ForWARD March 2, 2009

Wednesday, March 4th -- International Night
Sunday, March 8th -- Meet Your Alderman
Thursday, March 12th -- Early Release
Thursday, March 12th -- Family Math and Technology Night
Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th -- Newton Free Library Friends Book Sale
Sunday, March 15th -- Bingo Night, 4:00 PM
Tuesday, March 18th -- Newton Unplugged
Friday, March 20th -- PTO Meeting, 8:45 AM
Thursday, March 26th -- Respecting Human Differences Read-in
Tuesday, March 31st -- Late Dismissal, 3:00 PM

From the Principal's Desk

March is Newton Unplugged and Connected month. The mission of this group is to remind us that "there is more to life than what is on the other side of the plug". Our school calendar is full of exciting family events for the month of March. International Night, Family Math Night, Math/Technology Night, Bingo, Family Read-In and Sports Fun Fest are all wonderful community opportunities for your family to attend. We will also be following and guideline of Newton Unplugged and Connected and not give homework on March 18th!

As part of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant, Dr. Ross Greene will be giving a presentation for parents on "Working with Challenging Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach" at Williams Elementary School on Tuesday, March 31st from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Dr. Green is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, author of the acclaimed book The Explosive Child and the recently released Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving approach. The Ward staff is reading Lost at School and is working with Dr. Greene to implement his problem solving approach at our school. I highly recommend you attend to learn more about this effective method of helping children.

We have just been notified of a change in MCAS testing for grade five. There will not be testing in History/Social Studies this year. This accounts for two days of testing in May.

Also note the change in schedule as a result of MCAS testing in grade four. All students will be dismissed at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, March 4th. On Wednesday, April 1st, students will be dismissed at 12:30 PM. This is the policy at all Newton elementary schools.

I want to remind you of the Newton policy relating to food in school. Since we have a number of children with food allergies, the following guidelines were developed to minimize the risk of exposure to food allergens that may pose a threat to students. It also allows parents greater control over food choices for their child. The city guidelines include the following:

There is no sharing/trading of food.
We avoid the use of food for classroom and school-wide functions during the school day.
If the teacher feels it is appropriate to use food as part of the curriculum, the teacher will check with the school nurse and notify parents in advance of the project or activity.

We appreciate your support in following these guidelines.

At our next PTO meeting on Friday, March 20th, I will be presenting an overview of the MCAS testing program for students in grades three, four, and five. Come to hear "Everything You Wanted to Know about MCAS." Bring your questions and learn more about this important assessment system.

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

And Now a Word From Your PTO.....

Wondering how you can get involved? We have several activities in the works that need volunteers ....

Bingo Night! Hopefully you have saved the date -- March 15th from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM in the Bigelow cafeteria. Volunteers are needed for the following:

Coordinate the selling of pizza at the event.
Coordinate a bake sale. All items will be $.50 and will arrive individually wrapped. We need someone to staff the table and arrange the items. We also need bakers!
Help us post flyers around Newton.

In addition to playing bingo we will be holding a Jump Into Summer Fun Silent Auction. We will be offering a session at the Beaver Country Day Camp, a session at the Chestnut Hill School Camp, 2 weeks at the Meadowbrook Camp, a week at a JCC sports camp, a child membership at the YMCA and a certificate toward a Create-a-Cook camp. Some restrictions apply. More details on the ward PTO website. If you are interested but cannot attend bingo night, please let us know and we will arrange for a proxy bidder.

Let's make this event a success! Let Beth Coomber know if you can help coomber@rcn.com or (617) 417-6886.

Parent's Night Out! This will be a casual night out for a backyard gathering one Friday evening in May. Date still is to be determined.

Help plan the low-key event.
Donate tickets to any Boston team games as we plan to hold a live auction.

Let Beth Coomber know if you can help coomber@rcn.com or (617) 417-6886.

Annual Fund: For those of you who have not contributed, it still is possible to donate to the annual fund. There is a drop box outside of the school office for donations.

