Good morning,
Here’s the penultimate Backpack Express for this school year. Happy Reading!
Octoberfest: Yes, it seems far off but it will be here before we know it. Planning is starting now for our PTO’s only fundraiser for our next school year. We had a very successful event in 2025 thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers. We are currently recruiting for subcommittee leaders for 2026. If you are interested in helping to plan this fun-filled event, please sign up here. Also, we continue to look for sponsors for our Octoberfest. Information on sponsorship may be found here. If you have any questions about time commitment, etc., please reach out to sowamsoctoberfest@gmail.com.
Pink Out Day: On Friday, June 12, 2026, we will have a Pink Out Day. The idea is for everyone to wear pink to show support to our third grade teacher, Mrs. Gleason. Information may be found here.
Barrington Education Foundation: The Barrington Education Foundation’s STAR Campaign helps bring exciting and innovative learning opportunities to students by funding grants for Barrington teachers. At Sowams School, these grants are making a real impact. Recently, teachers received a traditional grant to expand the Wonder of Reading program with Wonderbooks, along with SPAR-Q grants that provided heart rate monitors for PE students to study the effects of exercise, and a visit from acclaimed author Marc Colagiovanni to inspire young readers. Your support of the STAR Campaign helps make hands-on, engaging, and inspiring experiences like these possible for students throughout Barrington. Thank you for investing in our teachers and our children!
Outdoor Day and Cookout: Next Monday is our annual Outdoor Day and Cookout. As of now, it looks like it’s going to be a sunny, warm day so please make sure your child has a water bottle with them. We want to make sure everyone stays hydrated. Some families opt to take their child home after the cookout. If you are doing that, you need to send a note in with your child so we are aware of this. Also, when you are taking your child, parents/guardians will walk around the school to the front office. Your child will go back to their classroom to get their backpacks and will meet you outside the office where you are signing your child out.
Izzy Foundation Donations: This is the last week to send in donations for the Izzy Foundation. We are collecting the items listed here. There is a box located in the school’s foyer.
Reading Week: Our annual Reading Week continues. Today, students are all getting a new book so they will have something to enjoy reading over the summer. Our nightly reading continues as we get closer to our goal of 25,000 minutes reading at home this week.
Lost and Found: Please make sure you check out the lost and found before the end of the school year. All leftover items will be donated.
Last Day of School: The last day of school for this year is Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Community Notices: We have some community notices for you this week: Barrington Public Library’s Summer Reading Program and Barrington Youth Basketball Association: 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.