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Invalid form.Stay in the Know with the Whittier PTO
A Quick Note to Whittier Alumni
We hope you are happy and successful in your next academic adventure! Before you go, please sign up for our new Whittier Wildcats Alumni Families communications list. We want to share specific community event information that will matter to you.
Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat!
Welcome to our newest Whittier Wildcats!
Summer break is winding down and we are so excited to start a new school year at Whittier. We are especially looking forward to meeting all our incoming Kindergarten families! The Whittier PTO will host a Kindergarten Playdate on Sunday, August 17th to allow students to play and families to meet.
This tradition has helped students feel more at ease on the first day of school when they already know many of their classmates’ faces! This is a relaxed gathering designed to help our new families feel welcomed and ready for a fun and successful year.
PTO Volunteers will also be available to answer any questions you have about back-to-school and how to get involved. No need to RSVP, just show up!
What: Kindergarten Back-to-School Playdate
Where: The Whittier Playground
Date: Sunday, August 17th
Time: 3:00-5:00pm
Details: Please bring a snack or drink to share!
Help Us Give Teachers and Staff a Warm Welcome with a Back-to-School Luncheon!
Teachers are gearing up for school and will be in the building officially for D97 Institute Days next week. In order to help our teachers and staff feel welcomed and ready for a new class of students, we want to provide a Welcome Back Luncheon for the Whittier Elementary Wildcat team.
Please help us celebrate the start of a new school year by clicking the button below to sign up to bring cold drinks, savory snacks, sweet treats, fruits or veggies, or a favorite family dish on Monday, August 18th. Simply drop off the dish at the front desk before 10:30am, and please label any homemade items with ingredients.
Questions? Contact Noemi Mata at vp@whittierpto.org.
Chalk the Walk on Aug. 19 & 20!
Chalk the Walk is an amazing D97 tradition in which we all decorate the sidewalks with fun and inspirational messages and drawings to get the kids pumped up for their first day of school. Get out on your block on the evening of the 19th or early morning on the 20th before the kids start their journey to a new school year and cover your sidewalks with chalk notes for your neighborhood Wildcats! The PTO will also put a bunch of chalk out on the Whittier blacktop in the late afternoon / evening of the 19th, so come join us in decorating the blacktop at school before the first day.
WISE Registration Information
SAVE THE DATE! Enrollment for our PTO's own after-school program WISE (Whittier is Enriched) will open on Saturday, August 23rd at 9:00 a.m. The fall session this year will run from September 8th to November 21st and will include courses in art, music, dance, cooking, chess, STEM activities, sports and more! Classes run from right after school until 4:15 every day of the week with different course offerings each day. Our full course catalog including costs will be available soon.
We use the Homeroom app for registration and course information. Get ahead of the game and set up your Homeroom account now by scanning the QR code or clicking this link to be ready to enroll on 8/23.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available for WISE. Families can apply for one scholarship per child, per session. Once the scholarship is approved, you will receive a code to enter in when you register. If you need a scholarship:
- Please submit a request by Fri. 8/29 so we can secure your spot
- Scholarships are given a coupon code in advance of registration; reimbursements are not available
- Scholarships are for 50% of the course cost (up to $100)
Chicago Dogs Baseball Takeover:
Welcome Back Wildcats Event
Join your fellow Whittier Wildcats on Sunday, August 24th for a fun Chicago Dogs baseball game to celebrate beginning a new school year together. Game tickets will cost only $15 each and include a free hat! An additional food and drink package will be available for purchase as well. Ticket info will appear on our website and Facebook early this week so keep your eyes peeled!
Game time is at 3:00 pm but we’ll have a crew there from the time the gates open at 1:30. Plan to arrive early for some fun pre-game festivities!
We can't wait to greet our incoming Kindergarten families and start the year out with a blast for our outgoing 5th graders with this fun event!
Save the Date: Coffee on the Blacktop
We missed you this summer! Mark your calendars and plan to join us Tuesday morning, August 26th to catch up and meet new friends!
Whittier PTO’s Coffee Talk on the Blacktop is a fun, informal way to chat with fellow Wildcat families while drinking complimentary coffee. We gather after student drop-off around 8:00am on the playground blacktop. Bring your own cup, or use one of ours. See you there!
Back-to-School Spirit Wear Sale:
Gear Up at our New Store Today!
We’re thrilled to announce our new spirit wear shop, run by and stocked with original designs by Whittier Mom extraordinaire Claire Frieling! More designs will be added in the coming weeks, but click the button below to check out brand new long and short-sleeve shirts, hoodies, and tanks in tons of color options!
On Wednesdays, Wildcats wear Whittier Spirit Wear. Pick up one of our new designs for your little Wildcat to wear with pride!
Replace your outgrown Whittier Spirit Wear now and get back to school with a fresh fit. All orders earn a percentage back to the Whittier PTO to help us fund programming and support for our students and staff.
Top News
Save the Date: Back to School Picnic!
Our annual Back to School Bash will take place on Friday September 5th at 5:00 on the Whittier blacktop and field. This year, we’re doing a casual potluck picnic, so plan to bring a picnic blanket along with food, drink, and treats to share with your fellow Wildcat families. We’ve got a few volunteer slots already open if you want to help set up, clean up, and/or coordinate some of our planned activities. Click the button below to sign up to volunteer! And if you’d like to play a more active role in planning, please email Lisa Karp Edelman at engagement@whittierpto.org. See you on 9/5!
Volunteer for the Back to School Bash
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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 MOREBack-to-School Meet and Greet and Supply Drop Off
Principal Mosley and the Whittier Faculty are preparing to welcome new students and families into their classrooms on Tuesday, August 19th. Kindergarteners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Graders are all invited to come to the school from 1:00 - 2:00 pm to meet their teachers, check out the classroom, and drop off supplies.
This “drop-in” format allows for students to become familiar with their teachers and classrooms and can help ease some first day jitters. It also allows students the chance to drop off school supplies, so the first day of school is a lighter trip!
Be sure to stop by our PTO table to meet a few friendly faces and learn more about who we are, how we support students and staff, and discover ways to get involved!
School Supplies
If you already purchased your pre-packaged school supply boxes from 1st Day School Supplies, they will be delivered to the appropriate classroom early in the week before school starts.
If you haven’t yet ordered supplies, here is the link to Whittier’s published school supply lists. And don’t forget: if you buy your own school supplies, the K-3 Meet and Greet will be your opportunity to drop them off in your child’s classroom (for parents of Kindergarten through 3rd graders). Happy shopping!
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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 2024-25 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.
Donate
The Whittier PTO runs on the generous donations of our community. Donations are always put to good use and we appreciate your support of our efforts!
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