Published for the Arts Based School Community
September 24, 2026
How We Do It and Why
By Mary Siebert, ABS Founding Arts Director
“As Americans we are the inheritors of a uniquely rich and vibrant history, a magnificent tapestry of diverse cultures, beliefs, experiences, and intellectual movements, bound together by the shared ideals of progress and opportunity.” – Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), National Endowment of the Humanities Chair
The pieces that make up America’s cultural mosaic originate from all over the world. Unless you are Native American, your people were immigrants. Some of us came because we wanted to, some because we needed to, and some because we were forced to. Over time, our lives have fit together into one intricate picture that we call America, yet each tile remains distinct and traceable to its place of origin.
North Carolina State Standards require second graders to study the diverse cultures within our country, to recognize and gain understanding. The state-required social studies curriculum for NC second graders is titled Foundations of America. Of course, this includes basic political and historical ideas, but when the foundations of America are examined from a cultural standpoint, you arrive at world cultures, because we come from everywhere. Each art form—music, dance, visual art, and theater—has required goals along these lines: “Exemplify the arts representing the heritage, customs, and traditions of various cultures. Recognize the impact of regional differences on the production of the arts.”
Music such as country, jazz, salsa, and hip hop. Foods such as tacos, pizza, hamburgers, hushpuppies, and hot dogs. Stories, from The Three Little Pigs to Star Wars. All of these things are American, yet each began in another place. If we could lift any one tile of the mosaic and look beneath it, it would lead us deep into history—across our continent and into nearly every other part of the world. So we begin the second-grade year with a celebration of cultures that trace back to those origins.
For our American Mosaic production, we highlight just four of those pieces through storytelling, visual art, dance, and music. We examine traditions as they emerge from the “four corners” of our country: north, south, east, and west.
- A story from a native tribe of our Pacific Northwest.
- Artwork inspired by vivid traditions of Mexico.
- Traditional dances that connect the African continent across centuries, linking popular social dances of the 1920s to hip hop.
- Songs that stretch from Ireland, Scotland, and England to the workdays, front porches, and celebrations of America.
Our goal is for students to grow curious and explore the many backgrounds that form our country, and to recognize, respect, and experience them. We discover that we have already embraced more multicultural influences than we realize—simply by being Americans.
Second Grade Performances-Save the Date!
All Second graders perform American Mosaic at the North Campus, 1380 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in the Ewing Black Box Theater beginning next week. All performances begin at noon and last only half an hour. Parking may require a few extra minutes, so please arrive in time to enjoy the show.
Pipes - Monday, October 19, 12:00
Rebhan- Tuesday, October 20, 12:00
Soesbee - Wednesday, October 21, 12:00
Munoz - Thursday, October 22, 12:00
Ward - Friday, October 23, 12:00
ABS Flips the Switch on Solar Power!
Last Monday, we gathered at our North Campus to celebrate an exciting new chapter at The Arts Based School—the installation of our new 20kW rooftop solar array!
Our 5th-grade students joined the celebration, while our 7th-grade students welcomed guests with an energetic African drumming performance. We then gathered in the courtyard for the ceremonial “flip the switch,” officially celebrating solar power at ABS!
This project was made possible through a generous Solar+Schools grant from NC GreenPower, along with support from NC Solar Now, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Advanced Energy, and many community partners and supporters.
Why This Matters
Our solar array will:
- Help power our all-electric school bus and EV charger
- Help reduce our school operating costs and environmental impact
- Create meaningful real-world learning opportunities for ABS students
Our Solar Array Is a Living Classroom!
Perhaps the most exciting part of this project is how it will become part of our students’ everyday learning. ABS teachers have received training to incorporate the solar panels into grade-level curriculum, connecting students to clean energy, sustainability, science, technology, and real-world problem solving. What better way to learn about renewable energy than to have it right on our own roof?
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this vision a reality. We are excited to watch our students learn from, explore, and celebrate the power of the sun right here at ABS!
K-Kids: Kids Making a Difference!
Would your child love the opportunity to make a difference in our school, community, and world? K-Kids is a great place to start!
Beginning Thursday, October 8, K-Kids will meet every Thursday from 7:45–8:10 a.m.
- North Campus: Ewing Theater (MLK Building)
- South Campus: Cafeteria
K-Kids is open to 3rd–5th graders. Students will have opportunities to run for K-Kids office, develop creative ideas for making our school and community better, and work together to turn those ideas into action.
To participate, please complete the permission slip and return it with the $5 fee by Thursday, October 8. Forms and payment may be turned in to the front office at your child’s campus.
Questions? Please reach out to Coach Bri, Ms. Carlisle, Ms. Ally Shelton or Ms. Hollis. We’d love to have your child join us as we learn, lead, serve, and make a difference together!
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
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:
Fall Mini Photo Sessions to Benefit ABS
Brooke Hoffman, an ABS parent and owner of Brooke Hoffman Photo, will be offering fall mini photo sessions on October 11 with split profits to benefit teacher appreciation efforts by Parent Council. You can view her flyer and visit the SignUpGenius to select a time slot.
Fall Fest – Saturday, October 3, 2026
Head to the North Campus for family-friendly music, activities, and seasonal fun including face painting, food trucks, touch-a-truck opportunities, games and vendor booths. Book Fair will also be open for browsing!
When: Saturday, October 3 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: North Campus Courtyard
Admission: $5 per child (Cash or Venmo only) | Adults free
Parking: Parking is available at Mixxer, Atrium Health Downtown Plaza, and street parking. A map will be available soon!
Needed: Fall Fest Volunteers for Clean-up and Vendor Parking Attendants
We need your help and some muscle to make Fall Fest great! We will need assistance moving tables and getting things arranged to setup a fun day for the kids and families! And as all good things come to an end we will need some assistance breaking it all down and cleaning up. There are also opportunities to help with vendor parking. Sign up on the SignUpGenius page.
Book Fair – September 28-October 2, 2026
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.
October Parent Council Meeting
The next Parent Council meeting will be Friday, October 16 from 8:30-9:30am in the North Campus cafe, and on Zoom. We look forward to seeing you there!
Monday Staff Meeting Snacks - 5th Grade!
Calling all 5th grade families! We need your help stocking the snack table for the September staff meetings on Mondays. 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.
Carline, Pizza Friday, Art Room Volunteers Wanted!
Get involved and make an impact this year—no matter your schedule! Whether you can spare an hour a week or a single afternoon, we have plenty of ways to help. Volunteer roles include car rider line duty, Friday pizza lunch delivery, art room support, and keeping the teacher breakroom stocked with snacks. Don’t forget to log your hours as you go! Check out the Volunteer Hub here.
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