Dear Prospective Family,
My name is José Juan Ibarra, and I’m a Midland alumnus, parent, and current Athletic Director and Dean of Students. Having experienced Midland from so many perspectives, I find myself drawn back to Midland’s athletic program, which is so full of possibilities: of leadership, of newly realized passions, of growth, and of fun.
As Elizabeth ’20, put it, “Sports allow me to have a reset button after classes and academic work.” With athletics built into the schedule, your sport can become a respite of sorts — a time when you aren’t meant to be doing anything else but having fun with your community.
One of the reasons I enjoy coaching at Midland is that I get to interact with students who I may not have in the classroom and because there is an element of play involved. Building community and having fun while doing it is incredibly important to us at Midland. When we're able to see one another in different roles and environments, we foster a deeper understanding and trust of one another. The better we know our students, the more we can support them; the better our students know us, the easier it is to reach out when they need support.
Within the athletic program, you might find yourself in a more traditional sport — playing volleyball or soccer, for example — or exploring one of our non-traditional sports, which could be anything from regular backpacking trips with Outdoor Leadership to helping harvest veggies on the Farm. Maybe, in your time at Midland, you’ll try each sport once. Or perhaps you’ll find yourself called back to running our beautiful and expansive trails in cross country or spending as much time as possible at the Kit Dreyfuss Barn in Natural Horsemanship.
No matter what path you choose, your friends and faculty will be right there alongside you, helping you grow and cheering you on.
We hope you’ll join our team.
Warmly,
José Juan Ibarra ‘87
P.S. If you want to learn more about sports at Midland, I hope you’ll join me and a couple students at next Wednesday’s “Meet the Midland Community” webinar on student life and sports.
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Outdoor Leadership: Climbing, Backpacking and more
“The Midland outdoor program is always in reach to anyone who wants it. Rangers are equipped to help and take out students which is one of my favorite parts of Midland's community. I vividly remember being nervous to backpack my freshman year but after our first group trip I was so proud and excited to have shared that time with my class.” - Elizabeth '20
“As the Dean of Experiential Learning, I can't say how much I enjoy the Outdoor Leadership aspect of Midland. With nearly 3,000 acres as our backyard, the trails and opportunities for exploration are almost limitless. Whether that is looking for the fabled Sophomore Cave, hanging out at the treehouse, or taking a dip in the Reservoir, the outdoors are both our classroom and playground. At Midland I also love that our students are trained and empowered to lead one another in the outdoors. As a student you can earn our trust, teach others backcountry skills, and lead your peers on overnight trips. That is awesome and something almost no other high school in the country is doing!” - Dan Susman, Dean of Experiential Learning
Click here to watch Midland's Outdoor Leadership Video.
Farm & Garden Sports Offering
“I love farm because it's a calm activity that allows me to contribute to the community through a very essential way, with food” - Charlotte, Math Faculty
“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. - Maisy '20
Students in Midland's Farm Sport learn the ins and outs of farming, from working with seeds, cultivating our 10acres worth farm fields, picking the food and working directly with our kitchen to ensure the food we grow is eaten without waste.
Natural Horsemanship & Ranch Life at Midland
The Midland Horse Program goes beyond riding and is rooted in the principles of natural horsemanship. We focus on horse behavior, playing with the horse on the ground and building confidence in both horse and rider to develop a partnership.
Click here to watch our Horse Program video!
“My favorite sport is horses. I enjoy this because it allows me to step away from the people and work solo at times. It allows me to do what others may not be able to do in other schools. I feel accomplished, it makes me think that I indeed am able to do something that is unique to me and my horse.” - Heron '21
Midland's Horse Program is open to students of all background — no previous experience needed! No matter your experience level, beginner or advanced, we'll meet you where you're at and challenge you to learn and grow in your horsemanship skills.
Midland's "Traditional" Sports Offerings
Midland offers many of your more "traditional" sports offerings, including soccer, cross country, volleyball and basketball, which all compete in our local independent school league. Some years we also offer non-competitive options like surfing, hiking, yoga and circus.
“I have played varsity volleyball at Midland for all four years. Before coming here, I played club and was a benchwarmer almost the whole season. Coming to Midland, I have been given a lot more playing time and also become a lot better over the years. I have tons of fun teaching younger students how to play, as well as learning myself and going to CIFs for the last two years.” - Maisy '20
“I LOVE ALL OF THE SPORTS! It is so much fun to have a family to run with. Even if I have not played the sport in the past, Midland’s schedule makes it so much fun to work hard.” - Luke '21
In Case You Missed It: Convo w/ the Deans
Did you miss our conversation with Dan and Ellie, Midland's Deans of Academics and Experiential Learning? Never fear!
Click here to watch a recording of this week's virtual conversation.
Have specific questions for Dan and Ellie? Send them a note at emoore@midland-school.org and dsusman@midland-school.org.
It's not too late! RSVP TO A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Mondays at 4:30 p.m. | RSVP here Fridays at 12:15 p.m. | RSVP here
If you've enjoyed an Open House and want to learn more, be sure to sign up for our deeper-dive conversations, listed below!
Join us this coming Wednesday for a conversation with Dean of Students and Athletic Director, José Juan Ibarra '87 in conjunction with students! RSVP here.
Upcoming Virtual Conversations with Midlanders!
- 11/11 - Student Life and Athletics
- 11/18 - College Success
- 12/2 - Meet our Students
- 12/9 - Meet the Head of School
Have a topic you're interested in learning more about via a virtual conversation? Send us an email with your idea at admissions@midland-school.org and we may add it to the event calendar!
Upcoming Events & Helpful Reminders
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