ForWard 9.26.21
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 30 from 6-8PM
Grade 1 Parents Potluck If you did not receive your invitation, please email Troy at tgolla@me.com
Saturday, October 2 from 6-8PM
Grade 4 Parents Potluck If you did not receive your invitation, please email Tracy at bucknertracy3@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 6 from 6:30-8:30PM
Grade 3 Parents Potluck If you did not receive your invitation, please email Lexi at lexilee180@gmail.com
Saturday, October 9 from 6-8PM
Grade 5 Parents Potluck Watch for an invitation!
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
International Walk and Roll to School Day
Plan to join the community and school children across the world and walk, bike or bus to school!
Thursday, October 7 at 7:30pm on Zoom
Fall PTO Meeting
Agenda items to include the annual budget and the annual calendar of events. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
News
From the Co-Presidents
The Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) Curriculum is the cornerstone of the Ward PTO’s mission to support and enrich our children’s learning experiences at school. CAS has been providing enrichment opportunities for NPS students for over 60 years. Each year, at each school, a committee of parent volunteers consult with teachers to choose from a pre-vetted selection of high-quality, highly relevant and carefully planned arts and sciences programming. Programs are hands-on, cross-curricular, and culturally diverse. We are looking for several volunteers (ideally at least one per grade level) to work with teachers to select programs and to coordinate and book the programs in consultation with the city-wide CAS group. We have one experienced parent coordinator who cannot do this job on her own but will be able to assist and guide others. Please consider volunteering for this important role that directly impacts the experience our children will have at Ward!
Grade Level Potluck Gatherings: Need hosts for K and 2!
Grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 - watch for invitations! Grades K and 2 - we are looking for families to host grade-level potluck style get-togethers. As a host, your responsibility is the paper goods! Due to COVID precautions - events must be held outdoors so we are looking to plan these EARLY in the fall. Additionally, every grade is welcoming an exciting number of new families so it will be beneficial to meet each other soon. Given the current climate we recommend keeping it simple (ex: appetizers and drinks or drinks and desserts). It is really important this year for families to socialize and be together! Remember - this is an only adult event. If you are interested in hosting please email Sara Wantman: sbwantman@gmail.com. We would like all grades to have some sort of social gathering before the weather starts to change.
Ward School Directory
LAST CALL! Deadline is Sept 30!
The Ward School PTO Family Directory is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The access is free and it can be used by all Ward families. The directory is run and funded by the PTO thanks to your support! It can be found online at wardpto.membershiptoolkit.com. The online platform is a secure and easy to use tool that organizes contact information from all Ward families unless they specifically opt out.
For returning Ward School families:
Please log in at wardpto.membershiptoolkit.com and confirm that your information is correct and up-to-date. Most families already have an email associated with the online directory, but if there is a problem please contact Sarah Lenz at directory@wardpto.org.
For families new to Ward School:
Login as NEW USER, and create a new account
Click “Verify my email” and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders. Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Complete the Parent/Family and then Student Information.
Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.
Attention Business Owners!
Would you like to advertise your business in the Ward Directory?
Ward is publishing a hard copy Ward Family Directory again this year. There are opportunities to advertise your business to the Ward Community by purchasing an ad in the Directory. The directory is a great resource for Ward families, especially new families, and a cost effective way for your business to reach our families and support the PTO. In addition to offsetting the cost of printing the Directory, proceeds will go toward PTO funding including Creative Arts & Sciences programming and community events.
AD SIZES AND PRICES
A: Full Page $500 - 8.5" x 11"
B: Half page landscape $250 - 8.5" x 5.5"
C: Quarter page portrait $150 - 4.25" x 5.5"
D: Eighth page landscape $100 - 4.25 x 2.5
Please let Kathy Shields (kburdetteshields@yahoo.com), Ron Farrar (Ronfarrar@gmail.com) know if you are interested. The ad deadline is September 30, and we hope to distribute the directories in mid-October.
Mystery Dinner
This can’t-be-missed night is not cancelled, just postponed! Save the date for the annual Mystery Dinner (grown-ups only) April 30, 2022! We will celebrate an amazing school year and hopefully a spring with fewer precautions necessary. It is never too early to consider hosting appetizers, a dinner or desserts. Reach out to the Mystery Dinner coordinators: bucknertracy3@gmail.com or rebecca.cirel@gmail.com and expect to hear more on this in early 2022.
Community Notes & Announcements
Consent forms for the NPS COVID testing program are now available in Aspen.
You ARE REQUIRED to provide consent for your student to be tested. Please log into Aspen to sign the consent form. Here is the Aspen Login Link. Please follow these instructions for accessing and signing the consent form. Testing is scheduled to begin in mid-September. Here are the details on the state-sponsored multi-tiered COVID testing program administered by CIC Health:
Symptomatic Testing: This protocol (a rapid test), will be used for students and staff who develop symptoms while at school.
Test and Stay (Close contact testing): This protocol (a rapid test) will be used to test unvaccinated asymptomatic individuals who have been identified as close contacts following possible exposure at school.
Routine (Weekly) COVID Pooled Testing: This protocol (anterior nasal swab) will be used for all individuals who opt-in to participate in the weekly COVID testing program.
Having trouble logging into Aspen? Email: aspen@newton.k12.ma.us
Indigenous Peoples Day Newton Ceremonial Celebration
Monday, October 11, 2021, 12 - 5pm, Albemarle Park
Ward Parent Krysia Villon is on the planning committee for this first Indigenous Peoples Day event in Newton! This free, family-centered event will feature numerous Indigenous artists from all around the Northeast- singers, poets, musicians, painters and more! You can learn more about Indigenous businesses and nonprofits at the marketplace. Participate in a talking circle. And, be sure to enjoy a delicious meal from the Indigenous food trucks! Krysia is happy to answer any questions: krysia.villon@gmail.com
Read about all the details at our website IPD Newton and check out our FaceBook and Instagram pages! https://ipdmassnewton.wixsite.com/ipdnewton
Attention Kindergarten and 1st Grade Families: Story Starters registration is open
Story Starters is enrolling families with 3- to 8-year-olds to participate in our fall 8-week program. Our program is designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children. Story Starters gives families age-appropriate tools and skills to have meaningful conversations about race and racism. Story Starters families learn from educators, racial justice advocates, and each other.
Our program provides families with:
A bundle of 6 books
5 parent guides full of research, resources, and family activities to help parents start and deepen family race conversations
4 curated book lists to support further exploration and conversation
2 family events and 2 parent workshops
A vibrant community of families seeking to make an impact in their homes and beyond
Local playground meet-ups to facilitate community connections
The program kickoff is October 3rd from 5:00-6:00pm. For additional program dates and details, visit: www.story-starters.org/program