ForWard 06.18.23
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Fifth Grade Celebration
Wednesday June 21, 2023
Lemonade Toast
Lost & Found - Last chance!
See all events on our Calendar
News
From the Exiting Co-Presidents
First we owe a huge thanks to Zlatena Simeonova for bringing our community together one last time this year with that EPIC picnic (by epic we mean 300 ice creams consumed!!). Zlatena has organized so many Ward picnics in her time as a parent here and we will miss her dearly at Ward!
Speaking of goodbyes, we want to thank this community so much for your tireless efforts, support and collaboration throughout our two-year co-presidency. We got to witness Ward come back to life after the pandemic and we are so honored to have been a part of that revitalization. We have been continually inspired by the kindness, thoughtfulness, and dedication of Becca Brogadir. She has been a wonderful partner and leader during this time. If you are passionate about Ward, care deeply about your child(ren)’s elementary school experience and want to have an active role in NPS affairs - we could not more strongly recommend considering a leadership role with the PTO in your time here. Yes - we gave a lot of our time but more importantly we gained incredible friendships, contributed to long traditions (and some great new ones too!) and really got to know our community. You get much more than you give!
We want to express our sincere gratitude to Kristin Golden for her expertise as treasurer and Betsy Blazar for her incredible skills on our website and communications over the past two years. We are also grateful to Rashi Khanna for joining us as a Co-President this year and for being our bridge to next year. We literally could not have had a better team!
Happy Summer!!
Caitlin and Susan
PTO Leadership 2023-2024
As we look ForWard, we are excited to introduce your PTO Leadership Team for the 2023-2024 school year: Rashi Khanna and Bryan Saltzburg will serve as Co-Presidents (copresidents@wardpto.org). Jon Levin (jon@wardpto.org) will serve as Vice-President. With incredible dedication - Kristin Golden (treasurer@wardpto.org) will maintain her Treasurer role for another term and Betsy Blazar (betsy@wardpto.org) will serve as Communications Chair for another term. We also want to thank Emily Josephsohn (cas@wardpto.org) for continuing on as Chair of the Creative Arts and Sciences Committee which is responsible for coordinating all of the curriculum enrichment experiences your children enjoy at school each year.
We are grateful to ALL who have volunteered to serve in 2023-2024 and encourage anyone looking to be involved to contact the Co-Presidents to discuss opportunities. The PTO is always seeking volunteers, ideas and inspiration. If you would like to sign up for a role please do so soon so we can plan accordingly for fall. If you have questions or ideas never hesitate to contact copresidents@wardpto.org. We are all PTO Members and everyone should consider taking on an active role!
Last Day Lemonade Toast
Hooray for summer! Parents and guardians are welcome to join for a Lemonade Toast starting at 11:50 on Wednesday, June 21st (prior to the 12:10 dismissal) at the picnic tables in front of Ward. Stop by and congratulate the new leadership and toast to summer with friends!
Lost and Found
Please take a moment to check the lost and found for any missing items on Tuesday or Wednesday. Everything will be donated very shortly after school ends. Many thanks to Heba Haddad for her years of service in reuniting lost items with their owners, and making sure unclaimed items are donated to those in need.
Community Notes & Announcements
Newton Juneteenth Celebration
Monday (Tomorrow!) June 19th, 12-4 at the Hyde playground. This Celebration marks our national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Americans and invites all residents and visitors to come together to respect, honor and celebrate diverse cultures through food, music, dance and support of local black-owned businesses. This event will also showcase the variety of ways our community promotes equity for residents and students of color.
Bring a picnic or check out the food trucks by Gourmet Kreyol and Tipping Cow ice cream. Groove to DJ Firestarta or do some shopping while while your kids get face-painting. See more information and schedule of events here.
Newton Schools Foundation Honor Thy Teacher
As the school year comes to an end, if you are looking for a way to express your appreciation to a teacher or other school staff member for the hard work that they do and the care they show for your student each and every day, while also complying with the NPS no-gift policy, here is a way to say thank you. By donating to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher, you can show your appreciation AND support your children’s schools. NSF will notify each staff member honored of your gift and share their names with Principals and the Superintendent. Each honored staff member will receive a certificate and commemorative display magnet, and a list of honored teachers will appear on the NSF website.
Your tax-deductible donation will go towards funding NSF grants for new approaches in the classroom, professional development for teachers, and programs that promote equity for all students.
It’s easy to donate online at the NSF Website. Please be sure to include the name of your student and the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring.