Published for the Arts Based School Community
March 6, 2025
Spring Break! No School March 10-14
School Safety Grant Update
Congratulations to ABS! The Center for Safer Schools' School Safety Grant Program informed us this week that it has awarded ABS the following amounts:
- Equipment: $50,000
- Services for Students in Crisis: $10,000
- Training to Increase School Safety: $10,000
We originally requested $120,000 for equipment, so we will review our grant proposal and prioritize equipment needs to stay within the awarded $50,000.
Each year, the Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) receives more grant applications and funding requests than it has available to distribute. This year, they received over 240 grant applications, with total funding requests exceeding $85 million. To ensure a fair distribution of funds, CFSS utilized the ADM Range (student enrollment numbers) as part of the awarding process. The amount ABS received was determined based on our ADM Range and grant score.
Volleyball Club
Coach Bri will host Volleyball Club for 6th & 7th Grade on Wednesdays from 3:00-3:45 and 8th Grade on Thursdays from 3:00-3:45. This club will run from April 2-May 22. In the event of inclement weather the club will be cancelled due to shared spaces with aftercare. Spots are on a first come, first served basis with 12 spots in each group. Sign up here!
2025 ABS Summer Camps
There are only 66 days left to register for summer camps. Please follow the link below to view all of our amazing camps and register today! Click on the description of the camp that you would like to register for and fill out the Google Form. Invoices will be sent in the coming weeks following registration to secure your spots! Check out the FAQ at the bottom of the flier for important information!
2025 Summer Camp Registration
Contact Ashley Tate at [email protected] with any questions.
National School Lunch Program at ABS-Updates
As we get closer to being on the National School Lunch Program, we would like to share some important updates regarding the school meal ordering process.
For the month of March, the current ordering system will remain in place, and parents will still need to order and pay for meals ahead of time as usual. However, starting April 1st, parents will no longer be required to pre-order meals. Meals will be ordered based on previous ordering trends, with some extra available for those that need a meal.
Also beginning on April 1st, all payments for school meals will be processed through LINQ. To set up your student's account, please visit linqconnect.com and click on "Register." You will need your student's first name, last name, birthdate, and state identification number. If you need your student's state ID number, please reach out to [email protected] for further assistance.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we transition to this new system. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you!
K-Kids Update!
We will have a K-Kids fundraiser on Tuesday, March 25th at Camel City BBQ, from 5-8pm (drop-in)! Please go through the main entrance to order your meal (not upstairs). K-Kids have voted to have our proceeds go towards a global endeavor called Charity Water, which gives people around the world access to clean water. We are proud to have such big-hearted, globally aware K-Kids! Hope to see you there!
More information on Charity Water here.
News from Parent Council
The Parent Council meeting previously scheduled for March 21st at 8:30am will be cancelled. The next PC Meeting will be Monday April 14th at 8:30AM in person (and on zoom). May’s meeting is schedule for Friday 5/16 at 12pm on Zoom
If you have any announcements, questions or concerns that need addressing prior to the next meeting, please send those to Katy Whiteheart or Stephanie Smith.
We would like to open nominations for all positions on the 2025-2026 Parent Council. Nominations can be made on this form. We do have existing members staying in many positions, so the biggest need is for the following four positions:
- Co-Chair from South Campus
- Secretary
- Teacher Appreciation Coordinator from South Campus
- Event Coordinators (we have coordinators staying on, but can use more)
ABS Yearbook
Here is the link for online ordering for the ABS Yearbook.
Deadline for ordering is March 31st. Yearbooks are $30.00 and will be hardcover this year.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, ABS will announce school closings and remote learning days on local TV channels, under “The Arts Based School”. This information will also be posted on the ABS website (www.artsbasedschool.com).
Around Town…
Is your middle school child interested in a recording studio program? Bill Stevens is a parent here at ABS, and he runs an after school / Summer program right around the corner from us at his recording studio, Ovation Sound!
Find all the info on the flyer here. Mr. Stevens welcomes all who are ready to make and record some awesome sounds!