December 14, 2023

Last week Barrington 220 kicked off the 4th Annual Winter Wonderfest by opening up the new front atrium space at Barrington High School. The atrium is a common area that will serve as a place to eat lunch, as well as a flexible learning space where students can meet in groups, collaborate, and/or work on individual projects. Below are links to videos shot by BHS-TV that feature the new space.

• Click here to view exterior and interior video of the new space
• Click here to view exterior video during Winter Wonderfest

In addition to the front atrium addition, the high school looks forward to opening up its new state-of-the-art culinary arts lab! The finishing touches are currently underway and classes will begin using this space when students return from winter break.

North Barrington Elementary STEM Lab (Click here for video)

Barbara B. Rose Elementary STEM Lab (Click here for video)

Significant progress has been made on the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) labs at Barbara B. Rose Elementary and North Barrington Elementary. Both spaces are anticipated to be completed this winter.

In June 2023 the Barrington 220 Board of Education approved the district's new strategic plan, Framework 220, which will guide the district's work over the next few years. In order to move the work forward 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 take our 3-minute external communications survey. If you're a Barrington 220 staff member, you will receive a separate internal communications survey after winter break.

Since the Barrington 220 School District officially formed in 1973, it has become a destination for families across the state, as well as a nationally-recognized school district. We are proud of our academic achievements, innovative programs, accolades, rich history and the sense of pride all of our schools bring to the community.

Throughout the 2023-24 school year, Barrington 220 is celebrating its 50th anniversary! During the 1973-74 school year, the district officially became a pre-K thru 12+ unit school district. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we are sharing alumni stories. Read more about Aaron Reed (BHS '04) and the BHS coach who helped him become the person who he is today.

Please join us for the GEM Showcase at Barrington High School on Monday, Dec. 18 from 3:30pm to 5pm! This open house event will allow GEM students to highlight some of their learning experiences and independent research from the first half of the 2023-24 school year. The BHS GEM (Grow, Excel, Magnify) Program, which is only open to seniors this school year, allows students to expand their learning through flexible, project-based learning options and field experiences during the school day. Schedules are customized to each student, allowing them to mix GEM experiences with traditional classes. The district plans to expand the program by offering it to juniors and seniors next school year.

Congratulations to BHS senior Puja Krishnan, who recently won a Lake County “I Voted” sticker design contest in the 9th-12th grade category. Puja's design is among three winners from students in grades K-12 that stood out among more than 200 student submissions from across Lake County. She completed the design as part of her civic engagement portfolio in her AP US Government course. Her design (pictured with this article) will be showcased and celebrated across Lake County social media platforms.

In 2024 the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation is celebrating 25 years! To mark this important milestone, the Foundation is hosting a gala at Barrington Hills Country Club on March 9, 2024. The Foundation is actively seeking sponsorships for this event that will help it continue to Encourage, Inspire, and Enrich the students of Barrington 220. Click here for more information.

The Barrington 220 Special Olympics basketball team will take on Hersey for their annual matchup on Friday, January 12 at 7pm at BHS. T-shirts will be sold for $5 to raise money for the Special Olympics program. Come out, wear red, and support our athletes!

The Barrington 220 Fine Arts Department is excited to collaborate with the Student Services & Support Department for the first-ever sensory friendly and interactive concert for neurodiverse audiences. Camille Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals will be performed by the BHS Chamber Orchestra on January 13 at 11am in the BHS auditorium. The concert will be produced in a manner which is inclusive for neurodiverse audiences, for guests with sensory sensitivity, as well as anyone who would enjoy a less formal concert environment. There is no cost to attend, but please click here to reserve tickets ahead of time!