Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts

Update: Kinsella is closed again today (2.24.2026) so keep those pictures coming!!

Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts is closed tomorrow, Monday, February 23rd due to the impending storm! Post your SNOW DAY pictures here! ⬇️ There will be a picture contest with prizes for the most creative pictures!!re

We want to send a heartfelt thank you to the students, families, and community members of Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts for making our Middle School Valentine’s Day Opportunity Drawing such a tremendous success! A very special congratulations goes out to Akiliah, the lucky winner of our wonderful Valentine's Day basket. Thanks to everyone's enthusiastic participation and generosity, we are thrilled to announce that the drawing raised over $300.00. The best part of this success is that 100% of these proceeds will go directly toward funding our exciting end-of-the-year activities, ensuring we can wrap up the school year with the memorable, fun-filled celebrations our hardworking middle schoolers truly deserve. Thank you once again for coming together as a community to show our students so much love and support!

The Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts Middle School Valentine's Dance was a vibrant celebration of what makes our student community so extraordinary. Beyond the great music and festive decorations, the evening was a beautiful opportunity to focus on the importance of friendship, caring, and mutual support. Students danced the night away, taking time to celebrate one another and strengthen the bonds that make middle school memorable. It was a heartwarming reminder that at Kinsella, love isn't just about romance; it's about showing up for your peers, sharing joy, and building a welcoming, inclusive family where everyone belongs.

This past Thursday, February 12th, our incredible student-athletes from Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts traveled to Hartford High School to compete in the Championship Track Meet. Bringing their trademark dedication and energy, our team showed up ready to compete, and we couldn't be prouder of their performances.

While every single athlete put their heart into their events, here are a few standout highlights from the championship meet:
J'Aniah delivered an absolutely stellar performance, securing 2nd place in the Championship for the Long Jump! Zoe ran a grueling race with fantastic endurance, crossing the finish line in 4th place in the 600-meter run. Showing off serious strength and technique, Sunset claimed 4th place in the shot put. The girls relay team showed incredible teamwork and baton-passing precision, bringing home a hard-earned 4th place finish. Isiah brought amazing heart and hustle to the track, putting absolutely everything he had into a fiercely competitive 300-meter dash.
Beyond the placements and times, the true highlight of the day was the spirit our team showed. Every single member of the Kinsella track team did their absolute best, supporting one another and representing our school with immense

At the Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts, students recently brought their literacy lessons to life by dressing up as vocabulary words from their Wit & Wisdom curriculum. Blending their passion for the arts with their academic studies, students transformed abstract concepts and complex terminology into highly creative, wearable art. The youngest learners led the way, with PreK students spreading joy dressed as the word "love," while kindergartners transformed into vibrant representations of "penguin," "sparkle," "night," and "colorful." Further down the hall, third graders reached for the stars by creatively representing scientific terms like "gravity" and "space," and fifth graders embodied sophisticated concepts like "lethargy" and "watchdog." The school hallways truly became a vibrant, walking dictionary. This engaging event not only showcased the students' theatrical talents and creativity, but it also deepened their connection to the texts they are reading, making vocabulary acquisition a truly interactive and memorable experience.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, Miss K’s 8th grade advisory students worked together to assemble self-care and hygiene bags to donate to The Open Hearth Men’s Shelter in Hartford. Using funds raised during last month’s dress-down day, the students were able to create 24 care packages.

These students led every step of the project—from planning the dress-down day and designing posters to advertise it, to creating the shopping list for the care packages. I am incredibly proud of their hard work, leadership, and compassion, and it was wonderful to see how happy and fulfilled they felt while giving back to their community.

Thank you to everyone who helped support this effort. The students shared how meaningful this project was for them, and how good it felt to help those in need.

Today in Miss Bavaro‘s 2nd grade class, our young scientist explored the science of change. Using simple materials like paper and a ball, we investigated the difference between physical change, (folding paper) and chemical changes (creating something entirely new.)But the biggest discovery wasn’t about gravity or friction. It was about resilience while building the paper slides. The students learned that mistakes aren’t permanent failures; they are part of the scientific method. As 7 year old Jazlyn put it best “We kind of made a mistake, but we tried again and we got better at it.“ Ty’Saan, also age 7 summed it up perfectly, “it was more than just teamwork… It was how I have the attitude about it.“

We set out to change the shape of paper, but we ended up seeing a massive change and attitude, and that’s the most powerful transformation of all!

Look who hit the big 6️⃣0️⃣! Today, Principal O’Brien celebrated his 60th birthday in the best way possible: surrounded by our students! He had a little fun leaning into the “old man” vibes, but anyone who saw him in the classrooms knows the truth! He spent the entire day reading stories to every single grade level, proving that while the calendar says 60 his energy is forever young at heart! Thank you for the stories the laughs and leading our school with such joy. Please join us in wishing Principal O’Brien a very Happy 60th Birthday

Take a look at the beautiful scenic design for Annie at Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts! 🎭🎵

Community Showtimes:
Wednesday, December 17th at 5:30 PM
Thursday, December 18th at 5:30 PM

School Tour for Prospective Families! Are you interested in Kinsella's arts-integrated education for the next school year? Families interested in applying for the 2026-2027 school year are invited to take a special tour of the school Wednesday, December 17th, beginning at 4:45 PM. See our vibrant school environment before the performance! Come celebrate the talent and hard work of the entire cast and crew, and explore the future of performing arts education for your child!

Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts 65 Van Block Avenue; Hartford, CT 06106

KINSELLA MAGNET SCHOOL PRESENTS: ANNIE!

Get ready to tap your toes and sing along! Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts is proud to present their enchanting production of the classic musical, Annie. Under the skilled direction of Donovan Shaw, Kinsella students are set to transport audiences to 1930s New York City. The accompanying photo offers a sneak peek at the vibrant and detailed costumes, all lined up and ready for the stage!

Showtimes for Family & Friends:

Wednesday, December 17th at 5:30 PM

Thursday, December 18th at 5:30 PM

School Tour for Prospective Families! Are you interested in Kinsella's arts-integrated education for the next school year? Families interested in applying for the 2026-2027 school year are invited to take a special tour of the school Wednesday, December 17th, beginning at 4:45 PM. See our vibrant school environment before the performance! Come celebrate the talent and hard work of the entire cast and crew, and explore the future of performing arts education for your child!

Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts 65 Van Block Avenue; Hartford, CT 06106

Students at Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts traded their typical curriculum for a celebration of numbers this week, marking the 67th day of school with an imaginative and spirited event focused on—you guessed it—all things 67.

As you know, students everywhere have been particularly captivated by the numbers 6 and 7! We realized, "If we can't stop them, let's join them!" So, Kinsella turned this fun fact into a spontaneous, exciting day of celebrating the 67th Day of School! The halls buzzed with creative energy as pupils honored the two-digit milestone. Students focused on the mathematical properties of the number 67, (which is a prime number.)

Students (and staff) were encouraged to wear clothes with numbers. There was so much creativity as students arrived with homemade t-shirts with the numbers 67 proudly displayed! Some students added 67 to their cheeks to celebrate the 67 spirit!

Today was a great opportunity to reinforce important mathematical concepts in a joyful and engaging way. We look forward to a day filled with counting, calculating, and celebrating how far we've come this year!