Category Archives: From the PTO

Back-to-School Supplies: let’s buy less

The Bigelow school supply lists for next year is available on the school website. The PTO invites you to think about school supplies in a sustainable way, applying the 3 Rs: Rethink, Reduce and Reuse. Our students are already doing that!

We invite all families to reduce your school shopping list by reusing items that are still in good condition. This can save money, will reduce waste and it can be a great opportunity to embrace our sustainable values with our children. There’s a reason reduce & reuse come before recycle – not just because it sounds good, but it’s the order in which we should approach sustainability.

Working with your students when school is over:

  • Empty backpacks, pencil cases, binders, folders.
  • Clean everything (a swipe of rubbing alcohol can remove marker and make everything looks like new).
  • Organize pens, pencils, markers, scissors, calculators, etc.
  • Take out the used pages of notebooks and evaluate if the notebook can be reused in school or at home.

Then compare the supply list suggested by the school with what you have organized and cleaned. You might find out that there’s very little to buy! A good investment for next year is a reusable water bottle – the classes of 2017 and 2018 have gifted the school with water fountains.

8th Gr. Supply List | 7th Gr. Supply List | †6th Gr. Supply List | World Languages Supply List

Check out more resources:

One School, One Book Program 2019

As part of Bigelow’s One School, One Book Program, staff and students will read Refugee by Alan Gratz this summer. The book tells the story of the refugee experience through the eyes of three young people.  Each of their experiences teaches us about the resiliency, courage, and hope of young people fleeing their countries in search of safety and freedom. 

Parents are encouraged to read and discuss the book with their child and can refer to the Bigelow Library’s One School, One Book page for support materials and summer reading assignments.  In addition, each child will receive a bookmark with their copy of the book that includes three questions students can think about while reading:

  • Which refugee story in the book do you feel most connected to?  
  • If you had to leave your home tomorrow, how would you feel?  
  • What were Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud hoping for throughout their experiences?  

At the start of the new school year, students will participate in small group discussions and activities related to the book in their advisory groups. Discussing these questions with your child will help prepare him/her for the fall activities. To simplify payment for the book, the cost of the book ($5) will be added to the amount for the first field trip in the fall.

6th Grade Global Goals Expo

The students of Cluster 6B will be holding their Global Goals Expo on Thursday morning, June 13th, and they are excited for their parents, family, guardians, and other members of the Bigelow community to see their work.  Our Global Goals Project is based on the United Nation’s Global Goals Campaign to promote sustainable development worldwide by the year 2030.  Students have researched the goals, chosen a “passion goal,” and taken an action to “make their goal famous” and/or to make some progress towards acheiving the goal.  Come see their displays and hear what they’ve learned at the Expo!  Guests will gather in the library from 8:00 – 8:15, see a short presentation to introduce the project, and then head down to the Cafeteria to see the students.  The Expo will wrap up by 9:30.
More information HERE.

Thank you to all those who helped with the Teacher Appreciation Tea

A warm thank you to all that contributed your time, funds and delectable food and drink to the Teacher Appreciation Tea this week! The teachers and staff at Bigelow enjoyed the wonderful spread. A special thank you to co-chairs Miriam Alandydy and Andrea Hemment for leading this effort for us. Please stop by the Main Office if you would like to re-claim your food containers. 

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See pictures here.

Calling 7th and 6th grade parents to help during graduation

It is a tradition at Bigelow for 7th and 6th grade parents and guardians to give a hand during the 8th Grade graduation. This year the ceremony will be on Monday, June 17th, from 9-11am. Please come help with cutting cakes and preparing punch that will be served at Burr Park for graduating families.

If you are interested in volunteering please email 7th Grade Counselor Kathleen Ahern: Kathleen_Ahern@newton.k12.ma.us. Thank you!

Food Service Advisory Group starting June 2019

Newton PTOs are partnering with NPS administration and the School Committee to form a Food Service Advisory Group (FSAG). The purpose of this group is to create a two-way dialogue between families and NPS food service partner–Whitsons Culinary Group–so that food service in the Newton Public Schools meets expectations and can be continuously improved. The group will comprise representatives from each school, a School Committee representative, and a Whitsons’ representative. Representatives from FSAG will periodically meet with NPS staff and Whitsons’ staff to share feedback gathered by the school representatives.

Mary Fitzgerald, PE teacher, will be the Bigelow representative at FSAG. Thank you, Mary!

PTO Board for 2019-2020

We are pleased to announce the PTO Board members for the 2019-2020 school year, voted at the Bigelow PTO Annual Meeting, on Monday, June 3rd. Terms become effective September 1, 2019.

Co-Presidents – Karen Markson and Una Simmons
Vice President – Joana Canedo
Treasurer – Linda Gillepsie
Secretary – ​open
Nominating Committee – ​5 open

Please look here for PTO Board and committee positions still open.

We also approved the budget and the membership dues for 2019-20. More details in the meeting minutes.