Google Drive Security Updates

Google Workspace has announced that on September 13, 2021, they will be applying security updates to shared files to make file sharing more secure. This only affects specific types of shared files and if it affected any of the files that you share, you would have received a message such as this from Google:





Within this message, Google provides several links that describe the details of this change. Some may consider this "information overload," but here is an important tidbit of information: Shared Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms are not affected by this security update. 

If you share other types of files, you may have staff reaching out to you to get a new link to the file. Providing a new link should quickly resolve the problem.

New Year, New Look in IC for Teachers

As hinted during the 2020–21 school year, Infinite Campus has brought a new look and function to the Control Center on Teacher logins. For now, the old look is the default look, but the new look can be turned on (and off) using the Enable slider in the upper-right corner of the Control Center screen:

When you enable to the New Control Center, your screen will change to this:

From the new Control Center look, teachers can quickly view classes and current tasks for their assigned course sections. You can navigate between terms using the arrow buttons at the top right (next). Classes can now have a customized look and icon by clicking the settings icon. From Settings, teachers can also now enable Student Questions as a new direct communication tool between the students and the teacher. 

Last, student attendance sections that still need to be taken are indicated with an orange dot. Click on the orange dot to easily take attendance for all students or see an absence code for those students who are absent and had their attendance called or requested by the parent in advance.

There are a few more features that can be see in this short video by Infinite Campus.

For now, teachers have the choice of turning on or enabling this new Control Center look and features, or go back to the old way. However, in a future update of IC during the next year or so, this new look will become the default look and function moving forward. So now is the perfect time to try it out and get familiar with the new look and features that come with the new look!

Here's to a great new school year from your Infinite Campus Team!

Check Your Gmail Spam Folder for yahoo.com Emails

Throughout the past several weeks Google has been classifying a high volume of messages as spam from yahoo.com email addresses. This affects many of our parents who use their Yahoo email accounts to communicate with Barrington 220 staff.

When I regularly check my spam folder, I’m quite cautious with all messages within this folder. Google uses this space as a catch-all repository for suspicious messages, including those messages that may have malicious intent. Never click on links or attachments contained within messages found in your spam folder unless you have determined the sender is legitimate and their content is safe. If Google has marked a message as “seems dangerous,” it probably is!

If you do find a message from a parent or other Barrington 220 stakeholder within your spam folder, simply mark the message as “not spam,” and subsequent messages from that email address should be delivered to your Gmail inbox.



We are hoping that Google resolves this issue in the near future as it is affecting all school districts, businesses, and other organizations that use Google Workspace. But until they do, please keep a close eye on your spam folder.

Tips from Our Techs

Our amazing technology support team in Barrington 220 has been working hard to resolve all our school opening issues and help complete our transition to new laptops from the end of last school year. The following collection of how-to items was written by members of our Tech Team based upon some of the most frequent requests they get from our staff. Of course, you can always call x1500, but here are some tips that may help you!

SOPPA for Teachers

Barrington 220 and its employees have a legal and ethical obligation to protect students and their data. 

The Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA), which took effect July 1, 2021, gives parents greater control over their student’s information and clarifies parents’ rights regarding personally identifiable information collected by school districts. In addition, the law outlines the responsibilities the school districts and digital learning resource providers have in protecting and using student personal information. 

The student online personal protection act states:

Effective July 1, 2021, school districts will be required by the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) to provide additional guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only. (105 ILCS 85).

Included in the law, school districts must obtain a signed Digital Privacy Agreement with each service provider and create a public list of all service providers who collect student data. In addition, this law provides a process for parents to access and request their student’s data, request removal of their student data, and be notified of data breaches

Some examples of PII include:

• First and Last Name
• Email Address
• Home Address/Phone Number
• Grades
• Socioeconomic Information
• Test Results
• Photos
• Medical Records

To ensure we do all we can to protect student information, Barrington 220 staff members should only use apps, software, or digital subscriptions that have been vetted and approved by Barrington 220.

All approved apps and software can be found on the Apps and Subscriptions page of the Barrington 220 Digital Learning Hub (bit.ly/220dlh).

All apps, subscriptions, and software on the approved list have been vetted and a digital privacy agreement is in place. These resources are safe to use.

Teachers and staff should continue to request approval for new apps and subscriptions using the existing subscription and app request process. If a teacher has previously used digital learning resources with students that were not on the district approved list, they should submit a request for approval before using that resource in the future. 

Its important to note that apps, services and websites that do not ask students or to login, create an account, or provide personal information do not need a signed Data Privacy Agreement (DPA), and if a student has an personal account with a service provider and chooses to use it for school purposes, they are ok to do so. This law only applies to digital learning resources that Barrington 220 requires or recommends for student use. 

If you are unsure if it is safe to use a digital learning resource with students, you can submit an app request form and you will be contacted with information.

Getting the Most Out of Schoology, An Interview with Shawndra Shelton

Barrington 220 adopted Schoology as our Digital Learning Management System back in 2016. Since that time, we’ve learned a lot about how to effectively use digital resources to support student learning. 

Teachers have found that taking the time to build a robust digital environment for their classes saves time and energy throughout the year. Families have found that connecting to the class through Schoology helps them stay informed and up to date without constantly emailing the teacher. Schoology provides Barrington 220 with a way for students to access course materials, submit assignments and get feedback, and communicate with their classmates. 

Shawndra Shelton, 
District Technology Associate

No one in the district has worked harder to help us get the most out of Schoology than our own District Technology Associate, Shawndra Shelton. Shawndra is the foremost Schoology expert in Barrington 220 and many of the great features we use are largely a result of her work. 

Recently, Tech & Learning interviewed Shawndra about how to get the most out of a Learning Management System. Congratulations to Shawndra on this public recognition of your work. You can access the article here:

LMS: 4 Tips for Getting The Most Out of Yours

Self-Paced Professional Learning Available This Fall

The Department of Technology & Innovation will be offering a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the school year. Staff are invited to participate in these on-demand learning sessions. Sessions are offered once per semester in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Please visit the Digital Learning Hub to learn more about the courses being offered this fall. Professional Development Hours are available for completing this training. Participants in each course will meet via Zoom once at the beginning of the course and once at the end. All of the learning can be completed online at your convenience. 

New Translation and Interpretation Request Form

Do you need an interpreter or translator? Check out our updated Google Form! 

As the start of the 2021–22 school year is in full swing, I'd like to remind all of our Barrington 220 staff that we have a process in place for those who may be in need of Spanish document translations or in-person/telephone/Zoom meeting/event interpretations. As a part of coordinating technology and innovation within Barrington 220, we have made it easy to schedule all of your translating needs through a simple Google Form. 

The updated form can be accessed by either clicking here or by visiting the Barrington 220 website, clicking the Staff tab (login required), and clicking Translation/Interpretation Request. If you have the current version bookmarked, please be aware that this has been discontinued. 

The Google Form allows us to receive and confirm appointment requests, as well as manage uploads of documents that you need translated into Spanish. This simple and effective process allows the translating team here at Barrington 220 to collaborate much more efficiently when it comes to meeting and/or document requests across the district. 

We ask that you keep the following in mind before submitting your request: Please allow a minimum of 5–10 business days for written translation requests to be returned. Please submit your meeting interpreter request 15 days in advance (minimum) in order to secure an interpreter. 

Please note: It is likely that last-minute meeting requests will not be accommodated. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me, Hector Ontiveros, at hontiveros@barrington220.org or 847.842.3561. Our Translating Team is happy to provide assistance during the school year, so please send those timely requests!