Published for the Arts Based School Community
August 21, 2025
Facing Budget Challenges Together
If you’ve been following recent news about education, you’ve likely seen stories about the financial challenges facing schools across our state and nation. Cuts to federal, state, and local education budgets are creating ripple effects that impact teachers, students, and families alike. These challenges are not abstract—they reach directly into classrooms, shaping the experiences of our children and the work of educators who dedicate themselves to their success.
As a charter school, we operate under the guidance of our own Board of Directors and are committed to maintaining a balanced budget while providing the high-quality education our families expect. Still, we are not immune to the uncertainty of school funding. Fluctuations in state and federal support, along with local funding constraints, mean we must plan carefully and creatively to ensure our students continue to thrive.
What gives us strength in times like these is the foundation we have built together with our community. Over the years, your generosity and partnership have allowed us to sustain programs, enrich arts instruction, and support the kind of innovative, student-centered learning that defines our school. We know that when funding becomes uncertain, our community’s steady support makes all the difference.
We want to acknowledge both the difficulty of these times and the resilience of our teachers, staff, and families in our greater community. While financial realities pose challenges, they also remind us why we do this work: to nurture curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every student. With your continued partnership, we will face these challenges head-on, protect what matters most, and ensure that our students’ educational experience remains rich, joyful, and inspiring.
Parent Bill of Rights
In 2023 Senate Bill 49 (S.L. 2023-106), the Parents’ Bill of Rights was enacted by the NC General Assembly. This bill codifies the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their child and to make certain decisions regarding the education, health care, mental health, and well-being of their child. The bill also outlines requirements for schools to provide information to parents about how they can be involved in their child’s education.
Parents’ Bill of Rights (N.C.G.S 114A-10)
- Direct the upbringing and moral or religious training of their child
- Direct the education of their child
- Enroll a child in a traditional public school, public charter school, or private school
- Access and review all educational records
- Make health care decisions for their child
- Access and review all medical records of their child (except in matters of abuse/neglect)
- Prohibit the creation, sharing, or storage of biometric scans of their child without consent
- Prohibit the creation, sharing, or storage of their child’s blood of DNA without consent
- Prohibit the creation by the State of a video or voice recording of their child without consent
- Prompt notification if an employee suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against their child unless it would interfere with police investigation
For more information about how we support students, please review the Parents' Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA).
Beginning of Grade Test (BOG)
The State Board of Education requires a standardized reading test for all third graders in North Carolina. Third-grade students will take the Beginning of Grade (BOG) test in reading. A student’s BOG score will be used as baseline data to measure growth as well as a screening tool to identify those students who will need remediation to pass the End of Grade test. The NC Read to Achieve initiative requires retention for students who do not pass the Reading EOG at third grade. The test has 42 questions, takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, and is administered online at school. It will be administered on August 26 at North Campus, and August 27 at South Campus. Testing accommodations will be provided for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Make-up tests will be required for any student who is absent from the regular administration of the test.
Curriculum Night- Save the Date! Sept 16 & 17
Curriculum Night is an educational open house for parents to learn about their child's school year and how to support them at home. At curriculum night, parents can expect to learn about:
- Curriculum: What their child will learn in class
- Classroom routines: Schedules, Procedures, & Expectations
Curriculum night activities are held in your child’s classroom.
To ease parking, we have scheduled staggered sessions-
A New Look for Ms. Carlisle’s Role This Year
We are excited to share some updates about Ms. Carlisle’s role this year! With the addition of Dr. Gwyn as our new middle school counselor, all middle school counseling needs will now be supported by her. This allows Ms. Carlisle, our elementary school counselor, to focus her time at both North and South campuses through classroom guidance lessons.
In addition, Ms. Carlisle—who is licensed in both counseling and Spanish—will be teaching Spanish to our 7th and 8th graders! Rather than meeting regularly with individual students, she will be connecting with all of her cohorts through whole-group instruction. The goal is that her consistent weekly lessons will provide meaningful support and have a positive impact on every student.
Ms. Carlisle is already enthusiastic about this new chapter and looks forward to working closely with Dr. Gwyn to ensure a wonderful year for all of our students.
Kindergarten Speech Screening
We will soon begin screening kindergarten students for any speech or language difficulties. Mary Dunevant and Victoria Shull, our speech pathologists, will visit each kindergarten classroom to have a short conversation with each student. This screening allows us to identify any speech concerns that may interfere with your child's learning. If speech concerns are identified, Victoria or Mary will notify parents and discuss next steps. If your child already receives speech services, a screening will not be conducted. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mary Dunevant at [email protected]
Please complete this form to provide written consent for the kindergarten speech screening. Thank you!
School Meals Update: Lunch and Breakfast Options
As we get ready for the new school year, here are a few important reminders about school meals and how to ensure your child is set up and ready to go.
Applying for Free or Reduced-Price Meals
We encourage all families to complete a Free or Reduced-Price Meal application at linqconnect.com. Simply click on “School Services”, then choose “Free & Reduced Meal Application.”
You do not need to create an account to complete the application.
When Will I Know if My Child Qualifies?
