Published for the Arts Based School Community
September 10, 2026
Remembering September 11
This September 11 marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks that forever changed our country. It is hard to believe that a quarter of a century has passed since that morning when our nation experienced unimaginable tragedy and uncertainty.
At the time, The Arts Based School was just beginning. We had 67 students in a few classrooms rented from the school system, and we gathered as a young school community to recognize the first anniversary of September 11. We were small then, but even in those early days, we understood the importance of helping children learn about the world around them and the responsibilities we have to one another.
On this anniversary, we remember the thousands of lives lost and the families whose lives were forever changed. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger to help others. And we remember the countless acts of courage, compassion, generosity, and kindness that emerged in the days and weeks that followed.
These are the lessons we hope to carry forward with our students.
We want our children to understand the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect. We want them to have the courage to stand up for what is right, the empathy to recognize when someone is hurting, and the compassion to help others. We want them to understand that differences do not have to divide us and that listening, understanding, and caring for one another can make our communities stronger.
September 11 reminds us that remembering is not simply about looking back. It is about considering what we can learn and how we choose to live because of what we remember.
As we pause this September 11, may we honor those we lost by choosing kindness over cruelty, compassion over indifference, courage over fear, and community over division.
We remember. And we carry the lessons forward.
We are an A+ school!
The A+ organization defines itself as “a whole-school reform model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning in all subjects. A+ Schools combine interdisciplinary teaching and daily arts instruction, offering children opportunities to develop creative, innovative ways of thinking, learning and showing what they know. In A+ Schools, teaching the state’s mandated curriculum involves a collaborative, many-disciplined approach, with the arts continuously woven into every aspect of a child’s learning.”
Our school developed independently and unaware of the A+ network, until we discovered their parallel values and goals, and joined them in the summer of our third year of operations. Now, we have built friendships and relationships that buoy and inspire us, and we benefit from our membership via staff development, visits from A+ Fellows, meetings, and on-line connections with like-minded educators. We also provide tours for schools who are considering joining the network, so they can see a model of arts integration. Like other A+ teachers, we sing and dance and draw and improvise. We examine state standards in other subjects such as math, science, language arts, and social studies, and we investigate new ways to help kids discover the connections between and among them all. A+ always alerts us to upcoming changes in curricular expectations from the state, and their team of energetic, creative experts make suggestions for arts connections that we can use as springboards to new goals.
To learn more about the A+ Schools organization, visit https://aplus-schools.ncdcr.gov/about
ABS Family Directory
This year’s Family Directory will be published behind the Parent Portal of our website soon! Families who opted out of the directory or did not complete the required form are not listed. This information includes student name and parent email address and is provided only for school-related communications. If you’d like to make any changes to your contact information or be added to the directory, please email Director Hollis
ABS Skate Night tonight!
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.
K-5 Curriculum Night- Save the Date! Sept 15 & 16
Come experience your child’s classroom through their eyes during an interactive evening designed for the whole family. Families will step into the learning by trying activities, games, challenges, and routines that students experience throughout the school day. Bring your child and get ready to learn, play, problem-solve, and discover what makes learning at ABS come to life!
To ease parking, we have scheduled staggered sessions-
*New: 6th-8th Grade will no longer be hosting Curriculum Night this year. Stay tuned for additional offerings to engage with your students’ curriculum.
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]
Crazy Running, Kindergarten-4th Grade, September 21-December 2nd
Cost: $120/8 week program
North Campus: Mondays , 2:45-3:45
South Campus: Wednesdays, 2:45-3:45
We’re all about sparking a lifelong love for fitness in our young athletes! Our coaching style is all about blending fun with fitness, ensuring our kiddos are learning essential skills while having a blast. From drills to plyometrics, we’re shaping not just runners, but strong resilient athletes with a burning passion for the sport. Let’s get them moving, improving, and achieving their best.
Club Invention: Kindergarten-4th Grade, 10/5-11/20
Cost: $79/8 week program (optional aftercare add on +$40)
Children build skills for the future as they explore the past in Castles, Catapults and Coats of Arms™. Investigating basic scientific principles through the lens of medieval history, children use their imaginations to take on the roles of lords, ladies, knights, craftspeople and serfs. They work together to complete hands-on challenges and discover that inventiveness has existed even in times of suppressed learning, helping them to build empathy and social awareness, along with responsible decision making.
This club will be ran by our very own teachers, Ms. Katie Pipes (North) and Ms. Jehn Boyd (South)! The club will run from 3:45-4:45. If your student would like to attend and is not already registered for a 3 or 5 day plan for aftercare, we are starting a “Club Hold Over” Membership.
The “Club Hold Over” membership will be $40 total for the 8 weeks. This will allow students to stay in the aftercare program for the hour in between regular dismissal and when the club begins. If you register for the club and are not a part of aftercare, please email Angela Wooten to start the Club Hold Over Membership. You may also pick up your student at dismissal and bring them back for the club if you prefer.
Registration Links to Come! North Campus will be on Fridays, South Campus will be on Tuesdays. Stay tuned for the links!
Notes from Parent Council:
September Parent Council Meeting
The next Parent Council meeting will be TOMORROW, Friday, September 11th from 8:30-9:30am in the South Campus cafe, and on Zoom link. We look forward to seeing you there!
Still in need for ONE Class Representative!
We are still looking for a South Campus parent to serve as Class Representative for Ms. Daniel’s 3rd grade class for the 2026–2027 school year. The Class Representative helps connect families, teachers, and Parent Council. Parent Council will provide the information and support you need throughout the year. Does this interest you? Have questions? Please reach out to: Sara Morales, South Campus Class Rep Coordinator [email protected]
Garden Club - South Campus - Sept. 19
The Garden Club will be at South campus Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9am - 12 noon so come out and join! Students are encouraged! The Garden Club is a monthly workday, alternating between campuses, for those interested in beautifying our shared spaces. 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.
September Staff Meeting Snacks - 5th Grade!
Calling all 5th grade families! We need your help stocking the snack table for the September staff meeting. Cash donations are welcome, too, and we'll put them toward filling the snack table! Ready to help? Grab a spot on the sign-up in the Volunteer Hub! Every contribution, big or small, helps us show our staff how much we appreciate them.
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.
Save the Date: Fall Fest – 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.
Mark your calendar: 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.
ABS Book Fairs September 28-October 2, PLUS Fall Fest!
The Scholastic Book Fairs are coming!! Exciting news! We will have a fair set up at both North and South Campuses! The North Campus will also be extended to be open at Fall Fest which will be a great way to grant those wish lists AND enjoy Fall Fest!
We NEED YOUR HELP! Volunteer signup is LIVE! This is a really fun opportunity to get volunteer hours during the school day and during Fall Fest. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up! We can't do it without you!
Sign up to volunteer here for North Campus:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4FABAF22A4FD0-64782008-north#/
Sign up to volunteer here for South Campus:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4FABAF22A4FD0-65090994-south#/
Please visit the links below to sign up for an E-Wallet account*, see the fair schedule, view the book fair flyer, or shop our online book fair.
North Campus Book Fair link: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/artsbasedschoolnorth
South Campus Book Fair link: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/artsbasedschoolsouth
*Set up an E-wallet account so your student can shop the Fair cash-free. If you have multiple children, you must create a separate account for each child, be sure to use the correct fair link.
Every purchase you make at the book fairs earns money towards new books for ALL CLASSROOM libraries and BOTH SCHOOL LIBRARIES! More than half of all dollars spent at the book fairs go directly to purchase books for the school!
Questions can be directed to [email protected]
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