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Whittier Elementary School PTA

Whittier Elementary School PTA

Parent Teacher Association for Whittier Elementary School

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Whittier Weekly: October 10, 2017

Whittier Weekly

 
Upcoming Dates:

  • THIS WEEK 10/11 – 10/16 – Student Council Caramel Apple Fundraiser
  • NEXT WEEK 10/16 – 10/20 – Student Council Book Drive (see below for details)
  • Wednesday 10/11 – Walking Club (during school recess)
  • Friday 10/13 – Whittier Spirit Day! – Show school spirit in Whittier wear or blue and gold
  • Monday 10/23 – Reading Games Registration Opens
  • Tuesday 10/24 – General PTA Meeting in the LRC – 7pm
  • Friday 10/27 – Picture Re-take Day

  1. Bernie’s Book Bank Drive
  2. Fall Experiences
  3. Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence Pancake Breakfast
  4. Reading Games
  5. Destination ImagiNation
  6. Weeds & Seeds Club
  7. Girls’ Day Out Results
  8. Masterpiece of the Month
  9. Yorktown “School Bucks Program”
  10. Wanted: Walking Club Volunteers
  11. Save the Date! – Spring Fundraiser

1. Bernie’s Book Bank Drive

Whittier’s Student Council will be collecting donated books for Bernie’s Book Bank Drive. Clear off your bookshelves and donate any children or young adult books!  There will be a donation table outside of the office from Monday, October 16 – Friday, October 20.
 

2. Fall Experiences 

It’s not too late to sign up for Fall Experiences!  CLICK HERE for the link to the online sign up to see what is still available!  Experiences are donated by host families and 100% of the cost goes to Whittier PTA.  Don’t miss out on the fun times!
 

3. Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence Pancake Breakfast

Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence (HGNA) is hosting their Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 21st!  Come spend your Saturday morning supporting this wonderful organization anytime between 8-11am.  CLICK HERE for the flier for more information.  After the breakfast the girls will participate in the annual Halloween window painting event downtown!
 

4. Reading Games

Mark your Calendar – The 2018 Reading Games will take place at O’Neill Middle School on Saturday, March 10, 2018!
Visit our new website at readinggamesdg58.com. The full book list is now posted. Because we are releasing the book list earlier than in previous years, please know that it may take a little time for the school and Downers Grove libraries to make all books available.
Team registration will open Monday, October 23, 2017 at 8:00 am and close Sunday October 29, 2017 at 9:00 pm. No more mad dash to register, we plan to accommodate every team that wants to participate in The Games. As long as the adult team lead registers their team during the registration window and completes the final registration in January, their team will have a spot at The Games. We will follow team registration with an individual student registration for those needing assistance in finding a team. We do ask for your flexibility as we may need to conduct the Level 1 and Level 2 rounds separately on March 10 to accommodate all teams. We will be able to confirm how the event will work immediately after final team registration in January. As in the past, we ask that all teams bring 2 adult chaperones to the event, and a third adult volunteer who will participate as a moderator, scorekeeper, or in one of many other important roles. This third volunteer is especially important as we include all excited readers in the event!
May the books be in your favor!
Questions? Contact ReadingGamesDG58@gmail.com
 

5. Destination ImagiNation

Destination ImagiNation (DI) is a community-based, school-friendly program that builds participants’ creativity, problem solving, and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways. The goals of Destination ImagiNation are for participants to foster creative and critical thinking, develop teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills, and encourage competence in, enthusiasm for, and commitment to real-life problem solving. Teams of 2-7 students work together over several months to address a main challenge – which may involve building, addressing a scientific question, designing creative artwork and props, improvising skits and other challenges, and presenting a skit at a regional competition on March 3, 2018. Students may compete in grade-specific levels from kindergarten through college.
Please check out the DI website for general information and previews of the main challenges.
We will be doing an initial registration of teams by the end of this week so that organized teams can get started on their challenges. Please let Debbie Dobrez know if you are planning to or are considering leading a team by Thursday, Oct 12 so that the initial registration can be completed. The PTA pays for the initial registration fee. Teams are responsible for their own competition registration. Each team needs 1-2 parent team managers to guide their team through the process. Each year we have many Whittier teams participate… its an amazing learning process for the kids, and lots of fun at the Regional Event.
 
