The Newton North PTSO has several openings for next year. Newton North depends on the generosity of parent/guardian volunteers to help keep our community informed and stay connected. Please consider helping out! Questions? Please contact Sally Brickell and Lynne LeBlanc at co-presidents@northptso.org.
Board positions
We are fortunate to have a nominating committee to help with the process for the following Board positions:Co-president
Work with other PTSO co-president and committee chairs to run Newton North PTSO. Strong organizational, people, and technical skills needed. Previous PTO experience is a plus, but not required. Time commitment: 10-15 hours per week.Programming Chair
Work with current chair and with co-presidents to determine PTSO meeting content and arrange logistics. Attend PTSO board meetings (every six weeks during the school year).TreasurerTreasurer responsibilities begin August 1st and extend through July 31st. Track income and expenses for all PTSO activities. Responsible for Massachusetts and federal non-profit filings. Learn and use state-of-the art membership software. Use Quicken and Excel to keep financial records. Interact with all PTSO committees and some teachers and Main Office staff.No experience necessary (current treasurer will help as needed) just a commitment to maintaining accurate records. Time commitment: 5-10 hours per week.Non-board positionsNewsletter editor
Help PTSO co-presidents arrange content for the weekly e-newsletter, Tiger News as well as post stories on PTSO website.Class liaisons 2018—one slot left for a Bigelow parent!
Provide support to class of 2018, help organize one faculty breakfast per year, help class advisors and students with one major event per year, help PTSO solicit volunteers, help Counseling Department with class-specific series.Parent outreach
Provide two new parent/guardian gatherings – one in the fall and one mid-year. Help PTSO with outreach to new families.Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices
Help PTSO organize yearly Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices expo (January); provide outreach to and liaison for North community with local and some national non-profits.Student-Faculty Administration
Attend weekly morning meetings with students, faculty, staff, and principal in a non-voting but advisory capacity to help determine school policies.Webmaster
Help current webmaster with technical oversight of PTSO website. Knowledge of Drupal programming helpful but not required.
Category Archives: From the PTO
Honor Thy Teacher
As the school year comes to an end, are you looking for a way to say “Thank You” to the people who make a difference at your children’s schools?
Every day, each of your children benefits from exceptional teachers and staff to educate, motivate and inspire them to be the best they can be.While the impulse to thank teachers with a physical or monetary gift is a natural one, the Newton School Committee prohibits individual gifts to teachers and the State Ethics Commission limits the types and amounts of group gifts that teachers may receive.
Seventeen years ago, Newton Schools Foundation created a special campaign designed to enable parents to honor teachers by giving a gift in their name. Please consider donating to NSF’s Annual “Honor Thy Teacher” Campaign to support teachers’ efforts and honor their dedication to your children. You may also choose to honor a special education aide, a fine arts or music teacher, an administrator, a coach or counselor who has touched your child’s life. Suggested donation is $25 per teacher/staff member.
NSF celebrates Newton Public Schools teachers and staff by:
- Notifying honored teachers and staff of your gift
- Listing all honored teachers and staff in the Newton TAB
- Sharing honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals.
There are three ways to donate:
- PayPal through www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org where you can indicate your donation and honorees
- Send a check to Newton Schools Foundation at 246 Dudley Road, Newton, MA 02459 and indicate your honorees
- Call NSF at 617-559-6120
Teachers and staff who are honored consider this one of the highlights of their year. Please help support our educators by donating today.
Newton Schools Foundation is a 501 c-3 charity whose mission is to broaden community support for public education and provide private funding for innovative and challenging programs across a student’s K-12 experience in the Newton Public Schools. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Tomorrow Evening – Final PTO Meeting / Volunteer Thank you Get Together
TOMORROW EVENING, please join us for our last Bigelow PTO meeting for this school year and a thank you for your tremendous volunteer service on Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., at Julie Bourgoin’s house, 44 Whitney Road, Newtonville. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend. If you can join us, please respond so we can ensure that we have the proper seating and snacks by emailing jbourgoin@comcast.net or calling 617-320-0040. We do hope you can make it.
We have one formal piece of business at our meeting that evening and that is to vote in a new slate of officers for next year. If you are interested in serving on the board next year, we would love to have you.
