Spring PTO events are in full swing! March kicked off with Bigelow’s Global Diversity Night, featured two great Creative Arts & Sciences Events for students (Brent Daniels and Elly Gotz) and will end with the “Treat Yo Self” Pop-Up appreciation event for our fabulous teachers and staff. Many more great Spring events are in store, including the Ten Tables Progressive Dinner on April 5th, FORJ Family Bowling Event on April 6th, “Tropical Twist” Spring Dance + Social for students on April 11th, Newton Serves / Bigelow Beautification on May 4th, and Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week luncheons May 5-9th.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Volunteer for the 2025-26 school year!
The Bigelow PTO Board is changing as students graduate to high school, and we’ll need help to continue the momentum we’ve been able to establish with all of these great events. We have 2 PTO Board parents moving on from Bigelow. Getting parents on board this year will be key to a smooth transition, and there is still a great network of parents that are supporting the PTO throughout the year. Please see the form HERE for more information and to express interest in leadership and other opportunities for participation. 

We work closely with our school leadership, teachers and school staff to give our students lots of educational and fun experiences all school year long. We hope you can join us!

Please join us on the evening of Saturday, April 5 for the return of Bigelow’s Ten Tables progressive dinner event!

Ten Tables is an ADULTS-ONLY evening, that you will not want to miss! This is not only a fun way to meet other families in the Bigelow community but also one of the largest school-wide fundraisers we have. Everyone will begin at the same location for appetizers at 6:30 p.m. Just before 8 p.m., you will be handed an envelope with the location of your dinner house. Dinners are small gatherings, ranging from 8 to 12 people. This is a great way to get to know other families that have kids in the same grades as yours.

Hosts Needed!
Would you like to host a dinner? We have a number of wonderful hosts already signed up, but we could use a couple more. Host families provide guests with food and beverages, usually around 8-12 people. Some families choose to cook the meal, some choose catering/takeout, and some do a combination, so please don’t be afraid to volunteer even if you’re not into cooking. For anyone new to hosting and thinking about it, we are happy to answer any questions. Themes from past years have included: A Trip to Tuscany, Land, Sea, and Bubbles, Greeking Out, Burger & Co., French Countryside, The Bar at Capitol Chill, Margaritas and Margheritas.  If you would like to host, please contact Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com.

Would you like to attend Ten Tables as a guest? Please sign up and let us know you’re coming. Please complete this Google form and let us know about the size of your group and any dietary restrictions you have.

Donations Because Ten Tables is both a community-building and fundraising event, please consider making a donation to support the Bigelow PTO. The suggested donation is $50 per person, but all are welcome regardless of financial contributions. Donations (please designate “Ten Tables” in the note) can be made via:

• Venmo @BigelowPTONewton
• check payable to Bigelow PTO

Get your tickets now! Click here to RSVP & Donate!

On Tuesday, March 18th, Bigelow 6th graders enjoyed a one-of-a-kind education and virtual entertainment experience with Brent Daniels – award-winning composer, producer, sound designer and recording artist who uses the latest in music technology to sculpt sound and create music!

Using a digital sampling keyboard workstation, master-level musicianship, and a blend of audience participation, high energy music, information and humor, Brent creates an exciting, one-of-a-kind performance representing the STEAM educational approach, combining (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics).

Music Technology with Brent Daniels shows students the important relationship between the technology they have in their classrooms and the creation of the music and sounds they hear on their iPods and on TV, in movies and video games. Student volunteers participate in the program to help Brent create unique on-the-spot sounds and by the end of the show, an original song. A passionate advocate for education, Brent uses his Music Technology program as a vehicle for delivering an important message woven into the program: how important a student’s education, great study habits and positive decision-making are for one’s success in life and any career.

You check out a video description of his program here.

Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) presentations are made possible by your generous donations to the PTO.

The Rollercoaster of Parenting: Helping Your Teens Transition to Life after High School The Newton North High School (NNHS) PTSO invites Bigelow caregivers to an insightful panel discussion on April 1 at 7:00pm in the NNHS auditorium, sponsored by the NNHS PTSO, to explore how parents can help their teens manage stress and navigate this critical transition.

