A warm thank you to all that contributed your time and delectable food to the Teacher Appreciation Tea this week. The teachers and staff at Bigelow enjoyed the wonderful spread. A special thank you to Magda Duchnowska for leading this effort for us!!

THANK YOU: Akiko Schultz, Alexandra Novina, Alexis Giannakopoulos, Amy Kendall, Ana Kales, Andrea Hemment, Anna Olivella, Anne Reenstierna , Aoife O’Dwyer , Beth Hicks, Beth Secinaro, Claudia Doherty, Debbie fredberg , Frankie Kervin, Heather Pozen, Heidi Gardner, James Bryant, Jinglei Mei, Joanne Simpson , Judy Kelly, Krista Corr, Kristin Golden, Kristin Heyer, Lena Sheehan, Lisa Camesano, Macy Tubman, Maren Rossman, Maria Farrah Howell, Marianne Votta, Meridith Welch, Michelle Welford, Pongha Smith, Shelagh Heurtebize, Terri Bancroft, Tracey Wolfsdorf, Tripti Thomas-Travers, Zlatev

An “edible arrangement” especially prepared for the Bigelow Middle School teacher and staff by a 7th grade parent

Looking for a way to get to know Newton North? The PTSO is looking for several volunteers to serve as class liaisons for the incoming 9th grade class. A class liaison is a parent representative for the grade. There are three liaisons per grade and this is normally a four-year position. Class liaisons communicate with the PTSO, with the school, and with parents in the grade. They also work together to host one teacher appreciation breakfast per year. Please contact co-presidents@northptso.org to volunteer. Thank you!

6th and 7th grade singers are invited to audition for the Bigelow Beats a cappella group. Wednesday, June 13th, during 4th block and from 3-6. Students should prepare to sing the verse and chorus of a song they like. More information with Ms. Alberts: Jaime_Alberts@newton.k12.ma.us.

Making a donation to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher program is a great way to do this. To donate online and to find out more about the programs NSF funds, go to www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org. Donations are tax-deductible and go toward enhancing educational excellence, including teachers’ professional development, initiatives to close the achievement gap, and new curricula and learning opportunities throughout Newton’s schools. One of the programs funded by NSF is the ADL School Peer Leadership program at Bigelow. Teachers, as well as their Principal and the Superintendent, will be notified of this honor, and if you donate by JULY 31 their names will appear in a special notification in the Newton TAB.

Before you head off into summer mode, I wanted to share a few updates particularly relevant to families with school-age children.

Smartphones: Thinking of getting your student a smartphone this summer? This letter targeted to elementary school families highlights research and resources available to help parents navigate this decision in the context of their own family’s values and circumstances. Additional information relevant to students of all ages is available on the Newton Public Schools website, including suggested guidelines from Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Summer Food: Backpacks filled with a few meal’s worth of nonperishable items will be available this summer for students at locations throughout Newton. The program – a collaboration between the Church of the Redeemer’s FUEL program and the city – is an effort to bridge the food gap for students who may rely on school breakfast and lunch during the year. Backpacks may include bread, peanut butter, canned fish, and canned fruits and vegetables. Nut-free bags can be requested. The locations include: Health and Human Services Department, Church of the Redeemer, West Suburban YMCA, The Boys & Girls Club, Crystal Lake, Gath Pool, Newton Free Library, and many more!

What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet? Be a part of the solution to the opioid epidemic. Misuse of prescription drugs is a common way for teens and adults to start down the road of addiction. The most typical place young people get access to prescription drugs is their home medicine cabinet. A few simple steps taken by adults can have a significant impact. Immediately and safely dispose of unused medication. Two Newton locations are available year-round: the Newton Police Station and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Here are additional tips, and specific addresses and resources.

Have a great summer!

Stay healthy,

Sue Schy, RN, MSN
Bigelow School Nurse

After last year’s not so great experience – to say the least – of delayed delivery, mixed up orders, general disappointment and a lot of headache, we decided to rethink why we were ordering school supply kits.

