Good afternoon,
This week’s Backpack Express is below. Enjoy reading it.
Octoberfest Information: Our PTO’s largest and only fundraiser is coming up on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 10:00-3:00. Below is the latest information for you:
Sponsors & Auction Donors needed - click here to learn more about sponsorship and auction donation opportunities
Octoberfest is sponsored by generous local businesses whose missions include giving back to the local community - these contributions are in the form of a sponsorship or a donation to the Octoberfest online auction
Sponsorship levels: Platinum ($1200), Gold ($900), Silver ($600) or Bronze ($300) level; the level of sponsorship correlates directly to the placement of that businesses' logo on Octoberfest t-shirts, and placement in other marketing and publicity efforts (see overview letter for details)
Auction items can come from local businesses or Sowams families and can be anything (new) that the community would be interested in bidding on: gift cards, experiences, products, services, tickets - anything!
Octoberfest event volunteers needed
We request that each family volunteer at least 1 hour of time to help ensure Octoberfest goes off without a hitch.
Please click here to sign up to volunteer at the event on October 18th!
Reminder - Save the Date! Octoberfest will take place October 18th 10AM-3PM at Sowams School.
Check back weekly for more Octoberfest updates
PTO Information: Our PTO is up and running and we just had our first meeting this week. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. Below is the latest information from our PTO:
School Directory: Each year, the PTO puts together a Sowams Directory of names and contact information for our students and families. Once complete, the directory information is then shared with only our school community. It is not used for any solicitation (except room parents for school related information) and should not be shared with non-school families. It is up to you to decide if you want your information put into this directory. If you would like to share your information with others in our school, please complete this form from the PTO.
September Calendar: Each month, the PTO creates a calendar of different events. You can find this month’s calendar here.
Apple Picking: The PTO is sponsoring a morning of apple picking on September 28, 2025. Information about this fun, family event may be found here.
Open House: Our annual Open House is coming up on September 17, 2025. This is an evening for parents/guardians (children should not be coming with you) to visit your child’s classroom and hear from their teacher about what happens each day at school. The times of the visit are as follows:
Kindergarten and Grade 1: 7:00-7:45
Grades 2 and 3: 6:00-6:45
First Grade Arts Alive/PTO Play: Each year, our PTO partners with Arts Alive, a local theater company, to bring drama to our school. We start the year with our first grade program in October with registration happening now. You may find out much more information about this first grade program here. Registration closes on September 15, 2025. In order to run the first grade program, we need at least 18 students participating; we currently have 14. Our second and third grades program will take place later in the school year.
Physical Education Attire: On days your child is scheduled for physical education, please make sure they are dressed appropriately. Part of this is making sure they are wearing sneakers. It is unsafe for students to be running around in sandals or Crocs. If you are unsure when your child has physical education, please ask their teacher.
Community Notices: There are a couple notices this week: Barrington Composting and a fundraiser in memory of a Barrington child.
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.