Author Archives: Bigelow PTO

Model United Nations 2019

At Newton North Model United Nations (MUN) 2019, students from Newton High and Middles schools will gather to simulate the UN, represent countries, and attempt to find solutions to pressing global issues. The conference is mostly for high school students, but there will have a separate middle school committee as well. Students will learn the basics of Model UN and experience their first UN simulation, on the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

Saturday, May 11, at Newton North. 

Middle school students: REGISTER HERE!

MCAS testing this week

MCAS testing will begin this week.  Students will take the English Language Arts (ELA) MCAS on April 23-May 1. The schedule for each grade is in the Bigelow School and PTO calendars. You can also download it here. 

Tips from Mr. Harrison:

“Words of encouragement to your child are especially helpful before the assessments and on the day of it. Please make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep prior to each test, a healthy breakfast on the morning of each test, and that he or she arrives to school on time. Bringing a water bottle from home is also recommended.”

All week! Laps at Lunch Open House

All parents and guardians are invited to come to Laps at Lunch Open House any day this week at lunch time!

Meet staff and parent volunteers who help make our program a success! No pressure to become a volunteer! Although we’d love to have you join us, we are happy to just share our program with you so you can see how much our students enjoy it. Come see for yourself!

When: Monday-Friday, April 22-26 (Weather Permitting!)
Where: Burr Park
What Time: Any time between 11 am – 12pm
Who: Any parents, family and friends who are interested in volunteering or just seeing how it works! (Rising 6th Grade families are welcome!)

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Each day this week, the Bigelow Earth Day Committee will suggest a way for Bigelow students to help the Earth.  Today’s tip: Reduce your garbage! And reuse or repurpose materials instead of throwing them away.  For example, Monday in Advisory students will build sculptures from recycled materials. Ask your students what the tips for the rest of the week are.

And thank you all who contributed with recyclable materials for the Advisory activity.

Yearbook: order by 04/24

Yo yo yo, it’s time to order your yearbook!  All orders are due the Wednesday after break, April 24th.  Don’t miss out!

  • All-color pages 
  • Durable hard cover with original design by 8th grade artists
  • Price: $25
  • Order deadline: April 24th
  • Payments: ONLINE, cash or check 

Order today at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob (Bigelow’s Yearbook ID Code: 1945919)

If you would rather pay by cash or check (payable to: Bigelow Middle School), please place payment in a sealed envelope with the student’s name and homeroom written on the front. Your student should give the envelope to his/her homeroom teacher.

NewtonServes – 04/28: Bigelow Beautification + Recycling Signs

NewtonServes is a Day of Community Service that brings together over 1,000 volunteers of all ages to complete more than 50 community projects for the benefit of numerous non-profit organizations and City of Newton departments. Volunteers work in teams on morning, afternoon or all day projects throughout the city, such as cleaning up parks, planting gardens, building and painting school bookshelves, spring cleaning at non-profit organizations and helping senior citizens. This year it will take place on Sunday, April 28th, from 9:30am to 4pm.

There are many volunteering opportunities all around the city, including two projects at Bigelow:

Bigelow Beautification
Join us as we beautify the grounds of Bigelow Middle School. We plan to clean and mulch garden beds, prune shrubs and trees, etc. outdoors. We also may build a short wooden fence to protect planting beds from foot traffic.

Signage for Recycling at Bigelow
Are you interested in promoting recycling and helping middle school students learn more about recycling? Help us label recycle bins and trash cans in all classrooms at Bigelow Middle School with new signage about what can and cannot be recycled.
Suitable for persons with disabilities

NewtonServes is a project of Newton Community Pride, Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs and the Newton Parks and Recreation Department.

New Bigelow Counseling Site

The Bigelow Counseling Team has developed a website with resources for families and students. Parents and guardians are invited to visit and learn about Bigelow’s commitment to social and emotional learning and health.

“Educating the whole child is the mission of Bigelow Middle School. Helping each child grow emotionally and socially, and become a healthy well-adjusted adolescent is as important as helping each child achieve strong academic progress. We strive to create a personalized environment in which students develop positive connections with trusted adults and with each other as part of a supportive community. We work together with students, parents and staff to promote the health and well-being of all students.”

Brooke Brady is ready to run the Boston Marathon for NSF

The training is over and she’s ready to run her first marathon! Brooke grew up watching the Marathon as a spectator. Now it’s her turn to conquer Heartbreak Hill on her way to the finish line at Copley Square.
Brooke is running to raise funds for Newton Schools Foundation. Help her surpass her $5000 goal to ensure NSF can continue to advance excellence and equity in the Newton public schools by funding promising initiatives, professional development, and programs that close gaps in achievement and opportunity.

Donate to Brooke’s Run and Support NSF

Message from Brooke
“I am proud to have been chosen to run for Newton Schools Foundation.NSF supports new curricula and learning opportunities that foster high achievement for all students.
“As a special educator in Newton for the past 15 years, I have had the opportunity to strengthen my skills and see first hand the positive impact that these programs have on our students. The funds raised go directly to the professional development of the staff, and programs for the students.”
To follow Brooke on Marathon Monday text Runner to 234567 and enter bib number 30358.