Published for the Arts Based School Community
October 24, 2024
Thursday, October 31- Early Dismissal-Conference Preparation
- K-4 Dismiss at 11:45
- 5-8 Dismiss at 12 noon
Friday, November 1- No School-Conferences
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert, Founding ABS Curriculum Director, Retired
“Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.
For never was a story of more woe
than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
The 5th grade production of Romeo & Juliet on the Border is thirteen years old, this year. We have performed an original Shakespeare adaptation every year of the school’s existence. Having experimented with several different ideas, this one settled in and has stuck around for a while.
I invented and wrote this adaptation, after noticing how much the students enjoyed the historic cowboy songs unit that I taught every year. I decided to set the famous story on the border of Texas and Mexico in the year 1900. The students helped translate Shakespeare into cowboy lingo, but we left some of the iconic original language in place. It is punctuated throughout with historic songs and dances from both sides of the border.
Of course, the arguments around that border are still painful and contemporary. We still associate the Mexican border with intolerance, hope, and fear, with challenges of resolving differences and sustaining peace. Shakespeare nailed the thematic problem of violent human rivalry challenged by innocent love 430 years ago, and we still find that theme applicable to our contemporary lives. So it’s human, and it’s still true.
The setting of the American “Wild West” adds potential for a lot of 5th grade humor. I can testify that there are two direct ways to a 5th grader’s heart: humor and justice. They want to laugh, and they want things to be fair. This story captivates them from both angles. There are opportunities for beginning stage combat, for acting tough, for boots and hats and bandanas. But there is also the challenge of playing serious moments; moments of love and tragedy, which are elemental to both real life and to theater.
The Hispanic Arts Initiative, an organization no longer in existence, advised and assisted in creating this production, ensuring cultural accuracy of music, dance, and costumes. These are not just “Mexican” details, they are specifically Northern Mexican from the late 1900s. The fabric of the brightly colored skirts was shipped from Mexico, and Mexican stitchers built them. It is dazzling to see our students swishing those brightly colored skirts and to hear them singing in their tentative Spanish. So although the fun and the emotion appeal to students, this show has elements of romance and color that also captivate the audience.
Every year, we reexamine whether the material is too mature for 5th graders, especially the tragic ending with double suicides. And every year, schools are urged to help young students learn more about how to ask for help, how to focus on hope and avoid despair. In 2021, the CDC reported that suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among children ages 10-14. Unthinkable. So there is no turning aside from this, instead we are mandated to provide our children with tools to help themselves, to recognize danger signs in their peers, to tell an adult who can help. With the introduction of the story, we include lessons from our school counselor about how to seek help for you or your friend, how to recognize signs of despair, and how to practice self-care.
To explore an important topic like this through theater, in addition to direct instruction, is to enhance meaning and increase retention. The students now know and love these characters. They feel the story. Reading or listening can never teach what embodying the characters and empathetically experiencing their emotions does. They will never forget this experience, this great fun, these deep lessons.
Romeo & Juliet on the Border
Performed in the Alex Ewing Theater at ABS North Campus
Frazier’s Class - November 19, 12 noon
Johnson’s Class - November 20, 12 noon
Meeks’ Class - November 21, 12 noon
Fall Fest Results!
Many thanks to all our wonderful volunteers for their time and efforts in making Fall Fest such a success! Hats off to Erin Sorenson who coordinated and re-energized this annual tradition! It was a beautiful day to enjoy a variety of fun games, good friends and yummy food! Fall Fest raised almost $2,240 for our school – THANK YOU!!
We would like to collect feedback on FallFest from parents using this form.
Conference Time is Coming
Soon your child’s teacher will be setting up conferences to discuss your child’s progress. Students attending the Arts Based School are assessed using a portfolio system in place of the traditional report card. The portfolio is designed to illustrate a student’s academic growth and successes as well as guide the teacher in planning appropriate instruction. Teachers at ABS do not issue letter grades until sixth grade. Teachers use observation, interviews, analysis of student work and performance tasks to assess student understanding. Examples of student work, as well as other objective standards of assessments, are incorporated into the student’s portfolio to give an enhanced portrait of the student’s progress. These portfolios will be discussed and presented to parents during the Student-Teacher-Parent conferences. Please be sure you schedule and attend your conference so that you can support your child’s learning.
