Summer Camps at The Conservatory at Highlands

Keep the music in your summer! Sign up now for The Conservatory’s cool and creative music camps and special strings camp and get the early bird 10% discount.

Music Camp
Creative, musical, and fun day camp filled with music theory and ear training; ensemble practice (rock band, jazz, or chamber); and recording, songwriting, and beat-making for ages 6 and up; all instruments and skill levels welcome!  Bring your own lunch and snacks. No nuts, please.

Cost: $425/week (July 4th week discounted to $339) Register before April 1st for the early bird 10% discount! Visit highlandsconservatory.com or call 617 – 903 – 0944.
Camp sessions are Monday-Friday, June 26th through August 25th , 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (except July 4th week, which runs for four days); Friday concert

Special Strings Camp
Join Conservatory strings teacher, Debbie Apple, for a day camp filled with singing, games, orchestra, history, theory, practice, guest artists, and performances! Strings Camp is open to students who have been playing for one year or more. The camp runs from July 10th through July 14th, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm with a concert on Friday from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Cost for the camp is $425/week. Register at highlandsconservatory.com or call 617 – 903 – 0944 before April 1st for the early bird 10% discount!

The Conservatory at Highlands, 51 Winchester Street, Newton

Maine Arts Camp Information Meetings

Looking for a great overnight summer camp where your creative 9-16 year-old can thrive? Find out why Maine Arts Camp could be the perfect choice.

 A small camp community that’s big on empathy, quality instruction and personal growth.

 Outstanding facilities. Located on the beautiful campus of Colby College, Maine Arts Camp provides access to state-of- the-art studios and performing spaces, a commercial kitchen, tennis courts, fields, lake frontage, and more.

 Exceptional creative opportunities. Campers choose a schedule of 10 activities from an
extensive program covering visual arts, theatre, music, dance, culinary arts, robotics and
rocketry, film-making, individual sports and more. Take existing talents to new levels and
explore new ones!

 2 or 4 week sessions in July.

To find out more, please visit the website at www.maineartscamp.com, email Camp Director Rick Mades at maineartscamprick@gmail.com, and/or join us at one of our upcoming information meetings in Newton.

February 5th, 10:00 am-12 noon and February 10th, 8:00 – 10:00 am
The Farm at Chestnut Hill, 99 Florence Street, Newton

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on February 1st – Food Donations NEEDED

This is a great way to take a moment to thank the amazing teachers 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.

  • All items may be dropped off on the morning of the luncheon in the teacher’s lunchroom or put in the refrigerator there. Please drop off all items no later than 10:30 AM.
  • Items can also be dropped off at Stacy Schwartz’s home, 15 Park Ave. Newton, until 10 PM on the evening of January 31st.
  • It is most helpful if items are brought in recyclable containers. Please send in your favorite lunch food!
  • Salads, sandwiches, entrees – whatever you think our wonderful teachers and staff will enjoy.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Stacy Schwartz at staschwartz@gmail.com or Magda Duchnowska at froggiemagda@hotmail.com.

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

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Bigelow’s Big Night 2017 – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

WE NEED YOUR HELP to start planning the Big Night 2017.

The Big Night is the Bigelow PTO’s biggest social and fundraising event of the year. It’s an evening of great food and drink, live music and dancing in a wonderful venue, and a fantastic silent auction with an incredibly wide selection of items!!  This year we are planning the event on May 20th at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown.

BUT IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN WITH THE HELP OF OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY and we NEED volunteers for the PLANNING COMMITTEE.

The first planning committee meeting will take place on February 1st.

Please, send an email to the PTO general account or to Beth Panella if you are interested in being part of the planning committee.
 
The PTO Board is very grateful to Beth Panella and Tammy McKenna for co-chairing the event again this year!

Coming to Bigelow, Tuesday, February 7: Alash Ensemble

The Newton Public Schools – Creative Arts & Sciences Concert Series presents:

Alash Ensemble

Throat Singers from the Republic of Tuva

Coming to Bigelow Middle School
February 7, 2017 – 8:30 am • 9:30 am • 10:30 am

Students will be introduced to the inspiring art of Tuvan throat singing as well as traditional Tuvan instruments, culture, and way of life. Alash Ensemble creates an informal, lively atmosphere in which students learn about a rich cultural heritage that is virtually unknown in the West.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

www.alashensemble.com

CAS programming is funded by your generous contributions to the PTO. Thank you for your support. Additional funding has been provided by The Harmony Foundation for Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Harmony. www.wtheharmonyfoundation.weebly.com

CAS_Alash_Ensemble_Poster_Bigelow

Update from the High School Start Time Working Group

The High School Start Time Working Group reported on Feedback from All Stakeholders about scenarios under consideration and made a presentation to School Committee on Monday, January 23, 2017.

The report on community feedback has been reissued to included feedback from Newton Public Schools teachers and staff.  A presentation has also been posted.

Please visit the Newton Public Schools web site for full information.

Think Spring! Think Softball

Newton Girls Softball, a recreational league for Newton girls in grades Kindergarten – 7, provides an experience that fosters positive self-esteem, team spirit, and individual growth through personal achievement and as a team member. Players of all skill levels will have a fun and rewarding experience.

Please visit www.NewtonGirlsSoftball.org for more details and/or to register on-line. First deadline is coming up:

January 31st: Deadline to register without paying a late fee.
February 28th: Deadline to register (late fee applied) with guaranteed placement and pair-me-with requests.
After February 28th: Placed on wait list without “pair-me-with” rights
Opening Day: April 30th

For any questions about the league or Spring Rec softball, please email Rec Director Jeanmarie at jpatriacca@gmail.com.

Fun-filled concert

Happy Birthday Mozart Concert, an evening of everything BUT classical music!

Come warm up at Newton South’s Seasholes Auditorium on Friday, January 27th at 7:00 pm for a fun-filled evening of music and dance! Performing will be students from: Plaid Stepdad (indie music), Old News (American standards), Euphonic (a cappella), the Wes Silver Experience (jazz) and the South Asian Student Association Zamaana dance troupe (Bollywood).

Tickets are $5.00 at the door, with concessions available at intermission. Great mix of fun for the whole family!