From the Co-Presidents:

Dear Ward Families,

We can’t wait to see you all at International Night on Thursday, March 26th, from 5:30-7 PM in the gym. This is a special tradition showcasing the amazing diversity here at Ward. We currently have the following countries represented: Taiwan, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Hungary, Myanmar, and France. If you are interested, please sign up here or email our wonderful International Night Chair, Cristina Garcia, at cristina@wardpto.org for more information. Thank you so much to all those who have already signed up! We look forward to seeing you then!!

As we head into the final 16 weeks of the school year, we wanted to share a quick update about the PTO board for the 2026–27 school year.

To help ensure a smooth transition, we will remain as co-presidents for one more year. Current PTO Vice President Jenn Epstein will also be joining us as an additional co-president. We are incredibly grateful for the energy, ideas, and collaboration Jenn has brought to the PTO board this year, and we know she will be wonderful in this role. Many thanks to Jenn for stepping up to serve our community in this way.

Looking ahead, we would love to welcome additional members to the PTO board next year. If you think you might be interested, please reach out to us at copresidents@wardpto.org— we would be happy to talk more about what involvement could look like.

As always, please reach out to us at copresidents@wardpto.org with your ideas, questions, concerns, or suggestions on how we can help you. You can also subscribe to our PTO calendar here.

- Elizabeth Loehr + Elizabeth Weinberg, Ward PTO Co-Presidents 2024-27

Fundraising and Spend Update:

To date, we’ve raised $28,000, putting us in great shape toward our $40,000 goal. We have one major fundraiser left this year - Mystery Dinner on Saturday, May 16th. Based on previous years, we are hoping to raise at least $10,000. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for information about how to purchase tickets. This is a night you don’t want to miss!

As you may have seen in Mrs. Brogadir’s principal newsletter, the PTO recently purchased flexible seating options for every classroom teacher. Each teacher was able to choose the pieces most useful for their students—such as wobble stools, floor cushions, and cube chairs. Thank you to our generous school community for making this possible and to fabulous kindergarten teacher Caitlin Keefe for helping to organize and bring this across the finish line.

We’re also excited to share that PTO funds will also support an all-school Creative Arts & Sciences (CAS) assembly later this year. In June, violinist Adrian Anantawan will visit Ward to perform, share his story, and answer student questions. Born without a left hand, Adrian is an internationally recognized musician who has focused his work on making music accessible through adaptive instruments. He currently serves as Director of Music at Milton Academy, teaches at Berklee College of Music, and has performed at the White House and Olympic opening ceremonies. We’re thrilled to bring this inspiring performance to Ward! Many thanks to our amazing CAS chairs, Anita He and Ceri Evans, for organizing this. This would not be possible without them.

Upcoming Events

School Committee Meetings - 6:30-9:30 PM on March 16 and March 23rd. You can join in person at 100 Walnut St. or via Zoom. We encourage you to join, even if you can only watch part of the meeting. Your engagement truly matters!
International Night - Thursday, March 26 - We’re excited for this every-other-year tradition to return. This is one of our favorite Ward events and will be held indoors in the gym. We are looking for volunteers to host a table to represent their cultures. See below for more information.
Newton Serves/Ward Community Day - Sunday, May 3 - Come help to beautify our school for this family-friendly community volunteer day! Newton Serves is an annual citywide event that focuses on building community through the clean up and “greening” of public spaces, and our school is included! Past efforts at Ward have included clearing debris and spreading mulch, trimming branches, tidying flower beds, and adding new plantings. More information to come!
Mystery Dinner - Saturday, May 16 - You don’t want to miss this fun night, so be sure to get those babysitters lined up. This doubles as both a fundraiser and a community event and is a great way to build connections throughout Ward. More information to come in the next month or so about how to purchase tickets for this amazing night and support our PTO.

Upcoming CAS Events (Your PTO donations are going to work!)

