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Volunteer

2024 Prides of March Community Drive

During the month of March, the Whittier encourages its Wildcats to support community organizations seeking donations. All families are encouraged to participate by providing any of the supplies listed below between 3/4-3/29. Donations can be given to Principal Watters at drop-off or dropped in the main office. 4th and 5th graders will also help sort donations to final delivery. This year, we are again supporting the Luther Memorial Church Food Pantry and Ballard High School’s Teen Health Center.

Luther Memorial Church Food Pantry

This food pantry is located directly across from Broadview-Thomson K8 on Greenwood Avenue. The church collaborates with a Boy Scout troop to serve individuals in the immediate area with food and other resources. Many of the resources to stock the pantry come directly from the congregation members (a small but committed group) and the church budget.

Because the pantry is available 24/7, it is impossible to know exactly how many people are served, but we know for sure that we have several people who use the pantry regularly. The pantry is stocked every day and it is almost always empty when it is time to be restocked the next day.

Unlike other food pantries, our main focus is on providing nutritious and ready to eat items, focusing especially on those in our community who do not always have ways to cook food. And, we also know that people enjoy treats like Oreos and Rice Krispie bars too!

In addition to food, our pantry provides some basic toiletry items, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and individually wrapped toilet paper. The following items are the most needed at this current time (note: please look for pop-tops for all canned food as many pantry visitors do not have access to can openers):

  • Mandarin oranges* (either cans or individual cups)
  • Applesauce (either cups or the pouches)
  • Peaches* (either cans or individual cups)
  • Canned chicken
  • Canned tuna
  • Chili
  • Beef jerky sticks
  • Soup*
  • Sardines
  • Trail mix (individual packets)
  • Nuts (individual packets)
  • Granola bars
  • Protein bars
  • Shelf-stable milk cartons
  • Individual bags of chips
  • Pudding cups
  • Raisins
  • Rice Krispie treats
  • Individual packets of Oreos
  • Peanut butter crackers
  • Cheese filled crackers
  • Bottled water
  • Granola bars
  • Cup-o-Noodle

Ballard High School Teen Health Center

We are fortunate that all SPS high schools have a Teen Health Center where students can receive free health care and mental health therapy. Through the health center students can receive sports physicals, reproductive health care, treatment for illness (including chronic illness), immunizations and more.

In addition to providing care, the health center also provides food resources from the Ballard Food Bank and hygiene resources for students who may be experiencing house insecurity or other challenges.

We would like to gather hygiene resources for students at Ballard High School. These include:

  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrushes (individually packaged)
  • Toothpaste
  • Dental Floss
  • Shampoo/Conditioner (small or travel size)
  • Soap/Body wash (small or travel size)
  • Lotion (small or travel size)
  • Hair Brushes/Combs (individually packaged)
  • Tampons/ Pads
  • New drawstring backpacks
Prides-of-March-2024Download

Volunteers Needed for Blacktop Painting Day – Friday, June 23rd!

The blacktop is getting a refresh! Thanks to the hard work of our 4th grade leadership team, we are able to repaint the hopscotch, four square, tetherball, basketball, kickball and US map areas, and even add a WORLD MAP! But we need LOTS of helping hands. 

Painting day is FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd. 

Please sign up for shifts below! It’s fine if you can’t make all of a designated shift or if shifts overlap. Please make sure you have up-to-date volunteer status before you arrive. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44A8A729A0FAC61-playground

Email Cindy or Emily with any questions.

Whittier PTA’s Board Needs Volunteers Like YOU for next school year!

The Whittier PTA plays an important role in funding essential staff and services at Whittier–a role that will be even more important for the 2023-2024 school year. In order to accomplish this important mission and continue providing the same level of services, like supporting a daily Specialist schedule, Ms. Trilby, field trips, and community events, we need many more volunteers to join the board for next school year. Please see below for a list of open positions and their descriptions.

Want to sign-up or learn more? Contact our Volunteer Chair!

See a position below but worried it’s too much to take on? Have ideas for how you could contribute to a position that looks a little different than what’s described? Contact us! We’d love to hear from you!

