Aimee Stuart:  

Life UPDATE 10/2015 WOW what a Reunion for the Original Campus of HSPVA! So much love memories and TALENT-geez everyone that hit the stage at Warehouse Live on 10-9-15 was Amazing. At practice time that afternoon I spoke to Eric Ward. We hugged and complimented each other. I got to see old classmates like Melissa Pauley, Julia Hall (now teaching at PVA ^5) Marcia Ryan, Monica Chau and Karen Sweetman- we two even got to sing some songs with Michael Martin accompanying us on keyboard and harmonica-Desperado and Love Has No Pride among a few-such fun!! Made some new friends as well...I think we all realized how very magical the entire weekend was.HSPVA was the FIRST Arts HS in Houston, 2ND in the nation and first here to INTENDED as an integrated HS- because we all wanted to be there as did the teachers we never had problems w gangs fighting clicks or bullying...I wish it was true for our kids today. Working in Kingwood and still singing- in an acoustic jam group from meetup.com :) I've been back to working 8-5 9 years now- no longer a stay-at-home mom but so glad I was able to do that for my kids. However, I divorced Mr. Burns 1/05 and remarried in 6/05 Background: I was married over fourteen years to Frank Burns (from Delaware-go figure!)We met at the "Party on the Plaza" in downtown Houston. My husband Eric is so talented at EVERY thing he decides to be interested in. Some of you may remember that I left HSPVA because I was moving to Seattle. We ended up in Portland,OR. I returned to Houston to attend St Thomas University. I am a certified teacher but I have been an oil and gas accountant longer. I substituted full time in Conroe ISD starting when my youngest was almost three. I am now happily employed in Kingwood since 2010. I am also remarried for ten years now to my fickle best friend Eric. Montrose Elem: I loved that beautiful school with its yellow rose bushes, kumquat trees and the rooftops' ease of climb-ability! When HSPVA tore it down to build the current campus, I definitely had mixed emotions.Now there will be a 3rd Campus-downtown!! Commodore-Stockton now renamed (visited June 2015) in Chinatown SF was a special experience for me in 5th and 6th grades. Katya George and I were the only Caucasians and I must say I learn what it felt like to be a minority. I was just forging some friendships with Katrina Kehl (sp?) and Sandra Schip when Mom and I got the call that my grandmother had died and we left to pick up the pieces in Lincoln,NE. Hartley Elem:WOW what a culture shock-kids in Lincoln had been wearing makeup and had boyfriends forever in the 6th grade. There I learn that fighting was something passed down from generation to generation-guess that was how some liked to pass the time..not quite as bad as the movie, Big Boys Don't Cry. I did get to go to the same Elem that my mom went to and I also experienced my first snow -a blizzard! They sent the National Guard trucks to clear the streets! Wow- I loved it! The summer before 7th grade was awesome- boys kinda liked me(a boy neighbor made a pass at me and I ran off on my bike. I had scabbed my knee in the attempt and he was outside crying and concerned. What a sweetie. I still have that scar on my knee ;) We all had lots of fun at Woods Pool, played ping-pong in Grandpa's basement, and I was so glad to have a great mom who got me really fabulous stuff to wear- hip huggers and especially that black bikini-chicka-a-boom just like the song! LOL. We returned to Houston after a trip to Europe in '72 and I renewed friendships with the Montrose gang at Lanier JH in 7th grade. Neal Falls gave me my first real kiss on a rooftop...I didn't close my eyes ;) A teacher there sent me to the principal's office 'cuz my tanktop converted to a mini dress was too short...didn't I stretch it long enuf? harharhar Seeing Patricia Medford...my old best friend again-we met in 1st grade- made it an awesome summer...10 speed bikes...tanning in the yard at my house next to Hamburgers by Gourmet and listening to "Roundabout", "Layla" and "Crazy on You" I was forced geographically to go to Pershing JH in the fall for 8th grade. Thanks to Allysa Prewett,Alicia Enge and Allison Riddle for their great friendships. I sang in Mrs.Perkins'(of "China Grove" fame) choir. She encouraged me to audition for HSPVA. My friend and classmate Marcia Ryan and I both tried out and were accepted. I have many awesome memories of HSPVA- like risking my life for a hot lunch at HTI across the street (we were the original freaks and geeks!)Ms Bonner was hilarious(when you become a superstar you can pronounce the word "peepull". Meanwhile down here on earth, you're going to say "peo-ple". Ha! I loved taking Italian from Mr. Megna- he was so animated! And Sam, Heidi, John and Margaret were a hoot to be in class with. I kinda had a crush on Steve Estes mostly because he looked like he was 30...that stache!!! hahahahha. The English teacher Mr. Prewett happened to be my old jr high gf Allysa's dad....Expand for more