PTO Board and Committees

The 2023/2024 PTO Board

President – Eugene RheeBigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Vice President – Alex Rolfe – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Rachanee Nelson – bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary  – Aparna Rolfe – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com

2023/2024 Committee Chairs

School Directory – Sarah K. Lenz & Heather Thiessen Philbrook
Communications/Website – Elizabeth Apgar
Ten Tables – Shana Smythe & Charlene Gillespie
Big Night Celebration – Tracy Bruckner & Bekka Cirel

Online Auction – Erika Holmberg & OPEN
Teacher Appreciation – Ron Farrar & Suriya Ziblatt
Creative Arts & Sciences – Zlatena Simeonova
Back to School Picnic – OPEN
6th Grade Potluck – Susan St. Pierre & Caitlin Cusick
8th Grade Activities – Linda Gillespie & May Chen

2023/2024 Liaison Positions

PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Karen Hite
METCO – OPEN
SEPAC – OPEN
FORJ – Jeanne Choe-Arrieta
Safe Routes to School – Alex Rolfe
Green Newton School Connections – OPEN
Newton School Foundation Liaison – OPEN
Newton Serves – Elizabeth Apgar
Bigelow Garden – Elizabeth Apgar
Yearbook – Sheryl Rice – 7th grade Social Studies teacher
Science Fair – Brigette LaMarche

Bigelow PTO Board and Committees 2023-2024

Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO? Please join us in helping direct and manage the overall program for 2023/24. See below for open positions and email us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com

POSITIONSDESCRIPTION
PresidentRotating leaders who are accountable for the success of the PTO
Vice PresidentWork with board and committee chairs to coordinate fundraising activities
TreasurerTrack budget and finances for the PTO
SecretaryTake minutes, keep the PTO calendar current, communication flow
Communications/ WebsiteMaintain info on the PTO website, send newsletters
School DirectoryMaintain database of parents/students and prepare material for the creation and printing of the school directory.
Creative Arts & SciencesHelp enrich the curriculum by planning cultural events for the student body
Back to School PicnicCoordinate the back to school picnic at Franklin Park with the school administration (September)
6th Grade PotluckOrganize the 6th grade community “getting to know you” event (September)
8th Grade ActivitiesLead 8th grade parents as they organize the Moving On ceremony and other transition activities for the outgoing 8th graders 
Ten TablesOrganize our Progressive Dinner fundraiser (Fall)
Big NightCoordinate the planning our Winter fundraiser (Spring)
Teacher AppreciationOrganize the teacher appreciation luncheons and teacher appreciation activities throughout the school year
Scholarship FundDevelop the The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund, which provides support for Bigelow students who might not be able to otherwise participate in cultural and curricular enrichment learning opportunities, such as field trips
Nominating
Committee
Look for new PTO board and committee members. There are 5 members: the chair and the feeder schools representatives: Mason Rice, Lincoln Eliot, Underwood, Ward
LIAISON POSITIONS
Boston ParentsLiaison to the Boston parent METCO families.
POPsLiaison between the PTO and PoPS parents to coordinate events and streamline communications
SEPACLiaison to the volunteer organization of parents of children with disabilities in Newton
FORJLiaison to the volunteer organization Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice
Safe Routes to SchoolLiaison to the volunteer organization that encourages walking, biking and taking the bus to school.
Green Newton School Connections Liaison to the volunteer organization that  promotes sustainability in schools (reduce, reuse, recycle and climate action).
Newton School FoundationLaison to the Newton Schools Foundation