Good morning,
This week’s Backpack Express is ready for your reading enjoyment:
Thanksgiving Food Collection: Sowams School will be collecting food to donate to Barrington’s Tapin. The collected food will be used to assist local families during the holidays and during the government shutdown. Information may be found here. There is a box set up in our school’s foyer for the donations.
Book Fair: The PTO sponsored Book Fair is coming up the week of November 10, 2025. Classes will visit the Fair on either November 10 or November 12. Click here for the schedule. There will be a family night on November 13 from 5:00-7:00. Also, volunteers are needed to help out during the week. SIgn up here to volunteer. More information can be found on the Book Fair Homepage.
Square 1 Art: Sowams School is participating in the Square 1 Art fundraiser. Your child has created artwork for you in their art class. Coming home to you soon will be your child's custom catalog for the Square 1 Art fundraiser. Get a head start, and start ordering keepsakes and gifts featuring your child's art online NOW, if you like! Simply search for your child's art using Art Search, and enter state, school name, and your student's name. Look for the F2025 season and your student's teacher and your student's art and code will appear, and you may order! Order by: 12/8/2025. Thank you for supporting our school! If you have any questions, please contact your Square 1 Art fundraiser coordinator - Jill Blankenhorn at jillkopicki@gmail.com.
School Construction Update: At our December 1, 2025, PTO meeting, Chris Spiegel, project manager, will be discussing the construction projects at Sowams School and across Barrington. The meeting, which is virtual, will take place at 7:00 PM. The link to this meeting will be sent out on the day of the meeting.
Library News: Our school’s librarian, Mrs. Greene, has this month’s library newsletter ready for you. You may access it here.
Dismissal Changes: We understand that there are times your child will not go home their normal way and you need to change this on a given day. Please send a note to school with your child indicating the change. If it is last minute, please call the school. Do NOT email your child’s teacher, the office, or me. We cannot guarantee that we will see your email during the school day.
2nd and 3rd Grade PTO/Arts Alive Play: Although registration doesn’t start for several weeks, we are thrilled to announce our 2nd and 3rd grade play information is now available. Information can be found here, including what play we are doing, registration dates, rehearsal information, and play dates.
November No School Days:
November 11: Veterans Day
November 27 and 28: Thanksgiving break
November Holidays/Special Days: There are various holidays and special days throughout this month. Here’s a list with information about the holidays and special days that was put together by the district’s DEI Committee.
Sowams Yearbook: It feels like the year is just getting started, but it's already time to think about ordering a yearbook to look back on all the memories your child has made and will make this year! Yearbooks are $23 each - order yours today and cross this task off your to do list! To order your Sowams yearbook for 2025/26 go to: www.coffeepond.com; Click on Yearbook Program tab; select Yearbook Order & enter password: sowamsstar
Picture Retake Day: December 3, 2025, is our picture retake day. Students who were absent on the original day and those who need to have a retake will have their pictures taken. If you are having a retake, you do need to send in the original pictures of your child. This is how we will know to have your child’s picture retaken. To order pictures, you need to go to coffeepond.com.
Community Notice: There is one notice from the Bayside YMCA regarding their basketball program.
Have a wonderful day.
Best,
Jim Callahan
Principal