So long, farewell..." Mrs. Brodsky! Monday, June 15, 3:00 PM Ward School
Please join current and former students and their parents to bid adieu to our beloved music teacher.  Please RSVP to Maria Sullivan if you plan to attend and PLEASE pass the word to all alum as we would love to give her a wonderful send-off. You may also bring an 8x10 card to be placed in a memory book to be presented to her that day. Contact mariasullivan18@hotmail.com (617) 527-9136 for more information and to RSVP.  This event is sponsored by the PTO.

We are almost in June!  Hard to believe the year is almost done.  It has been a great year in so many ways. 

The PTO would like to invite everyone who helped out ... whether on a committee, as a chair, as a room parent, in the library, in the classroom ... to an end of year meeting/party at Batya's.  It will be on Tuesday June 9th from 7:30 - 9:00.  We will re-cap the past year and highlight some of the things we will do for the upcoming year.  Batya lives at 16 Treeland Circle. 

As we plan for next year ...

We have exciting news!  We are restructuring the PTO Administration for next year to make it more accessible and easier for our community to be involved.  We would love your input and participation.  We will be having a brainstorming meeting immediately after drop-off on Thursday, June 4th to discuss what that might look like.  All are welcome to attend.  For more information contact Beth Coomber, Batya Benmayor, Joanne Kazarian or Mindy Peckler.

Some specific roles we need to fill before school gets out ....

PTO Treasurer  --  We need someone with an affinity for numbers and good attention to detail.  You do not need to be an accountant but need to be able to understand the fundamentals of our budget and be able provide financial information to support PTO decision-making.  Handles the on-going financial operations such as depositing and writing checks and documenting all transactions in Quicken. Also prepares our annual Federal tax return and any other filings required of non-profit organizations. Our Federal returns are due November 1st.   Most work can be done at home.  This role is critical or we cannot run the PTO.  Can be shared by 2 people.

PTO Publicity --  We really want to be sure there is a clear picture for the Ward community of what events are coming up and where PTO funds are spent.  We would love to utilize the front boards/railing better so people know what we are up to ... this person would have flexibility in how they see doing this ... digital pictures, signs, quotes from kids, notes in the Forward, banners in front of the school.  Time commitment would vary and could mostly be done at home.
 
Ward PTO Website -- Help update the information on the PTO website.  Adding articles and updates throughout the year.  We can train you but comfort on computers is needed.  Minimal web ability is preferably.  Commitment is primarily at home.

Spring Fundraiser -- Next year is a year in which we need to run a large spring fundraiser with an auction (replacing some of the smaller ones we did this year).  We already have many volunteers to work on the event (more are always welcome) but we need someone to take charge.  Please let me know if you would like to be involved.  Can be shared among 2-3 people!

Let Beth Coomber know if you are interested.
 
Please note that in addition to the opportunities above, many PTO groups and committees welcome additional volunteers each year.  You will get more information in the fall or can check ourthe PTO Volunteer Booklet.

Please help us reach our goals with the Ward School T-shirt sales. We are still short of making a profit for our school. Please  buy custom logo T-shirts for your children and yourselves. We have all sizes. T-shirts only cost $15. There will be 2 more  sale days at pick up time on May 29th and June 5th. Don't forget your checkbooks.

The Ward School Council provides a vital link between parents, teachers, administrators and community members.  We believe that this collaborative work will enhance the educational experience of all children at Ward School.

We are accepting applications to fill two seats on the School Council.  The Council is composed of parents, teachers, the principal, and a community member.  It is an advisory body that meets four to five times a year and is involved in many aspects of Ward School -  a recent example being an evening with the Chair of the Newton School Committee and several Aldermen to discuss the impact of budget cuts on Ward School.

The major responsibilities of the Ward School Council are to assist the principal in:

• Adopting educational goals for the school
• Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
• Reviewing the school building's annual budget
• Formulating a school improvement plan.

Please submit a one page written statement as to why you would be an effective member of the Ward School Council to Mindy Frankel Peckler, School Council Chair, by Friday, June 5th.  Please leave all applications with Susan Tempesta in the main office.

Color Day, June 2nd, Volunteers needed -- Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to interact with all of the students and faculty on this fun-filled morning!  Tuesday, June 2nd, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Ward Field (raindate June 4th).

Mr. MacPherson has created some new games and activities which run simultaneously for 3 hours, so parent volunteers to run each event are critical to make it fun for all. There is a yellow sign up sheet posted in the front lobby. If possible, parents should sign up for a 3 hour shift. Even if you can stay for only an hour, any help would be most appreciated.  We also need parents to stay after the famous egg toss  to help clean up (the events, not the eggs!). You may also sign up to purchase Freeze Pops and/or freeze them at your home and deliver to the school at noon that day.    

Please contact Maria Sullivan mariasullivan18@hotmail.com, (617) 527-9136 with any questions or to volunteer.

Letters About Literature Update from Ms. Singer,  On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, I had the pleasure of attending the Massachusetts Letters About Literature Awards Ceremony 2009 in the Great Hall at the State House in Boston with fifth grader Dianne Lee, her parents, Jegoo Lee and Jeonghee Bae, and her second grade brother, Ethan Lee.  As the single top honors winner for grades 4 through 6 in the state of Massachusetts, Dianne was congratulated by William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Jenny Desai, Assistant Director  of the Calderwood Writing Initiative at Boston Athenaeum, and Sharon Shaloo, Executive Director of Massachusetts Center for the Book.  Dianne was called to the podium to receive her awards and to read her winning expository letter about The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart Lee. With confidence beyond her years, Dianne spoke eloquently before an audience of close to two hundred people.  She greeted the crowd, introduced herself, offered thanks to all involved in helping her reach this goal, and read her perceptive and poignant letter, filling the Great Hall with her candid reflections on this powerful book.  The Great Hall erupted in applause as Dianne concluded, "Though the future remains with a veil over her face, I am sure that, if more people are alerted and take action, the overpowering effect of the Whisperers will gradually fade away."  Congratulations to Dianne from the entire John Ward School Community on her marvelous accomplishment.  

