ForWard 8.30.26
From the Co-Presidents:
Dear Ward Families,
Welcome back! We hope your family had a wonderful summer filled with time to rest, recharge, and make special memories together.
As we begin a new school year, the PTO is excited to welcome back our returning families and extend an especially warm welcome to those new to our school community. There is something special about the start of a new year—the excitement of seeing familiar faces, meeting new friends, and looking ahead to all the moments our children will share. The PTO is here to help strengthen the connection between our families, teachers, staff, and school community. We have lots of fun events, activities, and opportunities planned for the year ahead, and we hope every family feels welcome to participate in whatever way works for them.
Along with our bi-weekly newsletter, we will occasionally send home paper announcements about upcoming dates and email reminders for specific events. You can also sign up for the PTO calendar here.
We look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Upcoming Events:
First Day of School PTO Meetup - Wednesday 9/2 at 8:20 AM: Meet us at the new Ward School sign in front of the school to kick off the school year together. Mrs. Brogadir and a few staff members will join us after 8:30.
Ward PTO Picnic - Tuesday 9/8 from 5:30 PM - 7 PM: Join us on the field for fun and games from Knucklebones and pizza provided by the PTO. Don’t forget a picnic blanket, a filled water bottle, and some money for treats from the ice cream truck. Continued thanks to Katie Megrian for all her work on this! **Please park on the neighboring streets to keep the parking lot accessible for After School and minimize traffic. If you have any dietary restrictions, please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org.
Gardening & Grenadine - Wednesday 9/9 at 6-7:30 PM: Scroll down for more information!
Back-to-School Night - Thursday, 9/17, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: We hope to see you all at Ward for a chance to build community connections, learn about your child(ren)’s classroom, and get an overview of the grade-level curriculum. As a PTO, we’ll share our PTO calendar for the upcoming year, provide an overview of our finances, and share our goals for the year. More to come!
5th Annual Fun Run - Wednesday 10/21 from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM (Rain date 10/28): Support and cheer on students and staff as they run, walk, or stroll around the Ward Field! This is a fun Ward event that everyone looks forward to! We are looking for volunteers to help set up, distribute water, give high-fives, and take photos! We always love seeing so many parents attend this event.
Fall Spooktacular - Sunday 11/1, from 2 PM-4 PM: We encourage your kids (and you!) to wear your costumes and meet us on the playground to celebrate together. Interested in being a part of this fun event? We will have volunteer opportunities coming soon! Many thanks to 2nd grade parent Kerry Reynolds for her creativity in bringing this event to life for another year. Please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org if you are interested in helping to plan and organize this event.
As always, please email us at copresidents@wardpto.org with ideas, questions, concerns, or suggestions on how we can help.
- Elizabeth Loehr + Elizabeth Weinberg, Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2024-26 & Jenn Epstein, Ward PTO Co-President 2026-28
Sneak Peek: Classroom Visits
Tuesday, 9/1, from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm
On Tuesday, September 1, from 2:30-3:00 pm, staff will welcome students into the Ward for a brief visit to their new classrooms before the first day of school. This will be followed by Popsicles in the Park at the Ward playground hosted by the PTO.
If your child cannot come to the "Classroom Visit Time," no need to worry; we will be ready to greet all children on the first day of school. It is going to be a great year at Ward! See you soon!
PTO Popsicles in the Park
Tuesday 9/1 at 3 pm-4 pm
Families are invited to an informal social gathering, Popsicles in the Park, from 3-4 pm at the Ward School playground, immediately following the Sneak Peek.
To kick off the year, we would love to restock the teachers' kitchen. If you would like to contribute, please sign up here and bring donations to Popsicles in the Park on 9/1. Thank you!
Thank you again to the many families who signed up for volunteer roles in the spring. We still have open positions and are always happy to discuss volunteer positions and help you find an opportunity that matches your interests, schedule, and availability. There’s truly something for everyone! Feel free to browse available opportunities here.
We are especially looking for volunteers to help with the following roles:
Creative Arts and Sciences Grade Level volunteers for K, 1 and 3 - support 1–2 grade levels by coordinating engaging, curriculum-connected enrichment programs during the school year by collaborating with teachers and outside presenters. This is a great way to build relationships with Ward staff! Please reach out to co-presidents@wardpto.org if you have any questions about this role. We are always happy to talk!
Room Parents: We’re looking for 1-2 parents per classroom. The role will vary depending on the grade level and the specific teacher's needs. General responsibilities include 1) coordinating with the teacher to acquire classroom supplies, 2) organizing and identifying volunteers, 3) sending emails about upcoming PTO events and volunteer opportunities, and 4) coordinating teacher gifts. This is an excellent opportunity to build relationships with teachers and families and get involved in the PTO. Please sign up here.
As we start planning for the 2026-27 school year, we are looking for a few specific volunteer roles*:
PTO Treasurer (Fall 2027 to Spring 2029): Help oversee the PTO’s finances by managing the budget, tracking income and expenses, coordinating reimbursements, and handling required tax filings and financial reporting throughout the year.
Please email us directly with any questions.
Gardening & Grenadine
Gardening & Grenadine
Come join us for our first annual Gardening & Grenadine!
On September 9 from 6:00–7:30 PM, we’ll mix up and garnish our favorite sips while giving the school garden a little love before the new school year begins.
Bring your favorite drinking cup and a pair of gardening gloves, roll up your sleeves, and come enjoy a fun evening with fellow parents while getting a peek at what our kids will be growing this year!
Come for the gardening, stay for the garnishes..
Questions? Email our Gardening Chair, Sara, here.
Upcoming Event Highlights
Garden City Kindergarten Soccer
Registration for the Fall 2026 Season of Garden City Kindergarten Soccer is open: Register Here
The Fall 2026 season will begin the weekend after a very late Labor Day Weekend. It will run on Saturdays, from September 12th – October 31st at Peirce Elementary School (170 Temple St)
8:30am-9:20am for the Pre-K Soccer League
9:30am-10:20am for the K Soccer League
The registration fee will remain $85.00 per child, and a $3 nonrefundable processing fee.
Penguin Coding - Newton Half-Day Program
Are you interested in childcare for half-days? Penguin Coding School is crafting a half-day program for Newton’s elementary school students with weekly early release days. This program will give families a convenient option for children to spend the afternoon learning, building, and having fun. The program will include:
Student groups by age
Free play
LEGO robotics
Coding projects
Flexible enrollment
Fees will depend on the location and frequency of the program. To help us determine if this would be a good fit for the Newton community, please indicate your interest by filling out this form.
Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org