Category Archives: From the PTO

Teachers and Staff Appreciation Luncheon 2021

Dear Bigelow parents,

We wanted to send a sincere thank you for your contributions towards making Thursday’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon a success. We were hoping we would be able to offer them a beautiful and bountiful dessert table and WE DID! There was so much to choose from and a wonderful variety. In addition, the decor items all worked perfectly to inject a bit of springtime hopefulness into the day.
What added even more to the fun was that Bigelow had “pajama day”, so all the teachers were in comfy PJs and robes!
Thank you again for your contributions!!
Best,
Susan St. Pierre, Karen Yee, and Charlene Gillespie

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Family Friendly FORJ Live ZOOM Concert February 17th

In honor of Black History Month, FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) is inviting Grammy award-winning children’s performer Dan Zanes and Haitian-American music therapist/jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes for a family-friendly FORJ event.
FEBRUARY 17th, from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION with Dan and Claudia Zane

Dan and Claudia perform songs in folk tradition, with a focus on community, hope, and light.  They plant the seeds for families to have discussions about race, and their music introduces kids to important leaders like John Lewis.   They focus on progress and inclusion and all of their concerts sensory-friendly.
When a national state of emergency was declared in March 2020, Dan and Claudia started their Social Isolation Song Series. For 200 days, to stay connected and uplift others, they performed a different song every day. This series of videos is in the Library of Congress.
Dan and Claudia released an award-winning songbook entitled Dan Zanes’ House Party: A Family Roots Music Treasury in 2018.  In 2017 they were commissioned by the Kennedy Center commissioned Claudia and Dan to create a theater piece for young audiences which was called Night Train 57: A Sensory Friendly Comic Folk Opera.
To learn more, visit Dan and Claudia Zane’s website at https://www.danandclaudia.com/

ZOOM LINK WILL BE SENT OUT THE DAY OF THE EVENT!

Get into the Bigelow Spirit!

Attention all Bulldogs!!!

Next week, February 8th – February 12th will be a BIGELOW SPIRIT WEEK! Show your school spirit by dressing up for each day’s theme!

  • Monday – Mismatch “Wacky Wardrobe” Day 

Wear crazy patterns, layers, & more to create a wacky/mismatched outfit!

  • Tuesday – Sports Team Day 

Wear anything related to your favorite sport or team!

  • Wednesday – Hat Day 

Go wacky, cozy or stylish with your hat!

  • Thursday – Pajama Day (get cozy in your pjs!)

  • Friday – Bigelow Gear /Colors Day 

Wear anything that says “Bigelow” or wear our Bigelow colors purple, black and white to show school spirit!

We can’t wait to see your spirit: during both in-person and remote classes!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon 2021

Dear Bigelow Families,

We are in the final stretch before the Teacher and Staff Appreciation luncheon which is only four days away! We appreciate all the donations we have received so far.

One thing we are still really in need of, however, is desserts. We are looking for desserts packaged in single servings (as you would for a bake sale). Please consider making something… Or buying something and packaging it up… No one will know 😉

Please sign up to donate a dessert on our Google Spreadsheet.

Desserts and other decor items can be dropped off at the home of Charlene Gillespie (42 Waterston Rd) the evening before (Wednesday Feb 10th) or the morning of the luncheon (Thursday Feb 11th) before 10am. You are also welcome to bring them directly to Bigelow on Thursday the 11th by 10:30am. Please remember to put the desserts into individually wrapped portions.

Still want to donate money? It’s not too late, and we can definitely use it!

$10 $20 $50

$75 $100 $150

Many many thanks in advance!!

Susan St. Pierre, Karen Yee, and Charlene Gillespie

Questions? Email Susan at sestpierre@gmail.com

Spring Survey from Families Organizing For Racial Justice @ Bigelow

Bigelow FORJ is a school-based chapter of Newton’s Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ).(See more at www.forjnewton.com).  We are a group of devoted parents and faculty committed to raising anti-racist children who acknowledge the pervasiveness of oppression and marginalization.  We invite parents and children to engage in critical conversations that support questioning, interrogating, and dismantling of white supremacy, including anti-Blackness and all forms of racial injustice.

We were so excited to have many parents attend our discussion sessions in November (about having conversations about the book “New Kid” with your child).

Now we are looking to plan other activities that would be of interest for the rest of this school year. Please help us understand your interests and needs by completing this brief survey.  We would like your response by 2/5/21.

Thank you!

Bigelow FORJ

https://forms.gle/13jK17tah7gLGCVa9

Bigelow is participating in the 4C Tree Project

Bigelow will sponsor 3 trees to honor the memory of lives lost to COVID-19: one in the name of the Class of 2021, another in the name of the Class of 2022 and the third in the name of the Class of 2023, our current 8th, 7th and 6th grade classes.

The trees will be planted in the spring by the City of Newton. The locations have not been determined yet, but they will be in the school grounds or close by. The PTO has committed to take care of the trees for 2 years, making sure they get enough water, so they will grow strong to memorialize this year with life.

The 4C Tree Project (Capture Carbon Commemorate COVID-19 ) is spearheaded by Green Newton’s Environmental Youth Leadership Program. The goal is to demonstrate the resilience of our City through difficult times and its commitment to a healthy ecosystem.

Everyone can make a gift to help them plant trees in public spaces throughout Newton as memorials to loved ones lost and as reminders of the importance of caring for our world.

The PTO joined the project and we invite families to also participating in it by giving to create a sustainable memorial in Newton.

Sponsor a Tree

 

Bigelow Trivia Night was a lot of fun!!!

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.


Winter weather update for Tuesday and Friday

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.”

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon 2021

Many thanks to all of the families who have contributed to the teacher and staff appreciation luncheon! We are well on our way towards reaching our fundraising goal…. So thank you and please keep those donations coming!

 

Two questions have arisen that we’d like to address. First, if you are donating money, there is no need to add that to the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is just for dessert and decor donations (desserts still needed!!). Money donations can be made directly online using one of these links (the money amounts are links).

 

Second, if you’d like to donate by check, please mail it to Bigelow:
Bigelow PTO
42 Vernon St.
Newton, MA 02458
To donate desserts and decor items, please indicate on this google spreadsheet what you are willing to contribute and/or donate here
The luncheon will be on Thursday, Feb 11, from 11:30-12:30.

If you have any questions, please contact: sestpierre@gmail.com