President Update
● Goals and Meetings Review
● Dashboard Review
● Board of Directors Vote and Work Session Updates
● Secret Celebration Update
● STEAM Lab Update
● School Board Director election update
● Upcoming Meetings & Summer Opportunities
○ 5/14 school board meeting
○ 6/3 good day for transitions
○ 6/7 work party moving classrooms
○ 6/10 end of year celebration

○ 8/26 – first PTA board meeting of the 2025-2026 school year

Principal Watters’ Report

● Question: asked parents to pay at the beginning of the year one price for field trips – was that a
good method?
○ General consensus in the room is yes
● 5th Grade Promotion
● Testing season
● Playground closed this summer and next – roof replacement project
● STEAM Lab
● Islandwood
○ Outdoor education grant no longer exists
○ Cost to families will be $600 (4 days, 3 nights – includes all costs, including teacher
stipends)
○ Looking for input from 4th grade families
● Math Agency
○ Not continuing partnership
○ Proposing to hire a FTE intervention & enrichment coordinator (Library Assistant) $70k
salary – would support intervention and extension for the 2025-2026 school year

● Classroom numbers:
○ 3 kinder, 3 first grade, 2 2nd grade, 2 3rd grade, 3 4th grade, and 2 5th grade classrooms

Chair & Lead Updates

● VP
○ 2024-2025 Current Executive Board
■ Co-President: Kate Scher
■ Co-President: Allie DeLong Thomas
■ VP: Renee Hartnett
■ Treasurer Michelle Nemeth
■ Co-Secretary: Emily Robertson

■ Co-Secretary: Melissa Ivancevich
■ Communications: Meg Herscher
○ 2025-2026 Proposed Executive Board Slate
■ President: Kate Scher
■ Vice President: Anika Anand
■ Treasurer: OPEN
■ Secretaries: Brian Wold & Mary Ann Rozance
■ Communications: OPEN
○ Golden Acorn Award: Kate Scher
● Treasurer
○ April report
■ Income: $33,130.49
● Big ticket items: $17,989 annual give; $14,682 Move-a-Thon
■ Expenses: $21,756.66
● Big ticket items: $1,397 Outreach; $3,659 staff discretionary fund

○ Financial Review committee volunteers
○ 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
■ Sent to all PTA members
■ Committee looked at budgets from 3 previous years
■ Adjusted line items, mostly small changes
■ Biggest changes related to staffing grant $118k to $130k
■ Added snack pantry of $4000
■ Moving from the Math Agency ($60,000) to STEAM Lab ($75,000)
■ Net projected budget is -$52,241 (typically -$18k to -20k projected during
budgeting)
● Totals are typically planned to be negative and end up on average $82k
higher due to fundraising success

● Spring Fling:
○ Venue change: Sunset Hill Community Hall
○ Time change: 6-9pm
○ Food change: Charcuterie, Crudite, and Pizza

○ Music: DJ Pool Party is spinning an all-vinyl yacht rock set
○ Tickets: About 40 tickets left!
○ Activities: Music, dancing, Golden Ticket, photo booth, 2 bars
○ Auction
■ You can still access the online auction to bid on buckets, buy hosted party
tickets, and more even if you don’t attend!
■ We’re still collecting silent auction donations! Submit yours before Silent Auction
catalog preview
■ Sign up for hosted parties! Talk to anyone you know that is considering!
Grade-level happy hours are in specific need!
■ Class Art Preview on 5/23 on the blacktop
■ Volunteers: Sign-up for a volunteer shift! There are 68 shifts to fill!! Many are
just 1-1.5 hours!!

● Hospitality
○ April Kindercat-1st Grade report
○ May Staff Appreciation Week report
○ 5th Grade promotion plan
● Outreach
○ KinderCat Welcome (6/11)
○ Popsicle Playdates,
■ Parks around the neighborhood
■ Two weekdays, one weekend
○ Kinder Mentor Program (Whittier family connections) – incoming kinder families can
connect with current families
● EDI Belonging Practice Journey
● Secretary: April Meeting Minutes
● Events:
○ Mariner’s report
● Volunteers (all open positions)
○ Spring Fling Day-of Help (68 volunteers): We need volunteers to make Spring Fling
happen on 5/31! Most shifts are 1-1.5 hours long and still allow lots of time to enjoy the
event. Learn more and sign-up >>

