Author Archives: Bigelow PTO

Events during Walk-Bike Week, Sept. 28

Bike Newton, which promotes bicycling as a viable method of transportation in Newton and advocates for safe, convenient biking for all, is sponsoring events for Walk-Bike Week:

Bike Friday, for commuters traveling into Boston, on Friday, Sept. 28. Begin at Newton City Hall, meet additional riders in Newtonville and Watertown Sq and end at the Sports Club near Boston Common. Meet at 6:45 AM, leave at 7 AM, arrive Boston 8:15 AM. Learn a safe route for your commute to Boston.

Bike Census, Saturday, Sept 29 and Wednesday, Oct 4. Volunteers are needed to help with the census (i.e. counting bike riders at locations around the city). Sign up at  bikenewton.org, click on ‘Do something’ and ‘Volunteer’. The census will be done on Saturday, Sept 29 12-1 PM and on Wed. Oct 3 8-9 AM and 4-5 PM.

Sunday Morning Weekly No-Rider-Left-Behind rides 11 AM, Sept. 30. Each ride goes to an interesting destination in the city. See schedule and routes at bikenewton.org. Meet at Homer St main library at 10:45 AM, with a bike in good working condition and a helmet. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and be able to ride 7 – 10 miles.

Piano Lessons: Gloria Jasinski

Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music, Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory. 30+ years teaching experience. Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, sightreading. Have a positive and successful learning experience. Phone: 617.566.9704 email: piano566@comcast.net

Registration for NAA Winter Youth Basketball (grades 3-12)

Registration opens Sept. 24th for the Newton Athletic Association (NAA) youth basketball leagues. Leagues are for boys and girls from 3rd through 12th grade. All players are welcome regardless of ability or experience.  A mandatory evaluation clinic will be held on October 21 (make-up date on October 22) in order to create and balance the teams.

Season includes 10-12 games per league, played on either Saturdays or Sundays.  Practices are one night each week, Sunday-Thursday.  Program runs mid-November through id-March.  Fee: $125 ($95 for each additional player from one family).  Information and application online at www.naabasketball.org. Application deadline Oct. 20th. 

African Dance Party with Nurturing Minds, Oct. 12

Come dance the night away with Nurturing Minds at our 3rd Annual African Dance Party, October 12th, from 7-11pm at The Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street, Waban.

Enjoy live African music by Lamine Toure and Grop Saloum, light bites, and open bar, in support of the Sega Girls School in Tanzania. We will be raising funds to complete a rainwater capture project to supply the school with fresh water. Tickets are $50 and are available at the Nurturing Minds website or by calling 617-969-1950 .

Cabot Cabot After School Program celebrating 35th anniversary

The Cabot After School Program is celebrating their 35th anniversary this year by having a cruise on the Spirit of Boston on September 30th. As Cabot is one of the feeder schools into Bigelow, we are sharing the following information:

The celebration will include a harbor cruise, auction, cash bar, dinner, dancing and entertainment for the whole family.

Who: Current and former CASP families and staff
When: Sunday, September 30th, 3:00-5:30
Where: Aboard the Spirit of Boston, Boston Harbor
Cost: Adults – $25, Children 4-12 – $7.50, Children 3 & under: FREE

Payment Deadline is September 14th

Go to www.cabotafterschool.org/CruisingwithCASP for all the details!
Proceeds to benefit CASP Scholarship Fund

Upcoming Events

September 20th─Back to school night at 7pm at Bigelow. You will start in your child’s home base.

September 21st─6th Grade Potluck Dinner at 7pm at the home of Rick and Anna LeBlanc. Please RSVP to Anna at annaleblanc@comcast.net.

Please bring your own beverage and then if your child’s last name begins with:

A-G- Please bring an appetizer
H-M-Please bring a side dish
N-T Please bring a main dish
U-Z-Please bring a dessert

September 27th─PTO Meeting. Held in the library at 8:30am. All are welcome.

October 13th─Soup Stroll host and hostesses needed! Please contact: Becky Manley at becky@calare.com if you are interested.

8th Grade Car Wash a Success!

Thank you to everyone who brought their dirty car to be washed on Friday September 7th. The 8th grade raised over $700 towards graduation. A special thank you to Bid Lannery for organizing the bake sale and for purchasing needed items and to Andrea Newman for coordinating the car wash from signage to soap!

6th Grade Orientation

All 6th graders are invited to a special orientation/social event TOMORROW (August 28th) from 9-10:30am. Students should arrive in the auditorium and from there, will visit homerooms, meet their homeroom classmates, receive their class schedules, tour classrooms and have light refreshments. Parents are welcome to join Todd and the PTO officers in the library during this time. If you ordered school supplies from the PTO, you may also pick them up tomorrow between 10:30-12pm or on the first day of school.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow,

Becky, Beth, Mindy, Anna and Julie

Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund

The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund

The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund was founded in 2012 to honor the contributions of Cyndi and her late husband Howard to the students of Bigelow Middle School upon her retirement from the Newton Public Schools.

Known affectionately by her students as “Ms. D,” Cyndi has been a music teacher and assistant principal in the Newton Public Schools for the past thirty-five years. After teaching music and music therapy at several elementary schools, she came to Bigelow in 1993 to help reopen the school. She and her colleagues built the music and theater program into a multifaceted and renowned department. Hundreds of Bigelow students enrolled in her chorus, and scores more participated in her theater productions. In 2003, she became the Assistant Principal at Bigelow, and in this role, she brought her flair and deep dedication to Bigelow students in new ways. She organized creative arts assemblies and chaperoned dances and overnight field trips, she helped guide students and parents through difficult situations with a loving hand, she greeted students everyday with a smiling face as they entered the building, and together with her husband Howard, she founded the Keystone Partners, a model mentoring program involving community volunteers and African American students. Current-day Bigelow is very much a reflection of Cyndi—a lively, creative, child-centered, caring, spirited, and strong community.

The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund will ensure that Cyndi and Howard’s impact will carry on into the future. This fund provides support for Bigelow students who might not be able to otherwise participate in cultural and curricular enrichment learning opportunities, such as field trips.

Please give on line by using the paypal button to the right.

Learn to Play the Flute

A professional flutist (New England Conservatory faculty) and Oak Hill parent teaches all levels and ages at his studio in Newton. Learn to play Classical, Jazz, and world music with a patient and dedicated teacher in a unique and creative environment. For a free trial lesson please contact: Amir Milstein, phone: 617-795-5923, email: amirmilstein@gmail.com. http://necmusic.edu/faculty/amir-milstein?lid=1&sid=3