Published for the Arts Based School Community
May 4, 2023
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert
“Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself. “ - Chinese Proverb
First graders are preparing for their performances of a play based on a traditional Chinese folk tale. This coincides nicely with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and is a great opportunity to introduce our young students to music, dance, language, clothing, and stories from China. In the classroom, they made topographical maps of China, and learned about Chinese landmarks, and animals.
In first grade, Ms. Tarmey, a visiting artist in drama and storytelling, joins the classroom as part of language arts studies, to familiarize students with the story and develop the script. The performance is predominantly narrated by Ms. Tarmey, with students speaking and responding as a group. They have occasional individual lines, for those who are ready, prompted liberally by the narrator. The students themselves typically devise the lines during class, once they are familiar with the story. Focus is on the basics of onstage etiquette, noticing space, and making spontaneous staging choices that make sense and allow the audience to see and understand. Students also work on projecting their voices and on courageously focusing and doing their best.
One of the biggest benefits to this process is the embodiment of story sequence. Students become acutely aware that a story progresses in a particular way, with one scene following another, and they must remember what comes next. If they forget, the adult narrator is standing by to give them a hint, and it’s perfectly OK in this low pressure setting to accept that little bit of help and move on. They also learn the directions of the stage, and they learn that “upstaging” is bad manners.
Music and dance are integrated into the show, with students singing a traditional Chinese song or two (in English) as part of the story, and performing Chinese inspired dances as well. Of course, China is a massive country with many traditions stretching back thousands of years, so these tastes of Chinese culture are merely meant to awaken curiosity, and awareness. We hope it will excite wonder and respect for the wide world around them.
First Grade Performances Schedule
First graders will perform The Great Dragon and the Pearl of Wisdom on the following days and times:
McCrae/Fletcher, Tuesday, May 16, 12:00-12:30
Howard, Wednesday, May 17, 12:00-12:30
Tashina, Thursday, May 18, 12:00-12:30
Rogers, Friday, May 19, 12:00-12:30
Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Mary Siebert, ABS Arts Director
Mary Siebert our Arts Director was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We are very hopeful that by catching it so early she will have a good prognosis. Mrs. Siebert is incredibly healthy both physically and mentally. She will approach this battle with all of her determination, creativity, and focus and be victorious.
Mrs. Siebert will be away from school on medical leave for the rest of the school year. She appreciates the love and support she has been receiving from friends and colleagues. She welcomes your communications by email but asks for understanding if she does not respond.
We will be in touch with concrete ways to help as they unfold. For now, please continue to lift up Mary and her family.
No Friday Sings
Due to Mrs. Siebert medical leave, we will need to cancel the remaining Friday Sings for the school year. We will conduct the Asst Principal Raffle on Friday, May 5 (North) and Friday, May 19 (South). We will notify Asst Principal winners by email.
ABS T-Shirts have Arrived!
Thanks to all the families who ordered the new ABS T-shirt. We have received and sorted those shirts and will be sending them home today with your Thursday packet! Enjoy!
ABS Builders Club Spirit Week 5-8 Grades only
5/8 Monday: Matching Monday- Dress alike day- SECU House/Boxes of Cereal
5/9 Tuesday: Anything but a Backpack-must fit into your locker or under your hook and be school appropriate.-Art Supplies for Crossnore
5/10 Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday- Wacky tacky -Pack the Pantry- Canned Food only
5/11 Thursday: Throwback Thursday-choose your era- Travel toiletries for the Women's Shelter
5/12 Friday: Fandom Friday- Dress in what you are the biggest fan of- Individually wrapped snacks for Ronald Mcdonald House/Brenners.
Movie Day: Friday 5/12, 5-8 grades only - Puss and Boots: The Last Wish- PG, Frozen -G, Black Panther 2- PG13, Edward Scissorhands-PG13 - $5.00 ticket. Proceeds go to The Eliminate Project- This organization provides international vaccinations for mothers and babies.
ABS Yearbooks
Yearbook pre-orders will be going home next Thursday, May 11th If you did not pre-order, a limited supply will be available for purchase at each front office, beginning May 15.
- Sales will be on a first-come, first-served basis. We are unable to hold.
- Limit of 1 yearbook per transaction to make it fair for everyone that may have forgotten to order.
- Cost: $25, Cash only
Interested in working for ABS?
The Arts Based School (ABS) is a popular and successful K-8 public charter school in Winston-Salem, offering competitive salaries and NC State health plan and retirement benefits to full-time employees.
Warm collegial relationships and a high level of collaboration are consistently noted by teachers as favorite aspects of working at ABS. We accept applications year-round from licensed teachers. Ideal candidates are passionate, energetic, creative, and innovative. ABS teachers are team players who plan together across arts and other disciplines to deliver uniquely integrated curriculum. This contributes to our cheerful, vibrant, learning community, and results in accomplished, confident students.
Our campus, located in downtown Winston-Salem, includes two updated brick tobacco warehouses: a colorful K-4 building with a blackbox theater, dance studio and art room, and an “industrial chic” 5-8 building with a drama studio, an art room bordering an outdoor sketching garden, a modern, light-filled music room, and a large, open courtyard.
For more information and application, check our website: https://www.artsbasedschool.com/apps/pages/employment
Current Openings: Middle School Science, Middle School EC, Teaching Assistant, Part-time K-2 Music and Dance
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!
ABS Regular Board Meeting
The ABS Board of Directors Board will meet on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 5:45pm at the 7th St School building. Board meetings are open to the public.
Parent Council Meeting - Friday, May 12, 2023
Please join us for our monthly Parent Council meeting at 8:30 am in the MLK building cafeteria and via ZOOM. Link is included in your email. We will discuss field day preparations and other exciting upcoming events. All are welcome!