ForWard 11.20.22
Upcoming Events
Friday, November 25
Annual Fund Launch
Saturday, December 3
SEPAC Playground Event
Monday, December 5 at 7pm
PTO General Meeting In-Person with Principal Brogadir
Monday, January 9, 2023
Ward Night at the Celtics
See all events on our Calendar
News
From the Co-Presidents
We hope that the upcoming break allows for a time of celebration, rest and relaxation. Please know that as we reflect on all that we are grateful for during this season of gratitude - we appreciate the energy of this community. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your willingness to participate. Thank you for your donations. Thank you for being a part of Ward.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family,
Caitlin, Rashi & Susan
copresidents@wardpto.org
Fifth Grade Food Drive - THANK YOU!
Dear Ward families,
Thank you so much for donating to the 5th grade food drive! And thank you all fifth graders for helping. Thank you so much for getting some high-quality breakfast cereal, which is one of the favorite items for the people at the Newton Food pantry. Although we didn’t count how much stuff we got, all the food and donations took up about two SUVs! Thank you again for donating!
Some facts about the Newton Food pantry:
In 2018, they served 3,500 people!
In 2021, they served 10,000 people!
Each month they give over 4,000 bags of food and personal care items to more than 1,800 people on Newton!
Thank you so much!
From,
Mathilde McKee and all the fifth graders
FREEDGE Volunteers
The Ward efforts to support the Newton FREEDGE continue. Thank you to our “regular” drivers - we could not do this without you! The PTO and Ward Staff have some open slots next week and many in December. Just a friendly reminder to sign up when you are able. (Sign up here .)
Many thanks,
Maria Sullivan
School Council - Seeking Candidates
Are you looking to make an impact on important school decisions impacting your child(ren)? Now is your chance! Mandated by state law, the School Council serves as an advisory board to the principal. Members include the principal, 2 teachers and 2 parent representatives, and a community member. School Council provides a forum to discuss and advise the principal on issues that arise throughout the year, including programmatic matters; the school improvement plan; safety and building maintenance issues; and other relevant topics. Meetings will be held in January, March and May 2023 and, moving forward, approximately 4 times per year.
The Ward School Council is a separate entity from the PTO. School Council focuses on programmatic, operational, and budgetary issues, while the PTO provides social and community support and curriculum enhancement activities. The PTO administers the School Council election each year.
Parents/guardians are elected for 2 or 3-year terms to School Council. If you would like to be a candidate for School Council beginning in January 2023, please write a short description of your background, why you are interested in the position, and how you would make a difference to Ward. Candidate statements should be e-mailed to brogadirr@newton.k12.ma.us and are due by Friday, December 16. The School Council election will be held the following week and will be conducted through an on-line survey.
If you are considering running for School Council and have questions, please talk with Caitlin Cusick (prior council member) or Becca Brogadir for further information.
Lost and Found - Please help!
Thanks to a helpful staff member and a productive sweep of the playground - the FULL Lost and Found is now on display in the school lobby. Please come by and claim your items ASAP (or encourage your student(s) to check). Items left behind will be donated before the December break.
‘Tis the Season of Giving
This is such a fun time of year to recognize our teachers and staff. Be on the lookout for emails from your room parents coordinating whole class gifts. As a reminder, the NPS Gift Giving Policy states that:
1. Gifts of commercial value must be presented from the entire class/no individual gifts
2. Gifts may not exceed a value of $150/year
3. Individual gifts in the form of sentimental tokens are allowed
4. This policy does not include gifts for the classroom (if interested in further regulation on gifts for the classroom, please see the NPS Equity Policy).
Save the Date: Joint SEPAC Event
The SEPACs (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) of Ward, Underwood, Lincoln-Eliot and Cabot Elementary Schools are hosting a playground meetup (all are welcome, not just families of students with special education needs) on Saturday, 12/03 2-4p outside at Cabot Elementary School Playground. We will provide refreshments and are working on some activities with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. If you have particular accessibility and inclusivity needs, considerations or ideas to make the event awesome, feel free to leave in the Public Comment of your RSVP or email jordyne@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F49AEA723A7F58-ward1
A Quick Note for Your Spring Calendar
The Ward School Art Show will be May 4, 2023.
Dark Walks Home
We have all noticed that our after school pick-ups feel very different this week after Day-light Savings. Do you travel on the back path towards Woodchester Drive? We need your help! The Newton 311 system REALLY works and is the best way to get action on issues of concern. Can you support our grassroots effort to get lighting on this path? Download the Newton 311 App or Call 311 from a Newton landline and ask for lighting to keep all of our students and families safe this winter!
Community Notes & Announcements
Donate Cooked Food on Thanksgiving
Are you looking for a way to share some of your delicious Thanksgiving dishes? Make some extra food this year and drop it off at the Newton Police Department at 1321 Washington Street, West Newton, and volunteers will use your food donations to prepare big plates of Thanksgiving dinner for our local (mostly Boston) homeless community. If you want to read more about Gobble Gobble Give, check out the website.
Here is the signup to bring food this year: GOBBLE GOBBLE GIVE BOSTON 2022
For more community notes: https://newtonptocouncil.org/category/community/
And please continue to follow the PTO on instagram @wardelementary_pto