In the cold days of February, there will be no better way to build a warm sense of community than to have a “Souper Bowl,” a fundraiser by ceramics teacher Leah Aguayo’s classes that will sell hot bowls of soup.

Students will help out the event, to be held on Feb. 10 in the school cafeteria, by making over 300 ceramic bowls in the next few months, while parent volunteers will have vegetable chopping parties and bring the soup-making ingredients prior to the event. On the day of the Bowl, Aguayo, with the help of parents and students, will make her famous soup recipes, which include Chicken Noodle, Vegetarian Minestrone, Black Bean and a fourth to be decided later.

Proceeds from the event will go to the school’s ceramics program.

“The funds have been used in the past to buy something special for the class,” said Aguayo. “Some years it was a new [throwing] wheel or a Raku Kiln.”

At the Souper Bowl, guests will pick a bowl of their choice and fill their bowl with soup from the various crock pots in the cafeteria. When they are finished, they will be able to clean their bowls at a washing station and take the bowls home. The price, which is to be determined later, will include a handmade bowl, soup, bread and drink.

Aguayo began the Souper Bowl 12 years ago. Because the event takes a great effort on all parts, it has not been held in recent years. However, Aguayo decided to reinstate it this year after she was approached by parents at Back to School Night with questions about whether the event would take place.
“I can’t do it by myself, so the offer of help is making it happen,” said Aguayo.