Published for the Arts Based School Community
August 27, 2026
Celebrating Mr. Smitty’s Retirement
Congratulations to Mr. Smitty as he officially retires from driving our buses!
For many years, Mr. Smitty has been a dependable and familiar part of our school community, arriving early to make sure our students got where they needed to go. He has always been willing to step in and help, whether that meant learning the ins and outs of our new electric bus, keeping the buses running, or helping coordinate additional drivers when we needed several buses for field trips.
His commitment to ABS has extended well beyond simply driving the bus. He has helped make countless field trips, special events, and everyday school days possible by making sure our transportation needs were covered.
We are grateful for all the years Mr. Smitty has spent supporting our students and school. Congratulations on your retirement, Mr. Smitty! We wish you all the best in this next chapter.
Kindergarten Speech Screening
We will soon begin screening kindergarten students for any speech or language difficulties. Mary Dunevant and Erin Whitaker , 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 further testing is required, the parents will be notified for additional permissions for formal testing. 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!
Garden Day Thank you!
A huge thank you to the volunteers who came out for Garden Day last Saturday! The group weeded, trimmed, shoveled, swept, and filled two trailers with branches and yard debris. They also cleared the middle school teacher parking area by trimming trees, weeding, and cleaning up the spaces—no more ants!
A special shout-out goes to Sarah Avery for organizing and managing the workday and helping make such a productive day possible!
Their hard work made a tremendous difference across campus, and ABS is so grateful for the time and energy these volunteers shared. The school hopes to keep the momentum going with another Garden Day at South Campus next month. Hooray for the ABS community!
ABS Skate Night coming soon
Join the ABS STEAM Club for a fun Back-to-School Skate Night on Thursday, September 10, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at 120 Hood Dr. Winston-Salem, NC 27104
All ABS students are welcome!
- Admission: $8
- Skate rental: $4
Come celebrate the new school year with your ABS friends! Proceeds benefit the ABS STEAM Club.
Crosby Scholars Kickoff
Crosby Scholars will host a Welcome Back Meeting/ Interest Meeting for returning and new members .
All students (6th-8th) interested in attending should see Dr. Gwyn to sign up. New Members interested in joining should see Dr. Gwyn for an application.
- Applications are due by September 15th .
When: Crosby Scholars Welcome Meeting / Interest Meeting Pizza Party
Where: Room 2006 ( Guidance/Spanish Room)
When: Thursday, September 17th
Time: 3PM- 3:45PM
ALL Students interested in attending the meeting should sign up with Dr. Gwyn by September 15th
Please send all questions to Dr. Gwyn at [email protected]
About the Crosby Scholars:
Crosby Scholars is available to all public middle and high school students in Forsyth County. The Crosby Scholars Program helps students achieve in and out of the classroom and contribute to the community. Students must join and complete all program requirements no later than their sophomore year of high school.
Since 1992, Crosby Scholars has provided career and college exploration, admissions and financial aid workshops, advising services, college campus visits, community service opportunities, cultural experiences, and over $980,000 in scholarships and Last Dollar Grants for college tuition annually, Crosby Scholars now serves more than 11,000 students each year and has assisted over 35,000 Forsyth County students for college and for life.
Notes from Parent Council:
Parents: Check out the new volunteer opportunities in the Volunteer Hub!
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 2026–2027 Classroom Reps, car rider line, pizza Friday lunch delivery, art room assistance, teacher snack & fridge stocking, and more. Plus, remember to log your volunteer hours. Check out the Volunteer Hub here.
September Parent Council Meeting
The next Parent Council meeting will be Friday, September 11th from 8:30-9:30am in the South Campus cafe, and on Zoom. We look forward to seeing you there!
Join the Garden Club
This fall, volunteers will plant crops in the raised beds near the church, growing produce directly for classroom use. To ensure all efforts align with campus plans, families are asked to coordinate with a Garden Club representative before purchasing materials, donating items, or starting any independent projects. Email Sarah Avery ([email protected]) for information.
Fall Fest Save the Date – Saturday, October 3, 2026
Mark your calendars! Join us Saturday, October 3, 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. If you or someone you know is interested in bringing their food truck, musical talents, or crafts as a vendor, let us know! Email Sarah Avery ([email protected]), Jessica Crews ([email protected]), or Naquita Yellock ([email protected]).
Mark your calendars for Book Fair!
The annual Book Fair will run from September 28 through October 2, and volunteer support is vital to making the event a success. Support is needed across both campuses for setup, daily operations, and takedown. If you are interested in lending a hand, convenient volunteer shifts are now available to browse and select through the Volunteer Hub via SignUpGenius. Additionally, the Book Fair will stay open during Fall Fest on October 3 so families can shop together. Interested parents and supporters should sign up online, or reach out directly to [email protected] with any questions.
UNCSA Acting Out at ABS
We’re excited to welcome Acting Out back to ABS for another year of creative fun! This after-school program gives students the opportunity to build confidence, explore their creativity, and have fun through theater and performance. Interested in signing up? See the flyer for program details and registration information, or use the registration link below.
We’re so glad to continue this partnership and bring more opportunities for students to shine!
Around Town…
The UNCSA Community Music School Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program is starting back on September 8, and they are especially excited to be expanding it with a new section for ages 8–11, in addition to our existing program for ages 12–18.
JAM gives students the opportunity to learn traditional Appalachian music in a really welcoming, community-centered environment. Students can study fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass while also learning to play by ear, jam with others, explore traditional dance and music history, and perform together. Beginners are absolutely welcome!
They are also launching Roots Appalachian Musicians (RAM) this fall, which is essentially the adult version of JAM. So, if any ABS parents, teachers, or staff members have ever wanted to learn an Appalachian instrument or are looking for a group to play with, they would love to have them too!
The Tuesday schedule this fall is:
JAM – Ages 8–11: 3:30–5:30 p.m.
JAM – Ages 12–18: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
RAM – Adults: 6:30–8:00 p.m.
The programs are taught by an incredible group of local traditional musicians, including Chester McMillian, Caroline Beverley, Rex McGee, Ben Masterson, and Jessie McGee. They also have scholarships available for the youth program and want JAM to be accessible to any student who wants to participate. https://go.asapconnected.com/?org=5375#CourseGroupID=65399
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