Parent Pick UP Day Friday, June 12
Do not come to parent pick up if you are feeling sick, have been exposed to COVID-19, are running a fever, or have a cough. We will make alternate arrangements for your items.
To maintain social distancing and reduce the number of people interacting, we will load the vehicles by grade levels. For families with more than one student, please come during the oldest sibling’s time slot so we can have all siblings’ belongings ready for pick up.
- 9-9:30 Kindergarten
- 10-10:30 First grade
- 11-11:30 2nd/3rd grade
- 12-12:30 4th/5th grade
- 1-1:30 6th grade
- 2-2:30 7th/8th grade
Planning For School 2020-21
As all schools around the nation consider solutions for providing safe learning for students and staff, North Carolina has issued a guidance document to prepare for possible scenarios when learning resumes for the next school year. Schools are directed to prepare three plans: one for in-school instruction with minimal social distances, one for in-school instruction with moderate social distancing (50% of students in building at one time), and one for stay-at-home remote learning. We have been told that Governor Roy Cooper will announce which of the three plans we will follow based on health metrics on July 1st. Here is a link to the guidance document: LightingOur Way Forward: North Carolina’s Guidebook for Reopening Public Schools.
Many of the required and recommended practices will be challenging for schools, and may still not meet the expectations for some staff and students to feel safe. I’m hopeful we can provide options for parents/staff to choose from in-person instruction, remote learning, or some hybrid of the two. There are still many details to work through.
As we prepare for what education will look like during the upcoming school year, your input and feedback are critical. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to help us as we make plans to best meet the needs of ABS students, staff, and families.
Jumpstart Summer Program
ABS has been allotted $31,092 from the State to provide a remedial reading and math program for students in K-4 grades who are “not on track” due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and school closure. Students that did not show proficiency in reading or math on state-required assessments will have the opportunity to participate in a summer jumpstart program at ABS. The funding will be used to pay teachers to provide reading and math instruction and will run through the month of July. Parents will be notified directly if his/her child is eligible for the program.
Open Position: 5th Grade Teacher at The Arts Based School
The Arts Based School, a popular, well-established public charter school in Winston-Salem, is seeking a licensed, full-time, inspirational 5th grade teacher. We are inviting applications for this new position now, to begin in the upcoming school year.
Our ideal candidate will be passionate, energetic, creative and innovative; a team player who will plan together with arts and other disciplines to deliver and create arts-integrated curriculum. ABS is committed to developing staff that reflects the diversity of our community. Candidates of all racial, religious, and gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested teachers may reply to Principal Robin Hollis.
Public charter schools are funded by federal and state tax dollars. ABS offers the State Employee health insurance and retirement to full-time teachers.
Scroll down for several articles about ABS:
- Not Your Mother’s Romeo & Juliet
- Opening of new building
- Duncan Lewis’ metal sculptures in the new courtyard windows
A message from the ABS Board of Directors
Dear Teachers and Administrators:
The ABS Board met on Tuesday, June 9. We reviewed the tsunami of change and transition that you were required to master following the March 13 pandemic shut down. Without warning, training, or an opportunity to plan you were asked to develop and implement a remote learning program for your students. You rose to this challenge, demonstrating your dedication to your students.
The Board passed a resolution last night expressing its gratitude and admiration to you for the hard work you did and the obstacles you overcame. Please know we are thankful for you and appreciative of your contribution to our school community.
In Gratitude,
The ABS Board of Directors
Capital Campaign Update
ABS Development Director Ellen Coble reports that the COVID-19 pandemic, with its impact on education/schools and the economy, has forced an adjustment in rolling out the ABS capital campaign. The ABS Board voted on Tuesday to pause the capital campaign, allowing time for economic recovery, and to work through the daunting challenges and uncertainties currently facing all schools.
Courtyard Expansion Update
Planning and design of the courtyard expansion at the ABS 7th Street building continues, with the exciting goal of opening the new spaces in time for the upcoming school year. The two rooms will be spacious and filled with light. One will be a music room, providing increased flexibility for teaching and rehearsal, with abundant, appropriate resonance. The other will serve multiple purposes, including indoor PE, presentations, meetings, rehearsals, and student lunch. The remaining courtyard will still be an impressively large and beautiful space for outdoor activity.