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The Wildchat: 2/13/24

February 13, 2024

TONIGHT!

Volunteer Opportunities

Questions? Contact us!

2nd grade Celebrates Whittier Staff

Jan 24 Staff Appreciation 1
Jan 24 Staff Appreciation 3
Jan 24 Staff Appreciation 2

Thanks 2nd grade families for your donations to Whittier’s January staff appreciation. Whittier teachers and staffed enjoyed a salad bar, as well as homemade bread and butter- Whittier families are the best, as is our staff!

Upcoming Events

Family Dance & Game Night - Friday, March 1 (6-8:30pm)

Put on your dancing shoes for the Whittier Dance & Game Night Friday March 1st at Whittier. The party begins at 6:00pm and will wrap up at 8:30pm. Grab an early dinner and come ready to play, twist, shake & party with your Whittier family & friends. You bring a water bottle & we’ll provide a treat to go with it! Stay tuned for a volunteer sign-up sheet to help provide these tasty treats!

Sign up to coordinate Class Art or Buckets for Spring Fling!

Hello, classroom families! 

We need your help! Our Spring Fling event is coming May 18th, and it’s a flurry of fun to prep for the fundraiser.

We’re looking for volunteers to help coordinate CLASSROOM ART and BUCKETS, which will be auctioned off during Spring Fling. Classroom art and buckets are a fun short-term opportunity to get involved and help the school raise crucial funds.

CLASSROOM ART

We need 1-2 people (if you want a helper) per room to lead their class in making a collaborative piece of art that will be auctioned at the event. We will help you brainstorm crafty ideas, source supplies, and coordinate with your homeroom teacher to lead your class in making art (usually one or two sessions working with the kids). You do not have to be an artist to volunteer! Check out last year’s projects and some inspiration to help you get started!

Sign up to lead a classroom art project by February 29

CLASSROOM BUCKETS

We are looking for one volunteer from each class to coordinate a themed bucket to be auctioned off at the Spring Fling. The volunteer will pick the theme and recruit other parents from the classroom to contribute items and/or money. Ideas for buckets could be anything! (ex: Family Game Night, The Art of Lego, Ballard Beer, Backyard Pizza Night.) We are also happy to provide ideas for buckets that have worked well in the past.

Sign up to coordinate a class bucket by February 29

More details on the event and ways to get involved coming soon! Reach out with any questions. Thank you!

Laura Zingg-Wadsack, Class Art Coordinator, & Mendy Minjarez, Class Buckets Coordinator

Save the Dates for important Spring FUNdraisers!

Whittier's District 2 School Board Director, Lisa Rivera Smith, Resigns

Alongside District 4’s Director, Vivian Song, our District 2 community’s School Board Director, Lisa Rivera Smith, resigned on January 30th amidst scrutiny around both Song’s and Smith’s residency outside of their district boundaries. Both Lisa and Vivian were strong, practical voices on the School Board and responsive to our community’s concerns and feedback during their terms.

What happens next? Seattle School Board’s remaining directors will appoint new directors to take their place. School Board directors are elected to ensure they represent their district, in addition to advocating for the entire school community. Vivian and Lisa, in their collective public resignation letter, wrote the following regarding these future appointments:

“We urge our colleagues, who will be hand-selecting replacements, to appoint directors that fit the profiles voters overwhelmingly chose in city-wide elections when they elected us – ones who are committed to partnership with our labor unions, who favor a portfolio of schools that reflects the diversity of our students, who are able to understand the operational implications of significant changes to school programs and budget cuts, who are responsible fiscal stewards of capital funds, who champion climate justice and resiliency, and who are people of color, ideally representing the Latinx, Native and Asian communities.” 

If you’re concerned about your voice being represented by a newly appointed school board director, make your voice heard. Contact the remaining school board members letting them know what a School Board Director that represents your community prioritizes (like fully funding all schools, including Literacy Specialists, School Nurses, Social Workers, and Art, and providing more flexible funding to schools so they can meet the unique needs of their school community):

Check out this podcast for interviews with Vivian and Lisa to learn more about how Seattle School Board districts work.

Workshop: Supporting and Raising Mixed-Race Children

Thursday, March 14th – 6pm-8pm at Whittier

Recognizing the distinct strengths and needs of mixed-race children is crucial for creating inclusive environments and fostering positive identity development. This workshop is designed to help not only parents and caregivers within mixed-race families but also all members of our community in discovering practical strategies to support and nurture mixed-race children.

  • Facilitated by Families of Color Seattle in partnership with the Whittier PTA EDI Committee
  • Free childcare provided for kids ages 3+
  • Workshop is free for all community members.

Questions? Please contact the EDI team.

After-School Opportunity: Join the Whittier Ultimate Frisbee Team!

There are a few spots available for 3rd – 5th graders on this year’s Ultimate Frisbee team! The Whittier Ultimate Frisbee Team is run through DiscNW and coached by Whittier parents. Practices are on Wednesdays from 2:15 to 4:15 at Loyal Heights playfield starting February 28th through May 8th. Games are on Saturdays at fields around Seattle starting March 9th through May 11th. More details are here. 

We’re also seeking a 3rd-grade parent who is interested in coaching, which means we can have an additional team and more kids can play! Interested families can sign up here.

Take Advantage of PTA Membership Discounts!

Did you know your membership with a Whittier Elementary PTA automatically makes you a member of the Washington State PTA? That means you are entitled to a number of benefits and perks, including a host of members-only discounts with local and national vendors… arranged just for you! 

This year’s new discount providers include Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, which offers a special members-only rate to attend a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facility, and Cheddar Up, a terrific e-commerce platform that offers WSPTA members 40% off an annual plan. Additional discount providers include Avis/Budget car rental, FedEx Office, the Corporate Shopping Company, Full Circle Virtual Care, Great Wolf Lodge, the Seattle Symphony, the Tacoma Dome, and the Washington State Fair. We’re also happy to continue our partnership with TicketsatWork, a fabulous service that gives members access to 20-70% off on movies, hotels, shows, concerts, theme parks, and more. Don’t plan your family vacation without first looking at TicketsatWork! 

Contact Membership to learn how to access these discount codes with your membership information or become a Whittier PTA member today! It’s never too late to join.

From SPS

Lift and Sing: SPS Kicks Off Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and SPS recognizes the contributions of all Black people – past and present – who continue to blaze a trail! Learn more about SPS’ support of Black Lives Matter Week and this year’s annual flag-raising ceremony.

From the Community

WISE Camps

Ignite your child’s passion for learning and elevate their summer! WISE Camps are offering two camps this summer, STEAM Academy and Wise Adventure, between July 15-26th at their Bellevue site. Learn more and register.

Do you have a community opportunity, event, or announcement relevant to the Whittier community you’d like to share? Submit a request to include it in the next Wildchat!

Thank You, Wildcats!