From the nurse’s office:

Daily Health Assessment

• Please be sure you’re completing the Daily Health Assessment with your child each morning. This is one of the COVID-19 prevention pillars that if followed, will help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and allow the hybrid learning model to continue. Consider posting it in your home where you exit so you don’t forget.
  • Use a thermometer to take your child’s temperature each morning. Do not come to school if your child’s temperature is above 100 degrees F.
  • If you’re having difficulty obtaining a thermometer, check with your child’s school nurse.
  • If your child has difficulty tolerating an oral thermometer, consider a touchless model.
• If your child is staying home from school due to COVID-19 related symptoms, please call the school nurse in addition to checking in with your child’s healthcare provider about next steps.
• If your child has COVID-19 related symptoms, to return to school s/he will need either a negative COVID-19 test (PCR preferred, antigen ok, antibody not accepted) or a written alternative diagnosis from a healthcare provider. School nurses are available to help answer questions. Please reach out if your child has symptoms.

Flu Vaccine

• Flu shots: All students (even those learning remotely) must have a flu shot by 12/31/20, as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. If your family is having difficulty obtaining a flu vaccine, please check www.newtonma.gov/flu for a list of resources. Be sure your child’s school nurse has documentation of your child’s flu vaccine.

Medication at School

•  Please note that regular rules apply for medication administration at school.  All medications require a signed parent permission form and a written medication order by a prescriber.  The form to use can be found here http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/70889
• Students cannot transport medication.  Contact the school nurse to arrange medication drop off.

Sue Schy, RN, MSN
Bigelow School Nurse
(617) 552-7746

Calling all writers, actors, artists, builders, and techies! Bigelow Drama is now in full swing! 4-5 every day except Wednesdays, no sign up needed, open to all students in all grades. Whether your student is interested in acting, tech, or playwriting, movies or plays or musicals, there’s something for everyone! Check out our full schedule and more information at http://bigelowdrama.weebly.com/fall-2020.html

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Alberts, Drama coordinator: Jaime_Alberts@newton.k12.ma.us

Dear Bigelow Community,

We are looking for a volunteer to help the PTO with our annual tax filings. If you are an accountant or lawyer specializing in taxes, we would greatly appreciate your assistance. Thank you!

Bigelow PTO Board

Take a look at the Bigelow PTO online store for face masks, t-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants.

Online orders will remain open until Friday, October 30th.
Items will be distributed at the Bigelow parking lot in November.
Dates and times to be announced.

Thank you to the Bigelow Student Council for the support and logo design!

SHOP BULLDOG

All funds raised by this sale will go towards supporting Bigelow students and school, including performing arts, technology, literature and cultural events. Check out here: What the PTO Supports

Please save the dates for this year’s Back To School Nights. All sessions will be online on zoom. The schedule will be:

Tuesday, Oct. 20

• 7-8pm     Grade 6: Team teachers, Special Educators, and ELL teacher
• 8-9pm    All Grades:  World Language, Literacy Lab, ELL (In-person Cohort C), and Library teachers

Wednesday, Oct 21

• 7-8pm    Grade 7: Team teachers, Special Educators, and ELL teachers
• 8-9pm     All Grades:  FAA teachers, Band/Chorus/Orchestra directors

Thursday, Oct 22

• 6:30-7:00   All Grades:  METCO Parents meet and greet
• 7-8pm     Grade 8: Team teachers, Special Educators, and ELL teacher
• 8-8:45pm     All Grades:  Physical Education teachers

Check out the PTO Calendar.

Over the last two weekends, the PTO organized get-togethers for students to meet in person outside of the school. We held 11 gatherings at the backyard of host families all across Newton and in Boston for over 70 students – mostly 6th graders but also a group of new 7th graders!

The feedback we got from the hosts was very positive and the parents indicated that their students had a terrific time and loved being in person with old and new friends.

Social interaction is so important for children and families and we are planning to have more social events in the coming months! Stay tuned for a Scavenger Hunt on Halloween and for a new version of our Ten Tables event.

If you would like to participate in organizing these or other events to bring our community together, please let us know! Contact us at: BigelowBulldog@gmail.com

Newton Safe Routes to School works to increase the number of students walking and biking to school and around the city for their health (active transportation) + reduce congestion and improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicles arriving at school.  The Task Force works as a group with NPS and the city on any number of issues such as fixing safety issues, supporting crossing guards, resolving snow clearing problems, conducting bike and pedestrian safety training, etc. Working together SRTS is able to achieve more than individual schools.

Would you like to represent Bigelow at the Task Force?  

The first SRTS meeting of the year will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14.  This would be a good time for someone to learn more about the program. Please contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you re interested.

Click here if you want to learn more about SRTS in Massachusetts.

Dear Bigelow Community,

We are looking for a volunteer to help the PTO with our annual tax filings. If you are an accountant or lawyer specializing in taxes, we would greatly appreciate your assistance. Thank you!

Bigelow PTO Board

Bigelow Drama returns – now on zoom! Like so many things, drama will look very different this fall- but as they say, the show must go on! Whether you are interested in performing, writing, or technical theatre, we have a spot for you! Please join the After School Drama team on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 4pm or 7pm (pick whatever time works best for you) to hear about opportunities to participate in after school drama at Bigelow this fall.

The following message is from the City of Newton Office of Health and Human Services.

Flu Vaccine Clinics

Newton’s Health and Human Services Department has initially scheduled two drive-through/walk-up, appointment-based, weekend flu clinics open to Newton residents and Newton Public Schools students and their families.

Registration is not yet open for these clinics. Online appointment registration will open by early next week at www.newtonma.gov/flu.

Adults and children older than 6 months may be vaccinated at these clinics. Some high-dose flu vaccine will be available for adults who are at least 65 years old. These clinics are free and health insurance information is requested, but not required. If you do not have a vehicle, you may walk-up to receive a vaccine.

• Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Newton North High School (457 Walnut Street)
• Sunday, October 18, 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Newton South High School (140 Brandeis Road)

Additional dates may be added depending upon demand.

Appointments are required and may fill quickly. Alternatively, consider getting a flu shot at another time and place; they are available in many locations, including primary healthcare provider offices, local pharmacies, and urgent care clinics. A list of some additional options for flu shots can be found at newtonma.gov/flu.