The 2020/2021 PTO Board
Co-Presidents – Karen Markson and 1open – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Co-Vice Presidents – Joana Canedo and Amy McPherson – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Linda Gillespie – bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary – Vicki Spetter and 1 open – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
2020/2021 Committee Chairs
School Directory – Megan Flynn
Communications/Website – Gwen Hautefeuille
Creative Arts & Sciences – Caryn Izhar and 1 open
Back to School Picnic – 1 open
6th Grade Potluck – Gabriela Kroszynski
8th Grade Activities – Gabriela Kroszynski and Bid Lannery
Ten Tables – 2 open
Big Night – Cheryl Abramson and Alexia Giannakopoulos
Teacher Appreciation – Susan St. Pierre, Karen Yee and Charlene Gillespie
Scholarship Fund – 1 open
Nominating Committee – 5 open
Newton Serves – 1 open
2020/2021 Liaison Positions
PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Krista Chavez
Boston Parents – 1 open
SEPAC – 1 open
FORJ – Danielle Ahite-De Medeiros, Davena Jackson, Julie Landesman, Madeline McNeely, Margo Michaels, Ruth Hertzman-Miller, Becca Schulman Havemeyer
Safe Routes to School – Sarah Hirzel, Joana Canedo and 1 open
Green Newton School Connections – Joana Canedo and 1 open
Bigelow PTO Board and Committees
Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO? Please join us in helping direct and manage the overall program for 2020/21. See below for open positions and email us!
| POSITION | DESCRIPTION | 2020-2021 |
| BOARD | ||
| Co-Presidents | Rotating leaders who are accountable for the success of the PTO | 1 OPEN |
| Vice President | Work with board and committee chairs to coordinate fundraising activities | 1 OPEN |
| Treasurer | Track budget and finances for the PTO | |
| Secretary | Take minutes, keep the PTO calendar current, communication flow | 1 OPEN |
| Committees | ||
| Communications/ Website | Maintain info on the PTO website, send newsletters | |
| School Directory | Maintain database of parents/students and prepare material for the creation and printing of the school directory. | |
| Creative Arts & Sciences | Help enrich the curriculum by planning cultural events for the student body | 1 OPEN |
| Back to School Picnic | Coordinate the back to school picnic at Franklin Park with the school administration (September) | 1 OPEN |
| 6th Grade Potluck | Organize the 6th grade community “getting to know you” event (September) | |
| 8th Grade Activities | Lead 8th grade parents as they organize the Moving On ceremony and other transition activities for the outgoing 8th graders | |
| Ten Tables | Organize our Progressive Dinner fundraiser (October-November) | 2 OPEN |
| Big Night | Coordinate the planning our Winter fundraiser (December-March) | |
| Teacher Appreciation | Organize the teacher appreciation lunch (February) and teacher appreciation tea (June) | |
| Scholarship Fund | Develop the The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund, which provides support for Bigelow students who might not be able to otherwise participate in cultural and curricular enrichment learning opportunities, such as field trips | 1 OPEN |
| Nominating Committee |
Look for new PTO board and committee members. There are 5 members: the chair and the feeder schools representatives: Mason Rice, Lincoln Eliot, Underwood, Ward | 5 OPEN |
| Liaison Positions | ||
| Boston Parents | Liaison to the Boston parent METCO families. | 1 OPEN |
| POPs | Liaison between the PTO and PoPS parents to coordinate events and streamline communications | |
| SEPAC | Liaison to the volunteer organization of parents of children with disabilities in Newton | 1 OPEN |
| FORJ | Liaison to the volunteer organization Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice | |
| Safe Routes to School | Liaison to the volunteer organization that encourages walking, biking and taking the bus to school. | 1 OPEN |
| Green Newton School Connections | Liaison to the volunteer organization that promotes sustainability in schools (reduce, reuse, recycle and climate action). | 1 OPEN |