ForWard 05.21.23
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Spring Instrumental Concert
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Celebrating Ward Retirees
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Ward Night at the Red Sox
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Spring Concert Luau
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Color Day
Monday, June 12, 2023
Spring Picnic
See all events on our Calendar
News
From the Co-Presidents
This week was marked by a Spring PTO meeting to discuss the future of Ward and Underwood schools. The meeting was well attended by parents, staff, committee members and NPS officials where the discussion was around current and projected enrollment in both schools and options moving forward both in the shorter and longer term. While there are lots of open questions, a decision is expected to be made regarding Fall 2024 before Kindergarten registration begins, around December of 2023.
If you would like to learn more and receive email updates on the work of the Ward-Underwood task force, please access this link. Also, please be aware that all meetings of the Ward-Underwood task force are open to the public, whether they are in person or by zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted to the website linked above.
Have a great week,
Caitlin, Rashi & Susan
A Message from Fifth Grade Parents to Fourth Grade Parents
Hello Fourth Grade Families! School year 2023-2024 will be a fun, memorable and meaningful year for your child(ren) as a Ward Fifth Grader! We have so many traditions that students look forward to as fifth graders and we want to be sure your children do not miss out!
It is that VERY important time to form a fifth grade committee. You will need 2-4 Chairs/Coordinators who should collaborate and volunteer now. You may sign up on this spreadsheet. Those coordinators will then work to solicit additional volunteers for specific roles such as fundraising (example pizza sales, Valentine sales, bake sales); community service; Yearbook (work alongside Newton North graphic design students); Graduation; class party; student gifts; class gift and more! We said it is a fun year but, yes, also a busy one!
The current fifth grade committee will gladly share all resources and notes this spring and that is why it is critical you find your chairpeople now! Talk with each other, create a partnership and be sure to let us know! Congrats on approaching this exciting milestone and thanks for all you do for Ward!
Family Celebration Honoring Ward Retirees
The PTO is hosting an open house for families to celebrate and honor Cynthia Silverman and Maria Sullivan for their combined 38 years of service and dedication to the Ward School community!
When: Wednesday, May 31; 4:00pm-5:00pm
Where: Ward School Library
Please join us and spread the word!
Color Day
Color Day is soon approaching! This is a much anticipated event by students and teachers, and we need family volunteers to make it a success. If you are able to volunteer the morning of Wednesday, June 7 (or on our possible rain date of June 14), please sign up here. You'll be given directions the morning of, and it really is just a lot of fun! Feel free to direct any questions you may have to Chelsie Garrett: chelsievance@gmail.com.
Community Notes & Announcements
Restore Kindergarten Aides
With recent budget cuts, this very critical position has been elimanted. How can you help?
• Please add your signature to this letter:
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/760/723/039/restore-kindergarten-aides-in-newton-public-schools/
Share this message with all your friends, preschool families, teachers and anyone who might be interested in signing.
• Contact your elected officials by writing emails/letters, attending office hours or if unavailable, inviting them to coffee/walk/conversations.
Email the Mayor at rfuller@newtonma.gov, she has the power to change this.
Email your city council and school committee representative https://www.newtonma.gov/government/city-clerk/city-council and https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/688 (Email messages sent to schoolcommittee@newton.k12.ma.us will be received by the entire School Committee)
Email the Superintendent smithkath@newton.k12.ma.us
• Make a public comment at a school committee meeting.
Gun Violence Prevention in Newton
*Thursday, June 1 (6:00-7:00 pm) June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. Join Newton Police, Newton Health & Human Services, and the Newton Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative on a Zoom webinar to learn about strategies to keep kids safe, store guns safely, and explore the ways that red flag laws can protect our friends, family, and community. Register at tinyurl.com/yc6y9u86 or for more info: https://facebook.com/events/s/community-forum-gun-violence-p/150484067887223/
Robotics STEM Program in Newton/Wellesley
Do your kids love creating something new and seeing their ideas come to life? Do they enjoy the challenge of building and programming robots? If so, we invite them to join Robotfun Academy (Newton-Wellesley), a new robotics STEM educational program founded by parents from Newton elementary school. Our after-school classes and summer camps, which are open to elementary and middle school students in grades 1-7, use VEX Robotics to teach engineering, programming, and teamwork skills. Let's have some fun building and playing with robots this summer! For more information about our summer camps, please visit our website at https://www.robotfunacademy.com/
For more community notes: https://newtonptocouncil.org/category/community/
And please continue to follow the PTO on Instagram @wardelementary_pto