Published for the Arts Based School Community
April 29, 2021
End of Grade Testing
It’s that time of year again. The flowers are blooming, the days are longer, and the tests are coming! ABS students in grades 3-8 will be taking the North Carolina End-of-Grade tests May 17 - June 9. The testing window is three weeks this year to accommodate the additional sessions for Cohorts and bringing Remote Learners into the building to test. A detailed testing schedule will be available soon. EOG results will be shared with parents at the third-trimester conferences: June 10 and 11.
The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The End-of-Grade tests in reading comprehension and mathematics are administered to students in grades 3-8 as part of the statewide assessment program. End-of-grade tests in science are administered in grades 5 and 8.
Parents, please help your child do his or her best by following these guidelines:
- Help your child get 9 hours of sleep throughout the weekend and each night before the test.
- Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast, including more proteins and fewer carbohydrates.
- BE ON TIME to school. Rushing around creates anxiety. Latecomers must take a make-up test.
- Exercise. No couch potatoes, video games, or online junkies the week before. Go outside and run and play. You will rest better, think better, and feel better.
- Help them arrive at school with a positive attitude.
Parent Volunteers Needed for Tent Patrol!
We need daily help with raising and lowering the shade tents in our outdoor lunch areas. The process is simple and takes 15 minutes with four people. These tasks pair well with drop-off and pick-up times! Choose regular days and shifts. Thank you!
Days: Tuesday - Friday
Shifts: 8:15 - Set up and/or 2:20 - Break down
Please sign up here if you can help!
Calendar Clarifications
Now that we are back to in-person learning, our school calendar is slightly altered. Students will attend June 8 and 9th in person. The last day of school on June 9th will be a full day of school. Unfortunately, we will not be able to have our end-of-year Field Day because we do not have enough outdoor space to accommodate all of our students, and our testing dates run until the last day of school.
FAQ about 2021 Graduation
We are working hard to reinvent our graduation ceremony to meet the COVID health and safety requirements. We are planning an outdoor ceremony in the courtyard for the morning of June 10.
Q: When and Where?
A: ABS 7th Street Courtyard. We will have two ceremonies to accommodate both cohorts. 9:30 am (Tues/Thurs Cohort) and 10:30 am (Wed/Fri Cohort)
Q: What about Remote Students?
A: Remote students have been invited to join the ceremony. If they choose to participate, we will assign them into a cohort.
Q: How will we maintain social distancing?
A: We will have two ceremonies to reduce the number of students and attendees.
Q: Will students and families have to do health screenings and temperature checks?
A: We will not require health screening and temperature checks, but remind all families to stay home if they are feeling sick.
Q: Will we have to wear masks?
A: Although the ceremony will be outside, we will require masks to be worn by all attendees. If this requirement changes by June 10, we will let you know.
Q: Why do it by Cohort instead of by Homeroom?
A: We will need to do a rehearsal when students are at school. We will do the rehearsal on their cohort day and their ceremony with their cohort.
Q: Will it be livestreamed?
A: We would love to be able to provide viewing for those who can’t join us. We’re still working out the details of possibly filming or securely streaming. If you can help with this, please reach out to [email protected]
Q: Are we required to attend?
A: We want to celebrate all of our 8th graders, but this event is not required.
Q: What if it rains?
A: Rain Date is scheduled for June 11.
Q: Can we have a reception afterwards?
A: We will not be able to host a reception. We ask that families leave campus quickly after the ceremony to allow parking for the next group. In the past, families have planned other gatherings off campus after graduation to continue the celebration of their graduate.
Q: How many guests can we invite?
A: We have space to accommodate 4 guests for each graduate. Please complete this form to let us know how many guests spots you need to reserve.
Additional Day for School Pictures
Another Drive-thru Picture Day will be Monday, May 3 from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
1.) Sign-up for an appointment HERE.
2.) You will follow the same traffic pattern as you would for dismissal, entering our parking lot from Chestnut Street at Lloyd's Presbyterian Church.
3.) You will not need to "announce" in the PikMyKid app for picture day. You do not need to complete a health screening, but please do not come if you are feeling sick.
4.) Your help is needed for this to run efficiently. We know you want to get in and out! Please have your child ready to immediately exit the car when we open the car door. If your child is not ready, you will be asked to move to a holding station.
5.) Your child should exit the car with their mask on. They will take their mask off just before their picture is taken.
6.) Your child will be asked to get back in the car immediately after their picture is taken.
7.) Please do not walk up for picture day.
If you have further questions, please email Stephanie LeFever: [email protected]
Helpful Hints for Pik My Kid Dismissal
We've had a few parents ask how to arrange for someone else to pick-up their child(ren) at dismissal.
First, you will create the delegate. Be sure to enter the information correctly, especially the phone number. The delegate will get a text to download the app on their phone.
To create a delegate:
1) Select the three bars at the top right corner to access your app menu, then select Manage Delegates.
2) Select Add Delegate to create a new contact. You can also Edit, Delete or Block delegates as needed.
