Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

SEPAC Awards – accepting nominations through May 19th!

The annual SEPAC Awards are now open for nominations through May 19th! Interested in nominating an exceptional NPS or Out of District teacher and/or staff member for the difference they have made in your student with a disability’s life this past academic year? Here’s how the process works:

• Submit a nomination through the nomination form
• All celebratory nominations will be recognized
• The week of June 16th, your nominee will receive:
  • An email with the kind words you wrote about them and a short slideshow of anonymized nominations lifting up the good work taking place across the district.
  • A printed SEPAC Award certificate delivered to their school. 
  • Each principal will receive a list of nominees from their school.

Do you need to nominate everyone from your student’s team? Please only nominate the teachers and staff members who you feel have been exceptional!

Questions? Reach out to: newtonspecialeducationawards@gmail.com

Bigelow 7th grader Luna Peruzzi and family invite you to enjoy Newton Family FunFEST this Saturday, May 17th from 10 am to 4 pm at City Hall. While you’re there, be sure to stop by Luna’s stand featuring handmade crochet crafts and needle-felted jewelry. Proceeds from Luna’s sales will be donated to the Gifford Cat Shelter.

Calling all Bigelow Parents and Caregivers!

Let’s get social at the Social! Join us to for small bites and an evening to connect.

There’s no cost to join us—just come and be social! Complimentary appetizers and light snacks will be available for grazing. Drinks and additional meals can be purchased individually at the bar.

Please let us know via this form if you plan to attend so we can get a sense of how many guests to expect.

Bigelow Social at the Social

• Friday, May 16th @7:15pm
• Social Restaurant and Bar 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA
• Light snacks provided
• Drinks and additional food available for purchase
• This is an adult only event.

Please Save the Date, Tuesday, May 20th at 7 pm for our final PTO meeting of the 2024-25 school year. We will review the PTO budget, elect officers, and start planning for the 2025-26 school year.

As a reminder, Bigelow PTO needs more volunteers for the 2025-26 school year! Please see this form for more information and to express interest in volunteer opportunities.

Join us TONIGHT, Thursday, May 8th at 7 pm at City Hall!

Your voice matters! Let’s pack the room and show strong community support for the NPS budget!

Please see this link for more information.

Dear NPS Families,

As you may know, each year, parents, guardians, and students are able to nominate NPS and Out of District teachers and staff for a Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Award. A SEPAC Award recognizes exceptional NPS and Out of District teachers, aides, behavior therapists, psychologists, bus drivers, crossing guards, administrators, and other staff for the role they played in a student’s special education journey this past academic year. Interested in nominating an exceptional NPS or Out of District teacher and/or staff member? The deadline for nominations is Monday, May 19th. Here’s how the process works:

• Submit a nomination through the nomination form
• All celebratory nominations will be recognized
• The week of June 16th, your nominee will receive:
  • An email with the kind words you wrote about them and a short slideshow of anonymized nominations lifting up the good work taking place across the district.
  • A printed SEPAC Award certificate delivered to their school. 
  • Each principal will receive a list of nominees from their school.

Do you need to nominate everyone from your student’s team? Please only nominate the teachers and staff members who you feel have been exceptional!

Questions? Reach out to: newtonspecialeducationawards@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your participation recognizing the exceptional NPS and Out of District teachers and staff who work so hard to support special education students. Please help us share this message as widely as possible so the SEPAC Awards can reach all corners of our community!

Warmly, 

2024-2025 SEPAC Board

Please Support our 2024-2025 Yearbook!

To order your copy of our yearbook, CLICK HERE or go to https://ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter our yearbook ID code 1945925.  Then enter your name and grade. Click next and follow the online prompts to complete your order.  Enter your payment directly on the website with a credit card.

All personalized yearbook copies and hardcover upgrades must be placed by Sunday, May 11, 2025.  After this date, our final yearbook order has been placed and the number of available copies left online will be limited to a first-come first serve basis.  Thank you!

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:

• Friday, May 2nd, 7 pm Bigelow Drama Festival Class Production of I, Chorus (at Bigelow)
• Saturday, May 3rd, 1 pm Bigelow’s Drama Festival class performs in the METG Festival (at Melrose Middle School)
• Sunday, May 4th, 10 am – 2 pm Newton Serves: Bigelow Grounds Beautification
• Monday, May 5th – Friday, May 9th Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week Luncheons
• Wednesday, May 7th Walk & Roll First Wednesday!
• Wednesday, May 7th, 7 pm FORJ Film Discussion: Codeswitching: Race and Identity in the Suburban Schoolhouse
• Thursday, May 8th, 8:20 am Superintendent Nolin and School Committee Representative visit Bigelow
• Friday, May 16th, 7:15 pm Bigelow Parent Social at the Social
• Tuesday, May 20th, 7 pm Final PTO Meeting of the 2024-25 school year

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:

• Advance Tickets available until Friday, May 2nd at 9 pm
• A ticket is good for the entire day, but the form will ask you to specify a performance
• Tickets will also be available at the door for CASH or CHECK only