ForWARD October 27, 2008

Monday, October 27th, 8:00 PM -- CARE Committee Meeting (Sheri Wolf's home)
Friday, October 31st, 9:00 AM -- Halloween Hoot
Tuesday, November 4th -- ELECTION DAY
Thursday, November 6th, 7:00 PM -- Fifth Grade Families
Saturday, November 8th, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM -- Cradles to Crayons, Newton Families Time to Give (Newton Cultural Center)
Tuesday, November 11th -- Veteran's Day, SCHOOL CLOSED
Friday, November 14th, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM -- Mystery Dinner

From The Principal's Desk

You can feel the excitement in the air as children anticipate the Halloween holiday. We try to find a healthy balance in acknowledging this holiday and still maintaining our established routines and expectations for learning. You are welcome to join us in the gym for our annual Halloween Hoot which is a spirited sing-a-long on October 31st at 9:00 AM. This will be led by our fifth grade singers under the direction of Mrs. Brodsky. If your child wishes to appear in costume at this event, please follow the guidelines indicated in the last ForWard. Thank you!

Newton Policy on gifts
I know it is early, but as we approach the holiday season, I want to remind you of the policy of the Newton School Committee on gifts. "No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the pupils under his or her direction." Each year I remind families of our policy and most comply. However, when some families send in gifts, it places the teacher in an awkward situation. While teachers appreciate your kindness, they do not want to violate school policy or upset the feelings of the child who has brought the gift. It can also be upsetting to the children and families who follow the rules. These people feel disturbed to see some children giving gifts when they were told they should not (even though they wanted to). It is wonderful that families wish to acknowledge the hard work of our dedicated staff. As an alternative, you are welcome to make a donation to the PTO in honor of a Ward staff member. Most of all, teachers truly appreciate receiving thoughtful notes and cards from students and families. They know it takes time and care to compose a sincere, meaningful message.

A message from Shelly Chamberlain, Director of Information Technology, about Internet use.
The use of the Internet and World Wide Web has become an integral and routine part of instruction in our classrooms and school libraries throughout the school day. We find that students use these resources at home as well. In order to teach students about the appropriate and ethical uses of the Internet, library teachers and instructional technology specialists are partnering with classroom teachers to instruct students about cyber safety. These lessons were developed by Information Technology Department staff members who have been trained to use the I-Safe curriculum, a nationwide program to instruct students in Internet safety.

At some point during the months of November through March, students in grades 3 through 5 will participate in a cyber safety lesson. In grade 3, the lesson will outline student responsibility for using the Internet and how to stay safe within a "cyber community." In grade 4, students will explore the responsible use of the Internet by discussing scenarios, such as bullying on the Internet or inappropriate use of Internet resources. Fifth-grade students will be focusing on cyber bullying, which is using hurtful or inappropriate comments in an electronic format. By co-teaching the lesson with the classroom teacher, our knowledgeable staff of library teachers and instructional technology specialists will be available to respond to children's questions.

If you have the opportunity to talk about this topic at home, it will help reinforce the message about personal safety and ethical use of the Internet. I suggest you ask your children what they have learned about cyber safety and remind them to confide in you or another trusted adult if they have any concerns.

Audrey Parad Peller
Principal
John Ward Elementary School
10 Dolphin Road
Newton Centre, MA 02459
(617) 559-6450
audrey_peller@newton.k12.ma.us

School News

Halloween Hoot: Parents are invited to watch Ward School's annual Halloween Hoot at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 31st. Please check in at the office before you go to the gym for the performance.

CARE Committee "Cradles to Crayons" Drive: Clean out your closets and help us help others! Cradles to Crayons provides new and gently used clothes, toys, books, baby equipment to children in need. Bring your donations to the the CARE CORNER in the Ward School Lobby November 3rd - November 7th. We are also looking for volunteers at the city-wide collection day on November 8th for a 1 1/2- 2 hour commitment. We will need people from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Newton Cultural Center to help set up, sort through toys, clothes, book etc as well as clean up at the end of the day. It will be a great community day with families. Any chance you can help? Bring the kids - everyone can help out!! Please call Amy Silberstein with any questions at (617) 964-8344 or amyjim45@comcast.net.

