Author Archives: Bigelow PTO

Do you know about the Centre Street Food Pantry?

The Centre Street Food Pantry can be relied on as a source of food when families are in need.  The Food Pantry stocks canned goods, juices, toiletries and have fresh items, produce, and bread. 
Families can shop for the groceries they need for their household, according to how many people they have at home, within generous limits.
Residents of Newton and surrounding communities (Brighton, Watertown, Waltham, West Roxbury, Wellesley, Needham)  are welcome to shop once per month.
Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm
and the
first Saturday of the month from 11am-1pm
11 Homer Street, Newton Centre, MA

Green Newton School Connections October 11

Green Newton has created a forum for Newton parents and teachers interested in promoting sustainability in the classroom and beyond.  The group offers a setting for sharing experiences and ideas as well as support in facing challenges in implementing green initiatives at their schools.

You are welcome to attend a meeting on October 11 at 4 pm at the Underwood Elementary School at 101 Vernon St. in Newton Corner where parents and staff will connect on issues of recycling, composting and school garden projects and more. Please contact Marcia at info@greennewton.org if you are interested.

Would you like to help our kids walk and bike to school safely?

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) invites you to join school administrators, elected officials, local planners, parents, and police officers across the Commonwealth for this free Safe Routes to School Forum.

When: Thursday, November 2, 2017 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Where: Arlington Town Hall, Charles Lyons Hearing Room
730 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 02476

The forum this fall focuses on Encouragement and addresses common community questions, including:

  • How to host a SRTS event at your school
  • How to encourage communities and schools to incorporate SRTS into policy
  • How to start a Walking School Bus Route
  • And many more encouragement activities!

The goal of SRTS forums is to provide participants with information and tools for starting, maintaining, and improving SRTS programs. Each forum focuses on one of the E’s–Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Evaluation, and Equity– and encourages all SRTS members to attend.

If you are interested, let us know! Send a message to: bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

Raising a Resilient Teen: Can your teen bounce back?

Presented by the Newton North PTSO:

“Raising a Resilient Teen: Can your teen bounce back?”

  • What is resilience and how does it help teens manage adversity, develop adaptive coping strategies, and reach their full potential?
  • What practical strategies can parents/guardians use to cultivate resilience in their teenagers (and themselves!)?
  • How does resilience apply to the most ambitious and the most vulnerable teenagers?
  • How can a focus on resilience guide our handling of social media, drugs and alcohol, college applications, and other challenges?
  • What is the role of school and community resources in supporting teens and helping them feel empowered?

When: Wednesday, October 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Where: Newton North High School Auditorium

Who: Susan Swick, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief of child and adolescent psychiatry
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Newton Public School parent

Big Thank You to the 8th grade volunteers and the Bigelow Community

A big thank you to our 8th grade students and families that helped out on Friday.

The bake sale and car wash raised $800 to support our year-end activities!

Also a huge thanks to the Bigelow community for supporting our efforts – with a special shout out to Mr. Harrison and Mr. Mogensen, who were spotted washing cars, and Mrs. Pierce who organized our 8th graders to help out.

Additional information will be out shortly detailing other opportunities to support our 8th graders and their activities in their final year at Bigelow.

Very best regards,

Gail Fitzgerald
8th grade committee chair

Let’s get our kids outside – help with “Laps at Lunch”

Laps at Lunch is a program designed to give Bigelow students a daily opportunity to get outside for movement and fresh air. It allows students to walk laps around the inside perimeter of Burr Park once they’re done with their lunches in the cafeteria.

The school would like to get this program up and running next week and have some teachers and staff on board to help make that happen. But they still need people on board to make this fly!

This is a great way to become involved, meet other parents, see the students in action, and help our students get more active time during their school day.

If interested or for more information please contact Mary Fitzgerald (physical education teacher) at: Mary_Fitzgerald@newton.k12.ma.us

Click here for more information.

The kids are really looking forward to getting outside!

Bigelow PTO Supper Stroll – Hosts still needed

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Dinner and Dessert Hosts Still Needed!

The Supper Stroll is a progressive dinner and is held at several homes in succession on one night. A single course is served at each home. The first house has drinks & light appetizers from 6-8pm, you go to the second house with 6-12+ people for dinner from 8-10pm, then from 10-11:30pm coffee, drinks & dessert are at the last house.

Kristie & Tony Mattioli are graciously hosting the appetizer portion of this event. Will you consider hosting a dinner at your home or hosting the dessert gathering?

The dessert host must have room for at least 60 guests to mingle inside and/or outside. The Supper Stroll has been an enjoyable Bigelow fundraiser for many years and many new, lasting friendships have been made at this event.

Please contact Una Simmons at una@ethannet.com or BigelowBulldog@gmail.com if you would like to host a part of this evening or if you have any questions. Adults in the Bigelow community are welcome to participate. The PTO can help you if you need guidance or advice.

Please consider hosting this festive night. We hope to see you!

Please see attached flyer.

Custodian Day

Monday October 2nd is Custodian Day. Please encourage your kids to take a few minutes to say “thank you” and show our admiration and gratitude to those who keep our buildings and grounds looking good every day!

Underwood is getting a new playground and we need your help

From the Underwood PTO

Hello Friends, Neighbors and Underwood Alumni,

During the weekend of October 13th-15th, Underwood School will be getting a new playground and we need your help!  No building experience is necessary, just the desire to hang out with great people and build a space that all can enjoy.  Please click on the link below to sign up for a slot(s).

To volunteer, please go to www.underwoodschoolpto.org/playground

Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Underwood PTO

International Walk to School Day: Wed, 10/04

Join the Celebration on October 4!

Join students and families on October 4 to celebrate the benefits of walking to school during International Walk to School Day – iWalk.

iWalk is promoted by the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS), which works with schools, communities, students, and families to increase biking and walking among elementary and middle school students in the Commonwealth.

The SRTS program helps to reduce air pollution, and traffic congestion near schools, while increasing the health, safety, and physical activity of elementary and middle school students.

Bigelow does not have yet a representative to work with SRTS and help implement the program in our community. But we are looking for volunteers! Let us know if you would be interested.

iWalk 2017 poster