From the Principal’s Office, on Jan 16, 2021:

Dear Bigelow Families,

I am writing to let you know that I have decided to retire at the end of this school year in June 2021.  After working as an educator in middle schools for 35 years–and the last 25 years at Bigelow–it is time to pass the torch to a younger person.

I do not make this decision lightly or as a result of the pandemic.  I have been thinking about it for a while. My heart and soul are in this special place, and there is so much to be done to overcome this current crisis. I fully intend to give every ounce of my energy to make sure that we succeed in creating the best middle school experience possible for our precious students. They deserve nothing less.

I have been blessed by opportunities at Bigelow and in Newton beyond anything imaginable;  I have accomplished my dreams as a middle school educator.  When next September arrives, I hope that a new beginning can take place, and it will be time for a new leader to take Bigelow to the next level in its wonderful history.

 

It hurts to leave such an amazing school and community. When I started as a seventh grade teacher, there were no personal computers, no email, no MCAS, very few middle schools, and limited knowledge about the needs of this age group.  When I came to Bigelow, it was just emerging as a middle school after being shuttered for several years due to low enrollment. Now, after years of thoughtful work and teaching by scores of teachers, counselors, and staff, I see a shining model of the incredible impact that a middle school can have in helping young people discover their many talents and opening a wide world of possibilities to them.

The power of public education in Newton has always been the collaboration here of smart, creative, and dedicated professionals.  I am forever grateful to the staff at Bigelow, my fellow middle school principals, central office leaders, curriculum coordinators, and the PTO and parent community. The list of names is long.  No matter how big the challenge, I always knew that we could solve it together, and this year has proven this fact once again.

Most of all I will miss the generations of students who have walked the halls of Bigelow. Their eager faces–and not so eager faces some days–have energized and motivated me everyday and will continue to do so.  May the force of the Bigelow core values be with them always! .

Superintendent Fleishman will be in touch soon with information about a search process.

Thank you all. I will miss you. There’s still lots of work to be done now.  Onward and upward!

Todd

Todd Harrison, Principal

We are pleased to share with you a resource guide about Black Lives Matter made by members of the Bigelow World Issues and Politics Club. Check it out – it is loaded with ways for students and adults to make a difference. The World Issues and Politics Club is a student led group dedicated to educating youth on important current and past events in this nation and around the world. Formed two years ago the club meets weekly to have in-depth discussions and work to make a difference in the Bigelow and Newton community. The club members that created this resource guide are Anna S., Alexis V.B., Eliza K., Maya M., and Rhiannon E. We encourage all students and families to review this document and to get involved.

The Resilience Project is an innovative school-and community-based initiative designed to promote the mental health and well-being of adolescents. It provides support to students, parents, educators, counselors and communities through collaboration with school personnel, customized educational programming and improved access to treatment resources.

Their Special Edition: Caring for the Caregivers is a trove of information to help parents, educators, healthcare professionals, counselors, social workers, first responders, and all those caring for their families and communities deal with uncertainty, stress, exhaustion and burnout.

Last Tuesday, January 12, the PTO sponsored a meeting with Superintendent David Fleishman and School Committee members Margaret Albright and Kathy Shields. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here. Passcode: ni%h43WA

Watch the Meeting

Join us on Tuesday, January 12, 7pm for our PTO meeting with Superintendent David Fleishman and School Committee members Margaret Albright and Kathy Shields.  They will talk briefly about district initiatives and then spend the majority of time answering your questions. We hope to see you there!

Zoom link HERE.

We are pleased to share with you a resource guide about Black Lives Matter made by members of the Bigelow World Issues and Politics Club. Check it out–it is loaded with ways for students and adults to make a difference.

The World Issues and Politics Club is a student led club dedicated to educating youth on important current and past events in this nation and around the world. Formed two years ago, the club meets weekly to have in-depth discussions and work to make a difference in the Bigelow and Newton community.

The club members that created this resource guide are Anna S., Alexis V.B., Eliza K., Maya M., and Rhiannon E. We encourage all students and families to review this document and to get involved.

Dear Newton Public Schools Families,

Earlier today, a group of over 50 physicians and scientists, all Newton residents and many with directly relevant specialties including infectious disease, pediatrics, pulmonology, emergency medicine, pediatric psychiatry and occupational medicine sent a letter to City Councilors, the School Committee, HHS Commissioner Youngblood, and Mayor Fuller urging the city to create a COVID / school reopening taskforce. We, along with these physicians and scientists, see this as the most viable path forward to resolving the issues that are halting a safe return of Newton students to their classrooms. Please click here to read for a copy of this letter.

In addition, Deborah Youngblood, HHS Commissioner, gave a public health update specifically related to schools at the City Council’s most recent Program and Services Meeting (Jan 6th). Commissioner Youngblood’s comments begin at the 1:15 mark. Click here for the NewTV broadcasts of that meeting.

As always if you find our updates helpful, we encourage you to forward to neighbors and friends. To be added to our mailing list, please email nps elementary families@gmail.com

Thank you for your support of NPS students!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding free lunches for all students for the 2020-21 school year. This means that any student in the Newton Public Schools is eligible for free lunch (and free breakfast where available.)

Students who are in school buildings through lunch (including K-2 who will now stay through lunch) can simply ask for the meal on the menu for that day and the meal will be provided to them free of charge.

Students in the Distance Learning Academy, or remote learners at the middle and high schools, can access free meals here:

Location: Newton North High School (theater entrance) and Newton South High School

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

We encourage you to take advantage of this free meal service in our schools.

Thank you and welcome back to school!

Sincerely,

Newton Public Schools Food Service

All Bigelow families are invited to join us on Zoom for Bigelow Virtual Team Trivia Night on Friday, January 29, 2021!

Emceed by trivia host James Marohn (gameswithjames.net), you’ll be challenged with dozens of questions in a variety of general knowledge categories (including The Office, of course). Lots of visual clues and audio clips. You’ll be put on a team with other families, and compete against other teams for the title of “Bigelow Trivia Champs”! Save the date and plan to be part of this night of friendly competition with your classmates and neighbors!

And please get your take out from Blue Ribbon BBQ that night and mention you are a Bigelow family. 20% of all proceeds will be donated to the PTO so it will be a finger licking good night all around!

Stay tuned for more details.