Thursday,November24,2023,Midlandwelcomednearly500 people - students, alums, family and friends - on campus to celebrate Thanksgiving. This took place after three days of preparationincludingfinalprojects,tests,quizzes,andtwowork periods. Midlandâs annual Thanksgiving celebration is a longstandingtraditiondatingbackto1932.âIt'ssomethingwelook forwardtoeveryyear,âsaysParkerâ25.Guestsweregreetedby Main House Staff, and the day began with Midlandâs third annualTurkeyTrottokickoffastreamofevents!Mateoâ26, Rabbit â22, Erik (parent of Annika â24), and English Faculty John Babbott were quick to the finish line and later were presentedmedalsbyHeadofSchoolChristopherBarnesatthe WelcomeAssemblyandAwardsCeremonyonKimptonField.
Withcontentstomachs,theMidlandcommunitygathered aroundStillmanporchtowatchmusicalperformancesby Kevin â26, Sarah â26, and Simon â25, followed by heartwarming chapels given by Amelie â27 and Head Prefects, Ayanna and David â24. The events carried on throughouttheweekend FridayconsistedofâMiniClassesâ where families get to experience studentsâ day-to-day academicschedulesthroughshort,15minuteclassperiods OnSaturdaymorning,familiesparticipatedinExperiential Saturday, a weekly activity for Midlanders. There were a varietyofofferings,includingthetraditionalJapaneseArt of fish printing, a discussion with Chumash Tribal members,severalhikesontheMidlandProperty,achance tohangoutwiththeMidlandherd,andtheopportunityto take John Isaacson â94âs signature screen printing workshop Laterintheafternoon,studentsweredismissed andgrantedpermissiontospendthenightoffcampus
Afterawonderfulfewdaysspentwithlovedones,students returnedtocampusonSundaymorningforworkperiod, ready to refresh and reset for the remaining weeks of the term.Midlandersarebacktoworkinghardasthesemester comes to a close and are feeling extra grateful for our community, friends, family, (and gravy!) this holiday season!
Thanksgiving buffet in Stillman dining hall
Chris, John Babbott, & Rabbit â22 at the finish line
MIDLAND MIRROR
Community
ALookintotheLivesof9thGradersatMidland
ByLyssaâ26
Weallrememberwhatitâsliketobea9thgraderatMidland,from ourfirsttriumphanthikeupGrassMountaintothedeliciousroot beer floats afterward Or our first class hardluck, barely a week intotheschoolyear,wherewesleptunderthestarsalongsidenew andunfamiliarfacesâmostofwhichwouldsoonbecomesomeof ourclosestfriends.Werememberthejoywefeltduringthefirst rainfall,Midland101hikes,andourfirsttasteofstrawberriesand pineapple guava from the farm. Our first year at Midland is of course, just like any other year; imperfect, there are numerous mistakesmadeandlessonslearned.Some9thgradersstillforgetto bringcoathangersfortheirclosets,ordonâtquiterealizejusthow manysnackstheywillneed Consideringitsuniqueenvironment, itisnosecretthatcomingtoMidlandasanewstudentrequiresan adjustment period When asked what the most challenging part aboutMidlandwas,Leviâ27saiditwasthehomeworkload.His roommate, Michael â27, on the other hand, finds waking up at 7:30a.m.moredifficult.
However,alongwiththesechallenges,9thgradersfindjoy intheirfreetimetoexploretheMidlandpropertyandplay cards with their friends in the library. No doubt the meaning of being a 9th grader at Midland has changed muchovertheyears AsMidlandâsphysicalinfrastructureis changing through new faculty housing, bathrooms, and cabins, the culture of Midland is evolving as well. The studentbodyhasmovedawayfromtheoldranksystems. Midlandusedtobeaplacewhereâlowerclassmenandnew students experienced frequent instances of hazing,â accordingtoananonymoussource.However,Midlandhas made great strides to shift this narrative since the school's conception in 1932 Now the 9th graders are able to experience Midland without the rank system, living in harmonywithupperandlowerclassmenalike Thisyear's 9thgradeclasshasbeenespeciallyfortunate,enjoyingnot just the new Upper Yard cabins, but also new porches in lower yard. This small class of just 14 people, 7 upper yarders and 7 lower yarders, have become well integrated into the Midland community. Although people in other gradesarepronetosayingtheyaregladtonotbe9thgraders anymore,thewonderofthosefirstmonthsatMidlandare nottobescoffedat,and shouldbetreasuredforever
Pyp & TD â27 playing bingo with Weston & David â24
Orin â24 teaching Ryan â27 to clean Glasshouse
MIDLAN R
DiadelosMuertos
ByJulissaâ26
DiadelosMuertosisawidelycelebratedMexicanholidaywhere families gather to celebrate the lives of their past loved ones. HereatMidland,itisatraditionfortheLatinXaffinitygroup to construct and decorate an alluring ofrenda or altar where students can place pictures or objects to commemorate their lovedones Thisyear,ontheeveofDiadelosMuertos,LatinX membersgaveachapelsharingalittlebitabouttheoriginsof theholidayandwhatitmeanstothem
Everyonesteppedbacktoviewthestunningaltarwehadall spentourhalfholidayworkingon.Itlookedveryorange,to say the least. I was so content being able to have worked withLatinXtocreatethisbeautifulaltar!Onthenightof ourchapel,wesprinkledmarigoldsonthegroundleading uptothealtar,addingtothefallambiance Asthesunwas setting behind the big oak tree, we walked up to the podium where the speakers talked about the traditions of DiadelosMuertos.Itfeltsosurrealtobeabletospeaktoa largeaudienceaboutmyculture.IaskedMelaniehowshe felt being able to be a part of this celebration and she answered,âIfeltveryproudtosharemyculturewithmy classmates and the community. It felt like I was closer to homeandabletocelebratemoreofmycultureatschool.â
Dia de los Muertos Chapel
The ofrenda set up by students
David â24 & Darien â24 setting up chapel | Image by Genevieve Herrick â97
MIDLAND MIRROR
Sports&Activities
OutdoorLeadership:StudentstakeonSespeHotSprings!
