Student Activities

Student activities at Midland are a critical part of our curriculum, and help develop social skills, leadership capacity, and community awareness.

Student Council

The Midland School Student Council is like many traditional schools’ student government, but the major focus of this council has been as a service organization to the school as well as to a larger community. Participants develop their leadership skills while providing service to not only the school but the larger community, and the Council has received the Somerset County Star Award for its efforts.

Made up of representatives who are elected in each homeroom (ages 15-21), students meet once a month to:

• Discuss Student concerns
• Develop leadership skills
• Help solve problems
• Help develop service projects
• Plan “spirit days”

Student Recognition

The Student of the Month program, for students aged 5 – 14, is part of our school-wide Social Skills program. Social skills such as honesty, self-advocacy, helping others, and respecting personal space are given merits and the student in each class with the most merits is recognized as that room’s “Student of the Month.” The program instills self-confidence and a sense of self-worth as well as a monthly goal to work towards.

In the Employee Recognition Program, students from each Career Cluster are selected by their teacher as model employees. The selection criterion includes good attendance, proper work behaviors, proper social behaviors with co-workers and supervisor, good effort in learning new skills, good personal appearance.

Intramurals

The Midland School intramural program gives students the opportunity to experience team spirit and to utilize skills learned during their Adapted Physical Education classes. The activities include:

• Soccer
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Wrestling
• Volleyball
• Ping-Pong
• Rock Climbing
• Line Dancing
• Roller-skating
• Softball

Special school-wide athletic events include:

• Jump-a-thon
• A.C.E.S – All Children Exercising Simultaneously
• Field Day

Social and Recreational Activities

Midland offers a wide variety of social and recreational programs throughout the year. Some are offered within the regular school day; others are offered during our after school program, and on special occasions. Curricular and extracurricular social and recreational activities are an important part of the overall curriculum, and provide additional opportunities for peer socialization in novel settings and situations, and help strengthen student relationships with each other and their teachers.

• Swimming
• Outdoor Venturing Club
• Midland Milers (walking program)
• Midland Run Training
• Chorus
• Drama Club
• Instrument lessons (piano, drums, guitar)
• Photography Club
• Literacy Club
• Yoga
• Rock Climbing
• Movies at Midland
• Girl Scouts
• Boy Scouts
• Computers
• Sports
• Cooking
• Dance
• Social Skills Dinner
• Pottery

In addition, Dances as well as a Prom, are held during the year for the older students.

Family Involvement in Student Activities

Midland also provides special recreational activities which involve family members. Family involvement in recreational activities not only strengthens family relationships and bonds, it also helps strengthen students relationships with one another, as they share their peer relationships with their family.

Examples of such activities include:

• Sibling Day
• Grandparent Day
• Dad and Me Evening
• Parent Visitation
• Family Recreational Evenings
• Family Fishing Trip

Midland Overnights

Every few weeks a Respite Program for students is held. Five students spend time at Midland with two staff members. Students enjoy the opportunity to socialize with their peers, practice independent living skills and participate in local recreational activities within the community. As a bonus, parents are provided the opportunity to enjoy a break from child rearing responsibilities.

See the Midland calendar for upcoming student activities.