Thanksgiving came early at the Beekman Center thanks to the hard work and huge hearts of Room 134. Under the guidance of teacher Angela Wanger, students planned, prepared, and cooked a full Thanksgiving meal from start to finish—and served it up with pride.
Students jumped into each part of the process: chopping, mixing, baking, setting up, serving, and sharing their excitement with friends and staff. The classroom was filled with the smells of home cooking, the sounds of teamwork, and the kind of joy that makes memories stick. It was a hands-on experience in both culinary skills and life skills—building independence, confidence, and connection.
Watching students show off their kitchen skills was the real treat of the day. With supportive staff at their sides, students took the lead, learned by doing, and lit up the room with gratitude and excitement.
A delicious reminder that when learning is full of purpose and pride, everyone leaves full.
Recent Stories:
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.
Government can feel distant when you only read about it in textbooks. But for students in Spartan Project SEARCH, a recent visit to the Michigan Capitol turned civic learning into a real-world experience. From meeting with State Senator Sarah Anthony to observing activity inside the Senate chamber, students gained a firsthand look at the many people and moving parts that help serve communities across Michigan.