* Note: Delegates are not able to see your child on their app until you assign them to your child's calendar for specific dates.
Second, assign your delegate to a specific date for pickup
When assigning a delegate:
1.) Tap on the pencil icon to the right of the school name
2.) Tap on the student name for which you want to delegate pickup
3.) Click "ok" and select the specific date to delegate pickup for your child
4.) Select "Delegate to Another Person"
5.) Choose from the list of delegates by tapping on the correct "Assign" icon
6.) Be sure to "Save" the pickup change
Third, If the delegate does not have a car tag, please send your car tag with them or email Donna Brown for an additional car tag.
YEARBOOK DEADLINE IS THIS SATURDAY - MAY 1st
Here is the link to order. The cost is $22 – and this will be a year to remember, so get yours today! May 1st is also the deadline to submit any photos for the yearbook.
Teacher Appreciation Week is next week!
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 3-7, 2021. There is nothing like a global pandemic to shine a spotlight on the creativity, hard work, and determination of ABS Teachers and Administrators. Acknowledging how taxing this school year has also been on families and students, let’s channel a bit of energy and have some fun to show teachers how much we appreciate them!
Parent Council Hospitality is providing a schedule of ideas for the week and pitching in to help, too. Use these themes/ideas or get creative with how you demonstrate your care for Teachers. Any and all expressions of appreciation will be loved by the Teachers and Staff.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2021
May 3: Virtual Appreciation Monday
- Send your Teachers and Specialists a virtual treat: e-cards, video message, giftcards, or a photo of your student’s custom art expressing why they appreciate their teacher. If participating in virtual class sessions on Monday, encourage students to hold up thank you signs or artwork to surprise their teacher via Zoom. Spread the digital love!
- Tips: Refer to the ABS Staff Favorites list for ideas. Evite offers free e-cards.
May 4 & May 5: Decorate & Donate - combo days
- Let’s bring some joy to the carline! DECORATE your vehicle with signs of appreciation for Teachers & Specialists. We are doubling days for this fun idea so that both Middle School cohorts will have the opportunity to participate.
- DONATE a book to your teacher’s classroom (gently used from your home library or buy through Scholastic); Donate classroom supplies or give a gift card so your teacher can buy whatever they need!
- Tip: Scholastic gives 2% in rewards to the Arts Based School when you shop our online book fair link https://www.scholastic.com/bf/artsbasedschoolk8. Sign in to ensure ABS benefits from purchases you make all year long.
May 6: Thank You Thursday
- Send a heartfelt thank you note to Teachers, Specialists, and Administrators for all they have done to invent and reinvent this school year. Get creative with handmade cards or artwork.
- Parent Council Hospitality Committee will be providing healthy snacks for teachers & staff to enjoy during the week on behalf of our families.
May 7: Fun Friday - ABS Spirit Day
- Encourage students to wear their ABS t-shirts or sweatshirts. Show your spirit and celebrate the reason we love ABS so much - the teachers!!!
- Take every opportunity to thank the Teachers, Specialists, and Staff for making ABS an amazing place to learn & grow.
Thank you for helping make this an extra special week for our awesome teachers & staff at ABS!
Warmly,
ABS Parent Council Board
Builder’s Club Spirit Week- Grades 5-8
We are excited to announce that ABS Builders Club will be sponsoring Spirit Week, May 4-7 for students in the middle school building, grades 5-8. This is a long-standing Builders Club tradition and we are hoping it will bring smiles and added fun for our students. Join the fun! You will find a link below explaining each of our themed days.
Builders Club Spirit Week Schedule
ABS Summer Camps
Several of our summer camps are nearly full! If you're hoping to register your child(ren) for summer camp, don't wait! Register here today.
All summer camps will run from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday at a cost of $220 per week per child. Drop off will begin at 8:50 AM. We will also offer an extended day option from 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM for parents who need full daycare.
Visit the Summer Camp page in the family portal section of our website for details, descriptions, and FAQs.
Garden Workday: May 1
In honor of Earth Day, please plan to join parent volunteer lead, Kristen Haaf, on Saturday, May 1 between 10 AM and 12 NOON.
You can sign up as an individual or bring the entire family to help! We will offer DOUBLE volunteer hours for each individual volunteering!
Please bring any equipment such as gardening gloves, wheelbarrows, shovels, pruners, clippers, and tree trimming equipment. If you have a truck or large trunk and are a city resident with yard waste pick up, please also consider bringing your yard waste bin for us to fill. Don't forget your water bottle!
Please click HERE to sign-up so we'll know who's coming and we can record your volunteer hours!
Courtyard Construction!
This week, duct work is all firmly in place on the very high ceilings, wallboard areas are framed out, and the first coats of paint are going up on the interior brick. Many, many thanks to the ABS families and board members who are making this new learning, gathering, and music-making space possible for us! If you are able, please consider participating in the effort by making a one-time gift to help us complete the courtyard construction by the end of the school year. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in designating a larger gift to a particular need, please reach out to Leah Lavin: [email protected].