Backpack Express - 6/5/24

Good morning,

This week’s Backpack Express is ready for your reading pleasure:

  • Barrington Education Foundation: Our S.T.A.R (Staff Teacher Appreciation Recognition) program is a special “Thank You”.  Make a tax-deductbible donation (minimum of $10 per S.T.A.R.) to Barrington Education Foundation, and we will send each of your honorees a beautiful S.T.A.R. certificate.  Each certificate honors your special BPS educator(s) while helping BEF fund teacher grants for extraordinary educational initiatives and programs in all six schools. Let’s recognize our teachers, administrators and staff for being the STARS that they are!  Click HERE to order your STAR

  • Third Grade Reception: We are looking for assistance with our Third Grade Reception on Thursday, June 13, 2024.  We are in need of food donations and parent volunteers to help set up, serve, and clean up.  It would be great if parents of students in grades kindergarten, one, and two could volunteer to help on this night so our third grade parents can enjoy the night with their child.  Sign up information for food and volunteering may be found here.

  • Progress Reports:  Your child’s end of the year progress reports will be available sometime on the last day of school (June 18, 2024).  If you do not know your username and password to access the progress report in Aspen, you need to email aspenhelp@barringtonschools.org.  We do not have this information at the school so we will not be able to assist you.

  • 2024 Octoberfest: Octoberfest 2024 planning has begun! This year’s event will take place at Sowams on October 19, 2024. Preparing for Octoberfest requires the support of our Sowams community, and there are many subcommittee opportunities open this year. Please consider leading one of these subcommittees with the support of the 2024 co-chairs. Click here to view and sign up for an open position!  If you have questions about any of the positions before committing, please feel free to reach out at sowamsoctoberfest@gmail.com

  • PTO Board/Chair Descriptions - The PTO Board has several open positions for the 2024/2025 School Year.  Along with Board members, we are also looking for volunteers to Chair various PTO Committees.  The more volunteers and involvement we have from parents, the easier it is to ensure we deliver amazing programs to our Sowams students and faculty.  Linked here is a document describing the Board and Chair positions.  Please note, for all the Board positions, we are trying to have two volunteers per role.  Click on the below link to select any of the Board or Chair positions you are interested in.  You can select more than one.   A confirmation email ensuring you are still interested in and able to serve in any selected positions will go out before the start of the school year.  Please email kotsirisc@barringtonschools.org for the sign up genius link.

  • Arts Alive Play:  Do you want to see this year’s second and third grade play?  The play will be presented on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at 12:00 in the afternoon.  Tickets are now on sale.  Information about the tickets may be found here.

  • Cookout:  Our yearly cookout is coming up on June 17, 2024, from 11:55-12:45.  A hard copy of the order form was sent home yesterday.  You may also access it here.  Orders are due on Monday, June 10, 2024.

  • Community Notice:  Both notices are from BYBA for students entering grades 3-8:  Notice 1 and Notice 2.

Have a wonderful day.

Best,

Jim Callahan

Principal

Sowams School Mission: Everyone learns every day.

Sowams School Vision: Sowams School will engage students to be their best selves.