Published for the Arts Based School Community
March 11, 2021
How We Do It and Why
by Mary Siebert
“I am still learning.” – Michelangelo
Third grade students are introduced to the Italian Renaissance as part of an exploration of innovation and its power to initiate change. They study their science goals of the solar system and body systems in tandem with the art of Leonardo DaVinci, who helped create breakthroughs in those scientific fields. They are inspired by Leonardo’s inventions. His hundreds of designs for flying machines demonstrated limitless thinking that led fanciful ideas into future reality.
The artist and his work are introduced in both art and the classroom, as are other details of the Renaissance in Italy. Maps, biographies, scientific precision in drawing the muscular and skeletal systems are examined. Renaissance music, perspective drawing, and the posture and traditional dance movements of Renaissance dance are explored.
DaVinci also created elaborate stage mechanisms, dazzling the audience at celebratory events. Inspired by this, third graders present a retelling of the Greek myth Jason and the Golden Fleece. Students typically open this performance with a processional dance and a performance on their recorders. The inventive production team and arts specialists have reimagined and included these opportunities for distance learners.
This year, students were required to intensify gesture and facial expression, to overcome the limitations of distance and Zoom. They are featured wearing the tunic costumes that were rapidly constructed by a small army of parent volunteers. We, the audience, quickly forget that they are in their kitchens and living rooms. The enthusiasm, energy, and humor the children bring to this task is delightful and restorative to see.
3rd Grade Videos of “Renaissance Spectacles” are here!
Please visit the Family Portal of our website for access to view them.
ReOpening School Plans
The Arts Based School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night, to provide in-person learning beginning April 6.
We continue to prepare for the return to the classrooms for parents that choose that option for their child. We are committed to following all current required Health and Safety requirements. (updated March 4) provided by NCDHHS.
Students will return on a staggered schedule:
- April 6 Grades K-1, Tues/Thurs Cohort of 6-8
- April 7 Grade K-5, Wed/Fri Cohort of 6-8
We are working with three plans:
- K-5 would follow Plan A: Regular schedule, 4 days a week, minimal distancing, mask mandatory.
- 6-8 would follow Plan B: 6 ft distancing, every other day attendance, mask mandatory.
- Some students would elect Plan C: Remote Learning - Joining the classroom instruction via Zoom while the teacher is teaching those in the classroom.
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 via this form so we can be sure to address them. Form to submit questions.
ABS ReOpening School Updates Recording-March 10
What can parents do to get ready for in-person learning?
- Complete ABS Parent Confirmation: Return to In-person or Remote
- Download Pikmykid app to your phone.
- Have children practice wearing masks.
- Stayed tuned for updates.
- Continue to educate yourself and review the COVID safety protocols.
- Consider what option your family will choose between in person and remote learning so you are ready to complete the confirmation form.
PikMyKid App
So far we have 59 parents who have registered with the Pikmykid app. That’s 9% of our parents. For families who choose to return to in-person learning, it is important that you
download the PikMyKid parent smartphone app on IOS or Android. Once you have downloaded the app, you will press the “Register” button and follow the prompts to sign up. When you have successfully registered, please log in, allow notifications, and check to make sure that you see your ABS student(s) listed. If you do not see your child’s name, it is most likely because we do not have your mobile phone information. Please contact Stephanie LeFever at [email protected]
If you do not have a smartphone or are unable to download the PikMyKid app for any reason, please email Leah Lavin so that we can help find a solution: [email protected].
For more information about Pikmykid, visit our school website.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why now? What changed your mind?
A: Two of the guideposts have improved. Local health metrics are trending down and teachers have been vaccinated.
Q: Why wait until April 6?
A: Teachers would be fully vaccinated- 2 weeks after their second dose which allows more teachers to teach in person, reducing potential staffing shortages.
-Returning on March 23 could be difficult since that is the scheduled 2nd dose for teachers/staff. We would not want a student to spend his/her first day of in person learning with a sub who is attempting to teach in a hybrid model with students they don’t know yet, or have a sub trying to teach and monitor all safety protocols with students for the first days of school.
Q: What happens if a student or class or teacher gets sick?
A: We would follow all protocols required by the Forsyth County Health Dept. in the event of an exposure or positive case. It may mean students, class, or grade level are quarantined and moved to remote learning until cleared to return.
Q: What about performances? Will they be normal again?
A: Performances will remain Zoom productions, in order to include both in-person and remote students, to keep all students masked and appropriately distanced, and to perform without live audiences, while still sharing with families.
A: We will ask parents to choose in-person or remote learning on March 10-12 so we can finalize schedules and class placement. This election by parents of whether to return a child to school or remain remote would be binding absent exceptional circumstances.
A: Yes, more information about AfterSchool program coming soon.
Q: Will we have Pizza Friday?
A: No, We will not be offering Pizza Fridays. Teachers will be managing their own classes for lunch, so there will be no lunch monitors and no parent volunteers. In the 7th St building, the students are not all here on Friday, so one cohort of 6-8 would never get pizza! For those reasons, we will not offer pizza on Fridays
Q: Will you consider making one teacher a remote teacher and the other two teachers in-person?
A: Structuring our grade level teams to teach only remote or only in-person would certainly be easier for teachers. It would require that the perfect numbers of students choose remote/in-person such that 40 students are in-person and 20 students are remote to accommodate the in-person learners. It would also require that we rearrange students and potentially change teachers. We will not be able to evaluate the full possibility of this option until parents confirm their decision about being remote or in-person. This structure would not be possible for our 7-8th graders because we have only one teacher per subject at that grade level.
Q:Can you open windows/doors to increase outdoor ventilation?
A: No, we do not have windows in the classrooms that can open. We would not open our exterior doors because that could compromise building security. Our updated ventilation system uses an ionization process to remove viruses, bacteria, and mold from the air. This system is designed for a closed system.
Q: Will students be allowed to drink from their water bottles during the school day?
A: Ideally, water bottles go outside with students/teachers each time you are outside to provide a chance to drink. If you are drinking in the classroom, it is permissible to raise the bottom of the mask at the chin to take a short drink.
Q: Will students get to play at recess?
A: To accommodate outdoor use for each classroom, we will schedule a 15 minute outdoor recess, outdoor lunches, and outdoor mask breaks. Students will be required to wear a mask during recess.
Q: Why keep remote day on Monday instead of Wednesday like the school system?
A:Many ABS families already have schedules and routines in place for Remote Learning Mondays. For remote learning, it’s helpful to receive week’s assignments and schedule at the beginning of the week.
8th Grade "Guess Who?" and All Grades Virtual Learning Photos Needed
Please email [email protected] one toddler or baby photo of your 8th grader for the Yearbook's 8th grade "Guess Who?" Page ASAP. All grades may also submit photos of your student learning virtually.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PHOTOS FOR THE YEARBOOK IS MARCH 26.
Yearbooks may be ordered for $22 online via YEARBOOK ORDERS (deadline is April 15). Photos should be emailed to [email protected] and please list your child's grade/teacher. Thank you!
ABS Alumni in RJ Reynolds Jesus Christ Superstar
A large number of ABS alumni are filling important roles, onstage and off, for RJReynolds’ performance this weekend. The live stream will be Friday March 19th at 7:30pm on youtube. Virtual tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/superstarrjr