In case you were not aware—this school year, Bigelow gained a cohort of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. These students are part of the CAPS Collaborative Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, and it is very possible that your child has classes and interactions with these special students every day! Bigelow Counseling along with the CAPS Staff is excited to introduce the CAPS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program in Newton and explain what this means for your child and the life and culture at Bigelow.

Please join us on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 1-2 pm in the Bigelow Library for a discussion where will we celebrate our partnership and share information about the Deaf community.

Please see the provided flyer or CLICK HERE to RSVP. We look forward to hosting you!

Passage of Question 1 would provide an additional $4.5 million for the FY24 NPS budget as well as fund improvements to Horace Mann Elementary School.

While it’s early in the budget process, NPS leaders are warning of an expected school budget deficit of $2-4 million even if the override passes. Without extra money from the override, the schools might face a gap of $6-8 million. This would mean “across the board budget reductions in all [school] departments” and “reductions to the breadth and depth of programming for students”. NPS leaders have discussed the two budget scenarios at two public meetings:

• Jan. 23 School Committee meeting (presentation starts at minute 38; view the slides)
• Feb. 8 public forum at Newton North.  

We urge parents/guardians to review these recordings and materials so they can better understand the potential impact of the override on the Newton Public Schools.

Virtual info session and discussion with Vote YES for Newton

Monday, February 27, 2023 – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Hosted by Rep. Kay Khan, City Councilor Andrea Kelley, Councilor Andrea Kelley, School Committee Member Anping Shen, Former School Committee Members Richard Alfred & Diana F. Gomberg, Susan Davidoff, Michael Fogelberg, Lynn Goldsmith, Ezra Hausman, Ken and Carol Krems, Allison Sharma, Laura Towvim, Susan Tracy, Jean Weinberg & Lynn Weissberg

RSVP Here

The 7th Annual Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Yard Sign Contest is underway! This year’s theme is slowing down in school zones or on school property.

Students in grades 2-8 are invited to create a message to encourage drivers to slow down near schools. Four winners will be selected from throughout the state and the yard signs will be printed and distributed to communities to put up around schools.

Entries are due Friday, February 17th.

More details can be found here, along with contest guidelines and entry forms available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.

The Tanglewood Marionettes is a nationally-touring marionette company whose unique productions have been seen by hundreds of thousands of children and families across the country. Newton Cultural Development is proud to present their show, The Dragon King, at 11am and 1pm on Thursday, February 24 (February vacation week).

In this show, a terrible drought has overtaken the land, the world has turned brown and lifeless, and the people are beginning to wonder why The Dragon King, ruler over all things water, has not delivered life-giving rains in a very long time. An underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore, The Dragon King tells the tale of an intrepid Grandmother who journeys to the bottom of the sea in search of the elusive Dragon King and the answers to why he has forsaken the land above. 

Don’t miss the beautifully hand-crafted marionettes, colorful sets, and fully immersive theatrical experience for all ages. Advanced ticket purchase is required.

More information and ticket sales can be found on this page. These shows always sell out, so order your tickets today. If you need scholarship assistance, email culture@newtonma.gov.

Please join us tomorrow night, Friday February 10th from 9:00-9:50 pm, for an Ice Skaking Fundraiser at Warrior Ice Arena. Tickets are $15 (includes skate rental) and will be sold at the event.

On Tuesday, March 14th, Newton voters will decide on an override proposal that would provide $4.5 million to the Newton Public Schools (NPS) operating budget.

NPS presented a Budget Preview for the 2023-24 school year to the School Committee on Monday January 23rd to show how the proposed operational override impact NPS. The presentation included two budget scenarios. One budget reflected the impact of supporting the school budget with $4.5 million via approval of the override. The other budget showed the impact on the budget if the override is NOT approved and the additional $4.5 million is not available to the district.

You can review the power point presentation here and can watch the School Committee presentation on NewTV here. (The budget presentation begins at the 38 minute mark.)

Additional information and updates regarding the impact of the override on NPS can be found on the NPS Override Page.

For more information on the override visit:

• The City of Newton website, meetings and presentations
• Vote Yes for Newton  (Instagram or Facebook)
• Newton Beacon (“an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan digital news organization reporting exclusively on Newton, Massachusetts”)
• League of Women Voters

Newton Neighbors is organizing another Drive for Five for the Newton Community Freedge.

Check your pantry, ask a neighbor, pick something up next time you go to the store! Help us stock the Freedge with these five high-demand items:

1. Individually wrapped snacks (any kind of snack, granola bars, cereal bars or protein bars, goldfish, pretzels, etc.)
2. Pasta and sauce
3. Dried beans or rice (chickpeas, black beans, wild rice, etc.)
4. Cooking oil
5. Soaps (hand soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc.)

Drop off donations from Tuesday, January 31 – Thursday, February 9 at the following addresses:

• 174 Oliver Road, Waban
• Fulfilled Goods, 612 Washington Street, Newtonville
• Cork and Board, 1207 Centre Street, Newton Centre
• Just Next Door, 327 Auburn Street, Auburndale

To learn more about the free 24-hour community refrigerator and pantry at 420 Watertown Street in Nonantum, join the Newton Community Freedge Facebook group.

Newton Public Schools (NPS) is hosting an important forum on the 2023-24 (FY24) school year budget. This budget discussion will include information on the proposed operational override and its impact on the FY24 budget. Details are as follows:

• Where: Newton North Auditorium (457 Walnut St.)
• When: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
• Time: 7:00 p.m.

If you are unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed on NewTV.

The evening will include a short presentation and then an opportunity for questions and answers. You may ask your question live during the forum or you can submit a question in advance using this Google Form.

NPS Budget Questions – Google Form

For reference, below is a link to the presentation shared with the School Committee last week that provides a preview of next year’s budget. ​​​​​​​

FY24 Budget Preview to School Committee – January 23, 2023

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER!

Please join Principal Coston, Bigelow FORJ, and our Boston and Newton families tomorrow for a fun movie night in Bigelow’s auditorium featuring Black Panther: Wakanda Forever! After the movie, please stay for a brief Q&A session to discuss themes in the film that reflect the world’s experience of race, gender, colonialism, and identity.

Pizza, popcorn, and water will be available. ($1 each)

Please RSVP HERE to let us know you are coming!