Published for the Arts Based School Community
November 20, 2025
Thanksgiving Break-No School- Nov 24-28
A Season of Gratitude at the Arts Based School
Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. -Gertrude Stein
As we gather during this season of reflection and thanks, I am reminded of how deeply fortunate we are to have such a vibrant and dedicated community at the Arts Based School. It is because of our teachers, staff, board members, families, and volunteers that our school remains a joyful and inspiring place for children to learn and grow.
Our school community exemplifies the true meaning of gratitude through the commitment and care poured into our school every day. Although I hope this sentiment has been shared often, it bears repeating, especially during this season of thanks.
- Thank you for creating a joyful space where children love to learn, and teachers feel inspired to teach.
- Thank you for nurturing our students and staff with your expertise, experience, and generous financial support.
- Thank you for infusing our school with your creative energy and enthusiasm.
- Thank you for making the world a better place by prioritizing the well-being of our students and school community.
- Thank you for the extra hours, the added effort, and the thoughtful attention to detail that make a difference.
- Thank you for your time and commitment to enriching the lives of our students through countless exciting opportunities.
- Thank you for believing in and sharing the dream of a school where children love to learn, explore, and grow.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let’s take a moment to appreciate the collective spirit that makes the Arts Based School so special. Together, we are cultivating a community where creativity thrives, kindness flourishes, and children are empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Thank You to Our Book Fair Volunteers!
A big thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who made this year’s Book Fair a success! A special shout-out goes to Kristen Faulkner for her exceptional dedication—your efforts truly made a difference. Thanks to the Book Fair, each teacher has $400 to spend on classroom books and resources through the Scholastic Dollars Catalog. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful additions to our classroom libraries!
Parent Council Notes:
Parent Council Meeting
Our November Parent Council Meeting will be held on Friday, Nov 21 at 12 noon virtually. Here’s the zoom link and the agenda.
Staff Favorites / Holiday Gifts
Please remind the parents in your class about the "Staff Favorites" sheet, as we begin to prepare for the holiday season. You may want to try to coordinate a group gift, or whatever works best for your classroom. You may want to remind your parents who their Specials and EC teachers are.
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
Crosby Scholars at ABS
The Arts Based School is excited to offer Crosby Scholars for students in grades 6–8, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month after school. Interested students should see Dr. Gwyn to pick up an application and return it by Monday, December 8th; our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9th. Crosby Scholars is a comprehensive college-access initiative serving 20 high schools and 23 middle schools across Forsyth County. It is open to all school students in grades 6–10, regardless of academic ability. To participate, students sign a student and parent/guardian partnership agreement, attend Crosby Scholars Academy, complete two hours of community service each year, and maintain good disciplinary standing. For more information, please contact School Counselor Dr. Natalie Gwyn or visit the Crosby Scholars website.
Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
ABS has been invited to walk in the Winston-Salem Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec 6, 5-7 pm. Our Kids and Builder’s Club members will walk in the parade representing the Arts Based School. We are planning to walk the parade route with some of the props from several of our shows, including the animals from Lion King, the Dragon/Snake from 3rd/1st grade shows, and the giant puppets from Magic Flute. Come out and cheer us on!
K-Kids and Builder’s Club families, please complete this form to let us know if your child will be participating in the parade. If you are able to chaperone, that would be great too! We need one adult for every 10 kids.
High School Information Night
ABS will host counselors, teachers, and administrators from several area high schools for an information session on December 2nd from 6-7pm. This will include a brief introduction from the high school reps and time to ask questions and gather information from a variety of schools. High School Information Night will take place in the 7th Street building and all 7th and 8th grade families are invited to attend.
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.
Thanksgiving Break Camp: TV Broadcast, November 24 & 25, 2025
Grades 5-8
Students create their own broadcast that portrays a world they want to see. Become a broadcaster in sports, the weather, the local news, and more and learn the speaking skills to deliver important news in an effective and fun way. Students can choose to be in front of the camera, behind the camera, or writers.
Camp Times: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It will be at ABS and here is the link to register:
https://go.asapconnected.com/?org=5375#CourseID=301682
JUXTAPOSITION Fine Arts presents Music Man Kids on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 2 PM at Arts Based School Theatre (1380 N Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Winston-Salem, NC). This shortened, child-friendly adaptation of Meredith Willson's classic musical follows a charming con man who convinces a small town to form a boys’ band to scam them, only to have his plans complicated by falling for the local librarian. With roles for children of varying skill levels, the show is family-friendly and perfect for young performers. Tickets are $15 + tax/fees, and Arts Based families receive 50% off with code ABS50. Seats are limited—get yours here: Ticket Link.
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