The 2023/2024 PTO Board
President – Eugene Rhee– BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Vice President – Alex Rolfe – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Giulia Guffanti – 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
| POSITIONS | DESCRIPTION |
| President | Rotating leaders who are accountable for the success of the PTO |
| Vice President | Work with board and committee chairs to coordinate fundraising activities |
| Treasurer | Track budget and finances for the PTO |
| Secretary | Take minutes, keep the PTO calendar current, communication flow |
| Communications/ Website/Email Monitoring | Maintain info on the PTO website, send newsletters |
| School Directory | Maintain database of parents/students and prepare material for the creation and printing of the school directory. |
| Creative Arts & Sciences | Help enrich the curriculum by planning cultural events for the student body |
| Back to School Picnic | Coordinate the back to school picnic at Franklin Park with the school administration (September) |
| 6th Grade Potluck | Organize the 6th grade community “getting to know you” event (September) |
| 8th Grade Activities | Lead 8th grade parents as they organize the Moving On ceremony and other transition activities for the outgoing 8th graders |
| Ten Tables | Organize our Progressive Dinner fundraiser (Fall) |
| Big Night | Coordinate the planning our Winter fundraiser (Spring) |
| Teacher Appreciation | Organize the teacher appreciation luncheons and teacher appreciation activities throughout the school year |
| Scholarship Fund | Develop 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 Parents | Liaison to the Boston parent METCO families. |
| POPs | Liaison between the PTO and PoPS parents to coordinate events and streamline communications |
| SEPAC | Liaison to the volunteer organization of parents of children with disabilities in Newton |
| FORJ | Liaison 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 School | Liaison 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 Foundation | Laison to the Newton Schools Foundation |