Midland Students: Please note the following reading assignments for Summer 2010.  Please check back; we hope to have all assignments posted by July 1st.

 

Freshmen: 

Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire - Required

 

List of "Good Reads" for Freshmen and Sophomores:

 

Juniors:

Click here to see the reading list.

 

Seniors:

Click here to see the reading list.

 

Each year, students in Fundamentals of Visual Arts, the freshman art class (ed. note:  this class is taught by the very best art teachers this side of the Atlantic), create "installation art" pieces in the spirit of the well-known artist Andy Goldsworthy.  Using natural materials, students choose places on the property on which to create their projects, knowing that the work will someday be reclaimed by the mother nature.  Since it rained in the middle of the project, many of the students lost their pieces to the creek, to make this lesson very concrete!

 

 

Emma and her ring of twigs that seem to have overtaken a tree in the garden; Zach explains his flow of sticks

 

For the final conservation project for Midland 101 in 2009-10, the freshman class completed the process of protecting Red Rock Spring from trampling by cattle. The water quality will be improved for wildlife and cattle and the native grasses protected in the wetland below the spring. The project includes an exclusion fence that protects half an acre of wetlands.

 

Midland seniors, as part of their graduation requirement, research and report on a topic of their choosing.  While every senior writes an academic research paper of 5-20 pages, some choose to create a project as part of their thesis.  In the spring, each senior gives a 15-minute presentation to the student body and faculty, detailing their progress and findings.  The Class of 2010 had a great day, even in the unseasonably cold rain.  Special thanks to Librarian Susan Thompson for her work, and to Gloria Murillo for the mid-morning cinnamon rolls!  And great job seniors--the presentations were enlightening, articulate, and entertaining.  Here's a list of what the students are pursuing; final projects are due in early May.

 

Libang Shi - Injuries in Young Athletes

Tammy Yang - Portraiture

Miranda Poett - Dramatic Monologue

William Johnston-Carter - Sergio Leone and the Western Film

 

 

Beau gets his dad's pulse on his presentation; Heather informs the audience about ceramic glazes

 

For the Spring 2010 semester, Midland offered an architectural drafting class, taught by local architect and former instructor at SBCC and Dos Pueblos High School, Brian Nelson. Brian is the grandfather of Becca Rantanten '12. Students taking the class are Zhiyaun Huang '11, Kendrick Holmes '12, Kevin Jung '11 and Shue Him Lau '12.

One week in February, Midland changes gears for what we call Experiential Week. We have a page devoted to the work the students are doing here, but here are some synopses of what the students were up to:

Seniors:  As part of the work towards their Senior Theses, each senior selects a field they would like to know more about and arranges a one-week apprenticeship. This off-campus experience is designed to give each student specific and concrete insight into both their papers and to their career interests. 

Juniors: Each Midland junior partakes in a two-week homestay with individual families in Mascota, Jalisco, Mexico. 

Sophomores: After a couple of difficult days hiking and camping in rainy, cold, and windy Joshua Tree, sophomores are now beginning to work on their solar project.  This year, the class will be installing an array at the northeast end of the campus to help power the school's well and filtration system. Check back here soon for photos of their work.

Freshmen:  Pinhole cameras and an investigation into the idea of "Home" are the focus for the 9th graders this week.  After learning the basics of camera operation, they designed simple pin-hole cameras out of black foam core, and are taking photos that represent their idea of home.  They're learning about negatives and positives, developing and printing.  To augment their work, they are doing a substantial amount of writing, and they will produce both visuals and written pieces.  The following photos show a bit of the process of what the frosh are going through this week, and click to see a video of the freshmen and faculty at work.  

 

 
Micah measures and cuts the foam core (l); Faith takes a look at Emmet's pin-hole camera (r)

Chris explains how a pin-hole camera "sees" (l); Pebbles lines up her first photo (r)