Published for the Arts Based School Community
July 30, 2026
First Day of School - Monday, August 10 (Staggered entry for Kindergarten)
Welcome Back, Teachers!
Our halls are about to come alive again as we welcome our amazing faculty and staff back for Teacher Workdays! These days are filled with professional learning, collaboration, classroom preparation, and the excitement of getting everything ready for another incredible school year.
One of the greatest joys of this time of year is seeing colleagues reconnect, sharing ideas, and working together to create engaging learning experiences for our students. We can't wait to welcome our students back into classrooms that have been thoughtfully prepared with creativity, care, and excitement.
We are also thrilled to welcome our newest members of the ABS family! Please join us in welcoming:
- Ally Shelton – K–5 Dance/Drama
- Caitlin Adam – Kindergarten Teaching Assistant (Londono)
- Kristie Benyo – Kindergarten Teaching Assistant (Fielding)
- Aliyah Fowler Bohrer – K–5 Music (South Campus)
- Maurissa Kish – K–4 Music (North Campus)
- Jacquelyn Hayden – 5th Grade (South Campus)
- Katie Visconti – 6th Grade
- Betty Jo Moore – 6th Grade
- Jaynie Gifford – 1st Grade (South Campus)
- Taylor Mason – 5–8 Music (North Campus)
- Johnna Warlow – 1st Grade (North Campus)
- Annie Joyner – 4th Grade (North Campus)
- Nyesha Daniels – 3rd Grade (South Campus)
- Anna-Marie Stewart – 4th Grade (South Campus)
- Bryten Wilson – Physical Education (South Campus)
- Sara Aguilera – Kindergarten Teaching Assistant (Greene)
We are excited to have these talented educators join our team and know they will make a wonderful impact on our students and school community. To learn more about your teacher, check out our faculty directory.
Here's to a fantastic start to the 2026–2027 school year—we can't wait to learn, create, and grow together!
Fall Enrollment Forms Now Available – Due by August 7
All returning and new families are asked to complete registration for the 2026-27 school year. The Arts Based School uses the Enrollease platform to streamline this process.
Please log in here using your Lotterease or Enrollease account, and complete the 2026-27 Required Student Form for each of your children attending ABS.
This form is required for:
- Laptop use
- Field trip participation
- Medical information updates
Please take a moment to complete the form today to ensure your child is ready for the first day of school!
Helpful Links and Reminders:
- Who is my student’s teacher? What supplies do we need? You can find class lists, supply lists, and class pages behind our parent portal, on this page.
- Have you filled out your required student form in Enrollease? Please complete these ASAP! More details below.
- If you are new to ABS, please download the app PikMyKid for our dismissal process. You will receive your car tag and Pikmykid number at Special Visits or the first day of school.
- For Lunch & Breakfast: LINQ Connect is used for meal applications, meal account management, and online payments. The LINQ Online Ordering Portal is used to place meal orders and view the menu.
PikMyKid App: Afternoon Pickup Made Safe and Simple
The Arts Based School uses the PikMyKid app to ensure a safe and efficient afternoon pickup for all students. This app streamlines the dismissal process by allowing parents to announce their arrival, manage pick-up permissions, and receive real-time notifications—all from their smartphones.
All new families will need to download the PikMyKid Parent app before the first day of school. After downloading, simply tap “Register” and follow the prompts to create an account. A QR code and further instructions will be sent by email to new families in the coming weeks—please be on the lookout for this important message.
In preparation for the new school year, student records in PikMyKid are being updated to align with changes in student ID numbers due to the state-wide transition to Infinite Campus. While this update should not impact returning families’ ability to access the app or use existing accounts, they may notice a new student number associated with their child. The updates should be completed by August 6.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in using PikMyKid to help keep our dismissal process running smoothly and safely.
School Meals: Lunch and Breakfast Options
We are pleased to announce that The Arts Based School will be participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for the 2026–2027 school year. This program provides students with access to nutritious meals that support their growth and learning.
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.
Meal Ordering
You will continue placing your child’s meal orders through the LINQ Online Ordering Portal, just as you did last school year.
Meal orders must be submitted the week prior by Wednesday. To order for the first week of school, orders should be placed by Wednesday, August 5. Meal orders must be submitted during the designated ordering window. Late meal orders cannot be accepted.
Please remember that you will continue using two separate LINQ websites. LINQ Connect is used for meal applications, meal account management, and online payments.
The LINQ Online Ordering Portal is used to place meal orders and view the menu.
Need More Help?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about lunch accounts, ordering, payments, and eligibility.
New Parent Orientation
Thanks for joining us for new parent orientation. If you were unable to attend, here are the slideshows we used.
New Parent Orientation Slideshow-South Campus
New Parent Orientation Slideshow-North Campus
Middle School Orientation Slideshow
Openings for 3rd Grade
We have a few open spots in third grade at our South Campus. If you are interested in having your child attend the South campus, you could apply for an open spot by completing the Lotterease lottery application for 3rd grade South Campus. These spots are first come first serve.
