ForWard 6.14.26
From the Co-Presidents:
Dear Ward Families
We hope everyone had a great time at the PTO Spring Picnic earlier this week. We had beautiful weather, and we loved seeing so many families chatting, connecting, and having fun together. We love this end-of-year celebration—thank you for being a part of it!
There are just 8 days of school to go!! A couple of reminders:
PTO Appreciation Party is scheduled for June 16th at 6 pm. If you volunteered this year but haven't received an invite (we've learned some invitations might have gone to spam folders!), please email us to confirm. Thanks!
Friday, June 19th - NO SCHOOL (Juneteenth)
Thursday, June 25th, is our last day of school, with students dismissed at 12:10 p.m. Please join us at noon for a lemonade toast at the picnic tables in front of the school. We would love to take a few minutes to gather together and thank you for all of your support this school year.
**As a reminder, please let the front office and your classroom teacher(s) know if your family will be missing any of the final days of school.
School Supply Orders Due July 1!
Many thanks to everyone who has already ordered school supplies for next year! Orders must be placed by July 1 so supplies can be packaged, shipped, and organized into classrooms before school begins in the fall. Our teachers are incredibly grateful for the support.
So far, we've reached about 61% participation schoolwide, but there's still time to help your grade level take the lead!
The grade with the highest percentage of supply kit orders will win a dance party with Bubbles the Dolphin!
Current standings:
Rising K: 61%
Rising 1st: 56%
Rising 2nd: 85%
Rising 3rd: 57%
Rising 4th: 49%
Rising 5th: 68%
Ordering takes just a few minutes: click the link, select your child's fall grade, and your teachers will receive high-quality, name-brand supplies, organized and classroom-ready before the first day of school.
You'll also have the option to donate an extra supply kit for a student in need. We're hopeful this new program will be a true win-win for both families and teachers.
Order by July 1. Supplies will arrive and be classroom-ready in mid-August.
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
Upcoming CAS Events (Your PTO donations are going to work!)
June 17 - All-school assembly featuring violinist Adrian Anantawan
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.
Thank you again to the many families who have already signed up to volunteer next year. We are thrilled by the strong volunteer support already in place for the 2026–27 school year.
Please take a look at our available opportunities, sign up if you're interested, and reach out with any questions. We are always happy to talk through the various roles, answer questions, and help you find an opportunity that matches your interests, schedule, and availability.
We are especially looking for volunteers to help with the following roles:
Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) Grade Level volunteers for K, 1 and 4 - support 1–2 grade levels by coordinating engaging, curriculum-connected enrichment programs during the school year by collaborating with teachers and outside presenters.
Fall Spooktacular Committee- help plan and organize one of Ward’s favorite community events! Committee members coordinate activities and stations for this free October event, creating a fun and festive experience for families before additional day-of volunteers are recruited.
Teacher Appreciation Committee - work with the Teacher Appreciation Chairs to plan and execute bi-monthly grade level teacher appreciation events in addition to events during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Sports Event Organizer - coordinate group outings for Ward families by connecting with local sports teams and organizations to arrange ticket blocks. Flexible role with just a few events annually.
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!
Newton Community Education (NCE) at Ward School — School Year 2026-2027
We are happy to announce that an Early Bird 10% discount for parents who enroll in a club for the whole year is now applied automatically at checkout.
Session Dates:
Fall: 9/14 -12/18
Winter: 1/11 - 3/26
Spring: 3/29 -6/11
No classes held on holidays and early release days (9/29, 10/27, 12/3, 2/4, 3/18) and 5/6/27 (make-up day). NCE plans to run all clubs for the entire 26-27 school year. You can now enroll your child for the whole year (all 3 sessions: Fall/Winter/Spring):
To ensure the club runs successfully throughout the year, we need an upfront commitment from the families. The minimum number of enrolled families depends on the club (see below)
You can also sign up for the individual sessions (depending on space availability)
STEAM Clubs with CinemaKidz will be offered for the whole year, with 3 different options:
Adventures in Animation (Fall session)
Creative Filmmaking (Winter session)
Pokémon Movie Adventures (Spring session)
For more information about CinemaKidz, please visit their website and watch the YouTube video:
Destination Imagination will be offered for the whole school year (no individual sessions). More info about Destination Imagination can be found on their website:
A Zoom info session for interested parents will be held in early May
Tuition is $1860. Payment plan
Beginner Chess Club with Santiago will run: Fall session: 9/17- 12/11; Winter session: 1/28 - 3/25; Spring session: 4/2 - 6/11
Dungeons and Dragons will run the whole year with five, 5-week sessions. Tuition for each session is $300.
Session 1 - 9/17-10/15
Session 2 - 10/29-12/10
Session 3 - 1/14 - 2/25
Session 4 - 3/11 - 4/15
Session 5 - 4/29 - 6/3
Questions? Email Monika with any questions.
NCE Summer Camps and 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!
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.
Upcoming Event Highlights
6th Annual Newton Juneteenth Celebration 2026
Come celebrate. Come connect. Come feel the JOY—this is more than an event; it’s a celebration of resilience, unity, and community pride.
Start your day with an exciting kickoff at Newton North High School hosted by Newton Community Education, and then join us at the Hyde Community Center from 3 PM for an unforgettable celebration of culture, heritage and tradition.
Starting at 3 PM, you can look forward to:
A party atmosphere hosted by DJ Firestarta
Shopping for unique finds from local artisans & craft vendors
Live performances that move your spirit (African dancing by Afro Diamond, Newton reggae artist DJ Everla$t)
Meet the New England Patriots cheerleaders
Two food trucks serving up delicious Caribbean flavors: Reggae Foods and Gourmet Kreyol
A Summer Concert Series event featuring hip-hop cover band sensation The GRV from 6–8 PM
Stretch out under the summer sky for an 8 PM screening of Black Panther, the critically acclaimed box office delight that defines Black Excellence.
This year, Service Stars is partnering with Newton Community Education at Newton North. We'll have a table there where the kids will be selling lemonade and baked goods to raise money to purchase Fusion Dolls for kids in need. More info below, and here is the link to register.
Summer Art Camp in Newton!
ActiveMinds Tutoring
The School Year’s Almost Over. Your Growth Isn’t.
Over 15 years providing tutoring for all academic subjects, study 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/
Bright Pearl Academy
Join the Bright Pearl Academy family! This 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