ForWard 11.16.25
From the Co-Presidents:
Dear Ward Families,
As we head into the final stretch before the holidays, our PTO is so thankful for the incredible support and enthusiasm of our school community. As you can see from our smaller calendar, the busy fall schedule is slowing down slightly, but we still have more fun events to look forward to! We are excited to announce that our Spirit Store is open. More info can be found below!
We wish to thank the dream team: Aleksandra Lamont, Christopher Lamont, and Alexis Fish for coaching the Girls on the Run this fall. They have successfully completed a whole season of team building and training in their 16 lessons. Today, the group ran a 5K in the Boston Common. Go, team! We also wish to thank Sara O’Connor, Anjolie Laubach, Christelle Naud Ravard, and Aleksandra Lamont for planting garlic with the kindergarteners on Friday!
Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
Ward Library Volunteers - Our wonderful librarians are looking for help shelving books in the library every Monday and Thursday from 10-10:30AM. Please sign up here!
PTO Meeting with Special Guest Marc Laredo - Thursday 12/4, from 8:30AM to 9:30AM. An event you don’t want to miss! We welcome you to this morning's PTO meeting, where you will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of our special guest speaker, Marc Laredo - Newton’s next mayor and the current City Council President. Let’s turn up as a community to show him how invested we are in our schools and ask the important questions about his priorities for NPS.
Online Silent Auction - Sunday 12/7 - 12/14. See below for more information!! Although our request for items or services was due on Friday, if you have something that can be donated, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by the end of the day today. Thank you!
You can always reach us at copresidents@wardpto.org with your ideas, questions, concerns, or suggestions on how we can assist you. You can also subscribe to our PTO calendar here.
- Elizabeth Loehr + Elizabeth Weinberg, Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2024-26
Ward’s 2025 Spirit Store - Now Open!
New Spirit Wear Just Dropped! Get Yours Before It’s Gone! We are excited to announce the launch of our brand-new PTO School Spirit Store — your go-to spot for Ward apparel, accessories, and more. Every purchase supports our students and helps fund PTO programs that make our school shine.
Order Instructions: The store will be live from now until November 26th. Once all orders are collected, all items will go into production to be ready before the winter holiday break. We have two delivery options available:
Store Pick Up – Pick up your order at Screen Printing by Airo, located at 6 Brington Rd, Brookline, MA 02445. You’ll receive an automated email as soon as your order is ready.
Direct Shipping – Have your order shipped to any address for a flat rate of $10 (free shipping for orders over $100).
Ward Pick Up – Pick up your order at Ward (free).
Size Assistance: Each apparel item includes a link to a size chart for your reference. Due to the custom nature of these products, items cannot be returned. If you have any questions before or after placing your order, please reach out to nadine@airosports.com. Thank you for your support!
We’re excited to announce Ward’s Online Silent Auction, happening December 7–14!
This brand-new event will bring our community together in a fun, easy, and meaningful way to support our school — all from the comfort of home.
The auction will include two exciting parts:
Traditional Auction Items – Bid on fabulous prizes, and the highest bidder wins! Think sports tickets, unique items from local businesses (maybe yours?), or a gift basket.
Buy It Now Experiences – These are special events or gatherings hosted by Ward families and community members — for both kids and adults! A set number of tickets will be available at a fixed price, so once they’re gone, they’re gone. Think a movie night for kids of a particular grade, a backyard BBQ, seasonal celebrations, or a wine tasting.
The always-popular Teacher and Staff Experiences — like Principal for the Day and Ice Cream Sundae Parties— will now be available as either a traditional auction item or a Buy It Now Experience.
We’d love your help making this inaugural event a success!
Do you own or have connections to a local business that could donate an item or service?
Would you like to host an experience or gathering?
Perhaps you have a talent (such as bread making, flower arranging, or photography) that you could share as an experience of some kind?
Do you know someone who might be interested in getting involved? Please spread the word!
All proceeds directly support Ward School students and programs.
Auction Dates: December 7–14, All Online!
Questions or donations? Contact auctions@wardpto.org.
Fundraising Update:
Wow, Ward! We’ve raised over $25,000 towards our goal of $40,000. We are beyond grateful for everyone who has donated and feel so lucky to be a part of a community who really shows up - not just with your donations but also at events, to volunteer, and to support one another. Thank you for all the ways in which you contribute to making our school the vibrant, supportive and caring community it is.
If you would still like to contribute, donations can be made in the following ways:
Check: These should be written to "Ward PTO" and can then be put in an envelope labeled "Ward PTO". Feel free to drop them off in the office yourself or send them in with your child.
PayPal: here!
Venmo: here!
Thank you for your continued support!
Fresh milk, Fresh Funds
Modern Milkman delivers farm-fresh, A2A2 milk and groceries from local farms and makers straight to your doorstep, in eco-friendly, return-and-reuse glass bottles. For every Ward parent or friend who signs up for weekly deliveries, Modern Milkman will donate $75 to Ward Elementary’s school fund. Each person who signs up also gets 20% off their first 4 weeks using code WARD20 at checkout. Help spread the word using this referral link here or the QR code, and support your school. This offer runs from now until November 30th."
Ward School Garden Meet Ups!
Thursdays and Fridays (around pick-up) | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
Come check out the garden, learn about the Weed of the Week, and help with whatever needs to be done! It's absolutely a "drop in when you can" activity, not a drop-off activity. Every kid needs a responsible grown-up with them.
Mystery Dinner Co-Chair: Our fabulous dynamic duo Betsy Blazar and Emily Derr will be coordinating this event this spring. Betsy Blazar will be graduating from Ward at the end of next year, so we are looking for another volunteer to be involved and learn from the best!
Silent Auction Committee: We’re looking for volunteers to work with PTO Board members Cristina Garcia and Jenn Epstein to help plan and coordinate this online auction.
Upcoming Event Highlights
After-School & Weekends with NCE
Newton Community Education is offering fun and engaging programs for students this season, including Buildwave, Weird Science Television, Cinema Kitchen, Dungeons & Dragons, Comics & Digital Animation, Kangaroo Math, and Winter Swimming & Diving Lessons. If a club has already started, give us a call—we’ll do our best to include your child.
We're excited to announce the launch of Special Early Release Afternoon Programming at Bowen, Burr and Mason-Rice! Starting on October 28th, each club runs from 12:15-4:00pm and features STEAM related fun and activities.
Click here to learn more and register!
If NCE is not yet at your school, email Sarah Housman at housmans@newton.k12.ma.us and we'll work with you to get clubs started!
Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org