John Ward Elementary School
August 14, 2023
Dear Ward Families,
These final weeks of the school year are packed full of continued learning in the classroom, through CAS enrichment opportunities, field trips, and incredible community building opportunities. Huge thanks to Ms. Pargoli, PTO coordinators Chelsie Garrett and Marriah Vengroff, and an army of parent volunteers, and resident photographer, Mrs. Lisa Dubinsky for making Ward Color Day 2024 a huge success!
Check out photos from the past two weeks below and read through for all of the fantastic things ahead in our final 12 days of the 2023-24 school year.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement that helps to make Ward a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning community. Enjoy the weekend!
Truly,
Becca
Principal
Let's celebrate an amazing school year together with our Annual Spring Picnic!
When? Monday, June 10th 5:30 - 7:00 (note - you may line up to begin placing food truck orders at 5:10 P.M.)
Where? Ward Field featuring games and activities from Knucklebones
What to bring? A picnic blanket and reusable water bottles for your family
What to eat? Pack a picnic dinner or order dinner from the Work Hard Eat Good Jamaican Food Truck (order ahead not necessary but a menu is included for your reference) then enjoy a Kona Ice Frozen Dessert (courtesy of the PTO!).
This is a cherished Ward tradition and we hope to see you and your family there! A huge thanks to Caitlin Cusick for organizing this picnic!
IMPORTANT: ALL SCHOOL PHOTO - JUNE 13: 8:20AM
An all-school, aerial photo will be taken promptly at 8:20am on Thursday, June 13. Please plan to have your child(ren) arrive -- on time -- at 8:10am at the front of school. We're looking for 100% participation so everyone will be included!
Huge thanks to David Ismay for volunteering to take the photo.
SAFETY FIRST: The parking lot is active throughout the day and evening— Please DO NOT use the parking lot as a pedestrian cut through. All children and adults arriving from the back side of the school (Woodlawn, Woodchester, etc.) must walk on the field side of the fence to the arrival area/front entrance. ALWAYS use cross walks and look both ways before crossing a street or active driveway.
Please join me in thanking Ms. Kadesia Woods, Ms. Jean Corbo-Hudak, and Mrs. Heather Castodio for their contributions to Ward School supporting students and families. At the end of this school year:
Ms. Woods will be wrapping up her work in NPS as a school and METCO social worker as she pursues career aspirations outside of the school setting.
Ms. Corbo Hudak is transferring to a full-time art teaching position just down the road at Angier Elementary School.
Mrs. Castodio will be moving back to her roots in Connecticut.
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Hillary Irvine to Ward as our .6 Art Teacher for the upcoming school year. Ms. Irvine served as long-term substitute during Ms. C’s family leave this past fall and is excited to officially join the Ward team in September.
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Erin Byrne who will be joining Ward as the 1.0 Social Worker in the fall. Ms. Byrne comes to Ward with a variety of social work experiences supporting children and families and is wrapping up her work as a medical and clinical social worker with the Department of Children and Families before transitioning to NPS.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Mark Tugwell who will be teaching 5th grade. Mr. Tugwell joins Ward with experience teaching, coaching, and leading in England and, most recently, at the British International School in Boston.
Every year the city of Newton is collecting data with the goal of improving sidewalks around one selected school. This year will be Ward school! Please help provide the DPW with a list of missing, uneven or obstructed sidewalks and access ramps.
If you live in the circled area or pass through it on your way to school, please take a walk with your student and take notice of potential obstacles to a safe and accessible route to school. Add any finding to this form or email keren.wainger@gmail.com.
Let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your help!
Keren Wainger - Safe Routes to School
BUS REGISTRATION FOR 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR
Bus registration for the 2024-25 school year will begin in early June. All students who wish to ride the bus MUST register for a bus pass (even if you are not required to pay a fee.)
A reminder about changes implemented last year:
The bus fee is $400 with a family cap of two passes ($800.)
All elementary students who reside LESS than 2 miles from their elementary school and wish to ride the bus must pay a bus fee.
