The Season of Giving

It’s that time of year and your inbox is probably filled with worthy organizations asking for donations. The Bigelow Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is one cause that doesn’t get more personal: our kids’ education. As parents and guardians of Bigelow students, we are all members of the PTO, an organization that is well worth supporting.

Why give to the PTO?

  • We underwrite programs that the Newton Public School’s budget does not cover, such as Creative Arts and Sciences and classroom technology.
  • We supplement supplies for the classrooms.
  • We offer field trip scholarships.
  • We provide assistance to Bigelow families who have fallen under unfortunate circumstances.
  • We serve as an important communication channel between the school and parents.
  • We help build the community that makes Bigelow a special place for our children.

Please support these important programs with your gift to Bigelow PTO online, via Venmo (@BigelowPTONewton), or by check.
Matching gifts are a great way to maximize your donation! Some companies will double or triple your gift to education.

DONATE NOW

Constructive Conversations about Race

Designed to help white people understand their racial identity and learn effective ways to take action to dismantle racism

Adapting the work from Constructive White Conversations, Constructive Conversations about Race provides an opportunity for white people to come together to better understand their racial identity, so that when they engage in conversations in their community and consider actions, the work they do will be more effective.  Through discussion and sharing of experiences, participants will gain a foundation (awareness of one’s racial identity) so they are able to take meaningful and sustaining actions to dismantle racism in all its forms.

Constructive Conversations about Race provides a unique opportunity to further an anti-racist community through self-reflection.  It runs 6 sessions over a 12-week period and is facilitated by beloved Horace Mann emeritus teacher Mike Feldstein, and Grammy-award winning performer Dan Zanes (who performed for a FORJ meeting with his wife, Claudia, in 2021).  

This will be the second Newton cohort to participate in these sessions. Several members of the first session, which began in late 2020, are continuing to meet. At the end of these 6 sessions, participants will be encouraged to join that original group to continue the conversations. We will have a brief informational meeting TBD once we hear from those of you who might be interested in participating.

Please email Mike at mikefeldst@gmail.com if interested.

Evening Sports Clinics at Williams Elementary

Want your children to stay active during the cold late Fall/Winter? Great Coaches from Be Ahead of the Game will teach them new skills and keep them moving while having tons of fun. You don’t have to be a Williams student so spread the word!!

Registration, information and waiver: https://docs.google.com/…/121SoMLsTMybingpCFDht…/edit…

Isabel Harvey Shopping Event to Support South Stage

SAVE THE DATE AND SHOP FOR A CAUSE!

On Thursday December 1st the South Stage Supporters will be hosting a private shopping event at Isabel Harvey Boutique in Wellesley.

Isabel Harvey

41 Central Street Wellesley

6 – 7:30 pm for the private event

You can shop for holiday gifts for yourself and others. Check out the website!

http://isabelharvey.com

15% of the proceeds will be donated to South Stage Supports to support the South Stage Theatre!  If you can’t make the event but shop in the store anytime on December 1st (10 am – 6pm) and mention South Stage, your purchase will also contribute!

Centre Street Food Pantry Seeks Marketing & Communications Board Member

Centre Street’s recent operational growth has outpaced many of our supporting capabilities, including marketing and communications. We seek a Board Member who is experienced with the purpose and power of branded communications to help us increase our donor, volunteer, community and client engagement and distinguish ourselves in a crowded non-profit environment. Our focus areas include a mix of strategic and tactical aspects: CSFP brand (look, feel, voice), website, monthly newsletter, as well as email, print and social media campaigns. To learn more about the position and to apply, visit our website: https://www.centrestfoodpantry.org/jobs-marketing

New Art Shop Brings Unique Handmade Good for the Holiday Season

The New Art Shop hosted by the New Art Center, will open on Friday, November 18 at the New Art Center’s space at the Trio, 245 Walnut Street, 2nd Floor. The shop will be open for run for six weeks (Wednesday through Sunday) until December 23, 2022.    Building upon the New Art Center’s mission and vision by creating an accessible platform for artists to share and sell their work, this cooperative style store is run by the artists whose work is available. Work featured in the New Art Shop ranges from handmade jewelry to paintings and wearable textiles to sculptures. More than fifty artists, craftspeople, and makers are participating this year. 

New Art Center’s Executive Director Emily O’Neil said, “The New Art Center is excited to re-open The New Art Shop for an extended season this year. The New Art Shop will have a variety of unique handmade gifts from local artists, including paintings, prints, wood work, ceramics, jewelry, hand-knit goods, and more. We encourage the surrounding community to check out the shop and support local artists by purchasing gifts for your loved ones.”

The New Art Shop will be open Wednesday-Sunday after the opening weekend.
Days: November 18-20, 25-27, 30, December 1-4,  7-11, 14-18, 21-23.
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 12-6 on all days (Fridays hours will be 12-7)

More information available at https://newartcenter.org/the-new-art-shop/.

Did you know that you can make your Annual Fund contribution by Venmo?

Simply send your donation via Venmo to @BigelowPTONewton. Please put “Annual Fund” in the memo line.

Donations to the Annual Fund support Bigelow creative arts and science presentations, the One School One Book project, community building events, cultural events, field trip scholarships, classroom supplies not covered by NPS, and lots more!  

Venmo to: @BigelowPTONewton.  Please don’t delay and make your contribution today!  A big thank you to those who already donated!  

For other ways to donate, visit: http://bigelowpto.org/donate