The FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) is hosting a Juneteenth event at Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street, Newton on Sunday, June 19th, from 12-4 pm. It will also be Father’s Day, so this offers the perfect opportunity for a fun family day out!

There will be food by Gourmet Kreyol, ice cream by Tipping Cow, performances by Aashka Dance Company, Gianna Burgess, David Stamps, the New Art Center, and others, vendors including Black-owned businesses, kids’ activities by Fun Factor, a community table hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Haitian Parents, and much more.

Bigelow PTO depends on the generosity and energy of parent/guardian volunteers to help keep our community informed, connected, and strong. Can you help? Please consider applying for these OPEN positions.

Have questions or want to volunteer? Please contact bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

Deadline: The deadline for ordering has been extended until June 3rd.

Price: $ 25

Option # 1: We encourage ordering online!

Order online:  ybpay.lifetouch.com  Bigelow’s ID Code: 1945922 

Not sure if you’ve already ordered?  Click here to view your order history for the 2021-2022 school year.

Option # 2: If you cannot order online you can bring a check or cash to the school.

Check payable to: Bigelow Middle School

Memo: Student’s First & Last Name, Grade

Checks/cash must be received by May 27th.

For the 2022-2023 school year, Bigelow is expecting the following cuts due to decreased enrollment: 

• 2.0 Grade 6 teachers
• 0.5 PE teachers
• 1.0 Literacy Lab teacher
• 0.25 Fine arts teacher (position is being combined with other existing fine arts FTE)
• 0.35 World Language Teacher

 In addition to the reductions above, Bigelow has never had a math interventionist or specialist to help support our students who need extra math support, a position the teachers have been advocating to receive for years. This is such an inequity considering the other three middle schools have been able to establish some form of a math interventionist/math lab teacher for a few years now. 

The cuts happening for the 2022-2023 school year will continue to have an impact on student learning in the subsequent years at Bigelow. Bigelow enrollment decline is larger than at any of the other middle schools (see table of project enrollment for Newton Public Schools for FY2022 – FY2027 below). Bigelow may be the smallest of the four middle schools, but we have mighty needs. These needs of our students are currently not being met and cutting positions and funding will only put our students at larger risk for falling behind socially, emotionally and academically. 

We are asking members of the community to write emails and make phone calls to the school committee, city counselors, the mayor and the superintendent to start the process of redistricting so that our small school doesn’t become smaller. 

Contact information for:

• Mayor Ruthanne Fuller: ruthanne@ruthannefuller.com
• Office of School Superintendent: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/domain/82
• School committee members: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/688
• City counselors: https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/81784/637823365670370000

From Newton Public Schools:

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, Middlesex County, along with most of Massachusetts, is now in the “high” community level for COVID-19. You can access current Newton-specific COVID data on the Newton HHS website:

City of Newton COVID Case Data

Newton Public Schools COVID Case Data

Given the increase in cases in our community, the Newton Public Schools STRONGLY recommends students and staff wear a mask. A well-fitting mask is very effective in reducing the transmission of COVID.

For reference, when a community level is “high,” the CDC recommends the following:

• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings).
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

Newton Public Schools will continue to notify families of COVID cases using our regular frequency of notification (based upon grade levels.) Families should use this data to assess their own level of risk based upon their family’s circumstances.

COVID Testing

• You can still opt-in to the at-home COVID rapid antigen testing program. Opt-in through your Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen. Follow these instructions once you are logged in.

• All positive COVID tests results should be reported using this form: Form – Positive Result from At-Home Rapid Antigen Test.

• NPS recently updated the Health and Safety Plan for COVID protocols in all school buildings. Here is the link to the full document: Health and Safety Plan – Updated April 2022

Isolation and Quarantine Reminders

• If you test positive for COVID, you must isolate for a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset (or a positive test if asymptomatic). Return to school is based on time and symptom resolution. Individuals must wear a well-fitting mask on days 6-10 at all times following a COVID infection, unless eating, drinking, or outside.

• The CDC and MA DPH state that individuals exposed to a positive COVID case should mask for 10 days following exposure, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. A rapid antigen or PCR test on Day 5 is recommended.

Please join us for the last general PTO meeting on Thursday May 26, 9-10AM:

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/5452808903

Dear All,

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is pleased to announce that the annual SEPAC Awards nominations are open from today, May 2 through Tuesday, May 17. Nominees will be notified virtually again this year, and here is how the process works:

• Families will submit nominations using the Google Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/7c1drqBiKXdGmyJMA
• Each nominee will receive the text of the nomination in an email
• The email to each nominee also will include messages of thanks from Mayor Fuller, Superintendent Fleishman, the School Committee, and the SEPAC Board
• Each nominee will receive a printed award and a small gift that will be dropped off at their school or location in early June
• We will send each Principal a list of the nominees from their schools

For those new to Newton SEPAC, the annual SEPAC Awards are a way to honor Newton Public Schools (NPS) and Out of District (ODD) staff who have gone the extra mile to support our special education students. Nominees span a wide range of staff, including teachers, aides, BTs, therapists, bus drivers, crossing guards, administrators, other support staff, etc. All nominees receive an award. The SEPAC Awards were held in person pre-pandemic, and will be virtual again in 2022.

Feel free to pass this message onto families who may not be on this Google Group. 

Please contact the SEPAC Board with any questions at: newtonspecialeducationawards@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your participation!
2021-2022 SEPAC BoardSuzanne Buchko, Jessi Champion, Erin Kelly-Makol, Jenny Klein-Sosa, Helen Scarr, Eliza Spaulding

Thank you to the many volunteers who helped reinvigorate the green areas around Bigelow on Newton Serves day. Bigelow students, Bigelow parents, Newton Covenant Church and community members worked together on a sunny and bright day. Purple and white flowers are now shining all around the school and new baby plants have been placed, Bigelow students will witness them grow bigger over the years.

It was a fun day!
Thank you,

Sarah and Giulia