Please mark you calendars for Step-Up Day, Friday, June 8.

Grade 6
 All 6th graders will be dismissed early.
~ 11:30am dismissal – to make space for the Stepping Up 5th Graders
The usual bus routes will run then.

Grade 7
Seventh graders have a full day
~ 2:45pm dismissal – Regular Schedule

Grade 8
Eighth graders also have a full day.
~ 11:30am – 2:30pm – step up to Newton North High School
~ 2:45pm dismissal – from Bigelow Middle School

The usual bus routes will run again for 7th and 8th graders at 2:45pm.  A flyer is attached.

The SEPAC Special Educator Awards are presented to Newton faculty and staff members who have done exceptional work with students receiving special education services. Parents, guardians and students may submit nominations and may nominate any staff member who they believe has done exceptional work. In the past, we’ve had regular education teachers, special education teachers, aides, BT’s, secretaries, principals and custodians receive awards.

Please note that the awards do not identify you or your child by name, to preserve the child’s confidentiality. Only the honoree is given the name of the person who nominated him or her.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 6:00 pm
Newton North High School Cafeteria
457 Walnut Street

Newton North High School uses the same online directory software that we use here at Bigelow (MySchoolAnywhere). We will be authorizing their account to automatically import graduating students from our account so that no student is overlooked. This would be a great time to log in and make sure your information and share settings are up to date. Just login to: https://www.myschoolanywhere.com/login.a5w

If you still have children at Bigelow next year, you will be able to select which school to view upon logging in. If your child is not moving on to Newton North, please be sure to let the Newton North administration know so they can have the PTO remove your child from the directory. Let us know if you have any other questions about this.

The PTO Board is looking for new members, please consider joining an active group of parents who help strengthen our community ties! Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO, helping direct and manage the overall program for 2018/19?  All Bigelow parents and guardians, including those of incoming 6th graders, are encouraged to join the board or any committee. We have the following openings, and anyone is welcome to volunteer for PTO activities at any time:

• Co-Treasurer
• Co-Presidents Elect (in preparation for the 2019/20 school year)
• Teacher Appreciation co-chair
• Nominating committee members (one per feeder school)
• METCO representative
• Newton SEPAC Liaison
• 6th Grade Potluck Chair

The proposed slate of 2018/19 Board members will be voted on at our final PTO meeting of the year on June 11th.  Serving on the Board is a great way to meet other Bigelow parents and help out at your child’s school.  Please contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more.

Bigelow Civics Day was attended by parents, school administrators and members of the school committee and city council last Tuesday, May 22nd. 8th grade students on Team E presented the advocacy projects they worked on as part of the Generation Citizen pilot program lead by Ms. Singers, Grade 8 History/Social Science Teacher.

Jean Singers would like to thank all those who attended for making the day so wonderful. More information here.

Please join us on Wednesday June 13th at 6 pm at Newton North High School for the 9th annual Newton SEPAC Special Educator Awards! These awards are presented to Newton faculty and staff members who have done exceptional work with students receiving special education services. Parents, guardians and students may submit nominations and may nominate any staff member who they believe has done exceptional work. In the past, we’ve had regular education teachers, special education teachers, aides, BT’s, secretaries, principals and custodians receive awards. Please note that the awards do not identify you or your child by name, to preserve the child’s confidentiality. Only the honoree is given the name of the person who nominated him or her. Please submit your nomination by May 31 to 2018 SEPAC Awards Nomination.

Please volunteer to help or donate to the Teacher Appreciation Tea – Tuesday June 5th. Our teachers and staff members do so much for our kids throughout the year. They teach them invaluable skills, instill them with knowledge and a love of learning, and serve as intellectual role models.

So let’s say a proper thank you with a proper English tea — Bigelow-style. This year’s annual staff appreciation tea takes place on Tuesday, June 7th at 2:00 pm.

We are looking for volunteers to provide finger sandwiches, cakes, pastries, crumpets (whatever they are), fruit salad and any other delectables that go well with tea. We also need volunteers to help set up and break down. Set up is at 12:45 and break down is at 3:00.

All items may be dropped off the morning of the tea in the teacher’s lunchroom or put in the refrigerator there. Please drop off items no later than 12:30pm. It is most helpful if items are brought in a disposable container.

To donate or volunteer please sign up here.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chair, Magda Duchnowska at froggiemagda@hotmail.com.

Thanks again for all who helped to beautify Bigelow on April 29th!

7th grade student Olivia Freedman is collecting books for Cradles to Crayons.

“Have any new or gently used books? I am collecting books to be donated to Cradles to Crayons. You can drop off donations in a box outside the school office. Please have all donations in by June 8th. Thank you!”