Huge thank you to the volunteers who helped reinvigorate the grounds around Bigelow on Sunday for Newton Serves! Volunteers tirelessly weeded, planted, and mulched garden beds, and cleaned outdoor spaces around the school. Be sure to admire the new plantings and watch the gardens take shape in the coming months and years!
We hope everyone had a fun, restful April break and is ready for an exciting final stretch of the school year!
As we head into May, there are many opportunities to connect, learn, celebrate, and support our Bigelow community. Be sure to mark your calendars and check the newsletter for event details:
These events are only possible thanks to the support of our incredible volunteers. We still need volunteers for the 2025-26 school year! Please see this form for more information and to express interest in volunteer opportunities.
We partner closely with our school leadership, teachers, and staff to create meaningful experiences for our students and build a strong, connected community. Whether you are available occasionally or interested in a leadership role, there’s a way for everyone to get involved. We hope you can join us!
Bigelow’s Drama Festival class is performing in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) Middle School Festival this weekend! It is Bigelow’s first entry to the Festival since 2019.
Bigelow is performing I, Chorus, a funny story about a Greek Chorus and a disgruntled Walmart employee who find connection in an unconventional way.
The cast and crew will be performing at Bigelow this Friday, May 2nd at 7pm. Tickets are on sale at lunches this week and will also be available at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for students. The 40-minute show will be followed by a short Q&A.
You can also cheer the students on at the METG Festival on Saturday, May 3rd at Melrose Middle School at 1pm! Tickets $10. For the METG Tickets:
Volunteer for Bigelow SERVES
Sunday, May 4th 10 am to 2 pm
Please join us this Sunday, May 4th to help reinvigorate the green areas around Bigelow for NewtonSERVES 2025.
The event will run from 10 am to 2 pm and volunteers are welcome to drop in for any amount of time. Every minute of your time helps!
Volunteers are encouraged to preregister HERE.
Please wear work clothes and bring a refillable water bottle. We also request the following items if you have them:
**Please label any tools you bring so we can be sure they are reunited with you at the end of the event.**
NewtonSERVES is an annual city-wide day of building community through service. NewtonSERVES projects focus on cleaning and improving our parks, school grounds, open space areas, and conservation lands. Please join us, Sunday, May 4th, to build our Bigelow Community while reinvigorating the green areas around the school!
All Bigelow families, friends, and neighbors are welcome!
National Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is next week – May 5-9th!
Bigelow PTO is celebrating our dedicated teachers and staff with three luncheons catered by families from each grade.
Thank you to the many volunteers who have signed up to contribute! We still have a few open spots for contributions. Please review sign-up links for each grade below and consider donating an item. All contributions should be delivered to Bigelow the morning of your grade’s luncheon.
Short on time but still want to help?
Monetary donations to fund luncheon items are also greatly appreciated. If you would prefer to donate money, the steps are:
1. Venmo @BigelowPTONewton and add note “[Grade] Teacher Appreciation Lunch”.
2. Sign up for an item in the grade-specific SignUpGenius link above. In the comments include “Venmo to Bigelow PTO [$ amount]”.
3. A PTO volunteer will cover that item for you the day of the luncheon.
This will be our final teacher appreciation event of the year. Let’s give our Bigelow staff a big thanks for all that they do!
If you have any questions, please contact:
Please join Bigelow FORJ for a facilitated film discussion of Codeswitching: Race and Identity in the Suburban Schoolhouse.
RSVP for the event is requested: RSVP HERE
Please watch the film prior to the event. It can be accessed for free at: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/codeswitching
Codeswitching presents the highly personal stories of two generations of students participating in the Boston METCO program. The discussion will be faciliated by Bigelow parent and University of Massachusetts Boston professor Dr. Amy Cook.
Please join us Thursday, May 8th at 8:20 am for a PTO meeting at Bigelow with Newton Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Anna Nolin, and members of the School Committee.
This is an important opportunity to learn about district initiatives and priorities for the future of NPS and for Bigelow. We look forward to a meaningful discussion with NPS leaders. Spread the word & bring a friend!
There remains a significant gap between the Mayor’s funding allocation for the Newton Public Schools (NPS) for Fiscal Year 2026 and the budget approved by the School Committee to implement Superintendent Nolin’s recommendations for our schools. We greatly appreciate everyone’s advocacy efforts thus far. It is important that we continue speaking up and urging our elected officials to advocate for the needs of our students.
How can you help?
Attend meetings as a physical show of support
The City Council will discuss the NPS budget again on Thursday, May 8th. School committee meetings and information can be found HERE.
Contact Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
The Mayor alone determines the funding allocation for NPS. Tell her you support the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget and ask her to allocate additional funds to NPS.
Reach out to your City Councilors
While the City Council doesn’t set the school budget, city councilors are influential advocates. Urge them to support increased funding for NPS.
Spread the Word
Talk to your neighbors—including those without school-aged kids. It’s vital that Mayor Fuller sees broad, citywide support for NPS.
Thank you for your support!
Calling all Bigelow Parents and Caregivers!
Let’s get social at the Social! Join us to for small bites and an evening to connect.
Bigelow Social at the Social
Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who have helped make this spring’s many PTO events possible. Your contributions have truly made a difference.
And there is more to come! May is full of opportunities to connect, learn, celebrate, and support our Bigelow community. Mark your calendars and join us!
Wishing everyone an amazing April Break!