Simplifying the College Process a seminar for High School parents

Are you overwhelmed by the college process? Join in as college professionals explain key components, share their best tips and offer a Q&A session to help you navigate junior & senior year successfully!

Free and open to the public

Topics include:

  • EA vs. ED, Common App, Naviance
  • ACT vs. SAT, test prep options, essay-writing
  • College list creation and campus visit
  • Financial Aid opportunities – merit vs. need
  • Junior/Senior year timeline

Sponsors:
College Trips and Tips – One-stop college travel guide and trip planner
Edmit – Helping families navigate the Financial Aid process
Summit Educational – Free SAT/ACT practice tests and tutoring services

Moderator: Terry Greene Clark, author of Demystifying College Admissions, A Parent to Parent Guide

September 25th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm at Wellesley Free Library or
October 9th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm at Westwood Public Library

Newton Child Assault Prevention Program Seeking Volunteers

Do you have three mornings a month free during the school year? Are you looking for a meaningful and fun way to make a difference in children’s lives? If so, then join the dynamic team of trained CAP volunteers who are committed to using guided discussions and role plays to teach elementary age children in the Newton Schools that they have the right to be Safe, Strong and Free with their friends and peers, when they meet adult strangers, and with those who are trusted to take care of them.

Now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year. The next training begins on October 28th . For more information or an application, please visit
http://familyaccess.org/family-support/child-assault-prevention/ or
contact Gail Sommer 617-969-5906, ext. 143 or gsommer@familyaccess.org.

Newton Community Education Fall SAT & College Readiness Classes

Sign up now for NCE’s fall SAT Prep classes:

  • SAT Math Review – Mondays, October 22nd – November 26th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Newton North High School
  • SAT Verbal Review – Wednesdays, October 17th – November 28th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Newton North High School

Additional college readiness programs geared towards parents and students:

  • Postsecondary & College Success for Students with Learning Differences – October 25th  at Newton North, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Parents and students welcome.
  • You Can Afford College If…  October 4th at Newton North or November 5th at Newton South, 6:30 – 8:30pm, for adults.
  • Navigating the Student-Athlete College Search and Recruiting Process – a 2 session program, October 30th and November 1st, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton North. Parents and students welcome.
  • Getting Divorced? How are You Paying for College? – October 23rd, 6:30-8:30 pm at Newton North, for adults.

For more information about these programs, or to register, visit newtoncommuityed.org or call 617-559-6999.

Do you have a child between the ages of 14-17?

A scientific team (consisting of a research assistant and a researcher/clinical psychologist) at McLean Hospital is investigating brain network activity and emotion regulation in teens. They are recruiting healthy teens, and also teens who have been feeling depressed or down. Your teen may be eligible!

Teens will answer questions about their thoughts and feelings. Teens will also undergo an fMRI brain scan. Parent permission is required.

The team is hoping to better understand depression and what factors may put some adolescents more at risk for developing depressive symptoms. For more information, please contact Dr. Emily Belleau at 617-855-4245 or ebelleau@mclean.harvard.edu.

See postcard for information: Postcard

Last chance to update info and order Bigelow Family Directory: 09/17

The Bigelow Family Directory is going to print tomorrow (9/17)! Please confirm or update your information now. Families that do not update their data will be displayed as entered or might not be included. To order a paper copy of the Directory login to MySchoolAnywhere and go to “Our Store”. Prepaid Directories will be distributed on Back to School Night (10/4) or a limited supply will be available for $20 cash. More information HERE.

Let’s get our kids outside! Parents volunteers wanted

Laps at Lunch is back! This is a great program designed by Bigelow to give students a daily opportunity to get outside for movement and fresh air. It 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.

6th Grade Parents Potluck – Please RSVP

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! This year’s Potluck will be hosted by 6th grade parents Jen and Chris Murphy + Holly and Ben Raynes, on Saturday, September 22nd, 6:30pm. Please RSVP to bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

Please bring your own beverage(s) and if your child’s last name begins with:

A – E    Please bring a dessert
F – L     Please bring a main dish
M – R   Please bring a side dish or salad
S – Z    Please bring an appetizer

Nursing Notes – Sep 2018

From Sue Shy, Bigelow Nurse

Get the flu vaccine at school, not the flu!
Seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be held during the school day at the Newton Public Schools beginning in late September. Students in Kindergarten through grade 12 may receive vaccine.

The BIGELOW clinic will be on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Each student to be vaccinated must have a parent/guardian complete two forms:
1. Consent/Screening form
2. Vaccine administration record/Insurance form.

Forms are available in the school nurse’s office (if needed in a different language, please ask your school nurse). They may also be downloaded at www.newtonma.gov/flu. You may electronically complete the form, print, sign and return. Forms are due to the school nurse by Monday, October 22, 2018.

Only the flu shot (no nasal spray) will be offered at school this year. The Vaccine Information Statement about the flu shot, and additional information for families including tips on preparing kids for a shot is available at www.newtonma.gov/flu or in the school nurse’s office. There is no cost to receive the vaccine, but insurance information is requested. All students, regardless of insurance status, are invited to receive vaccine with parent permission.

Students are not required to receive flu vaccine, however the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccine for all people age 6 months and up. There are many places to get a flu vaccine including at school, your primary health care provider or community clinics. For additional clinic dates for the whole family, visit www.newtonma.gov/flu.

In addition to vaccination, it is important to practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette by washing hands often; covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the arm; and staying home when sick.

For more flu prevention tips, talk to the school nurse or check out these websites: www.newtonma.gov/flu and www.cdc.gov/flu

Stay Healthy,

Sue