CARE Meeting October 27th: Join us at the CARE Meeting at the home of Sherri Wolf (21 Overlook Park) on Monday, October 27th at 8:00 PM. Share some ideas, meet some great Ward parents - this is a fun and rewarding way to get involved! All are welcome. Please contact Sherri Wolf (sherriwolf@alum.mit.edu) with questions.

Teacher Appreciation Committee: The first week in May every year, schools from all over the country celebrate National Teacher Recognition Week. Last year, Ward families came together not only in May, but also throughout the year by hosting a monthly breakfast and a luncheon for the teachers and staff to enjoy. Since this was well received by the teachers and staff we wanted to continue it again for this school year. Starting in November we will be asking each grade on a monthly basis to host a breakfast for the teachers and staff to enjoy. It is completely up to the families in your grade how much or little you would like to provide. And on May 5th, 2009 the Ward School community will be hosting a luncheon to celebrate and thank our wonderful teachers and staff who work so hard each and every day. Thank you for your support!!

Trick or Treat for UNICEF: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a Ward School Halloween tradition. It is also one of America's longest-running youth volunteer activities. Each year Ward students collect money for UNICEF on Halloween while Trick-or-Treating. Students collect for UNICEF using the orange UNICEF boxes. After Halloween boxes may be brought to the school lobby until November 7th. This year templates for making your own UNICEF canisters are also available.

Donate left over Halloween Candy to the RED CROSS: The CARE Committee provides an opportunity for "cleaning out" the candy from your house while supporting a good cause. Each year the candy is sorted and donated to the RED CROSS for distribution during the holidays. Candy will be collected until November 7th in the school lobby. If there are any questions contact the Ward Care Committee or Lesley Silberstein at lesleysilberstein@yahoo.com.

TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN! As you get ready for Halloween here are a few items to remember.

Dress warm
Be sure to wear reflective costumes and carry a flashlight in the dark
Stay on the sidewalk
Remember to take the UNICEF Box and ask for change
Always say thank you!

Costume Sale Results: Thanks to everyone who donated costumes and helped out. Our sale raised $95 for UNICEF and provided 27 costumes for kids in the Cottage Brook Low Income Housing project in Dorchester. We understand there were lots of VERY BIG smiles.

CARE Committee SMILE!! Thank you everyone who participated in our kick-off event with Bren Bataclan and the Smile Boston Project. More than 40 children and parents attended, which was an amazing turn out for a rainy Friday afternoon. Through Bren's interactive presentation we discovered how art can be used to help others while also learning to make some of our own fun artwork!

And Now a Word from the PTO

As a PTO we hope to both create a welcoming environment all members of the Ward Community and also to provide much needed funding for programs such as Creative Arts & Sciences, technology, supplemental classroom support, the playground and the library. None of these projects are possible without the support and involvement of the families in our community.

To achieve both these goals we host a range of events and activities throughout the year to both bring people together as a community and generate funding to support the programs that will directly benefit our kids.

Some of our upcoming events include:
Mystery Dinner: Invitations went home Friday for this event so check your child's backpack for a "mysterious" black envelope! The event will be Friday November 14th and is for adults only so book your sitters now and join us for a wonderful evening full of great conversation, delicious food and lots of fun. Come by yourself, bring your partner, or bring a friend. We expect the event to fill up to sign up quickly!

Square 1 Art: This program allows you to order high-quality, unique products featuring your child's art work. These make great keepsakes, gifts, and treasurers while supporting Ward School programming. Ms. Broder will be inspiring your child to create art perfect for this project. The art work will be sent home in the next few weeks.

Scholastic Book Fair- December 2nd, 3rd, 4th: Once a year, Scholastic books are sold at the Ward School Book Fair and the school earns 25% of sales. Donating what's on a teacher's classroom wish list is a great way to thank a teacher while honoring the Newton "no gift policy". We need help to set up, cashier, and break down the fair. If interested contact Carol Kirson at clkirson@earthlink.net.

Annual Appeal: All families will receive a letter in early December requesting a tax-deductible contribution in support of Ward School PTO. This is out primary source of fundraising for the year.

We also want to extend our appreciation and thanks to those who planned and participated in the following events that recently took place.

Fun-a-thon: We had an amazing turnout at the Fun-a-thon! Over 130 children participated. Thank you to the whole community for the generous contributions. We met our financial goal (over $5500 was raised) and are now racing to get repaving and painting completed before the weather gets too cold. A special thanks to Linda Hammer. Her tireless energy made this all possible! Thanks also to Erik Britt-Webb who made it possible for so many grandparents and parents to pledge online.

