Published for the Arts Based School Community
October 15, 2026
Friday, Oct 30- Early Dismissal-Conferences
- K-4 Dismiss at 11:45
- 5-8 Dismiss at 12 noon
Monday, Nov 2- No School-Conferences
The Heart of ABS: Why Our Community Gives
As our Annual Giving Campaign continues, we've been reflecting on what makes The Arts Based School such a special place. We recently invited parents, grandparents, former teachers, and Board members to share what ABS means to them. Their words remind us that the impact of an ABS education extends far beyond the classroom—and often lasts a lifetime.
Jan Adams, retired ABS dance teacher, beautifully describes the magic of arts-integrated learning:
“I was fed by the energy of the kids. That energy was the essential ingredient. They didn't memorize knowledge—they absorbed it. They danced it, painted it, composed it, molded it in clay. And then they OWNED it. I miss you all every day!”
That excitement for learning is alive and well today. Ellen Coble, ABS grandparent and Board member, recently shared a conversation with her seven-year-old granddaughter on the way to school. Her granddaughter urged her to hurry because it was going to be such a fun day! She went on to describe how she was exploring Native American history and culture through art, dance, music, and her classroom studies.
Ellen summed it up perfectly: “This is ABS! Learning through integration with the arts makes learning fun. She LOVES SCHOOL! What a concept. What lucky children!”
The lessons learned at ABS stay with our students long after they leave. Board Chair and former parent Michelle Lawrence remembers visiting an art exhibition at Reynolda House with her young son, who recognized a painting's resemblance to the work of Georges Seurat. He explained that he'd learned about Impressionism in art class months earlier. As Michelle reflected, “ABS teachers and their lessons make an impression that students don't easily forget.”
Former parent and Board member Griff Morgan sees that lasting impact in his two sons, now thriving in high school. He credits ABS's nurturing teachers and Positive Discipline approach with helping cultivate their confidence and love of learning.
And for many families, ABS is much more than a school. Tiffini Morris, whose family has been part of ABS for 14 years, describes a community brought together through traditions like Friday Sing, student productions, Community Creates, and garden workdays. These shared experiences create what she calls “our one enduring ABS family.”
But creating this extraordinary experience requires resources. Founding Arts Director Mary Siebert, who spent two decades helping shape our program, remembers that ABS always had more ideas than time, more families seeking admission than available seats, and never quite enough funding. Yet, through creativity and determination, ABS continues to provide art, music, dance, drama, and meaningful learning experiences for every child.
Mary reminds us: “Here is one organization that, without a doubt, puts your contribution to work directly for the people you love. Every little bit does help. And my little bit is going toward The Arts Based School.”
Current ABS parents Ellen Heck and her family share that commitment, emphasizing the importance of reaching 100% family participation in Annual Giving. Every gift, at whatever level is meaningful to your family, demonstrates our shared belief in the school and its mission.
These voices represent generations of the ABS community, united by a simple belief: Children deserve a school where learning is joyful, creativity is celebrated, and every child has the opportunity to shine.
Your Annual Giving gift helps make that possible. If you haven't yet participated, please consider making your contribution today.
Thank you for being part of the ABS story—and for helping us write its next chapter.
Ewing Theater Update: The Show Must Go On!
Our beloved Ewing Theater at North Campus is temporarily closed while we address an area of deterioration discovered recently. While investigating how a bird had entered the theater, we identified damage beneath the floor in a back corner of the space. The issue is limited to the theater and does not affect our classrooms or other areas of the building. The theater will remain closed while we evaluate the best approach to making repairs. While we don't yet have a firm timeline for reopening, we are hopeful that the theater will be back in use later this school year.
In the meantime, the show must go on! Our creative and resourceful staff are busy reimagining performance spaces to ensure our students continue to enjoy the rich theater experiences that are such an important part of ABS.
Second grade performances will take place as scheduled in the cafeterias at both campuses, transformed with staging, sets, and seating for our audiences. We are also exploring community theater venues for fifth grade's upcoming Romeo and Juliet on the Border in November and considering alternative arrangements for future productions.
We know how much our theater means to our students, families, and staff. We appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility as we navigate these unexpected challenges. If there's one thing we know about ABS, it's that creativity and collaboration can turn challenges into opportunities!
The curtain may be temporarily down at Ewing Theater, but the arts at ABS are as vibrant as ever!
Kids STEAM Night Out
Join Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Gledhill for an evening of science, technology, and art fun on Friday, October 16th, 5:30-8:30pm! All proceeds will benefit the ABS STEAM Club. Dinner will be served. The cost is $30 per child, $25 for additional siblings. Spots are limited. Registration will close when full or on Thursday, October 15th. Open to any ABS Student K-8.
Sign Up- https://bit.ly/OctSTEAMnight
Picture Day-Oct 16
Smile! October 16 is Picture Day! All students will be photographed to be included in the school’s yearbook. This year everyone will receive a photo proof in order to buy pictures.
To order pictures online, please visit www.strawbridge.net, click the red “Order Pictures and Yearbooks” button, and enter code PX504571. More information will be coming home soon.
Parent Council Updates
*NEW - Virtual* October Parent Council Meeting
Join us for our Parent Council meeting this Friday, October 16 *on Zoom only* from 8:30-9:30am. Login using this Zoom link: Due to picture day, we will not be able to meet in the North cafe as previously stated. Have a question you would like Parent Council to help answer? You can submit anonymously through our form.
4th Grade, help us stock October staff meetings!
Calling all 4th grade families! We need your help stocking the snack table for the October 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.
Ready to step up and make a real difference for our school?
Your time, no matter how brief, creates an immediate impact for our students and teachers! Whether you have an open afternoon or just 30 minutes, we urgently need volunteers to step into key roles: assisting with the car rider line, delivering Friday pizza lunches, supporting the art room, or keeping the teacher breakroom fully stocked. The Parent Council Volunteer Hub has a complete listing of needs for both campuses at https://sites.google.com/view/abs-volunteer-portal/.
Grab your ABS apparel!
Parent Council is happy to announce a new portal to order your ABS gear! Choose from hoodies, short sleeve shirts, and even hats. All proceeds benefit the wonderful teacher appreciation events throughout the year. Select to have items shipped to your home or picked up at a designated time and date. Visit https://www.customink.com/fundraising/arts-based-school-apparel to purchase. Orders will be taken through the end of October with an anticipated delivery date of November 10.
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.
Halloween is Coming!
We know Halloween brings lots of fun and excitement for many! However, we ask that students not wear costumes or bring costume accessories to school, as these can be distracting during the school day. Please also save Halloween candy for eating at home. While we all enjoy a sweet treat, candy should not take the place of a healthy snack during the school day. Thanks for helping us keep the focus on learning while enjoying the excitement of the season!
Notes from Parent Council:
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