March 23 - Botany Workshop (Grade 2)
April 17 - Origamido (Grade 3)
April 29 - A Day in Ghana (Grade 2)
May 14th - Scott Magoon, author visit (K and Grade 1)
June 2 - Rob Buyea, author visit (Grade 5)
Jun 11 - Techsploration (Grade 3)

As a reminder, Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) is our biggest PTO spend item and accounts for about 1/3 of our budget. Through CAS and your donations, we’re able to bring up to 3 programs to each grade level each year. Think of these programs as enriching in-school field trips that are tied to the curriculum. Huge thank you to our Ward families for all your support and to our CAS volunteers (Anita He, Ceri Evans, Chloe Comins, Jessica Harkiewicz, and Jaclyn Rubin) for coordinating and planning these events.

250th Anniversary Salute to Service Parade - Newton’s annual parade will take place this year on Sunday, May 17th at 3 pm. Mayor Laredo is encouraging schools to participate by marching or creating floats to expand community involvement and honor those who have served. We are reaching out to see if anyone would be interested in organizing and leading our Ward community to do this? Reach out to us at copresidents@wardpto.org.
Ward Library Volunteers - Our wonderful librarians are looking for help shelving books in the library every Monday and Thursday from 10-10:30 AM. Please sign up here! Thank you to the many volunteers who have already signed up!
International Night - host a table: This every other year tradition is back in March! We hope you’ll consider hosting a table to showcase your culture. How you do so is completely up to you - whether it’s sharing savory delights, intriguing giveaways, or finding a way to share different elements of your culture. Sign up to host a country here! Questions? Reach out to Cristina Garcia at cristina@wardpto.org.
Mystery Dinner Hosts - Do you love to host or know a Ward family who does? Would you be interested in hosting a dinner party for 8-16 people at your home on May 16? Reach out to Betsy Blazar (betsyblazar@gmail.com) and Emily Derr (emilyjderr@gmail.com) if you’re interested or have any questions!

Ward Afterschool Applications!

It is time to apply to Ward After-School for 2026-27! Applications will be emailed to currently enrolled families. For families new to our program, please email us at donna@wardafterschool.com to request an application. You must submit a new application each school year.

Some important things to note about our program and the application process:

We are a private, nonprofit program licensed by the State of Massachusetts
We have a two-day minimum for enrollment
There is a $50 application fee (made payable to Ward After-School Program)
Please let any friends or neighbors with incoming Kindergartners know about our program!
Applications are due by Friday, March 27. This is a REAL deadline. We typically receive many applications, so to be fair to all, we strictly enforce the deadline.
Tuition costs will be determined by the number of applications received. For a summary of the current school year's rates, please inquire with the Director, Donna Marohn, donna@wardafterschool.com.
Our program strives to accommodate all who apply by the deadline. However, we may receive more applications than spaces available in accordance with our child care license. A waitlist may be necessary.

If you have any questions or to request an application, please contact Director Donna Marohn at donna@wardafterschool.com or 617-965-3087.

Celebrating 100 Years of Ward — 1928 to 2028

In 2028, our school will mark an incredible milestone: 100 years of learning, growth, and community. As we prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, we’re inviting you to play a special part.

Our centennial events will bring together students, alumni, families, and the community. To make it unforgettable, we’re building a dedicated team of volunteers and school alumni to support planning and day-of activities.

Be part of a historic milestone
Connect with other parents and staff
Help create meaningful memories for students
Show your pride in our school community

We Need Our Community. Join Us in Honoring the Legacy by filling out this form to let us know if you are interested in attending or participating in the Ward School's 100th Celebration, which will take place in Spring 2028.

We're currently only collecting contact information; the celebration committee will get in touch as we get closer to the event.

Interest Form

Upcoming Event Highlights

**March 19th Early Release Day at Service Stars**

Join Service Stars and support wildlife through art! Learn about endangered animals and make a drawing for the Roger Williams Zoo Endangered Species Youth Art Contest! Register here

Trivia Night to Benefit Newton Schools Foundation

Friday, March 13, 2026, 7 pm to 10:30 pm at the American Legion Nonantum Post 440, 295 California St., Newton. $45 per person - $270 for a team of 6. Participants must be at least 21 years old. Doors open at 7 pm for socializing, snacks, and refreshments (cash bar) with multiple rounds of entertaining, interactive, and challenging trivia hosted by Games with James to follow. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

