Bates Performing & Visual Arts
About the Performing and Visual Arts Core Magnet Middle School Program
Anne Arundel County’s first Performing and Visual Arts Magnet opened its doors at Wiley H. Bates Middle School in the Fall of 2009 with approximately 100 sixth graders and 50 seventh graders as its first students. These students came from communities within the following school feeder systems: Annapolis, South River, Southern, Broadneck, and Severna Park.
All PVA Magnet students receive an arts integrated curriculum in all discipline classes and extended arts block opportunities where they spend quality time in their specialized arts area of interest – visual arts, instrumental music, voice, creative writing & movement or dance. In addition, students receive training in digital media, including photo-digital design and audio/video media production. There are co-curricular opportunities for student to engage in drama, musical theatre, band, orchestra, dance troupe, chorus, arts studio experiences, and other arts-related clubs. Artists-in-Residence join our credentialed teachers to provide quality instruction throughout the school and after school programs. There is no charge for the PVA core magnet program – curricular and co-curricular offerings.
Extension Options Available for the PVA Magnet Program
The Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts is AACPS’s partner in providing a first class performing and visual arts educational experience for our PVA magnet students. Families may elect to augment the PVA core magnet program curricular and co-curricular offerings with any of the following at an additional cost to the family:
* Professional dance, instrument or vocal lesson from Maryland Hall professionals or Peabody faculty
* Professional art studio classes in drawing, painting, 3-D sculpture, or specialized techniques/media from Maryland Hall or visiting artists-in-residence
These extension options are available on a semester-by-semester basis through a Maryland Hall application/contract process. AACPS will work with Maryland Hall to align these extension options so that students may take advantage of them in after school or weekend time slots.
Transportation
Student PVA applicants who would traditionally attend Bates Middle School walk or ride their regular buses to school each day. Student applicants from outside the Bates feeder are transported by bus from consolidated stops within their communities. These stops are at local elementary schools or libraries and may be outside regular walking distance from a student’s home. Parents or guardians are required to provide transportation to these consolidated bus stops for their students.
Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Application Process
Current 5th graders in the Annapolis, South River, Southern, Broadneck, and Severna Park feeder elementary and middle schools are eligible.
The deadline for all magnet applications is December 2, 2010. You may apply to all magnet programs for which you are qualified.
Magnet Information and Application Forms
* Magnet Programs’ Details and Descriptions is a document that provides details and descriptions for all our AACPS Magnet Programs.
* Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Program Application is available online[active October 5] at aacps.org on the magnet home pages.