Plan Ahead: When to Expect Financial Asks Throughout the School Year
Please see below for a typical list of financial asks by SPS, Whittier, and Whittier PTA throughout the school year. This list includes completely optional events. If your family would like to learn more about scholarships and other financial assistance, please reach out to office.whittier@seattleschools.org.
| SEPTEMBER |
| School Pictures (Whittier): Packages start at $30 |
| School Meals account (SPS): $2.25-3.85/meal |
| Whittier PTA’s Annual Give Direct Donation Drive: ~$395/student |
| Field Trip Fee (Whittier): $50 (K-4th Grade) |
| Islandwood Fee (Whittier): 5th Grade only |
| Class Wish List contribution: Varies by class, typically can find items between $10-$50 |
| Whittier PTA Membership: $20/individual |
| Whittier PTA’s After School Programs registration fee(s) – Fall Session: Varies, typically $200-$300/student for 8-week session |
| OCTOBER |
| Whittier PTA Staff Appreciation (5th grade families only): Varies, typically $10-20/student |
| Whittier PTA’s Fall Carnival Concessions and Food Truck meals: Varies from $1-$5/concession item or ~$15/meal for Food Trucks |
| NOVEMBER |
| Whittier PTA Staff Appreciation (4th grade families only): Varies, typically $10-20/student |
| Whittier PTA’s Helping Hands Gift Card Drive: $3000 financial goal, meaning $20-$40/student |
| Whittier PTA’s Wildcats Ice Skate: $12/skater |
| Book Fair (Whittier): 25% of sales are donated to the Whittier Library |
| DECEMBER |
| Staff and Teacher Gifts (varies by class): Varies by class |
| JANUARY |
| Whittier PTA’s Spring Fling donations (buckets, auction items): Contribution asks vary, can be monetary or items |
| Whittier PTA’s After School Programs registration fee(s) – Winter Session: Varies, typically $200-$300/student for 8-week session |
| Whittier PTA’s Staff Appreciation (3rd Grade Families only): Varies, typically $10-20/student |
| FEBRUARY |
| Whittier PTA’s Staff Appreciation (2nd Grade Families only): Varies, typically $10-20/student |
| Valentines’/Friendship Day giveaways: Varies, can be handmade or purchased |
| MARCH |
| Whittier PTA’s Spring Fling: Tickets ($55 incl drink + food), Extra drinks ($8/each), auction participation (varies) and Fund the Need donation (varies) |
| Whittier PTA’s Staff Appreciation (1st Grade Families only): Varies, typically $10-20/student |
| Whittier PTA’s After School Programs registration fee(s) – Spring Session: Varies, typically $200-$300/student for 8-week session |
| Community Giving Drive (Whittier): Varies depending on type |
| APRIL |
| Whittier PTA’s Move-a-thon (ask communication for pledges/donations): $100/student goal |
| MAY |
| Whittier PTA’s Staff Appreciation Week: Bring flowers (can be from garden) |
| Spring Musical tickets (Whittier): Varies, generally $10-12/ticket |
| JUNE |
| Field Day t-shirts (Whittier): Varies, some teachers ask for a white t-shirt to tie dye while others ask students to wear a specific color |