FORJ presents: 7-Day Anti-Racism Equity Challenge

 JOIN US for FAMILY EDUCATION and REFLECTION

As we are all learning about what we can do to build an anti racist school,  community, world– we hope you can join us for a week long school-wide learning activity -called the 7-Day Anti-Racism Equity Challenge–originally sponsored by Brandeis University.

The purpose of the week is to engage in reflection and practical thinking on how to integrate racial equity into our work and daily habits– for ourselves, our families, and our school.  Even if you think you/your kids have “done that–” we want to encourage all our families to take part.


Bigelow’s 7 Day Challenge will take place (all on your own time) during Black History Month- February 21-27, 2022. Each activity takes about 15 minutes to complete.Then, on March 1 join us on ZOOM when we will come together as a school community to reflect on what we are learning.  Hope to see you there! 

To register for the Bigelow FORJ Anti-Racism Challenge, please complete this form.

Newton SEPAC & DECE: Special Education and Civil Rights Review

The Newton SEPAC, in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will be hosting a parent orientation to learn about the upcoming Special Education and Civil Rights Review* happening in our district. 

Join us Tuesday, Feb 15, 7:00PM for this live presentation + Q&A, followed immediately by our Open Board Meeting (Agenda). 
DESE & NPS at 7PM: https://stream.lexikeet.com/newtonNon-English speakers can select a translated language (Chinese, Spanish, or Russian). Ask questions using the chat tool, and they will be answered live. Questions typed in other languages will be translated for the panelists. The session will be recorded in all 4 languages and posted publicly.

Open Board Mtg at 8:15PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84359553994Then click to join important Newton special ed discussions.

*Read about how parents can be involved in the DESE review process.

Bigelow PTO Family Online Directory 

The Bigelow PTO Family Directory is hosted online at Membership Toolkit. The access is free and it can be used by all Bigelow families. The directory is run and funded by the PTO thanks to your support!

The online platform is a secure and easy to use tool that organizes contact information from all Bigelow families unless they specifically opt out.  It is a convenient, environmentally conscious system, that can be updated throughout the school year.

If you are unfamiliar with the platform, if you have forgotten your directory access login, or if you are unsure about whether or not you are in it, please email us with your name and your child’s name(s) at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

The success of the system is dependent on every family logging in and updating their information. Families can edit their name, address, and phone numbers, and each family can decide which pieces of information will be available for others to view through the privacy settings.

Orienteering in Newton

Newton Parks and Recreation is teaming up with New England Orienteering Club to offer an introduction to orienteering training for beginners at Auburndale Park in Newton, MA.  The training will take place on Saturday, March 26th between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm and will include 30-45 minute training sessions for small groups.  Participants will then be able to head out on their own or as a small group to try any of the 5 courses that will be set up.     

In addition to the one day training event, we will also be hosting a Bring Your Own Map event for people who already know how to do orienteering.  5 different courses will be set up (including a white-beginner, yellow-advanced beginner, and 3 sprint-intermediate courses all ranging from 1.3 km – 3.7 km) and people will be able to do the courses anytime between March 26th – April 3rd.  

Registration for both events is free for New England Orienteering Club members, or $10.00 per person/family.  Organized groups have a special rate of $20.00 per group + $2.00 per person (so a group of 10 people would be $40.00 total) but must register in advance.  This rate is the same for the introduction training or the Bring Your Own Map event.   

For more information about both the Introduction to Orienteering event on March 26th and the Bring Your Own Map Event running March 26th – April 3rd at Auburndale Park in Newton, please go to the New England Orienteering Club website under the schedule tab https://www.newenglandorienteering.org/events-schedule 

and click on the appropriate link.   

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I look forward to being able to offer more orienteering programs in Newton. 

Channon Ames 

617-796-1529 

Join us in planning the Bigelow Big Nights Online Auction Committee!

Have great ideas for what friends will bid on? 

Join us in planning the Bigelow Big Nights Online Auction Committee! A relaxed group of Bigelow parents looking to plan the largest funding event of the school year! 

We need your thoughts! 

Please reach out to Julie Landesman (madamelandesman@gmail.com) or Alexia Giannakopolous (alexiag5@yahoo.com) with your ideas.

Results from Bigelow PTO Family Trivia Night!


A big thank you to all who participated in Bigelow Family Trivia Night!  We battled it out with questions ranging across music, sports, literature, pop culture, history, and Bigelow factoids.  A special thank you to the very competitive teachers team and Principal Coston for joining in such a fun evening!  And thank you to all who showed their Bigelow spirit!  We hope to do it again next year but in person!  


First Place: Bigelow Blizzards

2nd place: Straight Outta Pencils

Bigelow Spirit Award: Mega Minds

At-Home Weekly Rapid Covid Antigen Tests

The Newton Public Schools is shifting its testing strategy away from pooled testing (PCR) and toward at-home weekly rapid antigen tests. This new weekly at-home rapid antigen test is for ALL students PreK-12+ (vaccinated and unvaccinated.)

We expect the new testing program to be implemented the week of February 7, 2022. Below is specific information you will need in order for your student to participate in the new at-home testing program:

  • All families need to “opt-in” to this new testing program. The previous consent form will NOT apply. 
    • Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen 
    • Follow these instructions once you are logged into Aspen
  • An at-home rapid antigen tests kit will be distributed at school every other week. Each kit will contain two tests.
  • NPS recommends that all families conduct a rapid test on TUESDAY of each week. 

All testing information can be found on our website here: NPS COVID Testing Webpage.