ForWard 05.01.22
Upcoming Events
Monday May 2, 2022
Virtual Forum: Supporting & Affirming Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
May 2-6, 2022
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3, 2022
Newton Inspires Event Featuring Mr. Miles
Wednesday May 4, 2022
MA Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day
Wednesday May 11, 2022
International Night
Sunday May 22, 2022
Ward FORJ Picnic
Monday, June 13, 2022
End of Year Picnic
News
A Note of Thanks for an AMAZING Ward Weekend
Wow! This was an incredible weekend of COMMUNITY for Ward and we have SO many people to thank.
The Mystery Dinner was back on Saturday night and dare-we-say better than ever before. Thank you to our MANY gracious hosts, to all of our generous attendees and to our thoughtful organizers: Tracy Buckner and Bekka Cirel. Friendships were made, funds were raised and our community became stronger. Thank you, Ward!
And what can be better for bonding than uniting tired friends for a day of service on Sunday? NewtonServes was an incredible success on so many levels: massive indoor and outdoor beautification projects were completed and families spent a beautiful spring day together continuing to strengthen our community. Thank you to our MANY hard-working volunteers (adults and children!) and to our incredibly organized chairs: Corena and Phil Larimer.
Teacher Appreciation Week
The time is here to recognize and appreciate our amazing teachers during International Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2-6th. Here is a breakdown of how you can participate:
Monday, May 2nd: Families in Grades K - 2 will host a brunch for all staff. Questions? Anita: hexuananita92@gmail.com Sign up below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA4AA2BA5FCC07-potluck
Thursday, May 5th: Families in Grades 3-5 will host a lunch for all staff. Questions? Zlatena: zlatenas@gmail.com Sign up below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054BA5A82EA5F85-teacher
ALL families and students are encouraged to make cards at home and present them to teachers (classroom teachers, aides, specialist teachers, etc) throughout teacher appreciation week - spread the love and make and send in cards throughout the week!
Room parents will be coordinating with families to ensure each classroom teacher receives a plant/flowers during the week as a token of appreciation.
An Additional Note about NewtonServes Projects
As you return to school on Monday, please talk with your student(s) about the amazing work done at Ward over the weekend. Volunteers took on everything from weeding and mulching and planting to scrubbing the staff room and organizing books and putting tennis balls on classroom chairs. Curtains were hung, shelves were painted, four-square lines were painted and SO much more too! See what you can notice when you visit! One large undertaking was filling multiple giant trash bags with litter from the field, driveway, gardens and playground. We can work together to maintain this clean slate we have now…let’s all commit to keeping litter off of our school grounds!
Spring Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day
This Wednesday, May 4th, join students and families across the state of Massachusettes and choose to walk, bike, and roll to school to enjoy a safe, healthy, and active lifestyle. Remember park and walk is always a great option too - allowing students to have the chance to walk and also minimizing traffic in front of the school.
Virtual Forum: Supporting & Affirming Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
The Department of DEI, in partnership with the LGBTQ+ NPS Employees’ Affinity Group, is very excited to invite you to our upcoming NPS community forum: Supporting and Affirming Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
This event is open to all NPS students, parents and staff to hear from trained facilitators, along with a panel of LGBTQ+ members of our community. This conversation is intended to help us better understand the experiences of our transgender and gender expansive student community and to learn more about the ways we can support and affirm the dignity, safety and inclusion of all of our students.
To register, please RSVP in advance in order to receive a zoom link prior to the event:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccuvkTyq7vHFkBkwSoWia75KqM2irdJ7L9cZbXwjX8xmumdw/viewform
Community Notes & Announcements
Join Newton Schools Foundation for the 11th Newton Inspires
A highlight of the event will be a live conversation with moderator, former WGBH journalist and host of All Things Considered, Barbara Howard and teachers Rebecca Robles Taylor, Bigelow, Jill Leibowitz, Cabot, Amy McMahon, Newton North, David Weintraub, Newton South, and Miles Wilcox, Ward. We'll peek inside Newton's classrooms, learn how NSF grants have impacted their teaching, and see how these educators inspire our students every day. We will also offer light fare, music by NPS students and a video featuring highlights of NSF funded programs.
Special guest Denise Drower Swidey, celebrity food stylist and Newton South parent, has helped us create the event's signature "mocktails." For tickets and more information: https://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/newton-inspires/
Newton Neighbors Diaper Drive
April 30 - May 13: Citywide Diaper Drive
May 14: Diaper Pickup
One in three families struggle to afford diapers, making it even harder for them to buy food and other necessities. Support local families who need diapers! Sizes requested: newborn — 6. Open boxes are welcome, but please put diapers in labeled plastic sleeves or bags.
Donate diapers at:
1. FamilyACCESS of Newton (492 Waltham St, West Newton) Drop off inside the front doors from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm when the building is open. Look for a table with a diaper dropoff sign. NO weekend dropoffs.
2. FUUSN church (1326 Washington St, West Newton) Drop off 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Monday-Friday. Enter the back door, and turn left. Follow hallway to Children's Chapel (last door on the right before entering Parish Hall).
3. American Legion Nonantum Post 440 (295 California St, Nonantum) Drop off in the main office 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. From the parking lot, enter the glass doors, up the steps, and turn left.
4. Porch dropoff (33 Hamlin Road, Newton Centre) Leave your donation on the front porch.
5. Purchase diapers from our Amazon Wish List. Diapers will be shipped directly to one of our collection points.
Pick up free diapers for your family on May 14, 7:30am - 12:30pm at:
American Legion Nonantum Post 440 (295 California St, Nonantum)
FamilyACCESS of Newton (492 Waltham St, West Newton)
https://www.newtonneighbors.org/
Newton/Needham PMC Kids Ride for Dana Farber
The Ride had been canceled for the last two years but is back this year and we're hoping to make it a success again. Riders can participate individually or as part of their school team (enter Ward School!). It's a fun and meaningful morning for all. https://kids.pmc.org/newton-needham
Carroll Center for the Blind’s 5K and Walk for Independence
The Carroll Center for the Blind invites members of the Newton community to attend our 10th Annual 5K and Walk for Independence on Saturday, May 14 at the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, 100 Carlson Ave, Newton. Our organization is dedicated to the blind and low vision community, serving a population of all ages and stages of vision loss. Attendees can participate in a professionally timed 5K (by Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray) or a one-mile walk. Activities will include mingling with New England Patriots players, bounce house, touch-a-truck, cookout, and games for all ages! All funds raised through this event ensure the Carroll Center for the Blind can continue to empower those of all ages and all stages of vision loss to lead independent, fulfilling lives. Register today at www.carroll.org/walk.
See more Community Notes at https://newtonptocouncil.org/community/