If you are what you eat, we're pretty great

Midland Images

Dear Prospective Family, 

A day at Midland has its own special rhythm. For me, a faint drum beats early. It is dark as I head off to Midland to prepare breakfast. I love this quiet time when I am the only person stirring in the pre-dawn. I feel butterflies inside as I turn on to Figueroa Mountain Road. Thirteen years making this trip, and the butterflies are still my companions. What will the day bring? Who will need an extra serving of TLC today?

I know where to glance to catch sight of rabbits nibbling on the roadside, when to slow down for the wild turkeys where the road curves. Suddenly, here I am, crossing the bridge into school. I slip into the kitchen on autopilot turning on the lights, coffeemaker and ovens, heating water for rice and oatmeal. Preparing breakfast before the dining room fills takes all my focus.

Soon I am joined by the Graveyard crew and morning Faculty of the Day. The students are scarcely awake, zombie-like as they set out cereal, bagels and yogurt; the Faculty of the Day establishing a table base for morning check-in.

Pleasure infuses me as students appear. I know “my kids” will begin their day with a healthy breakfast. My radar pings when a student sits quietly with only a cup of tea. I’ll be watching for this student at lunch to see if they need some extra care.

Transforming fresh food into delectable dishes makes me happy. Here the challenge is a rich one thanks to our bountiful garden. Fresh ingredients daily, accompanied by beef, chicken and pork carefully raised — this is Midland’s wealth.

“Do what you love most and your job will not seem like work,” we tell our children. My job is my good fortune. My gratitude is reflected back to me as I observe people’s pleasure eating the meals I cook. My recipes have only one ingredient for which there is no substitute. Add a pinch of love to each one.

Salud,

Gloria Murillo
Head Cook and parent of Yessie '04, Estevan '11, Isabel '15 and Angelica '17

P.S. Want a taste of Midland in your own home? Check out my well-loved Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. Don't forget the rice crispies, they're key!

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A few favorite Midland foods to look forward to:

Tacos, homemade guacamole, fresh salsas, homemade beans...yum!

Tacos and more

"I always thought Gloria's beans were amazing, but since she has started cooking with beans grown on our own farm they are incredible.  Honestly.  You are reading this now thinking that you know about beans, that you've had beans, that beans are beans.  No.  Until you have eaten the garden beans that Gloria cooks for her Thursday lunch, or for her twice weekly breakfast burritos, you do not understand what a wonderful thing a bean can be." - Charlotte, Math Faculty  

Tomatoes — in soup, with grilled cheese, in a salad, pasta, and more

Elizabeth and tomatoes

"It's really cool being on the farm for sports and picking carrots, then seeing the carrots you picked in the salad bar or in the soup the next day. My favorite foods are the enchiladas, tomato soup and grilled cheese, the student made desserts, and the food on Chinese New Year when some of the international students spend the whole day cooking traditional Chinese food for the entire school." - Maisy '20


Students in the Kitchen

Students in the Kitchen and Cooking

Opportunities abound to work in the Midland kitchen, whether in your free time, as part of the jobs program, or even as a non-competitive sport. — "Every morning I go into the kitchen and ask "how much lettuce do we need today?" or "Do we need cilantro for salsa?" The food tastes so much better when you get to help grow and harvest it. I love salad even more now that I've been picking lettuce each morning!" - Madison '16


Authentic Farm to Table

Some of my happiest moments at Midland are spent picking delicious things from the farm with students, and eating them straight from the plant or the tree.  The best perk of farm-to-table is that we get to skip the table, and just go farm-to-mouth.  In September there are trees full of peaches and vines covered in grapes.  Then come the tomatoes, the watermelon and the corn, then the apples and guavas.  During the winter, when the trees are bare, we dig up the best carrots you have ever eaten and some of the students even discover that they love kale.  Then spring time comes and every night for desert we walk out to the farm while the sun is setting and pick as many strawberries as we can eat.

Midland Farm & Garden

Whether its collecting chicken eggs, bringing slop to the pigs, harvesting carrots or planting seeds, time out on the farm is a grounding part of our place-based and experiential education. Interested in learning more about our farm program? Click here to watch our recent farm video


Delightful, delectable, Midland-made dessert!

Students bake at Midland

Dessert at Midland is always student-made and always delicious. Students pop into the kitchen regularly for Gloria's support in making all-campus desserts. Learning remotely until next week, our students decided instead to have a Zoom bake-off, putting their skills to the test and continuing to build community and have fun remotely. We hope that once they are back on campus, students will bring some of these delicacies to life in the Midland kitchen.


In Case You Missed It: Financial Aid Webinar for Families

If you missed yesterday's financial aid webinar by School and Student Services (SSS), you can see slides from the presentation by clicking here. Questions about financial aid? Click "reply" to this email or give us a call at 805.688.5114.


Upcoming Events & Helpful Reminders

Open Houses
Mondays at 4:30 p.m. | RSVP here
Fridays at 12:15 p.m. | RSVP here

Meet the Midland Community webinar series: Wednesdays at 5 p.m. RSVP here

  • 11/4 - Meet the Deans
  • 11/11 - Student Life and Athletics
  • 11/18 - College Success
  • 12/2 - Meet our Students
  • 12/9 - Meet the Head of School

See all upcoming events and details here.

February 15, 2021 | Application Deadline for 2021-22 School Year

Want to know the ins and outs of the admissions journey? Read about it here.

Interested in starting your application? Please use the below link to access the SAO: SSAT Standard Application Online (SAO)

As always, we're here to answer any questions you might have. Simply shoot us an email at admissions@midland-school.org or call 805.688.5114

Images of Midland | Collage

ESTABLISHED 1932 | SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
COLLEGE PREPARATORY | GRADES 9-12 | BOARDING

   

© MIDLAND SCHOOL | 5100 FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN RD, LOS OLIVOS, CA 93441 | 805-688-5114
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© Midland School | Los Olivos, California