Parents play a vital role in guiding their teens as they prepare for life after high school.  But at this particular moment in time, that job can feel more overwhelming than ever. Parents and teens are subjected to an avalanche of information from social media, peers, and society at large regarding post-high school decisions. Some of these messages are helpful, but others can be stressful to the health and well-being of both our teens and ourselves. As parents, we strive to pave the way towards lives of meaning and purpose for our children. It is vital that we prepare ourselves with tools to navigate the ever-changing landscape of helping our teens plan for the future.

This panel will provide a unique blend of insights from the adults who work with our children combined with research-based advice from an expert in the field of teen development. The conversation will be moderated by a Newton North parent who brings expertise from both her personal and professional life.  

We invite you to join us for this important conversation. You will be sure to walk away with new insights, as well as important tools to help you (and your teen) navigate the exciting, but emotionally challenging, transition from High School to the next phase of life.

Moderator:
Julie Swinehart, CFO of Fenway Sports Group

Panel:

• Dr. Richard Weissbourd, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education, founder of Making Caring Common, and author of The Parents We Mean To Be
• Matthew Ford, NNHS School Counselor
• Jillian Hall, NNHS College & Career Counselor
• Blayne Lopes, NNHS METCO Counselor

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Please join us on the evening of Saturday, April 5 for the return of Bigelow’s Ten Tables progressive dinner event!

Ten Tables is an ADULTS-ONLY evening, that you will not want to miss! This is not only a fun way to meet other families in the Bigelow community but also one of the largest school-wide fundraisers we have. Everyone will begin at the same location for appetizers at 6:30 p.m. Just before 8 p.m., you will be handed an envelope with the location of your dinner house. Dinners are small gatherings, ranging from 8 to 12 people. This is a great way to get to know other families that have kids in the same grades as yours.

Would you like to host a dinner? We have a number of wonderful hosts already signed up, but we could use a couple more. Host families provide guests with food and beverages, usually around 8-12 people. Some families choose to cook the meal, some choose catering/takeout, and some do a combination, so please don’t be afraid to volunteer even if you’re not into cooking. For anyone new to hosting and thinking about it, we are happy to answer any questions. Themes from past years have included: A Trip to Tuscany, Land, Sea, and Bubbles, Greeking Out, Burger & Co., French Countryside, The Bar at Capitol Chill, Margaritas and Margheritas.  If you would like to host, please contact Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com.

Would you like to host the appetizer party? We’re still looking for a host for the kick-off to the evening’s festivities. This portion of the night runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with a hard stop at 8 p.m. since all guests will be leaving for dinner. You will be tasked with appetizers and beverages for roughly 100 people. Please contact Kathy (kburdetteshields@yahoo.com) if you would like to host or (co-host!) the appetizer party.

Would you like to attend Ten Tables as a guest? Please sign up and let us know you’re coming. Please complete this Google form and let us know about the size of your group and any dietary restrictions you have.

Donations Because Ten Tables is both a community-building and fundraising event, please consider making a donation to support the Bigelow PTO. The suggested donation is $50 per person, but all are welcome regardless of financial contributions. Donations (please designate “Ten Tables” in the note) can be made via:

• Venmo @BigelowPTONewton
• check payable to Bigelow PTO

Get your tickets now! Click here to RSVP & Donate!

Would you like to see some more great events for your Bigelow student in the next school year? Volunteering with the PTO is a great way to enhance your student’s middle school experience while meeting other parents and building a stronger school connection.

It is time to start to planning for the 2025-26 school year! We are actively recruiting for several positions that will be open next year as 8th grade families move on from Bigelow. Now is the ideal time to volunteer as overlap with current volunteers will make for an easy transition. In particular, we would like to identify volunteers for the following:

• President/Co-President Lead and support the team, preside over PTO meetings, serve as primary contact and representative of the PTO.
• Communications/Website Send weekly PTO newsletters and other communications. Maintain PTO website. **Training available from current volunteer!**
• 8th Grade Activities Organize transition activities for 8th grade class including fundraising, year-end celebrations, Moving On ceremony, etc.

