“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”
—T. S. Eliot
With spring sports kicking into high gear, maybe you too are feeling in over your head and realizing just how tall you are! But don’t forget that there is still school business to take care of, and fun to be had of course! Read below to see what’s happening at our school.
There are items to be voted on at the May 20 meeting, so be sure to get informed. As the home page of the PTA website states, the PTA is a democracy, and the Executive Board is there to facilitate, not be sole-decision makers. Make sure your voice is heard.
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful Whittier Community. Thank you!
Whittier School PTA Executive Board
info@whittierschoolpta.org
whittierschoolpta.org
New PTA Website Coming Live Soon
Watch for news of our new and improved PTA website coming live soon. While things are in transition, our PTA email address will be down. In the meantime, please send any Whittier Weekly submissions or PTA questions directly to Tina Michaels, TinaCMichaels@gmail.com. We will notify you when the info@whittierschoolpta.org email address is fully functioning again.
2014/2015 School Year Registration Deadline May 5
The registration deadline for the 2014/2015 school year is quickly approaching. Fees do not need to be paid at this time, but registration is necessary so planning for staffing can be done. Yes, it is early and we aren’t even finished with this school year yet, but knowing how many students to expect directly affects how our classrooms are set up and how many teachers and aides we need. Late registration is a major reason why we don’t hear about teacher placements until summer, so if you are dying to know if there will a split class and which teachers are teaching which grades, then do your part and register now!
Registration can be done online or by paper forms. Emails and paper forms have been sent out already. The online registration process has never been easier, so find those emails regarding your returning student and use the Infosnap process they have set up to get it done now. If you have any questions, please contact Jennie Waldorf, jwaldorf@dg58.org.
Family Fun Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
Amigos, grab your sombreros and join us for the Whittier Family Fun Fiesta to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Where: Chipotle Mexican Grill, 300 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559 (between Blackhawk Dr and N Richmond Ave)
When: Monday, May 5, 2014
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Why: Because it’s delicious, fun, and 50% of sales go back to Whittier!
Teacher Appreciation Week is next week!
Please send your student(s) to school with a flower (picked from your yard or purchased at the store) the morning of Monday, May 5. The PTA will provide vases in each classroom so each teacher receives a beautiful spring bouquet. Students and parents are also encouraged to send teachers and staff notes of thanks sometime during the week.
The PTA will also be providing lunch for the teachers and staff on Wednesday. Thank you in advance for your participation in this yearly tradition to shower our teachers and staff with a visual reminder of our thanks.
Online Book Fair Open Through May 9
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Scholastic Book Fair last week at school! If you didn’t find a book you were hoping for (those Minecraft books went at lightning speed!), you are in luck! The Online Book Fair will remain open through May 9, so follow this link to check out what is available and place your order. There are a lot more titles available on line than even at the school book fair.
Questions? Contact Jen Mielke, mielketeam@yahoo.com.
Language Stars Early Enrollment
Enrollment is underway for Language Stars foreign language classes next year. Sign up now and receive 10% off! Click here to download a registration form. Classes begin Sept. 8, and will be held weekly for a 30-week session:
Spanish for K-2nd Mondays, 7:40-8:20
Spanish for 3rd-5th Mondays, 7:40-8:20
Any questions, please contact Jen Watts, watts4par@gmail.com.
Market Day Specials
Time to fill up your freezers with delicious food from Market Day! Orders can be placed online or by returning the Market Day form that was passed out last week. Orders are due by Monday, May 12. This month’s promo is a free Micro Fiber Drying Mat with a $40 purchase, plus a free 4-pack of Cheesecake Pops with a $90 online purchase. Ordering from Market Day is an easy way to help earn money for our school, so please don’t forget to place your order this month!
Goodbye Summer Slide
Whittier Parents! Come hear a special presentation from Whittier reading specialist Christy Gergits and sixth grade teacher Debbie Krygeris on Goodbye Summer Slide at the May 20 PTA meeting prior to other PTA business. All parents/caregivers are invited to attend and learn about the reality of the summer slide in reading, math, and writing, and hopefully gather some creative ideas to keep your children engaged in literacy and math activities throughout the summer months.
LRC Books due May 21
All Whittier LRC books are due May 21. The LRC is getting new carpeting this summer, and we need to have everything boxed up before the school year ends. We appreciate your support in returning things early.
Green News
Remember that Waste Free Wednesdays will continue for the rest of the school year. Please pack lunches with reusable containers and nothing to throw away (yogurt tubes and string cheese are NOT waste-free).
Are your children missing jackets, gloves, or other items? Don’t spend money and resources replacing them until you check out the Lost and Found bin inside the front doors of school. There are countless items in there! Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the year.
Spring Walking Club
Get the kids in their walking shoes every Wednesday for the rest of the school year so they can participate in the Walking Club again at lunch recess (weather permitting). As before, they will earn Jaguar Bucks ($1/two laps) to buy fun prizes at the Walking Club store that will be open twice more this year. The next Walking Club Store will be open on April 30, so make sure they are keeping track of those Jaguar Bucks
Community News
Please see the attached flyer for more information about the Fun In the Sun community event on May 18 at the DGSRC. Please contact Melissa Rausch, melissarausch@sbcglobal.net, if you would like to volunteer at this event. High school students are welcome to volunteer as well!
Mark Your Calendars
- Wednesday, April 30: Walking Club Store (weather permitting)
- Thursday, May 1: Half Day of School – School Improvements
- Monday, May 5 – 9: Teacher Appreciation Week
- Monday, May 5: School Registration deadline
- Monday, May 5: Family Fun Fiesta at Chipotle
- Friday, May 9: Fun Lunch – Potbelly
- Friday, May 9: Online Book Fair Ends
- Monday, May 12: Market Day orders due
- Thursday, May 15: Market Day pick up 1:45 – 2:50
- Tuesday, May 20: PTA Meeting & Goodbye Summer Slide presentation
- Wednesday, May 21: All LRC books due
- Friday, May 23: Fun Lunch – Brown’s Chicken
- Monday, May 26: No School – Memorial Day
- Tuesday, June 2: Field Day
