TribLocal Barrington - 18 2 September 2010
TRIBLOCAL.COM
Sealed bid for South Barrington land generates interest Fremd High School receiver making a name for himself
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Barrington | Palatine Cary | Fox River Grove
VOICE OF THE TOWN
Page 9
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2010 | SPONSORED BY THE
Woodland’s last 1st day of school
By Carolyn Rusin
TRIBLOCAL REPORTER
Courtney Griffin, center, a senior at Barrington High School who helped form HERE, a coalition aimed to promote positive health and awarness of suicide prevention is joined by friends, Katie Rubak, right, also a senior and Tom West, a junior at HEREfest 2010. TribLocal photo by Carolyn Rusin
Student coalition responds to suicides
By Carolyn Rusin
TRIBLOCAL REPORTER
Interest in a community group aiming to let people know it’s okay to reach out for help has spiked since a student and teacher’s aide committed suicide in Barrington in the last two weeks. Barrington High School senior Courtney Griffin, 17, helped form HERE, or Help, Encouragement, Resources and Education last year, and while Friday’s pre-football game festivities couldn’t be the celebration initially planned, she found a silver lining of sorts. “There were a lot of students who were like, ‘enough is enough,’” Griffin said of the suicides of five students since 2007 and two teachers this year. “[The coalition] is definitely growing since 10 days ago, which just
shows you how willing students are to create an atmosphere in the community that is welcoming and that everyone can take part in,” Griffin said. HERE had planned a back-to-school event that would take note of District 220 going a year without a suicide. But then a senior stepped in front of a train and a teacher’s aide at Barrington Middle SchoolPrairie campus shot himself. The aide was under investigation after at least two students said he assaulted and molested them, authorities have said. The number of students participating in HERE has grown from 90 to about 120, Griffin said. The organization also has an adult group of volunteers.
PLEASE SEE STUDENTS, PAGE 2
It was back to school Aug. 30 for pre-kindergarten students in District 220, and the last such day at Woodland Early Learning Center in Carpentersville. Next month, the 3- to 5-year olds who have been identified with special education needs, and for those with “at risk” conditions, such as a second language in the home, being adopted, and living with a single parent, will be moving to new digs in Barrington. Their current school, 770 Navajo Drive, was believed to have been built in 1958 and housed grades kindergarten through eighth. “This building has been a lot of things. It’s a well-loved building. It served a lot of programs,” said Barbara Romano, principal of the Early Learning Center for the past 5 years. “[But] this building wasn’t made for preschoolers. It’s time to move to a more central location.” Still, on this day, Emily Osterhues, 5, couldn’t wait to get to her classroom. She was being led by her mother, Carolyne. “Come-on,” Emily said. This is Emily’s second year at the center and both mom and daughter are eagerly
anticipating the new building. “We’re so excited. It’s a beautiful place. It’s state of the art. The kids are going to do so well there,” Osterhues said. The 200 or so children will move to a new \$12 million preschool building that adjoins Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus, 40 East Dundee Road. The first day of school there is Sept. 28. Woodland School does not have the low windows or sinks needed by pre-schoolers, and the small classrooms don’t accommodate their big learning tools or toys, such as trucks, doll houses and a stage for puppets, Romano said. It is also at the southwest tip of the district, which makes for lengthy bus rides for kids living in Lake Barrington, Deer Park, Hoffman Estates, among other towns in the district. Romano, who was a special education and early childhood teacher for 25 years prior to becoming principal, worked sideby-side with the architect on the center’s larger classrooms, wider hallways and a child-height sink in every classroom bathroom. The walls are painted with soft-muted colors. “It’s just a dream come true. It’s phenom
PLEASE SEE WOODLAND, PAGE 2
OPEN HOUSE
9/11/10 10am-3pm
Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Dance Crew, Fitness, Ballroom 18 months to adult
Nutcracker Auditions Sept. 18 & 19 Age 4 & Up
Classes Begin September 2010
(located at the Deer Park Town Center)
21540 W. Field Pkwy – #620 Deer Park, IL 60010 Office: (847) 438-5901 Fax: (847) 438-5903
www.ballroomanddance.com
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