ForWard 1.12.25
From the Co-Presidents:
This is our first newsletter in 2025, and we wish to extend our continued thanks to our entire community. We are so grateful to be a part of this incredible group of families. Like most people who make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, our goals for this year are to continue fostering growth and connectivity within our community. We are also working on planning some new family activities for the late winter—more information will come soon!
We appreciate your support of the Annual Fund. So far, 25% of families have participated, and we’ve raised $6,966, which is 49% of the way to our $15,000 goal. The Ward PTO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit; all donations are tax-deductible. Every dollar raised is critical to providing the programs, support, and resources our kids and teachers need. We genuinely appreciate your support. See below for more information about how to donate via PayPal, check, or Venmo to @WardPTO.
On Tuesday, we had our first Ward Book Club meeting, and we were thrilled that over twenty parents attended! We discussed Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. We thank Ward social worker Erin Byrne, who kindly agreed to moderate the event, and Sasha and Chris Lamont, who graciously hosted the event at her home. We look forward to planning our next book club event and will have more information soon.
We are looking forward to some upcoming community events that we wanted to highlight: 1) This Friday, January 17, from 5-5:50 PM, is Ward Family Skate Night at the Jack Kirrane Ice Rink. Please see below for more information about how to join! 2) The 4th Grade Morning Meet-Up meet-up with the fourth-grade teachers is on Thursday, January 23, from 8-8:30 AM in the library. We hope to see many of you there!
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
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 four major fundraising streams: 1) The Fun Run, 2) The Annual Fund, 3) The Teacher Raffle, and 4) The Mystery Dinner.
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. We’ve raised $6,966 and are 49% of the way to our goal, with 25% of families participating. PTO funds go towards anything from community events and curriculum enrichment to supporting the needs of our principal, teachers, and staff. Every dollar raised is critical for our students, teachers, and school community, and we appreciate donations of any amount.
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 our yearly raise. 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.
Upcoming Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) Programming:
January 28th - 3rd Grade: Force & Magnetism (Discovery Museum)
January 28th - Kindergarten: Liquids and Solids (Discovery Museum)
February 28th - 1st Grade: Author Visit - Emilie Boon
March 11th - 2nd Grade: A Day in Ghana
March 13th - 1st Grade: Mass Audobon - Wild Adaptations (Birds of Prey)
Ward Family Ice Skating Event
January 17, from 5 pm to 5:50 pm, at the Jack Kirrane Ice Rink at Larz Anderson Park. This event will cost $10/per person plus the cost of skate rentals, should you need them.
To RSVP and for more information, please email Christina DiNardi at christina@christinadinardi.com. Thank you to Christina for organizing this new Ward event. We hope to see you there.
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.
Looking for a babysitter?
Here is a special message from a Ward Alum: Hi, my name is Wanda, and I am 11, almost 12 years old. I love kids and have a younger brother. I do lots of chores to help out around the house. I do my cat's medicine too. I graduated from Ward last year. I charge 12 dollars an hour for parent helping, babysitting, or dog walking. I can provide references upon request. Please contact me at wandalopin@gmail.com, landline 617-244-0402 or cell 617-582-3748.
Upcoming Event Highlights
Newton Community Education Classes! Are you looking for fun and enriching activities for your child after school? NCE has three classes that will take place at Ward:
Check out their full schedule here!
New Art Center is offering a Creative Connections class in the New Year! This class is facilitated by a registered art therapist and begins with a warm-up game to facilitate peer connections, followed by creative/collaborative artmaking and closing with a compliment circle. The last session culminates in a parent-child artmaking and sharing experience! We operate this program on a sliding scale so that the cost of tuition is not a barrier to any students.
If you are interested, please click here to sign up or share with a friend.
Newton Girls Lacrosse Registration has been dedicated to providing Newton lacrosse players and their families a community based developmental lacrosse program since 1999. The program delivers a fun, safe and inclusive youth sports environment. The goal of this instructional program is to teach our players sportsmanship, lacrosse skills, core lacrosse elements (attacking, defending, transition) as well as to provide a space for building new friendships with players from across Newton. Our program is open to players in grades 1-8. Please note, our program offers financial assistance to families that have a need for some financial support. Before you register please email ngl.program@gmail.com and the Program Director will follow up with you. A large part of our program relies on parent coaching volunteers. We will train you! If you would like to coach with us we offer a 50% Discount on one child's registration. Use 2025COACH at checkout.
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
Ward Community Day (Sponsored by NewtonSERVES) is May 4. This is an AMAZING event where Ward families work to clean and beautify our school grounds. It 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, 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