Category Archives: From the PTO

Save the Date: Bigelow Civics Day 2020

Our 8th grade students invite you to join us for Bigelow Civics Day 2020. See how these young changemakers are addressing community issues!

Since late-January, our 8th graders have been exploring strategies for effective advocacy of real community issues to apply their knowledge of government, citizenship, and the lawmaking process. Topics range from drug use to recycling programs to mental health. At this event, students aim to share their work and their plans with city leaders and parent constituents. They need to lobby for your support, hear your suggestions, and then revise and implement their tactics. Your attendance will greatly aid their efforts, their engagement, and their impact!

Wednesday March 18th
Bigelow Middle School, 42 Vernon Street
8:30-8:40 Welcome Message in the library
8:45-10:00 Interactive Student Presentations

Please RSVP and/or send questions to 8E teacher Jean Singers: singersj@newton.k12.ma.us

Yard Sign Contest: “Distracted Driving”

Given Governor Baker’s recent signing of the Hands-Free Driving Bill , the Safe Routes to School Yard Sign Contest theme will be “Distracted Driving.” The contest opened on February 25, 2020, and the deadline for all submissions is March 27, 2020. Click here for complete contest information as well as entry submission.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program’s Yard Sign Design Contest is a way for students to use their creativity to help promote safe roads for cyclists and pedestrians in their communities. Students create and submit a design for a yard sign that brings awareness to distracted driving, focus their designs on eliminating distracted driving, especially in and around school zones.

Monday, March 9: Conversation with District Superintendent

The PTO invites all Bigelow caregivers for a conversation with Superintendent Dr. David A. Fleishman and members of the School Committee about what is happening in the District, including future enrollment news.

The PTO will be raffling off two tickets to Big Night and parents can bring in auction items for collection.

Monday, March 9th, 7pm @ the Bigelow Library.

Big Night Tickets on Sale

You are invited to our Bigelow Hoedown!

Big Night is our biggest social and fundraising event of the year will be a hee haw great time! Tickets on sale! Get your tickets today. Sponsorship options are also available.

Register as a Bidder

There will be a DJ, food, cash bar, games, dancing, silent and live auctions, which will feature wonderful donations from local businesses and the Newton community. Check out the one of a kind items such as “Coffee with Mayor Fuller,” “Surfing Lesson with Mr. Harrison,” and “Priority Reserved Seats for the 8th Grade Graduation”.

Come out with your friends on Saturday, March 28th, from 7pm to 11pm! This event is expected to sell out, so get your tickets now.

We look forward to seeing you!

Bigelow Hoedown
When: Saturday, March 28, 2020 ~ 7-11pm
Where: Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St, Watertown, MA 02472

Auction Items Still Needed!

20 auction donations are needed from each grade for the auction!
Please donate an item for this worthy cause!
Go to www.bigelowpto.org for more information on donating items.

Auditorium Renovation: Stage Lights

The School Committee approved a donation from the Bigelow PTO to our auditorium! This donation – thanks to families’ contributions in the last few years and the advocacy from the PoPS and the PTO – will pay for auditorium improvements including new ceiling mounted stage lights and a light bar over the stage. These fixtures will illuminate performances on stage with new long-lasting LED bulbs that are color-changeable by remote computer. The total cost of these lights, including shipping and installation, is $21,201.

The Bigelow community is grateful to the NPS and the Operations Department for their ongoing upgrades to the school’s auditorium. These improvements have included, since January 2019, new house lights, new stage curtains, painting of walls and ceilings, a storage container for stage sets, and soon to be installed new carpet. See here and here.

We are hoping to see the carpet and the new lights at our upcoming spring musical, Twelfth Night, which will open on March 12.

Thank you again for all your support of our school and our children!

Bigelow CAS Needs a Chair

Are you looking for a fun way to contribute to the Bigelow community? Please consider becoming part of Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS). If you’ve been part of CAS at the elementary school level, you know that it’s a great program. If you’ve never been part of CAS, this is the perfect opportunity to participate on a highly revered PTO funded program. CAS brings enrichment programming to students in K-8, all funded by the PTO. Check out the city-wide CAS website to learn more about CAS happenings in all of the schools.

About CAS at Bigelow:

In a typical school year, CAS at Bigelow brings 8-9 enrichment programs. All the systems are in place and ready to pass on. The administration is highly supportive as are teachers. In the past Bigelow has brought in programming from Tanglewood Marionettes, New England Aquarium and Theatre Espresso. This year Bigelow has brought in authors Sheela Chari and Gregory Mone, and is looking forward to a visit from NASA astronaut, Susan Kirlan in the spring.

Have questions before committing or are you ready to sign up? Please contact: Alexandra Cohen, current Bigelow CAS Chair, acohen415@gmail.com

* If you have a friend that’s interested, you can both participate – co-chairing is always welcome!

All School CAS presentation: Women in World Jazz

Women in World Jazz: A Tribute to Composers Around the World

Thursday, March 5
8:30 AM – 8th grade
9:30 AM – 7th grade
10:30 AM – 6th grade

Women In World Jazz is an international ensemble of professional musicians featuring music from around the world. “A Tribute to Composers Around the World” highlights music composed by women artists, past and present. Through their engaging compositions, students learn about a diverse group of pioneering women and their unique cultures. Styles range from Jazz to World/Ethnic. Music from Cuba, Cape Verde, Brazil, Japan, and the Middle East are included.

Thank you to our PTO’s Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) Committee for bringing this program to our school. This CAS programming is funded by your generous contributions to the PTO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Meet the Bigelow Green Team and Mothers Out Front on March 2nd

Bigelow is trying to reduce its carbon footprint – and so can you!

Join uns on March 2nd at 7pm at the Bigelow Library for a presentation by the Bigelow Green Team followed by Newton’s Mothers Out Front. Adults and students are invited! Download the flyer here.

The Bigelow Green Team will open the evening by presenting what they are doing to make Bigelow more sustainable and reduce Bigelow’s carbon and plastic footprints.

Mothers Out Front‘s presentation “Use Less, Green the Rest”, will show how we can reduce our household carbon footprint and save money by conserving energy and switching to “green” energy.

This event is co-sponsored by Bigelow PTO and Bigelow Green Team.

Save the date: Conversation with District Superintendent on March 9

The PTO will be raffling off two tickets to Big Night and parents can bring in auction items for collection.

Monday, March 9th, 7pm @ the Bigelow Library.

We are looking for a Super Tuesday Bake Sale Coordinator

Calling all 8th grade parents and caregivers! Can you help out with the upcoming Bake Sale on Super Tuesday – March 3rd?

The polls will be teeming with people casting their ballots and the proceeds will go towards lowering the cost for all 8th graders end-of-year celebration event. Last year the 8th graders went on the Boston Odyssey Cruise for their end-of-year celebration.

Right now we need parents to lead & organize this event. Can you help? Let us know at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com. The PTO has a tried and true process for this type of event but we need parents to take the lead. Please consider being a leader.

A sign up sheet will be posted closer to the date for shifts and items needed. Kids are encouraged to help with their parents.