Stay in the Know with the Whittier PTO

Teacher Conferences

Thank you Whittier Community

On behalf of the PTO, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make our recent School Staff Luncheon a success

Our teachers and staff were able to enjoy a delicious meal catered by T & JJ Eatery and enjoyed plenty of sides, drinks & treats. The entire staff felt the appreciation and support of our entire school community.

A huge shout-out to Anne Bendelow, Anna Burandt, Kristina Coenen, Carlos Castro, Lauren Castro, Marlene DeJesus Veach, Anne Douglas, Bridget Gavin, Betsey Hart, Kimberly Jursa, Noemi Mata, Lindsey McNeal, Brittany Mineo, Stefanie Morrison, Rachel Port, Ayhesha Pryor, Lisa Reynolds, Laura Rogers, Ames Ronde, Maggie Santos, Emily Shepley, Mike Smith, Katie Stipanovich, Sarah Yale & Sarah Yaffe for making our luncheon a successful event.

PTO Spring Plant Sale is LIVE!

Chase away the winter blues and start planning out your spring garden with our annual Spring Plant Sale! Click below to check out our huge catalogue of bright blooms, fragrant flowers, and fresh herbs and vegetables. Order now through March 15th. Plant pickup is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th — the day before Mother’s Day for easy gifting! Make the day even sweeter for Mom by adding some Do-Rite Donuts to your order! Proceeds for sales from each will benefit your PTO.

This sale is open to the community, so tell a neighbor today!

Buy Plants Order Donuts Here

Seeking Silent Auction Donations!

PTO is busy planning our annual Spring Fundraiser Party, and one of the highlights each year is our silent auction. We depend on donations from our community and families to make the auction a success. Do you have an item, special skill, or experience to offer that you can donate to include in the auction? The Whittier PTO is a certified non-profit and all your donations are tax deductible!Potential (and popular) options to consider donating:

A lake house or vacation home weekend away
Tickets to a local sports or entertainment event
A season pass to museums or cultural center
A musical performance or class

We’re also looking for corporate sponsorships for the event, so if your workplace or one you have a connection to might be interested, let us know!

Know what you’d like to donate? Please contact our Fundraising VP Courtney Tyler at fundraising@whittierpto.org

Whittier Support

Help A Whittier Family Return Home

Another Wildcat family is making a tough decision in the midst of our current environment. The support of our community would be much appreciated as they work to navigate the impact of this situation. Please click on the button below for more information and to offer any support you are able to.

Support Here

Reward your Wildcats at the PAWs PLACE Store!

Wildcats need help spending hard-earned PAW Bucks!

PAW Bucks are earned at school for exceeding the Wildcat standard: Be Respectful, Be Responsible & Be Safe.

The PAWs Store is where your kids can shop with their Bucks!

There are three ways you can help reward our kids through the PAWs Store:

Be at the PAWs Store in person. Click here is the signup link!
Replenish the goods! The kids LOVE fresh merch. Here is a link to the PAWs Store wish list!
Join the PAWs Store team. It's fun!

A background check is required for volunteering at the school or field trips, so schedule a quick appointment today: https://www.op97.org/parents/background-checks

Statement on ICE Activity

We continue to receive reports of increased ICE activity throughout the D97 area. If parents or caregivers are comfortable doing so, we are asking you to be as present as possible at morning drop off and afternoon dismissal and to follow the SALUTE steps in the graphic provided.

While there were no reports directly on Whittier grounds, we wanted to share with you a few ways we can support one another and get more involved. There are lots of ways we can support each other during this time. Please choose what works best for you!

Mutual Aid and Support

If you or your family are in need during this time please feel free to reach out to school social workers, front office staff, or Safety@WhittierPTO.org
Donate funds to ICIRR.

Awareness and Walking Patrols

Continue to report verified information and limit the spread of rumors. Add the ICIRR Family Support Network to your phone right now (855-435-7693).
Ask to be added to our Whittier Rapid Response chat on Signal (Safety@WhittierPTO.org)
Walk outside to patrol and report suspicious activity. Sign up for a shift here.
If nannies or babysitters are uncomfortable, please reach out to PTO to help them find a buddy to walk with. Lots of folks are willing to help!

Attend Rapid Response Training

ICIRR is offering their rapid response training on Wednesdays at 6pm for the next several weeks. Register here to attend via Zoom.

Build Community

Sign up for one of our winter Book Club discussions and read Efren Divided with your family.
Talk to your kids about ICE in direct, developmentally appropriate ways. Here are some links you might find helpful for that:
- How to Talk to Your Child about Immigration: Recommendations for Parents (InfoAboutKids.org)
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Immigration (Global Refuge)
- Talking to Kids About Immigration Enforcement in Their Communities (Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles)

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and concerns. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to come together to make sure our students can learn and play without disruptions.

The Whittier PTO

Reminder from D97:

Staying Grounded in Safety and Care

We know that immigration enforcement activity in and around our community has created fear and anxiety for many families, students, and staff. The difficult and frustrating reality is that we do not have control over these actions, nor do we know when they will end. We recognize that living with this uncertainty is stressful and challenging.

Please know that as a school district, we remain deeply focused on what we can control—maintaining safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for our students and workplaces for our staff. We continue to review our safety and communication procedures and work closely with community partners to ensure we are as prepared as possible.

Help the Whittier Student Council Donate to the Animal Care League!

More News

Volunteer

Did you know when you registered at Whittier you became part of the PTO!

There are many ways to support the Wildcat pack! Whether that is contributing to the PTO financially, attending a PTO meeting, or donating your time and talent. All help support the mission and positively impact you, your scholar and family. Find an opportunity below!

LEARN MORE

Volunteer Information Station

What is the PTO?
The Whittier Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a non-profit organization run by a volunteer team made up of teachers, staff, parents, and guardians of students attending Whittier Elementary School. The Whittier PTO requires no membership dues. By enrolling in Whittier, you are already part of the PTO!

Our mission is to build connections between families, the school, and the Oak Park community. We are dedicated to promoting academic success and social and emotional growth for all children at Whittier.

In order to fulfill our mission of engagement, enrichment, and advocacy, we fundraise as transparently as possible. Your participation and feedback make that possible! Be sure to keep in touch and tell us what you think!

It’s Nice to Meet You!

Meet the 2025-26 PTO Leadership Team! Be sure to say hello when you see us on the blacktop! We are still looking for few more leads to join the fun. If you’d like to learn more, check out some the open positions for the school year.

Open PTO Leadership Roles

Volunteers Make it Possible

Volunteers are the key to making the school year enriching, engaging, and excellent for our Whittier students. If you plan on volunteering in a classroom, on field trips, or at special events, be sure to sign up for your District 97 background check now, as appointments are limited. Click the link below for more information and to make an appointment.

Background checks remain in the D97 system, so if you’ve already been cleared, you should be ready to volunteer this year!

The PTO is 100% run on volunteer power! Many hands make light work. We are seeking people who can take on any portion of any event in order to lighten to the load and bring fresh energy and ideas.

Please check out all the areas we need volunteer support. Even if you only have an hour to spare, it helps! Check the boxes with your interests, and we will contact you next year when planning the event.

Background Checks Volunteer Opportunities