Tuesday, September 16 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm (Watch Recording Here)

Parents today are often carrying deep concerns about their teens’ mental health. Rates of anxiety and depression are rising, and it can feel overwhelming to know how to help. This session with Director of Counseling Dan Petrocelli and Head of School Hannah Nelson will focus on what’s driving these struggles and, more importantly, what you can do as a parent to support your child. Drawing on research from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, we’ll share practical approaches for building resilience and confidence in teenagers, while also reminding you that you are not navigating this alone.

Tuesday, October 21 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm (Watch Recording Here)

Many parents wonder: is my teen truly connected? Between phones, social pressures, and academic demands, it can be hard to know if they feel a genuine sense of belonging. Dean of Residential Life Taylor Replane and Head of School Hannah Nelson will lead a conversation about connection as the foundation for resilience. We’ll explore how relationships—with peers, with adults who care, and with the natural world—are powerful antidotes to loneliness. You’ll leave with insight into how to nurture connection at home and how schools can partner with families to ensure young people don’t merely push through adolescence, but thrive within it.

Tuesday, November 18 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm (Watch Recording Here)

Parents want their children to succeed…but success today feels tied up in grades, college admissions, and achievement pressures that can drain joy, play, and meaning from the teenage years. In this conversation, Associate Head of School Ellie Moore, College Counselor Leah Hebie, and Head of School Hannah Nelson will explore how to reframe the high school and college journey through the lens of purpose. We’ll talk about the shift from achievement for achievement’s sake to building lives rooted in meaning, belonging, and direction. You’ll gain perspective on competency-based learning, best-fit college pathways, and the ways you can guide your teen toward purpose without adding more pressure.

Tuesday, January 27 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm

In a time shaped by AI, screens, and rising anxiety, many parents and educators wonder how to support teenagers to feel more grounded, purposeful, and engaged with the real world around them. This webinar will explore stewardship as a powerful pathway to adolescent growth—fostering young people who care deeply for their community and the place they call home. Drawing on Midland’s nearly 100 years of experience with experiential education, we’ll look at how hands-on, place-based learning helps students see that what they do matters. When teens are engaged in something larger than themselves, they develop responsibility, agency, and a sense of belonging that carries into adulthood. You’ll leave with insight into why stewardship matters more than ever, and concrete tips for how schools and families can partner to help young people grow into adults who contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.

Tuesday, February 24 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm

At some point during your student’s adolescent journey, you’ll likely need to have a challenging conversation with them about their health or wellbeing. Whether you feel equipped for these moments or uncertain about balancing accountability with compassion, this interactive workshop with Director of Counseling Dan Petrocelli and Health Director Mallory McPherson-Wehan will help you build practical tools. Participants will actively engage with one another through guided discussion and practice, including opportunities to work in small groups to rehearse difficult conversations. We’ll share approaches for starting these conversations, provide prompts that lead with curiosity rather than judgment, and create a space for families to share what has worked well for them. (Due to the nature of this topic, this session will not be recorded)

Tuesday, March 17 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm

Many parents are asking the same quiet questions: How do I support my teen’s independence without losing connection? How do I know they are becoming capable, confident, and steady in who they are becoming? In this parent-led conversation, Midland families reflect on what helped their children grow into more self-reliant, grounded young people. You’ll hear honest perspectives on adolescent development, trust, and the role of distance, challenge, and community in shaping long-term outcomes. This session centers what parents notice over time: confidence, responsibility, resilience, and the deeper sense of self that emerges when teens are supported by a strong network of adults and peers.

Tuesday, April 21 | 5:00pm – 5:45pm

Research is clear that strong, consistent relationships with adults outside the family are a critical factor in adolescent wellbeing and long-term success. This session focuses on how intentional adult mentorship supports teens through identity development, challenge, and growth. Designed for families beginning to think about the middle school years ahead, the conversation introduces the educators who partner closely with students during adolescence. We’ll explore how a coordinated team of adults helps teens feel known, supported, and accountable, and why those relationships matter as much as academics in shaping confidence, purpose, and belonging.