Innisbrook Gift Wrap: Thanks to all the families who purchased wrapping paper, candy and other items this year we were able to raise over $1000. We appreciate the time Maria Smed took to organize and run the event for us this year.

Family Photos: We had a nice turnout of families who opted to have pictures their taken by Coffee Pond. We are still tallying the proceeds from that event but it was also a successful fundraiser. Thank you to Amy Silbertstein for arranging it for us.

In order to help us evaluate and decide on new fundraising activities for this year we are looking for a Fundraising Coordinator. No prior experience needed! As you can see, we have many great fundraisers already underway this year. We continually receive information on new opportunities for fundraising from a variety of sources. We are looking for someone to serve as a central resource for the ideas that are sent to the PTO for fundraising activities and possibly lead a group in the generation of new ideas. The time commitment will vary depending on the ideas you choose to pursue. Please let us know if you are interested.

We encourage everyone to get involved with the PTO and the school. It is a great way to get to know people, and to strengthen the Ward Community.

The next PTO meeting will be held following drop-off on November 21st. All are welcome.

Beth Coomber Batya Benmayor
coomber@rcn.com bbenmayor@hotmail.com

Contact information for the Ward PTO can be found at http://www.wardpto.org/contactinfo.

News From the Health Room

November is national Diabetes Awareness Month. Each year the Jordan Bennett Weiss Fund and the City of Newton Health and Human Services Department collaborate in a commitment to the well being of children by educating the community about the warning signs of diabetes.

Knowledge of the warning signs of diabetes is the greatest weapon against the disease. Sometimes the symptoms are obvious and sometimes they are not. Symptoms that might seem unrelated could suggest treatment when viewed in the context of the full list of warning signs. Please become familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of disease.

Warning Signs of Diabetes

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE JORDAN BENNETT WEISS FUND AND THE CITY OF NEWTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

JBW FUND - PO BOX 590223 NEWTON CENTRE, MA 02459 - JBWfund@aol.com

Familiarize yourself with the warning signs / symptoms of diabetes. Sometimes the symptoms are very obvious, and other times they are not. Early detection and knowledge of the warning signs is your greatest weapon against the disease and its complications!*

TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS: These symptoms often occur suddenly and must receive immediate medical attention.
٭ Excessive thirst
٭ Frequent urination, sometimes exhibited by bedwetting (in large quantities)
٭ Sudden vision changes
٭ High amounts of sugar in the blood and/or urine (A sweet, fruity odor may be present in urine, on one's breath/body.)
٭ Extreme hunger (increased appetite)
٭ Rapid or unexplained weight loss
٭ Fatigue (weak and tired)
٭ Irritability and mood changes
٭ Drowsiness, lethargy
٭ Nausea and/or vomiting
٭ Abdominal pain
٭ Rapid, hard breathing (heavy, labored)
٭ Confusion, Stupor, Unconsciousness

TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: These symptoms occur gradually, however, they must receive immediate medical attention.
٭ Blurred vision
٭ Tingling or numbness in the legs, feet or fingers
٭ Frequent infections of the skin
٭ Recurring skin, gum or urinary tract infections
٭ Darker patches of skin usually in neck folds
٭ Itching of skin and/or genitals
٭ Drowsiness
٭ Slow healing of cuts and bruises
٭ Any of the symptoms listed under type 1 diabetes

*PLEASE NOTE: MANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS CAN BE RELATED TO ILLNESSES THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH DIABETES, INCLUDING THE FLU. ONLY A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CAN PROVIDE APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND TREATMENTS.

For more information, log onto http://www.diabetes.org www.diabetes.org, www.jdrf.org, www.joslin.org or www.JBWfund.org.

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NEW: Flu Vaccine Recommended for All School Aged Children

New recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that all children six months old to 18 years old should receive influenza vaccination. Rates of influenza infection are highest among children and vaccinating this group will not only protect the individual but also those who come into contact with them.

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.html vaccinated each year.

Both the traditional flu shot and the intranasal flu vaccine are available for healthy school aged children. For questions about the flu or the flu vaccine, ask your school nurse or contact your primary healthcare provider.

