New London – It was with a mix of excitement, curiosity and a bit of confusion Monday that hundreds of middle school students gathered with their parents for a pep-rally style orientation at the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School.

Orientation is no small task for a school campus that now houses four different programs such as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Magnet Middle School and the new Arts Magnet Middle School.

Students in the middle school gymnasium stood in line Monday waiting not only their school schedules but for one of four different colored polo shirts that are part of the new uniforms that will help identify which program they are attending.

The district has further delineated the programs at Bennie Dover by floor.

In addition to the STEM and arts magnet schools, the campus hosts the Renzulli Academy for exceptional students and a language and culture/leadership pilot program in which New London student will get a taste of two future magnet pathways.

Both the STEM and arts schools are welcoming out-of-district students and part of the overall plan to establish an all-magnet school district. The school district is in the design phase of a $150 million project to replace the current high school and middle school with two new schools, grades 6 through 12, and establish four different magnet pathways.

The new sixth- and seventh-grade arts school at Bennie Dover, located on the second floor, is led by acting director Kate Fioravanti who helped develop the programs at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet Elementary School. In addition to new lockers, renovations over the summer included the addition of two performance stages.

The school is expected to partner with local art facilities such as the Garde Arts Center, Eugene O’Neill Theater, Flock Theatre and Connecticut College to enhance the curriculum.

Over the summer, Expressiones Cultural Center brought artists in residence to work with incoming students to liven up the courtyard garden with sculptures, according to a statement from the school district. Florence Griswold Museum has selected the school to be one of the exhibitors at its annual Wee Faerie Exhibit.

The establishment of the new arts middle school was a welcomed addition for Anita Reyes of New London, who walked the halls Monday with her two daughters Emily, 12, and Marcia, 10.

Aside from the new paint and lockers, Reyes said her excitement comes from the fact her two daughters will be able to continue the work they started at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet Elementary School. Her daughter Emily will enter the seventh grade this year and Marcia will be headed into sixth grade next year.

For Brandi Owney of Groton, the opening of the arts school was a welcomed option for her 12-year-old daughter, Taylor. Owney said she had sought something outside her own school district to enhance her daughter’s education. She had applied to both the Arts Magnet Middle School and the Interdistrict School for Arts and Education, a charter school in New London.

“This will be a great opportunity to explore her artistic abilities,” Owney said.

Bennie Dover will have a student population of about 710 students this year, up by about 100 over last year, school officials said. About 82 of those students are from outside New London.

Bennie Dover Principal Alison Burdick is leading the magnet pilot programs while Lawrence Washington serves as director of the STEM school and Renzulli Academy. The school district has named former C.B. Jennings Elementary School Principal Maribel Olivero to serve as the principal on special assignment, a new position to support schoolwide operations.

Burdick said students will get some hands-on experiences this year thanks to partnerships with the U.S. Tennis Association, Groton New London Airport and Appalachian Mountain Club, among other organizations. Students might also expect things like swimming and sailing lessons, an outing that will include hiking and camping and some lessons on how to grow a garden.

“I’m definitely excited. We’ve retained much of our staff and hired some new outstanding staff. It’s going to be a great year,” Burdick said.

g.smith@theday.com