PTO Board and Committees

The 2022/2023 PTO Board

President – Gabriela Kroszynski – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Vice President – May Chen – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Giulia Guffanti – bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary  – Sukanya Ghosh – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com

2022/2023 Committee Chairs

School Directory – Sarah K. Lenz & Heather Thiessen Philbrook
Communications/Website – Elizabeth Apgar
Ten Tables – Shana Smythe, Gabriela Kroszynski, Charlene Gillespie, Carolyn Gillespie and Jill Twohig
Big Night Celebration – Charlene Gillespie & Carolyn Gillespie
Teacher Appreciation – Ron Farrar & Suriya Ziblatt
Creative Arts & Sciences – Zlatena Simeonova
Back to School Picnic – OPEN
6th Grade Potluck – Sara Wantman
7th Grade Potluck – Zlatena Simeonova
8th Grade Activities – Gabriela Kroszynski, Jennifer Gistrak, Ann LaBrache
Scholarship Fund – Monika Sawicka
Nominating Committee – OPEN

2022/2023 Liaison Positions

PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Sarah Hirzel (band liaison), Andrea Silver (chorus liason), Heather Levin (theater liason), 1 OPEN for orchestra
METCO – Jeanne Choe-Arrieta
SEPAC – Brigette LaMarche
FORJ – Margo Michaels, Kori Urayana, Jeanne Choe-Arrieta
Safe Routes to School – Phil Larimer
Green Newton School Connections – Ileen Thelen
Newton School Foundation Liaison – Julie Kane
Newton Serves – Giulia Guffanti
Bigelow Garden – Elizabeth Apgar
Yearbook: Sheryl Rice – 7th grade Social Studies teacher
Science Fair: Brigette LaMarche

The 2021/2022 PTO Board


President – Gabriela Kroszynski – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Vice President – May Chen – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Linda Gillespie – bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary  – Sukanya Ghosh – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com

2021/2022 Committee Chairs

School Directory – Sarah K. Lenz Heather,Thiessen Philbrook
Communications/Website – Gwen Hautefeuille
Creative Arts & Sciences – Caryn Izhar
Back to School Picnic – Kelly Qian
6th Grade Potluck – OPEN
8th Grade Activities – Caryn Izhar, Caryn Lipchin and Susan Giunta
Ten Tables – Shana Smythe, Gabriela Kroszynski, Charlene Gillespie, Carolyn Gillespie and Jill Twohig
Big Night – Julie Landesman
Teacher Appreciation – Susan St. Pierre, Karen Yee, Charlene Gillespie, Ron Farrar
Scholarship Fund – OPEN
Nominating Committee – OPEN
Newton Serves – Giulia Guffanti
Bigelow Garden – Elizabeth Apgar

2021/2022 Liaison Positions

PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Sarah Hirzel (band liaison), Andrea Silver (chorus liason), OPEN (theater liaison), OPEN (orchestra)
Boston Parents  – Jeanne Choe-Arrieta
SEPAC – Brigette LaMarche
FORJ – Margo Michaels
Safe Routes to School – Phil Larimer
Green Newton School Connections – Ileen Thelen
Newton School Foundation Liaison – Julie Kane

Bigelow PTO Board and Committees 2022-2023

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 2022/23. 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/ Website/Email MonitoringMaintain 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