Students in Grades K-6 who reside MORE than 2 miles from their school and wish to ride the bus DO NOT pay a bus fee. All students in grades 7-12 pay the bus fee if they wish to ride the bus. Please visit our NPS Bus Fee webpage for details.
Please use this link to determine your distance from your school.
When bus registration opens in early June, you will be notified via email. You will register and pay via MySchoolBucks. Installment payment plans will be available. More information on bus registration can be found on our NPS Bus Registration webpage.
The application for the 2024-2025 district-wide financial assistance waiver is now available in Aspen. We encourage you to apply now so that your waiver is in place for your bus registration. Visit the fee waiver information and instructions webpage to apply via the Aspen portal. The instructions for completing the form in Aspen are here: Fee Waiver Application Instructions.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
The School Committee has voted revisions to the 2023-24 school year calendar and has voted the calendar for the 2024-25 school year. Both calendars are linked below:
June was declared the official Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 2000 and was chosen as the month in honor of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. The official name was changed in 2009, when President Barack Obama declared June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month” to be more inclusive.
In schools and classrooms, LGBTQ+ Pride Month is an excellent time to talk with students about LGBTQ+ people and their struggles to achieve equity and justice in all aspects of their lives. It is an opportunity to learn about important LGBTQ+ people in history, read literature that features LGBTQ+ people, analyze heterosexism, and explore its causes and solutions. As with other similarly themed months, it is important not to isolate the exploration of LGBTQ+ people and culture into one month during the year. LGBTQ history is U.S. history.
Here are some resources for families to check out:
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 to mark the day enslaved Texans learned that they were free in 1865 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the US.
Learn more about Juneteenth with these resources:
Adventures in reading abound! Check out the Newton Public Library Summer Reading Programs!
Come to an information session about FIRST LEGO League (FLL), robotics for kids in grades K - 8, hosted by the LigerBots, Newton’s high school robotics team. There will be hands-on STEAM activities for kids while their parents are learning about FLL. There is no need for any prior experience in robotics or FIRST programs, and all are welcome! The event will be at WPS Learning Lab, 160 Herrick Rd, Newton, MA, 02459, on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. If you would like to attend — or cannot attend but are interested — please fill out this form. For more info, please email fll@ligerbots.org or check out the LigerBots FLL website page and the FIRST website page describing this year’s FLL challenge.
Summer 2024 camp applications are now open and filling up for the following Newton based camps:
SPACE camp: click here To apply for tuition assistance: click here
Newton Recs: click here To apply for financial assistance: click here
Boys and Girls Club: click here
YMCA: click here To apply for financial assistance: click here
If you would like to apply for financial assistance, please first apply directly to the camp's financial assistance. If further assistance is needed, please email our social worker, Kadesia Woods (woodsk@newton.k12.ma.us)."
NCE SUMMER CAMP
Let your kids discover new passions and make lasting memories with our lineup of camps, including Java Minecraft Modding, Hola! Spanish Summer Intensive, Chess, Theatre Camp, and our full day sports camps! With expert instructors and a focus on fun and learning, our camps provide the perfect opportunity for your child to keep growing and socializing during the summer months.
Sign up today for a summer filled with exploration, creativity, and friendship. Visit our website to view our full lineup of camps and secure your child's spot!
Tuesday, June 25- Progress Reports Available to View on Parent Portal
Wednesday, June 26- Last Day of School for Students; 12:10pm Dismissal
IMPORTANT FAMILY LINKS
Ward School
Ward PTO
Newton Public Schools (NPS)
Annual Student Information Update in Aspen
Breakfast and Lunch Menus will be posted here, type Newton in the search bar and then select “Newton Ward Elem, MA”
NPS Family Website Page, this page includes district news and quick links
NPS Tech Support: ftsupport@newton.k12.ma.us or aspen@newton.k12.ma.us
Rebecca Brogadir, Principal
Email: brogadirr@newton.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-559-6450
Website: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/ward
Address: 10 Dolphin Rd. Newton, MA 02459