It is not too late if you are interested in being on next year’s board. WE NEED A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. Ideally we would love the following on the board to help share the work load.
- Co-Presidents (2-3 Positions)
- Vice Presidents (2 Positions)
- Co-Treasurers (2 Positions)
- Co-Secretaries (2 Positions)
A couple of new faces have indicated their willingness to serve as Vice Presidents next year; Beth Panella and Lex Van der Ploeg. Thank you!! We also have three members of this year’s board indicate their willingness to be nominated and serve again next year. Carolyn Judge, Co-President, Vicki Spetter, Co-Treasurer and Vicki Ritterband, Co-Secretary.
Click here for more information on the responsibilities of these roles You can also contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com or call Carolyn at 617 794 6436 with any questions or to volunteer.
Ward School Nurse Lieberman Retirement Party
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion and caring without even a prescription.” Val Saintsbury
Nurse Lieberman is retiring at the end of this school year. Please join us for cupcakes and lemonade right after school to wish her well.
Wednesday, June 18th from 3-4:30pm in the Ward School Library
Board Volunteers still needed!!
We will be voting in our slate of 2014 / 2015 PTO officers at the final PTO meeting / thank you get together, Wednesday May 28 at 7pm.
WE NEED A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE BOARD NEXT YEAR!! Ideally we would love the following on the board to help share the work load.
- Co-Presidents (2-3 Positions)
- Vice Presidents (2 Positions)
- Co-Treasurers (2 Positions)
- Co-Secretaries (2 Positions)
Click here for more information on the responsibilities of these roles You can also contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com or call Carolyn at 617 794 6436 with any questions or to volunteer.
A couple of new faces have indicated their willingness to serve as Vice Presidents next year; Beth Panella and Lex Van der Ploeg. Thank you!! We also have three members of this year’s board indicate their willingness to be nominated and serve again next year. Carolyn Judge, Co-President, Vicki Spetter, Co-Treasurer and Vicki Ritterband, Co-Secretary.
It is a great way to get involved with your student’s school and meet new members of our Bigelow community!! WE NEED YOU!!
Final PTO Meeting / Appreciation Get Together Next Week on May 28
Please join us for our last Bigelow PTO meeting for this school year and a thank you for your tremendous volunteer service on Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., at Julie Bourgoin’s house, 44 Whitney Road, Newtonville. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend. If you can join us, please respond so we can ensure that we have the proper seating and snacks by emailing jbourgoin@comcast.net or calling 617-320-0040. We do hope you can make it.
We have one formal piece of business at our meeting that evening and that is to vote in a new slate of officers for next year. If you are interested in serving on the board next year, we would love to have you. Please go to bigelowpto.org for more information.
Improvements to the intersection at Park St. and Vernon St.
The following was sent out by Principal Harrison last week regarding improvements to the Park St / Vernon St intersection to improve pedestrian safety.
Dear Parents,
We have received word from the City of Newton DPW that work will begin soon on improvements to the intersection of Park St. and Vernon St. adjacent to Bigelow Middle School.
This has long been a dangerous intersection, and after many years of discussion, a trial plan has been approved. I support this plan along with the neighborhood. It should improve safety for Bigelow and Underwood students crossing Park and Vernon Streets, while still allowing traffic to flow. The trial design consists of a pedestrian island at the base of Park Street, and a raised crossing and bump-out on Vernon St.
A temporary structure will be built soon to test this new design while school is still in session. The construction and new structure may initially cause delays during drop-off and pick-up times. We encourage students to walk, ride, or take the bus to school, but if you drive your child to school, please give yourself extra time. Also, please bear with the situation as we assess the impact of these changes. Our students’ safety is always our foremost concern.
Thanks.
Todd
Todd Harrison PrincipalBigelow Middle School 42 Vernon St.Newton, MA 02458
todd_harrison@newton.k12.ma.us
617.559.6800
5th Annual NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 5th Annual NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards. The award honors educators who have made a difference in the lives of children receiving special education services, and an educator can be nominated by parents, guardians or students. Past nominees have included regular and special ed teachers, P.E. teachers, aides, behavior therapists, BCBAs, secretaries, specialists and a janitor, so feel free to nominate any Newton Public Schools employee who has gone above and beyond to help your child in this 2013-2014 school year.