ActiveMinds Tutoring

“Snow” Limit to What You Can Learn! Over 15 years of providing tutoring for all academic subjects, studying skills, and standardized test prep (SAT/ACT, ISEE, SSAT). Contact ActiveMinds to learn more about our personalized plans with experienced tutors. 617.227.2225 | learnmore@activemindstutoring.com | http://www.activemindstutoring.com/

NCE Programming at Ward

The Newton Community Education (NCE) is an incredible organization that offers programs for all ages, from toddlers to adults. They also have enriching after-school classes in NPS facilities. Right now, there are two NCE classes taking place at Ward, and we would love to bring more programming to our school. If you are interested in a specific class, please reach out to us at copresidents@wardpto.org, and we can connect you to the Community Innovation Specialist at NCE.

NCE needs your input help us shape their Fall programming - please fill out this survey to help facilitate more programming at Ward! Your input is really helpful. Respondents who provide a valid email address, have a child in grades K–12, and complete the survey by 11:59 PM on March 8 will be entered for a chance to win a $100 NCE gift certificate. Those who complete the survey by 11:59 PM on March 13 will be eligible to win a $75 NCE gift certificate. Fill out the survey here.

Do you need coverage during the week of April Vacation? Check out the NCE’s programming here.

NCE Summer Camps & Swim Lessons

2026 summer camps are now live, with offerings such as 3D Printing, Glass Art, Creative Filmmaking, Wide World of Storytelling, Art Adventures, Swim Lessons, and so much more! Families can view full camp listings and register through the new NCE Registration Portal. Scholarships are available through NCE’s Financial Assistance program

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!

Newton Girls Soccer

Girls’ soccer is having a moment! See for yourself why 1200+ girls join NGS each season to play this beautiful game. Register by February 28 to guarantee your child a spot on a spring team.

Visit https://newtongirlssoccer.org for details! Newton's premier, nonprofit girls soccer club is now enrolling PreK - 9th graders in its Junior and City Programs. (Travel and Academy Programs are accepting players to the waitlist only.) These are fun and friendly recreation-focused soccer programs for all skill levels. Players develop soccer skills while enjoying friends, exercising, and embracing values such as teamwork and sportsmanship.

The 10-week spring season kicks off on April 11 and runs through June 13. Regular fees are $220 for grades PreK - 1 and $235 for grades 2 - 9. Registration closes February 28. (Late registrations are accepted in March, space permitting.) NGS proudly provides financial aid to any player with demonstrated need. NGS strives to be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive. Our programs are open to kids living in or attending school in Newton who identify as female (including cisgender girls, transgender girls, and nonbinary individuals).

April Vacation Program at the New Art Center

Eco-Art Extravaganza! Conservation through creation at New Art! Students will learn about artists who work with recycled and natural materials, and create their own masterpieces in four mediums each day: 2D(drawing and painting), 3D (sculpture), clay, and performing arts.

Please bring a lunch and 2 snacks daily. For grades K - 6, all materials are provided. Register here!

Holiday Coding & Robotics at Penguin Coding School - Friday 4/3, and Spring Break (4/20-4/24)

Coding & Robotics Holiday for Kids. Fun, Engaging, and Perfect for Ages 6-12. Camp Hours: 9am-3pm. Sign up here.

**New One Day Game Development Program for 9-12 year olds!** 1223 Centre St (Newton Center near Tatte) Want 20% off? Use Discount Code: springcamp2026. Spots are limited!

Bright Pearl Academy

Join our Bright Pearl Academy family! Our enrichment after-school programs and summer camps offer the perfect balance of academic excellence and creative expression for your child, providing an all-in-one home for families that features immersive Mandarin language, Singapore Math, and professional dance training in both ballet and Chinese dance. In our vibrant, year-round environment, we focus on building your child's confidence and love for learning, even offering carpool and transportation assistance to help support your busy schedule. Secure your spot today by visiting us at 61 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA 02465 or online at www.brightpearlacademy.com.

Please reach out to us by emailing copresidents@wardpto.org

ForWard 3.8.26