Bigelow Counseling Department is back with another family learning opportunity. This time, we hope to educate you all about our English Language Learner population, and how we can best support them as members of our school community.
Please join us for this family educational event on Thursday, May 4th at 1:00 pm at Bigelow; you may RSVP here or via the image below.
Bigelow needs you on Sunday, May 7th to help reinvigorate the green areas around the school for NewtonSERVES 2023! It will be a fun day! The event will be open between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Drop in anytime and stay as long as you want. Every minute of your time helps!
The volunteer registration deadline is Wednesday May 3rd. Please register now through the following link: Newton Serves Volunteer Registration
All Bigelow families, friends, and neighbors are welcome to help. Please bring water and gardening gloves and tools (if you have them). Thank you!
All are invited to the GELF Fundraising Dinner on Saturday April 29th at 6:30pm at the Wilson Chapel. It will be a fun night celebrating international travel experiences with families who share the same passion. The evening also highlights food from local restaurants, performance by Newton South Jazz Band, as well as stories from former GELF recipients and NPS administrators. With your participation, we’ll be able to provide financial aid for more students to go on future trips.
Tickets are selling fast, and please get yours HERE.
About GELF The Jennifer Price Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF) 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.
On March 29th, Interim Newton Public School (NPS) Superintendent Kathy Smith presented the initial budget presentation for the 2023-24 school year (FY24), including district-wide reductions due to a $4.9 million budget shortfall. Addtional budget details and proposed reductions specific to Instructional Areas, IT, and Non-Instructional Areas were presented to the School Committee in subsquent meetings.
You can view the presentations as well as additional information regarding the FY24 NPS budget on the FY24 Budget Documents Webpage.
The meeting timeline for the FY24 budget can be found below or by following this link.
Newton Public Schools (NPS) is facing numerous proposed budget cuts for the upcoming 2023-24 school year, including the ELIMINATION of all Newton Elementary Schools Strings programs (strings lessons and orchestra ensemble instruction across all fifteen elementary schools in the district).
Save Newton Strings is a group of parents, guardians, students, alumni, and community members fighting against harmful cuts to the NPS Elementary Strings Lessons and Orchestra Ensemble Programs.
Please join us in asking NPS and our elected officials in Newton to reconsider this proposal by signing this petition and sharing your comments and personal stories.
Visit www.savenewtonstrings.com to learn more.
Calling all String Musicians!
On Monday, April 24th Newton Orchestra students of all ages from across the district will gather for a concert outside of the Education Center to advocate for the restoration of the elementary school 4th/5th grade string orchestra program.
Due to the failed override vote and budget deficit for next school year, NPS is proposing to cut this vital program, a decision which betrays the promise made to our students and undercuts the future of Newton’s entire orchestra program. The school committee will be taking a straw vote on the proposal just inside the Education Center during the concert. We urge everyone, whether enrolled in the program or not, to come out in support of our students and educators as they raise their voices to ensure that committee members do not cast their votes lightly.
For information on how to sign up your NPS string student for the concert click here
For more information, visit Save Newton Strings. To sign the petition click here.
Bigelow Counseling Department is back with another family learning opportunity. This time, we hope to educate you all about our English Language Learner population, and how we can best support them as members of our school community.
Please join us for this family educational event on Wednesday, April 12th at 8:15 am at Bigelow; you may RSVP here or via the button below.
Bigelow Civics Day is back! 8E and 8F students will host community members on Thursday, April 13th at 8:30 am. Please email 8E teacher Jean Singers with questions or to RSVP at singersj@newton.k12.ma.us
On March 29th, Interim Newton Public School (NPS) Superintendent Kathy Smith presented the initial budget presentation for the 2023-24 school year (FY24), including disctrict-wide reductions due to a $4.9 million budget shortfall.
You can view the presentation as well as additional information regarding the FY24 NPS budget on the FY24 Budget Documents Webpage.
The meeting timeline for the FY24 budget can be found below or by following this link.
Information on Public Hearing for FY24 School Budget: Wednesday April 12th @6:30 pm
The Newton School Committee will hold a hybrid Public Hearing
Instructions for the public to listen to, or participate in virtual school committee meetings:
Public Comment
All members of the public will be allowed to speak on this topic only for up to 2 minutes.
To sign up in advance of the hearing, please copy and paste this link: Sign Up Google form to access the form.
You may also sign up in “live-time” during the meeting by using the “raise your hand” feature on Zoom. Speakers will be called in the order in which they signed up – first come – first speak.
The School Committee will convene a HYBRID Regular Meeting in open session immediately following the Public Hearing.
Save the Date for NewtonServes at Bigelow Grounds: Sunday May 7, 2023
9 am – 4 pm Rain or Shine
Learn more: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/parks-recreation-culture/newton-serves