OPEN BOARD POSITIONS (2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR)

Open Board Positions

PTA BOARD POSITIONHRS/WKBUSIEST TIME OF YEARHELPFUL SKILLSDESCRIPTIONDAYTIME COMMITMENT?
Communications Co-Chairs2-3Beginning of year, fundraising months, and Wildchat weeksWordPress, Canva, Digital Graphic Design, Google Forms, Copywriting/editingWork with Communications Committee (Co-Chairs + Wildchat Editor, Website Editor, and Social Media Manager) to create announcements on Konstella, update the website, create Instagram and Facebook posts, manage grade-level Facebook groups, post monthly lunch menus on website, create the Wildchat newsletter, create takehome fliers, and communicate with class reps. Redesigned roles for ’23-24 make this role efficient and sustainable!Occasionally
Equity, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI) Committee Co-Chair2-3Consistent through yearInterest in learning, ability to think broad mindedly and critically, good listener, and willingness to communicate with different groups of Whittier community members (caregivers, teachers, staff, PTA Board) and if possible the wider Seattle communityEDI Co-Chairs work together to lead a group focused on supporting the PTA and the school in their work to be equitable and inclusive in all they do. Examples of work the committee has done; Bringing in workshops and trainings on racism and equity, creating affinity groups, partnering with the school’s Race and Equity Team, educating/sharing information with the Whittier community through the WIldChat online newsletter, helped the school library purchase more inclusive books, sponsored tickets for sensory friendly event at the Woodland Park zoo, etc.Rarely
Advocacy Chair1+Consistent through year; some additional work during legislative sessionsInterest in federal, state, and local politics, especially as it relates to educationHelp communicate the legislative priorities (e.g., Top five Legislative Priorities) of the WSPTA within the Whittier community. Stays informed on local and state level legislative matters pertaining to the well-being and education of every child. Attend the WSPTA Legislative Assembly. Work to educate and encourage advocacy toward the WSPTA’s legislative advocacy efforts with the Whittier community.No
Events Co-Chair1-2Fairly consistentEnjoy building community and organizing teamsWork with Events Chair to schedule and communicate plans for approx 6 community events throughout the year, including Fall Festival, Spring Fling, and Move-a-Thon. Recruit and support individual event chairs.No
Non-Board Positions
Spring Fling Chair2-3Work begins in late fall, heavier December – MarchEnjoy event planning and organizing teamsWork with Fundraising Chairs to set fundraising goals and plan the event accordingly. Manage committee to coordinate event logistics, auction procurement (including class buckets, class art, and silent auction items), and market event with help from Communications committee.Occasionally
Yearbook1-2Work begins in January – MayExperience with publication layoutsWork with Yearbook vendor to publish annual yearbook. Work with community and Whittier staff to get content. Market Yearbook sales with help of Communications Committee. Coordinate Yearbook delivery and distribution.No
Social Media Manager1-2Consistent through yearExperience with Instagram and Facebook content creation; CanvaAs part of the Communications Committee, create Instagram and Facebook posts and manage grade-level Facebook groups.No

View all Board Positions.

Winter Giving Drives 2021

Please join us in donating gift cards and socks to help provide a boost to members in our community this winter.

What: Whittier PTA Helping Hands Gift Card Drive and Illumination Learning Studios Sock Drive

When: Monday, November 29 – Friday, December 10

Where: At school, drop boxes in our community, or online (see “how” below for more)

Why: Donate gift cards (e.g., Fred Meyer, Target, etc.) to help provide winter gear, groceries, holiday gifts, home essentials and more to families in our community; and donate new men’s L and XL socks that will be distributed by FamilyWorks.

How: Return one of three ways…

1. Drop boxes available 8am – 5pm everyday.

  • 645 NW 83rd St
  • 7530 13th Ave NW

2. Return to the front entrance of the school.

  • Place gift cards (in an envelope labeled “Whittier PTA – Helping Hands”) in the mail slot at the front entrance of the school.
  • Place socks in the labeled bin near the front door.

3. Gift Cards ONLY: Donate to a volunteer’s PayPal account (5th grade parent Amy Bryan, @AmyBBryan) to support the purchase of gift cards and add the message “Whittier PTA – Helping Hands”. Donations will be acknowledged via email upon receipt, and a follow-up email will be sent to all donors when gift cards are purchased.