Welcome
New to Bowen? Start here.
Whether your kindergartner started last week or you just moved to Newton — welcome to the Bobcat family. Here’s everything a Bowen family needs in the first month, in order. Most steps take two minutes.
This puts you in the Bowen directory, on the weekly newsletter, and lets you sign up for events and volunteer shifts. No cost, no commitment.
Register your family✓ You’re registeredParent-run chats for the everyday stuff: quick questions, carpools, playdates, “is tomorrow a half day?” Each grade has its own.
Get your grade’s codeEvery classroom has one to three room parents. They’ll reach out early in the year with class news and how to help. You can find yours in the directory once you’re registered.
Open the directoryA handful of events make the year: the picnic, Boo-ween, Science Day, the Book Fair, the end-of-year celebration. The full calendar has everything, with times.
See the calendarOne gift per family — $175 suggested, any amount welcome — covers a whole year of enrichment and free events. Every family has full access whether or not they give.
Learn about givingTwo hours at an event is plenty. It’s also the fastest way to meet other parents. See what’s open and grab a spot — no account needed.
See open rolesThe year at a glance
Quick answers
A volunteer, parent-run nonprofit that funds and runs the things the school budget doesn’t: classroom enrichment, community events, staff appreciation, and a voice for families with the principal. Everyone with a child at Bowen is part of it.
No. Registering is free and there are no dues. The Annual Fund is a voluntary gift — and this year there are no entry fees at any PTO event, for any family.
No. But most roles are a couple of hours, once, and they’re genuinely the fastest way to meet people. Start with one event shift.
A parent volunteer for each classroom who supports the teacher, shares class news, and helps organize class events. Questions: roomparents@bowenpto.org.
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council — a group for families of students with IEPs, 504s, or learning differences, connected to Newton’s district-wide SEPAC. Bowen’s chairs are Amy Ricigliano and Mia Stone; reach them via chair@bowenpto.org.
A Massachusetts background check required for anyone volunteering on school grounds or on field trips. It takes five minutes and is filed at the main office — get the form.
General questions: chair@bowenpto.org. Classroom and room-parent questions: roomparents@bowenpto.org. Donations and receipts: treasurer@bowenpto.org. Or just come to a meeting and say hi.
