Thursday: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon

The Bigelow Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon will be this Thursday, February 6th, in the Library.

It is a great way to take a moment to thank the amazing teachers and staff at Bigelow for all they do for our children. Bigelow families provide the food, beverages, plastic serving utensils and flowers for this event. Please, consider making a contribution to the luncheon, or help with set up and clean up.

We still need some volunteers and donations for this appreciation event.

To donate or volunteer please sign up HERE.

  • Please send in your favorite lunch food! Salads, sandwiches, entrees – whatever you think our wonderful teachers and staff will enjoy.
  • It is most helpful if items are brought in recyclable containers.
  • All items may be dropped off on the morning of the luncheon in the teacher’s lunchroom (in the library) or put in the refrigerator there.
  • Please drop off all items no later than 10:30 AM on Thursday. Note: if you intend to bring a hot item, you will need to bring it already heated and ready to serve as we do not have the ability to reheat at the school. In that case, you should bring the item closer to 11:15.
  • Items can also be dropped off at Susan St. Pierre’s home, 28 Ballard St., Newton, until 10 PM on the evening of February 5th.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Susan St. Pierre at sestpierre@gmail.com, Karen Yee (karenmdonahue@gmail.com), or Charlene Gillespie (chargillespie@gmail.com).

Thank you again for helping us show our appreciation for our teachers and staff.

Anti-idling signs are now posted around the school

This is a message from the Bigelow Green Team:

“Anti-idling signs are now posted around the school.  It is against the law to sit in a parked car with a running engine and it pollutes our air. Kids – tell your parents to turn their engines off while they wait for you!”

The Bigelow Green Team ordered anti-idling signs from the MassDEP Green Team in December and the signs were installed by the City on January 28th.

What is idling? It is when a driver leaves a vehicle running while parked. (And all the unhealthy fumes pollute the surrounding air).

More on idling at Newton Safe Routes to School.

More on car pollution and health:
BBC: VIDEO: How do you breathe less pollution on school run?
I Turn It Off: VIDEO: Vehicle Idling at Schools

Bigelow Green Team Presents to the School Committee

On Monday, Jan 13, the Bigelow Green Team went to the School Committee meeting and spoke about their initiatives and concerns.

“Thank you for listening about how we are trying to make Bigelow more sustainable and reduce Bigelow’s carbon and plastic footprints. Our team first organized in the spring of 2019, and we have already accomplished a lot.

We have ordered anti-idling parking signs from the state to be placed around our school, and they are getting posted soon! Bigelow now collects and recycles markers through Crayola’s ColorCycle program.  In October, we sent over 600 old markers to Crayola for recycling. We placed a paper only recycling bin in the copy room for teachers to better ensure the paper gets recycled. We are working with the custodial staff to solve the problem of incorrect items placed in the recycling bins, as these bins all get emptied into the trash. We are planning an Advisory Activity to better educate the Bigelow community about the choices they make and how this impacts our environment. We wrote a letter to Christine Flutie at Whitsons about our concerns.  We heard back with pretty discouraging news that none of our requests or ideas are being considered. It sounds like this is mostly due to cost issues.

Our first concern is that Meatless Mondays are full of meat! Today is supposed to be Meatless Monday, and sausages were served for lunch. More bottled water options seems to have INCREASED single-use plastic waste at Bigelow.  And plastic utensils are still offered at each meal. We have not seen the reusable food containers that Whitsons promised, and also they have added even more plastic containers to some of the lunches. For example, burgers used to have a wrapper, and now sometimes they are placed in wrappers and then inside a plastic box too.

Thank you for listening to our initiatives and concerns.”

See presentation here: Bigelow Green Team 1_13_20

School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 1/13/2020 Newton School Committee meeting:

Special Meeting – SC Members OML Training

  • School Committee Training conducted by members of the City of Newton Law Department on the Open Meeting Law.

Superintendent Update

  • We have reached the halfway point of the school year.
  • NPS students shined at the annual MLK Day Celebration.
  • The Governor just unveiled the state’s budget, which includes 355 million dollars for education.  The newly implemented Student Opportunity Act resulted in approximately 85% of those funds going to 35% of the districts.  State aid to NPS was $787,000.
  • Mayor Fuller pointed out that Newton received less than our anticipated state aid (an approximately $400,000 differential) and that the City of Newton was absorbing the difference.
  • The Massachusetts Senate and House still need to deliberate so there is a chance these numbers will change.

