Your student was provided with a test kit just before February break. We recommend that you use one of the tests on Sunday, February 27, 2022 (prior to returning to school on Monday.) Please use the second test on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

The PTO would like to thank the Bigelow Counseling team for hosting a Bigelow family educational session on Friday morning about “Understanding the mind of a middle schooler“.

A lot of interesting and useful information was shared, and we are truly lucky to have such a dedicated and professional team at Bigelow.

If you were not able to join, please find the presentation here and the recording here.

Stay tune for another informative session next month. All parents/guardians are welcome.

A family in our school needs financial help from the community. Please help if you can through this Gofundme campaign.

The PTO donated $2,000 from the “Todd Harrison Bigelow Cares Fund”.

 JOIN US for FAMILY EDUCATION and REFLECTION

As we are all learning about what we can do to build an anti racist school,  community, world– we hope you can join us for a week long school-wide learning activity -called the 7-Day Anti-Racism Equity Challenge–originally sponsored by Brandeis University.

The purpose of the week is to engage in reflection and practical thinking on how to integrate racial equity into our work and daily habits– for ourselves, our families, and our school.  Even if you think you/your kids have “done that–” we want to encourage all our families to take part.

Bigelow’s 7 Day Challenge will take place (all on your own time) during Black History Month- February 21-27, 2022. Each activity takes about 15 minutes to complete.Then, on March 1 join us on ZOOM when we will come together as a school community to reflect on what we are learning.  Hope to see you there! 

To register for the Bigelow FORJ Anti-Racism Challenge, please complete this form.

The Bigelow PTO Family Directory is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The access is free and it can be used by all Bigelow families. The directory is run and funded by the PTO thanks to your support!

The online platform is a secure and easy to use tool that organizes contact information from all Bigelow families unless they specifically opt out.  It is a convenient, environmentally conscious system, that can be updated throughout the school year.

If you are unfamiliar with the platform, if you have forgotten your directory access login, or if you are unsure about whether or not you are in it, please email us with your name and your child’s name(s) at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

The success of the system is dependent on every family logging in and updating their information. Families can edit their name, address, and phone numbers, and each family can decide which pieces of information will be available for others to view through the privacy settings.

Have great ideas for what friends will bid on? 

Join us in planning the Bigelow Big Nights Online Auction Committee! A relaxed group of Bigelow parents looking to plan the largest funding event of the school year! 

We need your thoughts! 

Please reach out to Julie Landesman (madamelandesman@gmail.com) or Alexia Giannakopolous (alexiag5@yahoo.com) with your ideas.

A big thank you to all who participated in Bigelow Family Trivia Night!  We battled it out with questions ranging across music, sports, literature, pop culture, history, and Bigelow factoids.  A special thank you to the very competitive teachers team and Principal Coston for joining in such a fun evening!  And thank you to all who showed their Bigelow spirit!  We hope to do it again next year but in person!  

First Place: Bigelow Blizzards

2nd place: Straight Outta Pencils

Bigelow Spirit Award: Mega Minds

Bigelow Counseling presents a family educational session entitled, “Understanding the mind of a middle schooler”. The virtual event will take place Friday, 2/11 from 9-10am.

The Newton Public Schools is shifting its testing strategy away from pooled testing (PCR) and toward at-home weekly rapid antigen tests. This new weekly at-home rapid antigen test is for ALL students PreK-12+ (vaccinated and unvaccinated.)

We expect the new testing program to be implemented the week of February 7, 2022. Below is specific information you will need in order for your student to participate in the new at-home testing program:

• All families need to “opt-in” to this new testing program. The previous consent form will NOT apply. 
  • Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen 
  • Follow these instructions once you are logged into Aspen

• An at-home rapid antigen tests kit will be distributed at school every other week. Each kit will contain two tests.

• NPS recommends that all families conduct a rapid test on TUESDAY of each week. 

• Here are printed instructions for conducting the test at home. Here is a video tutorial on conducting the test. Translations are included.

• Here is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document with answers to your most common questions.

All testing information can be found on our website here: NPS COVID Testing Webpage.

The Spring Musical will be on May 12th, 13th, and 14th! The big reveal on the musical name will be Monday afternoon February 7th for kids after school 2:45 – 3:30 PM. There is a LOT of excitement around it from the students.

There will be a parent info session on Monday, February 7th at 7:30 PM – please join via zoom here – https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/2830156482.