Right, in front, third from left, is Shreeya Gandhi of South Barrington before Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
By Karie Angell Luc | Chicago Tribune
The 672 graduates of the Barrington School High School Class of 2025 were celebrated at a ceremony inside Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on Friday evening, May 30.
The Class of 2025 for the Broncos and Fillies had students beginning freshman year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To Pioneer Press, Craig Winkelman, superintendent of schools for Barrington 220 School District, said, “I’m very proud of them for obviously being able to come back from the pandemic.
A graduate crosses an aisle as other students file into the auditorium at the Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
“It was hard,” Winkelman said of early COVID-19 years. “I’m just so happy for our kids and so happy that they get to have a night like tonight.”
Jonathan Curbelo of Barrington offered the senior speech, reflecting on a freshman year launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our greatest challenges are what form our new beginnings because we know that sometimes the sun shines the brightest after the storm hits the hardest,” Curbelo said.
“And when it comes down to it, that’s what defines the Class of 2025.
“The sheer will and resolve to carry on through the storm is what defines a Bronco and a Filly,” Curbelo said.
“We have yet to cease facing adversity, but if there’s one thing I have learned from BHS, it’s that we can choose how we respond and our destiny.
Jonathan Curbelo of Barrington offers the senior speech at the Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
“We can choose who we are, who we will become, and what we do,” said Curbelo, who concluded with, “Never stop climbing that mountain.”
Read more here.
Editorial note: There was some disagreement recently among commenters as to where Barrington High School graduation ceremonies took place prior to when Poplar Creek Music Theater became available in June of 1980.
Someone who read the comments and who attended a 1970’s BHS graduation ceremony was kind enough for forward the photo below and (insisted) we post it.
Barrington High School 1970’s graduation ceremony.
They also provided a scan of a 1970’s BHS yearbook supplement which can be seen here, and verified that graduation did occur in the BHS gymnasiums (apparently walls between multiple gyms could be opened for larger assemblies).
Related: “Barrington High School graduation ceremonies are tonight at Willow Creek”