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. 

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Whittier May Parent Newsletter

Please read Principal Robinson’s May Parent Newsletter. 

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Mini-Service Day 

The Green Team needs 10-15 volunteers on Sunday, May 26th to prepare the Whittier Greanleaf Garden for our next growing season. We just need 2-3 hours of work, come if you can.  We will even look to plant some seeds!  Bring your shovels, rakes, and garden tools and we will have some fun!  SignUp here: https://signup.com/go/HzWxJxj.    

 

Please email the Green Team Co-Chair, Kristen Hollinden, at kristenhollinden@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

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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.

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D97 Community Wide Year-End Celebration

Tuesday May 28

District 97 is hosting our second annual Community-Wide Year-End Celebration at Brooks Middle School on Tuesday, May 28, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this event, people will have the chance to engage in an informal, two-way dialogue with district and community leaders about the collective efforts being undertaken to address the issues of equity and inclusion in our schools.

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Olympic Day is almost here!

Please send your child with a water bottle to school on Tuesday, May 28 for Olympic Day. There will be two rest station visits during the day’s fun for kids to refill water bottles. We’ll have some cups on hand for anyone who forgets but would love to keep the day as eco-friendly as possible. Thank you!

 

Olympic Day still needs some volunteers!  This event is a highlight of the school year thanks to the participation of parent volunteers.  If you are interested in helping, please fill out the attached form and return it to the office no later than Wednesday, May 22.

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Don’t Be Tardy to the Party!

Wildcats, it’s your last chance to win a great prize!  Just come to school on time through the month of May and you’ll be entered into the raffle to win!  The final drawing will be on May 31. 

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 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. 

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Whittier School Supply Kits – Order Now!

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.

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Whittier PTO Website-- Register Now!

 

So far, we only have 50% of Whittier families registered, and we want EVERYBODY!!!!  Please go to our website now at www.whittierpto.org and make sure that you have completed registration.  Over the summer, whether it’s using the online directory for party and playdate planning or getting up-to-date information about upcoming school events and programs like WISE, you’ll be glad took the 2 minutes to register now.  Without a login next school year, you won’t be able to sign up for WISE classes, make online purchases, volunteer, use the online directory, see private content, and more. 

 

Please see our FAQ if you have questions.

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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.

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The May Greenleaf is Available!

Check out PTO updates, student work, and more in the May Greenleaf.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

  

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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!   

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Plant Sale- Help the Monarchs, the Bees, and the PTO!

With the Easy Garden Kits from West Cook Wild Ones (WCWO), you can create a garden that will attract Monarchs and other butterflies while providing food for the bees—and support Whittier PTO!  For each kit sold, WCWO will donate $8 to Whittier PTO.  Kits include 10 plants each.  Choose from Monarchs and More Sunny Garden or Shade Garden.  Please see the flyer for more information on how to order your kit.

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OPRF Alliance Soccer Tryouts in May     

Looking for a competitive, traveling soccer club focused on building soccer skills, leadership skills, and confidence?  Learn more about OPRF Alliance Soccer and register for upcoming May tryouts at OPRFAllianceSoccer.com. 

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D97 Kindergarten Registration!

Please see the attached flyer for dates and required documents.

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CURRENT VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS

 

Wondering how you can lend a hand?  Check out our Current Volunteer Signups.

 

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 If you already have a Membership Toolkit account with another organization,
you can use the same log-in here.