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 will come from communities within the following school feeder systems:  Annapolis, South River, Southern, Broadneck, and Severna Park. 

All PVA Magnet students will receive an arts integrated curriculum in all discipline classes and extended arts block opportunities where they will spend quality time in their specialized arts area of interest – visual arts, instrumental performance, voice, or dance.  In addition, all students will 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 will 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:

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 will walk or ride their regular buses to school each day.  Student applicants from outside the Bates feeder will be transported by bus from consolidated stops within their communities.  These stops will be 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 5^th and 6^th graders in the Annapolis, South River, Southern, Broadneck, and Severna Park feeder elementary and middle schools are eligible.  The PVA Magnet Program description, details, and application can be found by clicking below and printing the forms.  Please follow ALL directions on the forms.  The deadline for all magnet applications is November 19, 2009.  You may apply to all magnet programs for which you are qualified.  Please use and submit a separate application for each program.

Magnet Information and Application Forms