The main reason was convenience! Who likes long lines shopping for school supplies in the summer? Also, it was a fundraising opportunity for the PTO.

But then again, to what cost? It was a lot of work for the PTO volunteers (between organizing the program and delivering the kits) for not as much raised money. Families were paying more than regular prices. And most of all, it was wasteful: we were purchasing supplies we didn’t really need – a new calculator every year?

When we really think about it, most of the items in the list do not need to be purchased. We already have a calculator, rulers, scissors at home. Most of us have extra pencils and pens. And the binders, they are pretty much the same every year –  they just need to be emptied and cleaned, and they are good to be used again. Even notebooks can have a second life by taking out the pages that were written on – usually there are many left for at least part of the new school year.

So for 2018-2019 we will be approaching the school supply list in a different way. We will try to avoid the hot summer shopping lines by not going shopping. We can save money and help reduce our impact on resources and waste. And it can be a great teaching opportunity for our children, about sustainability and consumption.

All are invited to our last meeting of the year, when we are going to celebrate the 2017-2018 school year with light refreshments and good talks! We would love to see you there!

This is a great time for rising 8th grade parents to learn about all of the 8th grade activities next year and how they can get involved. Rising 6th grade parents will have the opportunity to get to know their new PTO and what we do for the school and the students.

We will present the 2018/19 budget and show how the PTO uses all the money raised by our community. The incoming leadership will be brought forward for a vote of Bigelow parents, guardians, teachers and staff. We still have open positions to fill!! If you would like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO, helping direct and manage the overall program for 2018/19, you are encouraged to join the board or one of the committees.

PTO Annual Meeting
Monday, June 11th 2018, from 7pm to 8pm
Bigelow Library

Proposed 2018-2019 Officers and Nominating Committee Members

• Co-Presidents – Jessica Gilmartin and Jennifer Weber
• Vice President Fundraising – Una Simmons
• Co-Treasurer  – Michelle Welford and one open
• Co-Secretaries – Joana Canedo and Kara Peterson
• Co-Presidents elect (in preparation for 2019/20)  – two open  
• Nominating Committee** – Tracy Carroll and Lisa Schwartzberg
• Nominating Committee – from Ward feeder school – Lisa Schwartzberg
• Nominating Committee – from Lincoln-Elliot feeder school – open
• Nominating Committee – from Underwood feeder school – open
• Nominating Committee – from Lincoln-Elliot feeder school – open
• **One member of the Nominating Committee serves as the Chair and one member of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Board to serve on the Nominating Committee

Please look here for committee positions still open.

• METCO representative
• Newton SEPAC Liaison
• 6th Grade Potluck Chair
• Green School Chair
• Safe Routes to School Chair

Hope to see you all there!

Please remember to drop off all items at the teacher’s lunchroom at Bigelow no later than 12:30 PM on Tuesday (perishables can be placed in the refrigerator there). If you prefer to drop off items the night before, please contact Magda Duchnowska at froggiemagda@hotmail.com or 617-548-1600.

YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP to donate or volunteer by clicking HERE.

• It is most helpful if items are brought in disposable containers.
• We ESPECIALLY need volunteers to help set up and break down. Set up is at 12:45 and clean up is at 3:00

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chair, Magda Duchnowska, at froggiemagda@hotmail.com.

Thank you again for helping us show our appreciation for our teachers and staff.

Please mark you calendars for Step-Up Day, Friday, June 8.

Grade 6
 All 6th graders will be dismissed early.
~ 11:30am dismissal – to make space for the Stepping Up 5th Graders
The usual bus routes will run then.

Grade 7
Seventh graders have a full day
~ 2:45pm dismissal – Regular Schedule

Grade 8
Eighth graders also have a full day.
~ 11:30am – 2:30pm – step up to Newton North High School
~ 2:45pm dismissal – from Bigelow Middle School

The usual bus routes will run again for 7th and 8th graders at 2:45pm.  A flyer is attached.