Author Archives: Bigelow PTO

Sign up for parent-teacher conferences

Registration for parent-teacher conferences begins this Friday. You may sign-up on-line for parent-teacher conferences beginning November8 at 8:00 am, and continuing until Monday, January 27, 11:00 pm.  Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis on the Virtual Paragon reservation system.

To schedule a conference with your child’s teachers or cluster, login to the Virtual Paragon website: https://www.virtualparagon.com/bigelow/conference/

You will then have to enter Bigelow’s master password before you enter the system. Call the School Office for more information: 617-559-6800.

Reduce Bigelow’s plastic footprint

Single-use plastic like bottled water is harmful to our Earth. Do you want to help Bigelow reduce its plastic footprint? Stop buying cafeteria drinks, and use a reusable water bottle instead! Learn more about how to help at the Bigelow Green Team meeting on Monday after school from 3 to 4 in room G08.

Outdoor Classroom Day + Laps at Lunch

November 7 is Outdoor Classroom Day, a global campaign to celebrate and inspire outdoor learning and play. On this day, thousands of schools around the world take lessons outdoors and prioritize playtime.

Bigelow students can go outside everyday thanks to Laps at Lunch! Family members can make this happen by volunteering one hour of their day to monitor the children while they walk around Burr park at lunch time. If interested, please contact Mary Fitzgerald (physical education teacher) at: Mary_Fitzgerald@newton.k12.ma.us. More about the program here.

Shoo Flu: Get the flu vaccine at school, not the flu!

The Bigelow Middle School clinic will be on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. Each student to be vaccinated must have a parent/guardian complete two forms : 

  1. Consent/Screening form
  2. Vaccine administration record/Insurance form.

Forms are available in the school nurse’s office, or may be downloaded at www.newtonma.gov/flu. You may electronically complete the form, print, sign and return. Forms are due to the School Nurse by Monday, November 4, 2019. 

More information here.

School Committee Elections this Tuesday!

On November 5, 2019, Newton voters will have the opportunity to vote for School Committee members, Ward Councilors, and Councilors-at-Large for the 2020-2021 term.

WHAT

  • School Committee: Residents can vote for all school committee candidates regardless of ward. Vote for (up to) ONE for each ward throughout the city. Learn more about the School Committee here: www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee. Please note that there are 3 contested seats.
  • Councilor-at-large (top two winners prevail): At-large positions are elected by citywide vote. Vote for (up to) TWO for each ward throughout the city.
  • Ward Councilor: A ward councilor is elected by residents of the ward they represent. Vote for (up to) ONE for your ward.

Sample ballots are available on the City website. Select the ballot for your ward to see all of the races in which you can vote and the candidates in each race. HERE.

WHEN: Nov 5, 2019, from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
WHERE: Download Polling Locations addresses here

More information:

Uprising on King Street: The Boston Massacre

8th grade CAS presentation on 10/29/19.  Theatre Espresso: “Uprising on King Street: The Boston Massacre”

CAS programs, funded solely by the PTO, are made possible through PTO fundraising. Thank you for you support!

“In 1770, the people of Boston suffered under an increasingly harsh British occupation. What are the responsibilities of a military force sent to occupy a foreign land? Is violence ever necessary to keep the peace? What role does class play in the administration of justice? This production presents the events that led up to the Boston Massacre and sets the scene for the trial of Captain Preston, British officer on duty the night of March 5 when soldiers and citizens clashed in front of the Customs House. In roles as members of the jury at the trial of Captain Preston, students must examine the events leading up to the “massacre” and decide Preston’s guilt or innocence.”

 

Newton Community Blood Drive

November 23rd, 9:00 am -2:00 pm
75 Vernon Street, Newton

Roll up your sleeves and help save lives! Newton Presbyterian Church will proudly partner with the American Red Cross to hold what they expect to be the first of many blood drives. The Red Cross has over 135 years of experience providing humanitarian aid, including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need.

Each pint of blood collected can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country.  The Newton Presbyterian Church Mission Committee is leading this initiative. You’ll will be entertained by the Newton All City Troubadours during the blood drive, to be followed by their concert in the Sanctuary that evening at 7:00 pm.

See flyer for more information.

From the Nurse’s office – National Walk to School Month

Did your child walk or roll to school this month? Or take the bus to help reduce the car congestion around our school? If so, thank you for supporting National Walk to School Day this month. If not, there’s still time to make a healthy change this month or next in how your child gets to and from school.

Walking or rolling (biking, scootering, etc.) to school increases your child’s opportunity for physical activity. At least 60 minutes of physical activity per day is recommended for children. Incorporating physical activity into your usual school routine is a great way to become more active. People who are physically active live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.

If you do drive, consider parking a bit away from the school and walking the rest of the way. Students who walk and bike to school arrive awake and alert, with better focus and concentration, which can improve academic performance.

And a heads up for drivers who do queue at school: new “No Idling” signs are making their way to schools throughout Newton. These are a great reminder to turn off your car while waiting to drop off or pick up your student. Turning off your car improves air quality for everyone around you and reduces pollutants that can be particularly harmful for our students with asthma.

Even seemingly small changes like walking a few extra times per month or turning off a vehicle for a few minutes can make a big difference over time.

For more walk to school ideas, visit https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hst/hi5/saferoutes/index.html

From Newton Safe Routes to School  (Facebook page)

CAS Authorfest 2019! Author & Illustrator Visits – November 6

Newton Public Schools’ Creative Arts & Sciences is dedicating November 6, 2019 to recognize and celebrate the importance of books in our children’s lives. We know that students are uniquely inspired when they’re given the opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators of books they’ve read. A wide range of authors and illustrators will be visiting schools across the district during the day to talk about the writing and illustrating process – from idea to published work.

Gregory Mone (7th grade) and Sheela Chari (6th and 8th grades) will be the authors visiting Bigelow.

Gregory Mone (gregorymone.com) is the author of four published novels and scientific articles for magazines including Popular Science, Atlantic Monthly, Wired and Scientific American. He adapted The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown, for young readers, and recently co-wrote three books in The Science Guy series with Bill Nye, The Science Guy.  Mone’s large-group presentation is designed to entertain, educate and inspire, and begins with a focus on science and technology journalism before turning to fiction. Utilizing a variety of visual components, he takes students through the entire process of writing a book, from the initial idea through the planning, creative writing, and revisions, to the finished work. He stresses the importance of becoming an expert in whatever subject you write about, whether it’s brain surgery, flying cars, surfing, or family history.

Sheela Chari (sheelachari.com) is the author of FINDING MIGHTY, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Children’s Choice Award Finalist; and VANISHED, an APALA Children’s Literature Honor Book, Edgar finalist for best juvenile mystery, and Al’s Book Club Pick on the Today Show. She is currently working on a novelized series, THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARS PATEL, based on the Peabody Award-winning mystery podcast by the same name created by Gen-Z Media. Sheela has degrees from Stanford University, Boston University, and New York University, where she received an MFA in Fiction. She teaches fiction writing at Mercy College and lives with her family in New York.

CAS AuthorFest is made possible by a grant from the Newton Schools Foundation, a contribution from The Village Bank, and your generous contributions to your PTO. Newton Schools Foundation is proud to support the 2019 CAS AuthorFest. Through contributions from individuals and businesses throughout the Newton community, NSF is able to provide funding for important educational programs that impact students and teachers district-wide. A percentage of the book sale proceeds will go to CAS to help defray the cost of the CAS AuthorFest event.