Celebrating 19 Years as Barrington’s Signature Magazine
Celebrating 19 Years as Barrington’s Signature Magazine
by Erin Lales • Photography By Rich Chang/Chang2 Studios
The Barrington Chinese Immersion Council’s Lunar New Year celebration this February was a joyful and lively occasion, drawing together students, families, and community members to mark the start of the Year of the Snake. The event, which highlighted Chinese culture and traditions, offered a delightful mix of cultural activities, martial arts performances, and community building, was held at Barrington’s White House.
Children and adults had the chance to try Chinese paper and beading crafts, calligraphy, and pebble mosaics. Attendees also played games such as Weiqi, Mahjong, and Zingo with Chinese characters. These hands-on experiences helped participants learn more about Chinese customs while practicing their Mandarin language skills. “Our family looks forward to the Lunar New Year celebration each year! We love exploring cultural activities with our teachers, classmates, and family friends. This special event fosters friendships and builds community across the Barrington 220 schools,” said Dr. Kristina Borgen, Chinese Immersion parent.
One of the event’s highlights was the martial arts performances by Gangi Martial Arts, where skilled performers put on interactive demonstrations and offered mini lessons to students, captivating the audience.
This Chinese Immersion Program is open to all families residing in Barrington 220. The program immerses students in Chinese language and culture. This format begins in elementary school with advanced courses offered through 12th grade. High school students can even earn AP credit, college dual credit, and/or the Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas. During their time in the Chinese Immersion program students develop proficiency in both language and cultural understanding with the goal of becoming biliterate and bicultural.
Barrington 220 is currently accepting enrollment for incoming kindergarteners and first graders for the 2025-2026 school year! To learn more, reach out to Barrington 220 Director of Language Programs, Rebecca Wiegel, at rwiegel@barrington220.org or call 847-842-3522.
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Erin Lales is a Fox River Grove resident with four children in the Chinese Immersion program. She serves on the board for the Barrington Chinese Immersion Council, volunteers at Barrington 220 schools, and co-leads a Girl Scout Troop.
Born in Chicago, Illinios, but transplanted to Arizona as a child, Nancy Ngo received her B.F.A. degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001.
Nancy’s awareness of the play of light and shadow and its effect on color plays an important role in her work today. The dichotomy of the natural desert landscape of Arizona versus the urban downtown environment of Chicago led her to a certain “no rules” style of painting. Her paintings have a certain raw, playful, and sometimes unfinished quality in which the work holds a kind of potential energy, excitement and freedom.
Ngo’s work is held in collections throughout the United States. She is represented in the Chicagoland area by the Art Post Gallery in Northbrook. To learn more, visit artpostgallery.com or call 847-272-7659.
Michael Ireland has participated in the creative process for over 50 years beginning with his studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he began to explore light and color through transparent watercolor. He soon developed a passion for the medium that continued throughout his life and career.
“Moving to Cary in the early ‘70s, I found the undisturbed beauty of the landscapes in Northwest Lake and McHenry Counties leading me to the prairies and wetlands that inspire my work today. From season to season, from dawn to dusk, the landscape changes in color, in tone and the play of light and shadows I take away as an artist. Whether it is a faithful rendering of the scene before me, or an abstract impression of the play of the prairie grass, be assured if I come across a new path, I will follow it.”
Ireland is a member of the National Watercolor Society and Illinois Watercolor Society. Recently, one of his works, “Conifer,” received the Helen Browne Memorial Award at the 88th Annual Juried Exhibition of the Hudson River Valley Art Association. Other than his commissioned work, he is represented by Fine Line Designs Gallery in Door County. His home and studio are in Cary, Illinois. Learn more at irelandwatercolors.com
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