The new school year at Barrington School District 220 not only brought the district’s more than 8,000 students back into the classroom following summer break, but also marked the start of a new kindergarten lab at Barrington High School.
Two classrooms at BHS were redone to create the new K-Lab for high school students enrolled in early childhood education classes. The two classrooms connect by an observation lab, offering what the district calls a “unique” learning opportunity for the high schoolers and the youngsters — the latter who will attend kindergarten full-day.
“We started conceptualizing the idea last fall,” said Becky Gill, director of elementary curriculum and instruction. “Kindergartners are naturally curious and excited to learn so we thought we should broaden their experiences by providing access to learning in multiple environments and with multiple experts.”
The K-Lab curriculum offers diverse educational activities. It opened Aug. 21 and is available to all kindergarten students in the district, and is led by two qualified kindergarten teachers, officials explained. But, so far this academic year, 28 students are participating in this inaugural year of the K-Lab. They are at the school Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The kids will learn how to grow plants in the high school’s greenhouse with BHS horticultural students. The kindergarteners will also be able to “perform” stories written with high school drama students.
Learning is also expected to include exploring cooking at the high school culinary arts lab or working on scientific experiments with BHS science students. The lab students will also be able to explore musical instruments with the high school music students.
The opportunity for different high school programs to be part of the instruction experiences are also included in the K-Lab curriculum. Hundreds of high school students will be involved in the various aspects of the program throughout the year, according to school officials.
“Our Educational Pathways students did a community-building activity with the K-Lab students,” Gill said. “They created a bracelet together with beads that represented who they are.”
In all, Barrington School District 220 has some 8,110 enrolled in pre-K to 12th grade, across 12 schools – with two middle schools and an early learning center for pre-K students.
Gill said the special kindergarten program is expected to not only offer experiential learning, but also mentorship and connection with the broader school district community.
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“Both groups – the kindergarten students and the high school students – are both leading and learning from each other,” said Gill. Additionally, “deepening [the district’s] commitment to the broader Barrington 220 community – strengthening kindness and caring for each other, which is a facet of a strong community.”
Each day starts with a morning meeting in which the young learners and the teachers talk about a social aspect – like kindness, caring or respect. Then, it’s on to the academics: Literacy, sciences and social studies, among them, Gill explained.
The K-Lab students have their own lunchroom off the high school’s cafeteria. Also, said Gill, one of the BHS courtyards was converted into a kindergarten-appropriate playground.
“We’re hoping the program will continue to grow as the year goes on,” Gill said.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelancer.