In the spring of 2017 Bigelow piloted an exciting new program designed to give students a daily opportunity to get outside for movement and fresh air. Laps at Lunch allows students to walk laps around the inside perimeter of Burr Park once they’re done with their lunches in the cafeteria. The pilot program, initially run by volunteer staff members, was a huge success and many students have begun asking for its return.

We need volunteers to continue this program as we do not have staff available for this program on a regular basis.

What volunteering entails:

• Laps at Lunch training – provided by Bigelow staff members
• Supervising students as they walk during lunch. There are three lunch shifts—total time commitment is about 1 hour.
• Signing up online for a day that is convenient for you. Volunteers are welcome for one day or for multiple days.
• Supervising one of three areas:

1. Monitoring students crossing Arlington Street to get to and back from Burr Park
2. Monitoring students who are walking around the park
3. Monitoring students as they re-enter the building by the parking lot near the gym

Volunteers can also walk along with other volunteers and students. This is a great way to become involved, meet other parents, see the students in action, and help our students get more active time during their school day.

If interested or for more information please contact Mary Fitzgerald (physical education teacher) at: Mary_Fitzgerald@newton.k12.ma.us

The Bigelow PTO is a volunteer organization and your help enriches the school environment. Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents, build school community and support the purpose/mission of your PTO.

Please consider getting involved. There are many opportunities to participate. Our current needs for this year are as follows:

• Supper Stroll Hosts (November)
• Bake Sale Coordinators  (Election Day and others)
• Big Night Committee Member (December-March)
• Teacher Appreciation Events (February and May)
• Safe Routes to School Representative
• NewtonServes (April)
• Passive Fundraisers
• General Event Specific Help (Baking, chaperoning, cleaning up, etc).

Please contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

This is a wonderful, low-key, no-stress opportunity to meet with other 6th grade parents and build a community for the next 3 years of middle school!

*September 22, 2017 @ 7:00*
Simmons Residence
12 Willard Street
Newton Corner
Please RSVP to Una Simmons – una@ethannet.com

Please bring your own beverage(s) and if your child’s last name begins with:

A – E Please bring a dessert
F – L Please bring a main dish
M – R Please bring a side dish or salad
S – Z Please bring an appetizer

Please note: This is an adult only evening.

If you have any questions or concerns please send an email to bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

From Ms. Rice – Girls Soccer Coach

Tryouts will take place Mon. 9/11 AND Wed. 9/13 from 3pm – 5pm. Thursday, 9/14 MAY be a tryout day OR our first practice. You must be at EACH DAY of tryouts in order to play on the team – NO EXCEPTIONS! There will be practice Friday, 9/15.

For more information check the Bigelow Girls Soccer website

The Bigelow PTO Website is updated periodically to keep up with the happenings at school.

We post important notes related to Bigelow and PTO events, such as athletics and club sign up, social functions and other information needed to navigate the school year. The website has links to:

• Bigelow Calendar
• Morning Announcements
• Family Directory
• Newton PTO Council
• and much more!

Please check out all our forms of communication HERE.

Please note a change of date to pick up your SchoolKidz supply kits!

For those families that ordered their school supplies through School Kidz, there is a backlog in their warehouse that has led to a delay in delivery of the school supply kits. We are working diligently with the company to make sure that the kits are delivered during the first week of school and with Bigelow teachers to make sure this does not affect the start of the academic year.
As of now, you or your child will be able to pick up your ordered school supplies between Wed Sept 6 and Fri Sept 8. Further details will be provided closer to the start of school.

We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

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From the school office­

All 6th graders are invited to a special grade 6 orientation and ice cream social on Tuesday, August 29, from 9:00am to 10:30am.

Students should report to the auditorium and from there they will visit their homerooms, meet other homeroom classmates, receive their schedules, tour classrooms and get refreshments and time to socialize.

Parents may drop off their children or may gather in the library for some coffee and socializing of their own during this orientation.

Sixth graders who are unable to attend this optional event and 7th and 8th graders are welcome to visit the school with a parents or adult during the week of August 29th to September 1st, 8:30am to 3:00pm, to find the location of their homerooms.

If you ordered school supplies with the PTO, they will be available to pick up the following week, as school starts. More information here.

Please help the Bigelow PTO provide a comprehensive family directory for our community.

Your family information needs to be confirmed or updated by September 10^th, so it shows correctly in the printed version. Parents that do not update their data will be displayed as entered.

The online directory is open to all Bigelow families at all times, and it’s important that it’s information is accurate.

To make sure your family’s contact information is in the directory, please follow one of these two steps:

• If you have been in the Bigelow directory last year or if your student comes from one of the four feeder schools (Mason-Rice, Lincoln Eliot, Underwood or Ward), you can access the directory and confirm your information HERE.
• If you are new to Newton Public Schools or have never been in the Bigelow PTO directory, go to join.myschoolanywhere.com and enter the join code: JOINBIGELOW

Thank you!

Please reserve your copy of the directory here. Printed directories will be distributed on Back to School Night (October, 5^th).