Does your child like CAS Programming? Enjoy School Dances and Field Trips? Plan to participate in 8th Grade End-of-Year Activities?
These are examples of events funded by our PTO.
Our goal is to raise $12,000 to support Bigelow events throughout the year. Thank you for your donations so far! Since November, we have raised $4,000.
We are suggesting a gift of $110, which amounts to PTO spending for one student, but a donation amount of any size is helpful.
Creative Arts & Sciences (CAS) programs are 100% funded by PTO dollars. Each school funds their own programs. Bigelow tries to fund at least one CAS program per grade. Here is an example: in December, 7th Graders learned from Dr. Dan Perlman, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Brandeis University, about the history of climate change and the future implications on water availability, wildfires, and flooding; greenhouse gasses and the greenhouse effect – and more.
Field Trips & 8th Grade Activities: Busses are expensive! PTO support helps keep field trip costs, banquets and 8th grade graduation activities low- or no-cost for families and sponsors students who may be unable to pay at all.
School Dances: Our PTO sponsors upfront costs of all Bigelow school dances, which are only partly offset by ticket sales. This year’s October dance was a blast –– we’re looking forward to another dance in the Spring!
Global Diversity Night: Our PTO funds this incredible annual event that celebrates Bigelow’s unique global community with food, music, and fun for all.
FORJ Events: Our PTO funds Bigelow’s annual welcome picnic and supports Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) events throughout the year.
Registration Fees: Our PTO supports registration fees for students to participate in regional Math Competitions, Music and Drama events.
Teacher Appreciation & Classroom Support: You all participate in the BIG Teacher Appreciation week each May, but Bigelow teachers also enjoy snack, dessert, or breakfast spreads sponsored by our PTO once each quarter. If teachers need extra supplies for their classroom or gym, our PTO reimburses them. When teachers feel appreciated, our children benefit the most!
Bigelow PTO Family Directory, and More!
With your support, our PTO will continue to be able to fund enriching content for our community.
Bigelow Middle School PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #20-0348453. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
Help us celebrate Bigelow’s beautiful and diverse community!
Sign up in this worksheet to host a table or join a table, help plan and/or bring supplies. (You will be granted worksheet access upon request.) Contact 8th grade parent Lanni Isenberg if you have questions, lanni_harris@yahoo.com.
Mark your calendars for the Bigelow Global Diversity Night to celebrate our school’s diversity through delicious foods and diverse displays. Save the date for Tuesday, March 3rd in the gym from 6:30-8:00pm.
Last year was our first Global Diversity Night celebration, and we are looking forward to continuing this new tradition with food, interactive demonstrations, displays of textiles, art, music, musical instruments or whatever makes the night meaningful to you, our community!
Last year’s restart of Bigelow’s traditional Ten Tables progressive dinner was such a success that we’re doing it again!
On Saturday, May 2, we 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.
If you are interested in hosting either the appetizers gathering, or 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.
Current 8th graders are preparing for the transition to Newton North High School. This month 8th graders will begin to choose their classes in collaboration with their 8th grade teachers!
The second of the NNHS transition events, In Person Open House for students and families, is coming up quick:
When: Thursday, February 12, from 5p-7pm
Where: IN PERSON –– NNHS
What: This evening is for students AND families.
The Class of 2030 Website is up and running!
Please mark your calendars for all upcoming events designed to prepare our current 8th graders and their families for the transition to Newton North High School:
Newton Serves is focused on cleaning and improving our city’s parks, school grounds, open space areas, and conservation lands. If you are interested in bringing this back to Bigelow, we need your help!
Bigelow’s past project leader graduated to NNHS and we need new volunteers to continue to benefit from the program.
Project registration opens February 1st.
Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com to express interest and visit the Newton Serves page to learn more.
Are you looking for the Bigelow PTO Family Directory?
The success of the system is dependent on every family logging in and updating their information. Throughout the school year, families can edit their name, address, and phone numbers, and each family can decide which pieces of information will be available for others to view through the privacy settings.
Our secure and easy-to-use directory is free for all Bigelow families and is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The directory is maintained by PTO volunteers and funded by the PTO thanks to your support!
If you are unfamiliar with the platform, if you have forgotten your directory access login, or if you are unsure about whether or not you are in it, please email us with your name and your child’s name(s) at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.
This Saturday, Jan 31 from 4–8pm at the Newtonville Chipotle, get your family’s burrito fix and support Performing Arts at Bigelow at the same time!
Here’s how to order:
*Please note that fundraiser online ordering is only valid through pickup during your fundraiser’s scheduled date, time, and assigned restaurant. Ordering delivery for fundraisers is not permitted at this time.
Newtonville Chipotle is the 847 Washington St location
For Parents/Caregivers/School Administrators and SROs
Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:30 pm, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts will host a Webex Webinar Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation in partnership with the Homeland Security Investigations Digital Forensics/Child Exploitation/Cyber Crime Unit.
Advanced registration is required: please click HERE to register.
The webinar will bring awareness to the dangers children face online today and will educate adults how to keep children safe online.
Capacity of the Webex webinar platform is limited. In the event we reach capacity, those who are unable to register can email USAMA.PSCOutreach@usa.doj.gov to be put on the list for the next webinar.
Webinar topic:
Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents
Date and time:
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 6:30 PM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Please click HERE to register.
*The webinar will NOT be recorded. In the event someone is not able to attend on February 3rd, we hope to host several more throughout the school year.