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Month: September 2026

Wildchat: 9/23/26

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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

What’s happening:

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After School Programs are here - Register TODAY

Blue and gold after-school programs banner.

Get ready for another fun Fall of After School Programs at Whittier! For those new to our community, Whittier PTA helps coordinate after school enrichment opportunities with amazing providers on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school.

This Fall’s after school programs include: 

  • Chess Wizards
  • Kong Academy: Ninja Adventure Games
  • Soccer Stars
  • Gamer Group with Mr. Buck
  • BEAM Stop Motion Animation
  • Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Club
  • Whittier Lego Robotics League
  • Floor Hockey/Dodgeball
  • and more!

Registration opens on 9/23 at 3:30pm on 6crickets.com and closes October 2. After School programs begin the week of 10/5.

All clubs are held at Whittier. Students will meet their instructor under the covered area on the blacktop after the final bell and have a snack before going to their club.

Parents will pick up students at the school’s front entrance when clubs are done. Clubs are open to all Whittier students, including students attending Whittier Kids aftercare.

PTA volunteers are on-site to provide support and help students transition to their After School program teacher. That means we need your help! We’re seeking volunteers to help on Mondays and Tuesdays between 2:15-4:15pm and Thursdays 2:15-3:45pm. Think you could help or want to learn more? Please contact programs@whittierptaseattle.org .

Learn more about After School Programs at Whittier here

Annual Give

We’re about half way thru this year’s Annual Give campaign! THANK YOU to ALL the families who have donated so far! You’re the reason our scholars get five full days of Art, PE, and Performing Arts every week instead of a patchwork schedule. THANK YOU!

And here’s the honest math: at $375/student across our ~350 Wildcats, our goal this year is roughly $130,000 — and we’re about 33% of the way there, with the campaign closing on 10/2. We need the rest of our community to jump in now if we’re going to hit that number.

Every year, we see donations ranging from $0 to well above the $375 ask — there is no “right” amount, and every single dollar keeps a program alive. Whether it’s $10 or $1,000, filling out the form (even a $0 form!) gets your Wildcat entered in our weekly prize raffle and helps us track toward 100% participation.

Donate HERE

Already gave? Check for employer matching — it’s free money for Whittier 

Employer matching is one of the biggest levers we have. If your employer has a matching gift program (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Boeing, and many others do!), your donation could be amplified at zero cost to you. Not sure if your company matches? Check our Employer Matching page or email fundraising@whittierptaseattle.org and we’ll help you figure it out.

Wildcats at the Ballpark - Tickets Still Available!

Back by popular demand—it’s Whittier Evening at the Ballpark! Let’s ring in the school year, build community, and welcome our new Kindercat families to Whittier as we cheer on the M’s, eat all the snacks, and dance our way onto the Jumbotron. The fun begins Friday, September 25th at 7:10pm as the Mariners take on the Angels. Stay after the game for an extra bonus—fireworks night! Use this link to purchase your discounted tickets. Hope to see you there ⚾️ 

Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard

We are all feeling the impact of our school district not being adequately funded. Class sizes, additional resources for SpEd, highly capable and MLL students, and teachers and school administrators being asked to do more and more without adequate resources, are impacting everyone in our community, at Whittier and in all Seattle Public Schools. As our state legislature prepares this cycle’s legislative agenda, this is the time to reach out to your representatives and tell them to make public schools a priority this cycle.

Please take some time to reach out to our District 36 representatives:

Find examples for writing your letter here. 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Whittier

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th to October 15th), honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/a/x Americans whose roots trace back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Its mid-month start encompasses the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, and has evolved from a single week in 1968 into a full month by 1988.

Heritage months aim to make sure the stories, achievements, and everyday contributions of communities that are often underrepresented in standard curricula get dedicated attention and celebration — not as a substitute for including them year-round, but as an intentional entry point. For elementary-aged kids especially, heritage months offer a concrete, age-appropriate way to start conversations about identity, history, and the many cultures that make up their classrooms and neighborhoods.

There’s no shortage of ways to mark the month right here in Seattle.  ParentMap has put together a list of events, from folklórico dance performances to nature volunteer days to concerts, through the end of October, so there’s likely something on a weekend that works for your family. 

And if you’d like a way to stay connected to this kind of community-building beyond just this month, Whittier PTA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee meets monthly, in person with a virtual option, and everyone is welcome. Whittier PTA also hosts Belonging Groups, including a Multicultural Belonging Group for families from all over the world to connect, share, and support each other.

More resources about and ways to observe Hispanic Heritage Month:

Have You Joined Your Konstella Classroom Yet?

Konstella is your go-to source for school-wide and grade-level announcements, along with information specific to your classroom. Create an account if you’re new to Whittier or haven’t joined Konstella yet. Instructions to add a classroom: from a mobile device, tap the gear in the upper left corner and then your name. From a web browser, simply click your name in the upper left. Then select Your Children. Near the bottom you’ll see Classroom, and you’ll want to Add Classroom. Select your teacher from the list.

Psst – While you’re in Konstella, you can subscribe to our Konstella calendar or check out and subscribe to our Google Calendar.

Tips from Ms. Watters: Help Keep Your Wildcat Fed & Dry

SNACKS! No hangry Wildcats!

We know when students are hungry, it’s harder to learn, every classroom has at least one snack break during the school day. Families are encouraged to send snacks every day for their student – or pack a week’s worth of snacks for their cubby. This is especially important if your Wildcat is a picky eater.