Please contact Debbie Dobrez with any questions or if you are interested in participating. 
dobrezdebbie@gmail.com, 708-870-0121.

6. Weeds & Seeds Club

The Weeds and Seeds Club is a new at Whittier’s for first through sixth graders.  The club will be working with the PTA’s Green Team to help weed and water the school grounds.  Our two big events this year will be planting bulbs this fall in the garden by the parking lot and hosting a plant sale with school-grown vegetables and flower seedlings.  This club plans to meet during lunch one day every other week, weather and season dependent.  Since special events and activities may require more time we will occasionally meet after school.  Please check with your child before signing him/her up with the reminder that an occasional lunch recess will be missed to help weed and water.
If your child is interested in being a part of the Weeds and Seeds Club fill out the form by clicking on this link.  Our first official meeting will be Tuesday, October 17th during lunch.

7. Girls’ Day Out Results

Thank you for your participation in Girls’ Day Out!  Whittier PTA earned $148 from your efforts. We hope you had a great time coming together to support your school and your downtown businesses.
 

8. Masterpiece of the Month

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of ever day life.” – Picasso
Please consider this wonderful art enrichment activity that the PTA sponsors for our children.
We are still in need of volunteers for Masterpiece of the Month for the following classrooms: Mrs. Quill, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Jurinek and Mrs. Lyons
If you would like to help, please contact Kristi Maher at kmaher@ftportfolios or text 630.772.1966.
 

9. Yorktown “School Bucks Program”

Please support our schools together by participating in the Yorktown School Bucks Program!!
October 22 – 28: Shop ’til you drop at Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle for double points!
October 31: Happy Halloween! Double points. All day. All stores and restaurants.

HOW IT WORKS: 

After shopping and dining at Yorktown, your school’s family and friends can show their Yorktown Center receipts at the Guest Services desk (located on the Lower Level, below The Eatery and near Von Maur) to accumulate points. Shoppers must specify which participating school to allocate the points to.
Show your movie ticket receipts from AMC 18 Yorktown for an easy (and fun!) 75 points per ticket!
Thank you for shopping and giving back to our PTA!
Receipts must be redeemed within 60 days of purchase date. Receipts will be collected from August 1, 2017 until May 1, 2018.
For Whittier to receive a monetary reward, we need to provide $2,000 in receipts by May 1, 2018.

10. Walking Club 

Looking for an easy way to volunteer at school? Do you have a free hour at lunchtime on Wednesday? Sign up for Walking Club!  Volunteers are needed to hand out “Whittier dollars” at lunch recess to participating students.  The fall session of Walking Club starts Sept 20th and ends Nov 8th.
Volunteers need to be at the school from 11:35-12:20. 
We are still in need for one more volunteer for NEXT WEDNESDAY, October 18.
New at walking club:
Participants will have their hand stamped with a special design for their grade. Please email Michelle Rafacz(mdemumbrum@yahoo.com) or Pam McGinn (pjmcg207@gmail.com) if you do not want your child’s hand to be stamped. Only students who wish to walk will have their hand stamped.

11. Save the Date! – Spring Fundraiser

This year’s Whittier Spring Fundraiser will be at Miskatonic Brewery on Friday, February 9th, 2018.  More details to follow!
If you would like to donate any items to go towards the silent auction or raffle, please contact Joanne Brock at joannecbrock@gmail.com or Christie Nutt at canutt@comcast.net. Thank you!
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Whittier Elementary School

536 Hill St.
Downers Grove, IL
1-630-719-5865
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