ForWard 08.28.22
Upcoming Events
Monday, August 29
New Family Meet-up at 3:30, meet at the front entrance of Ward
Popsicles in the Park with Principal Brogadir at 4pm Ward Playground
Thursday, September 1
Incoming Kindergarten Playground Meet-Up at 1pm
Open House classroom visits for all students from 1:30-2pm
Wednesday, September 7
Back to School Picnic 5:30-7 at Ward Field
Tuesday, September 20
Fall PTO Meeting, on Zoom at 7:30pm
Saturday, September 24
Grade 2 Parent/Guardian Potluck
See all events on our Calendar
News
From the Co-Presidents
Our September PTO Calendar is filling up quickly and we look forward to these many upcoming opportunities to connect. Please be sure you and your friends are subscribed to this newsletter so you can stay up to date on all that is happening (sign up at wardpto.org)! And remember to follow us on Instagram @wardelementary_pto (will you be our 100th follower?!).
We always love to hear from you so please reach out anytime via copresidents@wardpto.org.
Looking forward to seeing you this week or next!
Caitlin Cusick, Susan St. Pierre and Rashi Khanna
Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2022-23
Volunteers Needed at Ward for Quick End-of-Summer Projects
Mrs. Brogadir is seeking adult volunteers to assist with some school preparation projects. We have discovered we could use some more specific expertise with carpentry/equipment and comfort on ladders for one of these projects. If you can help please email copresidents@wardpto.org with your interest and availability.
Popsicles in the park
Please join Mrs. Brogadir and the PTO for a welcome back celebration!
Monday, August 29th
3:30pm: New to Ward Family Meet Up and Tour of Ward, meet at the front entrance of Ward
4:00pm: All Ward Students & Families - Popsicles in the Park, Ward Playground
Incoming Kindergarten Meet-Up
Join other rising kindergarteners and their families on the Ward Playground Thursday afternoon at 1PM before Open House (weather permitting). This is a casual playdate and a great opportunity to be with friends before starting school. Questions? Contact First Grade Parents Elizabeth (elizabethdimmock@gmail.com) or Christelle (c_ravard@yahoo.com).
Call for Grade-level Potluck Hosts
One of our favorite fall traditions at Ward are the grade-level (adult only!) potlucks. Are you interested in hosting a grade level this fall? The hosting is simple….provide a space and some paper goods and send an invite and your guests do the rest! We will guide you through it all! Last fall many enjoyed beautiful events outdoors so we encourage hosts to set a date SOON to enjoy the September weather. Please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org if you would like to learn more and/or if you are ready to sign up! Each grade level needs a host (any evening of the week is fine) and the dates cannot overlap so first come-first served on date selection! Second grade is already booked (9/24)!
Ward Directory
Whether you are a new or returning family - please be sure your information is current in our directory! Remember this quickly becomes the key to all playdates, birthday parties and more - you don’t want to miss out! This directory is a must for family access to class lists so please be sure your child(ren) is/are listed. It just takes a minute!
https://wardpto.membershiptoolkit.com/.
FREEDGE Volunteers Needed
Last year the Ward PTO Freedge volunteers had tremendous success delivering unused food from our school lunch program to the Freedge located on Watertown St. in Newton. Please consider volunteering with this awesome program, which this year will consist of packaging, labeling and delivering the food to the Freedge on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons after 1:30. As we did last year, 5th grade students will be invited to assist after their lunch, truly making this a community effort. To volunteer, contact Maria Sullivan, 5th grade assistant, sullivanma@newton.k12.ma.us
New PTO Calendar - Subscribe now!
Our survey last spring indicated a strong interest in better calendar functionality for the PTO. Please subscribe to our calendar for the year ahead and sync to your own google calendar and/or phone.
https://www.wardpto.org/calendar
Message from MWRA - Impacts on Getting To/From Ward
Please be advised the MWRA will be working in your area beginning on Monday, August 22, 2022. The MWRA is replacing an existing 20-inch water pipeline with a new 24-inch pipeline along Waverly Ave between Ward Street and Durant Street. The existing pipe is cast iron and over 100 years old. Replacement of this water main will improve water quality, increase system capacity and improve system reliability. Construction for this new pipeline is expected to be complete in approximately six months. Work will be performed by our contractor, Albanese D&S. Equipment and materials needed to perform this work will begin mobilizing on or about August 17th. Hours of construction will be from 7AM-5PM Monday through Friday. The MWRA appreciates your cooperation during this very important water line improvement project. Local police details will be in place during construction work to safely move pedestrians and vehicular traffic around each work site.
Ward families are encouraged to call the Newton Police Department with any safety concerns: 617-796-2100.
Call for Room Parents
With the excitement of teacher assignments last Friday comes our first call for Room Parents for the upcoming year. We seek 1-2 parents per class. Do you think you may be interested? Here is a glimpse at some of the responsibilities of a room parent:
Serve as a liaison between the classroom teacher and the parent/guardian community to coordinate classroom events, volunteers, supplies, teacher appreciation, gifts and more.
Serve as liaison between the PTO leadership and your classroom community by helping to solicit volunteers (example field trips, grade level potlucks, grade level programming, etc), encouraging participation in events/meetings and representing your class to the PTO.
Support all Creative Arts and Sciences programming for your grade level - this could involve coordinating volunteers, providing materials for guests and more.
And more! You will have regular communication with the PTO Board to support overall efforts to build community amongst your class and grade level.
Interested? Please email copresidents@wardpto.org with your name, contact information, grade level and classroom of your student.
Community Notes & Announcements
Please follow Community Notes updates throughout the summer at https://newtonptocouncil.org/community/
And please continue to follow the PTO on instagram @wardelementary_pto