Welcome to Harper Creek Community Schools

Harper Creek Community Schools is celebrating another exciting milestone as its Cultural Awareness Project prepares for its fourth annual event on Friday, March 19, 2027, at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.

The project was developed around a meaningful educational goal: helping students discover that learning Spanish connects them to a much larger language-learning community beyond the walls of their individual classrooms.

Through authentic Hispanic cultural experiences, students have opportunities to connect what they learn in school with language, music, traditions, and people beyond their immediate surroundings. Participating alongside hundreds of students from other schools also helps young learners recognize that they are part of something much bigger than their own classroom.

Community Foundations Invest in Student Learning

Between October 21 and November 6, 2026, the Cultural Awareness Project received three significant grant approvals totaling $17,563.27 in grant support to date.

October 21 — Miller Foundation: A $9,404.79 BCreative Arts Grant to support the professional cultural performance.

October 31 — Harper Creek Educational Foundation: A $2,158.48 B. Forward Grant, contributing important resources toward the upcoming cultural experience.

November 6 — Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation: Six Calhoun Intermediate School District Mini Grants, totaling up to $6,000 in student transportation support.

The six Harper Creek educators who collaborated on the successful CISD Mini Grant applications are Lesa Kenney, Vanessa Woods, Hellen Tejada, Chelsea Beam, Lori Halder, and Elliot Brinker.

Their teamwork, along with the generosity of these community foundations, helps remove financial barriers and makes meaningful cultural learning experiences more accessible to students.

While these awards represent substantial progress toward funding the fourth annual event, additional funding is still needed to cover remaining project expenses. Organizers continue exploring opportunities for community support.

More Than a Concert: The Justo Lamas Group Featuring Emanuel

On March 19, 2027, the Cultural Awareness Project will welcome the Justo Lamas Group featuring Emanuel for its Raíces Tour at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium in Battle Creek.

Established in 1998, the Justo Lamas Group has introduced students throughout the United States to Spanish-language music and Hispanic cultures through engaging, interactive educational performances.

Emanuel, an Argentine singer, continues the group's tradition of connecting music, language, culture, and meaningful audience participation.

Unlike a traditional concert, this learning experience begins well before students arrive at the auditorium. Participating teachers can incorporate the group's songs, lyrics, and educational resources into classroom instruction, helping students become familiar with the music and language they will encounter during the performance.

When students gather at the auditorium, they will have opportunities to recognize familiar vocabulary, sing along, and participate in a shared cultural experience alongside hundreds of other young language learners.

Approximately 1,900 students and educators from Harper Creek and neighboring school communities are anticipated.

Helping Students Discover a Larger Language-Learning Community

The Cultural Awareness Project seeks to make learning another language personally meaningful by connecting classroom instruction with authentic cultural experiences.

By bringing students together across classrooms, grade levels, and school districts, the event helps demonstrate that Spanish is not simply another subject studied at school. It is a living language that connects people across communities and cultures.

"When students come together with hundreds of other learners who have been preparing for the same experience, we hope they begin to recognize that they belong to a larger language-learning community," said Lesa Kenney, Cultural Awareness Project Coordinator and elementary Spanish teacher. "Our goal is for students to experience the excitement of using and understanding Spanish beyond their classrooms and to recognize the connections language can create."

Through these opportunities, the project aims to inspire curiosity, encourage cultural appreciation, strengthen students' confidence, and motivate them to continue learning another language.

Four Years of Growth

Now entering its fourth year, the Cultural Awareness Project continues to build upon previous successes.

The third annual event, held in March 2026, featured the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet and welcomed approximately 1,800 students and educators to W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.

What began as an effort to expand cultural learning opportunities for elementary students has developed into a regional experience bringing together learners from multiple schools and grade levels.

This continued growth reflects the dedication of educators, the support of district leadership, and the generosity of community partners who recognize the importance of meaningful learning beyond the classroom.

Harper Creek Community Schools extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation, the Miller Foundation, and the Harper Creek Educational Foundation for their generous investments in students and their commitment to expanding educational opportunities.

Together, these partnerships demonstrate how schools and community organizations can collaborate to create meaningful experiences that inspire learning, encourage cultural understanding, and help students discover connections beyond their own communities.

Explore the Cultural Awareness Project

Families, educators, and community members are invited to explore the project's four-year history, educational impact, past performances, funding partnerships, and preparations for the 2027 experience through its digital ePortfolio.

Cultural Awareness Project | Portfolio & Impact

https://sites.google.com/harpercreek.net/hc-cultural-awareness-project/home

The ePortfolio also features photographs, project highlights, and information about the upcoming Raíces Tour featuring Emanuel.

The Educational Benefits Form (historically known as the Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application) does far more than determine meal eligibility. While universal free meal programs in many states guarantee that every student eats for free, filling out this document remains critical for both the district's operating budget and individual student opportunities.

1. Securing Direct District & Classroom Funding

State and federal funding allocations—such as Title I funds and state equalization grants—are directly calculated based on the percentage of submitted Educational Benefits Forms. Returning these forms ensures schools receive money to pay for:

At Risk: Counselors, Credit Recovery, Paraprofessionals, MTSS and Behavior Academic Interventions, Student Support Specialist

Title: Instructional Coaches, Homeless Help, Professional Development

2. Expanding Community Grants & Tech Discounts

Federal programs rely on school data from these forms to provide steep discounts on internet access, Wi-Fi infrastructure, and hardware for classrooms. Additionally, public and private grant programs often use low-income percentages as a benchmark when deciding which schools receive extra educational grants.

3. Direct Savings for Eligible Families

Qualifying based on the form unlocks direct cost reductions for students, including:

 Waived or discounted fees for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. Fee waivers for college applications. Discounted rates for school athletic participation, club fees, and field trips. Automatic eligibility for household food benefits like Summer EBT. 

The Bottom Line

When families skip filling out the form, the district loses out on thousands of dollars. Submitting it ensures the district gets every dollar it is owed to support all students.

Seventh-grade students at Harper Creek Middle School are getting hands-on engineering experience thanks to a mini-grant awarded to STEAM teacher Erica Jenkins.