ForWard 3.09.25
From the Co-Presidents:
We wish you the beginning of a very happy month in March!
Last Thursday, Kindergarten and 2nd Grade parents met with grade-level teachers for an informal meet-up in the library. Thank you to Mrs. MacKenzie, Ms. Kurens, and all the parents who attended! We look forward to the 3rd Grade Meet-Up on Thursday, April 3rd.
Please save the date for our next in-person PTO meeting on Tuesday, April 1st, from 8:30-9:30 in the library. We will be joined by Superintendent Anna Nolin and member(s) of the School Committee. Please come prepared with any questions - this will primarily be in a Q&A format. If you aren't able to attend but have some questions you’d like to ask, please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org. We will see you there!
Calling All Mystery Dinner Hosts!! The Mystery Dinner is just two months away, and we can’t wait!! We are beginning to look for volunteers to host appetizers or desserts for the larger group or smaller dinner parties at their homes. This is a fun community event and one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, made possible thanks to our generous and fun volunteers. Please visit our website for more information or to volunteer to host. You can also always email us at copresidents@wardpto.org with any questions!
As we look ahead to next year, we’d love to have additional voices join us on the PTO Board as Fundraising Chair, Parent Volunteer Coordinator, and Secretary. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you and chat more. 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
Girls on the Run at Ward! (GOTR)
We’re excited to announce that Girls on the Run, a 3rd-5th grade after-school running program, will be coming to Ward this Spring! This empowering program uses running and other fun activities to help girls build confidence, connection, and resilience.
The 8-week season kicks off the week of March 31 and culminates with the Girls on the Run Regional Celebratory 5K at Boston Common on May 31st. Ward’s team will join over 180 teams and 2,700 girls from across Eastern Massachusetts for this exciting event!
The team will be coached by Ward parents Christina DiNardi and Aleksandra Lamont as well as kindergarten teacher Mrs. MacKenzie and social worker Erin Bryne! If you have any questions please reach out to Christina at christina@christinadinardi.com, Alexandra at Alessandra.itk@gmail.com, or our GOTR coordinator Teresa Ferguson at teresa.ferguson@girlsontherun.org for more information. Girls who go to After School are more than welcome to join and will be brought back to After School once practice is over.
We can't wait to see our girls run, grow, and shine this spring!
Team Details:
Grades: 3-5
Practice Days & Times: Tu/Th 3:00-4:15 PM
First Practice: Tuesday, 4/1
Celebratory 5K: 5/31 at the Boston Common!
Program Fee: Sliding Scale ($35 - $225)
Financial Assistance always available!
Registration opens Monday, 3/10.
Story Starters at Ward
We are hoping to offer a Story Starters program at Ward Elementary in Fall 2025. This is an incredibly meaningful program that helps families have conversations with their young kids about race and racism, using picture books as tools. The goal is to help kids become comfortable with their own and others' identities, and be mindful of how to create a more just world.
Because this is a family program, events will be scheduled when parents can participate. The two in-person family events last about 90 minutes and will be scheduled either on weekends or other times when parents can be available. The two online parent workshops will take place on weekday evenings and are also 90 minutes.
Interested in joining the program? Please fill out this form. If you have any questions, reach out to elizabethweinberg@wardpto.org
The Annual Teacher Raffle will launch on March 10th.
Look out for a special email announcement with more information. Thank you in advance to Caitlin Cusick and Betsy Blazar for coordinating the Teacher Raffle! This is a fun opportunity to support the PTO and have some special experiences with Ward teachers and staff.
The Annual Mystery Dinner will be on Saturday, May 10th.
We are looking for host families to make this night a success! Please visit our website for more information or to volunteer to host. Or email us with any questions about what this fun, adults-only community event and fundraiser entails. This is THE event of the year. Please save the date and get those babysitters lined up!! Thank you in advance to Betsy Blazar and Emily Derr for leading this incredible event!
It is time to apply to Ward After-School for 2025-26! Applications will be emailed to currently enrolled families. For families new to our program, please email us at donna@wardafterschool.com to request an application. You must submit a new application each school year.
Some important things to note about our program and the application process:
We are a private, nonprofit program licensed by the State of Massachusetts
We have a two-day minimum for enrollment
There is a $50 application fee (made payable to Ward After-School Program)
Please let any friends or neighbors with incoming Kindergartners know about our program!
Applications are due by Friday, March 28. This is a REAL deadline. We typically receive many applications so to be fair to all, we strictly enforce the deadline.
Tuition costs will be determined by the number of applications received. For a summary of the current school year's rates, please inquire with the Director, Donna Marohn, donna@wardafterschool.com.
Our program strives to accommodate all who apply by the deadline. However, we may receive more applications than spaces available in accordance with our child care license. A waitlist may be necessary.
If you have any questions or to request an application, please contact Director Donna Marohn at donna@wardafterschool.com or 617-965-3087.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2025-26
Ward is already planning for the next school year. Your child must turn five on or before August 31, 2025, to join the kindergarten class in September 2025.
If you have an incoming kindergartener, please inform us by completing THIS FORM. Please also forward it to neighbors who may be sending a child to kindergarten next year.
