Published for the Arts Based School Community
October 23, 2025
Conference Days- Oct 31- Early Dismissal
K-4 Dismiss at 11:45
5-8 Dismiss at 12 noon
November 3-No School-Conferences
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert, Founding ABS Arts Director, Retired
“Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.
For never was a story of more woe
than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
The 5th grade production of Romeo & Juliet on the Border is fourteen years old, this year. We have performed an original Shakespeare adaptation every year of the school’s existence. Having experimented with several different ideas, this one settled in and has stuck around for a while.
I invented and wrote this adaptation, after noticing how much the students enjoyed the historic cowboy songs unit that I taught every year. I decided to set the famous story on the border of Texas and Mexico in the year 1900. The students helped translate Shakespeare into cowboy lingo, but we left some of the iconic original language in place. It is punctuated throughout with historic songs and dances from both sides of the border.
Of course, the arguments around that border are still painful and contemporary. We still associate the Mexican border with intolerance, hope, and fear, with challenges of resolving differences and sustaining peace. Shakespeare nailed the thematic problem of violent human rivalry challenged by innocent love 430 years ago, and we still find that theme applicable to our contemporary lives. So it’s human, and it’s still true.
The setting of the American “Wild West” adds potential for a lot of 5th grade humor. I can testify that there are two direct ways to a 5th grader’s heart: humor and justice. They want to laugh, and they want things to be fair. This story captivates them from both angles. There are opportunities for beginning stage combat, for acting tough, for boots and hats and bandanas. But there is also the challenge of playing serious moments; moments of love and tragedy, which are elemental to both real life and to theater.
The Hispanic Arts Initiative, an organization no longer in existence, advised and assisted in creating this production, ensuring cultural accuracy of music, dance, and costumes. These are not just “Mexican” details, they are specifically Northern Mexican from the late 1900s. The fabric of the brightly colored skirts was shipped from Mexico, and Mexican stitchers built them. It is dazzling to see our students swishing those brightly colored skirts and to hear them singing in their tentative Spanish. So although the fun and the emotion appeal to students, this show has elements of romance and color that also captivate the audience.
Every year, we reexamine whether the material is too mature for 5th graders, especially the tragic ending with double suicides. And every year, schools are urged to help young students learn more about how to ask for help, how to focus on hope and avoid despair. In 2021, the CDC reported that suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among children ages 10-14. Unthinkable. So there is no turning aside from this, instead we are mandated to provide our children with tools to help themselves, to recognize danger signs in their peers, to tell an adult who can help. With the introduction of the story, we include lessons from our school counselors about how to seek help for you or your friend, how to recognize signs of despair, and how to practice self-care.
To explore an important topic like this through theater, in addition to direct instruction, is to enhance meaning and increase retention. The students now know and love these characters. They feel the story. Reading or listening can never teach what embodying the characters and empathetically experiencing their emotions does. They will never forget this experience, this great fun, these deep lessons.
Romeo & Juliet on the Border
Performed in the Alex Ewing Theater at ABS North Campus
Meeks’ Class - November 18, 12 noon
Johnson’s Class - November 19, 12 noon
Frazier’s Class - November 20, 12 noon
ABS Annual Giving Campaign
Thank you sincerely to everyone who has already contributed to this year's campaign! We are almost to the end of the campaign, and we urgently need your support to make a difference for ABS! Annual Giving benefits every student in every classroom at ABS. From visiting artists to the keeping the lights on and beyond, your gift helps to make the ABS experience unique, genuine, and meaningful for every student.
We have one more week to make it happen! Our goal is 100% participation, please click on the link today help us reach that goal!
Total School Participation to Date: 20%
Total Gifts to Date: $44,003
Celebrating Dr. Liz Green’s Academic Achievement
We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Liz Green on completing her doctoral degree at UNC-Greensboro! For more than 20 years, Dr. Green has been an integral part of our school community, shaping our philosophy and programs from the classroom to her current role as Director of Arts and Curriculum.
Her dedication to arts-based education, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to students’ growth have left a lasting impact on our school. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Green on this remarkable achievement!
October Parent Council Meeting
Attached are the parent council meeting minutes
Get Involved with Volunteering!
ABS Families can now easily sign up for volunteer opportunities through SignUp Genius, including Pizza Fridays, Book Fair, Carline, classroom help, and more.
- One-stop site for all things volunteering at ABS!
- Learn about volunteer opportunities at both campuses
- Links to sign up and log your volunteer hours
Garden Workday
Join us for this month’s garden workday- Saturday, Oct 25, 8:30am-10:30am at North Campus. The forecast says chilly but dry, a lovely day to spend in the garden. Here’s the list of tasks and sign up.
Prospective Parent Tours
School tours for prospective parents begin in October. They are scheduled weekly on Tuesdays at 9:15 am at South Campus and Thursdays at 9:30 am at North Campus. 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.
Halloween is Coming
Please do not send students to school in costumes. We all enjoy the fun and excitement of Halloween but find that costumes and accessories make it very difficult to concentrate. Also we do not want students to bring candy in their lunch bags for snacks. Although it can be delicious, high sugar snacks should not replace a healthy snack. Thanks for your help!
Around Town…
The Winston Salem Symphony Chorus’ stand-alone concert Illuminare is Sunday, October 26th at 5 pm at the Centenary United Methodist Church. The concert features pieces by two of the leading American contemporary choral composers, and should be about an hour long. Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for children. Tickets available here: https://www.wssymphony.org/event/illuminare/
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