From NPS Health Services

As we return to school, Newton Public Schools families & staff are urged to take responsibility and do their part to help keep us all safe. Everyone is required to follow Governor Baker’s orders.

Massachusetts Travel Order requirements:

All visitors (even children) entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, from higher risk states must complete a Massachusetts Travel Form and quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Massachusetts or produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts. Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day.

• This order applies even “just for the day” for celebrations or a ski tip.
• Owning/renting a home in another state is NOT an exception.
• This order applies to all US states except Hawaii as of 2/8/21 – this can change. Check the website for a full, up-to-date, list of COVID risk designation per state at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#lower-risk-states-
• If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arriving in Massachusetts, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
• Children age 10 and younger who travel must follow the quarantine or testing plan their parent elects (testing option or 10-day quarantine option). Testing for children, 10 years and younger, who are traveling with an adult from their household is not required.
• Individuals who are COVID-19-recovered, meaning individuals who tested positive more than 10 days but less than 90 days ago and who do not have symptoms, do not need to obtain a negative PCR test prior to traveling to, or quarantine upon arrival to, Massachusetts.  COVID-19 recovered individuals arriving in Massachusetts must have documentation of the positive PCR test result, including the date it was taken, available if asked. This exception does not include COVID-19-recovered individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19, who must follow all testing and quarantine guidance outlined in the travel rules.

Returning to school:

• If you traveled, you must have received your negative COVID-19 test results before returning to school. Or, for children 10 and younger, their parents have received negative PCR results, unless the whole family is quarantining for 10 days.
• Complete your Daily Health Assessment every morning and stay home to seek medical advice if you have any symptoms and inform your child’s School Nurse.
• Contact your child’s School Nurse if you have questions.

Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

From the Superintendent’s office

Dear Bigelow Families: 

The principal search process is officially underway. Attached is the presentation that was shared at the meeting.

I am very interested in gathering as much input as possible from the Bigelow community. To that end, I ask you to please complete the following online survey by March 1, 2021. As I mentioned at the parent meeting, the information gleaned from the surveys will not only be valuable during the search  process, but will be an excellent resource for the new principal.  

Please note that parents/guardians can participate in the search process as a member of the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC), and/or during the “finalist days” when the candidates will spend a good part of the day at Bigelow. The SAC will take into consideration the needs of the school and be advisory to me as I appoint the next principal. The primary responsibility of SAC members is to craft interview questions, interview candidates, and recommend semi-finalist candidates. If you are interested in participating in the SAC, you will need to be available on the dates listed below.  

• • March 3 – 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • March 10: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • March 12: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In addition to the SAC, parents/guardians may also volunteer to participate in small group interviews and larger meet and greets with the finalist candidates the mornings of March 24 and 25. Please notify the Bigelow PTO at Bigelowbulldogs@gmail.com if you are interested in participating in the SAC or the small group interviews. 

We are deeply committed to hiring an excellent leader for Bigelow and plan to devote significant time to this task in the coming weeks. I will be sure to keep you updated and look forward to working with the Bigelow Community as we begin this very important process. 

Sincerely, 

David Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools 

From the Superintendent’s Office

On Monday night, the School Committee reviewed the calendar for the 2021-22 school year. The calendar shows a late start date and a late end date for our school year next year. Newton is one of the few districts in which the first day of school is written into the teachers contract and therefore, any changes must be bargained. In our case, the first day of school for students is the day after Labor Day. However, this year, the day after Labor Day is the first day of Rosh Hashanah, a day in which school is not in session.

The NTA declined our request to make a one time exception to this provision and start the school year prior to Labor Day. As a result, the first day of school for the 2021-22 school year will be Thursday, September 9. This start date will also avoid starting school on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, which we know is observed by some of our staff and families. This means the last day for students will be June 22 with no snow days and June 29 with 5 snow days.

• View 2021-22 school year calendar here