Dear Newton Public Schools Families,

Earlier today, a group of over 50 physicians and scientists, all Newton residents and many with directly relevant specialties including infectious disease, pediatrics, pulmonology, emergency medicine, pediatric psychiatry and occupational medicine sent a letter to City Councilors, the School Committee, HHS Commissioner Youngblood, and Mayor Fuller urging the city to create a COVID / school reopening taskforce. We, along with these physicians and scientists, see this as the most viable path forward to resolving the issues that are halting a safe return of Newton students to their classrooms. Please click here to read for a copy of this letter.

In addition, Deborah Youngblood, HHS Commissioner, gave a public health update specifically related to schools at the City Council’s most recent Program and Services Meeting (Jan 6th). Commissioner Youngblood’s comments begin at the 1:15 mark. Click here for the NewTV broadcasts of that meeting.

As always if you find our updates helpful, we encourage you to forward to neighbors and friends. To be added to our mailing list, please email nps elementary families@gmail.com

Thank you for your support of NPS students!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding free lunches for all students for the 2020-21 school year. This means that any student in the Newton Public Schools is eligible for free lunch (and free breakfast where available.)

Students who are in school buildings through lunch (including K-2 who will now stay through lunch) can simply ask for the meal on the menu for that day and the meal will be provided to them free of charge.

Students in the Distance Learning Academy, or remote learners at the middle and high schools, can access free meals here:

Location: Newton North High School (theater entrance) and Newton South High School

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

We encourage you to take advantage of this free meal service in our schools.

Thank you and welcome back to school!

Sincerely,

Newton Public Schools Food Service

All Bigelow families are invited to join us on Zoom for Bigelow Virtual Team Trivia Night on Friday, January 29, 2021!

Emceed by trivia host James Marohn (gameswithjames.net), you’ll be challenged with dozens of questions in a variety of general knowledge categories (including The Office, of course). Lots of visual clues and audio clips. You’ll be put on a team with other families, and compete against other teams for the title of “Bigelow Trivia Champs”! Save the date and plan to be part of this night of friendly competition with your classmates and neighbors!

And please get your take out from Blue Ribbon BBQ that night and mention you are a Bigelow family. 20% of all proceeds will be donated to the PTO so it will be a finger licking good night all around!

Stay tuned for more details.

Please consider donating if you haven’t already! And many thanks to those who have. We are able to support so many wonderful programs and services thanks to your generosity!

You can still donate online, or send a check to: Bigelow PTO at 42 Vernon Street, Newton, MA 02458. All donations – large or small – are greatly appreciated and will help us achieve all that we set out to do.

$10  |  $20   |    $50   |   $100      |   $250   |   $500   |   $1,000

THANK YOU!

Students and Staff are expected to abide by the MA Travel Advisory.

• If you traveled out of Massachusetts (any states except Hawaii and/or abroad), you need to quarantine for 10 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
• If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

If you have questions about the quarantine or testing requirements in the Travel Advisory, please contact the City of Newton Health and Human Services Department.

Given the way the holidays have fallen since the hybrid model began and to equalize the in-person days for both cohorts, please note changes for the week before December break.

We braved the cold and distributed lots of yearbooks, hoodies, sweatpants, masks and t-shirts on Saturday. If you missed it, you still can get yours before the Holidays:

Yearbook: Students can get their pre-ordered copies at the school office. If you want to buy a copy, bring $25 in cash or a check made to Bigelow Middle School.

Gear: Please contact Amy McPherson at ablmcpherson0209@gmail.com or 617-834-9205.

We thank all those who purchased Cookies By Elise to benefit the PTO! They were absolutely delicious and money raised went to a great cause – Bigelow kids! Thank you!

We were happy to have our annual Holiday Luncheon on Wednesday, December 16 for the front office staff and custodians: Sue Schy, Heather MacDonald, Linda Anderson, Kersten Raso,  Courtney Rau-Rogers, Lucas Mogensen, Todd Harrison, Tim Curry, Al Zellmann, and Steve Rogers.

We are so grateful for their hard work and dedication to the school and our children!

Bigelow Gear is ready for pick-up!!! Please come get it at the Bigelow parking lot at one of the following times:

• Tuesday, 12/15, 11:30am-12:30pm
• FRIDAY, 12/18, 11:30am-12:30pm (day changed due to the snow storm)
• Saturday, 12/19, 11:30am-12:30pm

If you cannot make it at any of these times, please let us know and we will find an alternative.