Published for the Arts Based School Community
January 14, 2021
No School- Monday, January 18
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day
How We Do It and Why
Mary Siebert
“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.” - Rainer Maria Rilke
Teachers come to us unexpectedly, across wide spaces of time and distance, through books, songs, stories, and pictures. They come from the intimate arms that gently hold our meek infant heads, guiding our muscles to strengthen. They walk us through the forest, showing us that the forest itself is the teacher. They deliver lessons in courage across decades, by walking together across a bridge in Selma. They stay up all night to redesign the lesson that must be delivered by morning. They are never wealthy. They never get enough sleep. They always worry about this child, that parent. They surprise themselves with their stamina, and with their own never-ending curiosity and learning. They transform their own learning into more teaching. Teachers are rivers of generosity. In a time when we are all searching for “the better angels of our nature,” we can find inspiration in the generosity of teachers, and in the teacher within each of us.
My middle school choir teacher, Mr. Cole, was a dominating figure with a commanding baritone. Honored by the state of Montana as a “living legend” in the rodeo world, he ran a music program across ten middle schools with unstoppable vigor. Every student was included. Some of them complained and agitated, as middle school students sometimes do, but many of the complainers secretly smuggled the written music home. His select choir of over 600 students sounded like the wind. They loved it, whether or not it was cool to love it.
Mr. Cole influenced my decision to become a professional musician, but my childhood friends in unrelated fields still speak of him, still remember the songs. His inspiration flows on through the music we share at ABS, (he introduced me to The Russian Sleigh Song, a raucous favorite at Friday Sing, and many others.) His energy, shared among us, influences our practice of including everyone in the arts. Mr. Cole passed away last month, at age 93. When I explained who he was to Ms. Hollis, she honored his life by noting that this is an example of how teachers live forever.
Pat Mayfield, who died last week at 77, ran a tiny school in Winston-Salem which consistently earned a five-star rating from the state. With the help of her kindly husband Ed, she transformed the back of her house into a learning space with a loft “castle.” Her kitchen was a tumble of experiments and cooking projects. Her little group of four students attended plays, climbed on mountains of gravel, experimented with costumes, helped with gardening, and painted with easels, visited science labs and bakeries and the newspaper office. She wrote grants to bring in visiting artists. I got lucky - my two-year-old was one of her students for three years.
The first time I delivered my child to Ms. Pat’s, we arrived before the others. There was a table in the center of the room, covered with colorful feathers and beads and felt and other fabulous stuff. My daughter stared at the table and cried “What’s that?” Pat’s focused, cheerful response was: “What IS that?” … and my daughter began her own, fully absorbed exploration. Teachers don’t have to lead with objectives. They can lead with inspiration which propels students toward objectives.
Sometime later, after an impressive project growing triops shrimp from eggs, complete with scientific observation, notes, and drawings which were “published” in a bound book that I still have at home, I asked Pat “What will they be learning about next?” She chuckled and replied: “I don’t know! They haven’t told me yet!” Pat’s curriculum...and there was documented curriculum...was child-driven. She rewrote it again and again, adapting it so that goals were met, powered by student curiosity.
Ms. Pat’s was a model school that inspired others, including ours. ABS shares many of Ms. Pat’s ideas. In our early years, she provided us with resources, ideas, and even some dynamic bins of unique, hands-on materials to inspire explorations of countries far away. (Our 1st grade collection includes a ball of yarn, measured to scale to represent the span of the Great Wall of China.) After retirement, Pat often visited ABS, volunteering to read with young students, attending our shows, helping teachers. She too, will live forever here through her generous, dedicated, inspired teaching.
When our grown-up students return to visit ABS, there is jubilation. In the front office, we all drop whatever we’re doing, and gather to marvel at this wonder of wonders. We behold them, and we also see a thousand memories of them in varying sizes, learning to read, making friends, making mistakes, making art.
What do these young visitors want? They want to see their teachers. They want to tell them that they still remember. We can see that the energy and creativity and persistence of our teachers lives on through these young people, like a tributary flows on through a river.
Student Intent for 2021-22 School Year
As we prepare for next year’s enrollment lottery (2021-22), it is important to know how many spaces are available in each grade. As a current student, your child has priority placement and no additional action is required. If your child is not returning to ABS for the 2021-22 school year, please notify Stephanie LeFever at [email protected]
Siblings of students also receive priority, but must fill out an enrollment application. You must complete an application for the 2021-22 school year for siblings of current students in order to reserve a space before the lottery. The deadline for receiving applications is Jan 31 at 3pm. Please click here to submit an enrollment application.
Inclement Weather
We're at that time of year when some of us start hoping for wintry weather! As you know, this year we were required to have 185 days in our calendar instead of the usual 180. Because of this, we do not have inclement weather days built into our calendar.
During remote learning, there will be no days called off for inclement weather. Teachers will continue to take attendance on a day with bad weather, and it will count as a school day. We know that everyone loves the occasional snow day, and there is a lot to learn and fun to be had by playing outside in the snow! We anticipate that teachers will take this into account when assigning work.
Prospective Parents’ Information
Due to the COVID pandemic we are unable to offer school tours for prospective parents this year. Parents interested in learning more about ABS and how to enroll their child will find information on our website. Applications are now being accepted. The lottery will be held on February 9th via Zoom at 4pm.
MAP Testing in February
Third through eighth grade students will complete the second round of MAP testing February 8-17, 2021. After the testing is complete, parents will receive an updated score report showing the progress your student has made this year.
ReOpening School Plans
Based on the rising number of COVID infections in our community, the Arts Based School Board of Directors voted unanimously to stay in Remote Learning-Plan C until March 19, 2021. The Board will consider the options again on March 9, 2021.
How Do I Stay Up to Date with School ReOpening Plans?
We’re doing our best to keep ABS families, staff and community updated with the latest information about our School ReOpening. We will continue to provide information in multiple places, including direct email, Thursday Notes and Virtual Parent Meetings. If you have specific topics, or questions, please send them to us at this form so we can be sure to address them. Form to submit questions.
2021-22 School Calendar
As we look forward to a more “normal” year, the ABS Student Calendar is being drafted to be considered for Board approval. Please email [email protected] with any feedback or input you would like to be considered as we work on this draft.
School Calendar Considerations
- 180 days of instruction
- Major breaks coincide with WS/FC schools
- Trimester system allows teacher workdays to coincide with parent/teacher conferences
- Begin school year earlier than WS/FC school to secure enrollment and fill from waiting list
- Snow make up days are built into calendar throughout the school year
- Gather input from teachers, staff, and parents
Board Member Nominations
The ABS Board nominating committee is now accepting applications to serve on the ABS Board of Directors. To learn more about Board member expectations and responsibilities, please read the performance expectations outlined here. Interested candidates should complete and submit signed application forms by January 31st. The skill sets we’re hoping to fulfill include expertise in accounting/finance, real estate, and facilities.