- The Eleventh Annual Mason Willrich '50 Lecture on Environmental Issues was given on Thursday evening by Lise Goddard, Midland's Director of Environmental Programs. Her talk, "The Book on Midland's Educational Model - Past, Present, and Future," is about the book she's writing on Midland's educational model, from its rich archives, to its intentional present, to an important emblem of hope for the future. Lise has taken on this project because she sees the vital importance of the Midland experiment in the world of education.
- Closed Campus: As of last night, May 19th, Midland's campus is closed as students prepare for and take their final exams. No students may leave campus, and we respectfully request to have no visitors on campus until Awards Night next Friday, May 27th. We look forward to the commencement celebration for the Class of 2011!
- Congratulations, Seniors! Nationwide, the popularity of Gap Year programs is on the rise. The choices Midland seniors have made this year indicate that our students are part of this trend. Next year, our students will defer college for one year and attend Thinking Beyond Borders, Where There Be Dragons, and Leap Now. The traditional path, however, still dominates. See the list of college acceptances and matriculations for our seniors.
- Visit to Thoroughbred Ranch: This week was a very busy week for the Spring riders. Not only was it their LAST week riding, but they also had a number of exciting opportunities presented to them. On Monday the riders got a tour of Board President Nick Alexander's '60 Thoroughbred Ranch. The students saw all the mothers and their newborn foals as well as some soon-to-be mothers! LaQoia Thompson '14 wanted to live there with the mothers and foals and their lush, vast pastures! Not a bad life...
- Transnational Fiesta - Twenty Years Later: Paul Gelles, Spanish Language Faculty member, will be filming a movie this summer, entitled Transnational Fiesta: Twenty Years Later. This is a sequel to an documentary film he co-produced with a Peruvian visual anthropologist twenty years ago.To see a trailer from the first film and to find out more information on the current project, check out the film's website at www.transnationalfiesta.com.
- Students Develop Endowment Plan: Due to the generous support of Judge Peter Smith '51, Midland students have had the opportunity to manage and spend money from their own endowment for student activities and initiatives. The goal of the Student Life Endowment Plan is to expand the school's mission of developing self-reliant individuals to the financial arena. Recently in Don Redl's Financial Economics and Investing class, students were asked to write proposals for investing $50,000 of the endowment. The top two student proposals, as voted by their peers, were developed by Mariah Chen '11 and Micah Kalem '13. Mariah and Micah presented their plans to the Student Council this week and the Council chose Micah's investment plan. Congratulations to Micah and a big thanks to Judge Smith for all of his support!
- Bat Boxes: Midland students Danica Davis '13, Selena Wrightson '13, Renata Lozito '13, Madison Mayhew '14 and Gabriella Rocco '14 made bat houses for the Farm on a club night over the last several weeks. The bat houses were then mounted in a high Valley Oak on the Farm to provide habitat for bats that eat insects which are eating crops we rely on to produce food for Midland.
- Shakespeare Night: On Sunday evening, to close out Junior Dance Weekend, over 20 faculty members and students performed in Midland's annual Shakespeare Night, this year with a Vampire theme, organized by Jill Redl.
- Catapult: For Roddy Taylor's Calculus BC class, Mariah Chen '11 and Kevin Jung '11 made a catapult after finishing their Calculus BC AP exam, as the class helped prepare them for the AP exam. They went for a "calculus hike" (taking a walk and talking about calculus) after the exam and came with this idea. They demonstrated the functioning catapult during Assembly.
- Scavenger Hunt: Last week was Midland's fifth annual scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt took place all around campus from Stillman porch to Sycamore Campground. Last year's winners: Miguel Provencio '13, Peter King '12 and Emma Munger '08 set up this year's hunt. The clues mostly focused on Midland's history with questions about Alums or the "lap tree" to finding Midland's first outdoor amphitheater. This year's hunt was full of competition and, with some last minute negotiations, was won by Miles Dakin '13, Daniel Nimmo '11, Luke Carpenter '12, Meghan Brown '11, Phoebe Stokes '12, Nessa Ryan '11, Erin Williams-Tyler '12, Pebbles Gonzales '13, Kaya Lindsay '11, Rachel Featherstone '11, Charlie Lehman '13, and faculty members Roddy and Kyle Taylor, and Derek Harwell '88. The prize was a treasure chest full of random "stuff" that last year's winners put in it, along with all the past winners' "deepest darkest secrets." The hunt was a very fun way for Midland students to get out on the property while learning some of Midland's great history. Next year the treasure hunt will be set up by Miles, Charlie, Phoebe, Roddy, Derek and Erin.
- Kids at Play: On half-holidays, students have the option of participating in a club activity, perhaps take a trip into town, sleep, study, or play. Here are some students enjoying some free time on our gorgeous property.
- Family School Visit: The Family School Purple Door students (4th and 5th graders) along with their teachers and parents joined us last Friday for "Make Your Own Pizzas" in the garden, with help from the Spring Garden Crew. See photos.
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Reminder: End of Year Packing: Midland students may leave large items over the summer: chair, bureau, lamp, bike, etc. Footlockers that are secure may be left with books and school supplies. Students must take home all clothing, bedding and towels. These soft items are prime real estate for mouse nests and will be shredded by September if left behind. All items left over summer are packed tightly in a cabin and locked until school resumes.
- Helpful Contact Information:
Upper Yard: 805-688-6075 (Boys)
Lower Yard: 805-686-1847 and 805-688-7435 (Girls)
Lapmaster Phone: 805-284-8089
All faculty email addresses are:first initial of first name followed by last name @midland-school.org
Example: wlong@midland-school.org - TO REQUEST A PHOTO: If you would like the original digital file of any photo, please email Karen Readey.
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