Boys and Girls in K-5, come to learn about the Cub Scouts

You are invited to see if Cub Scouts would be a good fit for you and your family!
Cub Scouts is a worldwide program with deep history, created to help prepare our children for their future by teaching a variety of life skills including personal and civic responsibility, ethical and moral decision making, and goal setting and achievement.

This program is a wonderful way to bring together families–boys, girls, siblings, and parents/ caregivers, through structured activities which promote: confidence and self esteem building, good sportsmanship, environmental protection and outdoor skills. During the school year families will participate in a number of fun and educational experiences with games, speakers, field trips, and camping oriented activities.

Everyone meets as a large group on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, there is a monthly small group meeting tbd, and not quite monthly optional adventure. If you have questions, please email the Cubmaster, Rowell Levy at Cubmaster@cubscoutspack208.org

Tutoring available

A junior at Brown University majoring in Computer Science and Economics, Matt Siff has long had a passion for helping students with a wide-range of math tutoring needs including algebra, calculus and linear algebra.  He recently started a tutoring company called Next Door Tutors which specializes in tutoring for the ACT and SAT as well as nearly any high-school subject. All of their tutors have recently gone through the college-process with an average ACT score of a 35 and offer a structured tutoring program based on students’ individual needs.

Please feel free to call Matt at 617-610-8444 or email MyNextDoorTutors@gmail.com. See the website www.MyNextDoorTutors.com for more information.

New Menu App

Check out the new interactive menu app for school lunches. Write “Bigelow” or another Newton school on the research field and explore:

  • Find out about allergens and dietary restrictions and preferences
  • Check nutrition information, by clicking on the item name to view the ingredient statement
  • Print full weekly menus
  • Download the mobile app

Food Allergy: School cafeterias will maintain an allergen “right to know” station on every serving line, which includes a detailed listing of all of food products separated by allergen food categories. In addition, detailed ingredient information is available for freshly prepared menu items, as well as manufacturer labels for every pre-packaged item (i.e., snacks) through the foodservice director on site.

How PoPS supports the performing arts programs

In 2019, funds raised by the PoPS helped to support Bigelow performing arts programs, as well as the Bigelow community as a whole, thanks to improvements to the auditorium. The PoPS are still working with a surplus thanks to auditorium upgrades by NPS. Other performing arts items to be funded will be discussed throughout the school year. See meeting minutes for more information.

April 2019 – Spots!!

The PoPS funded the purchase of two new free standing spotlights to improve the stage lighting.

October 2019 – Instruments are safe with the PoPS!

80 locks were purchased for the Bigelow Arts Department to secure the instruments in the new lockers provided by NPS.

October 2019 – Let there be LIGHT!!

The new light board will be installed and an in-service will be paid for by the PoPS in the coming weeks. The tech crew is hoping the light will always shine brightly on our actors and musicians at Bigelow with the new house lights and now the improved stage lighting!

October 2019 – Making music real! 

The Pops will support a workshop and concert on October 18th by recording artist and songwriter Jean Rohe and her band. 7th and 8th grade chorus is singing her song “National Anthem: Arise! Arise!”. The opportunity to meet singers and songwriters brings music to life for the students in a unique way, we are pleased to support this venture! https://www.jeanrohe.com/

See pictures here.

Thursday: “Screenagers: The Next Chapter “

The Newton North and Newton South PTSOs are co-hosting a screening of the documentary Screenagers:The Next Chapter on October 10th at 7:00 PM in the Newton North Theater.  The film is about helping teens growing up in the digital age uncover skills for anxiety and stress management. A panel discussion will follow the film with experts from Newton Wellesley Hospital Pediatric Psychiatry and Newton High Schools counselors. All are welcome. 
More information: Screenagers: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience

Bigelow in the news: “If we want democracy to endure, shouldn’t we know something about it?”

Story from the Boston Globe, by Linda K. Wertheimer,October 1, 2019, 8:10 a.m.

Civics education in public schools has been on the wane for decades, and it shows. Here’s how Massachusetts is making it matter again.

It’s early September at Newton’s Bigelow Middle School, and a class of eighth-graders watch as the teacher sticks a blue slip of paper on a bulletin board. On the paper is the word “democracy.” The teacher, Andrew Swan, turns to them and asks, “What’s the opposite of democracy? What does it look like?”

The students stare at him — their silence gets awkward. A girl finally raises her hand and says: “Republican.” Swan shakes his head, and the girl and some classmates break into giggles. Swan smiles gently. He asks “What are you thinking of? Political parties?” The girl nods.

“This is democracy with a lowercase d,” Swan explains, in a classroom with posters on the back wall headlined “Periodic Table of the Constitution” and “Periodic Table of the Amendments.” It’s early in the semester, and there is a lot of ground to cover.

More on the Boston Globe. Or download PDF here.

MathCounts Competition – Bigelow Team

Do you enjoy solving math puzzles and testing your math skills?  Do you like Math Team and are looking for more challenges? Come try out for the 2020 Bigelow Mathcounts+ Team.  On Thursday October 3, 4:15-5:15pm in Room 209, we will host the Mathcounts Challenge, where you will test yourself against a challenging series of math problems. Top performers from the Challenge will be invited to join the team.  If you are invited and decide to join, your commitment involves a weekly practice (held on Sunday afternoons) in preparation for the regional competitions held in February as well as other related competitions. To learn more, see www.mathcounts.org/programs/competition-series.  You must register in advance for the Mathcounts Challenge, by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/i7HDxKjUobq6atFj6.  If you are interested in participating but cannot attend the event, please register anyhow to be considered as a potential alternate. 

Express your love for animals, kindness, and compassion by donating to the Animal Rescue League

From now to the end of November, Bigelow student Macy Goodwin is collecting items for the Boston and Dedham Animal Rescue League shelters. The ARL does not receive any government grants or public funding and relies solely on supporters to help animals in need. The shelters need items from gift cards, new and gently used towels, sheets or blankets, paper towels, chew toys, to dog poop bags and cat litter. To see a full list of items click https://www.arlboston.org/donate/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. You can either drop your donations at 56 West Boulevard Road, Newton MA 02459 or Macy and her family are happy to pick them up. Please email lenagoodwin@mac.com if you would like them to pick up the items. Macy is going to make four trips from now until the end of November to deliver the items to the Boston and Dedham shelters.