Does your child have an IEP or 504 plan?  Is your child receiving special education services? Are you interested in getting support services for your child? Then check out the Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) at newtonpac.org .

We are a volunteer organization of parents of children with special needs from preschool through high school.  We run an online forum where parents can ask each other about special education programs, issues, policies and resources both within and outside of the public-school system.  We work directly with the school administration regarding our childrens’ special education through our school liaisons, meetings with the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and by attending Newton School Committee meetings.  In addition to sponsoring monthly speakers here in Newton, we publicize presentations and conferences held by other SEPACs and organizations in the area.  We also hold monthly board meetings that are open to all parents whose dates are listed on our website – please join us!  In the meantime, you can join our online community at newtonpac.org. 

We are also in need of a parent representative from Bigelow.  If you are interested in the position or would like more information about the SEPAC in general, please contact Liaison Coordinator Kim Gallaugher at momofiggy@hotmail.com

How do your students like the new food vendor at Bigelow? Did you check out the new menu? Your feedback is important as food service continues to improve for our schools. Please use the form at the link below to provide feedback, ask questions or express concerns about the new Food Service provider at Bigelow! Please use one form for each suggestion or concern.

Food Service Community Comment Form

Students and the whole school community can get up-to-the-minute updates on clubs, sports, and other Bigelow events by following the school @BulldogWoofs on Twitter.  You can read the Twitterfeed on the Bigelow website, or click on the blue button to “Follow Us” on Twitter.

By following @BulldogWoofs, families can get timely notifications sent right to their cellphones, tablets and computers! This is a great way to keep informed of meetings for new clubs, changes in sports practices and contests, upcoming events, and much much more.

Food Service will be provided by Whitsons this year at Newton Public Schools. Whitsons was selected as the new vendor in May mainly because they promised to focus on serving nutritious and delicious food, keeping sustainability a priority and ensuring students are at their best. Check out the updated Food Service website where you can find menus, allergy information and more.

Some of Whitsons new offerings are:

• Wholesome, natural ingredients, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy snacks.
• Food Waste Reduction 
• Meatless Monday
• More HERE

September Breakfast Menu | September Lunch Menu

A link to the lunch menu is on the right side bar of the PTO website.

From the 2019-2020 Bigelow Parent Handbook

The Bigelow Parent Handbook is online at our website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/bigelow). It is filled with important information about Bigelow and the upcoming school year. Please read it carefully, especially the information about our core values, operation, and policies. In particular, all sixth grade and new students are required to read our Rules and Regulations and our Safe Busing Checklist. If your child is a sixth grader or new, please make sure that he or she reads these pages before school begins, and that you review this information with him or her. School supply lists for each grade level are printed in the back. Enclosed is a helpful page from the Parent Handbook for parents, “Guidelines for Parents,” about whom to contact when you have a question or concern.

Download the 2019-2020 Bigelow Parent Handbook here.

The Bigelow Parents of Performing Students – better known as PoPS – are happy to share some of the important Fall dates to help parents organize student’s schedule.

• Friday, September 6th from 3-5 pm Informational Meeting for students only (Introduce Staff/ Detail Fall Play/ Provide information about the 2019 audition process)
• Wednesday, September 11th Sixth Grade Meeting (3-4 pm) / Tech Crew Interviews (4-5 pm) / First Set of Auditions (5-6 pm)
• Friday, September 13th from 3-6 pm Second Set of Audition Times
• Monday, September 16th from 3-5 pm Callbacks or First Rehearsal

There will be a parent meet and greet TBA soon.

If you are interested in being a part of PoPS, learn about involvement opportunities here. Sign up for the PoPS newsletter here to receive timely notes about dates, auditions and rehearsal schedules. If you did not receive the PoPS Welcome back email on Sunday, 08/25, click here to subscribe.

If you have any questions, please contact bigelowpops@gmail.com.

The Cross Country Informational Meeting for students will be held on Thursday, September 4th at 3pm in the Bigelow Library. Cross Country is a sport open to all students and it is the only sport that sixth graders are allowed to join at the middle school level. No experience is required and there are no cuts. All students are eligible to participate, but must attend the meeting in order to receive important information for joining. For more information, please check the Bigelow Cross Country Website.

The Newton Safe Routes to School Task Force is looking for a representative from Bigelow. The task force has monthly meetings (Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at Waban Library, members can also be called into) with representatives from Newton Police, DPW, the Mayor’s Office, and School Committee to address obstacles to students walking/biking/taking the bus to school. One of the initiatives at the middle school this year is starting an anti-idling campaign. The task force is also promoting the student pass Charlie Cards within each school. Other middle schools work with the city on identifying and promoting safe walking and biking routes to school. More at Newton Safe Routes to School Facebook page.

Please contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in being the Bigelow representative.