Category Archives: From the PTO

Final PTO Meeting / Celebration of the Year – Tomorrow

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

Honor Thy Teacher 2016

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.

PTO Board Members needed for next year

PTO Board – looking for new members, please consider joining today!

Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO, helping direct and manage the overall program for 2016/17?  All Bigelow parents and guardians, including those of incoming 6th graders, are encourage to join the board.  The proposed slate of 2016/17 Board members will be voted on at our final PTO meeting of the year on May 23rd.  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.

Nurturing Minds presents TED Talk Speaker, Amy Cuddy’s Presence: Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges

Amy’s TED Talk on “power posing” made her the second most viewed TED speaker in the world. In her new book, Presence, Cuddy explains the science behind these and many other body-mind effects. Thanks to Amy’s generosity, all event proceeds will go to support Nurturing Minds and the SEGA Girls School in Tanzania which provides quality education to over 200 vulnerable girls, many of whom are orphans and who would otherwise not get the chance to attend school. Get your tickets now, this event is sure to sell out!

Date: Tuesday, May 24th at 7:30 pm

Venue: The Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown

Tickets: $30 in advance / $40 at the door

Learn more and Purchase Tickets: www.charityauction.bid/amycuddytalk

For More Information on Nurturing Minds and the SEGA Girls School:www.nurturingmindsinafrica.org

BIG THANKS for the BIG NIGHT

What a night it was! Saturday evening’s Bigelow Speakeasy is in the books!!  Bigelow parents, guardians, friends, teachers and staff munched on great food, sipped the Bigelow Breeze, learned a little swing dancing, bid on great items and most importantly, reconnected with old friends and met new ones. The event raised mucho dinero — close to $11,000— which will go towards curriculum-enriching programs such as the Creative Arts and Sciences, student scholarships, school grounds upkeep, classroom supplies, as well as gym and technology items not covered by the regular school budget.

MANY THANKS to all who attended and to the people and businesses who donated goods, services as well as their time and talents to make our Big Night a great night.

Specifically, thank you to:

  • Our wonderful dynamic duo, co chairs ~ Tammy McKenna and Beth Panella ~ who worked long hours to bring a great concept to fruition.  Rumor has it, they have signed up to run this again next year!!
  • The other Big Night Committee members for their time and energy to make the whole night come together. They are: Alison Leary, Anush Sahakian, Carolyn Judge, Jacquie Arbuckle,  Jade Watson, Jesene Godfrey, Kyra Mercado, Lex Van der Ploeg and Maria Sullivan
  • The wonderful Bigelow staff who donated one-of -a-kind items to the auction:  Jaime Alberts, Felicia Calabria, Christopher Campbell, Joe Eckstrom, Mary Fitzgerald, Jie Gao, Todd Harrison, Martin Kaufman, Kim LeQuire, Meghan Martin, Kyra Mercado, Michele Parker, Jess Parlon, Bill Prendergast and Patty Summa.
  • The volunteers who helped make the evening flawless: Tricia Kouroriez, Mary Gwo-Shu, Claire Marre, Don McKenna, Joanne Tsao, Christine Elder, Rob White, Joe Pittelli, George Brunson, our photograper and Alex Mercado, our bouncer.  
  • The local companies who donated or gave us discounts on delectable food, thirst-quenching beverages and various other things: Antoine’s Pastry Shop, Berkshire Mountain DistilleriesSensational Foods ,  La Bonne Maison,  BG Events & Catering,   Bakers’ Best El Pelon Taqueria,  Gordon’s Fine Wines and Liquors, Russo’s, Home Depot of Watertown, Peterson Party Center, Stop and Shop, Watertown and Premier Bartending Services.  Please frequent these businesses and use their services!
  • The many businesses and organizations who donated items to our silent auction. For a complete list, click here: http://bigelowpto.org/big-night-2016-donors/ Please support them!
  • To anyone else who contributed to the evening who we forgot to list. Our apologies!
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    The wonderful food

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    The Newton North Jazz Band

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    Luckily Todd knew the password so our bouncer let him in.

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    The entrance to the Bigelow Speakeasy

The BIG NIGHT is TONIGHT!!

The Big Night “The Bigelow Speakeasy”  is tonight from 7-11pm at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown.

TICKETS:  Walk ins are welcome or  Click here to purchase your tickets.

AUCTION: For a preview at the many great auction items we have, please check out our Auction Catalog.    Click here for a full listing of donors.  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED TO OUR AUCTION.

MUSIC: Click here for a sneak peek at our Band “Jan Marie with the Mean Reds.”  And our evening with kick off with the Newton North Jazz Band.

FOOD AND DRINK:  We will have a Berkshire Mountain Distilleries gratis tasting station as well as a cash bar.  Food for the evening has been graciously donated by:  Sensational Foods    La Bonne Maison    BG Events & Catering    Bakers’ Best    El Pelon 

Other highlights of the evening include a 50/50 prize drawing and a photo booth.

DRESS in whatever you are comfortable in!!  Feel free to dress up or down.  Have some 1920’s wear, this is a great time to show it off!!

i-9VH6V5M-SIf you have any questions please email us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

Thank you, your event co chairs – Beth Panella and Tammy McKenna

The BIG NIGHT is less than a week away, get your tickets!!

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Click here to purchase your tickets.  The Big Night “The Bigelow Speakeasy”  is this Sat. May 14th 7-11pm at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown.

For a preview at the many great auction items we have, please check out our Auction Catalog.  Thank you to all the wonderful Bigelow families / teachers / staff and local businesses that have contributed to our auction.  Click here for a full listing of donors.

Click here for a sneak peek at our Band “Jan Marie with the Mean Reds.”  And our evening with kick off with the Newton North Jazz Band.

If you need transportation assistance to the Big Night, contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

We will have a Berkshire Mountain Distilleries gratis tasting station as well as a cash bar.  Food for the evening has been graciously donated by:  Sensational Foods    La Bonne Maison    BG Events & Catering    Bakers’ Best    El Pelon 

Other highlights of the evening include a 50/50 prize drawing and a photo booth.

DRESS in whatever you are comfortable in!!  Feel free to dress up or down.  Have some 1920’s wear, this is a great time to show it off!!

i-9VH6V5M-SIf you have any questions please email us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

Thank you, your event co chairs – Beth Panella and Tammy McKenna