Published for the Arts Based School Community
August 28, 2025
No School: Monday, Sept 1 - Labor Day
A Special Performance for K–3: The Ugly Duckling
We’re thrilled to announce that ABS students in grades K–3 will enjoy a very special performance this September: The Ugly Duckling by Jon Deak.
This unique musical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story is unlike anything they’ve seen before. The performance features soprano narrator Jodi Burns, who sings all of the animal characters—including clucking chickens—beautifully on pitch! She is joined by bassist Paul Sharpe, who plays the role of the duckling while also providing the musical landscape for the narrator. In the second act, the duo is joined by a full string quartet, creating a rich and delightful experience for young audiences.
This opportunity was made possible thanks to ABS founding Arts Director Mary Siebert, who wrote and received a grant from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County to fund two performances of this work—completely free of charge for ABS students. Mrs. Siebert also provides staff development for our teachers, helping them integrate the arts into their classrooms using The Ugly Duckling as a model and showing strategies for helping students connect with opera in meaningful, age-appropriate ways.
Mrs. Siebert describes the performance as “one of my favorites for young children—it’s really delightful!” Her guidance ensures that teachers can extend the learning beyond the performance, giving students a deeper, more connected experience with music, storytelling, and the arts.
As you may know, budget challenges have made it especially difficult to fund resident and guest artist programs this year. Opportunities like this highlight just how important it is to continue supporting arts programming at ABS. We remain committed to providing our students with authentic, inspiring arts experiences, even as we work daily to secure additional donor support and funding.
We can’t wait to share this magical performance with our youngest students and thank the Arts Council for helping us keep the arts alive and thriving at ABS!
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-
Attendance Update: New Email for Absence Notes
Consistent school attendance is essential to every child’s academic growth and success. As a public school, we are required to record and report excused and unexcused tardies and absences each day.
With the launch of the new North Carolina Student Information System (NCSIS), Infinite Campus, we’ve made an important change in how families should submit absence notes.
Instead of sending notes directly to your child’s classroom teacher, please email all attendance notes to: [email protected].
This includes both parent/guardian emails and doctor’s notes. Centralizing this process helps us ensure accurate reporting and compliance with state requirements. For more details, you can review our full attendance policy [here].
Thank you for helping us keep attendance records accurate and up to date!
Lunch Ordering Update
Thank you for your patience as we launch meal service with two new systems—LINQ for ordering and Infinite Campus for student information. We know this transition has been frustrating at times, and we truly appreciate your understanding.
We’re excited to offer meals through the federal free and reduced lunch program, ensuring more students have access to healthy food each day. While there have been some bumps in the road, we’re confident the process will smooth out quickly.
Remember orders are due by Wed, 5pm for the next week. You can [click here] to access the ordering page and save it to your favorites.
Questions or concerns? Please reach out anytime at [email protected]
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.
BOG Results
Congratulations to our Third Grade students for completing the Beginning of Grade (BOG) test in reading this week. The state does not expect that all students will demonstrate proficiency on the BOG test because the content on the BOG is the same as what is measured on the EOG reading test administered at the end of the year. Your child’s results are coming home next week in Thursday packets in a sealed blue envelope. If you have any questions about your child’s results, please contact your classroom teacher.
Science Scores Released
The state has released test results from last spring’s EOG Scinece test. Due to the state’s implementation of new North Carolina Science Standards, adopted by the State Board of Education in July 2023 and implemented this school year. New assessments were given in grades 5, 8, and biology, and the Department of Public Instruction processed the data and set new achievement levels. Current sixth graders will their 5th grade EOG results in today’s Thursday packet.
Staffing Update
We have both heartfelt goodbyes and warm welcomes to share with our ABS community.
After nearly 20 years of dedicated service, Ceci McGuire will be leaving her position at ABS. Ceci has been an essential part of our school, helping to develop our reading programs, supporting our EC program, and managing our testing programs with great expertise and care. Beyond her many professional contributions, she has always been a supportive colleague and a kind listener. Ceci will continue with us for the next two weeks to assist with testing and to support the transition of the South EC program. She is stepping away at this time to care for her family and support her aging parent, and while she will be deeply missed, we are grateful for her remarkable impact on our school.
