Published for the Arts Based School Community
August 8, 2024
First Day of School - Monday, August 12 (Staggered entry for Kindergarten)
Parking Lot Pointers
We love using our creativity here at the Arts Based School, just not in the parking lot routine. We ask that you follow all rules and regulations when picking up and dropping off your students. We have volunteers and staff that will help new families and old learn the routine. Please review the attached North Campus and South Campus for more information about drop off and pick up procedures. Here are some helpful hints for pick-up and drop-off to help keep our students safe:
- Please drive slowly and cautiously through school parking lot at all times.
- Watch for children and adults in parking lot, especially the first few days when many parents will be parking and walking their child into the school.
- Please allow extra time the first week as parents and children become accustomed to the routine.
- Please be kind and courteous to parking lot helpers.
- Please cross on crosswalks when walking children into the building.
- Please be responsible for explaining the drop off/pick up procedures to your afterschool daycare vans or anyone else who may be picking up your children.
- Please keep students in cars until 7:45. If you would like to get out earlier, please park in a marked parking spot and supervise your child outside of the car until 7:45.
- In the afternoon, please display your car sign on your dash on the passenger side until your child is in the car.
- Please have your student ready to get out of the car on the passenger side of the vehicle and move immediately to the sidewalk. Students can get out of the car once they are next to the sidewalk or potted plants.
- If you must unload/load on the driver's side, please help us train our students to walk around the front of your vehicle so you can see them make it safely to the sidewalk.
- Please do not get out of your car in the carline. If your child needs extra help buckling and unbuckling, please park and assist your child until they can do that independently.
- Please stay in the line and do not pull around another car even if you are already loaded or unloaded.
- For North Campus, please do not drop-off on MLK or park on 7th street.
- For South Campus, please do not park in upper lot. ABS families must park in the lower lot.
- Finally, please consider volunteering for morning drop-off or afternoon pickup. Extra adults are always helpful as students and parents learn the routine. Thanks!
Please be a good neighbor!
Please remember to use common sense and good courtesy as you drive through our traffic line each morning and afternoon—especially for our neighbors at 757 North Apartments, Goler Memorial AME Zion Church, Foundations Early Learning Center, the North Chestnut St. homes, Lloyd Presbyterian Church and the Special Service Center (South). Parents at Foundations Early Learning Center are also dropping off their children on their way to work in the mornings, so please remember to leave space at their driveway so that cars can come and go.
Helpful Links and Reminders:
- Who is my student’s teacher? What supplies do we need? You can find class lists, supply lists, and class pages behind our parent portal, on this page.
- Have you filled out your required student form in Enrollease? Please complete these ASAP! More details below.
- If you are new to ABS, please download the app PikMyKid for our dismissal process. You should have received your car tag and Pikmykid number at Special Visits.
- Please register in HelpCounter to keep track of your hours and learn about opportunities to support your class and school.
Activity Fee
ABS is publicly funded and free to all students. We ask families to contribute a $40 activity fee each year to help cover the costs of our field trips, special arts activities, and more. You can pay your Activity Fee by check or at your MyMeal Acct. Families qualifying for free/reduced lunch are exempt from this charge.
Lunch Program
In an effort to provide expanded daily lunch options for our families, we're launching a new online lunch ordering system. Our caterer this year is Goodness Gracious (M-Th) and Papa John’s for Pizza Friday.
Meals are $5 per day, and orders must be placed by noon the day before in order to be counted. This information and links are also available at the Parent Portal on our website.
To order:
- Go to www.MyMealOrder.com and register for a free account.
- Add your student(s) using their student ID (the same as your PikMyKid ID#), last name, and school.
- Select your meals in a week view or a month view and complete the checkout process with your credit/debit card or electronic check.
If you have any questions or need help, please contact Angela Garner: [email protected]
Student Lunch Support
For families qualifying for free or reduced lunch, you will receive an email verifying your lunch status and instructions on ordering your child’s lunch. If you have not completed a Household Income Survey and want to apply for free/reduced lunch support, please take a few minutes to complete this form.
PikMyKid App-
In our ongoing efforts to enhance safety, we will continue using the PikMyKid dismissal app. All new families will need to download the PikMyKid parent smartphone app. 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 likely because we do not have your mobile phone information. Please contact Donna Brown at [email protected]
Welcome to our New Dance Teacher at North Campus
We're excited to announce KaRonne "Ronne" McNeill will be joining our specialist team at the North campus as the Dance Teacher. She came to us recommended by Tahvyea Rains. She's a graduate of WSSU and has taught dance and cheer with Ms. Rains for years.
Part-time PE Coach for South Campus needed
If you know someone who would be interested and a great match for ABS, please send them to our website to learn more about the Part-time PE Coach position.
Parent Council
Our first Parent Council Meeting of the year will be held on Friday 8/16 at 8:30am at the MLK North cafe. A zoom link will be sent for those preferring to attend on Zoom.
Openings at First Grade South Campus
We have a few spots open at the South Campus in first grade if you know of someone trying to get into ABS. Please spread the word. If interested, apply for an open spot by completing the Lotterease lottery application for 1st grade South Campus. These spots are first come first serve.
ABS Regular Board Meeting
The ABS Board of Directors Board will meet on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 5:45pm at the 7th St School building. Board meetings are open to the public.
Kindergarten Required Forms
Parents of kindergarten students are required to provide the school with a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization record, and NC Kindergarten Health Assessment form.
ABS Aftercare Program
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 in our Aftercare Program.
Please review the 2024-2025 Aftercare Handbook and register with the link below. Email Ashley Tate at [email protected] with any questions.
2024-2025 Aftercare Registration
ABS Bus Service
For the 2024-2025 school year, ABS will offer morning and afternoon bus service with dropoff and pickup locations of: Winston Lake YMCA, Hanes Mall, and Sherwood Plaza. Please review the Bus Guidelines and Information before registering.
Please contact Mr. Cutts at [email protected] with any questions.
2024-2025 ABS Bus Registration
ABS Bus Guidelines and Information
Mad Science Club
Mad Science is coming to Arts Based Elementary School North & South! Kids will unbox the surprising world of science as they discover a new STEM topic in each class!
In this program, kids learn about several specialized areas of science, including forensics, geology, meteorology, entomology, and mechanical engineering. They gain foundational science knowledge that will help them in their future science endeavors. See more in this fun video!
School Calendar and Important Dates
The approved 2024-25 school calendar is available here, on our website, or Student Calendar Here is a copy of the updated Parent Student Handbook
Around Town…
Spring Theatre's youth production of Peter and the Starcatcher takes place this weekend at Reynolds Place Theatre in Milton Rhodes Center. Shows are Friday and Saturday evening at 7PM and Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2PM.
Ways to get involved and learn more about ABS:
- Follow us on Social Media
- Catch up on Thursday Notes you may have missed
- Explore the ABS website
- Make sure we have best contact information so that you receive all communications