Discussions/Updates

  • Enrollment Planning and Class Size Report:  Presented by Liam Hurley, Assistant Superintendent/ Chief Financial & Administrative Officer and Katy Hogue, District Student Data Manager.
    • The purpose of this report is to:
      • Support enrollment planning for the upcoming school year.
      • Highlight capacity concerns & opportunities in next 5 years.
      • Guide use of resources in budget process.
      • Guide long-range planning
    • Highlights of the presentation included:
    • Elementary School:
      • Average class size down.
      • Percent of classes with 25 or more students is down (2%).
      • 5-year enrollment projections to decrease by 277 students.
    • Middle School:
      • Large grade cohorts arrive and move on to high school in next 5 years.
        • Projected # of teams increase next year, remain stable and then decrease in FY24 and FY25.
    • High School:
      • Both schools projected over 2,100 students over the next 5 years.
      • Enrollment to stay elevated until larger cohorts start graduating in 2026-27.
  • Literature and Diversity Update: Presented by Mary Eich, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, Brian Baron, Newton South High School English Department Head, Melissa Dilworth, Newton North High School English Department Head, Eileen Keane, Library Media Coordinator K-12, Deana Lew, Elementary Literacy Coordinator, Joelle Pedersen, Middle School Literacy Coordinator.
    • Goals:
      • Students will have reading experiences that reflect multiple identities and life experiences.
      • Students will read texts that are written by authors of diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
      • Students will have the skills to analyze and critique traditional (canonical) literature from multiple perspectives.
    • Elementary: Work being done to retrofit and upgrade classroom libraries and bookrooms.
    • Middle: Gaps exist in the curriculum related to Asian American experience, Latinx experience, immigration, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA issues, Black experience treated from a largely historical perspective, and a major gap in linguistic diversity.
    • High School: Work being done to add titles that counter dominant narratives, increase financial support for professional development, enhance culturally responsive teaching and recruit diverse teaching staff.

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting
On Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00PM the School Committee will meet in regular session.  We will receive an update on district-wide goals and discuss the 1:1 Chromebook Initiative.

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org.  On the district Facebook page, you can find videos of past “Virtual Office Hours,” which are held once a month and provide the community with the opportunity to ask questions through the FB Live format.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

Grade 6 CAS Presentation: Greg Mone on the Writing Process

On Tuesday, 02/04/2020, author Greg Mone will be talking to 6th grade classes about the Writing Process. This program is supported by the PTO thanks to your donations!

Mr. Mone is the author of four published novels and scientific articles for magazines including Popular Science, Atlantic Monthly, Wired and Scientific American. He adapted The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown, for young readers, and recently co-wrote three books in The Science Guy series with Bill Nye, The Science Guy.

Mone’s large-group presentation is designed to entertain, educate and inspire, and begins with a focus on science and technology journalism before turning to fiction. Utilizing a variety of visual components, he takes students through the entire process of writing a book, from the initial idea through the planning, creative writing, and revisions, to the finished work. He stresses the importance of becoming an expert in whatever subject you write about, whether it’s brain surgery, flying cars, surfing, or family history.

“Fantastic. So engaging. He really knew how to grab 10-11 year olds… Great lesson in explaining the importance of planning, editing, and revising.” — Hingham, MA, Elementary School

Traffic at Bigelow: The safety of our children is paramount

From the Bigelow Parent Handbook, p. 33

Bigelow Middle School is located on a busy corner.  Please use extra caution when dropping-off and picking-up children by car at the school.  Drive slowly and yield to pedestrians. Do not use your phone while driving. The safety of our children is paramount!

We encourage students to walk or ride a bike to school. 

