The Bigelow PTO sends out weekly newsletters on Thursdays as well as other targeted communications throughout the school year. Please review the items below to ensure you are up to date.
Stay current! As we start a new school year, please take a moment to review and update your newsletter communication preferences, including subscribing to grade-specific and staff communications, through the update your preferences link at the bottom of Bigelow PTO newsletters and emails.
Help spread the word! If you know new members of the Bigelow community, please encourage them to subscribe to the PTO Newsletter via the PTO websiteor this direct link.
Left Bigelow? If you are no longer affiliated with Bigelow and want to be removed from the list, you can use the unsubscribe link at the very bottom of Bigelow PTO newsletters or emails, or scroll to the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the update your preferences link.
Need Help? If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting issues with your Bigelow PTO Newsletter (e.g., duplicate communications, updating preferences, unsubscribing) please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.
The Bigelow PTO Family Directory is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The access is free and it can be used by all Bigelow families. The directory is run and funded by the PTO thanks to your support!
If you have not yet accessed the directory to confirm that your information is correct and up-to-date, please see specific directions HERE.
We hope to see many of you TONIGHT at Back to School Night! Be sure to stop by the PTO tables inside the front and back entrances to learn more about the PTO and how to get involved. In particular, we are looking for:
organizers and helpers for social and fundraising events
a few volunteers for the Back to School Bash to help with pizza sales and cleanup (sign up for a time slot HERE)
The Bigelow PTO is excited to welcome Alexander Lee as PTO Vice President. Alexander’s daughter Naomi is a 6th grader this year.
The Bigelow PTO Family Directory is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The access is free and it can be used by all Bigelow families. The directory is run and funded by the PTO thanks to your support!
The online platform is a secure and easy to use tool that organizes contact information for all Bigelow families. It is a convenient, environmentally conscious system, that can be updated throughout the school year.
Please confirm that your information is correct and up-to-date. Specific directions for accessing the Directory and verifying contact information are below.
Incoming 6th gradersfrom Underwood, Lincoln-Eliot, and Ward have been automatically added to Bigelow’s Directory if the information was available in the elementary school directory. The Membership Toolkit account for Bigelow will use the same login as your elementary school. Mason Rice, Cabot, and out of district families will need to enter their information manually (see directions for new users below).
PLEASE NOTE that regulations and privacy laws do not allow information from Aspen and/or Newton Public schools to flow into this Directory and vice versa. We acknowledge that it is painful to update information in more than one place. The success of this Directory is dependent on every family logging in and adding or updating their information.
Instructions: Accessing and Adding/Verifying Information
Login Information
Login as RETURNING USER, using the same login as last year at Bigelow or your elementary school, if you are:
A returning Bigelow family
An incoming family from Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, or Ward that participated in the elementary school directory
Login as NEW USER, and create a new account if you are:
An incoming family from Mason-Rice, Cabot, or starting Grade 6 from out of the district
A new family with students in Grade 7 and/or Grade 8
A family that did not participate in their elementary school (Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, or Ward) Directory
Click “Verify my email” and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Note: Once the Primary Account is set up, the Primary User can “invite” other email addresses to access his/her account. This allows the Secondary User to have their own login information, but still have access to the family account.
Completing/Confirming Information
STEP 1: Complete the Parent/Family and then Student Information. Families can enter their name, address, and phone numbers. For returning users, most of this information should already be available. Please just confirm it is correct.
STEP 2: Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences. Each family can decide which pieces of information will be available for others to view through the privacy settings.
If you are unfamiliar with the platform or if you are unsure about whether or not you are in it, please email us with your name and your child’s name(s) at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.
We hope you’ve had a fun and relaxing summer break. We are excited to welcome you and your student(s) to the 2024-25 school year at Bigelow Middle School!
As parents or guardians of students at Bigelow, you are all members of the PTO. The PTO acts as a liaison between parents and the school, helps to build community and foster communication, and fundraises for the priorities set by Bigelow.
The Bigelow PTO is a volunteer organization and your participation enriches the school environment. We welcome all to learn more about the PTO and to get involved. In particular, we are looking for:
a Vice President to serve on the PTO board and to help recruit other volunteers
organizers and helpers for social and fundraising events
a few volunteers for the Back to School Bash to help with pizza sales and cleanup (sign up for a time slot HERE)
We are fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community and we look forward to serving you in the coming year. We wish you and your students an outstanding year!
Parents and Guardians of Bigelow 6th graders are warmly invited to a potluck dinner on Sunday October 6th. We hope you can join us as we reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Stay tuned for more details!
Congratulations to all of the kids and our best wishes for all of the exciting things that lie ahead!
Thank you for your support for the PTO and for everything that you do to support the students, teachers and staff, and our community. And thank you Chassity Coston for your leadership and friendship.
We hope you have a wonderful summer and we look forward to working closely with many of you next year (please see below for open volunteer positions).
Sincerely, Bigelow PTO Board
Open PTO Positions: In particular, we would like to identify volunteers for the following key roles ASAP so we can have a successful start to the 2024-25 school year:
President/Co-PresidentLead and support the team, preside over PTO meetings, serve as primary contact and representative of the PTO
Fundraising CommitteeWork with other volunteers to help determine the best focus for PTO fundraising events (e.g., annual appeal, socials, restaurant nights, online auction)
Fall PTO Adult Social Co-ChairHelp organize a casual social event highlighting PTO committees and events
Bigelow Back to School BashHelp organize outdoor Fall family event at Bigelow with food truck(s) and music
6th Grade Parent/Caregiver Fall PotluckHelp organize the 6th grade community “get to know you” event
8th Grade Activities CommitteeOrganize transition activities for 8th grade class including fundraising, year-end celebrations, Moving On ceremony, etc
Last Tuesday’s the Newton PTO Council and NPS Middle Schools hosted an informative forum on Smartphone use. If you missed the forum, the resource document distributed at the event can be found HERE.
A new IEP Form is coming this fall! The new statewide Individualized Education Program (IEP) form was released earlier this year by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Newton Public Schools will start using the new IEP form in September 2024.
Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm (Virtual) Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 10:00 am (Virtual) Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 12:00 pm (Virtual) Monday, August 5, 2024 at 2:00 pm (Virtual) Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 4:00 pm (Virtual) Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 6:00 pm (at Newton North High School)
