Wildchat: 9/9/26
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
What’s happening:
- Annual Give Fundraiser
- 9/15: PTA Meeting
- 9/24: Curriculum Night
- 9/25: Wildcats at the Ballpark
- 10/6: Picture Retake/Make-up Day
- 10/9: No School (state In-Service Day)
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!
