Next PTO meeting March 11, 7pm – Parent Workshop

Please save the date for our next PTO meeting on March 11, 7pm in the Bigelow school library.  Newton Youth Services, in conjunction with the Bigelow PTO, is proud to present:

Creating Successful Students: Understanding Executive Function and Tips for Strengthening These Vital Skills at Home
In a workshop designed specifically for parents, Dan Levine and Laura Moy of Engaging Minds will:
1.   Demystify the term “executive function” and explain which skills it encompasses
2.   Explain why executive function skills are such an increasingly important aspect of every child’s education, especially in today’s ever-changing world
3.   Offer tips and strategies that parents can begin to employ at home to better support their children in strengthening these vital skills

Background on this program:

The Newton Health and Human Services Department was recently awarded a mental health and well-being grant by the West Suburban Community Health Newtork. The project focuses on raising awareness about youth stress in Newton, the negative impacts, and resources available for managing stress in healthy ways. This grant was written as a direct result of Youth Risk Behavior Survey quantitive data and two recent Newton Youth Summit’s qualitative results.

As one piece of the project, Newton Youth Services has partnered with Engaging Minds, a learning center located in Newton focused on teaching executive function skills. These skills include organization, prioritization, initiationof tasks, time management, goal-setting, planning, etc., and are useful in reducing students’ stress. The partnership is focused on bringing programs about executive function to parents, students, and school staff.

 

BIG NIGHT – Auction Items Needed

imagesThe Big Night, Big Easy, the Bigelow PTO’s biggest event of the year.  This year it is a Mardi Gras themed event, at the New Art Center in Newtonville on Sat. March 22 from 7pm – 11pm.

Do you have something you would like to DONATE to our auction??  Tickets to sporting events, gift cards for services,  restaurant gift certificates, vacation get aways,  jewelry, artwork, a dinner or cocktail party, memberships etc are all appreciated.  Click here  to donate to the auction on line.  Thank you to all of you who have already donated to the auction.

Would you like to underwrite a portion of the evening??  We have a number of opportunities available.  Click here    We would like to thank Leslie Williams and Jack Goldsmith for underwriting the costs of the Music for the evening!!

You can also help by soliciting a local business for an auction donation.  Click here for a printable business solicitation letter and donation form.

Bigelow Middle School PTO is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.  Tax ID #20-0348453. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Tickets for the night will be available soon.  Save the date.  We hope you can join us for the super fun night.  If you have any questions please contact Liz Hass at haas.joffe@gmail.com

Thank you, your event co chairs – Liz Haas and Laurie Halloran

Important Information for 8th Grade Parents / Guardians

Please click here to see important information and a timeline of events regarding transition / registration for 8th grade students.

There will be an important parent / student night at Newton North on Thur Mar 6.  Click here for detailed schedule information.

Additionally, there will be a coffee with Newton North Principal Jen Price at Bigelow on Mar 12 from 8:30 – 9:30am in the Library.

Student / Faculty Basketball Game – Mar 21

March Madness at Bigelow!!  Even though the Bigelow basketball season has ended, there is one event that will keep the energy going.  The Annual Student / Faculty Basketball Game is an exciting fundraiser that will be held after school on Friday, March 21.
We are looking for food (individually wrapped snack items (no nuts / peanuts please) and drink donations for our refreshment table.  Please remember that the proceeds of this fundraiser will help offset the cost of 8th grade year-end activities.
We will be collecting donations the week of March 17.  Please contact  JoAnn Speidel (617-997-8622, joannspeidel@aol.com) or Shannon Lynch (617-633-4743, shannon.mlynch@rocketmail.com) to schedule a pick-up or drop-off.

Cookie Dough Drive

The cookie dough drive is back this year.  It will run Feb 25 thru Mar 7.  Students will be receiving more information during lunch on Feb 25.  Proceeds from this fundraiser will support the Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith   Scholarship Fund and other PTO programs.

Questions? Please contact:  Lauri Perry at laurisperry@hotmail.com

Book reading event

Newton Author, Boston Globe writer, and Oak Hill dad Neil Swidey will be reading from his acclaimed new book, Trapped Under the Sea, on Wednesday, February 26th at 7:00 pm at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge and on Thursday, February 27th at 7:00 pm at Newtonville Books in Newton Centre.

Dennis Lehane calls the book “extraordinary – it bears comparison with The Perfect Storm in its brilliant evocation of everyday, working class men thrust into a harrowing, at times heroic confrontation with death and disaster.” Neil’s book tells the gripping true story of five men who were sent into a dark, airless, miles-long tunnel, hundred of feet below the ocean, to do a nearly impossible job – with deadly results. For more on the book and other events after Harvard, please go to www.trappedunderthesea.com/events.

Register for Newton Girls Softball before February 28th

Newton Girls Softball is a recreational league for over 300 Newton girls in grades 1-7. The league is committed to providing 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.
February 28th is the last date to register with guaranteed placement and pair-me-with requests. After February 28th: Placed on wait list without “pair-me-with” rights

Opening Day: Sunday, April 27, 2014

Waban Area Council meeting

The Waban Area Council meeting originally scheduled on February 13th has been rescheduled for next Thursday, February 27th, at 7:30 pm in the Cafeteria in City Hall’s basement. The revised agenda is available for you to view in advance at www.wabanareacouncil.com.

Waban residents especially should visit the website and enter their e-mail addresses so that they may receive meeting notices and be made aware of urgent Waban issues in a timely fashion!

Coffee House benefits children in Africa

The annual Youth Coffeehouse will be held on March 1st, 7 :00 to 11:00 pm. This event featuring and organized by students from Newton Public Schools is a benefit for vulnerable children in Africa.

The coffeehouse begins with acoustic and comedy acts. After intermission, a number of live bands will perform. All proceeds from ticket sales, food, t shirts, and crafts from Zambia are donated to Communities Without Borders, a non-profit organization that supports the education and well-being of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children living in and around Lusaka, Zambia. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, although additional donations are welcome. For more information see: www.fusn.org/content/coffeehouse or call 617-527-3203.

First Unitarian Society
1326 Washington St.
West Newton

Baby it’s still cold outside! And snowy and icy and slushy…

Older adults, members of Newton at Home, need your help. Consider becoming a volunteer for Newton at Home. Drivers are needed to accompany members to appointments, shopping and trips to Logan Airport. As residents of Newton you know your way around! Please be in touch to support a growing community of neighbors-helping-neighbors.
Please call Julie Plaut Mahoney at 617-795-2560 or email: volcoord@newtonathome.org and THANKS.