All Whittier Families must register on our new website to access our online directory, sign up for WISE, and view other important content. Register today!
If you already have a Membership Toolkit account with another organization,
you can use the same log-in here.
Whittier May Parent Newsletter
Please read Principal Robinson’s May Parent Newsletter.
Forget to Order a Yearbook?
No problem! We ordered a limited number of extras, which are being sold at the front desk for $20. Once those are sold out, you can order through Treering and have it delivered to your house. You can still create 2 customized pages using your own photos. Note that there is a shipping fee of $7.99 in addition to the cost of the book ($17.49). To order click here.
Clear Out
Please check the Whittier’s Lost and Found if your child is missing any jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, or lunch bags. Any items not picked up by Thursday, June 6 will be donated to charity.
PTO Budget Meeting--Help Us Spend for Next Year!
The PTO strongly encourages everyone or anyone who has an interest or opinion on how the PTO handles their budget for next school year to attend this meeting on Tuesday, June 4th, 7-8:30. Childcare and Pizza will be provided. Bring your ideas about how we could spend our PTO resources in the following year.
Feel free to email Sofia Villafuerte @ sofiavillafuerte@gmail.com if you have ideas or feedback but are unable to attend.
Whittier School Supply Kits – Order By Friday, June 7!
Save yourself some back-to-school stress and let Whittier PTO do your school supply shopping for you next year! Order school supplies for the 2019-2020 school year during our sales period (April 29 through June 7, 2019) and your child’s school supply kit will be waiting in the classroom that first day of school. Please note that not all items (such as backpacks and water bottles) will be included in the kits, so if you do choose to order a kit, please plan to check your child’s supply list just to make sure you have everything. More information can be found on this flyer or just order here.
Questions? Please email schoolkits@whittierpto.org.
New! Whittier Online Directory
You can keep in touch with Whittier friends this summer with Whittier’s online directory on the Whittier PTO website at www.whittierpto.org. The directory can be found under “My Account” on right side of the menu. Please note that you must login or register to access the directory, and only registered users who have opted in are listed there. Please see our FAQ if you have questions about our new website.
Whittier Diversity Committee Updates
The Whittier Diversity Committee had a general meeting on May 13, 2019. Please see the link here for meeting notes.
Upcoming Events for this summer 2019 from Whittier DivCo
- Informal general meeting (likely June date TBD) – to discuss future plans and the upcoming Whittier 101 (Sat, Sept. 14, 2019)
- Whittier Play Dates (dates in June, July, or August TBD) – please join us on the playground for an ALL abilities playdate at the Whittier playground
- Whittier 101 Series (Sept 14, 2019) – will cover topics that include what to do when your child is falling behind; what help can I get my child if they don’t seem to be adjusting well at school; what is social justice? What is PBIS (positive behavior support services)?
We encourage parents and staff to join the Whittier Diversity Committee. We are a newer committee (under 2 years old). We are evolving in our activities and discussions and encourage everyone to add their voice.
There is also a group Facebook page that encompasses members from other diversity committees in district 97. There is a diversity committee at all of the district 97 schools, under the umbrella of the school’s PTO.
For more information or to just be a part of the Whittier DivCo email list, contact munirahcurtis@gmail.com.
Weekly Summer Garden Volunteers
The Whittier Greenleaf Garden is off to a wonderful start! The Sugarbeet Schoolhouse WISE class has been busy sowing seeds all spring long and now the teachers are joining the fun planting vegetables, fruits, and flowers! Check out the garden this summer and you will see a ton of edibles ranging from a strawberry patch, potato cages, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, lettuces, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, herbs, and salads galore! This is a community effort and it's now time to nail down a watering schedule. We are asking for 2-3 families to take a week during the summer running from Sunday to Saturday. If you sign up for a week, we encourage you to grab a friend to help out too! Gardening and harvesting is always better when you collaborate with friends. During your week, you will be responsible for watering, weeding, thinning, staking AND harvesting! Please sign up at this link. If you have any questions, please contact the Green Team Co-Chair, Kristen Hollinden, at kristenhollinden@gmail.com.
