You are invited for an evening of conversation about Bigelow and the PTO! Monday, September 23, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the home of Karen and Larry Markson, 150 Hunnewell Ave. Please join us for the first PTO meeting of the year where we will discuss the 2019/2020 PTO school year and how you can get involved! Your involvement is critical to making this year a successful one, and we are so grateful for your support. Come and meet other Bigelow parents, both new and current, and enjoy a glass of wine and light appetizers! Principal Todd Harrison will update parents on the happenings at the school and PTO officers will talk about PTO events and plans for the 2019-20 year, including 8th Grade Activities. Parents are welcome to bring comments and topics of discussion or concern to the meeting. Hope to see you there!

The PoPS would like to invite all parents of performing arts students to meet the team. Help us welcome Kevin William (drama), Cara Bergantino (music/band/orchestra) and Hannah Merchant (tech) to the community. Jamie Albert’s will also join for questions, answers, light appetizers and beverages. Wednesday, September 25⋅7:00 – 9:00pm, 155 Waverly Ave.

8th Grade parent leaders needed for 8th Grade year-long activities! We need one or a few parents to step up and lead the way for our eighth graders to have a memorable year. There are already many parents willing to help, please consider leading the way. Contact Una Simmons (una@ethannet.com) , Karen Markson (kmarkson@gmail.com) or bigelowbulldog.com. More information HERE.

TEN Tables on November 2nd
A progressive dinner fundraiser for Parents. Appetizer Host, Dessert Host and Dinner Hosts & one Co-Chair are needed. Please contact Una Simmons una@ethannet.com for more info on this fun event. 

Big Night on March 28th
Good at throwing a party? Great! Do you want to help throw Bigelow Big Night? This is our biggest fundraiser night of the year. Let’s talk! Contact Una Simmons for more information: una@ethannet.com.

Did you know that Bigelow parents and guardians can read the Morning Announcements students hear every morning? That’s a way of knowing what their child heard about club meetings, sports practices, and all that’s going on in the school.  Just access the “Morning Announcements” link on the right side bar of the Bigelow PTO website, below the Calendar.

Wednesday, September 11th 5:30-7:pm
Let’s Meet & Eat at the Bigelow Gym

Come join the Bigelow students, parents and community to socialize and eat delicious food! Bring a picnic or purchase dinner from the Chik Chak Food Truck that will be back this year offering their wonderful selection of Mediterranean food. We will have tables set up to enjoy your dinner and the gym will be available for kids to play and have fun. The 8th graders will be hosting a bake sale to support their 8th Grade graduation activities so we have dessert covered for you! 

There will be a Bigelow Night Celtics ticket raffle, a banner to sign and PTO activities information. 

Please join us for the first social activity of the year! 

Middle School can be a great experience for parents as well. Get to know the Bigelow community better by getting involved in some of the PTO activities.

Volunteering enriches the school community: every bit of effort helps and any amount of time you can contribute to support our children, the school and our community is invaluable! Check out many opportunities HERE. We have immediate need for:

• 8th Grade Activities Committee Chair – Consider co-chairing with another parent. Tasks can be shared among volunteers.
• TEN Tables Co-Chair – Looking for a 6th grade parent. Una Simmons will co-chair and show how easy it is to organize this great event!
• Big Night Chairperson – Consider co-chairing with another parent 

These are tried and true Bigelow events that need parental leadership. The PTO has structured ways of running these events and will help you, but we need leaders to be in charge, please consider chairing.

Other important roles needed are:

• Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Liaison – any parent whose child has an IEP or 504 plan or is otherwise receiving special education services is eligible
• Safe Routes to School Representative – join monthly meetings with Newton Police, DPW, the Mayor’s Office, and School Committee to address obstacles to students walking/biking/taking the bus to school

Cross-Country

The first practice for those who meet the requirements will begin on Wednesday 9/11/19. All other runners can begin as soon as they tum in everything. The final deadline for participating is Friday 9/13/19. Practices take place from 3:00pm-4:00/4:15pm every day except for Tuesday.

Flag Football – New sport!

Informational Meeting on Monday, September 9, 2:50pm, room 215. For all students. If there is sufficient interest, we will have a 6th grade club and a separate 7th and 8th grade club.

Before school Basketball

Now open every morning, 7:30am, for all students. 

Before school Fitness

Room is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 7:30am, for all students.

In addition to the wonderful work completed by our custodial crew over the summer, some former students and their parents helped construct new shelving outside the cafeteria on the Friday before Labor Day. The project was led by Grayson Hargens (Bigelow class of ’16) as a capstone for his Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts.  Also lending a hand was his brother, Holland, their parents Andrew and Melissa, and classmate James Flaumenhaft.  This shelving, which replaces the backpack hooks previously located along the wall, will enable students to safely store their binders and books during lunch. A big thanks to Grayson and his crew. Check out the creative use of school colors and letter B!