8th Grade parent leaders needed for 8th Grade year-long activities! We need one or a few parents to step up and lead the way for our eighth graders to have a memorable year. There are already many parents willing to help, please consider leading the way. Contact Una Simmons (una@ethannet.com) , Karen Markson (kmarkson@gmail.com) or bigelowbulldog.com. More information HERE.
Bigelow needs you!
TEN Tables on November 2nd
A progressive dinner fundraiser for Parents. Appetizer Host, Dessert Host and Dinner Hosts & one Co-Chair are needed. Please contact Una Simmons una@ethannet.com for more info on this fun event.
Big Night on March 28th
Good at throwing a party? Great! Do you want to help throw Bigelow Big Night? This is our biggest fundraiser night of the year. Let’s talk! Contact Una Simmons for more information: una@ethannet.com.
Did you Know? – Morning Announcements
Did you know that Bigelow parents and guardians can read the Morning Announcements students hear every morning? That’s a way of knowing what their child heard about club meetings, sports practices, and all that’s going on in the school. Just access the “Morning Announcements” link on the right side bar of the Bigelow PTO website, below the Calendar.
Letter from the Superintendent
Dear NPS Families,
I write to you to share information on the precautions we are taking in the Newton Public Schools related to EEE and West Nile Virus. Newton remains a LOW risk community in the state for both EEE and WNV. Given the LOW risk level, the Newton Health and Human Services Department advises precautions as listed in the attached fact sheet.
NPS has taken the following actions given the elevated risk levels in other parts of the state:
- Outdoor field trips to locations in “high” or “critical” risk areas have been cancelled.
- Planned outdoor evening activities will be moved indoors if possible. If held outside, the Newton Health and Human Services Department advises wearing insect repellant and long sleeves/pants. (Parents/caregivers should apply/provide repellant.)
- At this time, the Newton Health and Human Services Department is not advising cancelling outdoor evening activities.
- At this time, outdoor activities during the day (recess and physical education) do not require modification.
- Should the risk level change, these actions will be re-evaluated.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.newtonma.gov/news/
https://www.mass.gov/guides/
We will continue to work closely with our partners in the Newton Health and Human Services Department to monitor the situation and will make adjustments as necessary. Newton HHS is working together with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project to assess the situation in our community. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Your are invited to a Family Picnic this Wednesday
Wednesday, September 11th 5:30-7:pm
Let’s Meet & Eat at the Bigelow Gym
Come join the Bigelow students, parents and community to socialize and eat delicious food! Bring a picnic or purchase dinner from the Chik Chak Food Truck that will be back this year offering their wonderful selection of Mediterranean food. We will have tables set up to enjoy your dinner and the gym will be available for kids to play and have fun. The 8th graders will be hosting a bake sale to support their 8th Grade graduation activities so we have dessert covered for you!
There will be a Bigelow Night Celtics ticket raffle, a banner to sign and PTO activities information.
Please join us for the first social activity of the year!
Get involved at Bigelow in 2019-2020
Middle School can be a great experience for parents as well. Get to know the Bigelow community better by getting involved in some of the PTO activities.
Volunteering enriches the school community: every bit of effort helps and any amount of time you can contribute to support our children, the school and our community is invaluable! Check out many opportunities HERE. We have immediate need for:
- 8th Grade Activities Committee Chair – Consider co-chairing with another parent. Tasks can be shared among volunteers.
- TEN Tables Co-Chair – Looking for a 6th grade parent. Una Simmons will co-chair and show how easy it is to organize this great event!
- Big Night Chairperson – Consider co-chairing with another parent
These are tried and true Bigelow events that need parental leadership. The PTO has structured ways of running these events and will help you, but we need leaders to be in charge, please consider chairing.
Other important roles needed are:
- Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Liaison – any parent whose child has an IEP or 504 plan or is otherwise receiving special education services is eligible
- Safe Routes to School Representative – join monthly meetings with Newton Police, DPW, the Mayor’s Office, and School Committee to address obstacles to students walking/biking/taking the bus to school
At Bigelow, students have the opportunity to go outside at lunch time – and they need your help!
Laps at Lunch is going to be back this week! This is a great program designed by Bigelow to give students a daily opportunity to get outside for movement and fresh air. Bigelow is the only middle school in Newton to offer this opportunity, thanks to the commitment of educators who believe that it’s good for our students well being and their academic success, and also to the invaluable help of volunteers!!! (On a side note, Brown and Oak Hill have reached out to us to help them implement similar programs).
Parents and caregivers are needed to make this program available to our students!
Laps at Lunch allows students to walk laps around the inside perimeter of Burr Park once they’re done with their lunches in the cafeteria. Would you like to help? If interested please contact Mary Fitzgerald (physical education teacher) at: Mary_Fitzgerald@newton.k12.ma.us. More about the program here.
News from the Bigelow Athletic Department
Cross-Country
The first practice for those who meet the requirements will begin on Wednesday 9/11/19. All other runners can begin as soon as they tum in everything. The final deadline for participating is Friday 9/13/19. Practices take place from 3:00pm-4:00/4:15pm every day except for Tuesday.
Flag Football – New sport!
Informational Meeting on Monday, September 9, 2:50pm, room 215. For all students. If there is sufficient interest, we will have a 6th grade club and a separate 7th and 8th grade club.
Before school Basketball
Now open every morning, 7:30am, for all students.
Before school Fitness
Room is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 7:30am, for all students.
New shelves for cafeteria corridor
In addition to the wonderful work completed by our custodial crew over the summer, some former students and their parents helped construct new shelving outside the cafeteria on the Friday before Labor Day. The project was led by Grayson Hargens (Bigelow class of ’16) as a capstone for his Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts. Also lending a hand was his brother, Holland, their parents Andrew and Melissa, and classmate James Flaumenhaft. This shelving, which replaces the backpack hooks previously located along the wall, will enable students to safely store their binders and books during lunch. A big thanks to Grayson and his crew. Check out the creative use of school colors and letter B!
Save the Date: 6th Grade Parents Potluck – 09/21
The 6th Grade Parents Potluck is a wonderful, low-key, no-stress opportunity to meet with other 6th grade parents and build a community for the next 3 years of middle school!
On Saturday, September 21st, at 6:30pm, 6th grade parents Jennifer Tseng & Marc Sabatine + Rachel & Ron Blankstein will be hosting the evening. More information coming soon!
If you have any questions please send an email to bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.