RAINY DAYS: As fall descends and more rainy weather is in the forecast, here’s what you need to know about outdoor recess at Whittier. We have outdoor recess every day unless the district directs us to stay inside for safety).

How to prepare your student:

  • Dress appropriately: jackets with hoods, waterproof boots, long pants, etc.
  • Pack spare clothes: Include a dry t-shirt, socks, shoes, or sweatpants in their backpack. Kids love splashing in puddles and exploring muddy areas!
  • Storage tip: Students can keep a set of dry clothes in a zip-lock bag (great for storing wet clothes too) in their classroom cubby.

Don’t worry if something happens- we have extra clothes available for students who need them.

Thank You, Wildcats!

Wildchat: 9/9/26

The Wildchat banner header

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

What’s happening:

Welcome back, Wildcats!

Welcome back to Whittier Elementary, Wildcats — we hope this school year is off to a great start! The Whittier PTA is our volunteer-led community group that raises funds for essential school staff and programs, organizes events throughout the year, connects families with resources, and supports our teachers and staff, and we’d love for you to be part of it. 

Please join us for the first PTA meeting of the 26-27 school year on 9/15 at 7PM!

It’s a great way to learn about all the awesome things our PTA does, and connect with our wonderful community. We will also be voting on our budget for this year, so you can already make an impact, by joining as a PTA member to participate in the vote.

See the full meeting agenda here. Haven’t made it to a meeting in a while due to childcare troubles? We got you! Sign up to send your kid/kids (for free) to Whittier Kids, our onsite childcare partners, for pizza and play! 

Finally, please submit your donation to this year’s Annual Give campaign today — it’s the PTA’s largest fundraiser and helps us reach our goal of $375 per student by October 2, closing the funding gap that keeps our specialists, nurse, and enrichment programs fully staffed. Donate here

 

Whittier Belonging Groups

In the 2025- 2026 school year, the EDI committee has introduced Belonging Groups, with the goal of creating community within the larger Whittier Community. Here are the current Belonging Groups and how to Join!

Multicultural Families Group: Join a group of caregivers from around the world, learning how to navigate the challenges of raising your kids in a culture that is foreign to you. Complete this to join!

Caregivers of Neurodiverse Kids Group: Does your kiddo have a diagnosis—or do you suspect they might be neurodivergent? Join the club! We’re building community and creating a supportive space for caregivers of neurodivergent kiddos to connect, share resources, and support one another. Complete this to get on the email list! We have family and parent meet ups happening soon!

Caregivers of Gender Diverse Kids: Join Whittier Caregivers of Kids Who Identify Outside the Gender Binary—including trans, non-binary, genderfluid youth, and any kiddo who may be questioning their gender identity—in building a supportive and inclusive community! Complete this to get on the email list Questions? Email EDI@whittierptaseattle.org 

Have You Joined Your Konstella Classroom Yet?

Konstella is your go-to source for school-wide and grade-level announcements, along with information specific to your classroom. Create an account if you’re new to Whittier or haven’t joined Konstella yet. Instructions to add a classroom: from a mobile device, tap the gear in the upper left corner and then your name. From a web browser, simply click your name in the upper left. Then select Your Children. Near the bottom you’ll see Classroom, and you’ll want to Add Classroom. Select your teacher from the list.

Psst – While you’re in Konstella, you can subscribe to our Konstella calendar or check out and subscribe to our Google Calendar.

Correction: Lunch/Recess Times

In your Back to School packets, some literature identified lunch/recess periods for the school year. These times have changed slightly to switch our K/1 and 2/3 times. Updated lunch/recess times are:

  • K/1: 10:30-11:10am
  • 2/3: 10:50-11:30am
  • 4/5: 11:10-11:50am

Seeking Refinishers!

Our front office has two well-worn benches in need of some TLC. We’re seeking a volunteer (or 2!) who would be able to strip the existing paint off the wooden benches, add wood glue to tighten up the joints where needed, and repaint. Paint can be provided! If you’re interested, please contact communications@whittierptaseattle.org

Volunteers Needed - Join the Whittier Lunch Crew!

Lunchroom volunteers are a friendly adult presence in the cafeteria at lunchtime, encouraging our Wildcats to Be Respectful, Responsible & Safe! You’ll help students open snacks, navigate the lunchroom safely, sort trash, and more — no experience necessary. It’s an easy way to get involved that makes a huge impact!

The time commitment is one hour a week, 10:30–11:30, on a day you choose. The schedule is set for the entire school year, so you’ll work with the same team on the same day all year long.

Please fill out this form if you’re interested in volunteering. 

Final Update: Ms. Newcomb's Recognition Gift

For those new to our community, Whittier’s librarian, Ms. Newcomb, moved to California at the end of last year. The Whittier community came together to provide some gifts and donated books to recognize Ms. Newcomb’s amazing contribution to our community. What follows is an update on that gifting effort.

Ms. Newcomb shared a list of 99 books this summer (spanning non-fiction to picture books to chapter books), including some out-of-print favorites. We were able to track down every book and label them with custom bookplates. The remaining book funds will be donated to our library for our new librarian, Ms. Gallegos, to use this year. Ms. Newcomb is enjoying her new California community although she shares she misses our Wildcats already. She wishes us an amazing start of school. Paws up!

Thank You, Wildcats!