ForWard 12.1.24
From the Co-Presidents:
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! Wild that December is here already!!
Thanks to your generous support during the Fun Run, we were able to fully fund our Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) programs. The CAS programming offers three in-person learning experiences for each grade level, such as author visits, Mass Audubon, and The Discovery Museum. We’ve included the upcoming CAS programs in our calendar above. We encourage you to ask your child(ren) about them - they are such a highlight of the school year! The PTO allocates $70 per student for these experiences alone - thank you again for making them possible. We would like to extend special thanks to our CAS Chair, Anita He, and CAS volunteers Ceri Evans, Jessica Harkiewicz, and Cuicui Chen for their tremendous efforts in coordinating with teachers and organizing these events!
We also have a few additional community events to highlight that are coming up in the next month or so. 1) BC Basketball Game on Saturday, December 28th 2) 5th Grade Grade Morning Meet Up with the classroom teachers 3) The Anxious Generation Book Club on Tuesday 1/7. Please read below for more information.
As always, please email us anytime at copresidents@wardpto.org with your ideas, questions, concerns, or ways we can help.
- Elizabeth Loehr + Elizabeth Weinberg, Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2024-26
The Ward Annual Fund Launches Today!
The Ward PTO spends $200-$250 per student per year with a projected budget of $50,000 for the 2024-25 school year. The PTO has 4 major fundraising streams: 1) The Fun Run, 2) The Annual Fund, 3) The Teacher Raffle, and 4) The Mystery Dinner. We are excited to share that with your help, the Fun Run raised $9,578.27 - $3,700 more than last year! Thank you to each of you for your part in making that happen.
The Annual Fund Ask: Please consider donating to the PTO today. No donation is too small—we hope to raise $15,000 and get as close to 100% participation as possible. As always, our funds go towards building our community, funding curriculum enrichment, and supporting the needs of our principal, teachers, and staff. Every dollar raised is critical for our students, teachers, and school community.
Does your company provide a match for charitable giving? Corporate matches have been essential to the Ward PTO Annual Fund, accounting for at least 10% of what we raise yearly. Please check with your employer – it’s an easy way to increase your gift to the Ward PTO.
Donations to Ward can be made in several ways!
Most convenient: Venmo to @WardPTO “Annual Fund.” or PayPal here.
Most valuable: Pay by check, 100% of which goes to the PTO. Make checks to Ward PTO and add a note stating “Annual Fund.” Put the check in an envelope labeled “Kristin Golden, Treasurer - Ward PTO Annual Fund” and give it to the front office staff.
Please consider one of the above; we cannot accept cash donations.
Show your Ward pride by requesting a lawn sign!
We know how special our school is, so it probably came as no surprise that Ward was listed as a top 10 elementary school in Massachusetts, according to U.S. News & World Report! Kudos to Principal Brogadir, our teachers, and administrators for helping us achieve this amazing milestone!
To show our pride within the Newton community, we’ve designed lawn signs that families can request to put in their yards (thanks to PTO co-president Elizabeth Weinberg for her creative design!). The cost to print each sign is $15, so we ask that families cover this. More information regarding payment and delivery will be forthcoming.
Spreading the good news about Ward at the moment also comes at a crucial time when kindergarten registration is looming. It’s also become apparent that many in our community, outside of NPS, are unaware that the Underwood/Ward decision has been put on hold for five years. This means that once a decision is made in five years, any project will not begin for an additional few years at most.
Are you interested in receiving a sign? Please email Emily Linendoll (elinendoll@yahoo.com) with your name, address, and email address/phone number. We will contact you regarding payment and estimated delivery of your sign. This will determine the print quantity.
Thanks in advance for spreading Ward's pride in the Newton community!!
Ward Sports Event - Boston College vs. Fairleigh Dickinson University
Saturday, December 28th @ 2PM
Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill
Join us for an afternoon of hoops as we cheer on the Boston College men's basketball team. Tickets are $5.50 each and include a pre-game locker room tour. Tickets are limited—text Kevin Woo at 857-472-1092 for details and to purchase via Venmo.
Digital Wellness Book Club
Join a Book Club with other caregivers and Ward staff focused on digital wellness for kids. The first book we'll discuss is The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This thought-provoking book delves into the rising mental health challenges facing young people today.
Date: Tuesday 1/7/25
Time: 7:30pm
Location: TBD
We'll be discussing parts 1, 2 and 3 of the book at this meeting. Whether you've already read it or are just starting, come prepared to discuss the impact of social media on mental health, the role of parenting styles and strategies for fostering resilience in the next generation.
If interested in participating please email keren.wainger@gmail.com
Grade Level Morning Meeting Ups
This year we will be hosting morning meet ups for grade level parents and guardians to connect with one another AND the grade level teaching team. The meetups will take place 8:00am-8:30am in the Ward library. We will kick off with 5th grade on Thursday, December 19, at 8:00am-8:30am in the Ward School library.
Save the dates for upcoming grade level meet ups:
4th Grade: January 23
1st Grade: February 6
2nd Grade & Kindergarten: March 6
3rd Grade: April 3
Volunteers Needed
Ward Community Day (Sponsored by NewtonSERVES), May 4: We need a volunteer (or two!) to lead our annual Ward Community Day (Sponsored by NewtonSERVES). This position requires coordinating materials with the City of Newton and will help to organize the event. For more information, check out the NewtonSERVES website or email elizabethweinberg@wardpto.org with any questions.
Upcoming Event Highlights
Newton Youth Lacrosse Spring 2025 Registration. Learn to play North America’s oldest team sport and the fastest game on two feet! Newton Youth Lacrosse 2025 season registration is now open! NYL is a town-based program teaching and playing boys' lacrosse. We field teams at Grades 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8. NO PRIOR LACROSSE EXPERIENCE is NECESSARY – we welcome new players at EVERY level! Our season runs from March through early June, with practices twice a week with volunteer and professional coaches and games on Sundays against local towns.
Learn more about our program and the sport of lacrosse on our website and follow us on Instagram at @newtonlax !
Please contact us with any questions about the program or to be connected with a current NYL parent: registrar@newtonyouthlacrosse.com
Final Fall Classes with Newton Community Education! Looking for fun and enriching activities for your child this Fall? Check out NCE’s final classes of the season! From Babysitting/CPR and LEGO® Engineering Design to Social Skills & Dining Etiquette and Swimming, there’s something for everyone. Register today!
Ward Community Day (Sponsored by NewtonSERVES), May 4. This is an AMAZING event where Ward families work to clean and beautify our school grounds. This is truly a great way for students and families to give back, meet other families, and make a difference!
Mystery Dinner will be on Saturday, May 10. Please save the date and get those babysitters lined up!! And while it’s still 6 months away, it’s never too early to let us know you may be interested in hosting :). If you’re new to Ward, feel free to go to our website or email us with any questions about what this fun adults-only community event and fundraiser entails. More to come!
Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org