ABS Thursday Notes- November 7, 2024

Published for the Arts Based School Community

November 7,  2024

 

No School- Monday, November 11- Veteran’s Day

 

The Magic of Connection: Celebrating Our Collaborative Culture at ABS

There’s a certain “magic” that makes our ABS culture unique—a quality that visitors frequently notice and something we cherish and actively work to maintain. When we ask teachers to reflect on what makes our community so special, the responses are filled with admiration for our students and a passion for teaching, but they also highlight the joy of working together as colleagues. Our staff shares a deep sense of trust, mutual respect, and a great sense of humor. There is an underlying belief that every individual is committed to doing their best, and from this, meaningful friendships naturally bloom.

In many schools, teachers experience isolation from their colleagues; doors close, and the opportunity for connection is often lost. But at ABS, we intentionally structure time and space for collaboration. Our teachers work together, supporting and inspiring one another. This approach is rooted in the belief that when we share experiences, they become richer and more meaningful.

Research supports this: shared experiences are inherently powerful, whether it’s visiting a gallery, watching a play, or attending a concert. ABS embraces this idea looking for ways and places to play and create together.  We create similar shared experiences for our students, and after a grade-level performance or a field trip, we see how students grow closer. They bond over shared events, and it sparks curiosity and conversation in the classroom.

The same is true among our staff. We find that our best ideas come from collaboration. Each grade level team plans together, and our teachers regularly meet with specialists. These meetings are filled with creative exchanges, leaving us inspired by each other’s ideas. Like a string quartet, each of us plays a part in a beautiful symphony that lifts our students skyward.

Happy Half Day! A Tradition of Giving Teachers the Gift of Time

At ABS, we have traditions that celebrate the spirit of stepping into one another’s shoes, and one cherished tradition is the “Teacher’s Half Day.” This thoughtful practice began years ago as a way to give our teachers a little extra time in the busy holiday season. Each full-time teacher is gifted a half day off in December to relax, sleep in, shop, or simply take a breather—no lesson plans needed, no personal time used, just a well-deserved break.

During the Teacher’s Half Day, one of our administrators steps in to take over the teacher’s class for half the day. Teachers can choose to come in late and savor a quiet morning or leave early to run errands or get a head start on holiday preparations. The goal is to provide some precious time to recharge, showing our deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication our teachers give each day.

For the administrative team, this tradition is a meaningful experience as well. Stepping into the classroom gives them a firsthand view of each class’s unique dynamics and provides a fresh perspective on the daily challenges and joys of teaching. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to students and experience what makes our school so special.

The “Teacher’s Half Day” is a small but powerful way we support one another, strengthening our community and celebrating the work of our teachers. 

 

ABS School Bus Service Updates

We want to keep our ABS families informed about recent interruptions to our school bus service. Our wonderful bus driver, Mr. Smitty, has been dealing with some health issues. While we’re happy to report that he’s on the mend, we do not have a date for his return to the driver’s seat.   We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time and will continue to keep all bus-riding families updated with any changes in service via email to families registered for bus services.  If you have additional questions or concerns regarding bus transportation, please contact Joseph Cutts

To support our transportation needs, particularly on days with multiple field trips or when Mr. Smitty is unavailable, we’re looking for dependable individuals interested in a substitute school bus driver role. If you or someone you know would enjoy being part of our ABS community and helping ensure our students get to and from school safely, we encourage you to apply!

 

Position: Substitute School Bus Driver
Responsibilities: Transport students to and from school safely on an as-needed basis. Follow assigned routes, ensure student safety, perform pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections, and keep the bus clean and organized.
Requirements: Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a clean driving record, strong communication skills, and the ability to handle unexpected situations calmly. Flexibility, punctuality, and a commitment to student safety and well-being are essential.
Salary: $18 per hour

Contact:
Joseph Cutts
Phone: (336) 748-4116
Email: [email protected]

 

Thanks, Again!

Thanks to all our donors and parent classroom representatives for helping to support the effort! Our final tally for the 2024-25 Annual Giving Fund: 

Total School Participation to Date: 42%

Total Gifts to Date: $65,322

 

Parent Council Notes:

Reminder of the next PC meeting on Monday, Nov 18th at 7pm (Zoom ONLY)

 

Chipotle Night Fundraiser

Join The Arts Based School-Builders Club at Chipotle on 128 Hanes Mall Cir Ste 100

Wednesday, November 13 - from 4:00pm-8:00pm

Please let your server know at checkout that you are with The Arts Based School.

Your online ordering code is: 9V6WMFH (only from 4-8.)

Note that 25% of profits go to our club funds. We use this money throughout the year for outreach to the greater community, as well as, our ABS community. 

 

Kids STEAM Night Out

Join Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Gledhill for an evening of science, technology, and art fun on November 16, 5:30-8:30pm! Pizza dinner will be served. All proceeds will benefit the ABS STEAM Club. The cost is $30 per child, $25 for additional sibling.  Spots are limited- Registration begins Friday, 11/8 Open to any ABS Student K-8.   Sign Up- https://bit.ly/steamkidsnightout

 

Recycled Materials needed for Art

Mrs. Gledhill, middle school art teacher,  is asking for donations of brightly colored laundry bottles for the 8th grade Plastiquarium Project. Rinsed out bottles can be dropped off in the 7th street art room. Thank you! 

 

Picture Retakes

November 20  is picture make-up and retake day. Any student who was absent on picture day will automatically be photographed as these pictures are used for our annual yearbook. However, if you are interested in your child having his/her picture retaken, please send a note or email to your child’s homeroom teacher.  Students will only be sent for a retake if the parent sends in a request.  Here’s a link to Strawbridge for more information about school pictures.

 

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. 

 

Around Town…

You and your families are invited to the Ardmore Art Walk, a fun outdoor art and craft show showcasing the work of 100 Ardmore resident artists and their guests! Artists will display work on their own lawns 11am-4:30pm this Saturday, November 9. A great way to knock out holiday shopping while supporting local artists, many of whom are part of the ABS family - including Mrs. Gledhill! 

There will also be live music around the neighborhood as well as food trucks and family friendly art activities with Mixxer in the parking lot of Ardmore Baptist Church. Find all the info you need, including the printable 2024 Artist List and Map at www.ardmoreartwalk.com . We hope to see you there on Saturday!

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