THE FACES OF DERRYFIELD
A Culture of Opportunity Designed with intent and rigor
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n overarching philosophy in Derryfield’s middle school is that students should be encouraged—and, in some cases, required—to take full advantage of a wide array of opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. Importantly, this takes careful consideration in our schedule and our programming to minimize conflicts that could limit the opportunities that our students have to both discover new and explore existing interests. Mark Blaisdell, the head of the middle school, explains, “The hallmark of any great middle school is to provide a full buffet of opportunities, and then make sure that students can (or sometimes must) sample all that a school has to offer. A good example of our commitment to maximizing opportunities can be seen each spring, when middle school students can fully participate in both athletics and the middle school music simultaneously.”
Meet Arvin Vaidya ʼ31 Arvin Vaidya is not your average seventh grader. Arvin speaks with more passion, speed, and optimism than one might expect from a typical preteen. Arvin joined Derryfield in sixth grade along with his older sister, Anya, who joined in grade nine. Like many DS families, the Vaidyas had friends who enrolled their children at Derryfield—they’d heard good things, and thanks to the grade 6-12 model, the family could stay grounded in the culture and calendar of just one school. Reflecting on the first two years of his middle school experience, Arvin identifies a significant shift. While his hobbies—soccer, basketball, and coding—have remained constant, his mindset and maturity have evolved, and he credits this to the peer group at Derryfield.
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"The people here are way more sophisticated, and I think that helped with focus and everything," Arvin notes. "My peer group definitely raised the bar for me." Derryfield Today / Summer 2026
This maturity is evident in how he balances Derryfield academics with a newfound passion for the stage. Having never participated in drama before sixth grade, he was "forced" into it by the required sixth grade drama performance, only to find a genuine love for the experience. In the middle school musicals, he has portrayed Toto in The Wizard of Oz (braving a "sweaty fursuit") and he recently performed in The Little Mermaid as Sebastian. In addition to his theatrical success, Arvin remains a dedicated STEM enthusiast. He has been coding for six years, a journey that reached a peak in Coder X with his favorite teacher, Ms. Ek. When Arvin looks toward the future, his perspective is remarkably pragmatic for a 13-year-old. While he loves computer science, he is keeping a close eye on the rise of artificial intelligence and considering a shift toward mechanical engineering, reasoning that "coding-related jobs are slowly disappearing" and engineering offers more longterm stability. Arvin’s approach to social life is unfailingly optimistic and direct. When asked how he makes friends across grade levels, his practice is simple: “You say, ‘Hi, do you want