Published for the Arts Based School Community
September 12, 2024
ABS Electric Bus Update!
Last May, the U.S. EPA announced that The Arts Based School in Winston-Salem was awarded $345,000 for the purchase of an all-electric school bus and associated charging infrastructure, via the Clean School Bus Program. This groundbreaking investment in zero-emission transportation will support cleaner air for our children, produce immediate and long-term cost-savings for the school, and further grow our region’s clean energy economy.
Big thanks to Board member Jay Kumar who worked tirelessly on this initiative to replace one of our diesel buses with an electric bus! At this point we have purchased the bus and expect final delivery in the next week or two. The EV Charger is scheduled to be installed the first week of October.
Our wonderful bus driver, Mr. Smitty is excited to be driving a clean, new bus with air conditioning. Our board members will be taking a short tour on the bus this Saturday at the annual ABS Board Retreat. We will keep you posted when it’s ready to roll!
Curriculum Night- Sept 17 & 18
Curriculum Night is an educational open house for parents to learn about their child's school year and how to support them at home. At curriculum night, parents can expect to learn about:
- Curriculum: What their child will learn in class
- Classroom routines: Schedules, Procedures, & Expectations
- Kids are invited but not required to attend. Children will stay with their parents.
Curriculum night activities are held in your child’s classroom.
To ease parking, we have scheduled staggered sessions-
Fall Fest is coming…October 19
The Arts Based School is hosting a Fall Fest and Crafters Market! If you are interested in purchasing a vendor table, please fill out the form . Tables are $25, first come, first serve. Payment can be made at mymealorder.com under Fall Fest. Questions? Please contact Erin Sorenson.
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
T-shirts, Hoodies, and Totes, oh my!- One more week to order…
We are happy to offer a fresh round of Arts Based School merch! As requested we’ve added tote bags ($15), hoodies ($30), and long-sleeve t-shirts ($25). Deadline to order is September 20. All orders will ship to ABS (unless you elect to have them shipped to your home for an additional fee). We will sort orders and send them home via Thursdays folders once we receive them!
Grab a Bag Black, Blue, and Lavender
Ready for Fall t-shirts and hoodies!
Parent Council Notes:
Reminder for the PC meeting next Friday 9/13 via zoom at noon.
Please send agenda requests to Katy Whiteheart or Stephanie Smith.
SAVE THE DATE-October 19 for Fall Fest! We are looking forward to an amazing afternoon of community, fun, games, vendors and food. Please join us!
Save the Date: Scholastic Book Fair
We are excited for the return of the Scholastic Book Fair! The fair will take place October 15th-21st. We will have our North Campus Fair in the gym and the South Campus Fair in the Art Room. Book Fair will also be open during Fall Fest! Stay tuned for more information on ways to volunteer and shop during the fair.
Be sure to watch the Thursday Notes, and your student's Thursday packets for information leading up to the fair.
Questions can be directed to Kristen Faulkner at [email protected].
MAP testing continues
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.
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:
Mixxer Community Maker Space presents
Arts on Fire-Sunday, September 15 1pm to dusk
More information here
NICA Team Outreach
Attention parents and students! If you’re passionate about mountain biking or eager to try something new, consider joining the local NC NICA cycling team. It’s a fantastic way for students to stay active, develop new skills, and connect with fellow riders in a supportive environment. All experience levels are welcome—we’d love to have you be part of our biking community! Registration is open to all students 5th - 12th grade and practices are held at Tanglewood, Hobby Park, and Salem Lake. Contact Ian Atchison: [email protected] or Rob Snow at [email protected] for more information!