To find out where to get flu vaccine for the whole family visit http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Health/disease.html#flu. To read all about the flu visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

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Regarding Lice

I would like to pass along some information from "Hair Cuts LTD" that was mailed to all of the school nurses. They are promoting their new product which they claim is a "lice repelling" product! I think it is worth a try! The products contain Rosemary and Lavendar oils which are known to repel Lice.

I want to inform you that the school will no longer be allowing the children to share head phones. There is a possibility of spreading lice when the children use the head phones back to back or
should I say head to head! Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

What's New at After School?

October has been a busy and fun month at the After-School program. We've been enjoying our "Rock 'n Roll" theme as we learn about the Beatles, compete in "air guitar" contests, and sing karaoke (to name just a few fun activities!). We'll culminate our theme with a Lip Sync contest on October 30!

Coming up later in the month and into November, we look forward to our Halloween celebration, a trip to the movies at West Newton Cinema, our new theme of "Toys and Games", and our traditional Thanksgiving celebration. Fun times ahead!

Please note that school closes at twelve noon on Wednesday, November 26 (the day before Thanksgiving). There is no After-School that day!

Sincerely,

Donna Marohn

Director

Newton News and Events

Newton Aqueducts Hike Sunday, November 9th, 2:00 PM: This is a popular 4-6 mile hike through woods, meadows and fields along the Newton sections of the Sudbury and Cochituate aqueducts. Parts of the paths traverse close to backyards, so hikers do need to be respectful of private property. This is a steady, but not fast, hike. Participants should be in sufficiently good shape to keep up with the group. See the loop map. (There are cutoffs for those who wish to shorten the hike). Meet in front of the Starbucks coffee shop near the Waban MBTA station at 2:00 PM. Trip leader is Henry Finch (617) 964-4488. Visit www.newtonconservators.org for more information.

Cutler & Millennium Park Hike, Sunday, November 23rd, 2:00 PM: Starting at Cutler Park, we will explore Cutler Park and Millennium Park and will complete the tour by way of the Wells Avenue Charles River Pathway. These areas have been improved for recreation over the last several years and now provide a wide variety of trails, river landings and playing fields. This approximately 5.5 mile hike will be steady but not fast, and participants should be in sufficiently good shape to keep up with the group. Hikin g boots or heavy all weather shoes are recommended. Meet at the Cutler Park entrance, a quarter mile south of the Charles River Bridge on Kendrick Street in Needham, at 2:00 PM. Trip leader is Henry Finch (617) 964-4488. Visit www.newtonconservators.org for more information.

Call for Newton Crafters, Artists and Volunteers! The seventh annual Celebrate Newton! Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival will take place on Sunday, December 7th at Newton South High School. All proceeds benefit the Newton Public Schools through the Newton Schools Foundation. For the past six years, this PTO-Council/NSF-sponsored event has attracted shoppers and spirit from across the city, and this year's event promises the same! The day will feature artists and crafters with ties to Newton along with live music, onsite craft projects, a raffle, cafe, author signing and more. If you are interested in participating as a crafter or volunteer, please contact Sara at saracoen3@aol.com or (617) 558-3695. See www.perugi.com/newton for more details.

Newton Salutes: Exhibition opening at the Newton History Museum Tuesday, October 28th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. This exhibition honors "Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Newton Chapter. An organization of African-American youth and families, Jack and Jill aims to empower youth to excel through leadership and service to the community. Free. Light refreshments will be served. The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton. www.ci.newton.ma.us/jackson. (617) 796-1450.

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America: a book by John M. Barry (Simon and Schuster, 1998) is the title selected for discussion at the next History Book Club meeting at the Newton History Museum. The book's description resonates in the wake of the recent flooding of New Orleans and Galvaston: "An absorbing account of a little-known yet monumental event in American History, Rising Tide reveals how human behavior proved more destructive than the swollen river itself". Discussion takes place Tuesday, November 18th at 7:30 at the Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton. www.ci.newton.ma.us/jackson. (617) 796-1450.

What Do Toys Mean to You?: For ages 6 and up. Tuesday, October 28th 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM. Join the Newton History Museum at this drop-off program featuring the museum's collection of childhood toys from the 1940s. The donor will be on hand to tell stories of playing with these toys 'back in the day'. Bring a favorite toy to share. Make your own historic toy to take home. Cost: $10 ($8 for members) includes museum admission, materials and snack. Space is limited and prepaid registration is required by calling (617) 796-1450. The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton. www.ci.newton.ma.us/jackson.