○ Pule’s Secret 25th Day-of Help (29 volunteers): We are seeking volunteers to help us
make this awesome event happen! Most shifts are 1-hour long. Alumni student and
family volunteers are welcome! Learn more and sign-up >>
○ Embroidery Volunteer (1): We are seeking one volunteer to help us embroider three
graphics onto a button down shirt as a gift for Mr. Pule! Reach out if you’re interested
and want to learn more >>
○ Popsicle Czar (1): We need one volunteer to help us coordinate popsicles for two events
(Pule’s Secret 25th on 6/6 and Field Day on 6/13). This volunteer will buy popsicles
(reimbursed by Whittier PTA), work with Whittier to store them, coordinate/borrow
coolers, and, day-of, buy ice and fill coolers with popsicles for other volunteers to pass
out. To learn more, contact: president@whittierptaseattle.org.
○ Whittier Work Party Volunteers (15): Join a crew of volunteers to help our Whittier staff!
On 6/7 from 9am-12pm, help us prepare classroom spaces for teachers to move into
next year. Please bring gloves, cleaning products, and rags to help make the work as fast
as possible. Learn more and sign-up >>
○ Whittier STEAM Lab Program Team (5+): Are you excited about shaping a brand-new
educational space? Whittier Elementary and the Whittier PTA are looking for community
members to join a STEAM Lab task force this summer! This group of leaders will
collaborate on designing the new STEAM Lab space, plan how teachers and volunteers
will use it, and help prepare the space and program for launch. Volunteers will attend a
kickoff meeting in May, meet periodically over the summer, and participate in hands-on
work sessions in late August and early September. No science background is
required—just a passion for creating a valuable resource for the Wildcat community! To
learn more, contact: president@whittierptaseattle.org.
○ Whittier STEAM Lab Experience Volunteers (6-12): Do you enjoy brainstorming creative
ideas and helping shape educational experiences? Whittier Elementary and the Whittier
PTA are seeking community volunteers to help develop a yearlong set of science-focused
activities—including demonstrations, invention projects, and games—that will support
classroom instruction and engage K–5 students in hands-on learning. Volunteers will
work independently and remotely from mid-May through June 2025 to design these
activities, with opportunities in early September to finalize plans and collaborate with
fellow community members who will bring the ideas to life in the school’s new STEAM

Lab. No teaching or science background is needed—we’ll support you every step of the
way! To learn more, contact: president@whittierptaseattle.org.
● Communications: Reminder for remaining comms for the year
● After School Programs update
● Support: Transition instructions

8:15-8:25pm – Voting
● 2025-2026 Whittier PTA Exec Board
○ Motion: Jen Foreman
○ Second: Ashley Schiavone
○ Ballots and zoom poll
○ Approved
● 2025-2026 Whittier PTA Budget
○ Motion: Anjean Bosch
○ Second: Kianna Swearingen
○ Approved
● April meeting minutes
○ Motion: Sara Lukas
○ Second: Allie DeLong Thomas
○ Approved
● Funding Proposal #1 – Secret Celebration
○ Motion: Jen Foreman
○ Second: Kate Scher
○ Approved
● Funding Proposal #2 – Sweatbands
○ Motion: Hanni Pichel
○ Second: Allie DeLong Thomas
○ Approved
8:25-8:30pm – Kudos & Thank You’s
8:31pm – Adjourned
Post-Meeting Gathering at Phinney Station

PTA Meeting Agenda (10/14/25)

Whittier PTA Monthly Meeting


Agenda

7-7:05pm – Welcome & Call To Order

  • Call to Order
  • Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions

7:05-7:15pm – President Update

  • Brief PTA Overview (volunteer slate, goals, how PTA meetings work, this month’s to dos, work cadence summary)
  • Dashboard
  • Membership
  • Volunteering update
  • Business-y stuff
    • Revised budget
    • BLT meetings overview
    • Comms Update
    • District info
  • Funding Proposal (STEAM Lab Improvements)

7:15-7:50pm – Teacher Panel facilitated by Principal Watters

7:50-8:00pm – Belonging Practice

8:00-8:20pm – Chair Updates

8:20-8:25pm – Voting

8:25-8:30pm – Kudos & Thank Yous

8:30pm – Adjourn

Post-Meeting Gathering at Phinney Station


Resources

PTA Meeting Minutes: 4/8/25

Whittier PTA Board Meeting
April 8, 2025
7:00pm Whittier Library & Zoom
Meeting ID: 817 3911 8250
Passcode: wildcats