Save the Date: On the evening of Monday, February 27th, 2025, NPS will hold a virtual information session for families NEW to the Newton Public Schools.
For more information about the kindergarten registration process, please click HERE.
Upcoming Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) Programming:
March 11th - 2nd Grade: A Day in Ghana
March 13th - 1st Grade: Mass Audobon - Wild Adaptations (Birds of Prey)
March 23rd - 1st Grade: Author Visit - Emilie Boon
May 5th - 3rd Grade: Origamido
June 6th - 3rd & 5th Grade: Techsploration
Special Election Voter’s Guide
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025 a special election will be held to elect a candidate to fill the vacant Ward 7 position on the School Committee. Despite the fact that only one candidate is running in this special election, the League of Women Voters of Newton believes it is important for Newton voters to know and learn about their candidates. In that spirit, LWVN asked candidate Alicia Piedalue to submit answers to five questions that we believe are on the minds of Newton parents and compiled those answers into this Voter’s Guide. We hope this helps to inform voters about the candidate.
Please Vote!
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.
Attention 5th Grade Parents: Would you like to see some more great events for your Bigelow student in the next school year? Volunteering with the PTO is a great way to enhance your student’s middle school experience while meeting other parents and building a stronger school connection.
It is time to start to planning for the 2025-26 school year! We are actively recruiting for several positions that will be open next year as 8th grade families move on from Bigelow. Now is the ideal time to volunteer as overlap with current volunteers will make for an easy transition. In particular, we would like to identify volunteers for the following:
President/Co-President Lead and support the team, preside over PTO meetings, serve as primary contact and representative of the PTO.Communications/Website Send weekly PTO newsletters and other communications. Maintain PTO website. **Training available from current volunteer!**
In addition to the positions highlighted above, there are many other ways to get involved in the PTO. Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or learning more about any of the opportunities to become involved with the Bigelow PTO. Co-volunteers welcome!
Upcoming Event Highlights
Newton Community Education Classes! Are you looking for fun and enriching activities for your child after school? NCE has two classes that will take place at Ward:
Check out their full schedule here!
Newton’s S.P.A.C.E. (Summer Program for Academic and Creative Endeavors)
Newton’s S.P.A.C.E. is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 7th through July 31st. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2025 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering 5th-9th grade) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten- 4th grade).
LOWER CAMP - Campers are assigned to age-appropriate classes taught by two licensed teachers. Teachers create project-based activities that focus on the theme of the lower camp. Last summer, the theme was “Summer Olympics”. Campers learned about the history, countries, cultures, and sports of the Olympics. Lower Campers will also attend various specials throughout the week led by certified staff, which include Physical Education, Yoga/Minfulness, Art and Science classes.
UPPER CAMP - Campers will create their own schedules by choosing from a variety of electives to design their own camp program. Elective choices include studio and digital arts, performing arts, athletics, STEM, music, and language arts classes.
Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW!
Questions?SPACE@newton.k12.ma.us
The Greater Boston STEM Program (gbSTEM), is a non-profit enrichment program that delivers free introductory computer science, math, engineering, and science courses to elementary and middle school students in the Greater Boston area. Since March 2020, our team of dedicated high school volunteers have brought free lessons to over 1000 Massachusetts youth. Classes will be held both through Zoom and in-person, and we pride ourselves in our innovative curriculum and collaboration-based learning model.
We are delighted to announce that gbSTEM will be offering a spring semester to Ward students, which will run from Sunday, March 16th to Saturday, June 14th!
To sign up, you must pre-register by March 8th, 2025.
Create an account for your family (https://portal.gbstem.org/signup)
Verify your email and click "go to dashboard" in the portal
Wait until you are notified on March 8th to register your child for open class slots on a first-come, first-serve basis. This registration is due by March 15th.
Information about our program and the pre-registration form can be found at our website: https://gbstem.org
If you have any questions, please contact contact@gbstem.org. We are so excited to work with your family this spring!
LigerBoxes: A STEAM Extravaganza with the LigerBots!
Ever wondered how to make magnetic slime, tie-dye milk or a robotic arm? In this fun and engaging class developed and led by members of the LigerBots, Newton's award-winning high school robotics team, get ready to explore chemistry and physics properties, conduct labs with friends, and gain a better understanding of the world we live in all through STEAM activities! Register here!
Students are welcome to join us for one, or both weeks- no prior experience or knowledge is necessary!
Grades 3-6
Angier Elementary School
August 11-15, 2025 from 9:00-12:00 pm
August 18-22, 2025 from 9:00-12:00 pm
Please reach out to Sarah Housman, Summer Program Coordinator at NCE with any questions: housmans@newton.k12.ma.us.
Newton Girls Softball: Registration is OPEN for the 2025 spring season of Newton Girls Softball. We are a warm, welcoming community open to grades K-8 for any girl interested in playing softball. Any skill level is welcome, so if you are a new (or returning) player, sign up today! Register at www.newtongirlssoftball.org. Questions? Please contact info@newtongirlssoftball.org.
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!
Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org