From the Co-Presidents:
It’s hard to believe November is already here—the school year is flying by! We’ve had a busy couple of weeks, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make these events special.
A big thank-you to Kerry Reynolds for leading the Fall Spooktacular on November 1 and coordinating all our wonderful volunteers. It was such a fun celebration, and we loved seeing so many Ward families there. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and joined us! Thanks to Christina DiNardi for organizing Movie Night on November 2. With perfect weather and so many families there, it was a truly magical evening under the stars. We’re grateful to Sandhya Rao Strobert for making the fifth-grade bake sale on November 3 a success—and to everyone who baked, volunteered, or stopped by to support it. Finally, thank you to Dan Rubin for organizing the BC Football Game for Ward Family Fun Night yesterday!
We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to our Annual Fund so far. Thanks to your generosity, we're thrilled to have raised $20,597.95 toward our $40,000 baseline fundraising goal! Each donation makes a difference, and we are so grateful for the support we’ve received from Ward families.
If you haven’t had a chance to contribute and would like to, you can donate here. Also, check whether your employer offers matching gifts—it’s an easy way to double the impact of your contribution. To learn more about where PTO funds go and what your donations make possible, view our fundraising and expenses slide deck here.
Upcoming Events:
PTO/Principal Coffee Meeting - Monday, 11/16, at 8:30 AM in the Art Room: Join Mrs. Brogadir and Ward educators to discuss real-life challenges and strategies to help our children build strength and resilience for productive struggle. The meeting will focus on the Overstimulated Generation: Encouraging productive struggle and navigating boredom.
2nd Grade Fall Party - Friday, 11/20 at 1:30 PM in the Library
Early Release - Wednesday, 11/25 at 12:10 PM
Thanksgiving Break - Thursday, 11/26-27
Ward PTO Silent Auction - December 6 - December 13: Our PTO is preparing for our upcoming Silent Auction Fundraiser, and we’re seeking donations and/or unique experiences to help make it a success! We’d love to collect items or experiences that our school community would be excited to bid on. More info can be found below!
Picture Retake Day - Tuesday, 12/8 at 9 AM in the Art Room
Grade 2 CAS Event - Friday, 12/11
Ward is hosting three Open House dates for families considering enrollment for the 2027–28 school year: 11/19, 12/1, and 3/16. Please help spread the word to neighbors who haven’t enrolled in public school yet but are interested in learning more about Ward. We’d love for you to connect with these families and share the information! Here’s the link to pass along. Please note that this is not a kindergarten-specific orientation. Thank you!
- Elizabeth Loehr + Elizabeth Weinberg, Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2024-26 & Jenn Epstein, Ward PTO Co-President 2026-28
Thank you to all of our past, present, and future volunteers! We are always looking to expand our PTO team and welcome new volunteers! Whether you have a little time or a lot to give, we appreciate any help and fresh ideas. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you’re interested in getting involved. We’d love to have you be part of our team!
We are especially looking for volunteers to help with the following roles:
Library Volunteers: Support our librarian, Krystal Powers, with shelving and checking in books! Sign up here.
Staff Room Restock: If you are able, please consider donating individually packaged snacks, seltzer, or soda at any time. Every contribution is greatly appreciated and helps give our wonderful teachers and staff a little boost during their busy days! You can drop off donations in the front office. Thank you!
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.
PTO Board Members (Fall 2027 to Spring 2029): We’re looking for a few parents who would be interested in joining the PTO Board for the upcoming school year! The PTO is a great way to get involved, help support our students and teachers, and be part of our school community. No prior PTO experience is needed — just a willingness to help and share your ideas. There are a variety of ways to contribute, and we’d love to have some new faces join us! If you’re interested or would like to learn more about what’s involved, please reach out to copresidents@wardpto.org. We’d be happy to chat and answer any questions.
Anyone who wants to volunteer this year must complete a CORI/SORI background check and sign the confidentiality agreement. You can find both on our website here. Please email us directly with any questions.
Ward PTO Silent Auction: December 6 - December 13
Our PTO is getting ready for our upcoming Silent Auction Fundraiser, and we’re looking for donations and/or unique experiences to help make it a success! We’d love to collect items or experiences that our school community would be excited to bid on. Some ideas include:
Gift cards or gift baskets
Tickets to sporting events, concerts, or shows
Restaurant or café gift certificates
Family activities or local attractions
Classes, lessons, or camps
Beauty, wellness, or fitness services
Vacation homes or weekend getaways
Special experiences or behind-the-scenes opportunities
Tickets or experiences from local businesses
Handmade items or specialty products
If you own a business, have a connection to a local business, or have an experience you’d be willing to donate, we would be incredibly grateful for your support! Every donation makes a difference and helps us raise funds to support our students, teachers, and school community. Please reach out to auction@wardpto.org if you’d like to donate something or know someone who might be interested in contributing. Please donate Silent Auction items by November 15th. Thank you so much for helping make our fundraiser a success!
Upcoming Event Highlights
Bigelow Drama’s Fall Play: Midsummer/Jersey
Come see some of Ward’s alumni take the stage in Bigelow Drama’s fall play, Midsummer/Jersey. Shakespeare's fairies, lovers, and magic arrive on the Jersey Shore, where the course of love never did run smooth—not even in a tanning salon.
Thursday, November 12 @ 7 pm
Friday, November 13 @ 7 pm (ASL interpreted)
Saturday, November 14 @ 3 pm
Saturday, November 14 @ 7 pm
Tickets are for sale online | Students $5 | Adults $10
A night out for 5th graders—and a chance to win a pizza party for the whole grade! Join us on November 13 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for FUNtastic Fridays: a party at The Cooper Center exclusively for 5th graders. Enjoy music, dancing, and contests with DJ Mike Pride, plus ping pong, raffle tickets, and quieter fun. Dance, play, or just hang out—there’s something for everyone! Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, and no phones are allowed. The NPS school with the highest percentage of fifth graders registered wins a fifth-grade pizza party! Register by November 10 (or when the event fills, whichever comes first) to count toward our school’s total. Space is limited, so register early!
Register here: newtoncommunityed.org/qr/funtastic
Cooking for Good
Mondays, 4:00–5:30 PM | November 30, December 7, 14 & 21 | Grades 4–8
This holiday season, we're cooking for a cause! In this four-week series, kids will roll up their sleeves for a new, hands-on cooking or baking project each week. Along the way, they'll build kitchen skills, practice teamwork, and learn about food insecurity and the challenges some families face, especially during the holidays.
Please help us spread the word to the budding chefs in your community!
Additional information can be found in the attached flyer and on the registration page.
Feel free to reach out with any questions, and thanks for your continued support!
Far Out Ice Cream — 1930 Beacon Street, Cleveland Circle
Sunday, November 15 | 10–11:30 AM | $35 per child, including one supervising adultEach ticket includes the activities, tasting flight, and one finished ice cream creation. A supervising adult must stay throughout the event.
Fall / Winter Newton Learn to Play Hockey
Newton Learn to Play Hockey is a fun way for kids to get on the ice, build skating skills, learn the fundamentals, make friends, and fall in love with hockey. Learn. Skate. Play. Register today and get in the game!
Penguin Coding - Newton Half-Day Program
We’re happy to share that we will be offering half-day programs in Newton! The program will take place on Wednesdays from 1:00-3:30 PM and includes:
Free play
LEGO robotics
Coding projects
Flexible enrollment
$100 enrollment fee per afternoon
Whether you want to attend every week or just once a month, sign up here.
Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org