Published for the Arts Based School Community
August 29, 2024
No School: Monday, Sept 2 - Labor Day
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert, ABS Founder, and Former Arts Director
“In a live performance, it's a collaboration with the audience; you ride the ebb and flow of the crowd's energy. On television, you don't have that.” - Jon Batiste
ABS students quickly learn how rewarding it is, to perform for your parents. Of course, most of them have been performing on front porches and in backyards or parks since they were very small. “Watch me! Watch me!” To perform for a whole audience of parents is to perform for the most attentive audience there ever will be for you. Those parents take their lunch hour, they pick up Grandma, and they watch at least one cast member with absolute, riveted focus. It’s delicious.
Each grade level at ABS presents an annual production that demands disciplined preparation for about six weeks, with classroom teachers, arts specialists, and visiting artists all working together. Some of these shows are traditions stretching far back into our history and are considered landmarks for kids who look forward to performing them. Some are new productions, changed to align with newly released standards from the state. All of them provide opportunities for community building, for learning. The shows are developed with gradual scaffolding, to help students feel safe and supported on stage. Adults might lead the way on stage, stand to the side and narrate, prompt forgotten moments and words, or even appear as a character who can offer support right on stage. But as they enter middle school, they take on more independence, until finally, all fifty-plus kids in the class can perform a show together, without the net to catch them.
Complex rehearsal schedules are communicated out to administrators, receptionists, speech therapists, counselors, and interventionists so that schedules can be woven to keep all learning flowing and to know at all times where the students are. Parents pitch in, avoiding scheduling dental appointments or vacations during critical rehearsal weeks, helping with costumes, and helping move platforms and props from place to place. We want everyone to feel excited, polished, and prepared when the big day arrives.
What can you do to support your child’s performance?
- Save the date, and attend the show
- Avoid scheduling trips or appointments for 2 weeks before the show.
- Watch for announcements about costume pieces your students will need
- Help with costumes
- Help move the sets in, and help move them back out
- Encourage your child to have fun with it! (It’s not high stakes!)
You can find your student’s performance dates HERE.
BOG Results
Congratulations to our Third Grade students for completing the Beginning of Grade (BOG) test in reading this week. The state does not expect that all students will demonstrate proficiency on the BOG test because the content on the BOG is the same as what is measured on the EOG reading test administered at the end of the year. Your child’s results are coming home next week in Thursday packets in a sealed blue envelope. If you have any questions about your child’s results, please contact your classroom teacher.
MAP testing begins in September
ABS uses Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) to assess each student’s academic growth. We will give students in grades 3-8 MAP tests to determine each child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of math and reading. Students take the tests on a computer. MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. And with MAP tests, we can administer shorter tests and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth.
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.
Say Something Tip Line and Training
State law (G.S. 115C-105.51) requires public secondary schools (grades 6 and up) to have an anonymous safety tip application available for public safety tips from students and others. The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) is a life-saving school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how to recognize the warning signs for individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and to report this information by going to a trusted adult, calling 911, or using the anonymous reporting system. Our students in grades 6-8 will receive “Say Something” training in his/her classroom during the next few weeks.
Stock the Food Bank-East Ward Food Drive
Annually, our Builder’s Club and K-Kids Service clubs work to collect food donations for our local food bank. This year we are working with all schools in the East Ward to make a difference in September (Hunger Action Month). Both ABS campuses are located in the East Ward of Winston-Salem. We’re asking all ABS families to help us collect food donations or make donations. Collections boxes are located at each ABS school building near the offices. For more information see the flyer Stock the Food Bank
Assistant Principal for the Day Raffle
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 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 Fall Fest October 19, 12-3pm
Join us at the ABS Fall Fest for an afternoon of fun and community! Food trucks! Pumpkin decorating! Photo Booth! Cake Walk! Book Fair! Games, Games, Games! It's going to be AWESOME and bigger than ever! Only $5 admission per child (adults are free!). Bring extra dough for the food trucks and book fair! Fall Fest is a Parent Council sponsored fundraiser that helps to support the school's annual operating expenses. 100% of admissions support the Arts Based School. Don't miss it – come hungry and ready to play! Keep an eye out for emails from your class representative about volunteering for this event!
Remember: This event is for ALL ABS North and South students! Students must have an adult present and be supervised during Fall Fest. Book Fairs will be open during Fall Fest if you want to shop!
ABS After School Art Club-Grade 6-8
The ABS Art Club will be a student driven club. The club will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of their personal artwork by creating an opportunity for them to receive guided instruction about the art they are working on outside of their regular Art class curriculum.
Art club will meet after school from 3:00-3:45 beginning on September 5th. Thursday- 6-8 grades
Look for permission slips coming home soon.
This is a first come first serve club.
After-School Violin Program
We are excited to announce a new after school program for 5th - 8th graders! Former ABS teacher Vivian Mayers will lead a violin class on Mondays after school. Ms. Mayers is a performer and violin teacher, and runs the Salem Suzuki Violin Studio. The class is designed for students with little or no experience on the violin, who are interested in exploring this beautiful instrument. Students will develop a strong technical foundation on the violin, and will have the opportunity to learn and perform music of several different genres throughout the year. A final concert at the end of each semester will allow students to showcase the work they've done as a musical community.
Ms. Mayers will provide information regarding instrument rentals. For the first few classes, no instrument is necessary. An interest meeting and orientation to the program for students and parents will be held on Monday, Sept 9, in Middle School Music Room. Classes will be held on Mondays from 2:40-3:50, with a calendar for the Fall semester distributed at the interest meeting.
Class fee: $20/session (for a total of $220 for the Fall semester). Any questions, please contact Vivian Mayers. Please complete interest form if you would like your child to participate or learn more.
Around Town…
Girl Scout Troop 10351 is a new Daisy troop based out of Rural Hall. We are looking for kindergarten and first grade girls to join our group! Daisies will make friends, have fun, and learn new things, in a kind and supportive environment. "Everything Daisies do—from planting a garden to making a circle of friends—sparkles with that "first time ever" newness. Along the way, Daisies gain important social skills, learn how to be a good friend, and discover the world around them. Every Daisy meeting is an adventure filled with sisterhood, giggles, learning, and fun!" (girlscouts.org)
Meetings are tentatively scheduled for Fridays at 6-7 p.m., location is TBD.
If you are interested, you can go to https://mygs.girlscouts.org to search for Troop 10351 and sign up your child! If you have any questions about signing up, please contact Rita Hiatt at 954-864-9427 or [email protected]
UNCSA Community Music School
Music Mondays with Ms. Marti at UNCSA include group piano lessons, music theory and choir for students Grade 2 and older. See flyer for more details or website Community Music School