Class Rep

 Aidan, you're always surprising us ... and one day you came home from school and said that you'd like to try to be one of the 8th Grade Class Reps.

You had to write a speech, give that speech in front of your peers, "campaign" a little, and vote.

When it came time to vote, you thought it was wrong to vote for yourself, so you voted for another classmate. That is SO who you are...so kind and thoughtful and generous.

Then you found out that it came down to a three-way tie between you and two other students. 

In the run-off you did decide to vote for yourself...and so did a lot of other people! Because you WON and you now get to serve as Class Rep for the grade and be the face of your fellow students.

We are so proud of you!

Aidan for Office!

First Day of School 2026

 

Awarded Aidan!

 Aidan, you were recognized by your teachers for your hard work at the Upper School Awards Ceremony!

Not just everyone won an award, I want you to know; and you were honored with two.

Now the categories are definitely important here, but more importantly is what these awards represent: you have worked so hard, and so diligently, with such a big heart, and an open mind. 

You are committed to school and learning, and it shows!

We are So proud of you!

Mr. D., your STEAM teacher, said that YOU put in the work in STEAM and not many others do and that he's very proud of you!

Coach C. said that you put in the work hard every day and you're a great kid!

We couldn't agree more!

Seussical!!!

 “A person’s a person no matter how small”

“Anything’s possible”

These are the two main lessons from Seussical and man are the whoppers that hit me right in the feels when I look back on your spring 2026 performance.

This is the play that we hadn’t really heard of and definitely hadn’t listened to any of the music from and then it quickly became some of our favorite music of all, with the most feels and chill inducing lines of all… Solla Sollew!! Anything’s possible! A person’s a person no matter how small!

This is the play that you, Julia, got call backs for nearly every role and you had to stay up late learning a million different songs on the night that our London family left for home…and you were convinced that you didn’t do well on any of them!

This is the play that mom taught you both the dance call back before auditions.

This is the play Aidan that had an opening for a big juicy role mid- production and you busted your butt on to learn and choreograph and audition for.

And… anything’s possible!

Julia, you got cast as the Cat in the Hat! The mercurial emcee; the nutty narrator; the impersonator. You channeled your Louis Armstrong, your zany Looney Too spirit, and you commanded the stage whether you were singing a solo, a duet with Jojo, holding down harmonies, or singing off stage. You also really got to do a lot of cool dancing and ‘magic tricks’ and you really just … sparkled! You were an amazing Cat in the Hat, and an amazing lead for this musical! Mrs Bonnie Jean came to see you and she was SOOO proud! Singing, dancing, acting… it’s no wonder that you won the ‘EVERYTHING’s possible’ award!

Aidan… you GOT THE PART! Your most substantive role to date with lines, monologues, and your first singing solo! You were General Genghis Kahn Schmitz… and you scare children out of their wits! You practiced so hard, taking lessons with Mr Coffin, taking your role so seriously even amongst a heavy classes at school. And you nailed it! You were so serious that you were funny! And seriously talented. Everyone was raving about how good and how funny you were! You channeled this silly drill Sergeant so well that you even won the ‘committed to the bit’ award! And don’t forget, you pulled double duty… working the curtains behind the scenes and also having a cameo as ‘Vlad Vladikoff’ the evil black bottomed eagle… you had one line as him and got huge laughs there too! Which just goes to show you… a person’s a person no matter how small! But I’ll never forget how after your song you held your hands high above your head and soaked in your victorious applause. THAT is a young man who can do anything!

You also made a lot of new friends with this one; since this play included a younger cast that joined you for the last week, you got to work with the littlest littles and … Julia… you even volunteered to help with them at rehearsal for one session. you gained some groupies with this play… all the little boys especially followed you around and looked up to you! And at the end of one of the shows a little young lady came up to you and said that you were her favorite part!

Aidan,  you commanded your cadets with an iron fist and an open heart, and some of them became big fans of yours earning you lots of hugs and new stature as a senior statesman of EDA.

We are all so proud of both of you, and watching you shine and grow with each play makes me excited to see (oh) the places you’ll go!

Aidan is 16!

 

Aidan is 15!!!!!!!

 Aidan, my boy my boy! Today you are 15 years young!

You are exceling and thriving at your new school! You have started playing bass, continued playing basketball, worked really hard in theater, and are working exceptionally hard on your school work!

You love Adam Sandler movies- and even wrote to him and received a response!- and you love animals especially your cats!

Spoiler alert, since we adopted Sable after you turned 15 but yet she's in your 15 year picture, we took these pictures more like when you were 15.5. But it's all still good! You love Romeo and Sable very much!

Here's a smattering of pictures from the big day, the times in and around it, and some proof that you and your sister do love each other!

You had a stellar birthday party at an arcade with all your buddies!

And then Daniel came to spend the night (and Audrey spent the night with Julia!)

I usually write a little sentimental stuff on these birthday posts. But instead, I'll share what I wrote to you (and what mom did too) as you graduated lower school this year. It's a LOT sentimental :) These letters say it all in a long way. The short version is: we LOVE you and are SO proud of the young man you are becoming!