Oliver’s first fall season of flag football we were excited to watch him learn a new sport, work with new teammates and coaches and were thrilled when he finished the season with a reception and a few QB sacks. Oliver’s second fall season brought a new coach and new teammates so he adapted to a new team once more and continued building his skills and learning the game. He would hesitate when pulling flags, was terrified at the thought of the ball being passed to him and would get in his head but he’d show up week after week and with a supportive coach grew as a defensive player and scored his first touchdown. That season the team won the Super Bowl and while Oliver grew a lot as a player, liked the coach and made new friends he really wanted a season of playing with his friends. Oliver’s third fall season brought the best combination of a strong coach and a team with some of his friends. What started out rocky turned out to be a dynamic, cohesive team with well balanced play across all the players. Oliver played offensive and defensive, scored a touchdown in most games and grew the most in any season. The team was eliminated in the second round of playoffs but was definitely the best season ever. (Huge thank you to the professional sports photographer dad that captured some amazing shots!)
Tagged: AIM High, Chiefs, flag football, Oliver
DanceMakers Collective Season XI kicked off with a weekend in Charleston, SC full of joy, friendship, community and anticipation for a one-of-a-kind year ahead! 
CLI Conservatory is a pre-professional dance program located in Southampton, MA. They offer summer intensives which are six days of classes with top choreographers across multiple styles, provide dance on camera experience, include wellness sessions to address the whole dancer and provide a safe, supportive community of like-minded dancers committed to growing their artistry. Lucas danced all week in a room full of supportive and talented dancers, learned from choreographers that inspire him, and rediscovered and deepened his love and appreciation of dance. I enjoyed the slowed down pace and charm of the many small towns of western MA, spending time with my fellow dance mom and seeing my son push himself, stay true to himself, and grow and stretch in new ways. 
They did it! But wait, this journey for Lucas actually started seven years ago. DanceMakers was the first dance convention he attended when he joined Creative Dance Center’s competition team in 5th grade. It immediately made an impression on him. We’ve attended many dance conventions and the format is largely the same; high caliber faculty, classes in many styles of dance, competition against some of the best dance studios in the nation. What has stood DanceMakers apart from the rest is their vision; to make every person who walks through their doors feel welcomed, loved and supported. Those first few years Lucas stood out for his hip hop while he learned ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, ballroom and musical theater. Then class by class, year by year, his confidence grew. His trust in the dance community grew. His belief in himself as more than a hip hop dancer grew. The community, the faculty and the Collective of DanceMakers played a big part in the safety of this growth. For the past seven years we’ve attended a DanceMakers regional event and for the past three years we’ve attended their Nationals. The mutual trust and respect between our studio and DanceMakers has grown tremendously in the past few years with our coaches and dancers all feeling a bit more at home, every year.
Last year at Hollywood Vibe Nationals, Lucas was selected for Vibe Company. For the 2023-2024 season he would have the opportunity to assist the faculty at three regional conventions, work with a mentor and participate in other projects to broaden his growth and skills as a dancer. We have attended two regionals and the third, and last, was Norfolk, our team event.
What does a 17 year old wish for when more years lie ahead than they can comprehend? When potential and opportunity are things they hear daily that they have to maximize. When they are told to dream big, seize the day and anything is possible. How does a 17 year old hold all these ideas and ideals, hold their dreams and those of their parents and plan for a future that is seemingly limitless? What does a 17 year old wish for when every wish counts? 
Our Everyday 