Early Release Movie: The PTO is planning to sponsor a movie in the gym on the April 16th early release afternoon. Although intended as a drop-off parents are welcome to stay if they would like.

Your participation in all our efforts helps ensure our kids will continue to receive the benefits of all the programming supported by the PTO.

Here's to Your Health......

A concussion is a brain injury. It can result from any force to the head that causes injury to brain cells, such as a contact sport injury, a fall, or whiplash from a car accident. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity. As many as 3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the U.S. each year. The injured person does not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Symptoms can show up right away or days or weeks after the injury.

Symptoms of a concussion may include:

Nausea
Dizziness or balance problems
Double or fuzzy vision
Headache
Sensitivity to light or noise
Feeling sluggish or tired
Confusion
Trouble concentrating or remembering

Parents and caregivers may notice additional concussion symptoms:

Appears dazed or stunned
Forgets an instruction
Moves clumsily
Shows behavior or personality changes
Is unsure of game, score or opponent
Can't recall events before or after hit or fall

If you think your child has a concussion, seek medical attention right away. A concussion often does not appear in MRI or CAT scans. A health care provider will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your child to return to sports and recreational activities. Children who return to sports and activities too soon risk a greater chance of having a second concussion. Second or later concussions can cause permanent brain damage.

To prevent a concussion, ensure your child follows the rules, whether they're the rules of the game or the rules of the road. Make sure children wear the right protective equipment for their activity such as helmet, padding, eye and mouth guards or shin guards. Parents should learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and shouldn't hesitate to keep their child out of a sports game or activity after a concussion. Remind children that it's better to miss a game or two than the whole season.

Information from www.cdc.gov/injury and www.biama.org.

What's New at After-School?

March will be a busy month at After-School. We are gearing up for our performance of "Treasure Island" which will take place on Wednesday, April 15. We think you'll be quite impressed with our talented actors and actresses!

Beginning in March, we will be accepting requests for After-School hours for the 2009-2010 school year! Forms will be mailed home directly to our currently enrolled students (including incoming Kindergarten students). Parents of new After-School students should call me at (617) 965-3087 or email wardafter@juno.com for an application. The deadline is March 27th.

Please note:

all forms received after this deadline will be put on a waitlist;
we have a two-day minimum for students in grades 1 and up and there are no exceptions to this rule;
there is a $50 processing fee that is required with your form;
your request form is STEP ONE of a TWO-STEP process. Once your request is received, we will send you a registration packet in April (or June for Kindergarten families, once the "A" and "B" groups are determined). Only if both of these steps are completed entirely will you be guaranteed slots in the program.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. We are already looking forward to a another fun-filled year ahead!

Sincerely,
Donna Marohn
Director

School News

Kudos to all children who entered their
creative and thoughtful poetry in the Creative Communication Fall 2008
Poetry Contest. I am pleased to announce that the following children
had their poems selected for publication in the Fall 2008 edition of A
Celebration of Young Poets. Congratulations to second grader, Ben
Kreppein, third graders Rebeca Aro, Ally Beizer, Ezra Berg, Priscilla
Cho, Einat Gavish, Jonathan Han, Rayna Hata, Katherine Ho, Jill Kirson,
Evan Lipchin, Ryan McLaughlin, Madison Roach, Jordan Feinberg, Ilai
Gavish, Zoe Land, Lydia Smith, and fifth grader, Katherine Gao. The
next deadline for entry is April 7th. Please encourage your young
poets to share their work with me so that I can enter their poems
on-line by the deadline.

Thanks,
Naomi Singer, Literacy Specialist

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Creative Arts and Science Programs Update: The
Ward Fifth Graders started their Poetry Workshop with master poet,
Judith Steinbergh on February 25th. By luck, Judith has been fortunate to
follow our students to Bigelow Middle School where she has been a
selected CASC program.

