Principal's Office
Dear Midland Families and Community Members,
Welcome to Midland School! Whether you are considering joining our community, just arriving, or have called Midland home for years, we are glad you are here. Nestled in the heart of Rochelle Park, our school has long been a place where excellence, tradition, and innovation come together to create a meaningful educational experience for every child, from their very first day of PreK through the moment they graduate eighth grade.
We are proud of the Rochelle Park community we serve, a place where neighbors know one another, families invest in their schools, and children grow up supported by people who genuinely care about their success. That sense of community is at the heart of everything we do at Midland, and it is something we work hard to protect and grow every year.
At the heart of our school culture is our Lion PRIDE:
P Positive
R Respectful
I Inspirational
D Determined
E Excellent
These five values guide our students and staff every day, in the classroom, on the playground, and in every interaction that makes up school life. They are simple enough for our youngest Lions to understand and meaningful enough to carry our oldest students into high school and beyond.
We also believe that our differences make us stronger. Midland is home to students and families from many backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, and we value that diversity as one of our greatest strengths. Every child who walks through our doors deserves to feel that they belong here, exactly as they are.
This belief is woven into our mission as a district: "We envision an educational community which inspires and empowers all students to become self-sufficient and to thrive in a complex, global society." That mission holds true for our youngest PreK learner taking their first steps toward independence, just as it does for our eighth grader preparing for the transition to high school. At every grade level, our goal is the same: to help each child grow into a confident, capable, and thoughtful young person, ready for whatever comes next.
Thank you for being part of the Midland family. We are honored to be part of your child's journey, and we look forward to growing together in the years ahead.
With warm regards,
Dr. Courtney Carmichael
Principal, Midland School #1
Rochelle Park School District
P — Positive Being Positive means choosing your attitude even when things are hard. It means walking into this building ready to learn, lifting others up instead of tearing them down, and believing that today can be a good day if you decide to make it one. A Positive Lion sees possibility, not just problems.
R — Respectful Being Respectful means treating every person in this building — every student, every teacher, every staff member — the way you want to be treated. It means listening when someone else is speaking, taking care of our school, and honoring the differences that make our community stronger. Respect is not something you give only when it is easy. A Respectful Lion shows it even when no one is watching.
I — Inspirational Being Inspirational means that your actions move people. It means doing the right thing so consistently, and with such genuine heart, that the people around you want to do better too. You do not have to be the loudest voice in the room to inspire someone — sometimes it is a quiet act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or simply showing up every day with purpose. An Inspirational Lion makes this school better just by being in it.
D — Determined Being Determined means you do not quit. It means that when a subject is hard, when a situation is unfair, when things do not go the way you planned — you keep going. Determination is not about being perfect. It is about getting back up every single time. A Determined Lion knows that the struggle is part of the story, and they write it all the way to the end.
E — Excellent Being Excellent means giving your best — not someone else's best, your best. It means turning in work you are proud of, bringing full effort to everything you do, and never settling for less than what you are capable of. Excellence is not reserved for the smartest or the fastest. It belongs to anyone willing to try their hardest, every day. An Excellent Lion raises the standard just by showing up that way.