Chinese tutor with years of experience offering private, in-home tutoring for all levels.
Lessons are structured to simplify learning the language through practical exercises and fun! Contact Stella for a positive learning experience. Stellapan@comcast.net or 617-512-3827.
Spanish Tutor available
Newton Highlands resident, fluent in Spanish, is available for the following services:
- Spanish (all levels)
- Organizational skills
- Study skills
Qualifications include:
- Massachusetts licensed/certified
- 6 years teaching experience
- BA Latin American Studies: Brown University, MA Teaching: Boston College
- CAES School Leadership/Administration: Boston College
Contact: Libby Sands at libby@libbysands.com or at 617-256-4780.
College Application Tutor
Do you have a senior juggling college applications? Are you looking for someone to walk them through the nuances of Common App essays, supplements, and more?
Celina Siegel, a Newton South alum in her third-year at Oberlin College, would love to tutor your student as they navigate the college application process. She’s a cinema studies major with a background in English and a passion for editing. She has a strong track record of working with both high school and college students, especially regarding persuasive analytical writing and Common App essays.
Via file sharing and regular Skype sessions, Celina will help make your student’s writing more fluid, persuasive, and succinct. To schedule an appointment or learn more, please contact csiegel@oberlin.edu or 617-775-7591.
Election Day Bake Sale – TUESDAY, Nov. 8
We need a few more volunteers (YOU!) to make this a success!
Please click here to sign up to donate baked goods and/or staff the sales tables.
Guidelines for baked items: individually wrapped, no nuts, no perishables, ingredient lists included (we can place cards on the tables, you do not need to include a list wrapped with each item).
Please drop off your donations on Tuesday morning (preferably by 7 AM) at Bigelow or on Monday evening at 23 Burr Road (near City Hall and the main Library).
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please send an email.
The Bigelow PTO Needs YOU!
Please consider volunteering to support the purpose/mission of your PTO. There are myriad opportunities and lots of flexibility – whether you are able to come to an event or send off a few emails during a break in your busy day, every bit of effort helps and any amount of time you can contribute to support our children and their school is invaluable!
The following list of tasks and positions will grow as the year progresses and we are thrilled to have so many names on it already:
- Election Day Bake Sale Coordinator(s) and Volunteers – Frieda Dweck, Anush Sahakian, Shana Smythe, Carol Pelon, Heidi Gardner, Deborah Fredberg, Carly Semerjian, Tripti Thomas-Travers, Beth Panella, Andrea Hemment, Michelle Freedman, Ann Nguyen, Nicole von Rekowsky, Valerie Pontiff, Joana Canedo, Hongtao Guo, Agi Sardi, Macy Tubman, Ning Pan and [Your Name Here]
- Restaurant Fundraising Partnership Coordinator(s) – Tami Ireland, Anush Sahakian and [Your Name Here] — several area restaurants (New Ginza, Not You Average Joe’s, Little Thai Cafe) have expressed a strong interest in partnering with Bigelow to donate a portion of their proceeds to the PTO every time someone from our community dines there and mentions Bigelow – we need parent volunteer(s) to help put this program in place)
- Coupon Book Fundraiser Coordinator(s) – Marcia Heron and [Your Name Here] — KidStuff is a great collection of coupons for many local stores, restaurants, venues and attractions, which many (if not most!) Bigelow families already patronize. Each coupon book that the PTO sells will bring money directly into Bigelow and each family buying a coupon book will recoup the price of the book after using just 1 or 2 coupons and will continue enjoying the great savings through December 2017!
- Grade-Cluster Parent/Guardian Volunteers – [Your Name Here] — If you are familiar with the concept of a “homeroom parent” then think of this as the Bigelow version. We need 2-3 parents/guardians in each cluster to be community leaders by disseminating important information, rallying support, coordinating events and activities.
- E-Newsletter/Communications Coordinator – Anush Sahakian and [Your Name Here] — Help collect, prepare and send bi-weekly email newsletters, update the PTO website, etc.