Navigating the Rocky Road of Adolescence, presented by Michael Jellinek, MD, Chief of Child Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and President of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, on Thursday, November 20th, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Shipley Auditorium. Research indicates that adolescents do best when they maintain strong connections to their families. Yet how do parents stay connected with teens who are often moody and sometimes defiant? Review the basics of adolescent development and explore the meanings behind adolescent mood swings and attitude shifts. Discuss the challenges of parenting a teen with special needs. Learn to identify warning signs of "trouble on the road" along with strategies for maintaining those important connections that all teens need in their journey toward adulthood. This is the first in a series of three free presentations sponsored by: Newton PTO Council, Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and Project INTERFACE at WarmLines, a subsidiary of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.

Newton Girls Basketball Association (NGBA): Registration is underway for the upcoming Newton Girls Basketball season. Join the more than 500 players from second graders through high school level who play NGBA basketball. This is a recreational league for Newton girls with fun for beginners and experienced players alike! Games are played on Saturdays for all grades, starting December 6th and continuing into mid-March; for Grades 3-8 practices are for 1-hour on one evening during the week (Monday-Thursday). There are no weekday practices for Grade 2 and High School. Registrations are due by Monday, October 20th, for Grades 2-8, and Monday, November 17th, for High School. A late fee applies for registrations received after those dates. Scholarships are available based on need, please see the website for details. Pre-season clinics for players and coaches for all grades will take place on Sunday, November 16th, and Sunday, November 23rd. To register, obtain additional details and to find out more about the league, please visit our website at www.ngba.net.

CASH in the TRASH! Why do Newton citizens throw away $5M per year? How can we avoid this waste? Public Forum at Newton Library Thursday, November 20th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM --- SAVE THE DATE! Speakers: Brooke Nash, Branch Chief, Municipal Waste Reduction, Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection, and Tom Daley, Newton DPW Commissioner. Co-sponsors include League of Women Voters of Newton, Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce, Green Decade, Newton TAB, Newton Library, Newton Solid Waste Commission, Newton for Fiscal Responsibility.

Wondering about Mental Health Services? WHAT services exist in and around Newton? HOW do you navigate the mental health system in Massachusetts? WHERE can you find information about topics related to a child's or family's mental health? Find answers at Project INTERFACE: www.projectinterface.org. Project INTERFACE works to increase awareness of mental health issues impacting children and families and facilitate access to appropriate services. Call the Project INTERFACE HELPLINE, (617) 332-3666 ext. 411 for resource information, referrals, and consultation from a licensed social worker who has extensive experience with children and families in Newton. In-person consultations are also available. Project INTERFACE in Newton is based at WarmLines and works in collaboration with Riverside Community Care and The Safe Schools Healthy Student Grant.

Special Education Parent's Advisory Council: The next meeting of the Special Education Parent's Advisory Council will be held on Wednesday evening, November 5th at 7:30 PM. The topic is Newton's Special Education Programs, featuring Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Judy Levin-Charns, Ed.D. There will be breakout groups for preschool, elementary, middle and high school parents. All meetings are held in Room 210 at the Education Center, 100 Walnut Street. There is time for networking and light refreshments beginning at 7:15 PM.

CPC Public Hearing on Future Funding Priorities "Open Space" Wednesday, November 19th, 7:00 PM: Please
attend and share your suggestions or comments about how Newton should
spend its community preservation funds. Check program website for
details and for a link to our 2008 COMMUNITY SURVEY. CALENDAR: meeting
details and contact information, frequently updated at
www.ci.newton.ma.us/cpa/committee/NewtonCP-calendar.pdf. Contact Alice
E. Ingerson, Community Preservation Program Manager, (617) 796-1144 or aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Community Preservation Conference: Saturday, November 1st, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Danvers, MA. Free for the group of CPA communities that includes Newton. To register, see www.communitypreservation.org. NEXT PROPOSAL DEADLINE: December 5, 2008. Get started now! Contact Alice Ingerson for a customized "walk through" of the form and process, and a copy of the form that you can fill out by computer.

