Families Getting Leg Up On New Arts and Innovation Magnet School

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

November 8, 2021

Bristol Public Schools has been reaching out to families in order to enlighten them to the course offerings and lottery admissions system that is going to be put in place before classes open at the new Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School this coming September.

Course offerings for Bristol AIMS students for grades six through eighth include English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, as well as classes aimed at specific employment pathways as well. The arts are being integrated to the students’ core curriculum, said Director of Teaching and Learning Carly Fortin. All academic programming is intended to interlink with programming as students enter high school. Middle school special class offerings, called encores, will run on a four-day rotating schedule while high school elective programs will rotate on a two-day schedule. Classes are all around 50 minutes long.

Educators noted the world language classes would not be offered in grades sixth through eighth.

All district students will have the opportunity to explore encore programs, sometimes known as “specials,” which are often recognized as programs such as band, chorus, career and technical education courses. However, students at Bristol AIMS will also have the opportunity to choose from an additional theatre pathway, exploratory courses tasting different career pathways simultaneously and double the time in a chosen pathway that interests them. Exploratory courses will be shorter during the day.

When students become a high school student, they would be taking electives at Bristol AIMS for half of the school day and core classes would be held back at their respective high school.

Visual arts encore classes will study animation and cartooning, two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, fashion design, interior design, illustration, digital photography and visual effects. Music programs at Bristol AIMS will expose students to acapella, jazz band, digital music, instrumental ensembles, vocal ensembles, songwriting, world music and improvisation. In the television, video and theatrical productions courses, students will be able to engage with dance, activating, musical theatre, dramatic theatre, scriptwriting, movement for actors, activating for stage, visual effects and video editing. Creative construction courses will include programs overseeing web video, set design, set construction, architecture, three-dimensional modeling, musical video production and string instrument construction.

Given Bristol’s ties to the sports world, potential classes offered to high school students will include facilities and venue management, organization leadership, sports and entertainment planning as well as nonprofit management. Marketing and art preservation programs for high school students include potential classes in sport and entertainment marketing, social media marketing and communication as well as event marketing and education in self-promotion.

Many pathways and programs have community connections to area universities and specialty organizations outside the school district.

Superintendent Dr. Catherine Carbone said a typical day for a middle school student at Bristol AIMS might look like this: A student arrives prior to school starting at 8:10 a.m. then have English language arts, then math and, following that, science class. After science, the student would have course time focused on reinforcement of learning from core or creative extension opportunities and then lunch with their grade level. A student would then have one period dedicated to an encore program and then a second exploratory encore period where students would get a “tasting” of programs. Following that, the example student would attend social studies before being dismissed at 2:50 p.m.

The superintendent emphasized other arts learning opportunities would also be paired with the students' core classes.

After school activities offered include such programs as art club, animation club, jazz band, acapella, show choir, drama club, construction club, photography club, digital design and intramural sports. Carbone said sport programs at Bristol AIMS would differ from other schools as they would be fashioned in a more club-styled way.

Given Bristol AIMS programs will differ from the rest of the district, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Dietter said there will be a lottery system in place for those wishing to attend the new school.

All students will be Bristol residents. Grade level enrollment will range between 85 to 95 students. Student slots are assigned by a formula that’s based upon attendance zones and percentage of enrollment by grade level in district. Students enrolling in grades sixth through eighth will be determined by lottery and those in grades nine through 12 are determined by their course selection.

The lottery process will continue over the next few months and will be paralleled with parent and student communication sessions. Updates will be provided through school websites. All students currently enrolled in Bristol Public Schools will automatically be included in the lottery. Notifications will be provided via email. Those who receive an accepted or wait listed status will be asked to respond and complete an application. Families are encouraged to make certain their email and communication information is updated with their schools. School officials said there will be lottery rounds throughout the winter and spring to determine enrollment.