Please Support the Bigelow Middle School PTO!

Bigelow Middle School is a special community powered by our students, families, teachers, and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

As a Bigelow parent or guardian, you are already part of the PTO!
With your help, the PTO supports the events and experiences that make Bigelow special:

• our Back-to-School Bash
• school dances
• field trips
• community events
• Global Diversity Night
• scholarships
• teacher appreciation

We also promote learning through Creative Arts & Sciences programs, library books, classroom supplies, and more. The PTO also helps fund one-time needs that arise throughout the year, such as a replacement appliance for the staff room or specialized equipment for an afterschool club.

Generous contributions from Bigelow families provide the majority of the PTO’s operating budget each year. Last year, 67% of PTO revenue came from annual donations (including corporate matching)!

For the 2026-2027 school year our goal is to raise $13,000 through the annual appeal, which represents 50% of our annual operating budget. To achieve this ambitious goal, we are suggesting an annual gift of $100 per family. However, a gift of any size makes a difference! If you are able to contribute a little more, you can help support families who aren’t able to give this year.

The Bigelow PTO is estimated to provide nearly $30,000 in support to its students, staff, and community in 2026-27, including:

• Creative Arts & Sciences Programming ($6,000)
• Field Trips ($3,000)
• Dances and Social Events ($3,000)
• Library Books ($2,500)
• Teacher Appreciation ($2,500)
• Student Planners ($2,250)
• Staff Classroom Supplies ($1,500)
• Student Scholarships ($1,500)
• Stadium Cushions to Support Outdoor Lunch ($850)

Ways to Give

Venmo (@bigelowtreasurer), online, or by check.
See the Bigelow PTO website for details: https://bigelowpto.org/donate/ 
Please include your email address in the memo line to receive a receipt.

You may be able to double (or more) your gift through your employer’s matching-gift program. Use this link (and scroll down) to search: 

Thank you in advance for considering a gift and supporting our Bigelow students!

Sincerely, 

The Bigelow PTO BoardMargaret Battat Silva, President
[Vacant], Vice President
Jillian Feinberg, Secretary
Amy Davis, Treasurer
Shannon Abram, Communications
Rachanee Nelson, Member-At-Large

Bigelow Middle School PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #20-0348453. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law

2026-27 Estimated PTO Operating Revenue: $26,500

2026-27 Estimated PTO Operating Expenses: $29,000

• Instructional Expenses: $18,000
• Community Expenses (Dances, Events, and Teacher Appreciation): $8,600 
• Administrative Expenses (Insurance and Software): $1,650
• Snack Support for Student Clubs: $750

All 6th Grade Bigelow parents are invited to our annual 6th Grade Parent Potluck (adults-only, please)!

Who: Bigelow 6th Grade Parents and Guardians
When: Friday, September 25th
Where: The home of 6th grade parents, Emily Derr and Brent Markus – 121 Park Ave, Newton, MA 02458
What to bring: Your favorite dish to share

RSVP HERE

If you aren’t able to bring anything this time, PLEASE still join us!

Hope to see you there!

PS – This is an adults-only event! No kids, please!

In our year-end newsletter, we’d like to give big thank yous to our PTO Board, Margaret Battat-Silva, Rachanee Nelson, Amy Davis, and graduating PTO Board Secretary Lanni Harris for every little thing, every big idea, every last-minute popsicle drop-off, and everything in between. You make magic happen for our students!

Thank you 8th Grade Committee, Gabriela Kroszynski, Tui Sutherland, and Rachanee Nelson who worked with Kersten Raso, 8th Grade Counselor Molly Morrow, and Dr. Green to give our 8th graders a wonderful send-off with a Harbor Cruise, trip to Kimball Farm, and lovely moving-on ceremony celebrating their time at Bigelow.