She encourages the students to mine their
everyday experiences for something to say or express. She also
challenges the students to look and describe themselves in ways other
than a direct reflection of what they see in the mirror. At the end of
the workshop, the students will present a poetry reading that will be
astounding to hear. Each student will stand up and read their poetry
to an audience of invited parents and guest, with words that pour out
in heartwarming wit and ebullience.

On February 27th
Professional storyteller Valerie Tutson will whisked the Ward School
students away to far-off lands as she weaved a tapestry of myths and
stories based on the African and Caribbean tradition. Celebrated
storyteller Valerie Tutson shared personal stories along with her
trademark tales from the African and Native American traditions.
Valerie
Tutson has followed an uncommon career path, performing as a
storyteller and singer around the region, the country, and indeed the
world. She brought some of those traditional tales to the Ward
audience. She told the Native American story of how Grandmother Spider
did what the great warrior opossum and eagle could not: bring light
from the Sea of Sun over the mountain to a shadowed world. The
wide-eyed audience followed her into these other worlds. It was a
wonderful Concert Series program.

We thank you all that donate to the Ward PTO, allowing us to enrich the curriculum and our children minds.

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Bingo Fundraiser: Held on Sunday March 15th from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. The event will be at the Bigelow Middle School Cafeteria. There will be a $5 charge per bingo card. Prizes for bingo winners and a goody bag for all children participating! Pizza & baked goods will be sold. A silent auction featuring some local summer camp activities for kids will be held. For more information call (617) 417-6886 or email news@wardpto.org.

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PJ Drive A HUGE SUCCESS -- Thank you to everyone who contributed to the CARE Committee's Pajama Drive. We collected 150 pairs of adorable pajamas -- and is a great reflection of the generosity of the Ward Community. We would also like to give a special thank you to Lindsey and the Afterschool Staff, Mr. MacPherson and Ms. Singer for all their support. Also, Audrey Pellar and the Ward teachers hosted a school wide Pajama Day last week which greatly contributed to the enthusiasm of the PJ Drive.

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Red Sox and Celtics Photos: Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to have your photo taken with the Red Sox and Celtics Championship Ring and Trophies. Sunday, March 22nd, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, at POST 440 295 California Street, Newton. $10 Admission Includes one photo with either the Red Sox or Celtic Ring and Trophy (additional photos may be purchased at $5). Proceeds to benefit 5th Grade graduation fund which will include refurbishing the water fountain at Ward Park.

Newton News and Events

Boston FIRST Robotics Competition: March 6th and 7th, BU Agganis Arena, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. For more information: www.bostonfirst.org. Special event on Saturday, March 7th: Blue Man Group will perform live at 1:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public. 7,000 people attended last year's competition. Cheer on the Newton LigerBots as they compete with 53 other high school teams in this year's FIRST Robotics Competition game, Lunacy. See an animation of the game here.

What Middle School Parents Should Know about Cyberbullying and Internet Safety:
Join us on Tuesday, March 10th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, at Newton South High School, in the Lecture Hall, 140 Brandeis Rd., Newton Center. The Safe Schools/Healthy Student Initiative (SS/HS) and the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY) are co-sponsoring a free presentation for middle school parents. Parents will leave the presentation with a basic understanding of the cyber issues that face our young adolescents today, including cyberbullying, social networking such as Facebook, cell phones and texting, online gaming, instant messaging, emailing, blogs, photo shopping, YouTube, chat rooms, etc.. Learn effective strategies to monitor your child's use of the internet. No registration required. If you have a specific question you want answered, please email the question to Nancy_Holczer@newton.k12.ma.us. The workshop will be led by Onyen Yong, the Assistant District Attorney and Director of Information Technology for the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, and Margie Daniels, LICSW, Executive Director Of MPY. Call the SS/HS office at (617) 559-9060 for more information.

The Tanglewood Marionettes Presents Hansel and Gretel: Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 PM in the auditorium of the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newtonville. Based on the timeless classic by the Brothers Grimm, and featuring melodies from the Humperdinck opera, Tanglewood Marionettes' newest production is sure to delight children of all ages. Come follow along with Hansel and Gretel as they venture into the Forbidden Forest, and into the adventure of their lives.