ByEmmaâ26
OL,orOutdoorLeadership,isauniquesportthatMidland offers, teaching students how to be stewards of the land, hike,andsurviveintheoutdoors OLisofferedintheFall andSpringsportsseasonsduringwhichtherearetwo4-5day backpackingtripswherestudentsareabletotestthoseskills andareknowntoleadtofriendships,jokes,and delirium. Needlesstosay,theexcitementaroundthemisimmense.
InhisfirstseasonofOL,Riverâ26recallshismostrecenttrip toSespeHotSpringsintheLosPadresNationalForest,âIt wasprettyrough-butI'mverygladIwentâWhenasked aboutsomeofhisstrongestmemorieshesaid,âSomethingI rememberverywellwaswhenastudentgothurtjustbefore abigclimb-andagroupstayedbehindandanotherwent ahead. I was a part of the group that went ahead. We accomplished the climb in about 3 hours, which was difficult. The other group was about an hour and a half behind us. Yet, when we reached a breaking point and stopped to snack, the injured student and Dan came hobblingaroundthebendofthehill â
Thankfully, everyone made it to the vans that would drive thembacktoschoolaroundthesametime.Whilestudentsdo not often get injured on these trips, it can still happen and whenitdoes,thatstudentendsupperseveringtofinishwith therestoftheircrew-safelyofcourse
Riverreflected,âIfeltIhadgottentoknowpeopleIwouldn't havetalkedtootherwise.Iwishtheseasonwasabitlonger,but forafirstOLseasonIwouldsaythatitwasprettyrad!âThese tripsalwaysmanagetoputourlivesintoperspective.Youmay work furiously on submitting your latest History or English paper,orevenhikeGrassMountaineverySaturdaywithyour friends, but have you ever gotten up at 3:00 am to hike strenuouslyfor10hoursthendrivebacktoschoolonlytoget u 700 h i d l ?
David â24 above the Sespe River | Image by Dan Susman
Weston â24 leading OL across the Sespe River | Image by Dan Susman Weston â24 & Bryce â24
teaching OL a lesson | Image by Dan Susman
MIDLAND MIRROR
HalfHolidayJamSeshesTaketotheStage!
ByEmmaâ26
This year, Midland students prepared for Thanksgiving weekendintheirownways.Somecleaned,re-cleaned,andrere-cleanedtheirroomsinanticipationoftheirparentswalking through the doors of their cabin. Others wrote chapels, rehashingdetailsoftheirMidlandadventures.
But Sarah â26, Kevin â26, and Simon â25 prepared three separate songs to perform for Midland families and friends, withthehelpofHeadPrefect,Davidâ24,andHeatherCarreiro (AssociateDirectorofMarketing&Communications),among others. For weeks these three dedicated their half holiday afternoonsatHeatherâshousecrankingoutdifferentmelodies, choruses,andsimplyjustjamming.AsSimonsays,âWeeach practicedourownsongswhiletheothersdrumalong.âForthe pastseveralyears,theschoolband:Coventry,hasperformeda fewsongsusuallyinthegenreofU2andother80âsclassics,but withsomeofitsmembersgraduated,Coventrywasnotactive
So this year, the musical performances have been even more opentostudents.AccordingtoSimon,âPerformingmusicina smallergroupisalotmorefun,butitalsocarriesalotmore pressure EveryonewillnoticeifyoumessupâTheyspentso muchtimepracticingthatnomistakesweremade,andtheyall received unanimous applause After many invitations to join thiscrewofperformersintheirmusic,muchoftheMidland studentbodywasreadywithanticipationforthisspectacle,and theperformancesdefinitelydelivered.