Board Members/Chairs in Attendance

  • Kate Lindsay Scher – Co-President
  • Allie DeLong Thomas – Co-President
  • Melissa Ivancevich – Co-Secretary
  • Emily Robertson – Co-Secretary
  • Jess Twardzik – Hospitality Co-Chair
  • Emily Schweiger – Family and Community Engagement – Outreach Chair
  • Laura Zingg – Programs Co-Chair; Student Directory
  • Jon Overman – Legislative Representative
  • Anjean Vanden Bosch – Membership Chair
  • Kristin Laughlin – Volunteer Coordinator
  • Kiana Swearingen – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair
  • Jill Muscatel – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Co-Chair
  • John Shaw – Tech Support
  • Anika Anand – Yearbook Co-Chair
  • David Peabody – Move-a-thon
  • Rena Giannoulakis – Spring Fling Co-Chair

COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
● Principal Watters
● Hagay Amster Kahn
● Haydee Wali
● Rachel Wold
● Brian Wold
● Therese Miranda-Blackney
● Hanni Pichel
● Dafna Amster Kaha

Meeting Called to Order at 7:04 PM

Welcome & Call To Order
● Call to Order
● Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions
● Agenda
● Presentation

President Update
● Goals and Meetings Review
● Dashboard Review
● Budget Update
○ Three budget options to consider for voting on in May
■ Will pursue option 1 for the budget
■ Proposal: should we consider option 2 or 3 and embark in fund sharing?
■ Don’t want to fundraise more – we fundraise more than we spend

● Secret Celebration Update
● Work Session Update
○ K/New Family Mentor Program – owned by outreach?
■ “Assigned” to a 2nd or 3rd grade family (volunteer)
○ Going to explore Whittier Kids to provide childcare for some of the PTA meetings
○ Revise Volunteer & Event Chair roles

○ Evolve book fair
○ Evolve Family Dance & Game Night
○ Unified snack pantry
■ Would need to add a budget line item

● Math Agency Update
○ Program temporary suspended – waiting to hear invoice adjustment for service gap
○ Alternative to Math Agency
■ Currently $60k investment, will still request a $60k investment in math
intervention

○ Math Agency to provide a 2025-2026 service plan proposal
○ Admin team to make recommendation on continued partnership or a new model
● District update
● Upcoming Meetings

Principal Watters’ Report
● Could ask for 5th grade volunteers to help with PTA closet inventory
● Snorkel will be moved to front of building, Whittier will get a new roof
● Math Agency – it’s a new site director this year here at Whittier

Chair & Lead Updates
● Treasurer
○ March Income: $16,813.75
■ Annual Give corporate match AG: $1780
■ Move-a-thon $14777
○ March Expenses: $46,542.57
■ Schoolauction.net fee $1500
■ Speaker system for assemblies $1211
■ EDI speaker fee + books $1923
■ Q2 staffing grant $33,868
■ Massive Monkeys + 1st grade in-school $6422

○ Budget Committee update (4/21 at 5pm)
● Membership: Dues Increase recommendation
○ Vote: Option 4 to include in the budget (see vote)
● Hospitality
○ March “Gift of Time” report
○ April: K & 1st – “self-care”
○ May Staff Appreciation Week plan
■ Monday: words of appreciation
■ Tuesday: lunch from Barking Dog
■ Wednesday: gift
■ Thursday: coffee & donuts
■ Friday: dress like your teacher

● EDI
○ Parenting at the Intersections
○ Launching Caregivers of Gender-Diverse kids belonging group
● Move-a-thon: Post-event report
○ $27,108 (doesn’t include matching)
● VP:
○ Nominating Committee update
○ Spirit Gear update
■ Going to add a pride shirt and a BLM shirt

● Spring Fling:
○ Ticket sales update: sold 69 tickets to date
○ Childcare secured with Illumination Learning Studio
○ Staff experiences update
○ Hosted party update
○ Entertainment update
○ Volunteer update
● Programs
○ Spring session kicked off – 139 enrolled
○ Budget will be spent, mostly on scholarships
● Events:

○ Family Dance & Game Night report
○ Mariner’s update
○ Caregiver happy hour update
● Volunteers (all open positions)
● Advocacy: Legislative session update
● Communications: Reminder for remaining comms for the year

Voting
● Membership Dues change
○ Motion: Jillian Muscatel
○ Second: Kristin Laughlin
○ Approved
● March Meeting Minutes
○ Motion: Rachel Wold
○ Second: Jillian Muscatel
○ Approved
Belonging Practice
Caregivers of Gender Diverse Kids Belonging Group
Kudos & Thank Yous

