NPS’s Virtual SPACE Camp is a four week enrichment program specifically designed to enable campers to explore, learn, and connect with their peers under the guidance of highly qualified educators. Our staff is excited and motivated to be working with small groups of campers and provide them with engaging and enriching activities. Learn more about this year’s Virtual SPACE Camp here!
Online Auction is Reopened for an Extra Week!
Last chance to bid or donate! Since we have a few unsold items from the auction, we decided to reopen online bidding until Friday, June 5 at 11:59pm. Just go to the Auction Catalog and bid!
If you had the winning bid for any items last week and did not receive it yet, please contact Online Auction co-chairs Cheryl Abramson or Alexia Giannakopoulos to arrange a drop off or pick up. Thanks!
And please support our donors and thank you to our sponsors!
Join us as we prepare for next year!
Please join us on Tuesday, June 2, at 7pm, as Mr. Harrison updates the community about this school year and as the PTO prepares for next.
On a virtual meeting (link here), we will vote on the proposed slate Board slate and budget. All are invited to attend, including parents and guardians of rising 6th graders.
Please review the proposed slate with the names of parents who have already volunteered. If you are interested in joining us as we work for our students and our community, please take a look at the roles we want to fill. and email us: bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.
Hope to “see” you all there!
Proposed slate for 2020-2021 PTO Board
Please review the proposed slate for the 2020-2021 school year that will be presented for a vote at the Annual PTO meeting, Tuesday, June 2nd at 7pm. Board members are approved at the Annual Meeting via a vote of present PTO members. Committee chairs are appointed (not subject to vote).
If you are interested in joining the board in any capacity – sharing an executive position or chairing a committee – please contact us @ bigelowbulldog@gmail.com. We are always grateful for parents and guardians who volunteer their time and really make a difference for the PTO!
Executive Board
President – Karen Markson
Vice-President – Joana Canedo
Treasurer – Linda Gillespie
Secretary – Vicki Spetter
Committee Chairs
Directory – Megan Flynn and Gabriela Kroszynski
Communications – Gwen Hautefeuille
CAS – Caryn Izhar
Big Night – Cheryl Abramson and Alexia Giannakopoulos
PoPS Liaison – Krista Chavez
Volunteers Needed! Outdoors! Socially Distant!
Volunteers are needed at the Newton Farmer’s Market to help make the markets safe and enjoyable this year. Can you lend a hand? Volunteers are needed for the following roles:
- Count customers as they enter and exit the market.
- Guide customers as they move through the market.
- Make certain shoppers are following physical distancing guidelines.
- Assist with curbside pick-up.
- Assist farmers when needed.
- Interactions with customers will be contact-free and appropriate physical distance will be maintained at all times.
To volunteer, please contact Judy Dore at jdore@newtonma.gov
Both the Tuesday and Saturday markets are moving to Newton South High School!
Saturday market opens June 20th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Tuesday market opens June 30th, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Free story program
EveryBody Signs is offering a free story program: BOOKS for BREAKFAST! Come once, or come every time! Bring your family, invite your friends.
It’s by Zoom, so they’ll send the link when you email everybodysigns@gmail.com
See the flyer here and check out the vlog about it here, in ASL with captions
https://www.facebook.com/1131154270/posts/10221119992286039/?d=n
May 31st – June 28th, 9:00 – 9:30 am
News from the Newton Free Library
On the heels of Governor Baker’s state-wide reopening dates, the Newton Free Library is carefully planning a phased reopening that is uniquely tailored to the large and active public library. They’re developing new work processes and will be rolling out a limited array of library services to the community in the coming weeks. While extremely eager to restore library services, this will be a gradual process because they are committed to your safety and the safety of their dedicated staff.
Virtual programming will continue for some time. Registration is required for all virtual events, please click the title to link to view the full program description and registration information.
Love the Children’s Programming? Sign up here for the NEW Children’s Program Email!
Tween/Teen Event Highlights:
- Virtual Anime Movie: Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. Missing anime club or movies with your friends? Join for a virtual anime movie! You’ll be watching NiNoKuni (2019). Runtime 106 minutes. Grades 5-12.
- Zoom & Make: Crochet Basics: Every other Thursday at 5:00 pm. Learn to crochet a nifty washcloth or dishcloth you can use or give away! You’ll learn the basics of crochet and create a useful first project. You can try out the easy-to-follow pattern beforehand and join us in the Zoom class to work out any problems and chat! Grades 5-12.
- Virtual Teen Area: Saturdays at 3:00 pm theTeen Area goes virtual! Use this time to be together at home, ask questions, play games, complete challenges, and craft! This is a librarian-moderated Zoom program hosted for tweens and teens in grades 5-12.
Wait there’s more! Don’t miss our continuing programming for
Adults:
- Tech Time appointments: Need help with your device or to borrow ebooks from the library? Book a session to have a librarian help you over the phone. Appointments available Monday-Friday.
- Tele-Librarian: You’ve got questions, they’ve got answers! Sign up for an appointment for a librarian to assist you with a research-related question.
- Weekly Short Story Discussion Group: Join each Wednesday for a discussion of 2 different short stories.
- Curious Eats Cooking Blog Club: Do you like cooking and blogs? Combine those two interests and come talk to other people who enjoy those things. You’ll share photos of the dishes you’ve cooked each week from a chosen food blog.
Tween/Teen:
- Magic The Gathering: Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. Interested in finding a meet up to play Magic: The Gathering after school? We’ve found just the place: Zoom! Moderated by a local Newton South student, please download Magic the Gathering Arena. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link. (For grades 5-12)
- Star Wars Escape Room: available anytime. BB-8’s missing! Try to find him before Kylo Ren gets to him and is able to download the map to find out where Luke Skywalker is! May the force be with you. (For all ages)
Learn about helping kids manage anxiety
Newton Public Schools Student Services, in partnership with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), is hosting a webinar about helping our children manage any anxiety resulting from school closures. For details please see the attached flyer.
June 4th, 7:00 pm
On Zoom
Computer Science concepts for kids
Hey Newtonians! If you’re looking for a new activity for your kid aged 10-15, Ethan Kopf teaches coding with the Swift programming language over Zoom. His lessons are one-on-one and he teaches computer science concepts through small games and projects. As a recent graduate of Newton South High School’s class of 2020, Ethan has taken a bunch of computer science classes there and plans to study CS next year at Yale University. If you’re interested, please email ethan.kopf@yale.edu.
On-line tutoring available this summer
Experienced tutor available this summer! Haralie Alpert, retired from the Wellesley Public Schools, lives and tutors in Newton. Haralie works with K-5th grade students in reading, writing and math and can make remote learning fun, engaging and a great learning experience!
Please contact Haralie Alpert, M.Ed., MS at haralie@gmail.com or 617-630-0608.