Kevin â26 encouraging the audience to sing | Image by Lorraine Shipman
Simon â25 learning how to use the sound board | Image by Charlotte Greenblatt
The musicians practicing outside Stillman | Image by Charlotte Greenblatt
Thenextmorning,afteranassemblythemorningafterwards, everyone set out on their various excursions Avid avian aficionado Avis â25 led a hike around the Bowl trail to birdwatch, Steward Teryn â24 took a group of students to Maple Camp, English teacher, John Issacson â94, undertook the steep and difficult hike to the peak of Grass Mountain. BiologyandSpanishteacher,AlinaAcosta,tookasmallgroup tothemuddypitwheretheRezoncewas.Artfaculty,Faith Nygren, and a few senior Lower Yard residents, along with faithfulMidlanddog,Cookie,tookalengthytrekaroundthe Loverâs Loop trail Caleb â25 set off to Platform 21 with a groupofjuniors Ellie,DeanofAcademics,alongwithBella, thenewChemistryteacher,tookagroupofsophomoresup Birabent Creek, exploring where the trails no longer reach. However, last winterâs heavy rains and flooding severely eroded the creek, giving Midlanders a whole new area to explore,fullofsmallpools,beautifulfallenmapleleaves,and lotsofexcitingwildlife.
Thelongesthikethisyear,leavingataround9:00a.m.andnot returning until well after 5:00 p.m., was the Mount Geal expeditionledbytheintrepidwayfarersBryceâ24andRuby â25 Theytookadiversegroupofsevenvaliantventurers,with representativesfrombothYardsandallgrades,onawilddive into the wilderness that took the explorers on a twelve mile hike,gainingover3,000feetofelevation.Theobjectiveofthe expeditionwastoreachMountGeal,adistantandbeautiful but steeply sloped peak visible from some parts of campus. NamedafternotoriousalumGaelâ23,itâslocatedonlyabout one and a half miles east of Grass Mountain, but is mostly inaccessiblebecausenotrailsgonearit ThisdidnâtstopBryce frommakingGealhistarget Thestewardsplottedaroutethat wouldtakethemthroughtheBirabentCanyon,thesamearea Bellaâs group explored, only pressing on further, going another mile up the creek bed past Midland Schoolâs boundary,intoourneighbor;theLosPadresNationalForest.
They want me to paint, but Iâm tired. What once was the element of my joy has become the element of my demise
Iâm tired
I try but nothing comes, how can I paint a vision of beauty and love when my heart feels so glum?
My canvas is blank, regardless if I have the paints Limbs stolen from me, falling down a hole of endless misery I sink to the bottom of the sea
If I fake what will I gain?
A lie of a reputation, believed to be one of joy when really surrounded by an endless void.
How can one bring others peace, when they themselves are missing something?
Iâm just tired
But why shouldnât I just paint the truth? It may be brutal but what else is there for me to do?
They expect me to paint. But my palate has only shades of blue
No shades of yellow to warm or lighten my mood
Nothing to help soothe People donât want blue
They want yellow. They want a piece from a man whose canvas is vivid, not one from a man whose livid
Blue like the ocean swallowing me whole, pulling me down, down where nobody knows, pinned down by strong stones
I swipe my brush, but nothing comes I brush and brush until Iâm numb The canvas splits apart, similar to that of my heart
Iâm falling through the cracks, unable to find my way back But I canât do that right now Itâs time for me to paint
Iâm so tired
After all this time, I finally know what to make; the truth.
My shades of blue will be put to use, layered on my canvas painting the truth
Iâm a broken skeletal man with a guitar in my hand
They want me to paint Make me hold up my painting for the all to see Meanwhile Iâm sinking down to the bottom of the sea.
They need my painting today, unaware theyâre taking my last breath away
You only see my golden guitar, masking the crippling man from afar Even as Iâm trying to breathe, I have to paint for others to believe.
The guitar is my art I bring it to you Thatâs the last thing Iâll ever do
Iâve succumbed to the blue Iâm going to sleep now.
MIDLAND MIRROR
Fall Metals & Design Classes
ByCalebâ25
Joe Castle, Santa Ynez sculptor, has brought two elective classes to Midland this fall; Metals and Design. Joe is a longtime friend of Midland School and has led Maintenance Sport along with Art Faculty, Faith Nygren, for several years. Throughout the many Maintenance seasons, Joe has found his way through the Haybarn as well as the rest of the school, applying himself to Midlandâs motto of âNeeds not Wants â Joe has helped Midland in more ways than we can count; from fixing broken doorhandles to readying the old Upper Yard cabins to be demolished last spring Now, Joe has taken on the role of teaching inside and outside the classroom. In his Design as well as Metals Classes, everyone loves Joe. He has worked with Design students to create ideas for the Midland campus renewal. In Metals, Joe taught nine Midlanders the art of welding and metalwork as he does in his studio in the Santa Ynez Valley. Students began the semester by creating deconstructed tables, chairs and other types of furniture with popsicle sticks From there, they learned to build those designs that could be used in their cabins out of metal Metalwork has become a new activity for students during half holiday as the woodshop & metal shop are full of students diligently working on their projects.
