It is time to nominate parents/guardians to serve on the Bigelow School Council for the 2022-23 school year.

The School Council, which was established as part of the 1993 Education Reform Bill, is a group of teachers and parents who meet monthly to advise the principal on issues related to the identification of students’ needs, the budget, and the development of a School Improvement Plan. Learn more about School Councils here.

5 Parent/Guardian members are to be selected by the parents of students attending the school, in elections held by the local recognized parent-teacher organization.

Please use this form to nominate possible representatives by Tuesday November 29th. The vote will take place via a google form distributed in the PTO newsletter on Thursday December 1st.

Do you want to help make Bigelow a more positive and inclusive place for all students? Join Bigelow GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)!  Everyone is welcome!

It’s the last week for our Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive! We are distributing supermarket gift cards to neighbors experiencing food insecurity, in hopes that they can celebrate the bounty of the holidays!

We are more than halfway there! Food prices are so high, please help us cross the line and donate whatever you can for these families.

Newton Neighbors will purchase and distribute gift cards through partner agencies for up to 150 families in Newton, Waltham, and Brockton.

If you are able to make any size donation to help us reach our goal, we know these families will be so grateful.

Donate online at https://www.newtonneighbors.org/donate or mail a check to Newton Neighbors, PO Box 590141, Newton, MA 02459

Peace and Joy to You This Season

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED SO GENEROUSLY!

On Tuesday, November 8th, Bigelow students explored themes of this year’s One School, One Book Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj through several activities with their advisory groups.

Students visited virtually with the author Varsha Bajaj, who spoke about the power of a story and her journey as a writer. Following the author visit, students played a team-based Math game, as Math played a role in how the main characters in Count Me In became friends. Students ended with a community-building activity called Who Are We? to reflect how the main characters in the novel both acknowledged their own family traditions and routines, and also learned to appreciate the differences between one another.

Thank you to everyone involved in organizing and planning this event for our students, especially Ms. Summa, for so thoughtfully putting together this learning experience!

Finally, thank you to all Bigelow Families for your support of the PTO! It is through your support that the Bigelow PTO is able to underwrite special programs like One School, One Book for our students.

Bigelow is fortunate to have a strong partnership between the school’s terrific leaders, teachers and staff, as well as a dedicated and vibrant Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Please support your PTO and consider giving today.

A gift of any size will help us reach our goal of 100% participation.

As a caregiver of a Bigelow Middle School student, you are a member of the PTO. Your donation will enhance the PTO’s ability to promote and support the school community’s core values, creating an environment where students will develop a respect for self and others; a sense of responsibility for oneself and their community; and a life-long love of learning.

How to Donate:

• via Venmo @BigelowPTONewton
• write a check and mail to Bigelow Middle School c/o PTO
• via the website at bigelowpto.org/donate/

Please consider adding Bigelow PTO to your company’s annual donation matching program, if applicable. Bigelow Middle School PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #20-0348453. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

How Your Donation Helps

Funds raised by the PTO, thanks to your donations, are used to support many wonderful programs and services to benefit our students academically and socially, including the One School One Book Count Me In program detailed in the prior section.

Building on the success of last year’s Staff Wellness Day, Principal Coston and Bigelow Leadership are planning Bigelow’s first ever Student Wellness Day.

When? Thursday, December 8^th, ~8:30-11:20 am (December 8^th is an early release day with 11:20 am dismissal)

What? After advisory, students will rotate through 5 different 30-minute health and wellness activities. Students will be able to choose the activities that most interest them.

We need you! We are still looking for parent volunteers to share their talents and lead 30-minute activity sessions to make Bigelow’s first ever Student Wellness Day a success. The goal is for students to have a wide range of activities to choose from, e.g., origami, dance, yoga, meditation, cookie or cupcake decorating, crafts, gaming, sports, etc.!

Interested? Please email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com with your idea and join the fun!

Thank you again to the Bigelow Counseling Department for last Tuesday’s very informative Family Educational Session including helpful back-to-school tips for Middle Schoolers!

Slides presented at the session are available HERE.

You can learn more about the Bigelow Middle School Counseling and access parent resources on the BMS Counseling Website.

We are looking for a parent volunteer with tax experience to help the Bigelow PTO file its annual tax return.

Please reach out to bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com if you are able to help!

It is time for the third annual Newton Neighbors Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive!

Did you know that 1 in 10 of our neighbors struggles to feed their family? 1 in 10 of our neighbors sits down to an empty plate. Help us to support our neighbors in need this holiday season.  

Last year, through the support of our community, Newton Neighbors provided 150 families throughout Newton, Brockton, and Waltham with $50 supermarket Gift Cards!  With increasing food costs, the goal is to give out $75 gift cards this holiday season through partner agencies to families in Newton, Waltham, and Brockton. 

The Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive will run from November 1 – 19. Any donation, of any size, will help us achieve our goal.

Donate online at https://www.newtonneighbors.org/donate or mail a check to Newton Neighbors, PO Box 590141, Newton, MA 02459.    

Newton Neighbors is working through partner organizations in Newton, Waltham, and Brockton to distribute gift cards to families and will not be distributing gift cards directly. All direct requests will be referred to appropriate partners.

Newton Neighbors’ mission is to facilitate community connection, mutual aid, and access to resources and support for all people who live, work, pray, play and/or learn in Newton, MA, and other local communities.

Bigelow is fortunate to have a strong partnership between the school’s terrific leaders,  teachers and staff, as well as a dedicated and vibrant Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Please support your PTO and consider giving today.

A gift of any size will help us reach our goal of 100% participation.

As a caregiver of a Bigelow Middle School student, you are a member of the PTO. Your donation will enhance the PTO’s ability to promote and support the school community’s core values, creating an environment where students will develop a respect for self and others; a sense of responsibility for oneself and their community; and a life-long love of learning.

How to Donate:

• via Venmo @BigelowPTONewton
• write a check and mail to Bigelow Middle School c/o PTO
• via the website at bigelowpto.org/donate/

Please consider adding Bigelow PTO to your company’s annual donation matching program, if applicable. Bigelow Middle School PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #20-0348453. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

How Your Donation Helps

Funds raised by the PTO, thanks to your donations, are used to support many wonderful programs and services to benefit our students.