Please Join Us for Our Next PTA meeting on Tuesday, December 8th at 7pm in the LRC
You’re Invited to the Playground Planning Meeting on December 3rd at 7:30 at the Downers Grove Library Conference Room B
Uncle Bubs Fun Lunch This Friday, December 4, 2015
Register for 2nd Semester Fun Lunch – Orders due by 12/20/2015
1. Holiday Giving
2. Book Fair
3. Variety Show DVDs
4. Reading Games
5. Volunteers Needed for Winter Wonderland
6. Hospitality
7. Student Council
8. Reflections
9. Fun Lunch
10. District PTA Building Bridges Meeting Information
1. Holiday Giving – Mittens Fundraiser
Once again we will be collecting holiday gifts for Whittier families in need. Mittens with requested items will be posted in the vestibule of school on Wednesday morning.
Please return the purchased gifts to the school office by December 14. Remember to attach the original mitten to the unwrapped gift.
Questions? Please contact Amy Cable amycable@att.net or Peggy Tomchek ptomchek@yahoo.com
2. Book Fair
A JUMBO PRINT thank you to everyone who helped run our Anderson’s Book Fair this past week…and an equally big thank you to everyone who shopped at it!
Final numbers are still being tabulated, but it is safe to say we generated as many sales dollars as last year’s Fall and Spring book fairs combined, and Miss Coleman has already selected over $1,000 in new books for our LRC.
That’s better access to more literature for every Whittier student at every reading level!
Check your youngest child’s backpack after the Thanksgiving break for a flier that lets us count any Anderson’s purchases made through December 7 toward our book fair profits. It’s never too early to shop for the holidays!
Once again, our Whittier community comes out in droves to support our school, support local business, and provide the very best opportunities for our children. Take a look in the mirror – bet you’re beaming with pride!
3. Variety Show DVD’s
Variety Show DVD’s are in! Look for Melissa this week near the primary doors at pick up (2:30-3:00) to grab yours. DVD’s not picked up this week will be sent home with students next week
4. Reading Games
Beginning in the 2016-2017 School Year the PTA will be involved in planning and facilitation of aspects of the Reading Games beyond book selection and question generation (those aspects will continue to be handled by District 58 teachers/librarians). Anyone interested in getting involved and learning more is invited to attend an informational meeting on the evening ofJanuary 6th.
In order to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities, the current Reading Games coordinators would like to have interested individuals shadow them through the remainder of this year’s Reading Games season.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CLSni-gxyZ4NnYVzrvltAuUeYMnINJSUyqI2YHZEX-A/viewform?c=0&w=1
5. Volunteers Needed for Whittier’s Winter Wonderland Event
A few volunteers are still needed to help make Whittier’s Winter Wonderland 2015 magical. Can you help, or do you know a tween or teen who could use volunteer hours?
To register yourself of a tween/teen volunteer, please contact Valerie Hardy at valerie_m_stone@yahoo.com.
The event is this Sunday, December 6th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Volunteers should plan to arrive by 11:15 a.m. Thank you!
6. Hospitality
Looking for a way to give back to our wonderful teachers and staff? The Hospitality Committee needs additional volunteers to provide food for the Whittier Holiday Lunch.
We currently have two volunteer spots left for Wednesday, December 16th. Please click on the following link to sign up:
https://whittierschoolpta.org/volunteering/hospitality/
Please contact Jane Hagen (janehagen@hotmail.com) or Lisa McTigue (lisa_mctigue@yahoo.com) with any questions. Thank you!!!
7. Student Council
Through Friday, the Student Council is collecting toothpaste, toothbrushes, or any new or gently used winter wear like hats, gloves, mittens or scarves for PADS clients of DuPage County. All donations will be provided to the PADS program at St. Mary of Gostyn church. Winter wear items in adult sizes are definitely needed, but we will also accept child-sized items too.
The week of December 7th-11th will be our annual Candy Cane sale. We will be selling candy canes for 25 cents each or 5 for $1.00. Proceeds will go towards our selected charities for this year. Order forms for candy canes will come home later this week.
Upcoming Spirit Days in December include:
Wednesday, December 9th – Holiday Sweater/Shirt or Colors Day
Monday, December 14th – Holiday Hat day
Thursday, December 17th – PJ/comfy clothes day and a Read-In (we’ll spend time in our classrooms doing some fun, independent reading of any books we love!)
