October 1, 2024

Participate in early voting this month!

During the first half of 2024, more than 2,500 community members collaborated on a plan to continue to improve our aging school buildings. The final $64M community-driven plan will go to you, the voter, for approval as a referendum question on the Nov. 5 ballot. If successful, the referendum will:

• Increase Safety & Security throughout Barrington 220
• Build a New Community Auditorium at Barrington High School
• Enhance STEAM and Instructional Spaces for Students

Limited in-person early voting for the November 5 election is currently underway at select locations across the four counties Barrington 220 serves (Cook, Kane, Lake, McHenry). However, traditional early voting at polling locations closer to the Barrington area will open on October 21. Click the links below to find early voting information for the county you reside in:

• Cook
• Kane
• Lake
• McHenry

Barrington 220 values student attendance. For a student to have a successful experience, the student must be present in class. Any absence from school is a missed learning opportunity for your child. Starting this month, we're sharing monthly attendance facts with you in our Attention to Attendance section. You can find October's attendance facts below.

VALID ABSENCES

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, a valid absence is one that is excused for a reason beyond the student's control, or for a reason that is a concern for the student's safety or health. Valid reasons for absence include:

• Illness, including mental or behavioral health
• Medical or therapeutic appointments
• Victim services provider appointments
• Religious holidays
• Death in the immediate family
• Family emergency
• Civic events
• Parenting responsibilities
• Domestic or sexual violence

Homecoming in Barrington was held the weekend of Sept. 27. The 2024 Homecoming Ambassadors were BHS students Katie Katula, Nick Peipert, and Rohan Soorya. The Broncos beat Conant 55-14 at the varsity football game! Click here to view photos of the parade and football game from BHS-TV teacher Jeff Doles, community member Bob Lee, and the district.

In June 2023 the Barrington 220 Board of Education approved the district's strategic plan, Framework 220, which will guide the district's work over the next few years. The plan consists of six strategic priorities, and within each priority, there are several measurable objectives. 

To move the work forward on these objectives and ensure that our strategic plan continues to be a collaborative process, Barrington 220 is using a survey platform called Qualtrics to gain your feedback. If you are a Barrington 220 parent/guardian, student, or community member, please click here to take our annual 3-minute external communications survey. If you're a Barrington 220 staff member, you received a link to a separate internal communications survey in our district staff newsletter shared on Friday, Sept. 27.

As a reminder, Barrington 220 uses this list of common terminology to describe various emergencies that may occur in our school buildings. This list has been developed in collaboration with local law enforcement. The terminology is used when providing updates to parents/guardians, staff, and students during an emergency. Please note that in the event of an active shooter in the school, the district will use the phrase "Run, Hide, Fight" rather than "Lockdown" to describe the situation. Click here to visit our Safety 220 webpage.

Ed foundation raises money to renovate arts classrooms

Last month Barrington 220 Educational Foundation trustees had a chance to tour the BHS drawing and painting classroom and the BHS ceramics classroom, which were renovated over the summer. At its 25th anniversary gala last spring, the Foundation raised more than $300,000 and has committed $440,000 to help transform these two spaces, as well as to build an outdoor art and foundry learning space which the district will begin working on this school year. Some updates included new flooring, better-suited storage space and cabinetry, and accessibility features to make the classrooms more inclusive. Click here to view pictures from the tour, courtesy of Jeff Doles.

This fall Barrington 220 is launching its One Book, One Community initiative to provide educational awareness surrounding the importance of supporting more female students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field. The featured book, Breaking the Code w/ Gabriella, is a children's book written and illustrated by BHS students (pictured). Copies of the book will be available later this month and the book study will conclude at this year's Winter Wonderfest event in December. More details will be shared at a later date.

The book study aligns with one of the six strategic priorities in our Framework 220 strategic plan, Inclusive Education. The goal of this priority is to embrace and celebrate diversity, recruit, hire, and maintain a diverse, high-quality staff, refine and build educational systems from pre-kindergarten through post-high school transition that serve the breadth and depth of our student community, and ensure all learners have equitable access to a high-quality education to achieve their potential.

Barrington 220 has a new promotional video aimed at showcasing the district's mission and educational excellence. The video highlights the dedication of our staff, our vibrant school community, and the wide range of opportunities available to students. Click here to check it out!

The Barrington High School Fine Arts Department invites you to its fall play, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, playing Nov. 1 and 2 at BHS. In the quaint village of Sleepy Hollow, stories of wonder and strangeness surround the legend of a mighty headless Hessian. Tickets will be available through our online box office later this month!

Last week WGN-TV Anchor Lauren Jiggetts and the WGN-TV crew stopped by Countryside Elementary to interview special education teacher Anne McNamara, the WGN Teacher of the Month! Click here to view the heartwarming story.

Barrington 220, Township High School District 211, High School District 214, St. Viator High School, and Harper College are teaming up to host the Directions College & Career Fair at Harper College on Oct. 1 from 6 PM to 8 PM. This fair is intended for the families of junior and senior high school students who receive Special Education Services and Section 504 Services. The goal is to provide every student with access to an academic and/or career-oriented opportunity after high school and equip them with the knowledge they need to succeed after graduation. Click here for more information.

BHS students are holding a Fall Mum Sale on Tuesday, October 1 from 4-6 PM at the BHS Greenhouse. Students will sell the plants that they have been caring for since June and all proceeds will benefit Green Learning Agriculture classes at BHS. To get to the greenhouse, enter the BHS parking lot off Main Street and turn right. When you approach the gate, hit the intercom button and say you are here for the mum sale. Small mum pots are $15, medium mum pots are $25, and large mum pots are $50. Cash, credit card, and check payments will be accepted.

On behalf of the Barrington Council for the Gifted and Talented (BCGT), students are invited to a FREE Microsoft STEAM & Prompt-a-Thon in downtown Chicago on Oct. 18 from 9 AM - 3 PM. This hands-on event will inspire students interested in launching a career in cybersecurity and guide them through the essential skills needed to break into this fast-growing field. This event is also available virtually. Click here to learn more and register.

Join Barrington 220, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, and BACOG for the annual BACC Legislative Breakfast. Dr. Craig Winkelman will moderate the event, where you can hear first-hand updates from local and state legislators about issues affecting our community. The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8:30 AM at the Barrington Park District. Click here to register.