Middle School STEAM teacher, Erica Jenkins, received a mini-grant from the Guido A. and Elizabeth Binda Foundation, coordinated by the Calhoun Intermediate School District, allowing her to purchase a Pitsco Structures Testing Instrument.
This school year, 7th-grade STEAM students designed and built balsa wood towers with the goal to build the lightest tower that holds the most weight before it breaks. This new tester, used in High School and College engineering courses and competitions, provides the students with data on where the tower is the weakest, allowing them to improve their designs. The winning tower this quarter held 192 pounds.
Harper Creek Community Schools is grateful to Ms. Jenkins for her time and dedication to creating thoughtful lessons and seeking out new ways to Educate, Empower, and Equip Students for Life.
Seventh-grade STEAM students test their balsa wood towers to see how many pounds they will support.
Harper's Unsung Hero - Matt Bilger December 3, 2025
Matt grew up in the Bilger family, the second of four children. He was different than his siblings, the first in his family to participate in athletics. Through these differences, Matt has been able to find his own niche as a teacher and a coach. He has developed a passion for his career, making an impact on current and former Harper Creek students.
Harper Creek Students to Experience Hispanic Flamenco Ballet Thanks to Local Grant Support December 1, 2025
Harper Creek Students to Experience Live Hispanic Flamenco Ballet This Spring
More than 700 Harper Creek students will immerse themselves in the vibrant sights and sounds of Hispanic culture during the 3rd Annual Spanish Cultural Awareness Project on March 19, 2026. Held at the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium, the event features a live performance by the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet and offers tailored experiences for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Made possible through generous grants from the Binda Foundation and the Miller Foundation, the program blends music, dance, and cultural traditions with classroom learning to deepen language skills and global awareness.
Harper's Unsung Hero - Karen Westlake October 30, 2025
Karen spent her career seeing the world working in the airline industry. The experiences as an airline attendant provided a lifetime of memories. Looking for an opportunity to get out of the house each day, a few decades after retiring, Karen joined the Harper Creek family a year ago as a lunch and recess aide.





