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ABS Thursday Notes- December 7, 2023

Published for the Arts Based School Community

December 7, 2023


How We Do It and Why

By Mary Siebert


Wake up, Jacob, Day’s a-breakin’! 

Peas in the pot and the hoecake’s bakin’. 

Early in the morning, almost day; 

If you don’t come soon…gonna throw it all away.”

-Cook’s Wake-Up (Traditional American)


Fifth graders lay on the ground, cowboy hats tipped over their closed eyes, imagining a time when only the sounds of nature and an occasional snoring comrade were heard at night. Suddenly, their repose was shattered by the banging of spoon on frying pan, and the “Cook’s Wake-Up”, and with a big “yahoo!” we were off on another day of the “Cowboys” unit, every day last week.


The unit is built around historic folk songs, works of visual art, and frontier history of the cattle drive era of the American “Wild West”, dating from the end of the 19th century. Students learn about the direct connection from the Civil War to the cattle drives and the cattle industry’s role in Reconstruction. They explore cultural changes taking place in the Wild West during that time, how economic factors pushed the cattle onto the prairies, and how technology and over-grazing brought an end to the iconic era. 


We focus on these questions:

 - How do geographical factors impact economic ones?

 - How do folk songs and visual art serve as primary sources to teach us history?

 - Who were the cowboys and cowgirls of the American Wild West?


Daily “rodeos” help students maintain learning about a diverse group of topics including the prairie biome and its creatures, star constellations, African American cowboys and the scarcity of women, influence of Mexican culture, the railroads, supply and demand, transportation, and social customs. They learn how a yeast cell divides to make sourdough biscuits. More questions are added to this assessment activity each day. By the end of the week, we had us a wing-ding of a rodeo, singing, swinging our partners, and packing up with a head full of new knowledge and understanding. 


 

News from Parent Council

The next meeting is scheduled for December 15 at 8:30am at the MLK building cafe.

School Calendar 2024-25

The ABS Board of Directors is considering the school calendar for 2024-25. If you would like to review the draft calendar and provide feedback, please respond to this form.

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

 

Crisis Control Food Drive

K-Kids and Builders Club are sponsoring a canned food drive for Crisis Control Ministries, a non-profit organization which provides food for the needy in our community. Please bring non-perishable items in cans and boxes (no class containers, please). Items will be collected in a hallway location outside each grade level and in the lobby of the 7th St building.. This drive will continue until Friday, Dec. 15.


Parent volunteer opportunity--become a volunteer reading tutor! 

Love Literacy tutors receive 13 hours of training across two days. The training includes an introduction to foundational reading skills and teaches volunteers how to execute a pre-planned lesson. Tutors will learn how to assess students to identify any gaps and determine what students are ready to learn next. Tutors use the UFLI Foundations curriculum which is based on the most current research on the science of reading. Tutors work one-on-one with a student twice weekly for 30-40 minutes focusing on foundational reading skills. 

The final training for the 2023-2024 school year is January 17th and 18th from 9 am - 3:30 pm each day. 

To learn more, visit our website (www.loveliteracy.org) or email the Director of Education, Alice Day Clark ([email protected]). 

 

Inclement Weather

In the event of inclement weather, ABS will announce school closings on local TV channels, under “The Arts Based School”.  This information will also be posted on the ABS website (www.artsbasedschool.com).

 

Prospective Parent Tours

School tours for prospective parents begin in October. They are scheduled weekly on Tuesdays at 9:30am at South Campus and Thursdays at 9:30am at North Campus. Each tour is limited to 10 adults in an effort to limit the disruption to our students and teachers in the classrooms. Parents interested in learning more about ABS and how to enroll their child, should contact the front office to sign up for a tour. 748-4116 ext 1023. Applications will be accepted beginning January 1. The lottery will be held the second Tuesday of February. 

 

ABS Regular Board Meeting

The ABS Board of Directors will meet in person on Tuesday, Dec 12 at 5:45pm at ABS North Middle School building.  Board meetings are open to the public.

 

Around Town

Winston Salem Chorale Academy (formerly Winston Salem Girls' Chorus) is hosting the last of three winter concerts this week. The events are free and open to the public and several ABS students are in the three choruses. The WSCA now has a Boys' Chorus. For male students who are interested in group singing, this program teaches how to: read music, focus; have composure for the stage, sing in harmony and be part of an interdependent team. 

 

Sunday, 10 December, 5PM, Festival of Lessons and Carols, Centenary Methodist, 646 W. 5th St.

 

Annie Warbucks is the holiday-themed musical sequel to Annie. It will be performed at Theatre Alliance downtown from December 8th through 17th, Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 4:00, and Sundays at 2:00. A current ABS student plays Annie, and the cast also includes an ABS alum and a former ABS teacher, Tickets are at https://www.theatrealliance.ws/box_office/.


A Christmas Carol The Little Theatre's presents A Christmas Carol star-studded with ABS students.. The link to tickets is below! (Note that all ABS 7th graders will attend this production on December 15.)

https://ci.ovationtix.com/36350/production/1149960?performanceId=11232977



Ways to get involved and learn more about ABS:


 

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