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TONIGHT: Meetings for parents on the new distance learning plan at Bigelow that begins Monday, April 6. Norms for this large gathering: Video Conferencing Etiquette

Sunday, April 5, 7:00-8:00pm
Clusters 6A, 6B, and 7C: meet.google.com/tvr-fvqo-vny

Sunday, April 5, 8:15-9:15pm 
Clusters 7D, 8E, and 8F:  meet.google.com/vka-imwh-heg

Materials that I will be presented tonight:

• Overview&Goals for Parents PPT
• Bigelow 3.0 for Students PPT
• NPS Distance Learning Plan

Please record any questions you have after the meeting in the Bigelow Parent Meeting Parking Lot, and you will receive a response emailed to you: Parent Meeting Parking Lot

Tonight’s sessions are for parents only. Students will view “Mr Harrison’s Message,” a 3-part screencast of the student powerpoint, on Monday morning.

Dear Parents,

I hope you and your family are doing well. We are now ready to launch Bigelow version 3.0!  This version of online schooling is complete with a schedule of directed learning activities and daily office hours. Thank you for your patience as we built this new version from scratch.

I invite all parents to a meeting on google.meet on, Sunday, April 5, to learn more about this new distance learning plan. There are two sessions:

• Sunday, April 5, 7:00pm: Clusters 6A, 6B, and 7C: meet.google.com/tvr-fvqo-vny
• Sunday, April 5, 8:15pm: Clusters 7D, 8E, and 8F:  meet.google.com/vka-imwh-heg

Both sessions will cover the same material.  I will do a screencast with some background information about the plan, and then share with you a 3 part “Mr. Harrison’s Message.” This three part screencast and a follow-up survey will be emailed to all students on Monday morning for their viewing.

If you can’t attend your cluster’s meeting time, you may join another time.  We are trying to balance the size of the meetings as much as possible.  Due to size limits, this session is for parents only.  Students will view “Mr Harrison’s Message” on Monday morning.

Please mute your microphone when you join the google.meeting and enter all questions in the chat list.  After the screencasts are shown, Assistant Principals Courtney Rau-Rogers and Lucas Mogensen will moderate the chat list and ask your questions aloud for all to hear. In addition, we will record the meeting, and post it on the Bigelow website afterwards.

In the spirit of growth mindset, the plan is not perfect yet. There will inevitably be some bumps along the way as we get technology and pedagogy to sync.  Nevertheless, we are moving onward–Bigelow 3.0 or bust! Hope you can virtually join me tomorrow evening.

Best regards,

Todd

Dear Eighth Grade Parents,

I  am reaching out to you with an update regarding our New York City trip with EF in June.  In response to health concerns there and everywhere, we  are NOT going on this field trip as originally planned. Thank you for your patience while we worked out the best refund options possible for you. The options provided by EF Explore America are the following:

1. Receive a Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid to EF, including non-refundable fees such as the program fee and insurance. Travel vouchers may be used to travel on any EF Tours or Language Schools program through September 30, 2022.  They are transferable at the face value of the voucher to  an immediate family member or through a private transaction with another traveler at Bigelow in the future at no extra cost. You can learn more about Future Travel Voucher redemption options and review Future Travel Voucher FAQs to answer your immediate questions. When we plan the trip again next year, as we expect to do, you may re-sell this voucher to another Bigelow family.
2. Or you may redeem this voucher for a cash refund of all monies paid less 25% of the Program Fee ($174.75). You have until September 29, 2022 to make a decision of whether you want to redeem the voucher for cash, so EF encourages you to wait and see. It usually takes at least 4 weeks to receive the refund.

You will not need to call the EF Traveler Support line to receive your voucher or refund; you will receive an email from them with your electronic voucher,  including instructions should you opt to cash it in for a refund.

This same information will be live on your EF Explore America online account if you log in at www.efexploreamerica.com/login. Please note: the website will reference a cancellation fee of $250 instead of the $174.75.  That is just due to the fact that EF’s cancellation policy terms changed for groups who had to cancel due to COVID-19.

Believe me, this was a disappointing decision to make. I am sorry the 8th graders will miss this opportunity at this time in their lives.  But of course, keeping them healthy and safe is more important.  These are extraordinary times. I appreciate your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we’ve worked through this with EF.

Best regards, Todd

Video Message from Nurse Schy

Nurse Petry and I have been working hard at our attempt at virtual communication with your children.  We’ve missed them all and would love to check-in with them in person.  We’ve created two chat rooms on Wednesday and Thursday starting April 8 for them to come to us with a question, a comment, or just to say hello. We’ll be there at the appointed time waiting for them.  Parents, if you have a specific question or concern, please either call or text Sue at (617) 564-1008, email her, or request a private chat.

Keep washing those hands and I hope to see you all soon.

Nurse Schy: schys@newton.k12.ma.us

Dear NPS Families,

[In this message] you will find details of our distance-learning plan, which will move into its next phase on Monday, April 6th. We know that our families have been anxious for a more structured schedule that re-engages students in learning, reconnects them to their school community, and provides clear direction and support. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we have embarked upon the challenge of moving a large organization centered upon in-person connection to a distance learning environment.  Continue reading….

• NPS Student Gmail Activation
• Distance learning plan in English.
• Spanish Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Portuguese Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Chinese Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Korean Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Japanese Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Russian Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20
• Hebrew Translation – Email to Families – Distance Learning Plan – 4.2.20

Translated versions are provided through Google Translate and may contain awkward phrasing and structure.