PROJECT NEWS
Heritage Landscape Inventory - It's Not Too Late to Add Special Places: If you missed the community meetings, watch for an email announcing that the draft inventory has been posted at www.ci.newton.ma.us/cpa, and tell us what's missing! Contact Amy Yuhasz at ayuhasz@newtonma.gov or (617) 796.1122.

Newton Homebuyer Assistance Program - New Funds Available: This program provides up to $115,000 in downpayment assistance to purchase a house or condominium in Newton, to buyers who meet certain income guidelines and agree to certain restrictions on the property's appreciation upon resale . For example, a household of 4 people with a gross annual income up to $66,150 can qualify. See www.ci.newton.ma.us/planning/homebuyer, email homeownership@newtonma.gov, or call the Homeownership Hotline (617) 796.1730 or contact Julia Harmatz McAneny, at (617) 796.1150 or JMcAneny@newtonma.gov.

The State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is currently revising the state math curriculum framework. This framework determines what is on the MCAS exam and is hence one of the most important factors determining what is taught to our children. The panel working on the revisions will be holding a series of public forums over the next month to describe their activities and to seek public input. The forum closest to Newton will be held at Waltham High School from 6:30 until 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 29th. Additional information and a short registration form can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=569.

Newton Flu Clinic: The Newton Health and Human Services Department will be offering free flu shots on Wednesday, November 5th, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the American Legion Post 440, 295 California Street, Newton. For Newton residents aged 50 and older, or those with a chronic illness. Bring your Medicare or health insurance card if you have one. Wheelchair accessible. Call (617) 796-1426 for more information.

Setting Limits----Communication Between Parent and Teen: is the first in a series of discussions about teen issues slated to be broadcast on local cable TV. The guest speaker is Rich Catrambone, Prevention/Intervention Counselor at Newton South High School. This series is appropriate for parents and children of all ages, including middle schoolers. The series is broadcast each Monday evening at 6:30 PM through November 24th. It's on the Blue Channel of NewTV: Comcast: 10, RCN: 15 and Verizon: 34. Feedback is appreciated to Martha Hadeler, co-President of the NNHS PTSO at martha_Hadeler@yahoo.com or Laurie Mokriski, former PTSO co-President at lmokriski@rcn.com.

1st Annual "Freaky Fat Loss PUMP-kin Workout: to benefit the Boys and Girls Club, 675 Watertown Street, Newton. October 30th, 6:45 PM. For adults and kids over 14. Bring yourself, friends and family, a pumpkin for each person (females 8-10 lbs, males 15-20 lbs). Enjoy a fun Halloween/Pumpkin-themed Workout. Fitness attire a must, costumes optional...it's Halloween Eve, you know. Free, or make a donation to the Boys and Girls Club. Please RSVP to Michael Alves, the professional strength and conditioning coach who is conducting the session and will be volunteering at the club this year: mlalves1@yahoo.com or (617) 268-6232. Waiver forms are required for both kids and adults. See what it's all about at: www.mikealves.com/pumpkinworkouts.html.

Newton salutes! Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Newton Chapter: Tuesday, October 28th, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton. (617) 796-1450.

Jack & Jill of America, Inc. was founded in 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from a meeting of 20 mothers led by Marion Stubbs Thomas, with the idea of bringing together children in a social and cultural environment. In 1964, as more groups became active, bylaws were created and incorporated under the laws of Delaware. Jack & Jill continues on today as a strong organization dedicating its resources to improving the quality of life, particularly for African-American children.

Everyone in the community is welcome to enjoy the exhibit, which highlights the work of our local chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Free. Light refreshments will be served.

The Newton Salutes! exhibit program at the Newton History Museum offers Newton's civic, social, community, religious, and athletic organizations the opportunity to share their history with the public.

Community Classifieds

An Enrollment Open House for Bowen Cooperative Nursery School's Transitional Kindergarten will be held on Thursday evening, November 13th from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. For more information, please call us at (617) 332-3923 or visit our website at www.bowencoop.org.

Modern Full Size Cello from the Goronok workshop, labeled "Pedro Luis". Back, sides and scroll is maple. Top is spruce. Excellent condition. Valued at $4,500. Need to sell: $3,100. Owned by a former BYSO and Manhattan School of Music Conservatory Student. Also included is a BAM Shuttle hard case. Very good condition. John or Barbara: (617) 527-4413.