Advance tickets are $8.00 and may be purchased by sending a check made payable to City of Newton, to the Mayor's Office forCultural Affairs, 225 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460. Tickets at the door are $10.00. Unreserved seating. For further information or charge by phone, please call (617) 796-1540 or (617) 527-8283.

3rd Annual Newton Student Art and Essay Contest on Conserving Energy: Sponsored by the Green Decade/Newton, these contests are open to all students who live or go to school in Newton, grades 3-12. Students may enter either or both contests; the submission deadline is Friday, March 20, 2008. Prizes are sponsored by NSTAR, Chapman Construction, SUEZ Energy Resources, Boston Green Building, and other organizations. For registration information and contest details: contact the Green Decade at (617) 965-1995 or visit our website.

Newton Public Schools 2009 SPACE Program: The Newton Public Schools 2009 SPACE Program is now accepting applications for this summer. SPACE is a four-week summer enrichment program which runs from July 6, 2009 to July 31, 2009 for students entering kindergarten through 9th grade. You may choose from a morning program (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM), an all day program (9:00 AM to 3:45 PM) or an extended day program (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM). Please check our websites for more details and tuition costs.

You may pick up an application at your local Newton Public Elementary or Middle School, email SPACE@newton.k12.ma.us, download an application from the Newton Public Schools website, or call for an application (617) 559-6150 or (617)-559-6105. A $100.00 deposit per student with the completed application form(s) is necessary for the registration to be accepted. (Deposit is non-refundable after April 15, 2009.) REGISTER EARLY!!

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative helps reduce the risk factors that come between children of all ages and their ability to learn-and to stay safe and healthy. A central goal of the SS/HS initiative is to improve the referral process for mental health services for Newton families. Through the Project INTERFACE website, which has information on mental health and wellness issues impacting children and families, event listings and free resources, families can learn more about resources available in Newton and surrounding communities. Another key feature is its extensive database of licensed individual and group practitioners. Through the SS/HS initiative, a Project INTERFACE Helpline is staffed by a full-time Access Coordinator, who provides resource and referral services for parents and providers. A family member or provider can call this Helpline at (617) 332-3666 x411, Monday-Friday.

ELLEN JACKSON: A 19th Century Woman: (an Early-Release Day Program, Thursday, March 12, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM) Meet Ellen Jackson! Ellen was born in 1825 and lived her entire life at the Jackson Homestead. Come see her house and the world through her eyes as a woman of the 19th century. Learn from costumed interpreter Camille Arbogast's performance about Ellen's life and times at this drop-off program. Cost: $10 ($8 for members); includes Museum admission, materials, and snack. Prepaid registration is required, and space is limited. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. For the whole family, the program repeats: Sunday, March 15th at 2:00 PM: Bring the whole family to meet Ellen Jackson! Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members). Prepaid registration is required, and space is limited. Best for ages 8 and up, come as a family. Call (617) 796-1450 to register.

Newton's Historic Burying Grounds -- 21st Century Outdoor Museums: Harry Lohr, Chair of the Newton History Museum Burying Grounds Committee, presents a closer look at Newton's three old burying grounds: the East Parish Burying Ground (1660), the West Parish Burying Ground (1781), and South Burying Ground (1802). These sites, the final resting places of many of Newton's most prominent early citizens, reflect local history and America's history as well. At the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street in Newton. Thursday, March 12th 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Free. Part of the 2009 History Lecture Series, "Our Imprint on the Land," sponsored by the Newton History Museum and the Newton Free Library.

Book Club at the Newton History Museum: For adults. Bi-monthly discussions of selected works of social history. Next meeting is March 3rd at 7:30 PM. Free and open to the public. New members always welcome. Call (617) 796-1450 for more information.