Conference Days: October 31 - Early Dismissal and Nov 1st
- K-4 Dismiss at 11:45
- 5-8 Dismiss at 12 noon
ABS Annual Giving Campaign
Thank you sincerely to everyone who has already contributed to this year's campaign! We are almost to the end of the campaign, and we urgently need your support to make a difference for ABS! Annual Giving benefits every student in every classroom at ABS. From visiting artists to the keeping the lights on and beyond, your gift helps to make the ABS experience unique, genuine, and meaningful for every student.
We have one more week to make it happen! Our goal is 100% participation, please click on the link today to help us reach that goal!
Total School Participation to Date: 28%
Total Gifts to Date: $56,742
School Safety Grant
NC Legislation has provided funding for schools to support school safety through a competitive grant. Although we have applied for these competitive grants in the past, our school profile does not typically qualify for the funding. With the increase in funding support, we may be eligible. Senate Bill 105 outlines the details (starting on page 68). A committee will be working on this to meet the grant deadline of October 31. The grant requires a needs assessment, (with law enforcement), and an updated school risk management plan. Grant can cover equipment, services for students in crisis, and training to increase school safety. As part of the process, we are asking our community of parents, students and staff for feedback about our school safety. If you have ideas, suggestions, or concerns about ABS school safety that might be helpful in applying for the grant, please provide feedback here.
Parent Council Notes:
Here’s the recording and ABS PC Meeting Minutes 10/10/2024 from PC meeting. Next Parent Council meeting is scheduled for November 18 at 7pm.
ABS Scholastic Book Fair
THANK YOU for another successful Scholastic Book Fair! It was such a joy to see the student's faces as they chose their books! We could not have done it without our fantastic volunteers, THANK YOU! Special thanks to Kristen Faulkner, our Bookfair Coordinator for her Herculean effort in bringing the bookfair to all of our students! ABS families spent $22,146.76 on books for kids. Our school earned $11,073 in Scholastic dollars to fill our libraries and classrooms with books! Happy Reading!!
Didn't find a book from your Wish List? Still have money from eWallet (which converted to an eCard after 10/21)? Do you want to add to your personal library AND support your awesome school? We've got you covered with our ONLINE FAIR available until October 27th.
NORTH CAMPUS: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/ABSNorth
SOUTH CAMPUS: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/ABSSouth
*25% of every online sale benefits The Arts Based School
Hurricane Relief Update
Thank you to everyone that donated last week to help those in need due to Hurricane Helene. The Summit in Boone paused with taking donations because they had so many so we took all of ours to the Forsyth Humane Society. We appreciate everyone that helped! - Ms. Carlisle and Coach Bri
Halloween is Coming
Please do not send students to school in costumes. We all enjoy the fun and excitement of Halloween but find that costumes and accessories make it very difficult to concentrate. Also we do not want students to bring candy in their lunch bags for snacks. Although it can be delicious, high sugar snacks should not replace a healthy snack. Thanks for your help!
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. Applications will be accepted beginning January 1. The lottery will be held the second Tuesday of February.
Save the Date- Saturday, November 2nd, 10-1 Parent-Child Retreat at ABS!
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Parent-Child Retreat with former ABS counselor Scott Ertl on Nov. 2 from 10am to 1pm! This special event is designed for you to spend quality, meaningful time with your child while engaging in fun, interactive activities. Together, you'll explore new ways to communicate, strengthen your bond, and reminisce about special memories. In our busy lives, we depend on routines to make things predictable. This retreat will provide an opportunity to see if any morning, mealtime and/or bedtime routines could be more enjoyable and effective. Take this opportunity to step away for a few hours, reconnect with your child, and enjoy a day of learning, laughter, and love. Spaces will be limited to 50 parent-child pairs, so don't miss out! Cost is $10 per family which includes pizza lunch and will take place at the North Campus 1380 N MLK. Payment can be made in cash at the ABS front office. Sign up today and reserve your spot!
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