Summer Garden Cat Club:
The garden is a place to learn all about gardening, in addition to coming together as a community. The Green Team is introducing the Garden Cat Club! We are meeting the second and fourth Thursday in June, July, and August! Family fun from 6pm to 7:30pm. Join us for popsicle night on June 13th to kick off the Garden Cat Club and lean about being a summer volunteer in the garden. Please see the enclosed flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact the Green Team Co-Chair, Kristen Hollinden, at kristenhollinden@gmail.com.
The May Greenleaf is Available!
Check out PTO updates, student work, and more in the May Greenleaf.
Birthday Books and Fifth Grade Commemorative Books Program
Looking for a special way to celebrate your fifth grader’s Whittier graduation? Searching for a meaningful gift for your child’s birthday or other special occasion? Through the Birthday Books and Fifth Grade Commemorative Books programs, you can you can give a special gift for your child’s graduation, birthday, or other special occasion, while also helping to add new books to Whittier Library’s collection! Please see the attached flyer and form for details.
SAVE THE DATE!!! September 14, 2019
Whittier 101 Series – Academic and Behavioral Supports for Whittier Students
TOPIC: We will discuss topics that include…
What happens when my child seems to be falling behind in school?
I don’t think my child is learning the way other students are?
What is the positive behavior support system (PBIS)?
What is social justice and how is it being used in the classroom?
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 9 am to 12 pm
WHERE: Whittier cafeteria
Refreshments and childcare will be provided
PTO Leadership Vacancies for 2019-2020 School Year
Join the leadership team and help make a difference in your school community! Whittier PTO is looking for a few parents/guardians to lend their time and talent to the following offices:
- Wellness Committee Members
- Back to School Picnic Chair
- Fun Fair Co-VPs (2)
- Service Day
- Greenleaf Garden Chair
If you are interested, or would like to learn more, please contact Sofia at sofiavillafuerte@gmail.com.
Green Team Update
Time for the Great Green Locker/Desk/Backpack Clean Out!
Remind your children to bring home any school supplies you/they think they can re-use over the summer or next year. Know that we will be providing receptacles in their classrooms to collect any unwanted or spent supplies. Spent Markers are being sent to Crayola for recycling. Crayons have a local home. Local agencies and our own community will be offered good/new condition items. There is a bin in the Vestibule to collecting Lunchskins and other cloth sandwich/snack bags.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Soft Plastics collection continues in the box outside the elevator. Or get into the habit of dropping yours off at Jewel.
Questions or comments: wardcathi@gmail.com
Early Childhood Blended Classrooms at Whittier
District 97 is now accepting applications for the two early childhood blended classrooms that will be offered at Whittier Elementary School next year. People can learn more about the classrooms and application process by visiting http://bit.ly/2ERTZRf.
Oak Park Education Foundation at Whittier
OPEF has offered free, hands-on STEAM enrichment programs to Oak Park schools for nearly 30 years. Check out some of the lessons enriched by OPEF at Whittier this past school year here!
D97 Kindergarten Registration!
Please see the attached flyer for dates and required documents.
CURRENT VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS
Wondering how you can lend a hand? Check out our Current Volunteer Signups.
If you already have a Membership Toolkit account with another organization,
you can use the same log-in here.
Upcoming Events
- Sunday, August 25
- Monday, August 26
- Tuesday, August 27
- Wednesday, August 28
- Monday, September 2
- Tuesday, September 3
- Wednesday, September 4
Website Feedback Form
Questions about our new website? Please check our FAQ first, and if that doesn't help, click here and we will respond as soon as we can. Thanks!
Support
You can support Whittier with the Box Tops for Education program, that donates 10¢ for each qualifying box top you collect!
Bring your Box Tops to the school lobby or drop them off with your child's teacher.
You can also signup and do your shopping online through the Box Tops Marketplace and Whittier will receive eBoxTops for every $10 in qualifying purchases.
Do you shop on-line with Amazon? You can support Whittier by using the Amazon Smile Program.
Just use this link to sign up for the program. Choose Whittier School PTO in Oak Park for your charity, and click on the link before each Amazon purchase to raise money for the PTO!
Note: All of your purchasing information stays private with Amazon.
Here's an easy way to help Whittier and be green at the same time! Just bring in your empty printer cartridges (inkjet and toner) and used cell phones to the recycling center in Whittier's lobby and we’ll take it from there. We will recycle the cartridges and cell phones through FundingFactory to earn new technology and/or recreational equipment or cash. Click here for more information and to learn about how you can get your employer or business to help too!
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