Big changes are coming to one small town in Morrow County, Oregon. Andrea Nelson first came to the Heppner community as an educator and artist 17 years ago. Nelson is now the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math teacher for Heppner Schools. While in this role, she ensures that students are given the ability to tap into their creative side, and learn to problem solve as early as the elementary school level.
Nelson reported that she tries to intertwine the subjects whenever possible. She gave an example of combining geography and art into one lesson about map reading and drawing. Currently, elementary school students are learning about different ecosystems, including wetlands. For this unit, students were instructed to design lilypads, which are a native species to the wetlands. This assignment helps students with their motor skills, and allows them an additional opportunity to connect with the course material.
Students in grades 7-12 are learning coding skills at the moment, and recently updated their display at the Morrow County Bartholomew Building. The display was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s work, Sunflowers.
Not only does Nelson advocate for the inclusion of the (A)rts in the position she has now, she also works closely with the Morrow County Cultural Coalition, in helping develop Heppner’s Community Art Center and Pottery Studio. Both are currently in the works. The Willow Street Arts & Business Innovation Center will be located in the old Heppner Gazette headquarters; the pottery studio will be housed near Flood Town Books on Main Street. The goal for the space is to provide a space for the arts in South Morrow County that is available to students and the community.
Nelson reports that when she lived in Pendleton, she felt more connected to the art scene. Now, she is trying to offer the same feeling to not only students, but their families as well. Nelson describes a student completing a pottery project in school, and walking it down to the studio after school to have it fired in the kiln. I envision student art showcases, and an entry-level pottery class for folks looking to try a new hobby. One thing is for sure, the possibilities are endless.
