Thank you for everyone’s active participation as we launched into our annual Apex Fun Run which will occur this Thursday, October 23rd on our grass field. Our Snowy Owls are excited about the leadership lessons in their classroom each day leading up to the event.
The Apex leadership program focuses on developing student self-control, decision making, and interpersonal skills vital for school and life success. As our Snowy Owls are future leaders, they are learning to know what we do right now can shape our world and make our future brighter. Ask your child what leadership lesson they learned each day! Students are getting pledges to help raise money for the school and are earning awards for getting pledges. Students will be running on a track that is 1/16th of a mile long. The APEX weekend challenge is insane! It is called the Biggest Jump Challenge! Whatever class has the biggest jump in class total over the weekend will win a pizza party and the chance to magpie their coach in the face!
To donate please check out your students “apex VIP lanyard” that was distributed earlier last week. All instructions are printed on the back. To donate go to http://www.myapexevent.com and use the student’s special “access code” printed on their lanyard to log in or use a smart device to login with the QR code, and enter your information online. We can’t wait to announce our winning class on Monday morning!
Please consider donating a bag of candy to the bin in the main office to facilitate this fun event for our Snowy Owl community. All students must be accompanied by an adult in order to participate and all costumes must be school appropriate. Only costumes that abide by the following guidelines will be allowed to participate in event: no scary costumes, heels, face-painting, masks, or weapons will be allowed.
We have several events happening this quarter. Keep checking our school blog, our weekly happenings are updated every Sunday. You can also opt into following our blog and receive any new posts delivered directly to your email inbox. Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for your continued support!
Be sure to stay up to date on school expectations and guidelines, by checking out our 2024-25 Family Handbook.
Filipino American History Month
October is Filipino American History Month, a time to honor the rich heritage and cultural contributions of our Filipino American community. We are proud to have many families with Filipino roots as part of our school family. Let’s celebrate and learn more about the vibrant history and traditions that enrich our community.
Snowy Owl Expectation Focus
Our goal at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School is to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment for all and hold students accountable for being positive forces within our school community. The Snowy Owl Expectations are taught, modeled, and practiced throughout all grade levels and locations around campus. For the next week, we will continue to focus and reinforce the expected behaviors for restrooms. We appreciate your support in asking your Snowy Owls at home what specific behaviors allow them to be safe, respectful, responsible, and kind at our restrooms.
Parent Volunteers Needed!
Our APEX Fun Run occurring on Thursday, October 23rd and is in need of parent volunteers! This is our BIG fundraiser for the year, and we’d love your support! We’ll need about 20 volunteers per run. If you’re available, please sign up here. Families are also welcome to attend as spectators, but we ask that everyone stay in the designated viewing area.
Upcoming Events
2nd Annual Trunk or Treat | Thursday, October 30 | 4–5 PM
Trunk or Treat is back, so be sure to join us for some spooky fun! This year, we’re looking for 8–10 families to decorate their cars for this event. If you’d like to participate, please sign up here. We’ll also be collecting candy leading up to the event. If you’d like to donate some, bins will be in the main lobby.
Fall Festival | Friday, November 14
Our biggest event of the semester! More details and volunteer opportunities coming soon, so stay tuned.
Other Updates
Spirit Wear Now Available!
New designs and weekly sales! Check it out and order your Sotomayor swag today: sotomayorspiritwear.com
New Resource for Military Families
We’ve added a new page to our PTA website with resources for military families! From educational programs to community services, there is a ton of support available to help military families thrive. Check it out here: https://www.soniasotomayorpta.com/military-families
SEPAC Committee
Our Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) collaborates with school leadership, special education teachers, support staff, and PTA to ensure that school events, programs, and resources are accessible and welcoming to all students. If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to our committee chair, Desiree Domingo, at sepac@soniasotomayorpta.com.
Owl-Stars Spotlight
Each month, we highlight an outstanding member of our Sotomayor community: a student, staff member, or parent making a positive impact. Please submit your nominations by the end of the month. Owl-Stars will be featured on the PTA website and social media.
PTA Membership
Our membership drive may be over, but it’s never too late to join! Membership is just $10 for the year and gives you a voice in supporting our school community. Encourage friends and family to join, too! Join here: https:
Raptor Passport Application
We have several school events taking place this quarter and to expedite the sign-in/sign-out process using the Raptor system, please use the QR codes below to download the Raptor VisitorSafe Application and generate your Raptor Passport. This will make check-ins faster and more convenient while upholding our district safety protocols. Please stop by the main office and ask for assistance if you need further assistance with downloading the Raptor VisitorSafe Application.
Literature Character Parade
Day with the Chef
Our district chef will be back to prepare a fresh, made from scratch lunch item to serve to our Snowy Owls during their regular lunch period on Wednesday, October 22nd. He will be preparing a chicken bake with a cucumber tomato salad as a side option.
We will still offer the other normal choices that are on our lunch menu. We look forward to this fun and delicious opportunity for our Snowy Owls!
Canned Food Drive
The Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD), in collaboration with the Chula Vista Welfare Council, is organizing a district-wide canned food drive from October 20th through November 7th. To help support needy families across Chula Vista, we have placed a donation bin in our front office. Non-perishable food items that are not in glass containers or in oversized cans will be accepted for donation.
Suggested Donation Items:
- Proteins: Peanut butter, chicken, tuna, spam, chili with meat, dried beans.
- Healthy Carbs: Mixed vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, soup, canned tomatoes, green beans.
- Fruits: Any canned fruit.
- Milk: Canned or powdered.
- Sauces: Tomato, pasta, gravy, broth.
- Pasta/Carbs: Bagged rice, pasta, mac and cheese, stuffing, rice mix, mashed potatoes, canned pasta, peas.
The Chula Vista Welfare Council is an all-volunteer group, that collaborates with CVESD schools annually for a canned food drive. With the food donated each year, their goal is to pack 500 boxes to serve Chula Vista families. The boxes are typically distributed prior to winter break to families who are referred by CVESD schools. For more information about this year’s canned food drive, contact the CVESD Communications Office at commsoffice@cvesd.org.
Chula Vista Pledge Competition
From October 7th to November 1st, 2025, students across Chula Vista are invited to take the Student Safety Pledge to keep safety a priority while walking, biking, and rolling to school.
- The school with the highest percentage of pledges will win a Pizza Party!
- Pledge opens October 7th and closes November 1st.
Scan the QR code below and pledge today!
YOU, ME, AND YOUR STUDENT’S IEP
This is a parent event to meet with Pupil Services Staff to review your child’s IEP. This event is an opportunity for parents to ask questions, gain valuable insight, and discover helpful resources.
- When: November 6th, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00PM
- Where: Greg Rogers Elementary
CVESD University: Anxiety
1 in 3 people experience anxiety at some point in their lives, and it is the most common psychiatric condition in youth. Understand what’s really happening in the brain to cause low frustration tolerance, emotional dysregulation, rigidity, aggression, and excessive worry and fear, and practice ways to manage.
- CVESD U: Anxiety workshop will take place at the district office located at 84 East J Street in Chula Vista. from 4-5 PM on Thursday, October 30th.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School 