Vision in Practice at Barrington High School

Currently at Barrington High School, each department is participating in a vision cycle intended to unite the teachers within the department around a single teaching and learning goal. A vision cycle is a cycle of continuous improvement based on Jim Knight's ​Impact Cycle​, a flexible yet systematic approach to improving instruction. In a vision cycle, departments identify an area for professional growth that will impact student learning and work together to improve teaching and learning in that area.

This summer, approximately 40 teachers, coaches, and administrators from Barrington High School gathered with Apple Professional Learning Specialists for a ViP Summer Experience. Participants in ViP, or Vision in Practice, worked to bring their vision cycle goals to life using powerful Apple iPad tools provided to our students and teachers through our One to World initiative. Teachers and leaders asked the question: “What does great teaching and learning look like in a tech-rich environment?”

The goal of the ViP summer experience was to develop exemplar lessons that would bring the vision to life and develop an understanding of what the vision cycle goal would look like in the classroom. The result was improved understanding of the current learning environment and a collection of powerful learning strategies that can transform learning.

Key's Quick Tips: Reader View on iPad

Key's Quick Tips are provided by Kelly Key, Assistive Technology Coordinator for Barrington 220. Each month, I will feature a tool available on the iPad to support our students, including a short video demonstration.

Reader View on iPad

Have you ever noticed the 4 lines that pop up on the left of your search bar when you are searching for something online or reading an article online on your iPad or iPhone? This feature is called Reader View and it is a terrific tool for you and your students!

Video Demo Here

Reader View cleans up a website by taking away ads and other extra content on the page and allows you to change the background color, font, and text size. For more information, check out the before and after photos below and the video demo above.

Before


After

Would you like me to come to train your full class on this or any other accessibility features? If so, send me an e-mail at kkey@barrington220.org

Infinite Campus Parent Portal Redesigned

Barrington 220 parents visit the Campus Parent Portal frequently expecting all student information to be available from their Portal. Parents have a unique login allowing access to information for their students. Recently the Parent Portal has been redesigned to include a more user friendly, responsive design.

The use of the Parent Portal for communicating with parents increases daily. Parents visit the portal to do one or more of the following:

• View Attendance
• View Student Schedule
• View Student Assignments
• View Student Grades
• View and Pay Student Fees
• View and Pay for Student Meals
• View Student’s Behavior Record (BHS only)
• View Student’s Academic Plan (BHS only)
• Print a Non-official Copy of Student’s Transcript
• Print Student’s Grade Report
• Check Student’s Health Compliance
• Student Locker Information (6-12)
• Quickly View Missing Assignments
• Complete Application for Free and Reduced Meals
• Complete Annual Online Registration
• Update Email Addresses and Phone Numbers
• Report Student Absences
• Complete Surveys Requested by Barrington 220 Schools
• Read Messages Sent by Barrington 220 Schools
• Choose When to Be Notified (Absent, grades, lunch balance)

Parents contact the Parent Help Desk at 847-842-3580 for assistance with the Parent Portal.

Barrington Students view the same information as parents. Three of the numerous screens are referenced below.

Main Portal View

Student Today View

Student Grades

Translation & Interpretation Requests in Barrington 220

Do you need a Spanish or Polish interpreter?

In Barrington 220 we have a process in place for staff members who may be in need of Spanish or Polish document translations or 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 the Translation Request link.

The form allows us to receive and confirm appointment requests, as well as manage uploads of documents that you need translated into Spanish and/or Polish. 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.

Our translating team is happy to provide assistance, so please send those timely requests!

Infinite Campus PD Earns PDH & Board Credit Hours

Implementation delayed until January 1st.  Stay tuned for updates coming soon!

Infinite Campus introduces online learning opportunities for staff through the Professional Development area of Campus.

Professional Development is designed to teach users how to use Campus through a competency-based approach, using skills and knowledge checks comprised of Campus-created content. Standards are assigned based on a learner's tool rights and content is available to address skills the lesson is designed to teach. Campus provides various content styles to suit multiple learning styles. As new tool rights are assigned to users, new Professional Development standards may become available. Conversely, as tool rights are unassigned, standards in Professional Development may be unassigned.

An estimated time is listed for each lesson. Staff members now have the option to complete the Professional Development topics recommended based upon user security settings, and to earn PDH and Board Credit hours.

Professional Development is located in the lower left corner of the Campus index.

Choose the topics on interest and following the online prompts. Successful completion required the completion of the Knowledge Check.

Infinite Campus tracks the topics completed and hours earned will be credited at the end of the school year. Staff members choosing to complete Professional Development in Campus for PDH or Board Credit hours are asked to contact June Nilles.