The Wildchat: 2/25/26
February 25, 2026
What's Happening:
- Feb. 26: Spring Fling Art Preview
- March 7: Spring Fling Fundraiser
- March 24: PTA Meeting
- May 1: Whittier Evening at the Ballpark
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School News & Events
🌸 Spring Fling Is Almost Here — and Yes, We’re Counting 🌸
March 7, 2026 | 6-10pm | Stone Way Auto
In 10 days, we’ll be dancing, bidding, sipping, and raising serious funds for Whittier. Spring Fling is our only adults-only fundraiser and, frankly, our most fun—with a $90,000 goal to support essential staff and services. 
Learn more about the event, including what’s happening when and where, here.
Let’s Address the Elephant in the Garden 
Things are… getting real. Like, refresh-the-spreadsheet real. We’ve gently nudged. We’ve loudly nudged. We’ve nudged in lots of places. And yet… here we are. 
We need the Whittier community (that’s YOU!) to buy tickets and sign-up for volunteer shifts so we can hit that fundraising goal.
BUY TICKETS (Do It Now. Seriously.)
Your ticket includes two drinks + enough appetizers to keep you going all night (yes, it’s a full spread). Pro tip: buy ahead and save $2 per drink. Future You will be hydrated, happy, and smug. Ticket sales end on 3/6!
DAY-OF VOLUNTEERS — WE NEED YOU FOR SHORT SHIFTS
We still need folks to help make this event run. If you haven’t volunteered before, this is a great moment to take that step and help distribute the community load (and you’ll meet fun people and still have a great time). Take a look at the full list and sign up here.
CLASS ART PREVIEW IS THIS FRIDAY! (2/27)
Preview our class-made art at pick-up on the blacktop this Friday 2/27! And check out the entire Spring Fling auction catalog, including curated Class Buckets, generous packages with individual and business donations (and custom Whittier merch you won’t find anywhere else), hosted parties with staff and community members, and more >>
WHAT TO WEAR
Whatever makes you feel festive. Have a floral dress or pants or shirt you’ve only worn once? Bust it out. Overalls and garden clogs? Also great. A gnome costume? Brilliant. Absolutely legendary.
QUESTIONS?
Email president@whittierptaseattle.org and we’ll get you to the right place.
Venue Map
Parking Info
Whittier Night at the Ballpark!
Discounted tickets are still available for Whittier Night at T-Mobile Park on May 1! Gather your friends and family for an evening of baseball, community, and fun.
Questions? Email Katie at katiestiver@hotmail.com.
Inside the STEAM Lab: Learning That Comes to Life
Step into the school’s STEAM Lab and it’s immediately clear why students love it. Funded through family donations to the PTA, the lab has become a vibrant hub for hands-on learning, creativity, and collaboration—one that is making a meaningful difference across classrooms.
Teachers say the STEAM Lab provides powerful opportunities for students to engage in ways that traditional settings don’t always allow.
“I see students who struggle in traditional classrooms absolutely shine in the STEAM lab,” one teacher shared.
Others highlight the collaborative nature of the space, noting how students problem-solve together and celebrate each other’s ideas. The hands-on format supports all learners by giving students multiple, meaningful ways to show what they know.
Students echo that enthusiasm. Many describe the STEAM Lab as their favorite place to learn.
“We get to make stuff,” one student explained, while another said, “I feel like a scientist in here.”
Several students shared that the lab helps them think differently and makes learning more fun because they are actively doing, building, and experimenting—often alongside friends.
Teachers also appreciate how easy it is to use the lab. Classes can bring their own project ideas or ask for suggestions, with the lab coordinator handling setup and materials. One teacher shared that their class has already visited the lab multiple times and that students are consistently engaged and eager to return.
The success of the STEAM Lab is a direct result of PTA funding and family support, which provide the supplies, equipment, and coordination needed to make this space accessible to all students.
As one teacher put it, the lab has become “a fun place for ALL of my students to learn and grow.”
For families wondering how PTA donations make an impact, the answer can be found in the STEAM Lab—where curiosity is encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and learning truly comes to life.
Whittier PTA's March Meeting - Change of Date
Next month’s PTA meeting has been rescheduled and is now from 7-8:30pm in the Whittier Library and over Zoom on March 24th. During this meeting, we’ll review and vote on next year’s staffing grant and discuss some restructuring opportunities for our board. This meeting was rescheduled so families could attend the new Superintendent’s Community Engagement session at Salmon Bay on 3/10. Learn more about the next PTA meeting >>
Meet the People Who Make It Happen
Aisling (Ashling) McCarron - Events Chair / Spring Fling Volunteer
Hi! I’m Aisling (Ashling) McCarron, mom to Marina (2nd grade) and CeCe, a rising Kindercat — watch out, Whittier! I’m an endoscopy RN (schedule that colonoscopy!) and I play banjo and guitar when I can. As Events Chair, I support the incredible volunteers who run Fall Carnival, Book Fair, Move-a-thon, and more — helping with planning, problem-solving, and cheering everyone on. The role ebbs and flows, with busier weeks around events and lighter weeks in between, usually just a few hours at a time. Being part of PTA makes me feel deeply connected to our community — and yes, I cried at Massive Monkees — because I get to help create moments that matter for our kids.