Nominations are due by Friday, May 30, 2014 but please try to get your nomination in sooner so that we can give the honorees as much notice as possible. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 in the Lasker Auditorium at Newton North High School, with light refreshments starting at 6:30 pm. and the awards beginning at 7:00 pm. It’s a wonderful evening and everyone is welcome, but you don’t have to be present to make a nomination. Everyone who is nominated will receive the award.
Your name and email:
Nominee’s name;
Nominee’s school:
Nominee’s email:
A brief (2-3 paragraphs is ideal) statement on why you are nominating this person as a Special Educator:
Thanks for helping us recognize our wonderful Special Educators!
The Bigelow PTO Board NEEDS YOU TODAY!!!
STEP UP TODAY AND JOIN THE PTO BOARD FOR NEXT YEAR!! WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP TO MAKE NEXT YEAR A SUCCESS! WE CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!!!
It is a great way to get involved with your student’s school and meet new members of our Bigelow community!! A slate of officers for next year will be put forward and voted on at our final PTO meeting on Wednesday May 28 at 7pm. Contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions regarding any of the board positions.
We have three members of this year’s board who have indicated their willingness to be nominated and serve again next year. Carolyn Judge, Co-President, Vicki Spetter, Co-Treasurer and Vicki Ritterband, Co-Secretary.
PTO Co-Presidents (2-3 Positions)
The primary roles of the co-presidents are 1) to facilitate community building of the PTO membership and 2) to ensure effective communication between parents, the School Principal and the broader Newton community on issues and concerns related to or impacting the Bigelow school. Specific responsibilities include:
The primary roles of the co-presidents are 1) to facilitate community building of the PTO membership and 2) to ensure effective communication between parents, the School Principal and the broader Newton community on issues and concerns related to or impacting the Bigelow school. Specific responsibilities include:
1. Meet twice a month with the Principal to share information on issues related to the Bigelow School Community.
2. Represent Bigelow at the citywide PTO Council Meetings.
3. Plan and lead 6 PTO meetings each year, in partnership with the school Principal.
4. Write periodic updates for the Bigelow PTO Notes.
5. Assist the Treasurer in developing the budget and overseeing expenditures.
6. Work with the school Principal to develop the PTO schedule of events.
2. Represent Bigelow at the citywide PTO Council Meetings.
3. Plan and lead 6 PTO meetings each year, in partnership with the school Principal.
4. Write periodic updates for the Bigelow PTO Notes.
5. Assist the Treasurer in developing the budget and overseeing expenditures.
6. Work with the school Principal to develop the PTO schedule of events.
7. Oversee the fundraising efforts of the PTO.
Vice Presidents (2 Positions)
Work closely with the Co Presidents and committee chairs to coordinate yearly activities and facilitate communication.
Co-Treasurers (2 Positions)
The Treasurer acts as the chief financial officer of the Bigelow PTO. The Treasurer is accountable for all the funds that flow through the organization. The Treasurer signs checks, and tracks all income and expenditures. The treasurer updates the PTO Budget and the PTO Board of the accounting of all funds raised and spent.
The Treasurer acts as the chief financial officer of the Bigelow PTO. The Treasurer is accountable for all the funds that flow through the organization. The Treasurer signs checks, and tracks all income and expenditures. The treasurer updates the PTO Budget and the PTO Board of the accounting of all funds raised and spent.
Co-Secretaries (2 Positions)
The Secretary is responsible for taking the minutes of the PTO meetings and for filing the necessary documents with the Secretary of State (such as newly elected Board officers).
The Secretary is responsible for taking the minutes of the PTO meetings and for filing the necessary documents with the Secretary of State (such as newly elected Board officers).
DEADLINE to Order Bigelow Yearbooks extended to this Friday!!
Order forms went home with the students earlier this week for the 2013-2014 yearbook. The yearbook is going to look better then ever this year; the kids decided on a hard cover book and there will be additional collage pages of candid shots for each grade. The due date to return the order form is Friday, May 16th to guarantee your student’s yearbook.
Price – $25 (cash or check)
Make checks payable to Bigelow Middle School
Order forms should be given to homebase teachers
Contact Sherri Rice at sheryl_rice