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Hershey Receives Ohio Arts Council ArtsSTART Grant

Hershey Receives Ohio Arts Council ArtsSTART Grant

Jun 17, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Hershey Montessori School is deeply grateful to the Ohio Arts Council for the generous $3,642 ArtsSTART grant for the 2024–2025 school year.

This support enriched our arts program across both campuses, providing materials and resources that fostered creativity, self-expression, and cultural awareness from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The grant allowed professional teaching artists to collaborate with classroom guides, integrating visual arts, music, and performance into academic subjects and daily learning. Students applied these artistic experiences in class projects, performances, and exhibitions, sharing their work with peers, families, and the wider community.

This holistic, hands-on approach reflects the Montessori philosophy of nurturing the whole child and developing creativity, confidence, and critical thinking for life.

Hershey Receives $20K Award to Support Huntsburg Campus, Farm

Hershey Receives $20K Award to Support Huntsburg Campus, Farm

Apr 2, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Huntsburg, OH — Hershey Montessori School (HMS) is pleased to announce a $20,000 award from the Rig III Family Foundation to support capacity building at its Huntsburg 7th-12th Grade Campus.

The funding will address infrastructure and operational needs, including building repairs and professional development for staff. Additionally, this award will fund repairs to animal fencing, upgrades to campus facilities, and support operational costs, such as mental health specialists and educational resources.

The campus farm is central to HMS’s mission to provide an environment where learning and work are integrated within a community experience, engaging students’ intellectual, moral, and social development.

Hershey’s campus farm serves as small-scale community for students to practice real-life skills while benefiting from the integration of the farm with their academics, i.e., sciences, mathematics, and history. Timely and relevant lessons are also incorporated, such as energy, environment, water, and sustainability practices.

Founded in 1978, HMS serves over 250 students, offering a unique program at its 97-acre Huntsburg Campus. The program provides day and international boarding students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences, fostering growth in agriculture, sustainability, personal responsibility, and community.

“We’re grateful for this support, which helps us continue providing an exceptional, holistic education that prepares students for the future,” said Paula Leigh-Doyle, Head of Hershey Montessori School.

$10K Gift from Osborne Charitable Trust Supports Hershey’s Production & Exchange Program

$10K Gift from Osborne Charitable Trust Supports Hershey’s Production & Exchange Program

Mar 18, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Huntsburg, OH, — Hershey Montessori School is grateful to The Jerome T. Osborne and Georgeanne S. Osborne Charitable Trust for a $10,000 gift supporting its Huntsburg 7th-12th Grade Campus Production & Exchange program.

The Production and Exchange program (formerly known as Microeconomy) is a key component of Hershey’s Adolescent Community as it aligns with Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision of preparing students for economic independence. Through real-world business endeavors at markets, events, and online, students develop creativity, problem-solving, and financial acumen.

This funding will help to enhance students’ financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills through hands-on experiences in business management, product creation, and sales.

Located on a 98-acre farm, Hershey’s Huntsburg campus provides an immersive learning environment featuring organic gardens, beekeeping, maple sugarbush, domestic animals, a greenhouse, and dedicated artisan spaces. These experiences foster independence and responsibility, equipping students with essential life skills.

“We deeply appreciate this generous support from The Osborne Charitable Trust,” said Paula Leigh-Doyle, Head of School at Hershey Montessori School. “This gift will empower our students with real-world financial and entrepreneurial experiences.”

 

Hershey Montessori School Hosts Multi-School Peace & Education Summit

Hershey Montessori School Hosts Multi-School Peace & Education Summit

Mar 11, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Students enjoy presentation

Student presentation

Student presents on brain science

Students engaged in workshop

Students listen to keynote

Hershey’s Matt Sorrick addresses students

Student presentation on suicide

Keynote speaker addresses students

Students learning from keynote speaker

Hershey Montessori School hosted the Peace & Education Summit on March 6th and 7th. This two-day professional conference involved Hershey middle school students and more than 70 visiting middle school students for an incredible learning experience.

Students from White Pine Middle School in Michigan, Hudson Montessori School, Lake Ridge Academy, Cleveland Montessori School, and Ratner Montessori School engaged with Hershey students for this exciting event.