Live at Symphony Hall: Magicians, story tellers, face painters, a giant screen featuring classic Warner Brothers cartoons set to classical scores, an instrument petting zoo, performances by members of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras and more. Saturday, March 21st. Tickets: $11 -- benefit the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. Order your tickets from the Symphony Hall Box office, or on classical radio station WCRB's website: www.wcrb.com.

Stand for Children Presents Preserving Education in Tough Times: Tuesday, March 10th, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville. A distinguished panel of budget and policy experts will discuss the implications of the current local and state budget negotiations for Newton's schools and answer audience questions. This educational forum will also share with participants specific ways they can have an impact on the coming year's school funding. Speakers include Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Executive Director Noah Berger, Newton parent and Citizens Advisory Group member Laura Thompson; and Stand for Children State Policy Director Deborah Brown. RSVP to Allison Balter at abalter@stand.org or (617) 803-1559. Space is limited, so reserve now! Babysitting is available with advance notice.

Community Preservation Committee: Next meetings March 18th and April 15th. For full agendas, go to: www.ci.newton.ma.us/cpa then 'calendars and committees" then "full agendas and minutes". For full documents about current proposals, go to 'proposals and projects' and click on the proposal's link. Also on the website: 'reports' and then "annual & special reports - 2009' for a powerpoint overview of the Community Preservation Act and Newton's Community Preservation Program. Questions? Alice Ingerson, Community Preservation Program Manager: (617) 796-1144 or aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Everyday Antiracism: A Community Conversation: Wed. March 4th 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Oak Hill Middle School Library. Using a prepared text, parents will share experiences and learn ways to challenge notions of race in our schools and in our lives. Sponsored by the Newton Middle School "Respect for Human Differences Committee". RSVP to www.lwvn.org.

Critical Choices for Newton, 2009 and Beyond: Discussing the Citizen Advisory Group Findings and Recommendations: The League of Women Voters Newton has organized a series of five evenings at which various report findings will be discussed. Each event will include a question and answer session and discussion. Light refreshments at 6:45 PM. For details, directions and to verify scheduling: www.lwvn.org or contact info@lwvnewton.org or (617) 964-0014. Here is the schedule:

School Cost Structure, Tuesday, March 24th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Longyear Museum, 1125 Boylston Street (Route 9 at Dunster Road), Chestnut Hill
Municipal Cost Structure, Monday, April 6th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Longyear Museum, 1125 Boylston Street (Route 9 at Dunster Road), Chestnut Hill
Capital Infrastructure, Monday, May 4th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton Centre, Druker Auditorium
Performance Management/Renewing Newton, Wednesday, June 3rd, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton, Centre, Druker Auditorium

Reading, Writing, and the Influence of Executive Function:
Because writing well requires many diverse skills --conceptualizing an
idea, finding the right words to express it, connecting the words in an
interesting and effective way--learning to write is challenging for
many students. Good reading comprehension uses these same processes.
Underlying and supporting all of these cognitive processes are
executive functioning skills.

Bonnie Singer, PhD, President/CEO
of Architects For Learning in Wellesley, will speak on this topic on
March 9th from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Pollard Middle School, 200
Harris Avenue, Needham, MA. This meeting is co-sponsored by the Newton, Needham and Wellesley Special Education Parent Advisory Councils. For
more info or to join our online parents discussion group, please email
info@newtonpac.org or visit our web site at www.newtonpac.org.

Sports Injury Prevention Presentation at Newton North March 5th: The Newton North PTSO is delighted to have a PTSO meeting on Sports Injury Prevention by Dr. Lyle Micheli and Dr. Pierre d'Hemecourt. Dr. Micheli will speak on how participation by both children and adolescence in organized sports has increased dramatically in recent years. Dr. d' Hemecourt will talk about concussions. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM and run until 9:00 PM. All are welcome. The location will be in Film Lecture Hall at Newton North High School. It is located up the front stairs and about half way down the main hall. For more information, please contact Shawna Giggey-Mashal at kiku02@gmail.com.

