On more than one occasion recently, Barrington students have typed out emails to share their concerns and opposition to the upcoming school start time changes. 

But the practice of sending mass emails has drawn a stern response from school officials who are warning that students participating in mass emails will face consequences. 

In a newsletter message recently sent to all middle school students, officials wrote that it has been the practice that students are not allowed to send or respond to mass emails. Officials wrote that the purpose of school email is for students to collaborate and communicate with group members and teachers for "educational purposes."

"Our stance has been, and will continue to be, not to send emails out to groups bigger than 4 individuals," stated the recent message. "Anything larger than 4 is considered a 'mass' email and would first need administrative approval."

The district's email system can be used to contact single individuals or much larger groups, such as an entire grade of students. 

In one recent mass email, a middle school student polled hundreds of other students about whether they supported the upcoming start time changes. 

And in another mass email, a high school student shared his feelings about the start time changes:

"Do you really think kids will get an extra hour of sleep? Or do you think they will just say 'Hey, another hour to play Fortnite I'm such a vape god!'"?

School officials are warning students that they need to refrain from sending out mass emails and also responding to them. 

"Over the past week we have made repeated announcements to students, sent emails, had individual conversations, as well as issued consequences for students who have not complied with our practice," stated the middle school newsletter message. 

Officials are also asking parents to speak with their sons and daughters about abstaining from participating in mass emails.