Attention graduating 8th graders! Books for sale!
All Newton North students have required summer reading. This year’s book is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
For your convenience, the Newton North PTSO will sell copies at Bigelow. Cost: $13 (cash or check payable to New England Mobile Book Fair).
Before the graduation ceremony: Wednesday, June 18, 8:15-9:00 a.m., gym entrance
After the graduation ceremony: Wednesday, June 18, 10:45-11:15 a.m., outside the main office
The Newton North PTSO has several openings for next year. Newton North depends on the generosity of parent/guardian volunteers to help keep our community informed and stay connected. Please consider helping out! Questions? Please contact Sally Brickell and Lynne LeBlanc at co-presidents@northptso.org.
Board positions
We are fortunate to have a nominating committee to help with the process for the following Board positions:Co-president
Work with other PTSO co-president and committee chairs to run Newton North PTSO. Strong organizational, people, and technical skills needed. Previous PTO experience is a plus, but not required. Time commitment: 10-15 hours per week.Programming Chair
Work with current chair and with co-presidents to determine PTSO meeting content and arrange logistics. Attend PTSO board meetings (every six weeks during the school year).TreasurerTreasurer responsibilities begin August 1st and extend through July 31st. Track income and expenses for all PTSO activities. Responsible for Massachusetts and federal non-profit filings. Learn and use state-of-the art membership software. Use Quicken and Excel to keep financial records. Interact with all PTSO committees and some teachers and Main Office staff.No experience necessary (current treasurer will help as needed) just a commitment to maintaining accurate records. Time commitment: 5-10 hours per week.Non-board positionsNewsletter editor
Help PTSO co-presidents arrange content for the weekly e-newsletter, Tiger News as well as post stories on PTSO website.Class liaisons 2018—one slot left for a Bigelow parent!
Provide support to class of 2018, help organize one faculty breakfast per year, help class advisors and students with one major event per year, help PTSO solicit volunteers, help Counseling Department with class-specific series.Parent outreach
Provide two new parent/guardian gatherings – one in the fall and one mid-year. Help PTSO with outreach to new families.Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices
Help PTSO organize yearly Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices expo (January); provide outreach to and liaison for North community with local and some national non-profits.Student-Faculty Administration
Attend weekly morning meetings with students, faculty, staff, and principal in a non-voting but advisory capacity to help determine school policies.Webmaster
Help current webmaster with technical oversight of PTSO website. Knowledge of Drupal programming helpful but not required.
As the school year comes to an end, are you looking for a way to say “Thank You” to the people who make a difference at your children’s schools?
Every day, each of your children benefits from exceptional teachers and staff to educate, motivate and inspire them to be the best they can be.While the impulse to thank teachers with a physical or monetary gift is a natural one, the Newton School Committee prohibits individual gifts to teachers and the State Ethics Commission limits the types and amounts of group gifts that teachers may receive.
Seventeen years ago, Newton Schools Foundation created a special campaign designed to enable parents to honor teachers by giving a gift in their name. Please consider donating to NSF’s Annual “Honor Thy Teacher” Campaign to support teachers’ efforts and honor their dedication to your children. You may also choose to honor a special education aide, a fine arts or music teacher, an administrator, a coach or counselor who has touched your child’s life. Suggested donation is $25 per teacher/staff member.
NSF celebrates Newton Public Schools teachers and staff by:
TOMORROW EVENING, please join us for our last Bigelow PTO meeting for this school year and a thank you for your tremendous volunteer service on Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., at Julie Bourgoin’s house, 44 Whitney Road, Newtonville. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend. If you can join us, please respond so we can ensure that we have the proper seating and snacks by emailing jbourgoin@comcast.net or calling 617-320-0040. We do hope you can make it.
We have one formal piece of business at our meeting that evening and that is to vote in a new slate of officers for next year. If you are interested in serving on the board next year, we would love to have you.
It is not too late if you are interested in being on next year’s board. WE NEED A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. Ideally we would love the following on the board to help share the work load.
A couple of new faces have indicated their willingness to serve as Vice Presidents next year; Beth Panella and Lex Van der Ploeg. Thank you!! We also have three members of this year’s board indicate their willingness to be nominated and serve again next year. Carolyn Judge, Co-President, Vicki Spetter, Co-Treasurer and Vicki Ritterband, Co-Secretary.
Click here for more information on the responsibilities of these roles You can also contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com or call Carolyn at 617 794 6436 with any questions or to volunteer.
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion and caring without even a prescription.” Val Saintsbury
Nurse Lieberman is retiring at the end of this school year. Please join us for cupcakes and lemonade right after school to wish her well.
Wednesday, June 18th from 3-4:30pm in the Ward School Library
WE NEED A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE BOARD NEXT YEAR!! Ideally we would love the following on the board to help share the work load.
Click here for more information on the responsibilities of these roles You can also contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com or call Carolyn at 617 794 6436 with any questions or to volunteer.
A couple of new faces have indicated their willingness to serve as Vice Presidents next year; Beth Panella and Lex Van der Ploeg. Thank you!! We also have three members of this year’s board indicate their willingness to be nominated and serve again next year. Carolyn Judge, Co-President, Vicki Spetter, Co-Treasurer and Vicki Ritterband, Co-Secretary.
Please join us for our last Bigelow PTO meeting for this school year and a thank you for your tremendous volunteer service on Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., at Julie Bourgoin’s house, 44 Whitney Road, Newtonville. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend. If you can join us, please respond so we can ensure that we have the proper seating and snacks by emailing jbourgoin@comcast.net or calling 617-320-0040. We do hope you can make it.
We have one formal piece of business at our meeting that evening and that is to vote in a new slate of officers for next year. If you are interested in serving on the board next year, we would love to have you. Please go to bigelowpto.org for more information.
The following was sent out by Principal Harrison last week regarding improvements to the Park St / Vernon St intersection to improve pedestrian safety.
Dear Parents,
We have received word from the City of Newton DPW that work will begin soon on improvements to the intersection of Park St. and Vernon St. adjacent to Bigelow Middle School.
This has long been a dangerous intersection, and after many years of discussion, a trial plan has been approved. I support this plan along with the neighborhood. It should improve safety for Bigelow and Underwood students crossing Park and Vernon Streets, while still allowing traffic to flow. The trial design consists of a pedestrian island at the base of Park Street, and a raised crossing and bump-out on Vernon St.
A temporary structure will be built soon to test this new design while school is still in session. The construction and new structure may initially cause delays during drop-off and pick-up times. We encourage students to walk, ride, or take the bus to school, but if you drive your child to school, please give yourself extra time. Also, please bear with the situation as we assess the impact of these changes. Our students’ safety is always our foremost concern.
Thanks.
Todd
Todd Harrison PrincipalBigelow Middle School 42 Vernon St.Painting, Photography, Drawing, and Mixed Media this summer at ARTHEADS Studio in Brighton Center. See our summer schedule at artforachange@mac.com Perfect activity for the creative middle schooler!