ForWard 09.24.23
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 25
No School - Yom Kippur
Thursday , September 28
Early Release Pizza Sale
Grade 1 Parent / Guardian Potluck
Friday, September 29
Clap Out for Mr. Cassidy
Wednesday, October 4
International Walk-Ride-Roll to School Day
Thursday , October 5
Back to School Curriculum Night
Friday, October 6
Grade 5 Parent / Guardian Potluck
Tuesday, October 10
Fall PTO Meeting
Friday, October 13
Grade 4 Parent / Guardian Potluck
Wednesday, October 18
Grade 2 Parent / Guardian Potluck
Friday, October 27
Ward Fun Run
See all events on our Calendar
News
From the Co-Presidents
Our sincere thanks to Emily Derr and Brent Markus for kicking off the potluck season by hosting the kindergarten potluck on Wednesday evening. Next up - 1st grade on 9/28!
As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, 9/25. Thursday, 9/28, is an early release day with a dismissal time of 12:10pm. Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. L’shanah tova to those who celebrate the Jewish New Year! May the year ahead be full of good health and happiness.
Have a great week,
Rashi Khanna & Bryan Saltzburg
Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2023-24
Fifth Grade Pizza Sale this Thursday
Our fifth grade class will be raising money throughout the school year to support their graduation events and festivities and their presentation of a class gift. Watch for ways you can support the fifth graders throughout the year. First up - pizza sale this Thursday September 28, 2023. With a 12:10 dismissal - what is better than a pizza lunch?! This is open to all after school students as well as all families at pick up. $5 for two slices or for one slice and a cookie & clementine. Thanks for your support! Questions? Contact May Chen at maysueki@hotmail.com.
Thank You/Clap Out for Mr. Cassidy
Ward’s Senior Custodian, Kevin Cassidy, announced his plans to retire at the end of September after nearly 9 years as a custodian for NPS and many more years as a caretaker and hotel facilities manager.
Let’s show Kevin the Ward Community love! Please take a moment as a family and/or individually to share gratitude. Please upload a video to this Flipgrid about one of the following: A Retirement to-do list/A Retirement Wish/A Thank You Message. In addition, there will be a clap out for him at the end of the school day on Friday (9/29) where all students will thank him for his service. We would love for you to join us by the front picnic tables at pickup on Friday where the PTO will present him with a gift to show our gratitude.
Safe Routes to School Update
Check out the new "Rectangular Reflective-Flashing Beacon" (also known as flashing yellow lights) at Waverly ave and Lorna road designed to make school commute safer for pedestrians and cyclists (see image below). Please remind your children that the lights are there to make them more visible but won't protect them. After pressing the button, they still need to make sure drivers stop before crossing. Eye contact and a wave are best! And look forward to 2 more locations near Ward school in the next few weeks at Commonwealth ave and Irving St and Commonwealth ave and Manet rd, hopefully in time for international Walk//Roll/Ride to school day on October 4.
Back to School Curriculum Night
Parents and guardians are invited for Back to School Curriculum Night on Thursday, October 5 from 6-7:30pm. You will have an opportunity to visit your child(ren)’s classroom(s), hear from the classroom teacher about the class community and curriculum, and gather as a larger community in the gym to connect, meet school specialists, and hear from Mrs. Brogadir and the PTO.
Fall PTO Meeting
We hope that you can join us in the Ward library on October 10th at 7pm for our first PTO General Meeting of the school year: ALL are welcome! We will take a look back at the success of the 22-23 school year and share some exciting glimpses of what we have in store for 2023-24! We will be seeking input and comments and will open the discussion to any and all questions that may be on your mind as we all settle into the new year. If you have something specific you would like to discuss at the meeting, please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org
The Ward FUN Run is back!
With an emphasis on fun, the Ward FUN Run will promote our community in a fun, healthy way while raising funds for Ward School. The fundraising begins now; the FUN Run itself will happen on October 27, from 8:45 - 9:45am (rain date: 3 November).
What is the Ward FUN Run?
The FUN Run is a fundraiser that culminates in an all-school run/walk/skip around Ward field on the morning of 27 October. It is not a race and there is no set distance, just 30 minutes to move on the field. The kids decide what their goal is. Three grades will run at the same time; the other three grades will cheer them on.
Schedule
8:45 – 9:15 Grades 3-5
9:15 – 9:45 Grades K-2
How Do We Participate?
There are two ways to participate.
1. REGISTER YOUR CHILD: Please help support our FUN Run by registering your child. Last year we raised over $10,000. We are shooting for $8000 this year.
NOTE: If you registered your child last year, just go here, login with your credentials, and click the green “add to event” button. If you did not register your child last year, you can do that here. Once registered you can easily share your child’s donation page to solicit donations from relatives and friends. Donations can also be sent by cash/check to the school; checks can be made out to WardPTO. Donations are per child, not per lap. Regardless of donations, all students get to participate in the Fun Run and all students will receive a t-shirt and a sticker!
2. JOIN US: We would love to see you on the day of the event to cheer on your child/ren. There are also several volunteer opportunities. Sign up here.
Questions? Contact Penny Ismay Bea’s Mom (3MBJ) at ismay@bc.edu or Lexi Lee Sullivan, Bobby (5G), Jojo (3MBJ), and Aug’s (KM) mom lexilee180@gmail.com.
Community Notes & Announcements
ELEMENTARY TUTORING
Experienced tutor available. I live and tutor in Newton. I work with K through 5th grade students in Reading, Writing and Math. My sessions follow the Newton Public Schools Curriculum. I make learning fun, engaging and a positive experience and my students gain more confidence in their abilities. Please contact Haralie Alpert, M.Ed., MS at haralie@gmail.comor 617-416-5714.
Enjoy Piano Lessons in Your Home!
Experienced Newton teacher has openings for children and adults. Enjoy piano lessons in your Newton home. Contact Marsha Green at msg@greenfamily.org or 617.285.9263.
Join a cool after school class this fall! Check out the Newton Community Education schedule to enroll now. Financial assistance is available too, just apply here. We look forward to welcoming your child! Newton Community Education
And please continue to follow the PTO on instagram @wardelementary_pto