Published for the Arts Based School Community
January 26, 2023
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert
“We left feeling that we had just visited the best school in the nation…a belief I am sure we are not alone in having! The joy of teaching was so apparent in your teachers and staff. And the students were all so engaged! We applaud your commitment to respecting the individuality of each child, and to the positive/creative/nurturing way that you help them grow. We saw beauty everywhere. Not obligatory displays of a talented few, but a celebration of the imaginations of all. You truly are building healthy, confident, aware and participatory citizens. We are trying to remain hopeful that our daughter will be lucky, that her number might be called to attend ABS, if not this year perhaps the next.”
– ABS applicant, after a school tour.
The glowing evaluation above, written by a parent who is also a professor at UNCSA, is a reminder of how many people love our school and would like for their children to attend. Unfortunately, this parent was among the hundreds of families who are disappointed each year. We wish we could accept more students; it is hard to turn anyone away.
On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, the annual ABS lottery will take place. The lottery is required by the state, and we follow guidelines with care. Last year, for the first time, we used an automated enrollment and lottery system that manages siblings, twin pairings, weighted applications, waitlists, and enrollment forms. It is secure and password protected. This change was a technological leap. Over the previous two decades, we had gathered for the lottery in one room, with prospective parents. They waited for hours on hard lunchroom benches, watching as we drew meticulously numbered, gumball-sized balls out of a bingo turner and announced each name, one by one. With nearly 500 applicants in some years, it was a long process.
It’s exciting for us that our school is beloved and that so many families hope to join our community. It’s also painful that we have to turn many away. This community desire for children to be educated at a school like ours was the inspiration for our new school, the “Arts Based School South” campus, in the Happy Hill neighborhood. The South campus includes only kindergarten and first grade this year. Next year, our first graders become our second graders, and we will add a new class of Kindergarteners, continuing to grow each year.
We hope that children who are not able to attend ABS will encounter schools invigorated by the current educational reforms which lean toward the National Education Association’s “Four Cs”: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, and we offer sincere thanks to all of you who continue to entrust us with caring for your children.
The enrollment application to the ABS Lottery, for students who are not current students, may be found HERE.
Deadline to apply: January 31 at 3:00 p.m.
Student Intent for 2023-24 School Year
As we prepare for next year’s enrollment lottery (2023-24), it is important to know how many spaces are available in each grade. As a current student, your child has priority placement and no additional action is required. If your child is not returning to ABS for the 2023-24 school year, please notify Principal Hollis [email protected].
Siblings of currently enrolled students receive priority, but must fill out an enrollment application in Lotterease. You must complete an application for the 2023-24 school year for siblings of current students in order to reserve a space before the lottery. The deadline for receiving applications is Jan 31 at 3pm. Applications are available on our school website: www.artsbasedschool.com/enroll
First Grade Update
As you know, Mrs. Fansler will be retiring effective January 31. We are delighted to announce that Tashina Fielding will step into the classroom as a long-term sub to finish the school year. Ms. Tashina has been a teaching assistant at ABS for many years in both kindergarten and first grade, including partnering with Ms. Fansler for two years. Her extensive experience in Ms. Fansler's classroom will help support the students through the transition and continue with their learning.
We will miss Ms. Tashina at the South campus, but know she will do a great job for her new students! Ms. Taylor Payne will be increasing her hours to support both first-grade classrooms at the South campus, splitting her time between the two. We are delighted to have Ms. Taylor take a bigger role with our students as she works toward her teaching license.
Skate Night for ABS
ABS Builders Club will be hosting a schoolwide skate night! All ABS students are invited to participate. A parent/guardian must stay at Skate Haven during skate night.
Where: Skate Haven, 120 Hood Dr #2440
When: Tuesday, January 31st 6:30-8pm
Cost: $6.00
Order Your Yearbook
Yearbooks are available for order now! Our yearbook includes both campuses. Orders can be placed by visiting the Strawbridge website at http://www.strawbridge.net/ and clicking the red “Order Pictures and Yearbooks” button at the top of the page. The price is $25 and our school code is YB25672.
Lost and Found
We have many coats and jackets in the Lost and Found at ABS South and the MLK Building. If your child is missing something, please come have a look! Jackets are on display now at the MLK building.
Set-Moving Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to move sets, props and costumes! These are high-energy, rewarding tasks that help us produce our beautiful performances. These magical shows do not just magically happen...we rely upon magic-making volunteers! You are invited to log DOUBLE VOLUNTEER HOURS for these set-moving tasks:
-Friday February 3, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
-Friday February 24, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
If you can help with either of these, please sign up HERE. We will meet in the Ewing Theater at ABS North.
Garden Work Day Friday After School
Join us at ABS North for a quick, casual after-school garden work day this Friday, January 27.
2023 Summer Camps
Mark your calendar NOW and set a reminder for February 3! Registration for ABS summer camps will open to ABS families February 3. We can't wait to share all the details with you later this month!
Assistant Principal for the Day
Does your child want a chance to be Assistant Principal for the day? We hold drawings every month at Friday Sing! You can purchase raffle tickets online or in the front office of your campus to give your child a chance to be Assistant Principal of the Day. Assistant Principals have their own desk, name tag, and list of very important duties for the day. All proceeds from the raffle support our teacher appreciation fund and allow us to do special things for our staff throughout the year. Thank you, and good luck!
Prospective Parent Tours
School tours for prospective parents are scheduled weekly on Thursdays at 9:30am. 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 ext 1023. Applications will be accepted beginning January 1. The lottery will be held the second Tuesday of February. An Open House Tour of South Campus will be January 19, 5-6pm.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, ABS will announce school closings on local TV channels, under “The Arts Based School.'' This information will also be posted on the ABS website (www.artsbasedschool.com).
Around Town
There is a “Read Write Spell” literacy fair this Saturday, January 28. Details are available here.
Free Event at Clemmons Library
Children’s book Author Amir Alexander will be reading her book Gio's Heart followed by a craft, to raise awareness of children’s congenital heart diseases. The free event will take place on February 11, 2023 in the Clemmons Library Auditorium. Find additional details in the links below.