Thank you to our committee leaders and liaisons

School Directory – Kathleen Shields
Communications/Website – Jillian Feinberg
Teacher Appreciation – Laura Goldworm & Jenny Rosenthal
Creative Arts & Sciences – Zlatena Simeonova & Susan St. Pierre

PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Tui Sutherland & Jillian Feinberg
Green Newton School Connections – Alexander Lee & Nicole Peterson
FORJ – Angela Brooks & Hai Ly Burk
Yearbook – Sheryl Rice – 7th grade Social Studies teacher

Thank you to ALL our caregiver volunteers, teachers, student supporters, Bigelow staff and leadership. Here are just a few of this year’s highlights of fun, memorable events made possible by Bigelow community donations and all of YOU!

Fall Dance was a success

FORJ organized a Bigelow Team raising funds for the Walk for Hunger

Global Diversity Night is a beloved Bigelow tradition (and needs a new Chair next year!)

Teacher Appreciation all year long

Cheers to a terrific school year!

Let’s hit the ground running in September! We especially welcome incoming 6th grades from all our feeder schools to participate and actively learn more about middle school.

Check out ALL the open positions HERE to sign up or find out more about something new! Email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

Joining the PTO is a great opportunity to get involved, stay connected with our Bigelow community, get to know teachers, staff and families from other schools. Parents and guardians from all grades may join! We especially welcome incoming 6th grades to participate and actively learn more about middle school.

Here are a few positions we’re hoping to fill before September, so we can hit the ground running!

Check out ALL the open positions HERE to sign up or find out more about something new! Email bigelowbulldog@gmail.com.

We want to thank students, families, teachers and staff that participated in FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) events and efforts this year!

Some highlights :
-Franklin Park Picnic and candy hunt in early November 

-Developed and circulated feedback survey to gain more insights about what the Bigelow community thinks about FORJ and what efforts to focus on

-Formed Bigelow Bulldogs team at Walk For Hunger Boston to raise funds and awareness about food insecurity 

-Collaborated with other community groups highlighting events including Bystander training and screening and discussion of “The Hate U Give”

-Organized a group of Bigelow and NNHS families to experience the Black Heritage Trail tour in Boston (https://www.nps.gov/boaf/planyourvisit/index.htm)

We look forward to letting more of the Bigelow community know about FORJ and organizing meaningful efforts in the upcoming school year! We welcome committee members, continued feedback and ideas throughout the summer and school year.

Please feel free to reach out to co-chairs Angela Brooks (Angela.r.brooks@gmail.com) and Hai Ly (ms_haily@yahoo.com).

A few weeks ago, the Bigelow PTO newsletter shared the story of the way Bigelow parent Alexander Lee and teacher leaders of the Bigelow Green Team, Ms. Cavicchio and Mr. LeGare, redirected more than 1,000 pieces of untouched lunch fruit to Newton families in need. That weekly activity represents just a fraction of all of the work this super group has accomplished this school year! 

Here is a sampling of more of their good actions: 

• Hosting First Wednesday Walk & Roll with candy treats for kids who use sustainable transportation to school
• Designing, printing and posting educational posters
• Hosting May Bike Month Raffle
• Collecting “floor pencils” and cafeteria cans and bottles every 3 days
• Overseeing students for Recycling Fridays (weather-permitting)
• Conducting a recycling audit by grade resulting in two winning classrooms
• Planting pollinator-friendly Milkweed
• Posting an Earth Month Data Bulletin Board showing data from surveys and connections (see pencils, cans, bike stuff, and fruit collections)
• Gounds clean up and invasive plant removal
• Ceaning up the Bigelow courtyard (in progress)
• Educational Canva videos for the new year and for incoming Green Team members on topics like “How to Recycle”
• End of year Locker Cleanout Day with Donation Bin

and more!

Our outstanding Green Team and leaders are setting the example of activities large and small to make Newton schools and communities greener and cleaner. They raise awareness of what can be done with any level of resources and some dedicated effort. Thank you, Green Team! You’re our heroes!

We know access to the accelerated math program for Bigelow students next year is a big topic right now. Here are some resources on where you can get information, who you should contact if you have questions or concerns, and how to stay up-to-date.

K–8 Parent Curriculum Resources