Category Archives: From the PTO

TONIGHT! Community NPS Budget Meeting: Thurs 3/27 @6:30pm

Newton Public Schools (NPS) is facing significant financial challenges for the 2025-26 school year. This slide deck provides an overview of the current situation.

TONIGHT, Thursday, March 27th, at 6:30pm NPS Superintendent Anna Nolin and School Committee Chair Chris Brezski are holding a community meeting to discuss the Superintendent’s proposed “Level Services Plus” budget and the implications of the “Cuts” budget (which meets the Mayor’s allocation for NPS). Chair Brezski will also share analysis of potential funding availability. There will be time for Q&A as well.

Community NPS Budget Meeting and Q&A
Thursday, March 27 at 6:30pm
Brown Middle School Auditorium
125 Meadowbrook Rd, Newton, MA 02459

Last call for hosts! TEN TABLES: Saturday, April 5th

Please consider hosting a small-group dinner for this fun, not-to-be-missed evening! If you have any questions or would like to host, please contact Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com by the end of the day TODAY, Thursday, March 27th so we can finalize dinner plans.

Bigelow PTO is excited to bring back the Ten Tables progressive dinner event on the evening of Saturday, April 5th! 

Hosts needed! We are thrilled to have an incredible appetizer party host and a number of wonderful dinner hosts, but we still need a few more dinner hosts.

Hosting a dinner does not need to be a big lift! 
Hosts provide guests (usually ~8-12) with food and beverages. Some hosts choose to cook the meal, some choose catering/takeout, and some do a combination, so please don’t be afraid to volunteer even if you’re not into cooking. For anyone new to hosting and thinking about it, we are happy to answer any questions and guide you through the process.

Please consider hosting a small-group dinner for this fun, not-to-be-missed evening! If you have any questions or would like to host, please contact Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com by the end of the day TODAY, Thursday, March 27th so we can finalize dinner plans.

Volunteers Needed! Bigelow “Tropical Twist” Dance + Social: Friday April 11th, 7-9 pm

Please Save the Date, Friday, April 11th, for Bigelow’s “Tropical Twist” Spring Dance + Social. This fun event will include games, pizza, and dancing!

Parents & Caregivers: We need volunteers to make this event a success! Please sign up to volunteer using this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UD0s2JhMjcyxhtQBluoMlV4SSo2de3wYIkrsOmucsEg/edit?usp=sharing

Panel with Dr Rick Weissbourd of Harvard University: April 1 @7pm at Newton North

The Rollercoaster of Parenting: Helping Your Teens Transition to Life after High School The Newton North High School (NNHS) PTSO invites Bigelow caregivers to an insightful panel discussion on April 1 at 7:00pm in the NNHS auditorium, sponsored by the NNHS PTSO, to explore how parents can help their teens manage stress and navigate this critical transition.

Parents play a vital role in guiding their teens as they prepare for life after high school.  But at this particular moment in time, that job can feel more overwhelming than ever. Parents and teens are subjected to an avalanche of information from social media, peers, and society at large regarding post-high school decisions. Some of these messages are helpful, but others can be stressful to the health and well-being of both our teens and ourselves. As parents, we strive to pave the way towards lives of meaning and purpose for our children. It is vital that we prepare ourselves with tools to navigate the ever-changing landscape of helping our teens plan for the future.

This panel will provide a unique blend of insights from the adults who work with our children combined with research-based advice from an expert in the field of teen development. The conversation will be moderated by a Newton North parent who brings expertise from both her personal and professional life.  

We invite you to join us for this important conversation. You will be sure to walk away with new insights, as well as important tools to help you (and your teen) navigate the exciting, but emotionally challenging, transition from High School to the next phase of life.

Moderator:
Julie Swinehart, CFO of Fenway Sports Group

Panel:

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Bigelow PTO Needs You!

Spring PTO events are in full swing! March kicked off with Bigelow’s Global Diversity Night, featured two great Creative Arts & Sciences Events for students (Brent Daniels and Elly Gotz) and will end with the “Treat Yo Self” Pop-Up appreciation event for our fabulous teachers and staff. Many more great Spring events are in store, including the Ten Tables Progressive Dinner on April 5th, FORJ Family Bowling Event on April 6th, “Tropical Twist” Spring Dance + Social for students on April 11th, Newton Serves / Bigelow Beautification on May 4th, and Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week luncheons May 5-9th.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Volunteer for the 2025-26 school year!
The Bigelow PTO Board is changing as students graduate to high school, and we’ll need help to continue the momentum we’ve been able to establish with all of these great events. We have 2 PTO Board parents moving on from Bigelow. Getting parents on board this year will be key to a smooth transition, and there is still a great network of parents that are supporting the PTO throughout the year. Please see the form HERE for more information and to express interest in leadership and other opportunities for participation. 

