Published for the Arts Based School Community
April 20, 2023
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert
“To forget a Holocaust is to kill twice.” – Elie Weisel
Brundibár is a children’s opera by Czech composer Hans Krása, based on a cheerful folk tale. It is widely regarded as the finest opera ever composed for children to sing. In 1942, Hans Krása was imprisoned by the Nazis at Terezín (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, where an estimated 33,000 people died of overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. 88,000 people were sent from Terezín to Auschwitz and other death camps. The score of Krása’s newly composed opera was recreated by Krása at the camp, adapted for the instruments available. The Nazis permitted the children of Terezín to perform Brundibár at least 55 times at Terezín, routinely shipping the young singers to death camps afterward, to be replaced by a new cast of children. When the International Red Cross visited Terezín in 1944, the Nazis theatrically used the camp as a temporary showpiece to refute growing allied suspicions that Jews were being exterminated. Terezín was staged with a fake, temporary kindergarten, a park, flowers, rich food, and concerts. The prisoners were dressed in fine clothing, for that day only. Just before the arrival of the Red Cross, the nazis shipped 7,500 prisoners to their deaths at Auschwitz, to create more open space. The opera Brundibár was performed for the Red Cross visitors, to demonstrate how happy and productive the children of Terezín were. Red Cross representatives reported to the world that Nazi prison camps were safe, clean, and pleasant. Immediately after the Red Cross departed, the cast and composer were sent to Auschwitz, where they were killed. This innocent little opera has carried the weight of its terrible historical context, ever after.
The Arts Based School’s 7th Graders perform Brundibár as part of a state-required study of World War II, the Holocaust, and genocide. One year, a surviving cast member, Ela Weissberger, visited us and shared memories of the friends she had loved and lost. She stood with our students to join in the “Victory Song” at the end, singing in the Czech language. Ela asked us always to remember her friends, and we do. Ela passed away in 2018.
Memoirs of children who lived at Terezín, the testimony of surviving cast members, historic video footage of a Brundibár performance at the prison camp, and the experience of singing the very notes those children sang, help us consider the Holocaust through the eyes of young victims whose memory we keep alive through this project. Remembering Ela, we sing the final phrase of the Victory Song in the Czech language. We sing the opera in solidarity with Ela’s lost friends.
Brundibár will be performed by all ABS 7th graders next week on Thursday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m. at SECCA, 750 Marguerite Dr, Winston-Salem. The opera lasts about one-half hour. There is limited seating, of four visitors per student. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted to cover production costs.
Volunteers Needed to Move Sets for the 7th Grade Show.
- This Friday, April 21, 3:15 pm. Meet in ABS blackbox to stage materials at downstairs loading dock. 30 minutes.
- Monday, April 24, 8:15 a.m. Meet at ABS-North basement door to load sets onto truck. Travel to SECCA (3.5 miles) to load sets and costumes into theater. 1 hour.
- Thursday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. Meet at SECCA immediately after show and strike and load sets and costumes onto truck. Drive to ABS (3.5 miles) and move materials into storage in basement.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2023
May 1- May 5
It's almost May and with the end of the year just around the corner, it's time to show our wonderful ABS teachers and staff how much we appreciate them. Please mark your calendars to help shower your teachers, special teachers, and all the ABS staff with appreciation the week of May 1. Please reach out to Teacher Appreciation Coordinators, Brandi Cleveland or Leigh Stanfield if you have questions. Prepare to have a Gratitude Attitude!
Message Monday: Have your student write a special letter or thank-you card
Tuesday Treat-day: Bring in a tasty treat for your teacher
Wishlist Wednesday: Surprise your teacher with an item from their wishlist
Thirsty Thursday: Bring in a beverage or gift card to a coffee/smoothie shop
Floral Friday: Have your student pick a flower or bring in a plant for the classroom
Spring Fundraiser for ABS
After much thought and consideration, our planning committee has decided not to move forward with a spring fundraiser this year. Instead, they are hopeful that parents and families will rally behind Teacher Appreciation Week, Field Day, Parent Council Initiatives, and current and ongoing volunteer needs at both campuses.
Lost and Found
For ABS North families, please check the MLK playground fence to see if your child has any lost items. The jackets hung there now are from both the MLK and 7th street buildings.
Interested in working for ABS?
The Arts Based School (ABS) is a popular and successful K-8 public charter school in Winston-Salem, offering competitive salaries and NC State health plan and retirement benefits to full-time employees.
Warm collegial relationships and a high level of collaboration are consistently noted by teachers as favorite aspects of working at ABS. We accept applications year-round from licensed teachers. Ideal candidates are passionate, energetic, creative, and innovative. ABS teachers are team players who plan together across arts and other disciplines to deliver uniquely integrated curriculum. This contributes to our cheerful, vibrant, learning community, and results in accomplished, confident students.
Our campus, located in downtown Winston-Salem, includes two updated brick tobacco warehouses: a colorful K-4 building with a blackbox theater, dance studio and art room, and an “industrial chic” 5-8 building with a drama studio, an art room bordering an outdoor sketching garden, a modern, light-filled music room, and a large, open courtyard.
For more information and application, check our website: https://www.artsbasedschool.com/apps/pages/employment
Current Openings: Middle School Science, Middle School EC, Teaching Assistant, Part-time K-2 Music and Dance
Assistant Principal for the Day
Does your child want a chance to be Assistant Principal for the day? We hold drawings every month at Friday Sing! You can purchase raffle tickets online or in the front office of your campus to give your child a chance to be Assistant Principal of the Day. Assistant Principals have their own desk, name tag, and list of very important duties for the day. All proceeds from the raffle support our teacher appreciation fund and allow us to do special things for our staff throughout the year. Thank you, and good luck!
Save the Date-ABS Graduation
Let’s celebrate our 8th graders! Graduation is scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 12 noon in the ABS Alex Ewing Theater. Seating is limited to 4 tickets per graduate.
Around Town
The world-renowned RiverRun Film Festival is coming up right here in Winston-Salem! If you've never experienced it, this would be a great time to try it out. Fresh new movies and old favorites are played all over town, from April 13-April 22. Tickets sell out quickly.
Celebrate the planet at the Piedmont Earth Day Fair on April 22 from 10AM to 4PM at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Enjoy kids activities, demonstrations, live music, food trucks and more at this great FREE community event.
Songbird Supper Club, a free monthly event to empower women's authentic expression, is having a special Mother and Child event on May 30th. Create something with your child to share for a belated Mother's Day celebration. More information and sign-up at: https://femalesovereignty.org/news
Lyrics by the Lake is back for Season 3 of musical guests, spoken word poetry, and local vendors gathered on the lawn at SECCA. The first concert is May 12; tickets are available now!
Rising 9th graders might be interested in the Guilford Tech Community College summer camp offerings, HERE. ABS pal Liz May will be teaching a music tech class called "Hit Record." Recommended!