Keeping Up Newsletter – Fall 2025
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Hershey Receives $150k from The Dekko Foundation
Concord & Huntsburg, Ohio — Hershey Montessori School is honored to announce receipt of the second and final payment of $150,000 from The Dekko Foundation for the two-year grant award of $300,000 entitled, “Rebuilding Capacity for Sustainability.”
This capacity-building investment strengthens Hershey Montessori’s enrollment and retention efforts, placing the school on a new upward trajectory toward long-term financial sustainability. With these funds, Hershey will expand its marketing plan, deepen domestic and international engagement, and implement campus-based retention strategies.
“Our mission is to provide beautiful Montessori environments, where learning and work are integrated within a community experience engaging the intellectual, moral, and social development of children and adolescents from birth to eighteen years,” said Interim Head of School Diana Le Sieur. “We are deeply grateful for The Dekko Foundation’s partnership in this mission.”
Through this investment, Hershey Montessori School will continue to guide children and adolescents in developing a strong sense of self, equipping them to thrive in changing times, and preparing them to contribute to the world as stewards of peace and humanity.
Hershey Montessori School, with campuses in Concord and Huntsburg, Ohio, serves children from birth through age 18. As an internationally recognized Montessori school, Hershey is a model for best practices and a hub for Montessori teacher training.
Hershey Receives Ohio Arts Council ArtsSTART Grant
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
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
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
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.
About the Voice of Hershey Blog
Serving children from birth through age 18, Hershey offers challenging, highly individualized programs that focus on the uniqueness of each child.
Hershey offers an exceptional experience on two campuses, including the truly unique, world class farm school.