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The Spring Book Fair is Going on Now Through Fri 5/22!!
The Book Fair is here 5/18 - 5/22! Get ready for the newest books, bestselling series, and favorite characters students love! Plus, every purchase supports our school
More information in the below link, including setting up an e-wallet for a cash free experience for your kiddo!
Fun Fair is Coming May 28th!
AHOY Wildcat Families! PTO can’t wait to see you May 28th, after school on the blacktop! Everything is free! We offer the opportunity for donations, but please feel no pressure! Please click this link to claim your FREE Wristbands for you and your family! You will automatically be added to the Haunted Pirate mini- putt! Also, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Shifts as small as 15 MINUTES! Please click this link, to check it out! No pre-celebration prep😁!
Get Ahead of School Supplies
Whittier families, we've all been there! Back-to-school sneaks up on us, and suddenly we're running from store to store trying to find supplies. But what if you could check it off your list early? 1st Day School Supplies makes it easy. In just a few clicks, you can order the exact supplies your teacher requested, packaged in a beautiful new box and delivered on time, stress-free!
Keep an eye out — the order link will be coming soon!
Screen Sense Oak Park - Sign Up!
What Are Our Kids Actually Doing on School Screens?
Screen Sense Oak Park is a grassroots group of local parents advocating for clear, research-backed guardrails on school technology use, with emphasis on policies that put learning first, set age-appropriate boundaries, and give families meaningful transparency into what students experience on school screens each day.
Technology should support learning, NOT dominate childhood.
Sign up for the Screen Sense Oak Park newsletter to stay informed, get involved, and join a growing community of parents advocating for a healthier balance.
Whittier Wildcare Funds Available
The Whittier PTO offers discreet and direct financial support to families in need through its Wildcare Fund.
The Wildcare Fund is currently supported by an anonymous donor, and our collective goal is to increase equity for our students and families. If you need financial assistance for food, winter clothes or school-related equipment, please reach out via this form, your teacher, or the social work team, who handle requests and distribution.
No information is shared with the PTO team about who is making requests. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sideeka Ryan at sryan@op97.org.
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.
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 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.
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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