Good afternoon,
This week’s Backpack Express is ready for your reading pleasure. It is a long one but there is a lot of information for you.
Are you moving?: This is the time of year where we start to hear about families moving for next year. If your family is moving out of the Sowams neighborhood and/or Barrington, please reach out to Mrs. Kotsiris (kotsirisc@barringtonschools.org) to let us know.
Child not going to Hampden Meadows: If your third grader is not going to be attending Hampden Meadows School in the fall, please reach out to Mrs. Kotsiris (kotsirisc@barringtonschools.org) to let us know.
Caroline Friedman Memory Walk: I am thinking many families remember hearing about the passing of Caroline Friedman several months ago. Caroline was a student at Barrington High School (and a former Sowams School Student. The high school is starting to raise money for a scholarship fund in her name. To honor her memory, we will be doing a short walk-a-thon on June 2, 2025. If you would like to support this scholarship fund, please open this link for information about the walk-a-thon and how you can donate.
Barrington Education Foundation: Once again, the BEF is offering their STAR program. This program allows families to thank a faculty or staff member along with giving to the BEF. More information about this program may be found here.
Reading Week: Our school will be celebrating Reading Week the week of June 2, 2025. There are various activities set up for that week. Information about what is happening may be found here. There is a reading challenge during that week. We hope that every child will read (or be read to) for 20 minutes per night. Reading to your child has many benefits to your child: exposes children to new vocabulary, builds language skills, and teaches empathy. Please take the time to read with your child.
Book Swap: During Reading Week, children will have the opportunity to bring in gently used books, earn some “book bucks,” and “buy” some books the following week. Information about the swap may be found here.
Cookout: On Monday, June 16, 2025, we will have our annual family cookout after our Outdoor Day. You should have received an order form in your child’s backpack on Monday. If you or your child is ordering lunch on the day of the cookout, all orders need to be placed by Friday, May 30, 2025. The order form may be found here.
School Play Tickets: Our second and third grade thespians are hard at work rehearsing for Aladdin, Jr. They have two upcoming performances on May 31, 2025: 12:30 and 6:30. Tickets are available for purchase. Information on how to purchase tickets may be found here.
Third Grade Parents/Guardians: The 3rd Grade Reception Committee is designing a slideshow of our Sowams graduation class to showcase at the reception on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and we welcome your special graduate(s) photos for the sole purpose of including your student(s) in the slideshow. Please submit your photos to this form: baby pictures (one of your child up to 2 years old), a current photo of your child, and any photos you have from school activities.
No School: Just a reminder, we do not have school on Monday, May 26, 2025, in honor of Memorial Day.
Community Notice: There is one notice from the Mindful Parent organization.
Have a great 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.