A message from Sue Schy, RN, MSN, Bigelow School Nurse

This has been a challenging year for everyone. Hopefully you and your family can take time this summer to relax and rejuvenate.

Here are a few health reminders:

• COVID-19 Vaccine: The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for people ages 12 and up. People 18 and older can get any currently authorized COVID-19 vaccine. You can find an available appointment at vaxfinder.mass.gov. You can find more information about COVID-19 vaccines here.
• COVID-19 Safety: Although most COVID-19-related restrictions have been lifted in the state of MA, some restrictions are still in place. Be sure to pay attention to the current COVID-19 mask requirements and travel recommendations. Individual businesses may also have their own COVID-19 measures in place. You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
• Medication Pick-up: Parents of students who have medication stored in the health room should pick it up by the last day of school, June 22. All medication (pills, epi-pens, inhalers, etc.) not picked up will be discarded. Please plan to pick medication up so it is not wasted! Medication may not be carried home by the student — it must be picked up by an adult. School nurses will not be available after June 22 to return medication to families.
• Medication Order Reminder: All medication orders expire at the end of the school year. If you are visiting your child’s health care provider during the summer, consider requesting a new medication order for your child. All medication, prescription or over the counter, requires an order by a health care provider. The Medication Permission Form and the Medication Policy are both available online at www.newtonma.gov/schoolhealth
• West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Lyme Disease Prevention:Take steps to avoid getting sick!

– Mosquito repellant not only works for mosquitoes but helps repel ticks as well. Use a repellant with DEET and follow label instructions for concentrations appropriate for children.
– Avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito hours, particularly once West Nile Virus has been detected in the mosquito population.
– Remove containers around your home (tires, kid pools, pots, tarps) that could allow mosquitoes to breed.
– Check your body for ticks after being outdoors and remove them immediately to avoid disease transmission.

• Shoo the flu! Influenza Vaccination
  Newton HHS has not yet finalized school-based flu clinic plans for Fall 2021 due to the pandemic. Families should take advantage of any opportunity they have to get their child a flu vaccine. Information about possible school-located flu clinics for the fall will be communicated once plans are confirmed.

Have a happy and healthy summer!

Dear Bigelow Families,

The PTO would like to invite you to an open house on Tuesday, June 22, 7-9 pm, at the home of Karen and Larry Markson, to celebrate our wonderful and beloved principal, Todd Harrison, who is retiring this year after 25 years at Bigelow. This will be a casual event open to you and your families so that you can come by and say thank you to Mr. Harrison for his years of dedication and devotion to the Bigelow community.

Feel free to stop by for as much time as you would like, whether it’s 10 minutes or the whole time! Light refreshments will be served and we will present our PTO gift to him.

The Markson home is at 150 Hunnewell Ave, Newton, MA 02458.

We hope you can join us!

The Bigelow PTO

We hope ALL 8th graders and families will join the celebrations for the Class of 2021!!! They sure deserve it!

• Step Up Day: Wednesday, June 16. More information here
• Class of 2021 “moving on” ceremony: Monday, June 21, outdoors in Burr Park.The tentative time of the ceremony is 9:00-10:15am. More information here.
• Afternoon Activities: Monday, June 21,  12:30-2:50pm. An afternoon of indoor and outdoor activities, such as yearbook signing, an 8E vs 8F “Turkey Bowl” flag football game, ping pong on the new tables purchased as a class gift by the PTO, and more.
• Cruise Celebration for Students: Monday, June 21 Boston Harbor on the Odyssey, from 6-9 pm. The PTO is organizing a special outing for 8th graders on a Boston Harbor cruise boat to cap off this special day. Dinner will be served and a DJ will provide music. Transportation to and from the wharf is parents’ responsibility; carpools are encouraged. 
  Here is all the information you need:  https://bigelowpto.org/2021/05/8th-grade-end-of-year-activities/
• 8th grade gift to the school: Class of 2021 gave 2 ping pong tables, along with balls and paddles, which will be used in the gym. They arrived at school this week. Photos to come!

Our goal is to make this a very memorable celebration for the class of 2021 and we look forward to seeing you soon! 

If you have last minute questions or concerns, please email Gabriela Kroszynski, 8th Grade Activities Chair.

Free meals are available to all Newton families through the summer. Pick up times and locations are as follows:

Locations: Newton North High School and Newton South High School

Days: Mondays and Wednesdays

Times: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

*Please note that summer holidays may impact service delivery.

USA Track and Field and Coach Tranchita from Newton North plan to hold open house clinics Friday nights at Newton North High School in July.  They will cover the basic events and give the athletes a chance to try the events. Download Flyer

Registration HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8da5WQpQL4GELPAjsC_kI9bzlyA_6tyS5tEgQj5MepKjeug/viewform

We are pleased to announce the PTO Board members for the 2021-2022 school year, voted at the Bigelow PTO Meeting, on Thursday, June 10th.

President – Gabriela Kroszynski
Vice President – May Chen
Treasurer – Linda Gillespie
Secretary – Sukanya Ghosh

Terms become effective September 1, 2021.

We still have open positions to fill!! If you would like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO, helping direct and manage the overall program for 2021/22, you are encouraged to join the board or one of the committees. Open positions: http://bigelowpto.org/pto-board-and-committees/

We are very grateful for our outgoing Board members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year.

Still accepting cash or checks. To order:

• Price: $25
• Label envelope: Yearbook, Student’s First & Last Name, Grade
• Check payable to: Bigelow Middle School
• Check memo: Student’s First & Last Name, Grade

Note: Yearbooks will arrive over the summer. More information about distribution of books to follow.

Fifth graders will be stepping up to Bigelow and eighth graders will be stepping up to NNHS on Wednesday, June 16. 

• All 6th and 7th graders will be dismissed at 11:00am to make the building and teachers available to greet fifth graders

• Eighth graders will eat lunch at 11:00am at Bigelow and then board buses for NNHS beginning at approximately 11:15am. 

• Eight graders will visit NNHS for an orientation program and then be dismissed from NNHS at 1:40. Step Up Day is designed to ease transition to high school by introducing students to the school building and to some of the people who teach and work there.  
  This year we are assigning groups of 12 students to a classroom where they will be greeted by Newton North faculty and student leaders who are prepared to welcome 8th graders to the high school and to answer any questions you might have. 
  

• Bus riders will board their usual buses (DD, QQ, BB, Boston) at NNHS.  There will also be one bus returning to Bigelow for students and staff who need to come back to the building by 2pm.   

   

Newton Summer Science Program is a free, virtual camp where qualified members of the Newton South Science Team teach middle school students. This year’s classes include the topics computer science, genetics, epidemiology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and engineering. We hope to provide students with a stepping stone into the complicated and innovative world of STEM and give them a wonderful summer experience!

This year, they hope to bring this program to middle school students inside and outside of the city of Newton with one week sessions July 5 to August 6.

NSSP Sign-Up: https://forms.gle/RmFDHoFXKERDkDsf8

NSSP Schedule:

Question? southscienceteam@gmail.com

Would your child like to join other students to explore different careers this summer? Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ)  along with METCO, Newton Public Schools, and the Boston Business Initiative are leading a unique Mentorship program led by NPS high schoolers to help our middle schoolers explore college and career paths. Meetings are weekly during the month of July. This is a great opportunity for our kids to learn and grow alongside Boston middle schoolers.