At the same time, we are excited to welcome John Landini to our EC team at the South Campus! John comes to us from Vienna Elementary, is completing his Master’s in Special Education, and brings additional gifts as both an artist and a musician. We are delighted to have him join the ABS community and look forward to the many ways he will contribute to our students’ learning and growth.
Please join us in celebrating Ceci’s extraordinary work and offering a warm welcome to John as he begins his time with us.
Say Something Tip Line and Training
State law (G.S. 115C-105.51) requires public secondary schools (grades 6 and up) to have an anonymous safety tip application available for public safety tips from students and others. The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) is a life-saving school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how to recognize the warning signs for individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and to report this information by going to a trusted adult, calling 911, or using the anonymous reporting system. Our students in grades 6-8 will receive “Say Something” training in his/her classroom during the next few weeks.
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 .
Yearbook Club Interest Meeting
We are excited to kick off our first Yearbook Club! There will be an interest meeting for 7th and 8th graders on Tuesday, September 2nd from 3:00–3:30 p.m in Miss DeJarnette's room. Anyone insterested can attend to hear more about the club, guidelines, and pick up an application. Students must be picked up promptly at 3:30 p.m. We can’t wait to see those interested in helping create a memorable yearbook!
Parent Council News
ABS Fall Fest-Saturday, October 4 | 12–3 PM
Join us for an afternoon of fun, food, and community at the ABS Fall Fest!
Highlights include:
Food Trucks
Book Fair
Tons of Games & Activities
Vendors
Admission: $5 per child (adults free) – pay by cash or Venmo.
100% of admission fees directly support The Arts Based School!
This Parent Council–sponsored fundraiser helps cover the school’s annual operating expenses. Come hungry, bring your family, and get ready to play!
Keep an eye out for emails from your class representative about volunteer opportunities.
Interested in being a vendor?
Apply here: Vendor Application Form
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
Aroung Town...
Acting Out from UNCSA
Acting Antics: Fun and Games for Stage, Grades 3-5
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15 p.m. (Sept. 3 - Dec. 10, 2025)
$307 / 14-week semester
Jordan Brown, Instructor (Arts Based School)
Students will be immersed into the ridiculously fun world of theater games - a methodology inspired by the teachings of Viola Spolin - to encourage cooperative play and ensemble thinking. This process-based class will include improv and pantomime to ignite children's imaginations in a manner that gets them acting in front of their peers without even realizing it! No final class demonstration will be offered for families; kids-only fun!
Stagecraft: Acting for the Theatre, Grades 3-5
Wednesday, 5:30-6:15 p.m. (Sept. 3 - Dec. 10, 2025)
$259 / 14-week semester
Jordan Brown, Instructor (Arts Based School)
Explore the world of theatre through scene work, theatre games, and monologues. Get creative, build communications skills and confidence while having fun! No final class demonstration will be offered for families; kids-only fun!
Acting Antics and Stagecraft classes are held at:
Arts Based School
North Campus
1380 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Reel Adventures: Exploring Acting in the World of Film, Grades 6-8
Mondays, 4:30-5:15 p.m. (Sept. 8 - Dec. 15, 2025)
$259 / 14-week semester
Jordan Brown, Instructor (Arts Based School)
In this class, students will be introduced to the camera as their audience. Students will learn basic camera angles and will work together using a green screen and a phone camera to create their very own movies!
NEW! The Art of Comedy, Grades 6-8
Mondays, 5:30-6:15 p.m. (Sept. 8 - Dec. 15, 2025)
$259 / 14-week semester
Jordan Brown, Instructor (Arts Based School)
In this class students will explore the world of comedic performance including improvisational skills, creating comedic characters, finding your unique voice and process, understand comedic timing and work with an ensemble. This class will develop student's confidence, creative writing skills and perhaps also train the next best comedian.
Reel Adventures and The Art of Comedy classes are held at:
Arts Based School
North Campus
1380 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Registration link: https://go.