When transporting children to and from the school by automobile, it is important to obey all traffic signs and parking regulations in the area.  In particular:

  • Please drop-off students in the Blue Zone on the right hand side of Park St, and please pick up students after school on Park St.  Please pull over to the curb and pull as far forward as possible along Park Street. Drivers should not leave their vehicles.
  • Please turn the car engine off. Idling is against the law and car fumes are bad for kids health. Turning the engine off can reduce children’s exposure to pollutants, save money, help the environment, and avoid a fine.
  • Please do NOT park on the left hand side of Park Street to pick-up or drop-off.  It is marked “No Parking.”
  • Please do NOT stop in the middle of the street to drop-off or pick-up students.  This blocks the flow of traffic and is unsafe.
  • Please do NOT block the entrance to driveways or parking lots.  Be respectful of our neighbors’ property and access.
  • Please do NOT park and leave your vehicle in the designated bus pick-up zone on Vernon St.
  • Please respect the speed limits posted in the school zone.
  • Please park in the handicapped parking spots in front of the school only if you have handicapped tags.
  • Please inform all family members and caregivers who pick-up or drop-off children at Bigelow of these procedures.

Park & Walk map provided by Newton Public Schools.

Share the Road: Safety Reminders from Newton Safe Routes to School

Newton Safe Routes to School reminds families that pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. All of our schools have high traffic volume in the morning and most children are pedestrians for part of their route to school, whether they walk from home, walk over from a nearby street (Park & Walk maps), walk to the bus stop, or walk from the Blue Zone.

The following guidelines are adapted from the National Safety Council. However your children get to school, put your phone down please and pay attention. #ShareTheRoad.

Sharing the Road with Young Pedestrians

  • Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard in a crosswalk or intersection.
  • Sometimes young children need more time to cross the intersection than the light allows.
  • Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
  • Do not pull into driveways to turn around, especially near schools. You may not see a child on the sidewalk approaching on bike or on foot.
  • Be extra cautious when backing up.
  • Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas. School Zone speed limits are 20 mph.
  • Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
  • Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way

Sharing the Road with School Buses

  • If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the lights start flashing.
  • It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
  • Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children
  • If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
  • Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks

Sharing the Road with Bicyclists

On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be hard to see. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because usually they are not able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist.

  • When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist.
  • When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.
  • If you’re turning right and a bicyclists is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals.
  • Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this.
  • Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
  • Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.
  • Check side mirrors before opening any door.

Reminders for Pedestrians

  • Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
  • Follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals.
  • Cross streets at crosswalks.
  • If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic.
  • Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles and wait until they wave you through.
  • Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing headphones or earbuds.
  • Wear bright and/or reflective clothing, and use a flashlight at night.
  • Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up.

Newton residents featured in plays at Watertown Children’s Theatre

Newton residents are featured in Twelfth Night and She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition presented by Watertown Children’s Theatre this winter in the Black Box at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. This pairing of a contemporary favorite and a timeless classic will share the same stage and set, and they invite audiences to join us for both weekends.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare features a 6th – 9th grade cast including Newton residents Kaiden Reitz, Sawyer Reitz, and Maya Ullman performing the comedic classic in which love makes fools of us all.

January 31st  and February 1st, 7:00 pm and February 2nd, 1:00 pm

She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition by Qui Nguyen features a 9th – 12th grade cast including Newton resident Sandra Colangelo in this blend of contemporary family relationships and fantastical imaginary journeys. NOTE: This production contains mature content and may not be appropriate for all audience members.

February 7th and 8th, 7:00 pm and February 9th, 1:00 pm

All productions in the Black Box Theater, Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street Watertown

For more information, visit WCT’s website at www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or call 617-926-ARTS.Tickets, $14.00 each, are available on www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or www.mosesianarts.org.

Avenue Q Auditions Open to Grade 8!

Watertown Children’s Theatre Spring Black Box Musical auditions are now open to students in Grades 8-12!

WCT performers will transport audiences to the streets of New York City in this silly, feel-good musical! Participants will be challenged with unique characters, puppetry, and toe-tapping musical numbers, all while telling the universal story of friends struggling through young adulthood and trying to find their purpose in life. This adaptation retains the intent, humor, and sound of the original production while offering changes to make it appropriate for teen performers. Please note this is an audition based program.

To schedule an audition, please email production.wct@mosesianarts.org. For the audition, please prepare one 16-32 bar section of a contemporary musical theatre ballad of your choice, AND prepare one 16-32 bar section of a song from the list that will be sent to you upon requesting an audition slot. Additionally, you may be asked to do a cold reading from the script. Please bring your performance resume and headshot (optional) to the audition.

Auditions/Callbacks by appointment only:
February 10th, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
February 12th, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
February 13th, 6:30 – 9:00 pm