Open Floor for Community

PTA Meeting Minutes: 3/11/25

Whittier PTA Board Meeting
March 11, 2025
7:00pm Whittier Library & Zoom
Meeting ID: 817 3911 8250
Passcode: wildcats

Board Members/Chairs in Attendance

  • Kate Lindsay Scher – Co-President
  • Allie DeLong Thomas – Co-President
  • Renee Hartnett – Vice President / Spirit Gear
  • Melissa Ivancevich – Co-Secretary
  • Meg Herscher – Communications Chair
  • Ashley Schiavone – Fundraising Co-Chair
  • Jess Templeton – Fundraising Co-Chair
  • Kathleen Donahoe – Hospitality Co-Chair
  • Meg Pietz – Events Chair
  • Emily Schweiger – Family and Community Engagement – Outreach Chair
  • Laura Zingg – Programs Co-Chair; Student Directory
  • Jon Overman – Legislative Representative
  • Anjean Vanden Bosch – Membership Chair
  • Kristin Laughlin – Volunteer Coordinator
  • Kiana Swearingen – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair
  • John Shaw – Tech Support
  • Brie Gardner – Back To Business Co-Chair
  • Leah Lansberry-Austin – Back To Business Co-Chair; Yearbook Co-Chair
  • David Peabody – Move-a-thon
  • Elan Simonson – Spring Fling Chair
  • Rena Giannoulakis – Spring Fling Co-Chair
  • Sara Lukas – Room Parent Coordinator
  • Nicole Kaczmarek – Member at Large

Community Members in Attendance

  • Principal Watters
  • Hanni Pichel (PTA member)
  • Aisling McCarron (PTA member)
  • Rachel Wold (PTA member)
  • Haydee Wali
  • Katie Stiver (PTA member)
  • Gustavo Franco
  • Natalie Gromoff-Hiatt
  • Melissa Caviezel
  • Dafna Amster Kahn
  • Therese Miranda-Blackney

Meeting Called to Order at 7:05 PM

Welcome & Call To Order
● Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions
● Agenda
● Presentation

President Update
● Goals and Meetings Review
● Dashboard Review
○ 3/17 – after school programs registration opens
● Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) Update
○ Email sent 3/11/25
○ Cohort schools (Cascadia, Decatur, Thurgood Marshall) will serve HCC-only students
(grades 2-5) for the next three years
○ No changes at neighborhood schools right now (staff are not allowed to serve
accelerated curriculum, no SPS-provided resources or funding)
○ No current Director of Advanced Learning
● Budget updates
○ Staffing grant request: $135,355

■ 0.5 Specialist FTE: $72,210 (was $56,000 for 2024/25)
● Change is actual cost of staff compensation at new professional
development band
● Not approving increased funding means Mr. Buch cannot stay
● Capping funding at $56k does not mean keeping 1.0 FTE Art
○ Likely shift to 0.5 or 0.7 FTE (not daily)

■ 0.4 Reading Intervention: $45,840 (same)
■ 0.1 Nurse) same
○ Continuing math agency: $60,000
○ Instructional Supports and Curriculum Enrichments
■ District could now take this budget
■ PTA impact: Pull unspent 2024-25 expenses and add to 2025-26 budget
● 2025-26 Instructional Supports Total: $9,205 (same as 2024-25 + $4,555
in unspent from 2024-25 budget)
● 2025-26 Curriculum Enrichment Total: $11,900.01 (same as 2024-25 +
$5,900.01 in unspent from 2024-25 budget)
○ This will be voted on as part of the overall budget
○ 2026 and beyond: To maintain a similar net balance in the future, we will need to
increase fundraising goals by about $16,000

● Event Planning Worksheet in-progress
● Upcoming Meetings
● Secretary Update
○ February Meeting Minutes
○ The Creative Advantage
■ Staff/Caregiver Committee led by Mr. Buch to connect community art partners
with art in school
■ Project-based program
■ Team also works on other arts-related projects

Voting
● 2025-2026 Staffing Grant
○ Motion: Kathleen Donahoe

○ Second: Sara Lukas
○ Approved
● February Meeting Minutes
○ Motion: Rachel Would
○ Second: Ashley Schiavone
○ Approved
Principal Watters’ Report

