A Sweet Treat to our 8th Graders

A present for the Class of 2020 students from Bigelow teachers.
The teachers asked the PTO board if we could give the eight grade students a special present. It was unanimously approved. Every eighth grader will receive a $10 Cabot’s Ice Cream gift certificate and a Bigelow Class of 2020 sticker. Look for these in the envelope your child will receive from the school.

Thank you for a very successful Online Auction!

On behalf of the PTO and the Bigelow Auction committee, we’d like to extend our sincere THANKS for your support, charitable donations, and sponsorships to our first ever Bigelow Online Auction.

We raised over $12,000! You are amazing and all children at Bigelow will benefit from your generosity. Monies raised are the primary source of funding for all grades for curriculum enriching programs, scholarships for students to attend field trips, special events and classroom supplies.

We hope we can be together next year to celebrate Big Night 2021.

Please contact Auction co-chairs Cheryl Abramson (cherylzabramson@gmail.com) or Alexia Giannakopoulos (alexiag5@yahoo.com)  if you have questions regarding the items you won.

One School, One Book at Bigelow – Summer 2020

This summer the Bigelow Community will read New Kid, by Jerry Craft. Grade 6 & 7 students will receive the book when getting their belongings in the last week of school. The book should be read by students and parents over the summer. All Bigelow students will complete the same assignment for New Kid.  Click for a copy of the assignment.

New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

The goal of Bigelow’s One School, One Book Program is to create a more inclusive community through participation in a common reading experience as a whole school. Through discussion and advisory activities, staff and students will share a common experience of reading and learning together. Go to the One School, One Book page, on the Bigelow Library website, to learn more about the book and the program.

This program is supported by the Bigelow PTO thanks to our community’s generous donations.

From the Nurse’s office – Mental Health and Substance Use Resources

From the Health Office at Bigelow Middle School – 

During these unprecedented times, our schedules have been turned upside down, our lives have changed, and for many of us, coping with life’s new stressors can be challenging. Emergency personnel are responding to more mental health crises and more substance use-related issues. It is incredibly important during this time to check in with one another to make sure everyone has the support and resources they need. Remember it’s ok to reach out if you or someone you care about needs help. We are all in this together. And pay special attention to the most vulnerable among us – children, older adults, people with disabilities – and if you are worried, ask for help on their behalf.

Attached HERE are a few resources to keep handy, including an upcoming virtual suicide prevention training.

FORJ Meetings

If you are interested in joining the collective voice for racial justice, Newton has a strong coalition of Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), a group of diverse Newton families who seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.

Visit the FORJ website to signup for the newsletter and receive more information about upcoming meetings and events.

  • FORJ City-Wide Meeting: Symptoms of COVID-19 and Racism in our Community
    Wednesday, June 10th at 7:30-8:30
    Zoom password required please RSVP HERE

If you have any questions, please contact Bigelow FORJ representatives:
Madeline McNeely at madeline@conditioningleaders.com
Becca Schulman Havemeyer at beccaschulman@gmail.com

A word from the PTO Board in these unsettling times

We would like to take this moment of pain and injustice to remind our community of Bigelow PTO’s values:

  • We believe in supporting an environment that fosters respect for self and others.
  • We believe in a sense of responsibility for oneself and the community.
  • We believe in a love of learning.

There is no place for racism, hatred, or intolerance in the Bigelow community, or anywhere. We believe in the goodness of our students and school, and we believe in hope and the power to make change. That’s why we were inspired by President Obama’s call to “Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change.”

Here are some thoughtful messages sent by our school leaders and a poem by a Newton North student:

If you are interested in joining the collective voice for racial justice, Newton has a strong coalition of Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), a group of diverse Newton families who seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.

For anyone with kids (or soon to have kids) at Newton North:
NNHS FORJ Meeting:  Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 7 pm, with Principal Henry Turner (please click here to RSVP and receive Zoom meeting link).

For more information, please contact Bigelow FORJ representative: Madeline McNeely at madeline@conditioningleaders.com

There is Still Time to Honor Your Child’s Teacher and Support the Newton Schools Foundation!

If you are looking for a way to thank your children’s teachers and other school staff, please consider donating to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher campaign. NSF is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance educational excellence throughout Newton’s public schools. In recent weeks, NSF directed its resources toward the challenges of COVID-19 with a $85,500 grant for the NPS to purchase 300 Chromebooks for students needing access to online learning during school closures.

NSF will notify each teacher honored of your gift and share their names with Principals and the Superintendent. A list of honored teachers will appear on the NSF website and in the Newton TAB.

Look for a postcard in your mailbox – or donate online today on the NSF website (http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/honor-thy-teacher) where you can also find out more about the programs NSF funds. Or you can mail in a donation to: Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459. Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring.

Thank you for your support of Newton teachers and NSF!

Newton COVID-19 Care Fund Final: Deadline for Applications Friday, June 5

A wonderful partnership established the Newton COVID-19 Care Fund on March 20th as a short-term emergency fund to help families and individuals who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.After weeks of closely monitoring the fundraising, application submissions, and distribution of funds to people in need, the Fund has decided to close the application process for seeking assistance at the end of the day on Friday, June 5, 2020.

As a reminder, this fund serves all students enrolled in NPS, not just residents of Newton.

Need assistance? To apply to the fund, click here. All applications received by the deadline of Friday, June 5 will be considered. (If you have already applied and you have questions about your application status, please contact your individual Family ACCESS case worker or email NCFreferrals@familyaccess.org.)

The website for the Fund will remain active through June 30 to continue to accept donations to meet the needs of the final round of eligible applicants. Those involved with the Fund remain committed to monitoring closely the current crisis and are prepared to spring back into action if needed.