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Dear Prospective Family,
With our fall term coming to a close today, I am looking forward to welcoming my own kids home for the winter holidays. They will be leaving one beloved community to rejoin our family for a few weeks. Molly and I are experiencing what 88 years of Midland parents have experienced: on each return they stand a bit taller, delve deeper into the conversation at the dinner table, and do more around the house without being asked to do so.
Right now, many families are wrestling with what is the next and best step for high school. Finding the right community of peers and adults with whom to spend these important years is a consequential decision – and yet there is not one right answer. In the coming weeks, you have to decide where to apply, what options to pursue. At this inflection point, I’d like to seed your family’s conversation with a few key questions: what environment and community will inspire and support your child to grow into the very best version of themselves? Where will your child learn to take real responsibility, not just for their own learning in the classroom, but also for their peers, the community, and the environment we live in?
We actively chose Midland for our kids because we wanted them to grow in, and grow up in, an environment that encourages growth beyond simple academic achievement. Academic excellence in isolation simply wasn’t enough. We also wanted a community that inspires actual responsibility, demands care for both oneself and others, and celebrates the path to all-around excellence. Midland doesn’t offer everything, in fact chooses not to, so that we can emphasize the simple foundational skills for college and beyond. As you delve into the questions above, I hope you will find the school and community that is best aligned with your family’s values – and then take the leap. It is indeed a leap to entrust your young teenager with finding their own best self; yet it may very well be one of the greatest gifts you give them.
Cheers,
Christopher Barnes
Head of School
P.S. If you weren't able to join me and our Head Prefects for our recent Virtual Conversation, you can catch the recording of it here!
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Finding your "Best-Fit" School: Things to Consider
Physical Campus — often, when we think about school, we focus in on the classes and extracurriculars without paying much attention to the spaces in which we’ll be spending each day. Yet, your surrounding environment can have a huge impact on your day-to-day high school experience. Does Midland’s campus feel like somewhere you want to spend lots of time hanging out, working, studying, and exploring?
Friends & Peers — could you see yourself becoming friends with one (or more!) of the Midland students you’ve met along the way? If you haven’t had a chance to meet a Midlander yet and would like to get connected, simply reply to this email and we’ll set something up!
Leadership opportunities — what sorts of leadership opportunities are you looking forward to in high school? Whether you’ve always wanted to run for class president or are intrigued by unique leadership opportunities like Midland’s Ranger program, thinking about the spaces in which you’ll be challenged and pushed to grow can be incredibly informative in your decision-making process. Perhaps think about it this way: who are the people you most look up to in life (be they family, friends, actors, outdoors-people, activists, etc.) and choose a school that gives you a chance to practice similar skills and engage in related leadership activities!
How students spend their spare time — when you think about your free time, are you drawn towards indoor, tech-heavy activities like video games and tik-tok scrolling? Or wanting something different, like hanging in a hammock, playing a ping pong tournament or going for a hike? Does an afternoon hanging out by the climbing wall, making posters for a local protest or swimming in Midland’s reservoir sound like your kind of fun?
Extracurriculars — which non-academic activities are most important to you? Does soccer bring you joy after each practice? Been getting into ceramics and wanting to deepen your craft? Always wanted to learn to ride a horse but never had the opportunity? Considering which activities you can (or can’t) participate in at the high schools you’re deciding between makes a big difference! Do Midland’s offerings — including Natural Horsemanship, Outdoor Leadership, Farm, Ceramics, and more — speak to your interests?
Food — much like we often forget that our physical campus is an integral part of the high school experience, food is often something that can slip through the cracks when deciding where to attend. But it’s important on so many levels: nutrition, joy, creativity, community. Does eating a farm-to-table, home cooked diet appeal to you?
Class sizes & Faculty Connection — What learning environment do you thrive in? Do you prefer small class sizes, or a large lecture hall? Do you learn better when you have opportunities to meet with your teacher one-on-one? One of the biggest perks of a small boarding school like Midland isn’t just small class sizes, but also that most of your faculty live on campus and are around after the academic day is over — coaching your sports activity, sharing an evening meal, or even helping you with your homework in the evening. Does that sound appealing to you?
Want to talk through any of the above questions? Our admissions team is here to help! Simply reply to this email to set up a time to chat about why Midland might be a good fit for you!
Mark Your Calendars!
Launching Midland's Spring Virtual Conversations
Whether you've already joined us for one (or more) of our Virtual Conversations, or are new to the party, we're excited to invite you to our Spring edition of our Virtual Conversations series. We look forward to seeing you there!
Meet some current Midland parents, learn about their experience choosing Midland for their family, the change they've seen in their child since joining our community, and ask them any questions you might have! RSVP to any event in the virtual series here.
Hear why our faculty choose to live and work at Midland, learn about the courses they teach and the work they're doing inside and outside of the classroom. RSVP to any event in the virtual series here.
Thinking about going away to boarding school can feel daunting. In this conversation, you'll hear from students about their transition into the Midland community, tips and tricks for navigating high school in general, and more. RSVP to any event in the virtual series here.
Bring all of your last-minute application questions to our Admissions team in this special edition of our Virtual Conversations. Come with questions, concerns, or anything else we can help with! RSVP to any event in the virtual series here.
In our last webinar before our application deadline, hear from a few more Midland students on why they chose and love Midland. RSVP to any event in the virtual series here.
We hope you'll join us for a a Virtual Conversation!
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!
Interested in seeing campus in person? We're able to offer a limited number of on-campus, in-person (socially distanced) tours. Send us an email or call 805.688.5114 to schedule your visit!
If you haven't yet joined us for a virtual Open House to hear what makes Midland a truly exceptional place to live your education, we hope you'll RSVP to one of our upcoming sessions! Please note that we'll pause our Open Houses for a Holiday Break after December 14.
RSVP TO A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Mondays at 4:30 p.m. | RSVP here
Fridays at 12:15 p.m. | RSVP here
If you enjoy our Open House and want to learn more, be sure to sign up for our deeper-dive conversations, listed above!
Upcoming Events & Helpful Reminders
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