Student Life

Student Life at Harding Charter Preparatory

Follow the everyday moments that shape campus culture at HCP — honor ensembles, spirit celebrations, exchange-student journeys, club events and long-standing school traditions, all reported by The Marionette's student journalists.

Student musicians performing with the local honor band
Musicians join the All City honor band
Exchange student enjoying activities with new classmates
An exchange student settles into American school life
Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event hosted by the Black Student Union
Trunk-or-Treat brings Halloween fun to campus
Students balancing schoolwork and new attendance expectations
New attendance rules spark campus conversation
Student dressed for a Hispanic Heritage Week theme day
Dressing up for Hispanic Heritage Week
Hispanic Heritage Week celebration at HCP
Latinx Student Association hosts Heritage Week
Exchange student Tony Weigelt joining the HCP community
HCPHS welcomes an exchange student from Germany
Teacher of the Year Emma Smreker inspired by ballet and books
Ballet, books and beyond with a beloved teacher

Latest Student Life Stories

Local honor band features HCP musicians

By Camila Noyola • March 7, 2026 — The All City band clinic took place Jan. 24 at Classen SAS High School @ Northeast, drawing participants from Capitol Hill, Classen SAS, Douglass, Harding Fine Arts, John Marshall, Northwest and more.

German exchange student embraces American culture

January 16, 2026 — Junior Simon Graef relocated from Berlin, Germany to Kentucky through an exchange program, quickly settling in by joining track and other activities alongside his new classmates.

Students participate in city-wide honor orchestra

By Camila Noyola • December 2, 2025 — The All City Orchestra performed Nov. 1 at the All City clinic at Classen SAS High School, with Thomas Taylor Dickey, conductor of the orchestra program at Oklahoma State University, leading the session.

Spirit Week kicks off with games, festivities

By Becca Jolly and Jack Powell • December 2, 2025 — Campus celebrations launch with games and festive activities for students.

Get scared at school-sponsored Halloween events

By Camila Noyola • October 16, 2026 — The annual Haunted Maze and Trunk-or-Treat returns Oct. 25, hosted by Student Council and the Black Student Union (BSU) respectively.

Balancing act: New attendance rules challenge student engagement

By Miranda Rodriguez • September 26, 2026 — With the rebranding of HCP came fresh attendance policies, and school activity absences have become the biggest concern among the student body.

Get involved and 'clash' for prizes

By Nyla Jones • September 26, 2026 — To boost school spirit and event participation, Student Council introduced the Clash of Classes, a nearly year-long point battle between each grade and the faculty.

Hispanic Heritage Week 2024

By Adrianna Hill • September 19, 2026 — During the week of Sept. 22, the Latinx Student Association holds its annual Hispanic Heritage Week, with daily dress-up themes, after-school events and more for HCP students.

HCPHS says 'Willkommen' to exchange student

By Adrianna Hill • September 12, 2026 — Tony Weigelt, an exchange student from Dresden, Saxony in eastern Germany, joins the school for his junior year. "It's way different here," Weigelt said. "Everything is bigger."

Ballet, books and beyond

By Becca Jolly • August 29, 2026 — 2024 Harding Charter Preparatory High School Teacher of the Year Emma Smreker has loved the French language since childhood, starting with ballet classes.

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About Student Life coverage

The Student Life section of The Marionette follows the day-to-day experiences of students at Harding Charter Preparatory High School — from honor bands and orchestras to spirit weeks, exchange students, club events and school traditions. Stories here are reported and written by student journalists and cover the activities, organizations and moments that shape campus culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of stories appear in the Student Life section?
Student Life covers campus culture and student experiences, including honor band and orchestra performances, spirit weeks, Hispanic Heritage Week, exchange-student stories, club events such as Trunk-or-Treat and the Haunted Maze, and school traditions like Clash of Classes.
Who writes the Student Life stories?
Stories are reported and written by student journalists on The Marionette staff, with bylines such as Camila Noyola, Becca Jolly, Jack Powell, Miranda Rodriguez, Nyla Jones, Adrianna Hill and others credited on individual articles.
How often is Student Life updated?
New Student Life stories are published throughout the school year as events happen. Use the "Load More Stories" button at the bottom of the story list to view older coverage.
Can I find Student Life coverage in other formats?
Yes. Some Student Life stories include video, such as the Spirit Week coverage, and The Marionette also publishes Video and Audio sections linked in the main navigation.
How can I share a story idea with The Marionette?
Visit the About page or the Staff page to learn more about the publication and how to reach the editorial team.

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