The Wildchat: 3/5/24
March 5, 2024
Quick Updates
- Ask your Wildcat about Massive Monkees! This PTA-funded residency started this week.
- Whittier participates in an annual tradition called “Prides of March.” During the month of March, our community aims to support local service organizations’ missions. See below for more info about how your Wildcat can help support our community and mark your calendars for Wildcat spirit days!
- Your Wildcat is right–the Gaga Ball pit hasn’t been installed yet. More info >>
- Don’t forget to join Konstella or subscribe to our calendar so you don’t miss any upcoming community events and opportunities.
Local Resource for Summer Camps and Extracurricular Activities
Looking for summer camps or other extracurricular activities? OneStopCamp is a free tool created by fellow Seattle parents to help you find relevant camps in your area. Check it out today: www.onestopcamp.com
Mark your calendars for drive and spirit day participation! Learn more about our community partners and download a PDF of this flyer for your fridge.
Gaga Ball Pit Install Rescheduled
Due to several compiled delivery delays, the Gaga Ball pit volunteer team has rescheduled the planned install from last week to this Friday, March 8 (12:30-2:25pm) and Saturday, March 9 (9am – 2pm). If you’d like to help during any of those windows, please sign-up here. Please reach out with any questions!
Workshop: Supporting & Raising Mixed-Race Children
Budget Conversations with Principal Watters
Thanks to families who could join Principal Watters’ last week to learn more about Whittier Elementary’s budget, updates on changes for next year due to SPS’ financial challenges, and Whittier PTA’s expected role in supporting essential staff and services in SPS’ WSS funding model. If you missed these events but would like to learn more, stay tuned for an asynch video version from Principal Watters soon.
It’s not too late to become an active participant in these budget conversations and make sure your voice is heard! Whittier PTA’s upcoming meetings (3/12, 4/16, 5/7) will include proposals, voting, and discussions on next year’s budget; all are welcome to join and PTA members will vote to approve any proposed budgets for next year.
The Whittier and National PTAs are Growing!
Thanks to our engaged community, we have 145 members–10 more than last year! On the National PTA level, we are close to 2.3 million members (parents, guardians, educators, administrators, policymakers, community members) speaking on behalf of every child–3,302 more members than last year!
At Whittier, our goal for the year is 200 members; this includes caregivers, parents, teachers, students, and anyone in our Whittier community. With your continued support and help, we can add even more voices, which means we can better accomplish our PTA’s mission to make every child’s potential a reality. So spread the word, and invite your friends, family and community to become a member of the Whittier PTA today. Now is the time to join, because everyone belongs in PTA.
Learn more about membership and join. Please email us with any questions or comments.
PNW Parent Education Event: Raising Tech Healthy Families Together
Tuesday, March 26th (12 – 1pm) over Zoom
Join PNW Parent Education as we partner with Janell Burley Hoffman to bring you Raising Tech Healthy Families Together. In this talk, Janell will discuss the importance of foundational and reflective parenting, share tech trends and practical tools for families, and allow space for meaningful questions and community conversation. Focused outcomes of the discussion will include:
- Boundary Building
- Digital Health & Well Being
- Conversation Starters
- Tools (e.g. Askable Adult, Billboard, Permission to Post)
- Youth Trends
- Resources
- Q&A
Spring After-School Program Registration Opens 3/18!
Hello Wildcat families!
Thanks to all who participated in after-school programs this winter. We are excited to share a fun lineup of clubs coming this spring, including a few classes geared toward our kindercats!
- Chess Wizards (Grades 1-5)
- Introductory Spanish (Grades K-5)
- Gamer Group with Mr. Buck (Grades 1-2 and 3-5)
- Dungeon Master Academy (Grades 3-5)
- Bricks4Kidz – A Pirate’s Quest (Grades K-2)
- Coding With Kids – Scratch Game Development (Grades 3-5)
Mark Your Calendars! Registration opens on March 18.
Spring classes will begin on a staggered schedule this session, due to our enrichment providers’ availability. Most classes will begin on April 1, and wrap up at the end of May. Dungeon Master Academy and Bricks4Kidz will begin the week of 4/15 and run through 6/6.
You can view the full schedule here.
We are using the 6crickets platform to make registration easier for families. Families will need to create an account before registering on March 18. Set up only takes five minutes and will save you time on registration day. Once you’ve created your account, you can learn more about each program and view schedules and tuition.
Scholarships are available! Please reach out to the Programs team with any questions.
Whittier PTA sponsored a coffee cart for Whittier staff to say THANK YOU in February! This was a huge hit with our talented teachers and staff; thank you for supporting the PTA so we can throw fun surprises like this.
Whittier Staff certainly BOWLS US OVER!
Each month a different grade provides goodies for Staff Appreciation. 1st Grade families are up for March – Let’s fuel up our staff with a hearty breakfast in a bowl. Oatmeal and yogurt and fruit galore! Sign Up Here!
- Please label all items “Staff Appreciation 3/21” and drop off at the office by 1pm on Wednesday, March 20th. The hospitality team will pick up items there, to be set up early morning on Thursday the 21st.
- If you need any serveware/tupperware/crockpots returned, please label your items and we will contact you after Wednesday.
Email Hospitality if you have any questions. Thank you!
Whittier Wildcat Evening at the Ballpark!
Order tickets here. To receive your tickets, please include contact name, email address, and number of tickets purchased. Tickets will be emailed in May to the email address provided. All orders due by April 19th!
Please contact Katie with questions!
Whittier Move-a- Thon 2024
The Whittier Move-a-Thon 2024 is coming – Friday, April 26th during the school day. Scholar-athletes of all grades will have the opportunity to move as much as they can in 30 minutes.
More details on times, volunteering opportunities, and how your Wildcat can help raise awareness and funds for the school coming soon.
Mark your calendars for Spring Fling on May 18th, Whittier PTA’s final fundraising event of the year! Learn more about volunteer opportunities and look out for ticket sales opening later this month.