Published for the Arts Based School Community
July 15, 2021
First Day of School –Wed, August 18th
Welcome To ABS!
Hello to all our new and returning families! As we continue to enjoy our summer, we’re also doing the planning and preparation work to launch into a great school year. Although there are still some unknowns based on the COVID pandemic, we anticipate having all our students back to in-person learning on a regular schedule for the 2021-22 school year. The State continues to provide updates on requirements for health and safety in the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit. We will keep you informed as we know more.
Staffing Updates
I am pleased to introduce our amazing teachers—both new to ABS and long-time veterans. Each year as part of our hiring process, we get to meet many wonderful educators who are excited about the way we teach children. Here's the full line up for 2021-22:
Kindergarten:
Trish Goldberg and Melissa Scott, Matthew Greene and Mary Rogers, Ashley Rudd and Calum O’Boyle
First Grade:
Kathie Fansler and Tashina Fielding, Nicole Howard and Jennifer Fletcher, Sherell McArthur and Dawanna Benjamin
Second Grade:
Jess Broughton, Nicole Londoño, Missy Warren
Third Grade:
Ashley Brady, Anne Campbell, Becca Lard
Fourth Grade:
Amanda McGarry-Pike, Kelly Robertson, Renee Meeks
Fifth Grade:
Alex DeJarnette, Laura Lynne Frazier, Adam Tate
Sixth Grade:
Alysha Christian, Courtney Hedgecock, Katie Hugus
Seventh/Eighth Grades:
Rob Rambach, Jennifer Lewis, Lenora McNamara, LeeAnn Farrell, Melissa Cleland
The Arts:
Jan Adams, Brian Schmoyer, Mary Boudreault, Heidi McIver, Elizabeth Gledhill, Jordan Brown, Kenneth Northcutt
Spanish:
Deisy Tellez
PE:
Coach Bri
Support Staff:
Alexis Long (Counselor), Ceci McGuire (Reading Specialist), Ashley DeStasio (EC Teacher), Anne Faulkner (EC Teacher), Meredith Bowles (Speech Therapy), Leigh Meeks (Occupational Therapy), Ashley Tate (Interventionist), Liz Green (Curriculum Coordinator)
Administrative Staff:
Robin Hollis (Principal), Paige Raper (Asst Principal), Mary Siebert (Arts Director), Angela Garner (Business Mgr), Stephanie LeFever (Operations/Afterschool Director), Hannah Bethune (Receptionist), Donna Brown (Receptionist), Leah Lavin (Director of Community Relations)
Welcome to ABS New Staff!
Kenneth Northcutt joins the ABS team as our middle school music teacher. Mr. Northcutt has his Master’s from UNCSA in clarinet performance and his BA from WSSU in Music Education. Most recently he taught in Wayne County Public Schools.
Deisy Tellez is originally from Columbia and has been teaching in North Carolina since 2014, most recently at Smith Farm Elementary as a dual immersion teacher. She is a licensed NC teacher with a bachelor’s in education from Universidad Pedagogica Nacional.
Calum O’Boyle joins Mrs. Rudd in the kindergarten classroom as a teaching assistant. Many of you know Mr. Calum from the afterschool program and as our lunch monitor. Mr. Calum is also our first alumnus working at ABS!
Jennifer Fletcher will be working with Mrs. Howard in the first grade classroom as a teaching assistant. Ms. Fletcher has her Bachelor’s from Salem College and has worked as a teacher at Applied Family Services and ABC of NC School.
Medicines at School
The Arts Based School staff is not allowed to administer any herbal, over-the-counter, or prescription medications or ointments without prior written authorization from the child’s physician. If your child needs to take medication during school hours or your child has a life-threatening allergy that requires medication to be kept at the school, please email Stephanie LeFever at slefever@artsbasedschool to obtain the necessary forms that must accompany all medications dropped off the first day of school. All medications must be dropped off by a parent and kept in the school office.
Afterschool Care at ABS
ABS Afterschool Care Program was created out of a need for high-quality care with a flexible, convenient schedule for working parents. We look forward to providing a safe and fun-filled environment where we focus our efforts on the social, emotional and physical development of your child. We’ll do this by nurturing strong relationships and offering your child choices that reflect his/her individual needs, interests and abilities. Registration is open now through July 31. If you have questions, please email Stephanie LeFever- [email protected]
Garden Workday-Volunteers Needed
We need YOU, our fabulous parent volunteers, to help us beautify the grounds in preparation for the new school year!
We'll start early to beat the heat! Please plan to join us on Saturday, July 31 between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
You can sign up as an individual or bring the entire family to help! We will offer DOUBLE volunteer hours for each individual volunteering!
Please bring your own equipment such as gardening gloves, wheelbarrows, shovels, pruners, clippers, gas powered weed eaters, and tree trimming equipment. IF you have a truck or large trunk and are a city resident with yard waste pick up, please also consider bringing your yard waste bin for us to fill. Don't forget your water bottle!
We have over 500 students enrolled at ABS. We would love to have at least 100 participants for this volunteer event! Please consider helping, even if it's for a short amount of time. Any help is greatly appreciated and makes a huge difference!
Please click HERE to sign-up so we'll know who's coming and we can record your volunteer hours!
Class Representatives Needed
We are currently recruiting class representatives for all classrooms at ABS for the upcoming school year. It’s a great way to get your volunteer hours for the year and to be more involved with our amazing school. If you’re interested, please contact Aaron Willey at [email protected] Thank you so much for your willingness to volunteer!
Back to School Night-Save the Date!
ABS Back to School Night is scheduled for Monday, August 16, 5-8pm. To ease parking, we will have staggered sessions. More details soon…
Who’s My Teacher?
Classroom teachers met with the grade level team before school was out to create the class rosters for next year. They use all that they know about your child’s academic, social, emotional, and behavioral qualities to determine which classroom is the best match. K-6 Class placement lists will be sent to parents Friday, July 16 via email from Principal Hollis. 7th and 8th Grade class lists will be delayed until August due to the Math Placement test.
New Parent Orientation
Save the Date! Wednesday, Aug 4 at 10am is the New K-4 Parent Orientation at ABS. This program is designed specifically for new families in grades K-4th at ABS to support your transition into ABS and to answer your questions. If your family was new to ABS last year, you are welcome to join the orientation as well. Please mark your calendars and join us!
Middle School Orientation
Save the Date! Wednesday, Aug 4 at 2pm is Middle School Orientation. For new parents (grade 5-8) and also for parents new to middle school. This program is designed to answer questions about how our middle school program works (grades 5-8) and what to expect. If your family was new to ABS last year, you are welcome to join the orientation as well.
Special Visits
Educational research shows that the relationship between the student and his or her teacher is one of the most important factors in a student’s academic success. This critical relationship is enhanced by our small class size and our educators’ commitment to children. In support of the teacher/student relationship, our teachers will be offering a Special Visit before school begins. A Special Visit is simply an opportunity for your child to meet his or her teacher in a familiar setting, a chance to learn a bit about the class and what to expect in the coming school year. This year’s scheduled days for Special Visits are August 12 and 13, 2021. Your child’s teacher will be contacting you to schedule a 15-20 minute appointment.
Looking for more information about our school?