Brian Wold – Treasurer
I’m Brian Wold, dad to a 1st and 3rd grader, and I’ve been part of the PTA since our family started at Whittier. I began with quiet setup and cleanup roles — I’m a “see a need, fill a need” introvert — and eventually stepped into Treasurer. The job comes in waves: budgeting, writing checks, answering questions, and keeping things tidy usually adds up to about 5–10 hours a month. Most of the work can be done in short weekly chunks, which makes it manageable alongside work and parenting. It fits my love of numbers and organization, and I’m proud to support my kids’ school in a way that plays to my strengths.
Haydee Wali – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee / Room Rep
Hi! I’m Haydee Wali, and Whittier is a choice school for our family. Our first grader is in the FOCUS program, which is what drew me to the PTA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. This is my second year working with a group of thoughtful caregivers focused on access, inclusion, and bridging general and special education communities. We meet monthly (in person and virtually), and the commitment truly works at your own pace. I’m proud to be part of a team that centers belonging for all Whittier students and families.
Sara Lukas – Hosted Parties / Spring Fling Co-Chair / Back to Business Co-Chair / Room Rep
I’m Sara Lukas — mom to Whittier grad Judah and 4th grader Ezra — and I’ve been involved with PTA since 2018 (!!!). I first joined Spring Fling because it seemed like a fun way to meet people, and I’ve basically never left. These days I focus on Hosted Parties, which is a lighter lift during most of the planning season but ramps up in the month before Spring Fling to several hours a week. PTA has given me as much as I’ve given it — especially community and camaraderie during these parenting years when the village really matters. Showing up year after year has created friendships and connections I truly rely on.
Katie Stiver – Ballpark Chair
Hi! I’m Katie Stiver, Ballpark Chair, and mom to Lauren (6th grade) and Molly (3rd grade). Three years ago, when the PTA was looking for someone to coordinate a community baseball event, I jumped at the chance — I love baseball and love Whittier. The role involves a few hours of planning in the fall and ticket coordination in the spring, making it a manageable seasonal commitment. When I’m not working as a NICU nurse at Seattle Children’s, I’m often volunteering around school. Being involved helps me stay connected to our mission of building a thriving community for kids, families, and staff.
Laura – After-School Programs Co-Chair / Spring Fling Art Coordinator
Hi, I’m Laura — Alexander’s mom (5th grade) and After-School Programs Co-Chair for the past three years. We joined Whittier post-COVID when I was craving connection, and stepping into PTA leadership turned out to be the biggest bucket-filler. I coordinate enrichment programs throughout the year — working with vendors, organizing volunteers, managing scholarships, and being on site to keep things running smoothly. Registration seasons are the busiest (10–15 hours a week for a short stretch), but most weeks are just a few hours and flexible around my part-time work. Getting to help kids sew stuffies, build robots, and discover new interests — while giving families a little breathing room — makes it incredibly rewarding.
John Shaw – Tech Chair / Spring Fling Tech Support
I’m John Shaw, dad to Imogen (3rd grade) and Rowan (1st grade), and I’ve volunteered with the PTA since 2022. I initially joined to meet more families — especially since we live on the edge of the Whittier zone — and quickly discovered a bigger community than I realized. As Tech Chair, I handle the website and technical needs, with quiet months under an hour a week and busier stretches around Annual Give, Spring Fling, and summer transitions. The work is mostly independent and flexible, which makes it manageable alongside a full-time job and occasional travel. Volunteering helps me contribute meaningfully and better understand the decisions that shape our school.
Kate Lindsay Scher - PTA President / Spring Fling Co-Chair / Room Rep
Emily Schweiger – Outreach Chair & EDI Committee
Hi! I’m Emily Schweiger, caregiver to a 4th and 3rd grader, and I’ve served as Outreach Chair for three years and on the EDI committee for two. I originally joined PTA to meet people, and I’ve stayed because fostering belonging truly matters to me. Outreach focuses mainly on welcoming new families — hosting Kindercat events over the summer and organizing the Helping Hands gift card drive in the fall and winter. The work is seasonal, with a few concentrated hours of planning followed by lighter monthly coordination. I love helping families feel connected before school even starts and creating space for everyone to feel part of our community.
Megan Wildenradt – Website Editor & EDI Committee
Hi, I’m Megan Wildenradt, and I’ve been involved with the Whittier PTA since 2020, when my oldest was in kindergarten and we were brand new to the community. Thanks to COVID, my first several years on the Board were entirely online — but during those isolated days, the PTA felt like a lifeline. I served as Advocacy Chair for three years, which gave me a deeper understanding of how schools operate and how families can have a voice. When it felt like the right time, I stepped back to make room for new leadership, but I’ve stayed active on the EDI committee and now serve as the PTA’s website editor. With my youngest in 1st grade, we have many years left at this beloved school, and I’m committed to supporting it however I can.
I love the website role because it’s flexible and largely behind the scenes. Most of the work can be done independently on my own schedule, and while some familiarity with WordPress helps, it’s intuitive and there are great trainings available. The time commitment is light — typically under five hours a month, depending on what needs to be posted. It’s a small but meaningful way to help keep our community informed and connected.
From The Community
Spring Softball Enrolling Now!
Sign up now for Girls Softball with Northwest Seattle Little League!
There are teams for all ages, but we are especially seeking players for the youngest levels, A (ages 6-8) and AA (ages 8-9).
Practices and games start in March at the earliest. Click here to register.
Questions? Contact John Dugan at john.b.dugan@gmail.com. We can help walk you through the sign-up process and age/level decisions.
Let’s play ball!
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.