You will receive a letter of eligibility within 10 days of submitting your application. This letter will be emailed to you. If we do not have an email address on file, a copy will be sent by U.S. Mail.
Setting Up a Meal Account
To pre-order meals and add funds to your child’s account, go to linqconnect.com and create an account using your child’s:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- State Identification Number
If you do not know your child’s State ID, please email us at [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help.
New This Year: All Meals Must Be Pre-Ordered
Please note that students will only receive meals if they have been pre-ordered and there are sufficient funds in their account. We encourage families to stay involved and check accounts regularly.
Need More Help?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about lunch accounts, ordering, payments, and eligibility.
Let’s work together to make this a healthy and successful school year!
Activity Fee
ABS is publicly funded and free to all students. We ask families to contribute a $40 activity fee each year to help cover the costs of our field trips, special arts activities, and more. You can pay your Activity Fee through the website donation link. Please mark other and in the comment box type “Activity Fee”. Families qualifying for free/reduced lunch are exempt from this charge.
mClass/DIBELS Reading Testing This Month
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has implemented and required a kindergarten through third-grade reading assessment called mCLASS: Reading 3D to help teachers assess, track, and support each student’s reading skills. Each student will be assessed every trimester using the online assessment program. mCLASS: Reading 3D will instantly analyze your child’s development in grade-appropriate foundational reading skills. Teachers will use this data to focus their instruction around your child’s specific needs, in areas that may include:
- Hearing and using sounds in spoken words (Phonemic Awareness)
- Knowing sounds of letters and sounding out written words (Alphabetic Principle)
- Reading words in stories easily, quickly, and correctly (Accuracy and Fluency)
- Understanding what they read (Reading Comprehension)
After each assessment period, you will receive a letter outlining your child’s specific assessment results and progress as a reader. The letter will also include learning activities you and your child can do together at home to reinforce skills learned at school. Parent support and reading at home are a vital part of your child’s education. The teacher’s efforts, combined with your support, will help your child read with mastery and confidence. If you have any questions about the assessment, the activities, or your child’s classroom work and progress, please talk to your child’s teacher.
Kindergarten Required Forms
Parents of kindergarten students are required to provide the school with a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization record, and NC Kindergarten Health Assessment form.
North Carolina Vaccine-Specific Requirements
The North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 130A-152(a)) require immunizations for every child present in this state. Every parent, guardian or person in loco parentis is responsible for ensuring that their child(ren) receive required immunizations. Here’s the NCDHHS website for more information about school immunization requirements. If you have specific questions regarding your child, please contact your child’s health care provider or your local health department.
Kindergarten, 7th grade students, and any students new to the school system who are not compliant with state immunization requirements will not be permitted to attend school after 30 days. Please turn in all immunization documentation by September 19, 2025 .
Code Ninjas! Grades 5-8
Code Ninjas is offering an exciting afterschool program, Coding and Computational Thinking with LEGO® SPIKE Prime, at the North Campus for students in grades 5–8. This 6-week program runs every Wednesday from October 15th to November 19th, with classes meeting from 2:50–4:00 PM. Students will build and program their own LEGO Spike robots while learning coding skills, problem-solving, and teamwork, all in a fun and creative environment. The cost for the program is $225, and space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon! Click this link to see the flyer and sign up!
Crazy Running K-4 Both Campuses
Crazy Running is a fun and energetic program where students build endurance while enjoying the excitement of running with friends. Through weekly practices, runners develop stamina, improve fitness, and learn the value of perseverance in a supportive and encouraging environment. Both the North and South Campus programs cost $120 and will conclude with the Mistletoe 5k & Fun Run on Saturday, December 6th, 2025. Race entry fees are included in registration, giving every participant the chance to celebrate their training by running in this exciting community event. Click here to register!
Parent Council News
Parent Council Meeting
In case you missed the Parent Council meeting last week, here’s the recording and minutes
Minutes are also posted on school website in the Parent Portal.
Volunteer Hub – Get Involved!
There are so many ways to jump in and make a difference this year—whether you have an hour a week or just an occasional day to help! Opportunities include 2025–2026 Classroom Reps, gardening projects, pizza Friday lunch delivery, art room assistance, teacher snack & fridge stocking, and more. Plus, remember to log your volunteer hours. Check out all openings and sign up here.
We have a particular need for Pizza Friday volunteers. Sign up here:
South Campus: Volunteer Signup
North Campus: Volunteer Signup
Fall Fest Save the Date – Saturday, October 4, 2025
Mark your calendars! Join us Saturday, October 4, from 12–3 PM at the North Campus for Fall Fest fun. Enjoy vendors in the courtyard, food trucks, class booths, and the Book Fair—plus music and activities for the whole family. Tickets are $5 per child (cash or Venmo only) and adults are free. We’re still looking for more food trucks, vendors, and musicians—let us know if you have a connection or would like to host a vendor booth! (Contact Erin Sorenson [email protected])
Ways to get involved and learn more about ABS:
- Follow us on Social Media
- Catch up on Thursday Notes you may have missed
- Explore the ABS website
- Make sure we have best contact information so that you receive all communications