I encourage children to consider entering the Letters About Literature Contest.  Be sure to see Ms. Singer if you will be in fourth or fifth grade next year and interested in participating. 

Food Service:  When a late menu is submitted after the cut-off date posted on the menu, your child will be offered the choice of the bagel or breakfast fun lunch. To avoid this we encourage you to sign up for an on-line account. This will prevent any confusion about what your child will get for lunch.

To sign up, please e-mail us at: k5foodmenu@newton.k12.ma.us with your child's name and school.

As always, if you have any questions regarding our policies, feel free to contact the Food Service Office at (617) 559-6315, or e-mail us at: Food_Services.newton.k12.ma.us

Thanks
Rob Clickstein
Food Service Director

CASC May into June Report:  On May 7th in keeping with Ward School tradition the 5th graders were visited by the Bay Colony Educators who spent the time giving the students  an overview of life in Colonial America through the telling of a  child's life in 1750's America through the clothing of both girls and boys, the education of the child, toys and games of colonial America, the hunter-trapper and his accouterments. At the end of the program, the students were led outside for the firing of the musket.  

On May 18th the kindergarteners got a visit by illustrator and writer, Emilie Boon has published over 20 books for young children. She  has also become a tradition for Ward school because of beloved books.  Her books have been translated into Japanese, French, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Spanish.

On May 22nd, the fourth graders learned about weather from one the Museum of Science traveling programs, "Weather: Wind, Water & Temperature".  They will observe how these atmospheric phenomena interact with each other to create weather. Demonstrations model cloud formation, precipitation, and the collision of warm and cold fronts in order to show how slight changes can have dramatic effects. Students  will watch a hot air balloon lift off inside the school, pressurize a tank to create enough wind to power a cannon, and witness clouds form inside a chamber.

The fourth graders on June 5th will be also be treated to CASC final program of the school year with "Justice at War: The Story of the Japanese Internment Camps" by Theatre Espresso.  The students will be truly tested.  The drama asks the auadience - the students - What responsibility does the government have to citizens and non-citizens during times of war or national emergency? What role does ethnicity or social class play in the administration of justice? Do the constitutional powers of the executive branch supersede those of the judicial branch during wartime? Mitsuye Endo, a young woman being held at the Topaz Internment Camp during W.W. II, declares that her detention by the U.S. government is unconstitutional. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, she takes her case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Citing the government's constitutional right to suspend "the Writ of Habeas Corpus... in cases of Rebellion or Invasion," Solicitor General Fahey defends the existence of the camps. In the role of Supreme Court Justices, students hear testimony, interrogate witnesses, and reflect on crucial questions raised by the case. Finally, students decide whether the internment camps are a matter of national security or a product of racism. One would be impressed by what our children think.

The CASC committee would like to give our final thanks to all who support the Ward School PTO and its funding of all the programs that have been brought to the school through generous giving which we hope can continue and start again this fall into the new year.

Want to make some Senior Citizens Smile?   Friday, May 29th 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM.  Join in the fun for an afternoon of intergenerational BINGO with the senior citizens at the Scandinavian Living Center (206 Waltham Street, Newton (near Fessenden)  Each year we find the activities with the Senior Citizens to be a very rewarding experience for everyone.  Email debbieslater1@gmail.com if you would like to join us.   We would love to have your children join us and can arrange to bring them if you email us!
 
Old McDonald...Join us at Waltham Fields Community Farm  Early Release Thursday, June 4th 1:15 PM - 3:15 PM.  You and your children will enjoy a fun afternoon on a farm.  Help us to garden, harvest, plant and transplant and we will make a fresh snack from the farm.  Email amyjim45@comcast.net if you would like to attend - Hurry! Limited number of spaces!  We would love to have you join us and can arrange to bring your children if you email us!
 
Please Join Us for Wine & Dessert at the  Last CARE Meeting of the year.   Monday June 1st 8:00 PM at the home of Sherri Wolf (21 Overlook Park).  Come celebrate a great CARing year and kickoff ideas for next fall.  Even if you couldn't attend any meetings or events this year, come hear about how you can make a difference!!!  Get involved!!  Please RSVP to sherriwolf@alum.mit.edu so we know how many desserts to have!

Springtime always brings fun and busy times at After-School. To name a few events happening:

• World Cup Soccer tournament on Wednesdays
• Our Kindergarten students just planted sunflowers outside our K room
• Our K-5 students took a tour of Fenway Park
• Our K-5 students will have a fun day at Crane Beach in Ipswich
• OK Club (Grades 4 & 5) will be kayaking on the Charles River
• Our end of the year Family BBQ at Ware's Cove in Auburndale on June 16.
• We have just finished registration for Grades 1-6 for our next school year. Beginning in June, we will register our incoming Kindergarten children for next year's After-School, once the A/B groups have been determined. We are already looking forward to fun times in 2009-2010!

Thank you!
Donna Marohn

Director