Dear Bigelow Families,

We recognize this has been a very difficult time for our community and that simply reopening school is only a first step toward overcoming the disruption and division that may have occurred. We also recognize that you may still have many questions about how school will adjust (for example, days added to the calendar).  Please look for upcoming opportunities to reconnect with the Bigelow Community.  From the PTO side, we look forward to resuming PTO events and the many activities that support our students.  We’re also happy to hear from you about your concerns or questions, especially those which we could help to bring up with the Bigelow leadership on behalf of many families.

Sincerely,

Bigelow PTO Board

For All Families of Students with IEPs/504 plans:

Please join the Newton SEPAC this Tuesday, February 6, 7:30-9:30 PM for our monthly Open Board Meeting. 

Administrators from the Office of Student Services will join for some of the meeting (exact time to be determined).

Topic: SEPAC Open Board Meeting, with OSS Leaders

Time: Feb 6, 2024, 7:30-9:30 PM 

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87386933193 

The PTO meeting with NPS Superintendent Nolin and members of the School Committee, originally scheduled for tomorrow, January 23rd, has been POSTPONED. We will post an update with the new date and time as soon as details are available.

Join us on Tuesday, January 23rd at 10 am for a PTO meeting at Bigelow with Newton Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Anna Nolin and members of the School Committee.

This is a great opportunity to learn about district initiatives and ask questions of our new superintendent and members of the school committee in a small group setting. You can submit questions to the PTO in advance (email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com) and we will relay your questions at the meeting to cover a variety of topics and as many questions as possible during the hour.

This week, the Bigelow PTO used the Todd Harrison Cares Fund to help a Bigelow family with a child undergoing chemotherapy.

The Todd Harrison Cares Fund was founded in 2021 to honor Principal Todd Harrison’s retirement after 25 years of extraordinary and tireless service to the Bigelow community. This fund goes towards helping Bigelow students and families who are in need, and honors Mr. Harrison’s commitment and belief that all students deserve the same wonderful middle school experience.

Donations to the Todd Harrison Cares Fund can be made via:

• Venmo (@BigelowPTONewton). If donating via Venmo please put “Todd Harrison Cares Fund” in the note field.
• Check payable to Bigelow PTO delivered to the school. (Please specify “Todd Harrison Cares Fund”)
• The PTO website: https://bigelowpto.org/donate/todd-harrison-cares-fund/

The Jennifer Price Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, ensures equitable access for students to participate in Newton Public Schools international education experiences by providing need-based global education financial aid to students whose families cannot afford the cost.

GELF opens international doors to students, many of whom have not left the United States, some of whom have never been on a plane and none of whom would be able to participate in these programs without financial aid.

GELF is looking for parents of rising 9^th graders to join as board members or volunteers. Please contact Yixing (Star) Lew at lewy@newton.k12.ma.us if you are interested or have questions

Snow Ball Update: the Bigelow school dance, the Snow Ball, previously scheduled for Friday, January 19 is going to be postponed. The new date will be Friday, March 1 from 7 to 9 PM.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!

Enjoy a meal from Blue Ribbon BBQ on Tuesday, January 23rd (or place a catering order for a future date) and raise money for Welcome Home!

Want to help your neighbors but unable to commit to long term programs? Come and help out with some of the programs run by Newton Neighbors. Sign up for a day a month or multiple days a week, whatever fits your schedule! Involve your kids too!

Call for Volunteers: Food Pantry Delivery

We are looking for volunteers who can help deliver groceries from our local food pantries to our neighbors who are unable to get to the pantries on their own.
We especially need drivers for our TUESDAY deliveries from Centre Street Food Pantry.

Our schedule is:

• Tuesdays from Centre Street Food Pantry. Pickup at either 12 or 12:15 before the pantry opens to the public.
• Wednesdays from Newton Food Pantry. Scheduled pickups between 12:15 – 2:45.

It usually takes about an hour of your time and makes a big difference to so many in our community!

Sign up here for January.

Call for Volunteers: Newton Community Freedge 

Newton Neighbors continues to support the Freedge, Newton Food Pantry’s community refrigerator and pantry initiative. Located in the parking lot of Central Cleaners at 420 Watertown Street in Nonantum, the Freedge is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offers free food and personal-care items to anyone in need. 

Newton Neighbors oversees volunteers on Thursdays and has volunteer opportunities throughout the day. Activities include picking up food from business partners and bringing it to the Freedge, shopping for items, and cleaning and maintaining the Freedge.

Our link for January signups is here.