Click here to read the June Newsletter.

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See the PTO website calendar for further listings.

Please consider chaperoning for Surf the Turf this Friday night.  We need 8-10 8th grade parents to help with this evening from 6:45 to 9pm.  Parents are needed to check students in, set up and pass out refreshments and make sure students do not leave the athletic wing of Newton North.  PLEASE contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested.

This Friday, June 10th is Surf the Turf.  Surf the Turf is a Bigelow and Day tradition at Newton North from 7-9pm.  Rising 9th graders get to check out the Newton North High School Athletic Facilities and Pool (Don’t forget to bring your swim suit & a towel if you want to swim)

Refreshments will be served

Pickup 9:00pm – Please note:  Students must be picked up by a family member in order to leave, and must leave the high school grounds once they leave.

Optional activities include: Volleyball, Basketball, Frisbee, Swimming and hanging out.

This is a great opportunity for eighth graders to become more familiar with their future surroundings. Use of the pool is optional. Lifeguards are on duty. The pool is a wonderful aspect of attending NNHS—we want all students to feel safe, comfortable, and welcome in using it. We want to remind those who use the pool that they and their classmates are at a sensitive age as their bodies grow and change. Similar to the expectations at NNHS, comments about other’s bodies and swimming attire can be hurtful and will not be tolerated.

The Spring 8th grade car wash / bake sale will be tomorrow, Thursday, June 2 from 3-4:45pm in the Bigelow Parking Lot.  Come and get your car clean,  grab a snack and support the 8th grade.

FOR 8th Grade Parents:  WE REALLY NEED A FEW MORE VOLUNTEERS – If you would like to donate items for the bake sale or help supervise the car wash, please sign up here:  

This is a fun event for 8th grade students and proceeds go towards funding 8th grade year end events including scholarships for the cultural trips to NYC and Quebec City.

We hope Bigelow students will join the fun at the Underwood Spring Carnival, Fri., June 3 from 3-7 (Rain or Shine).  Ticket prices will be $10 for 20 tickets and $20 for 40 tickets, with games and rides typically 3-5 tickets apiece. The Carnival Committee also invites Bigelow students to help!  Volunteers for the prize table and face painting are especially needed. Please sign up here.  Thank you!

The Newton Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for Special Education is pleased to announce:

The 7^th Annual NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards

June 13, 2016

Newton North High School Cafeteria

457 Walnut Street

6:00PM: Buffet Dinner, Beverages, and Mingling / 6:45PM: Ceremony (and Dessert)

The 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 and special education teachers, aides, BTs, secretaries, principals, and custodians receive awards.

Nominations are now open for the 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 family who nominated him or her.

Please send your nomination to specialedawards2016@gmail.comwith the following information:

Your name and your email

Your school

Your school principal’s name and email

Name and email address of the SPED contact at your child’s school (inclusion facilitator/assistant principal)

Nominee’s name and email

A short nomination telling us about why your nominee is so special

• Try to include details and examples if you can (try not to just say, “Miss Smith is great!”)
• Keep the nominating paragraph to 3 sentences (we plan to read this aloud at the ceremony).
• Don’t use your child’s name. (If you do, we will edit it out for the award ceremony).
• If you like, you may also include a longer nomination or a letter to your nominee (which will not be read out loud), and will only be given to the nominee with their award.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 

1. DON’T feel like you must nominate your child’s whole team to avoid hurt feelings. PLEASE only nominate those who have done exceptional work.
2. PLEASE nominate your educator ASAP (to enable your honoree to plan to attend the ceremony and bring family/friends)
3. Did we mention to PLEASE nominate your educator ASAP??!! (It will allow us time to know how many people are attending, and how much food to get).
4. The deadline for the awards is June 1, 2016 (NO late nominations because we have to print the program professionally).
5. On the night of the awards, you can have your photograph taken with your nominee (we will have a photographer present)!

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!!  There will be a dinner and beverages, socializing and the opportunity to say goodbye to a great school year and look forward to next year.

We will also be voting in our proposed slate for the 2016 / 2017 PTO Board.

Co-Presdents: Marcia Heron, Anush Sahakian, Valerie Pontiff, Limor Graham
Vice-Presidents: Beth Panella, Lex Van der Ploeg, Alex Graham
Co-Treasurers: Magda Duchnowska and Beth Hicks
Secretary: Melissa Holt

When: Monday 23rd, from 7-9pm

Where: 86 Bishopsgate Road, Newton

Please RSVP to bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

As the year begins to wind down, many of you are looking for a way to honor and thank the exceptional teachers and staff who have motivated, educated and inspired your students to grow and achieve all year.

As a way to show your appreciation to them, consider participating in Newton Schools Foundations’ Honor Thy Teacher campaign. This special program enables you to honor teachers by giving a gift to the Foundation in the name of the teacher. You may also choose to honor a special education aide, a fine arts or music teacher, or a coach or counselor who has made a difference in your child’s life. A suggested donation is $25 per teacher/staff member.

When you make your donation and identify the teacher(s) or staff you wish to honor, NSF will then:

· Notify the honored teachers and staff of your gift;
· Share the honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals; and
· List each of those honored in the Newton TAB.

You can make your donation on-line at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org. You can also mail it to Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459.

Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring. A flyer that includes a donation form was sent to the homes of elementary school students in their backpacks last month, and will be sent again before the end of the year. A flyer will also be mailed to the homes of middle school and high school students (letters to senior student households have already been mailed).

Newton Schools Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance the quality of education in Newton’s public schools. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.