● Budget updates–looking good but could change in the future–stay tuned!
● Field trips in many grades: Seattle Children’s Theater, MOHAI
● Class pictures 3/13, spirit week next week
● Wildcats Wonder–communication this week from Cindy
● Questions:
○ Have there been changes in headcount and teacher allocation?
■ Classroom headcount is the same but updated 25-26 teacher allocation
● 10 Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers (down one from this school year)
● 5 4th and 5th grade teachers (up one from this school year)

○ What could budget cuts result in next year?
■ Sports Fees
■ Larger class sizes in 4th-12th
■ Cutting Librarian hours
■ Cutting Elementary Assistant Principals
■ Cutting National Board Certified teacher stipends
■ Cutting Office Staff
■ Chris Reykdal (OSPI) has pointed to WA state protections already in place for
students

○ Is there conversation about bell times again?
■ Yes! It could happen!
■ Please email Sarah Clark, school board member

● Kids are happy and doing cool and good things!

Chair & Lead Updates
● Membership: Anjean Vanden Bosch
○ Dues Increase
■ Members of the WA State PTA voting body during the 2024 National PTA Virtual
Convention adopted a $1 increase to the National PTA dues rate. The new
National PTA dues rate of $3.25 will go into effect on July 1, 2025. This includes
any membership sold for FY2026 before July 1, 2025.
■ Current Breakdown:
● $2.25 for National PTA
● $3.50 for the SCPTA
● $5.75 WSPTA
● Move-a-thon: David Peabody
○ Planning is going great!
○ Flyer went home today
○ Create student pages on Givebacks, not 99Pledges as in past years
● Spring Fling: Elan and Rena
○ Class Bucket and Art volunteers needed!
○ Marketing and Comms schedule coming together
○ Stay tuned for weekly updates
○ Tickets on sale Tuesday, April 1st
○ Opening Teacher staff experiences early (Sara Lukas)
● VP: Nominating Committee: Renee Hartnett
○ Openings: Co-president, Communications, Events, Membership, Volunteer, Back to
Business, Book Fair, Spring Fling, Fall Festival, Move-a-Thon, Student Directory
○ Create a transition checklist?
● Hospitality–Kathleen Donahoe
○ February: 2nd Grade Bagel Bar was great!
○ March: Gift of Time
○ May: Bagels, “Message in a Bottle”
● Treasurer
○ February Report

■ Income: $2,807.15
■ Expenses: $2,077.17
■ Account total a of 2/28/25: $331,872.95
○ Budget Committee needs volunteers
● Events: Meg and Katie
○ Dance Night Planning is moving forward; lots of indoor activities planned
○ Happy Hours in May after busy months
○ Mariners’ signups are huge! Big increase over last year 300+ attendees
● Communications: Kate Scher
○ 10 day window for submitting content
○ Only 11 Wildchat newsletters left for the school year!
● After School Programs
○ Still in need of volunteers for Spring session: Mon, Tues, Thurs afternoons
● EDI: Kiana Sweiringen
○ Parenting at the Intersection
■ Really well attended, had a big powerful, beautiful impact
■ Purchased book from the author for all in attendance
■ Follow up Zoom event for attendees and anyone else
■ Extra books available–ask for a copy!
○ Drag Queen Bingo coming up April 3rd
■ Open to community
○ Be ready and thinking about K-12 trans students attacks
■ Use your voice!

Belonging Practice: KIana
● Dissent
● Contributory dissent

Kudos & Thank Yous
Open Floor for Community
Adjourned at 8:55 pm

Post-Meeting Gathering at Phinney Station

PTA Meeting Agenda (9/9/25)

Whittier PTA Monthly Meeting


Agenda

7-7:05pm – Welcome & Call To Order

  • Call to Order
  • Table & Zoom Chat Informal Introductions

7:05-7:25pm – President Update

  • This Year’s Overview (Volunteers, Goals, Schedule, Programs/Services, Meeting Structure)
  • Dashboard Review
  • Membership Update
  • Volunteer Update
  • Standing Rules Update
  • Budget Check-in

7:25-7:35pm – Staff Report

7:35-7:50pm – Belonging Practice

7:50-8:10pm – Chair Updates

8:10-8:15pm – Voting

  • Revised Exec Board and Board of Directors election
  • May Meeting Minutes
  • 2025-2026 Standing Rules
  • Financial Review Results

8:15-8:20pm – Kudos & Thank Yous

8:20-8:30pm – Open Floor for Community

8:30pm – Adjourn

Post-Meeting Gathering at Phinney Station


Resources