8. Congrats to the PTA Reflections 2015 Participants!
Whittier Winners and Participants
Winners by category:
Visual Arts – Primary
Calia Cremascoli: Grade 2 – Brain Land
Peyton Cable: Grade 1 – Tree House
Luke Williams: Grade 2 – Never Ending Dragon Fight
Visual Arts – Intermediate
Sydney Moss: Grade 3 – In My Eyes
Lizzy Beavers: Grade 4 – Looking up at Clouds
Addie Potter: Grade 4 – Rainbow Animals
Visual Arts – Middle School
Ana Barnett – Grade 6 – Nothing is as Far Away
Photography – Primary
Leah Achilles: Grade K – Horizon Sunset
Photography – Middle School
Zoey Ethridge: Grade 6 – Fallen Wonders
Literature – Primary
Mauve Bogaczyk – Grade 1 – I Know it Will Happen
PTA Reflections Participation:
Visual Arts – Primary
Julian Curry – Grade 2 – Robaot Rampage
Jackie Ethridge – Grade 2 – Butterflys Flying
Zach Ihde – Grade 1 – Beach
Visual Arts – Intermediate
Hudson Hollweck – Grade 3 – Opa’s Pond
Carleigh Cash – Grade 4 – To Infinity and Beyond
Michael Campione – Grade 4 – Let Your Imagination Fly
Hannah Janka – Grade 5 – The Lion Escapes the Lion
9. Fun Lunch
Fun Lunch 2nd Semester Ordering open from 11/20/15-12/20/15. Orders will need to be placed for the entire spring semester during this time. After 12/20/15, ordering will be closed.
An email will go out Wednesday for those registered on the orderlunches site and also a paper copy of the flyer will go home in backpacks Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
Dec 18: Mojos
Jan 8: Skuttlebutts
Jan 22: GAB
Feb 5: McDonalds
Feb19: Buona Beef
March 3: Potbelly
March 18: Uncle Bubs
April 8: Mojos
April 22: GAB
Last full day of school in June: McDonald’s
10. District PTA Upcoming Meetings
Building Bridges—A group of District parents that come together to discuss special needs in District 58. The next meeting will be on Wednesday December 2nd at 7pm, Hillcrest School. The topic will be transitions. Transitions from pre-school to kindergarten, grade to grade, new teachers, the leap to middle school and how these transitions can be made easier for students with special needs. Building Bridges has a FB page, Building Bridges Parent/Teacher Group, be sure to like them for ongoing information.
The Glenbard Parent Series is hosting Ken Ginsburg, M.D. His talk “The Skills to Succeed: Masterning the Tools To Thrive in a High Pressure Culture Now and in the Future” will take place at 6:15pm on November 17th at the College of DuPage. For more information visit them on Facebook: Glenbard Parents Series.
The annual SIT conference will take place in Bensenville on January 22nd. This is a technology driven conference for children in grades 3-12. For more information visit
Mark Your Calendars
- Tuesday, December 1, 2015: Intramurals (Grades 5-6) 2:55-3:55
- Wednesday, December 3, 2015: Playground Meeting at 7:30 at the DG Library
- Friday, December 4, 2015: Fun Lunch Uncle Bubs
- Friday, December 4, 2015: Blue & Gold Spirit Day
- Monday, December 7, 2015: Music Program Grades 5 and 6 at 9:00 am
- Tuesday, December 8, 2015: General PTA Meeting
- Wednesday, December 9th: Holiday Sweater/Shirt or Colors Day
- Monday, December 14th: Holiday Hat day
- Thursday, December 17th: PJ Day
- Friday, December 18, 2015: Fun Lunch Mojos
- Monday, December 21, 2015 – Sunday, January 3, 2016: Winter Break, No School
- Friday, January 8, 2016: Fun Lunch Skuttlebutts
- Monday, January 18, 2016: Martin Luther King Day, No School
- Tuesday, January 19, 2016: General PTA Meeting
- Friday, January 22, 2016: Fun Lunch Great American Bagel
- Friday, February 5, 2016: Fun Lunch McDonald’s
- Friday, February 12, 2016: No School
- Tuesday, February 16, 2016: General PTA Meeting
- Friday, February 19, 2016: Fun Lunch Buona Beef
- Thursday, March 3, 2016: Fun Lunch Potbellys
- Friday, March 4, 2016: Teacher Inservice, No School
- Saturday, March 12, 2016: Reading Games
- Tuesday, March 15, 2016: General PTA Meeting
- Friday, March 25, 2016 – Sunday, April 3, 2016: Spring Break, No School
- Friday, April 8, 2016: Fun Lunch Mojos
- Friday, April 8, 2016: Spring Fundraiser LP4P 2
- Tuesday, April 19, 2016: General PTA Meeting
- Friday, April 22, 2016: Fun Lunch Great American Bagel
- Friday, May 6, 2016: Fun Lunch Buona Beef
- Tuesday, May 17, 2016: General PTA Meeting
- Monday, May 30, 2016: Memorial Day, No School
- *Friday, June 3, 2016: Last Day of School
- *June 6 – June 10 possible emergency day
