We had a great evening of Trivia, BBQ and fun last Friday! 23 families joined the games along with Mr. Harrison, Mr. Mogenson, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Fitzgerald and Ms. Mercado, competing in 8 teams: A Trivial Pursuit, Game Stop – Won’t Stop!, Send it to Zoom-02134, Smallehigh, The Bigelow Teabags, The Burnt Ends, Monkeys in the Room, You’re on Mute, and Pharaohs’ Slaves.

We thank James Marohn, who is a fantastic host, and came up with great questions about history, music, pop culture, Newton, Bigelow and, of course, The Office! Did you know that Mr. Harrison was Mr. Leone’s and Ms. Cavicchio’s social studies teacher before becoming Bigelow’s principal?  And that Mayor Warren went to Bigelow? I guess you don’t know what was Dwight’s nickname for Angela, though.

Thanks to an impeccable run, first prize went to the Game Stop – Won’t Stop!, the Bigelow teachers’ team. They schooled us!!!! We hope the market doesn’t crash on Monday.

Second and third places went to teams Send it to Zoom, 02134 and Monkeys in the Room. The Bigelow Teabags got a prize for their Bigelow spirit!

The night was completed with yummy food from Blue Ribbon BBQ. If you did not have a chance to order on Friday, or would like to order again, they will give the PTO  20% off all restaurant orders and 10% on the catering and At Home Cookin, if you mention Bigelow. Orders are being accepted for the Super Bowl! More information here.

From the Superintendent’s Office: 

“If we need to close on Tuesday for in-person learning, we will have a traditional snow day. If we need to cancel in-person learning on Wednesday, we will have a fully remote-learning day. The buildings will be closed, and all students will access their learning virtually.”

From the Superintendent’s office: 

Dear Bigelow Families,

As you are aware, Todd Harrison is retiring at the end of the school year after 25 years of distinguished service at Bigelow, 17 of which have been as principal. I know that Todd has cherished his time at Bigelow and his passion for the job remains unwavering. He is deeply committed to ensuring that the school focuses on both the academic and social and emotional needs of students, and that commitment has continued during this incredibly challenging year. Todd’s positive and engaging style has been a constant source of comfort for generations of Bigelow students and families.

It is now time to begin a search for a new principal for Bigelow. Selecting a principal is one of the most critical decisions made by a superintendent. Principals are expected to provide excellent educational leadership, establish a positive school culture, and manage the daily operation of the building. Since the principal’s position impacts the entire school community, it is important that the process provide an opportunity to solicit feedback from a range of stakeholders, including parents/guardians and families. The principal search process that we are about to enter will include opportunities for parents to provide input, serve on a Selection Advisory Committee (SAC), and meet finalists as they visit the school.

Please join me on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. for a discussion on the principal search. I will review the process and timeline for selecting a principal and explain how you may be directly involved in the search process.

Zoom Link:  https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/88617955842?pwd=dkQrTktRQjlPZVRWZ2NzcFJtRFRoZz09

I look forward to working with you to secure an excellent new leader for Bigelow.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman

Superintendent of Schools

The chromebooks for 8th graders have finally arrived! Devices and recharging cords were distributed to cohort B students on Friday and will be given on Monday morning to cohort A students.

Parents of distance students may come to the main office at  Bigelow anytime, 8:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday to pick up their 8th grader’s device and recharging cords beginning next Monday, Feb. 1.

Each student has been assigned a device and will be given one unless they already received one this year. We strongly recommend that students use their new school-issued chromebook when in school.  Our IT department can only support school issued laptops.  They are not able to troubleshoot personal laptops that have problems.

Please see the Chromebook Use and Care Quick Reference which includes information on connecting the device to your home wireless network. All students should have their own personal headphones with a built-in microphone. An earbud/microphone set is recommended.

Also linked is the Secondary Acceptable Use Guideline Poster that we share with students every year. Please review it with your child before using the device. We expect the laptop to be used for school-related purposes.

Students should charge their device every night, and bring it along with their recharging cord and headphone/microphone set to and from school every day that they attend in-person classes. The laptop and related equipment should be safely carried in a backpack. We recommend that you get a case for it. Students are responsible for its safekeeping, and should never leave it unattended in an unsecure location.

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.