In addition to the positions highlighted above, there are many other ways to get involved in the PTO. Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or learning more about any of the opportunities to become involved with the Bigelow PTO. Co-volunteers welcome!

Attention 8th grade families! During teacher appreciation week (May 5-9th) each grade (6, 7, 8) organizes a luncheon for teachers and staff. We are still looking for an 8th grade parent to coordinate their grade’s luncheon. Please email Laura Goldworm at lauramandell@yahoo.com if you are interested!

Calling all bakers (and aspiring bakers)!  The Teacher Appreciation Committee would like to show Bigelow Staff our gratitude during the long month of March with a “Treat Yo Self” Pop-Up on Friday, March 28. For this pop-up we would like to feature homemade treats of all kinds!

To make that happen we need volunteers to sign up to bake a homemade treats for staff. Please sign up to bake and bring in a treat here. (Hint: this is a great project for students!)

We will send out instructions for drop-offs to all volunteers. Please reach out to Laura Goldworm with any questions at lauramandell@yahoo.com. Thank you for your help! 

On Tuesday evening, Bigelow’s Gym came alive to celebrate our beautiful and diverse community with delicious food, bright displays, lively music, and good cheer! Attendees were treated to a tour of Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Uruguay, US/Southern, Venezuela & Vietnam.

Thank you to everyone who attended and the many volunteers who came together to make this event a success!

Table Hosts and Volunteers: Cristina Schulze, Katiane Gomes, Elizabeth Jenkins, Jordyne Wu & Jie Go, Lina Zou, Hana Zou, Alexander Lee & Iris Tang, Onaika Santana, Angela Polanco, Elizabeth Roller Apgar, Nader, Ereeny, Marvy & Vironia El Gouna, the Sundram Family, Ms Anderson & Mrs Barboni, Mrs Bennington, Crista Cavicchio, Maha Farhat, Rodrigo Canales, Krysia Villon, Anna Sicam, Agnes Pietrzyk, Monika Sawicka, Amara Donovan, Rebecca Robles, Lauren Myers & Fede Arellano, Margarita Bockorny, Mandy Carozza, Alex Rolfe, Alberto & Gabriela Pina, Hai Ly, Kyra Mercado, Tamara Peshkova, Turkan Aliyeva, Nelly Vavu, Eugene Rhee, Leah Richardson, Emily Archibald, and Rachanee Nelson.

Special thanks to Principal Green and Bigelow Custodians for all their help and the Bigelow students and siblings who pitched in!

Finally, HUGE thank you to Lanni Isenberg for spearheading this amazing event!

We are happy to share the amazing international music playlist Ms. Richardson assembled (with some help from Mr. Richardson!) incorporating Bigelow families’ suggestions: Bigelow Global Diversity Night Spotify Playlist

Would you like to see some more great events for your Bigelow student in the next school year? Volunteering with the PTO is a great way to enhance your student’s middle school experience while meeting other parents and building a stronger school connection.

It is time to start to planning for the 2025-26 school year! We are actively recruiting for several positions that will be open next year as 8th grade families move on from Bigelow. Now is the ideal time to volunteer as overlap with current volunteers will make for an easy transition. In particular, we would like to identify volunteers for the following:

• President/Co-President Lead and support the team, preside over PTO meetings, serve as primary contact and representative of the PTO.
• Communications/Website Send weekly PTO newsletters and other communications. Maintain PTO website. **Training available from current volunteer!**
• 8th Grade Activities Organize transition activities for 8th grade class including fundraising, year-end celebrations, Moving On ceremony, etc.

In addition to the positions highlighted above, there are many other ways to get involved in the PTO. Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or learning more about any of the opportunities to become involved with the Bigelow PTO. Co-volunteers welcome!