The theme of the Summit was Global Health & Health Justice. This powerful student-led and student-centered conference was designed to create collaboration and inquiry into topics related to education and peace. Of special focus was the role of global medicine and how global response to health concerns impacts peace in the world. Students researched specific health problems, gathered evidence to support that there are problems, and investigated obstacles and solutions. They planned and prepared interactive and engaging workshops that they presented to middle school students throughout the conference. These were 40-minute workshops in which students shared the knowledge they gained about health issues, engaged the audience members in the topic, and reflected on how it relates to Peace & Education.

Workshops included:
  • Mutation Impossible: The (COVID) Experience
  • Your Mental Health: Why does it matter?
  • Opioids: Understand the Crisis, Know the Risks
  • Gene Editing: Superpowers not included…yet
  • The Hush about Women’s Health
  • The Harmful Environment We Live In

Keynote speakers included Jonathan Sague, DNP – CEO of UH Geauga, Conneaut, and Geneva; Dr. Marlea Miano, MD – Chief Medical Officer, UH Geauga, and Dr. Bob Tupa, DO, who shared his observations made while providing medical mission work in Kenya.

Much gratitude to our staff and students and especially Matt Sorrick, Hershey Upper School Science Guide, for his leadership and coordination of this tremendous event. Questions and interest in future multi-school events can be sent to Matt at msorrick@hershey-montessori.org.

Hershey Family Foundation’s Transformational Gift Strengthens Montessori Education

Hershey Family Foundation’s Transformational Gift Strengthens Montessori Education

Feb 6, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Concord & Huntsburg, OH — Hershey Montessori School joyfully announces a generous $300,000 gift from The Hershey Family Foundation in support of the school’s educational programs, services, and daily operations. This gift nurtures the foundation of Montessori education, empowering children and adolescents to develop as capable, compassionate, and engaged global citizens.

Since its founding in 1978, Hershey Montessori School has provided authentic Montessori environments where learning is seamlessly integrated with purposeful work and community engagement. Serving students from Ohio, across the U.S., and around the world, the school’s two campuses—Concord (infant to age 12) and Huntsburg (ages 12-18 including a boarding program) — offer a fully immersive Montessori experience from birth to adulthood.

With heartfelt gratitude, the Hershey Montessori community celebrates this meaningful partnership. The foundation’s generosity sustains core operations, enhances administrative needs, and advances essential programs that shape the future of young learners. The hope is that this gift inspires others to give an annual gift, sponsor, or otherwise invest in the school’s mission – reinforcing this shared commitment to peace, humanity, and the boundless potential of every child.

To contribute, please go to: Hershey Montessori School | Hershey Montessori School Giving | Donate

Hershey Montessori School Welcomes French Exchange Students

Hershey Montessori School Welcomes French Exchange Students

Jan 23, 2025 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Hershey Montessori School announces the arrival of adolescent students and adults from Mios Montessori School, based in France, for a three-week exchange experience.

Hershey Montessori’s Upper School community welcomed the group‘s arrival on Tuesday, January 21. Due to frigid temperatures, classes were canceled, giving our French guests additional time to assimilate and connect with Hershey’s current boarding students, some day students, and staff members.

“We are excited to welcome eight students and two adults from the south of France into our Upper School community for three weeks,” said Stori Zinkhann, Dean of Enrollment Management and College and Career Counselor. “These adolescents will enjoy an immersive experience at Hershey Montessori School as they explore new perspectives in global education, create life-long friendships, and learn new ways to engage in our world. “

School in France is not in session this time of year, which made the January exchange a perfect time for the group to travel to the United States. In return, the group from Mios Montessori invited Hershey students to France in June for a similar exchange experience.

Hershey aims to provide opportunities to connect with Montessori schools across the globe as an enrichment opportunity for all involved. Experiencing diverse cultures and customs, and exposure to foreign languages and traditions helps elevate students’ understanding of a global society.

Zinkhann said, “Hershey’s adolescents are excited to explore a new culture through the eyes and hearts of the French visitors as well as learn a bit of their language, history, and culinary techniques!”

Any school that is interested in an exchange experience at Hershey may contact Stori Zinkhann at szinkhann@hershey-montessori.org or by calling 440-935-4880.

Campus visits, tours, and student shadowing opportunities are also available and can be scheduled through Ms. Zinkhann.