Category Archives: From the PTO

Bigelow Green Team Presents to the School Committee

On Monday, Jan 13, the Bigelow Green Team went to the School Committee meeting and spoke about their initiatives and concerns.

“Thank you for listening about how we are trying to make Bigelow more sustainable and reduce Bigelow’s carbon and plastic footprints. Our team first organized in the spring of 2019, and we have already accomplished a lot.

We have ordered anti-idling parking signs from the state to be placed around our school, and they are getting posted soon! Bigelow now collects and recycles markers through Crayola’s ColorCycle program.  In October, we sent over 600 old markers to Crayola for recycling. We placed a paper only recycling bin in the copy room for teachers to better ensure the paper gets recycled. We are working with the custodial staff to solve the problem of incorrect items placed in the recycling bins, as these bins all get emptied into the trash. We are planning an Advisory Activity to better educate the Bigelow community about the choices they make and how this impacts our environment. We wrote a letter to Christine Flutie at Whitsons about our concerns.  We heard back with pretty discouraging news that none of our requests or ideas are being considered. It sounds like this is mostly due to cost issues.

Our first concern is that Meatless Mondays are full of meat! Today is supposed to be Meatless Monday, and sausages were served for lunch. More bottled water options seems to have INCREASED single-use plastic waste at Bigelow.  And plastic utensils are still offered at each meal. We have not seen the reusable food containers that Whitsons promised, and also they have added even more plastic containers to some of the lunches. For example, burgers used to have a wrapper, and now sometimes they are placed in wrappers and then inside a plastic box too.

Thank you for listening to our initiatives and concerns.”

See presentation here: Bigelow Green Team 1_13_20

Grade 6 CAS Presentation: Greg Mone on the Writing Process

On Tuesday, 02/04/2020, author Greg Mone will be talking to 6th grade classes about the Writing Process. This program is supported by the PTO thanks to your donations!

Mr. Mone 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.

“Fantastic. So engaging. He really knew how to grab 10-11 year olds… Great lesson in explaining the importance of planning, editing, and revising.” — Hingham, MA, Elementary School

Traffic at Bigelow: The safety of our children is paramount

From the Bigelow Parent Handbook, p. 33

Bigelow Middle School is located on a busy corner.  Please use extra caution when dropping-off and picking-up children by car at the school.  Drive slowly and yield to pedestrians. Do not use your phone while driving. The safety of our children is paramount!

We encourage students to walk or ride a bike to school. 

When transporting children to and from the school by automobile, it is important to obey all traffic signs and parking regulations in the area.  In particular:

  • Please drop-off students in the Blue Zone on the right hand side of Park St, and please pick up students after school on Park St.  Please pull over to the curb and pull as far forward as possible along Park Street. Drivers should not leave their vehicles.
  • Please turn the car engine off. Idling is against the law and car fumes are bad for kids health. Turning the engine off can reduce children’s exposure to pollutants, save money, help the environment, and avoid a fine.
  • Please do NOT park on the left hand side of Park Street to pick-up or drop-off.  It is marked “No Parking.”
  • Please do NOT stop in the middle of the street to drop-off or pick-up students.  This blocks the flow of traffic and is unsafe.
  • Please do NOT block the entrance to driveways or parking lots.  Be respectful of our neighbors’ property and access.
  • Please do NOT park and leave your vehicle in the designated bus pick-up zone on Vernon St.
  • Please respect the speed limits posted in the school zone.
  • Please park in the handicapped parking spots in front of the school only if you have handicapped tags.
  • Please inform all family members and caregivers who pick-up or drop-off children at Bigelow of these procedures.

Park & Walk map provided by Newton Public Schools.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is February 6th

The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is an annual event organized by the PTO in early February. It is a great way to take a moment to thank the amazing teachers and staff at Bigelow for all they do for our children. Bigelow families provide the food, beverages, plastic serving utensils and flowers for this event. The event is held on an Early Release Day, and teachers and staff can enjoy a joyful lunch time. They absolutely love and appreciate every aspect of this day!

In 2020, the Luncheon is on Thursday February 6th. Set up is at 10:30am and clean up is at 2:30pm. If you would like to volunteer your time that day, please note that this is an early release Thursday! To donate or volunteer please sign up HERE.

  • Please send in your favorite lunch food! Salads, sandwiches, entrees – whatever you think our wonderful teachers and staff will enjoy.
  • It is most helpful if items are brought in recyclable containers.
  • All items may be dropped off on the morning of the luncheon in the teacher’s lunchroom (in the library) or put in the refrigerator there. 
  • Please drop off all items no later than 10:30 AM.
  • Items can also be dropped off at Susan St. Pierre’s home, 28 Ballard St., Newton, until 10 PM on the evening of February 5th. 

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Susan St. Pierre (sestpierre@gmail.com), Karen Yee (karenmdonahue@gmail.com), or Charlene Gillespie (chargillespie@gmail.com).

Thank you again for helping us show our appreciation for our teachers and staff.

Did you know? – GSA Alliance

The Genders and Sexualities Alliance meets Thursday mornings at 7:30 in Room 203. ‘GSA’ stands for ‘Genders and Sexualities Alliance’. It is a group of students and teachers working to spread the word about LG BTQA+ issues.  Students of all backgrounds and sexualities are welcome to participate. The overarching goal is to make Bigelow a safer and more accepting place for everyone! More information at the GSA Website.

 

February Break: Middle School Media Literacy

This February break Newton middle school students are invited to attend a fun and informative co-ed program, co-sponsored by Newton Health and Human Services and Boys for the Better, a Newton based non-profit dedicated to re-defining masculinity through Media Education. Students in 6 – 8th grade will learn how to:

  • Flip the script on negative media messaging, create their own social media voice, boost self-confidence, and learn how to communicate more effectively with peers, parents, and teachers
  • Form positive social relationships and learn new media literacy skills
  • Identify strategies for better managing time spent on social media and using digital devices, as well as practice healthy ways to manage their stress and emotional development

The program will take place at Newton North High School on February 18th – 21st, from 12pm – 4pm in the cafeteria.Tuition is $100 per student, and scholarships available upon request. (Lunch will not be served, students can bring their own or eat before they come).

To register, parents should visit http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/parks/vacation.asp.

Students will spend time as a whole group learning new skills, and in small, gender specific groups doing hands-on activities and having group discussions. If your student prefers not to identify with one gender, or if you have questions about the curriculum or plans, please feel free to call Quinn Etchie, Director of Youth Services, at (617) 796-1436 or send her an email at qetchie@newtonma.gov. The program is welcoming and accepting of ALL students.

Summer 2020: S.P.A.C.E Camp

S.P.A.C.E. Camp is a four week summer enrichment program run through the Newton Public Schools, for students entering Kindergarten through 9th Grade. S.P.A.C.E. has it all.: music, arts, STEM, performing arts, project based learning, sports and language arts. Dates for summer 2020 are 7/6-7/30.  Please check the program website for more detailed information.