Stay in the Know with Whittier PTO!
FUN RUN UPDATE: We run TOMORROW!
We've had a big week and have passed the $20K mark! With only five days left until the big day, we still have a long way to go to reach our goal of $30K. If you've already given, share your child's FundHub link with family and friends! If you haven't already given, it's not too late to register your runner on FundHub and start collecting donations. Don't want to deal with FundHub but still want to support our Fun Run fundraising? Simply make a donation to the PTO here!
All kids will participate in the Fun Run itself on Wednesday the 7th. See the schedule below to find when your child's grade level will be outside. Parents and other family members are welcome and encouraged to come cheer on the kids!
8:20 - 9:02 Kindergarten & 1st Grade
9:02 - 9:06 Transition Time
9:06 - 9:48 2nd & 3rd Grades
9:48 – 9:52 Transition Time
9:52 - 10:34 4th & 5th Grades
10:34 - 10:38 Transition Time
10:38 - 10:55 Early Childhood a.m.
11:00 - 12:00 Break
12:00-12:14 Early Childhood p.m.
We need volunteers to help make the event run smoothly on Wednesday! See opportunities and sign up here!
Get your questions about Fun Run answered here at our FAQ!
Thank you, Fun Run sponsors!
A BIG thank you to our 2026 FUN RUN Sponsors Trader Joe’s & Cermak Fresh Market for the donation of 400 bananas to refuel our Fun Runners on Wednesday!
October 14: Book Club Night
& Adult Ed Workshop
Sign up to join us for Book Club Night on 10/14 at 5:30pm! All books are available now on hold at Dole Library for pick up. If you prefer a book option that can be completed quickly, take a peek at our graphic novel and picture book options!
Your child can read then join our small group discussion and activity while adults can join the Adult Ed discussion on the Screen Sense initiative in D97. Food will be served.
See the post below this for more information & register for the Screen Sense Oak Park presentation while you’re there.
School Gave Your Child an iPad. Now What?!
Join us on Wednesday, 10/14 from 6-8 pm at Whittier:
Parents shouldn't have to figure this out alone.
Join fellow parents for a hands-on workshop focused on kids and school devices. We'll talk about why screen use in and out of the classroom matters, then get practical: how to manage iPad settings, limit distractions, and set boundaries that work for your family.
We'll also share where Screen Sense Oak Park stands in our conversations on tech usage in school with D97, and how you can help shape what comes next.
Bring your child's iPad, your questions, and your experience. Parents belong at the table on this.
Food and childcare will be provided. Register here so we can get an accurate headcount. We hope you'll join us!
Thank you to our 5th Grade Families for Spreading Sunshine With Our First Sunshine Drop!
A huge THANK YOU to our wonderful 5th grade families - Sheri Dahl, Stefanie Morrison and Marcella Douce for hosting our September Sunshine drop! They joined forces to create a wonderful fall theme display with an assortment of donuts, bagels, fruits & drinks for all Whittier Staff to enjoy. Their creativity and generosity made everyone feel so appreciated! ☀️
We are looking for a couple volunteers for the October Sunshine drop hosted by the 4th grade families. If you are able to lend a hand, please consider signing up!
Calling All Helping Paws: PAW Place Needs You!
Got a little time? Want to make a BIG difference? PAW Place needs our school community to lend a hand! 💙
Can’t volunteer? You can still help! Shop our Amazon Wish List and send a much-needed item our way. Every volunteer hour, donation, and purchase helps make PAW Place an even more welcoming and fun place for our students. 🐾
🙋 Ready to Help?
Sign Up for a Volunteer Shift
Shop the PAW Place Amazon Wish List
Every paw makes a difference! 🐾
Check Out Next Year’s Events Calendar!
Subscribe and Sign Up to Help!
We’ve got next year’s PTO calendar ready to roll and couldn’t wait to share it with you all ASAP! Not only did we want to give you all the chance to save the dates early, we also wanted to call out a few events in particular that we’ll need some help with planning. Want to step up and help with (or lead!) an event? Click the button below. And don’t forget to subscribe to the calendar (available in Google, Apple, or Outlook format) so you don’t miss anything—note you’ll need a Membership Toolkit account in order to access the calendar subscription. This calendar will update automatically with any changes and new additions. Note that we don’t yet have start times set for all events, so these will show up as all-day events on your calendar for now.
Top News
Save the Date: 11/17 - Science Fair Night!
We are so excited to announce our first Whittier Science Fair Night! All students and families are invited to join us for an evening of curiosity, creativity, and discovery as our students showcase (optional) science projects. Look for a flyer and more information to come. For now, please save the Date for 11/17/26 from 5:00-6:30pm. Questions: Enrichment@WhittierPTO.org
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 MOREVolunteer 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 2026-27 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.
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.
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