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Project Oceanology Marine Science Summer Camp Opportunities

Project Oceanology is a 501(c)(3) year-round marine science and environmental education organization located at Avery Point in Groton, CT with a mission to nurture enthusiasm for science and for our planet’s marine environment. Their summer camps are licensed by the State of Connecticut, their vessel operators are licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard, and their marine educators have expertise, educational backgrounds, and extensive experience in the delivery of marine science and environmental education enrichment programs to elementary through high school students, college students, summer camp participants, and the general public.

For students entering grades 6-12, Project Oceanology is offering two residential camps this summer – Ocean Camp and a new Marine Science Research Experience. Residential campers are accommodated in a hostel for a week-long immersion in hands-on, brains-on marine science education and fun aboard research vessels, along nearby shorelines, and in  marine laboratories.

Details on the camps and registration information is available at https://www.oceanology.org/summer-camps. This year generous donors have also enabled need based financial assistance to offset the cost of tuition.

See the informational flyer and financial assistance form.

Join the PTO Board next year!

The PTO is looking for enthusiastic parents and guardians to join our mission! Please consider being an active member of our rewarding organization that directly benefits our children.

Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO, helping direct and manage the overall program for 2019/20?  All Bigelow parents and guardians, including those of incoming 6th graders, are encouraged to join the board.  The proposed slate of 2019/20 Board members will be voted on at our final PTO meeting of the year on June 3rd.  Serving on the Board is a great way to meet other Bigelow parents and help out at your child’s school.  

The Bigelow PTO is a volunteer organization dedicated to provide support and information to the school community. Take a look at what we do and what we support.

We have several open positions for next year, including officer and committee roles. Please take a look here.

Please contact us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more. The success of the Bigelow PTO depends on our volunteer parents and caregivers. We are grateful for your support and hope to work with you for the 2019/2020 school year!

Spring Family Event: Bowling

The members of the Bigelow METCO Engagement Team (BMET) would like to extend an invitation to our Spring Family Event. Our goal is to create opportunities for our Bigelow families, Newton and Boston, to come together for a fun event. The event we are planning is a Bigelow Family Bowling at Boston Bowl in Dorchester on Saturday June 1, 2019 from 2 – 4pm. It is easy to get to and has parking available. (820 MORRISSEY BLVD. BOSTON, MA 617-825-3800)

The cost is $19/person for one hour of bowling including shoe rental, card for arcade games, 2 slices of pizza and soda We hope that your family will join us for an afternoon of fun. There is also the opportunity to just purchase 2 slices of pizza and soda for $5/person if you don’t want to bowl. We also would just love to have you attend and socialize if you don’t want to bowl. Forms were made available to students and we also attached the form here. Students can return the forms and money to their guidance counselors or to Ms. Mercado (Rm. 204) or Ms. LeQuire (Rm. 206).

Please consider attending this event with your children, even if everyone does not want to bowl, as a way to get to know one another.

Sincerely,
Kyra Mercado  & B.M.E.T.

Recycling Signs

Last Sunday, as part of NewtonServes 2019, a group of students and parents put up recycling signage in most rooms at Bigelow. This is part of a larger effort to improve recycling in Newton Public Schools and we are happy to have started it at Bigelow.

The ultimate goal is to better manage waste in schools, starting with recycling. By using standardized signage, everyone has constant reminders, which minimizes confusion and makes the process of separation more efficient.

More information about the project and the group working on it can be found here:

NewtonServes 2019 – Bigelow’s garden is looking beautiful

Thank you to all who helped with “Bigelow Beautification” during NewtonServes! A special thanks to the city team from Parks and Recreation for helping both before Sunday and on Sunday, and to Newton Community Pride, a non-profit volunteer organization, who organizes NewtonServes every year.

Slide Show

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More photos from the many community building projects that took place on Sunday are posted on the NewtonSERVES facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/NewtonSERVES-Building-Community-Through-Service-147460985314122/

Bike racks

Bigelow students now have a place to attach their bikes. The new bike racks were installed in front of the school last week and are already being used. Funds raised by the PTO, thanks to member’s dues, events and donations, were used to purchase the racks. Thank you!

Laptop Program at the High Schools

As part of the Newton Public Schools effort to expand its 1:1 Device Pilot Program, starting next year all incoming students to the high school will receive a district issued Chromebook (Model: Lenovo 300e). A chromebook is a paired down laptop that allows students to access websites and web-based applications for completing schoolwork including but not limited to Schoology, Google Drive, and Aspen. The device will be part of the standard school-issued materials (similar to a textbook) needed for learning at the high schools. More information will be sent by the high school to current 8th grade families as we get closer to September including information regarding device handout, Chromebook Loan agreement, and an optional insurance policy covering loss or damage to the device. For now, we encourage you to visit NPS High School 1:1 Laptop Initiative website to learn more information.

School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 4/24/2019 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update:

  • Recently, students from Day Middle School had the chance to speak with U.S. Senator Martha McSally from Arizona.
  • Last Friday, students from NNHS had the chance to hear from U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy.
  • Last Tuesday, Newton hosted a state board meeting for the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE.)
  • Announcement that Newton North senior Maya Matthews has been serving as the student representative to the DESE Board. Additionally, former School Committee member Matt Hills was recently appointed to the DESE Board.

New Business

  • Members of the Newton Youth Commission reviewed data from a year-long endeavor to study student stress: Youth Commission Presentation.
  • Members of the STSG presented information on policy work and new initiatives to improve transportation: School Transportation Steering Group Update
  • The Food Service Evaluation team provided an update on the vendor selection process. Within the updated Food Service Contract it was announced that Whitsons Culinary Group has been recommended as the new vendor for NPS. The School Committee will vote on the recommendation at our next meeting (May 13.)
  • A new Recycling Policy was introduced and discussed.

Old Business

  • CFO Liam Hurley and Director of Business and Planning, Julie Kirrane, presented the FY19 Fiscal and Operational Update, as well as an Updated Facilities Report, which included several summer projects.
  • The Equity Working Group provided an Initial Update about outreach and work towards the idea of a centralized fund for certain Parent Teacher Organization funds.

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting

On Monday, May 13 at 7:00pm, we will review Long and Short Term Space Needs, summer maintenance projects, and Capital Improvement Projects for 2019-2020.  We will also get an update on the Arts program and plans for Full Day Kindergarten, as well as vote on the Food Services Contract.

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

Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10

#thankateacher and support Newton Schools Foundation

If you are looking for another way to say “Thank You!” during Teacher Appreciation Week, please consider Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher campaign. This special program, established more than 20 years ago, provides an opportunity for families to thank teachers or other school personnel by giving a gift to NSF in their honor.

NSF is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance educational excellence throughout Newton’s public schools. Your gift will support professional development that gives teachers new tools and strategies, as well as new and promising curricula for middle school students. Click here to see a video or read more about the grants that NSF has funded in our schools, including programs in art, civics, math, music, science, social and cultural studies, literature and writing instruction, and social-emotional learning.

After receiving your donation, NSF will:
· Notify the honored teachers and staff of your gift at the end of the school year
· Share the honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals
· List each of those honored on the NSF website and in the Newton TAB

You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org, or mail it 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. If you have children in NECP or elementary school, check your student backpacks for a flyer in the coming weeks, or the U.S. Mail at home if you have middle or high school students.