We work closely with our school leadership, teachers and school staff to give our students lots of educational and fun experiences all school year long. We hope you can join us!

You are Invited to TEN TABLES: Saturday, April 5th

Please join us on the evening of Saturday, April 5 for the return of Bigelow’s Ten Tables progressive dinner event!

Ten Tables is an ADULTS-ONLY evening, that you will not want to miss! This is not only a fun way to meet other families in the Bigelow community but also one of the largest school-wide fundraisers we have. Everyone will begin at the same location for appetizers at 6:30 p.m. Just before 8 p.m., you will be handed an envelope with the location of your dinner house. Dinners are small gatherings, ranging from 8 to 12 people. This is a great way to get to know other families that have kids in the same grades as yours.

Hosts Needed!
Would you like to host a dinner? We have a number of wonderful hosts already signed up, but we could use a couple more. Host families provide guests with food and beverages, usually around 8-12 people. Some families choose to cook the meal, some choose catering/takeout, and some do a combination, so please don’t be afraid to volunteer even if you’re not into cooking. For anyone new to hosting and thinking about it, we are happy to answer any questions. Themes from past years have included: A Trip to Tuscany, Land, Sea, and Bubbles, Greeking Out, Burger & Co., French Countryside, The Bar at Capitol Chill, Margaritas and Margheritas.  If you would like to host, please contact Kathy Shields at kburdetteshields@yahoo.com.

Would you like to attend Ten Tables as a guest? Please sign up and let us know you’re coming. Please complete this Google form and let us know about the size of your group and any dietary restrictions you have.

Donations Because Ten Tables is both a community-building and fundraising event, please consider making a donation to support the Bigelow PTO. The suggested donation is $50 per person, but all are welcome regardless of financial contributions. Donations (please designate “Ten Tables” in the note) can be made via:

  • Venmo @BigelowPTONewton
  • check payable to Bigelow PTO

Get your tickets now! Click here to RSVP & Donate!

6th Grade CAS Presentation: Brent Daniels

On Tuesday, March 18th, Bigelow 6th graders enjoyed a one-of-a-kind education and virtual entertainment experience with Brent Daniels – award-winning composer, producer, sound designer and recording artist who uses the latest in music technology to sculpt sound and create music!

Using a digital sampling keyboard workstation, master-level musicianship, and a blend of audience participation, high energy music, information and humor, Brent creates an exciting, one-of-a-kind performance representing the STEAM educational approach, combining (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics).

Music Technology with Brent Daniels shows students the important relationship between the technology they have in their classrooms and the creation of the music and sounds they hear on their iPods and on TV, in movies and video games. Student volunteers participate in the program to help Brent create unique on-the-spot sounds and by the end of the show, an original song. A passionate advocate for education, Brent uses his Music Technology program as a vehicle for delivering an important message woven into the program: how important a student’s education, great study habits and positive decision-making are for one’s success in life and any career.

You check out a video description of his program here.

Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) presentations are made possible by your generous donations to the PTO.

Save the Date! Panel with Dr Rick Weissbourd of Harvard University: April 1 at Newton North

The Rollercoaster of Parenting: Helping Your Teens Transition to Life after High School The Newton North High School (NNHS) PTSO invites Bigelow caregivers to an insightful panel discussion on April 1 at 7:00pm in the NNHS auditorium, sponsored by the NNHS PTSO, to explore how parents can help their teens manage stress and navigate this critical transition.

Parents play a vital role in guiding their teens as they prepare for life after high school.  But at this particular moment in time, that job can feel more overwhelming than ever. Parents and teens are subjected to an avalanche of information from social media, peers, and society at large regarding post-high school decisions. Some of these messages are helpful, but others can be stressful to the health and well-being of both our teens and ourselves. As parents, we strive to pave the way towards lives of meaning and purpose for our children. It is vital that we prepare ourselves with tools to navigate the ever-changing landscape of helping our teens plan for the future.

This panel will provide a unique blend of insights from the adults who work with our children combined with research-based advice from an expert in the field of teen development. The conversation will be moderated by a Newton North parent who brings expertise from both her personal and professional life.  

We invite you to join us for this important conversation. You will be sure to walk away with new insights, as well as important tools to help you (and your teen) navigate the exciting, but emotionally challenging, transition from High School to the next phase of life.

Moderator:
Julie Swinehart, CFO of Fenway Sports Group

Panel:

PLEASE RSVP HERE