BackPack Press
Welcome to BackPack Press — your go-to source for uplifting stories from local schools. We’re here to celebrate education by sharing the voices of students, teachers, and staff, highlighting achievements, and connecting schools with the communities they serve. Through engaging storytelling, valuable resources, and a fresh perspective, BackPack Press shines a light on the great work happening in education every day.
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The Michigan Department of Education's Resource for Blind/Low Vision and Resource for Deaf/Hard of Hearing programs are inviting families with children ages 0–5 to Little Explorers at Camp Tuhsmeheta. The event offers story time, music, crafts, movement, and hands-on activities designed to foster learning, confidence, and meaningful connections among families.
There was no shortage of smiles at Heartwood School as students and staff came together for a summer foam party. Filled with music, laughter, and plenty of bubbles, the event celebrated the joy of being together while creating unforgettable end-of-summer memories.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Sinas Dramis Law Firm's Lids for Kids initiative, children participating in Ingham ISD's Play & Learn Group at the Refugee Development Center will have new bicycle helmets to help them ride safely. The partnership highlights the power of community organizations working together to support children's health, safety, and well-being.
MORE TO EXPLORE
Early Childhood
EARLY CHILDHOOD STORIES
The Michigan Department of Education's Resource for Blind/Low Vision and Resource for Deaf/Hard of Hearing programs are inviting families with children ages 0–5 to Little Explorers at Camp Tuhsmeheta. The event offers story time, music, crafts, movement, and hands-on activities designed to foster learning, confidence, and meaningful connections among families.
Families across Ingham County can take advantage of Ingham ISD’s free Play & Learn Groups this summer. The outdoor sessions are designed for children from birth to age 5 and feature stories, songs, play-based activities, and early learning opportunities. No registration is required.
At Ingham ISD Play & Learn Groups, learning looks a lot like fun. Through play, art, stories and shared experiences, young children and their caregivers are building important skills—and meaningful connections along the way.
When educators, community leaders, and partners come together, the impact goes far beyond conversation. In Ingham County, collaboration is shaping how students—and families—experience support.
For the ninth year in a row, Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program has met every national quality benchmark. Behind that recognition? Real classrooms, real educators, and real impact for kids and families.
Special Education
SPECIAL EDUCATION STORIES
There was no shortage of smiles at Heartwood School as students and staff came together for a summer foam party. Filled with music, laughter, and plenty of bubbles, the event celebrated the joy of being together while creating unforgettable end-of-summer memories.
Spartan Project SEARCH has been recognized with an Excellent Outcomes Award for achieving a 70–90% successful hiring rate among its 2024–25 cohort. The honor reflects the dedication of students, instructors, business partners, and community supporters working together to create meaningful pathways to competitive employment.
Surrounded by families, friends, classmates, and staff, students celebrated a milestone years in the making. Each graduate's journey reflected determination, growth, and the collective support of the educators and loved ones who helped them reach this moment.
Heartwood School's annual Family Picnic brought students, families, and staff together to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer. The event featured games, bubbles, bounce houses, food, and plenty of opportunities for connection, highlighting the strong partnerships that support student success.
For Heartwood School students, a recent Special Olympics Track & Field event was about much more than competition. It was a day filled with teamwork, cheering, personal victories, and moments that celebrated the hard work students have shown throughout the year. The event provided opportunities for athletes of all abilities to participate, compete, and shine.
General Education
GENERAL EDUCATION STORIES
Thanks to a generous donation from the Sinas Dramis Law Firm's Lids for Kids initiative, children participating in Ingham ISD's Play & Learn Group at the Refugee Development Center will have new bicycle helmets to help them ride safely. The partnership highlights the power of community organizations working together to support children's health, safety, and well-being.
Learning doesn't stop when the school year ends. Discover free and low-cost summer opportunities available throughout the Ingham ISD service area, plus simple strategies families can use to prevent the "summer slide" and keep young minds engaged all season.
Summer break should not mean worrying about where the next meal will come from. Through Michigan’s Meet Up and Eat Up program, children and teens 18 and under can access free meals at participating locations across local communities—no registration or paperwork required. Michigan’s summer meal programs are designed to help bridge the nutrition gap while school is out.
Professional learning doesn’t stop after onboarding. Recently, members of Ingham ISD’s Pupil Accounting team attended the Michigan Pupil Accounting & Attendance Association Spring Conference to strengthen knowledge, build connections and bring back insights that support schools and students across the region.
When school leaders work together, student voices grow stronger. Representatives from Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties recently gathered through the CARES Collaborative to meet with legislative officials and discuss education priorities, school funding, and the future of public education across the region. The CARES Collaborative—Capital Area Regional Education Strategy—was formed to strengthen regional advocacy efforts and ensure schools have a stronger, more unified voice in policy conversations.
Career Prep
CAREER PREP STORIES
More Stories
With a theme focused on the power of asking “What If?”, the 2025–26 school year launched with messages of possibility, perseverance, and partnership—from keynote speakers to inspiring educators across the region.
For many students, learning experiences extend far beyond the classroom walls.
Recently, students from the Beekman Center spent a day at Jackson® Field™ for a Lansing Lugnuts School Day experience — creating memories filled with cheering crowds, ballpark snacks, mascot visits and smiles shared with classmates and staff.
What happens when business leaders step into the shoes of school leaders? At Waverly High School, “Principal for a Day” is more than just a title—it’s a powerful way to bridge classrooms and careers.
Students in Ms. Angela Wanger’s class put heart and hustle into every dish of their early Thanksgiving feast—chopping, baking, serving, and celebrating the joy of learning together.
