From Sue Schy, RN, MSN, Bigelow School Nurse

Our kids are learning about subtle—and not so subtle—experiences of racism and social exclusion… now it’s the parents’ turn. Mark your calendars!

In October, all three grades participated in an amazing, interactive program around microaggressions** in middle school. Microaggressions undermine a culture of inclusion that is so critical for our schools.  Microaggressions can cause students to experience serious cognitive, behavioral, and emotional reactions, making it difficult for them to learn.  This program was a first step to help our kids understand what microaggressions are, how to constructively respond to them, and how to seek support when they experience or observe them.  Thanks to Rehearsal for Life, which uses theater as a vehicle for social justice, and for Bigelow Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), Principal Coston, Bigelow PTO and the Village Bank for their support of this program!

**Commonplace slights, stereotypes, insults and indignities–whether intentional or unintentional–targeted against marginalized group identities such as race, socioeconomic class, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, nationality, citizenship, ability, etc. that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative biases that are subtle, nuanced and convoluted, making it difficult for victims to speak up or call out. 

NOW WHAT? JOIN BIGELOW FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ) PARENT DISCUSSION SESSION

“WHAT ARE MICROAGGRESSIONS & HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT THEM WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?”- NOVEMBER 8, 7pm via ZOOM.

For the zoom link please email us at BigelowFORJ@gmail.com

The goal of Bigelow’s One School, One Book Program is to create a more inclusive community through participation in a common reading experience as a whole school. Through discussion and advisory activities in October and November, , staff and students will share a common experience of reading and learning together. The school is beginning discussion and a number of activities around this year’s book, From the Desk of Zoe Washington.  One of these is understanding how people of color are more likely to be incarcerated in our criminal justice system and the work of  The Innocence Project.

NOW WHAT? JOIN BIGELOW FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ) PARENT DISCUSSION SESSION

“FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON”- THEMES OF RACIAL INJUSTICE- OCTOBER 27, 7-8 pm via ZOOM.

For the zoom link for the October discussion, please email us at BigelowFORJ@gmail.com

A great time was had by students, parents, teachers, and family members at the Bigelow Franklin Park picnic last Sunday!  There was plenty of sunshine and pizza and highlights included kickball, karaoke, dancing, meeting new friends and catching up with old friends, and Ms. Coston’s kickball fielding skills!  Thank you to all who attended and a special thank you to Kyra Mercado, Michelle Reddick, Kelly Qian, Margo Michaels, Chassity Coston and Jeanne Choe-Arrieta who put this event together.

View more photos here!

Thank you to all who helped with “Bigelow Beautification Day” on Saturday!

We weeded, mulched, planted mums for fall, and 90 bulbs for the spring.

We can’t wait for the children to see their updated front entrance and beautiful outdoor space Monday morning!

You can preorder your photos online (https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/ – Picture Day ID EVTSQBBDG).

Bring your gardening gear and tools and join us the Bigelow PTO on Saturday October 16 from 9-3 for Beautify Bigelow Day, Sunday Oct 24 is the bad weather backup day. The entire Bigelow Community is welcome. We will clean, weed, mulch, and plant new bulbs for the spring in front of Bigelow beginning at 9 am. All volunteers are welcome to drop in for any amount of time. Every contribution counts! Please RSVP via the link below.

RSVP

Download the flyer: in English – in Spanish – in Mandarin – in Portuguese

RSVP

Please remind your child to finish reading “From the Desk of Zoe Washington” before October 14th.

Students need to read the book and think about this: “When Marcus tells Zoe he is innocent, and her grandmother agrees, Zoe begins to learn about inequality in the criminal justice system, and she sets out to find the alibi witness who can prove his innocence.” Does everyone lie? Is there ever a good time to lie? Think of the worst lie you have told… Was it “worth it”?

Learn more about One School, One Book at Bigelow here.

We’d like to hear from you!

The PTO spends approximately $120 per student per year. In 2020, thanks to our community’s fundraising efforts, the PTO was also able to support the Auditorium Improvements ($19,500) & the purchase of Chromebooks ($15,000).

Please let us know if you have any suggestions for fundraising activities and what projects you’d like to volunteer for!

Suggest Fundraising Activities & Volunteer

We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

• Big Night
• Scholarship Fund
• PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) Theater Liaison
• PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) Orchestra Liaison

Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com or fill the form above to express interest.

The Parents & Caregivers Program is part of The Resilience Project, an innovative community health initiative based out of Newton-Wellesley Hospital. They offer a range of FREE or low-fee educational resources for parents and caregivers with a particular focus on supporting our local communities, including Natick, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, and Weston. Philanthropic support has made it possible to expand its reach to include free services for middle and high schools in our catchment areas, and this includes Bigelow.

The Resilience Project’s Parents & Caregivers Program offers parenting workshops, talks, and webinars throughout the year. Their programming includes:  

• Building Resilience Series – a free monthly virtual event series co-organized with The Resilience Project’s School Program focusing on different topics related to supporting the emotional wellness and mental health of students  
• Parenting Through COVID-19 Webinar Series – free webinars for parents including various topics such as Parenting and Fostering Resilience, Managing Parent Anxiety, Navigating Summer, Parenting Through School Transitions, with more webinars to come  
• Parent Talks/Seminars – one-time educational presentations offered by request throughout the year on a variety of topis (e.g., resilience and mental health, anxiety and school avoidance, screens, substance use) to meet the needs of individual schools and/or parent groups  
• Raising Resilient Teens Parent Workshop – a seven-week virtual skills-based workshop offered every fall, winter, and spring 
• Additional Parent Groups/Workshops including Raising Resilient Kids Parent Workshop – coming soon!  

To learn more, please contact NWHResilienceProject@partners.org, visit nwh.org/resilienceproject and follow @NWHResilienceProject on Facebook.