- Big Night Volunteers – [Your Name Here]
- PTO Board Member(s) for 2017-2018 – [Your Name Here]
Parent Volunteers Needed for Each Grade Cluster
The Bigelow PTO needs 2-3 parent/guardian-volunteers for each grade cluster to serve as community leaders, facilitate communication between families and the PTO and school administration, to help organize various projects and activities. If you are interested, please fill in the form below or email the PTO directly at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.
The Bigelow Directory – Opt-In
The updated Bigelow community directory will be available online and in print in the coming weeks. Please go to the Directory page on the PTO website to add/confirm/change your information.
Please note, the Bigelow directory (similar to some and unlike some other schools in the district) is an OPT-IN directory. This means your information will NOT be in the directory unless you sign up on the Bigelow PTO website (the PTO does not pre-populate the directory with data for all families obtained from NPS). We have had some discussions regarding whether we should continue to keep the directory as opt-in or make it opt-out (all families are automatically entered and will need to request to be removed).
If you have a strong opinion on this topic, please do not hesitate to email the PTO to inform future discussions.
THANK YOU – Supper Supper Stroll Hosts and Guests!
Dear Stroll Hosts and Guests,
We hope you found yourselves in great company and enjoyed a lovely dinner yesterday! We thank each of you for your generosity, graciousness and support. The Stroll is one of the most important fundraising events of the year and your contributions will ensure that great programs and initiatives in and out of the classroom at Bigelow will never be hampered by a lack of funding!
This evening could not have happened without the incredible hospitality of our hosts: Ellen Waldorf, Roberta and Marc Laredo, Dinora and Ian Justice, Lex Van der Ploeg and Mary Lee Gwo-Shu, Krista and Bart Corr, Joana Canedo and Jason Dyett, Nicole von Rekowsky, Claire and Christof Marre, OC Manos and Sharon Eilon! And we are especially grateful to James Bryant and Stuart Sadick for opening their home to such a large group of people (who are no longer strangers, we hope).
With gratitude and best wishes,
Jessie Gilmartin and Anush Sahakian (and on behalf of your PTO Board)
Newton Cultural Calendar
The Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs is delighted to announce to launching of a new Newton Cultural Calendar www.newtonartscalendar.org.
It is a free on-line Calendar that lists any cultural events happening in Newton, and events by Newton cultural organizations that are happening outside Newton. It’s free to use, and to post. Save it on your desktop, put it on your phone, and check it out!
Newton Parks and Recreation programs
Newton Parks and Recreation has several upcoming programs this winter for youth and adults. Online registration is available at activityreg.com. Contact Channon Ames DiCiurcio at cames@newtonma.gov or at 617-796-1529 for more information. Flyer available here: Parks and Rec
Learn to Ski or Snowboard Program at Nashoba Valley
A second bus had been added for Fridays for grades 5–12. Learn to ski or snowboard with lessons at Nashoba Valley ski area starting January 6th.
School Vacation Programs in December, February and April
Sign up by day or for all 4 days. A variety of options are available for children in grades K – 6. Extended day is available at some programs.
Newton South Recreation Complex
Located at Newton South High School, the Newton South Recreation Complex offers a variety of classes for youth and adults on Sundays starting January 8th. Sign up for STEM FUNdamentals with Lego, Babysitter Training, Quick Start Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Badminton Instruction, Family Badminton, Pickleball, Open Workout, Walking and Weights and more.
Newton North Indoor Recreation
Located at Newton North High School, Newton North Indoor Recreation offers clinics, classes and lessons for youth and adults. Sign up for lap swim, swim lessons, water safety instructor course, fitness training, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball hitting clinic and more.
Camp Fair
Come see what programs are being offered in Newton for the summer of 2017. The Camp Fair will be held on January 29th at the Newton North High School in the cafeteria from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (snow date 2/5/17).
Family Trip to Disney on Ice – Follow Your Heart
Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart. Join Dory and Hank from Finding Dory, Joy and Sadness from Inside Out, the characters from Frozen and Toy Story, Disney Princesses and Mickey, Minnie and the others for this magical adventure of friendship and love. February 20th. Transportation is provided from Newton.
