Category Archives: From the PTO

✨Thank You Dance Volunteers!✨

The Spring Dance Galaxy Lights was a HUGE HIT!! 

Our generous Dance Organizers, Michelle Morgan and Heather Hanson created a fun, high-energy, and memorable evening for our students. You made the magic happen!

Our top-tier custodial team, Dave, Tony, and the entire crew, went above and beyond with planning, setup, and keeping everything running smoothly (even with all that middle school energy!).

Our Student Council Leaders, Madame Rossi, Mr. Leone, and Ms. Raso, lead ticket sales and promoted the dance in school.

Our incredible administrators, Dr. Green, Mr. Mogensen, and Dr. J, were in the mix, supporting the night, and helping keep the “wild and crazy” just the right amount of fun.

Thanks to all of our parent volunteers, our students enjoyed a night they’ll remember fondly when they think of their middle school years. We couldn’t make events like this happen without all of you! Laura Goldworm, Nina Chan, Jordan Wu, Stacey Kazakoff-Eigen, Leiha Maldonado, Rachanee Nelson, Mandy Carozza, Juthamas Stern, Renata Ballesteros, Shannon Jackson, Margaret Silva, Victoria Peake and Amy Davis.

To all of our volunteers: your time, enthusiasm, and willingness to jump in wherever needed make all the difference.

Tissue Donations Needed

Our students have blown through all their tissues already! With allergy season upon us, they are in need of a resupply.

If you are able, please deliver unopened boxes of tissues to the main office as soon as possible. Any amount is appreciated!

Deliver to: 42 Vernon Street, Newton MA 02458

Only 3–5 More Hosts Needed! Ten Tables Event, Saturday, May 16th

Last year’s restart of Bigelow’s traditional Ten Tables progressive dinner and fundraiser was such a success that we’re doing it again!

On Saturday, May 16, Guests & Hosts will join together for appetizers at one Bigelow family’s home and then split into smaller groups for dinner at a number of other families’ homes. This event is a wonderful night of community-building, and a great way to raise money and engagement to support our PTO.

With hosts signed up for the appetizer kick-off, we’re looking for 3–5 more dinner hosts to complete the event.

*More information will be shared soon on how to sign up as a Guest!

If you are interested in hosting one of the dinners, please email the PTO at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com, or the event chairs, Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com or Amy Davis at amygdavis84@gmail.com.

Upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5th – 9th), the Bigelow PTO will host three luncheons for our dedicated teachers and staff.  Each lunch will be catered by families from each grade:

Monday, May 4th: 6th Grade Families Sign-Up

Wednesday, May 6th: 7th Grade Families Sign-Up

Friday, May 8th: 8th Grade Families Sign-Up

We are also accepting monetary donations to fund luncheon items. If you would prefer to donate money, the steps are:

  1. Venmo @BigelowTreasurer and add note “[Grade] Teacher Appreciation Lunch”.
  2. Sign up for an item in the grade-specific SignUpGenius link above. In the comments include “Venmo to Bigelow PTO [$ amount]”.
  3. A PTO volunteer will cover that item for you the day of the luncheon. 

This will be our final staff appreciation event of the year. Let’s give our Bigelow staff a big thanks for all that they do!

If you have any questions, please contact:

6th grade: Heather Hanson heather.freshdesign@gmail.com or Jennifer Rosenthal at jrosenthal222@gmail.com

7th grade: Tara Raposa at taratmr@gmail.com

8th grade: Nisa Dailey at Nisa@okdailey.com

Bigelow FORJ Featured Event, April 29th

How to Speak Up with Courage, Care, and Respect, an online training offered by the MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition, coming up on Wednesday, April 29. More details from their website can be found HERE.

You can register by emailing info@sparkkindness.org.

About the Active Bystander Training:
Training Active Bystanders (TAB) is an interactive, skill-building workshop that helps community members recognize harmful situations, evaluate options, and take safe, effective action instead of remaining passive. Offered by experienced practitioners at Quabbin Mediation.

When you see something that is not right, not fair, or not just, you have a moral obligation to do something or say something about it.
— JOHN LEWIS

You Will Learn How To:
    * Recognize when you are a bystander
    * Understand roles in harmful situations
    * Overcome common barriers to taking action
    * Respond to bias and harm in the moment
    * Use practical, safety-focused intervention strategies
    * Create action plans for future situations
Workshop Style:
    * Peer-led and interactive
    * Group discussion and role play
    * Real-life scenarios
Who Should Attend:
    * Community members
    * Volunteers and advocates
    * Parents and caregivers
    * Educators, faith leaders, and civic leaders
    * Anyone who wants to respond to harm with courage, care, and clarity

Learn how to speak up with courage, care, and respect—when it matters most. 

Join the PTO Board Next Year!

This is a great opportunity to get involved, stay connected with our Bigelow community, get to know teachers, staff and families from other schools! Parents and guardians from all grades may join! We especially welcome incoming 6th grades to participate and learn more about middle school.

Please throw your hat in the ring by Friday, May 1st so we can prepare a slate to be voted on by all parents at our end-of-year PTO meeting (date TBD).

We have several PTO Board roles open for next year and we would love to have representation from all our feeder schools. Click here for more open roles.

Check out ALL the positions HERE to sign up or find out more about something new!

Yes, I want to get involved

Tickets on Sale Now! Spring Dance is April 10th, 7pm–9pm

Each $10 ticket includes admission, pizza slice & water (while supplies last). Concessions will be available for sale during the dance; cash only! Students should bring small bills ($1s, $5s) if they plan to buy.

Get Tickets Before the Dance!

  • Via Venmo: @BigelowTreasurer (add comment “[Student Name] Dance Ticket”)
  • Via Cash: In school during lunch

*Venmo or Cash accepted at the door*

Parents & caregivers, if you haven’t had a chance to volunteer for an event yet, now is a great opportunity before the end of the year! Our goal is to create a fun and safe environment for all the kids and your help is greatly needed and appreciated. These events are only possible if the adults show up to help.

Sign up HERE today.

Thank you to everyone who’s signed up so far! We are still looking for chaperones — please sign up for however long you can — it doesn’t have to be the whole dance!

  • CHAPERONES: Hallway & Gym

Bigelow PTO X Counselors: Mental Health in Middle School Event, April 15th @7pm

Bigelow’s very own Psychologist and Assistant Principal for Student Services, Dr. Jordanna L’Esperance, PsyD (Dr. J), will present to parents on Wednesday, April 15th at 7pm about middle school mental health and developmental needs.

This will be a virtual meeting and a link will be shared on Tuesday, April 14th.

To learn more about our world class team, please visit the BMS Counseling Website.