Principal’s Message

Welcome to the 2026–2027 School Year: Driven to Succeed!

Dear Ward Community,

 On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to the start of a brand-new school year. We hope your summer was filled with rest, fun, and memorable moments with loved ones. As our hallways come alive once again, our energy and enthusiasm for the year ahead could not be higher.

 This year, our school-wide theme is "Driven to Succeed."

 Success looks different for every child. For a kindergartener, it might mean learning to read their first full sentence. For a fifth grader, it might mean mastering long division or stepping up as a student leader. Whatever success looks like for your child, our goal this year is to cultivate the internal drive, persistence, and confidence they need to reach it.

 Being "Driven to Succeed" means focusing on three areas this school year:

• Purposeful Growth: We will encourage students to embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and celebrate their personal progress every step of the way.
• Resilience & Grit: True drive isn't about never making mistakes; it's about learning how to keep going when things get tough. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where students feel safe to try, fail, and try again.
• Community Partnership: A student's journey is a team effort. When school and home work together, our children have the strongest foundation possible to achieve their dreams.

Key Upcoming Dates:

• Open House: Thursday, August 20th | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. I encourage you to arrive a little early for a chance to meet our admin team from 3:30 PM-4:00 PM!
• Teacher Assignments: Teacher assignments will be available in PowerSchool on August 14th.
• First Day of School: 
• Monday, August 24th for PK and K students whose last names begin with A-K and all 1st-5th grade students. 
• Tuesday, August 25th is the first day of school for PK and K students whose last names begin with L-Z. PK and K students whose last names begin with A-K should not report on this day. 
• Wednesday, August 26th, all students should report to school.

Click here to view our flyer for Open House and here to view our flyer for staggered start information for PK and Kindergarten students. Please keep an eye on your email for upcoming logistics regarding arrival/dismissal procedures. Bus route information and parent pick-up information will be available during Open House. We also invite you to visit our PTA table and join our active PTA to stay engaged and connected throughout the year!

Thank you for trusting us with your children’s education. Together, with determination and collaboration, we are going to make this our most inspiring year yet. The light is green and now it is time to gear up, focus, and be Driven to Succeed!

Warm regards,

Tiffany Chatman-Smith, Ed. D.

Proud Principal