Yoga Classes: Newton Parks & Rec offers yoga classes for all levels and beginners at the Lower Falls Community Center on Thursday 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM, at the Day Middle School (for Ed Dept employees) on Monday 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM and at the Newton Library (for City employees) on Thursday 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Email the instructor, Ruth Landsman, for more information ruthl_99@yahoo.com.

Piano Lessons: I am a Conservatory graduate & the Baker School Enrichment Program instructor with more than 20 years teaching experience. All ages and beginners welcome. Special program for kids, starting as early as 5 years old. I provide students with a strong foundation in classical piano. For more information call Ella Tetelboym at (617) 323-9125 Chestnut Hill. Enrich your child's life with the joy of music!

Math through Music for 5 & 6 year-olds: Learning can be fun! In this unique course music will be used to creatively learn math basics such as geometrical shapes, the principles of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and fraction. Creative & enjoyable music experiences will meet the needs of each individual child of the small group in an environment which will stimulate children to think, analyze, discover relationships, and solve problems. For more details call Ella Tetelboym at (617) 323-9125 Chestnut Hill.

Spanish for kids - through Theater, Games & Dance your kids will learn Spanish in a fun way - pretending, playing, dancing & laughing. Join MULTICOLORES! Winter Season open for registration (January - March 2009). Mondays ages 8 - 12(+) and Fridays ages 5 - 7 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Green Planet Kids in Newton. Telephone (617) 943-2935 or email info@multicolores.net.

Superheroes Rockin' Tumble Class: Superheroes "rock" and "tumble" in this exciting new ALL BOYS Hip Hop and Gym class held Mondays 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM /Wednesdays 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM for ages 2.9-4.9 at The Joanne Langione Dance Center 35 Border St West Newton Ma (617) 969-8724 www.jldancecenter.com. November 10th-December 15th. Your child is Spiderman, Superman, Batman, and more as he learns new Gymnastic and Hip Hop dance skills using floor mats, a beam, balls, parachutes, and an obstacle course in an all boys setting which includes a "Superhero juice and story break!"

Newton Parks & Recreation and PUDDLESTOMPERS Nature Exploration: Veterans Day Vacation Drop-off Program for Children Ages 3-6. Tuesday, November 11th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (snack provided). Nahanton Park, $46.50 (10% sibling discount). Register online at www.puddlestompers.com.

Hurry! Learn to Skate begins November 15th at Fessenden School! Sign up Now! Parents this is a great time to sign up your child for Newton Youth Hockey's Learn-to-Skate program. The primary goal of the NYH Learn to Skate program is to create an environment that engenders confidence and an interest in skating. All of the drills are designed to generate as much fun as possible while learning the core basic skating techniques and skills. Although many kids go on to participate in NYH's intramural and travel hockey programs there are many kids who go through the program just to learn how to skate. The program is divided into two groups that includes beginners and first timers and those that have some skating ability. The program goes from Mid-November through most of March and meets every Saturday at Fessenden rink at noon (advanced group at 1pm). To sign up go to www.newtonyouthhockey.com and click on "learn to skate" on the left navigation bar.

Hip Hop class for 6 year olds: Newton Armory, Washington Street, Tuesdays, 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM. Free class Tuesday, October 28th, $45 for November. Also, 2 hip hop instructors available. All ages - events. You name the location. Please contact agi.sardi@gmail.com.

ForWARD Submissions

Next deadline: Friday, November 7th for the November 10th issue

Please send articles to news@wardpto.org

The ForWard will now be distributed
electronically every other week instead of monthly as in past years.
On weeks when the full newsletter is not distributed This Week at Ward will be used to inform you of
dates and events in the upcoming week. We hope that a single email each week will help you keep track of
important dates and events.

The
Ward PTO, at its discretion and as space is available, may permit
announcements to appear in the ForWard from not-for-profit
organizations that offer a direct service to children/families in the
Ward community and from for-profit individuals or businesses that offer
a direct educational service to children/families in our community. The
Ward PTO may edit announcements and does not endorse any individuals or
business whose announcements are published.

About NPS TAC Support for PTO Communications

Volunteers from the Newton Public Schools Technology Advisory Council (NPS
TAC) are helping to set up and support PTO communications, including this system used by the Ward PTO.
Learn more here.

John Ward Elementary School PTO

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ForWARD October 27, 2008