UNPLUG and reconnect with your kids: The 6th annual 'Unplugged and Connected' is being celebrated city-wide in Newton this March...a reminder that there is more to life than what's on the screen. In today's technological world, life can become too easily overwhelmed by information overload, constant email and cell phone usage, and crazy-busy schedules. You are invited to take a look at a well thought out calendar filled with ideas submitted by Newton families for at home activities, as well as events hosted by city and private organizations. Go to: www.ncscweb.org, or www.newton.k12.ma.us/. Carve out some 'Unplugged and Connected' time for your
family and take advantage of what our neighborhoods and communities
have to offer.

How to Find and Afford Summer Day Camp: Summer is just around the corner. The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) initiative is offering a FREE workshop, for parents of children ages 4-13, to talk about day camp options in the Newton area on Thursday, March 19th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The program will be held in room 210 at the Education Center, 100 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460. Discussed will be: What is available? How do I choose? When do I start looking? Which camps provide transportation? What does camp cost and do any have scholarships? What resources are available to help me as I plan for my child's summer? The workshop will be presented by Jenny Gamson, MS, the Out-of-School-Time Specialist for SS/HS. Please pre-register for this workshop by emailing jenny_gamson@newton.k12.ma.us or calling (617) 559.9064.

Community Classifieds

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute - the leading research, policy and education organization in its field - is seeking to fill a part-time volunteer Project Administrator position at its Newton office. This national not-for-profit organization, headed by Newton parent Adam Pertman (Author of "Adoption Nation"), is devoted to improving the lives of everyone touched by adoption. Hours are flexible (i.e., good for parents) but a commitment of at least 2½ hours per day, two days a week, is needed. Duties include administration and project assistance. Basic computer skills required; advanced skills would be nice, but not mandatory. To learn more about the Institute: www.adoptioninstitute.org. To inquire about the position: Adam or Susan at (617) 332-8944 or SHicks@adoptioninstitute.org.

April Break Volunteers Needed age 16 and over: City Year For Kids is a program run by City Year Boston to help provide a safe, fun, and low-cost program for Boston students in grades 1-5 during their breaks. Teen Volunteers should be dedicated, motivated, inspired and creative. The dates of the vacation program are April 20th - 24th. This is a unique volunteer experience in which you can lead groups of children for the whole week, or just a day. Info at: http://www.cityyear.org/boston_ektid1033.aspx. Questions or for an application, contact: ccastillo08@cityyear.org.

Baseball Clinic at the JCC Open to All: Newton's Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center is holding a baseball clinic on five successive Sundays, beginning March 1st, for children ages 6-12. Coaches from the Rich Gedman Baseball program will focus on developing hitting, fielding, throwing, catching and base running skills. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM each Sunday. Cost per clinic is $70 or $275 for all five sessions. Member discount available. Contact Ellen at (617) 558-6456 or egreenblat@jccgb.org or register online at www.lsjcc.org/gedman.

Pre-K Art Classes at the New Art Center: Create art together! Register now for Parent & Child Pre-K art classes at the New Art Center. Draw, paint, build, and grow! Choose from a variety of classes: Art Explorers, Parent & Child Clay, Creative Constructions, and Parent & Child Art. Call for more information (617) 964-3424 or visit us online www.newartcenter.org.

April Vacation at the New Art Center: It's EASY Being Green: We're going green! We will take inspiration from the natural world as well as recyclable art and create beautiful and eco-conscious projects. Spend the week painting, drawing, sculpting, and having fun! Students in grades K-5 will attend four art classes throughout the day, as well as a snack time, lunch, and recess. April 21-24, 2009, 9:00 AM-3:30 PM. Call for more information (617) 964-3424 or visit us online www.newartcenter.org.

Saturday Drop-In Art at the New Art Center: Need something to do on Saturday mornings? Stop by the New Art Center for our Saturday Drop-In Art class. Parents can either drop off their children or stay and create art together. A fun and exciting art project each week! Saturdays 10:00 AM-11:30 AM, $15 cash/check. Class meets: February 28, March 7, 14, and 21. Call for more information (617) 964-3424 or visit us online www.newartcenter.org.

