On March 29th, Interim Newton Public School (NPS) Superintendent Kathy Smith presented the initial budget presentation for the 2023-24 school year (FY24), including district-wide reductions due to a $4.9 million budget shortfall. Addtional budget details and proposed reductions specific to Instructional Areas, IT, and Non-Instructional Areas were presented to the School Committee in subsquent meetings.

You can view the presentations as well as additional information regarding the FY24 NPS budget on the FY24 Budget Documents Webpage.

The meeting timeline for the FY24 budget can be found below or by following this link.

Newton Public Schools (NPS) is facing numerous proposed budget cuts for the upcoming 2023-24 school year, including the ELIMINATION of all Newton Elementary Schools Strings programs (strings lessons and orchestra ensemble instruction across all fifteen elementary schools in the district).

Save Newton Strings is a group of parents, guardians, students, alumni, and community members fighting against harmful cuts to the NPS Elementary Strings Lessons and Orchestra Ensemble Programs.

Please join us in asking NPS and our elected officials in Newton to reconsider this proposal by signing this petition and sharing your comments and personal stories.

Visit www.savenewtonstrings.com to learn more.

Calling all String Musicians!

On Monday, April 24th Newton Orchestra students of all ages from across the district will gather for a concert outside of the Education Center to advocate for the restoration of the elementary school 4th/5th grade string orchestra program.

Due to the failed override vote and budget deficit for next school year, NPS is proposing to cut this vital program, a decision which betrays the promise made to our students and undercuts the future of Newton’s entire orchestra program. The school committee will be taking a straw vote on the proposal just inside the Education Center during the concert. We urge everyone, whether enrolled in the program or not, to come out in support of our students and educators as they raise their voices to ensure that committee members do not cast their votes lightly.

For information on how to sign up your NPS string student for the concert click here

• When: Monday April 24th, 2023
  • 5:30 pm Arrival Time
  • 6 pm Concert
• Where: Newton Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Newtonville

For more information, visit Save Newton Strings. To sign the petition click here.

Bigelow Counseling Department is back with another family learning opportunity. This time, we hope to educate you all about our English Language Learner population, and how we can best support them as members of our school community.

Please join us for this family educational event on Wednesday, April 12th at 8:15 am at Bigelow; you may RSVP here or via the button below.

Bigelow Civics Day is back! 8E and 8F students will host community members on Thursday, April 13th at 8:30 am. Please email 8E teacher Jean Singers with questions or to RSVP at singersj@newton.k12.ma.us

On March 29th, Interim Newton Public School (NPS) Superintendent Kathy Smith presented the initial budget presentation for the 2023-24 school year (FY24), including disctrict-wide reductions due to a $4.9 million budget shortfall.

You can view the presentation as well as additional information regarding the FY24 NPS budget on the FY24 Budget Documents Webpage.

The meeting timeline for the FY24 budget can be found below or by following this link.

Information on Public Hearing for FY24 School Budget: Wednesday April 12th @6:30 pm

The Newton School Committee will hold a hybrid Public Hearing

• Only School Committee Members and Central Staff in person (if available, otherwise via Zoom) at the Education Center, 100 Walnut St., room 210, and
• The Public via Zoom (or copy and paste https://zoom.us/j/390017072).

Instructions for the public to listen to, or participate in virtual school committee meetings:

1. Join the Zoom Meeting by Phone or Computer. Under both options you will be automatically muted with video off upon entering the meeting. You will be unmuted by the moderator when you are called to speak.

• By Computer: Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/390017072
  • Meeting ID: 390 017 072
• By Phone: Dial in:  +1 646 558 8656
  • Meeting ID: 390 017 072

2. Listen in on NewTV’s broadcast – Visit the NewTV website for more information.

Public Comment

All members of the public will be allowed to speak on this topic only for up to 2 minutes.

To sign up in advance of the hearing, please copy and paste this link: Sign Up Google form to access the form.

You may also sign up in “live-time” during the meeting by using the “raise your hand” feature on Zoom. Speakers will be called in the order in which they signed up – first come – first speak.

The School Committee will convene a HYBRID Regular Meeting in open session immediately following the Public Hearing.

Save the Date for NewtonServes at Bigelow Grounds: Sunday May 7, 2023
9 am – 4 pm Rain or Shine

Learn more: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/parks-recreation-culture/newton-serves

Green Newton School Connections (GNSC) is a collaborative group of Newton Public School (NPS) students, families, educators and community members who aim to build a just, healthy, sustainable, and climate-resilient community. School Connections aspires to help our schools educate students and empower them to be climate advocates and sustainability leaders.

The group meets on the second Thursday of every month from 4:30-5:30pm.

For more information on School Connections, email: schoolconnections@greennewton.org

Information on 8th Grade End-of-Year activities can be found following this link: https://bigelowpto.org/bigelow-8th-grade-end-of-year-activities/

Do you have a new item sitting around at home that you do not plan to use?

Do you have tickets to a local event that you do not plan to use?

Do you own a local business that would like to donate? 

Do you have a favorite local shop you would like to share with the community? Perhaps during your next visit to this shop, you can ask the proprietor if they can donate an item/service to our Community Online Auction? Not only would they help Bigelow PTO programing, but their donation would also advertise their business to the community.

The Bigelow PTO will be hosting our Annual Online Auction in May, however we are light on auction items. Would you consider donating or asking your favorite local business to donate on our behalf?

The Bigelow PTO is a parent-teacher volunteer organization and can only fund our support of performing arts, technology, cultural events, and other activities for Bigelow Middle School students via the generous donations from our community and fundraising activities such as the Annual Online Auction.

The Bigelow PTO Annual Online Auction is our biggest fundraising event of the year. It will only be successful if each member of the community can contribute or solicit a small donation to include in the auction. We need your help!

Please reach out to bigelowbulldog@gmail.com to volunteer.