Several Heartland art students have artwork on display in the executive hallways at the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Oliver Hodge Building in OKC.
The Oklahoma State Dept of Education is in the Oliver Hodge Building on the Capitol campus. The address is: Oklahoma State Capitol, 2500 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Park northwest of the building and enter on the west side (main parking lot).
The art gallery is displayed in front of the executive office hall of the OSDE Oliver Hodge Building. Art is also displayed in the north hallway of the building. Unfortunately the hallways are not open to the public - please call or email Elizabeth Maughan about visitation times.
Contact Elizabeth Maughan, PhD
Fine Arts Project Manager
Oklahoma State Department of Education
(405) 522-0863
elizabeth.maughan@sde.ok.gov
The Oliver Hodge building closes at 4:30 p.m. every day, so plan ahead.
Please enjoy the photos if you are unable to schedule a time to view in person with Ms. Maughan.
Way to go Thunderhawks!
Heartland's Spring Book Fair (in partnership with local bookstore Best of Books) is coming soon with two shopping options. Students may shop at school Friday May 9 through Tuesday May 13 from a selection of books and items for middle school students. Families may also shop in-store (for books and items for all ages) at Best of Books Wednesday May 7 through Wednesday May 14 (just mention Heartland Book Fair at checkout). Heartland Media Center will receive a portion of all sales as store credit to buy more books for our library collection. Thank you for your support!
Today we had the opportunity to host award-winning author Dusti Bowling at Heartland! She signed books, conducted a writers workshop for young writers and spoke to the entire sixth grade about the writing process "From Spark to Story," sharing her real-life inspirations for her many books and encouraging students to keep trying even when things get hard. She was a compelling speaker with many interesting stories. Many thanks to the Heartland Parent Organization for helping to sponsor this event! If anyone missed out on purchasing a book, signed copies will also be available at our spring book fair in May.
Congratulations to Kiera Ford for her selection to the American Association of University Women's Girls Hall of Honor!
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Edmond branch started the Girls Hall of Honor to recognize 7th grade girls who exemplify strong leadership qualities. Each year, Edmond middle school teachers nominate outstanding girls from their schools. These nominees then fill out a questionnaire about themselves and their achievements. The AAUW then selects one girl from each Edmond middle school to honor at a reception, where they will give a brief presentation about themselves and be inducted into the AAUW Girls Hall of Honor. The honorees are featured in the display case in the lobby of the Edmond Public Library during the month of March – Women’s History Month.
All STEAM Art students considered the importance of Structural Engineering. Students created large 3D paper mache’ masks from cardboard, tape, newspaper and paper mache glue. Students considered how to interlock support beams (cardboard) for strength as well as how the interlocking beams can be used to form and shape their designs. Other challenges students explored were layering of the newsprint for strength, functionality of wearable art, constructing a 360 degree portrait of their favorite celebrity, and being able to physically see from under their structures.
6th Grade STEAM Art students explored mechanical energy (the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy). Students were challenged to design a slingshot car made from poster board, tape and popsicle sticks. Students also discussed how car engineers design automobiles to have built in crumple zones to protect drivers from head-on accidents (Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion). Other energy-absorbing features designed to protect passengers are airbags, front and rear crash areas, and padded dashes.
3/4/25 Update: This project won $500 for the February Devon Thunder Explorers Program! The $500 will be used to purchase more STEAM Art classroom supplies.
Last week Heartland students participated in Double PUP (People Uplifting People) Dare Week in conjunction with Edmond Santa Fe High School's philanthropic Double Wolf Dare Week (DWDW) where the students band together and raise money for a specific charity & a common thread charity. The common thread charity is a group that all the schools in Edmond raise money to support. Middle schools in town participate in a very scaled-down version to support those efforts and that money goes directly to the common thread. Heartland's Double PUP Dare Week included student vs. staff all star games for each grade level, a donut day, and a dare assembly to help raise money to support the cause! Through these events, Heartland students raised $6,112 to donate the common thread, No Boundaries International!
Today Heartland hosted its annual Black History Month assembly with the theme We Can. Dynamic keynote speaker Kuinten Rucker challenged students to watch their thoughts, and in so doing, take hold of their destiny. Heartland Orchestra, Jazz Band, Show Choir and RZE Step Team performed, and there were numerous individual student performances from original poetry readings to dance to music. 5th graders from nearby elementary schools were also in attendance. Heartland recognizes and celebrates the many notable contributions of Black Americans that continue to shape our world today!
Because of continued isolated icy roads in parts of our district as well as slick and dangerous parking lots and sidewalks, Edmond Public Schools will move to remote learning for all schools for Thursday, February 13th.
Students should refer to information sent by their school site for assignments that will need to be completed for attendance to be counted.
Based on the current forecasts, we plan to be back to in-person school on Friday.
Because of the predicted freezing rain creating poor road conditions overnight, Edmond Public Schools will move to remote learning for all schools for Wednesday, February 12th.
Students should refer to information sent by their school site for assignments that will need to be completed for attendance to be counted.
Updated to reflect correct date.
Congratulations to 6th grade geography teacher Mrs. Alex Williams, Heartland's 2025 Rookie Teacher of the Year!
Because of an increasing number of student and staff absences this week, we have made the difficult decision to close school for all Edmond Public Schools for tomorrow, Friday, January 31st. Extracurricular activities will continue as scheduled.
This decision was made in advance to give our families and staff members time to prepare. We will let you know as soon as possible how this instructional time will be made up.
We look forward to seeing your students back in class on Monday morning.
Because of continued snowfall and roads freezing overnight, all Edmond Public Schools will move to remote learning for Friday, January 10th. Students should refer to information sent by their school site for assignments that will need to be completed for attendance to be counted.
Because of today’s snowfall, all EPS evening activities for Thursday, January 9th are canceled. This includes all rehearsals, athletic events and practices.
Mr. Wilmes's STEAM Art students considered challenging the rule of thought and the importance of topographic images for documenting the environmental changes in our world such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the Polar Ice Caps. Students explored a wide variety of geographical locations using maps and images such as aerial satellite, weather, precipitation, humidity, temperature, multispectral, and thermal. Their images were simplified and colors were altered to create large mixed-media abstractions.
Mr. Wilmes's STEAM Art students explored how perpendicular force can affect centripetal force. While learning how to create pottery on the pottery wheel, students considered how perpendicular force, compression, friction, stabilization and speed were used to create functional pottery such as cylinders, bowls, and tea pots.
Congratulations to Cheryl Thatcher, Heartland's 2025 Support Employee of the Year! Mrs. Thatcher serves as principal's secretary at Heartland and is an integral part of the Heartland family!
This morning, local author (and EPS teacher!) R. Loomis visited Heartland Middle School and spoke to young writers in the NaNoWriMo Hawk Hangout where students are working toward writing an entire novel in a month. Mrs. Loomis's book Touch of Kindness came out this past summer. Our students absolutely loved hearing about her journey to becoming a published author and being able to ask their own questions about the writing process and how it works to get a book published. We are so thankful that she took the time to visit and share her knowledge and experience with our students!
Heartland Middle School recently honored veterans in the community and those connected to Heartland Middle School students and staff in its annual Veterans Day Assembly. The assembly featured performances by the Heartland Choir, Band and Orchestra and students learned about the history and purpose of each military branch. We are so thankful for the sacrifices of our military veterans.
Due to the threat of severe weather, all Edmond Public Schools will move to remote learning for Monday, November 18. Students should refer to information sent by their school site for assignments that will need to be completed for attendance to be counted.