Parent Workday rescheduled for Monday, Aug 3
Help Us Get Ready for the New School Year!
We’re looking for helping hands to prepare our North and South campuses for the start of school! Parent volunteers are needed for tasks like moving furniture, assembling items, organizing materials, and more. Join us on Monday, August 3 from 8:30-11:30am—it’s a great way to support our school community, and you’ll earn double volunteer hours for your time! We’ve had to reschedule this workday due to the community water disruptions.
If you can help on Monday, Aug 3, 8:30-11:30am please sign up here.
Notes from Parent Council:
Donations Needed for the Welcome Back Breakfast
Thank you to everyone who has donated monitarily or signed up to contribute food! We're half way to our goal. Help us treat our teachers by signing up to bring food or donate funds. This is for staff at both campuses - breakfast is at North campus. Your support means so much! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4FABAF22A4FD0-64759259-2026#/
Volunteering at ABS
The Arts Based School Volunteer Hub offers a variety of ways for parents to support our school community, from classroom assistance to special events and ongoing needs. Current opportunities include serving as Class Reps, volunteering in art classes, helping with lunch distribution on Fridays, maintaining our school gardens, providing staff meeting snacks by grade level, and supporting teacher appreciation efforts by stocking the Teacher's Lounge. All volunteer opportunities are available through SignUpGenius links on the portal, where you can easily sign up for activities that fit your schedule and interests. Additionally, there's an area to log your hours for individual classroom volunteering, with those opportunities organized on a more individual basis by teachers and class reps.
Parents Needed: Sign up to be a Class Representatives!
Each classroom should have a Classroom Representative that will coordinate with their teacher to communicate needs to the classroom. Parent Council will work with you to make sure you have all of the information and support you need. Main responsibilities include:
- Coordinating class-specific volunteer efforts and classroom needs.
- Coordinating parent volunteers for Book Fair, Fall Fest and Field Day.
- Coordinating any hospitality events (Teacher appreciation week, recognizing teacher birthdays, etc.)
- Communicating information from Parent Council.
Please sign up to be a class representative using this Google Sheet: ABS Class Reps 2026-2027
Learn more about what being a class rep involves here: ABS Classroom Representative Information Sheet
Please contact Parent Council Rep Coordinators with any questions.
Tabatha Smith, North Campus [email protected]
Sara Morales, South Campus [email protected]
Thank you for helping build our school community!
Aftercare Registration 2026-2027
Aftercare Registration is now open for both campuses! We look forward to providing a safe and fun filled environment where we focus our efforts on the social, emotional, and physical development of your child. We'll do this by nurturing strong relationships and offering your children choices that reflect their individual needs, interests and abilities. This year we are hopeful to offer more structured activities that the students and staff will both love! The program runs from 2pm-6pm each day and we offer a 2 days (NEW!), 3 days, and 5 days a week program. You can also register for the drop in service. Check out updated pricing and dates in the Aftercare Parent Handbook. Please email Ashley Tate at [email protected] with any questions.
2026-2027 Aftercare Registration
2026-2027 Aftercare Parent Handbook
ABS Bus Service
For the 2026-27 school year, ABS will offer morning and afternoon bus service with dropoff and pickup locations of: Winston Lake YMCA, Hanes Mall, and Sherwood Plaza. Please review the Bus Guidelines and Information before registering.
Please contact Mr. Cutts at [email protected] with any questions.
2026-2027 ABS Bus Registration
ABS Bus Guidelines and Information
School Calendar and Important Dates
The approved 2026-27 school calendar is available 2026-27 Student Calendar, on our website Calendar
Kindergarteners Staggered Start
ABS kindergarten students begin the school year with a staggered start. Students in kindergarten will be assigned their first day of school when they receive their class placement. We schedule a third of each class to attend to help students acclimate to their school day and routine. Kindergarteners will only attend one of the first days, either Monday (8/10), Tuesday (8/11), or Wednesday (8/12). Then all kindergarteners will attend together starting Thursday, August 13. The staggered entry schedule does not affect a student’s attendance record.
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.
Special Visits
Educational research shows that the relationship between the student and his or her teacher is one of the most important factors in a student’s academic success. This critical relationship is enhanced by our small class size and our educators’ commitment to children. In support of the teacher/student relationship, our teachers will be offering a Special Visit before school begins. A Special Visit is simply an opportunity for your child to meet his or her teacher in a familiar setting, a chance to learn a bit about the class and what to expect in the coming school year. This year’s scheduled days for Special Visits are August 4 and 5, 2026. Your child’s teacher will be contacting you to schedule a 15-20 minute appointment.
Ways to get involved and learn more about ABS:
- ABS Parent Student Handbook
- 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