Birthday Art Parties at the New Art Center: Bored of just cake and balloons? Celebrate your child's birthday with a unique art experience! We provide a talented art instructor, a space for art and a space for refreshments, and 7 possible themes to inspire your party. Call for pricing and more details (617) 964-3424 or visit us online www.newartcenter.org.

Early Release Day Program from Newton Community Education. NCE is offering a Fencing/Sports and Games program on the next middle school early-release day, March 19. It will take place from 11:30-2:30 in the gym at Brown. Bus service will be provided home for kids who typically ride the bus. For more information on the program, call NCE at (617) 559-6999, or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org.

The Waltham Track Club -- open to Newton residents -- will hold registration sessions on Thursday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 11th, for its upcoming youth track and field program. Registrations will be held in the auditorium if the Waltham Clark Government Center, 119 School Street. A mandatory parent's meeting will be held at 7:00 PM, with registration to follow. The program is open to boys and girls from the Newton/Waltham area, ages 8-14. There are no tryouts or cuts. Members will learn skills that will enhance their participation in all sports. Specific events will include the 100, 200, 400, 80, mile, long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin and race walk. The program will be held every Monday and Wednesday, beginning April 27th and run through June 15th. For further info, contact (781) 893-3828 or jtranchita@verizon.net or go to http://www.walthamtrackclub.com.

Newton North Little League is extending its registration deadline until March 14th. The price remains the same: $85 for Tee-ball and $100 for other divisions with a family cap. No child will be denied a spot on a team due to financial hardship. Please contact Chris Banks at nnllregistration@yahoo.com to discuss your situation. If you have already registered, Thanks! Please ask your friends to join you. Spring is just around the corner! Register at www.newtonnorthll.org. If you prefer registering by mail, leave a message at (617) 584-NNLL or email nnllregistration@yahoo.com. NNLL is for boys and girls in the Underwood, Horace Mann, Lincoln Eliot districts, Pre-K through age 12.

ActiveMinds Tutoring, LLC: Your source for in-home tutoring. Effective, Personalized and Convenient. All grades/all subjects, including test preparation (MCAS, SAT, SSAT). Sign your child up for academic success and receive 1 free lesson by March 13th. Call: (617) 663-5700 during business hours, or (617) 227-2225 Eve/Wknds. Please visit our web site at www.activemindstutoring.com.

Private Math Tutor - $50 / hour for students up through 8th grade. Jon has an undergraduate degree (B.S.B.A.) in Finance and Math from Washington University in St. louis and has 5+ years of experience in finance. Jon is joining the NYU Stern MBA Class of 2011 in the fall and was a summer camp counselor for ages 8-15 and a Special Olympics Volunteer. Flexible hours and locations are available please call or e-mail Jon to discuss options. Telephone: (617) 455.1175, e-mail: jonathancooper17@gmail.com.

Learn Spanish effortlessly through Drama, Games, Songs, Art and Movement: Come try this unique and creative approach to learning a second language! Join Multicolores @ Green Planet Kids in Newton. Spanish for Pre-Teens: ages 9 - 13 for 90 min., Mondays @ 4:00 PM. Parent & Child Spanish: ages 5 - 8 (with or without an adult partner) Fridays @ 4:00 PM for 60 minutes. For a Free Demo e-mail or call: info@multicolores.net or (617) 943.2935

Middle Schoolers' After School Program: Open House. Highlands Afterschool Program just for Middle School age students, is hosting two Open Houses for interested families: Wednesday, March 11th, from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, and Saturday, March 28th, from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, at the Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street in Newton Highlands. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program and plan for the next school year. Come see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. The deadline for 2009-10 enrollment applications is April 1. Applications will continue to be accepted after April 1st, but space is limited! For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker, Director, at (617) 999-4617 or (617)-527-3308, or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com. More info: www.highlandsafterschool.org.

ForWARD Submissions

Next deadline: Friday, March 13th for the March 16th 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 March 2, 2009