Hershey News
Get an in-depth look at the rich learning experience of Hershey Montessori.
A Season of Thanks and GivingTuesday
November ushers in a season of thanksgiving and gratitude. The staff, students, and administration of Hershey Montessori School are so grateful for our community and all who support it in all the various ways – whether it is through contribution of time, talent, finances, or voice, everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.
This month, we have the opportunity to participate in GivingTuesday. GivingTuesday is a global movement meant to unleash the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
If you love Montessori as much as we do, and it aligns with your values, we invite you to support Hershey Montessori School in our mission and approach to nurture the whole child. You can unleash the power of radical generosity and help grow our Montessori community this GivingTuesday. Join others across our community and across the globe by spreading the spirit of gratitude through your own personal action and generosity. You can make a direct impact by opening the Montessori door to exploration and learning for more children and adolescents.
Children and adolescents who attend Hershey Montessori School gain experience in self-discipline, deep focus, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and the development of advanced executive functioning skills, which builds autonomy throughout life. The Montessori Method has been proven to assist lifelong learning from as early as infancy and is even successfully used to aid the elderly by creating prepared environments, stimulating brain function and memory association that enables them to care for themselves, others, and their community. Montessori methods foster confidence and engagement at an individual pace, empowering creativity and independence to flourish.
At Hershey, we value each student’s journey through academic and personal growth. We invite you to help our mission reach across the globe and give the gift of more Montessori for more children with a donation to Hershey Montessori School today. Just click the GIVINGTUESDAY graphic below!
Head of Hershey Shares Insights on Developing Leaders and Global Education in a Pandemic
Hershey Head of School, Paula Leigh-Doyle, was recently interviewed by Crain’s Cleveland Business. Leigh-Doyle shared perspectives that were incorporated in two news stories now published by Crain’s in its Crain’s 2021 Private School Planner. These articles include insights on developing future leaders and maintaining focus on global education during the pandemic.
In the article about developing tomorrow’s leaders, Leigh-Doyle was given a chance to share how a Montessori education helps students learn how to find leadership within themselves. “We’re student-led learning with adult guides,” says the Head of School. “Students are trained to be independent thinkers and interdependent collaborators.” You can read the rest of Crain’s article, Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders, here.
In another article, Thinking Outside the Screen: Schools maintain focus on global education, experiential learning during a pandemic, Leigh-Doyle had the opportunity to speak about the importance of Hershey Montessori School’s international alumni during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. School enrollment dropped from 280 to about 250 students as boarders were unable to come to the school due to the COVID pandemic travel restrictions and health recommendations. “We’ve always had a framework for looking at education globally,” Leigh-Doyle says in the article. “And our international borders and alumni were really effective for us to connect globally when we couldn’t fly to those places.” Read the full article, Thinking Outside the Screen: Schools maintain focus on global education, experiential learning during a pandemic here.
Additionally, Hershey’s beautiful 13-acre Concord campus and 97-acre Huntsburg campus were featured in Crain’s Private School Planner. Importantly mentioned is the unique “microeconomy” at the Huntsburg campus, where academic concepts are integrated with economics and entrepreneurism, as students enhance their personal growth, along with their business, communication, and managerial skills. You can see this feature of Hershey Montessori School in Crain’s 2021 Private School Planner here.
Crain’s Cleveland Business journal is owned and operated by Crain Communications Inc. Crain is one of the most well recognized communications companies in the world, reaching over 78 million readers globally. Crain’s has 10 global locations with over 600 employees who manage Crain’s 20 industry-leading communication brands. It is an honor and pleasure to be able to share the lens of our Head of School and to share the examples of our Montessori institution with Crain’s Cleveland Business.
To schedule an interview or collaborative meeting with Paula Leigh-Doyle, contact Hershey Communications Director, Deanna Shrum, at dshrum@hershey-montessori.org.
Hershey Open Houses Are Scheduled
Hershey Montessori School open houses are scheduled through May 2022.
OPEN HOUSE DATES
Registration is required.
- September 18th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- October 16th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- February 5th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- March 5th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- April 9th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- May 7th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- September 18th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- October 16th | 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Come for the Open House and stay for the Harvest Festival from 11:00-am-3:00 pm!
- February 5th| 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- March 5th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- April 9th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- May 7th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
What Is an Open House?
An Open House is a set time for prospective parents and students to visit our school campus to learn more about Hershey Montessori School’s curriculum and culture. The Open House is structured to provide a better understanding of what a school has to offer. There are numerous benefits of attending these school open houses, many of which cannot be achieved by simply browsing a school’s website. Not only do open houses allow you to see the campus, but they also provide valuable insight into the programs and culture of each school.
What Are the Benefits of Attending an Open House?
Prospective families and students benefit greatly by attending a Hershey Montessori School Open House. There is only so much that can be learned from literature, browsing a website and its videos, or even peer reviews. An in-person visit provides greater understanding through physical experience.
When participating in a school Open House event:
- You have face-to-face dialogue with school personnel and sometimes students.
- You experience authentic classroom settings.
- You learn more about the curriculum and will be able to differentiate between Hershey Montessori School and other schools.
- You will gain a clearer understanding of the school’s values and its approach to education.
- You will learn what outcomes can be expected from our Montessori education model.
- You learn how the school communicates with you about your child’s educational progress.
- You will get a feel for the culture of the school.
- You will learn things that help you in your decision-making process.
- You are given the opportunity to ask questions.
- You will meet some really nice people! 🙂
What to Expect
You will be given a tour of the school building(s) and see our Montessori classrooms and our outdoor space that provides stress-reducing connections to nature. A presentation will be given, allowing time afterward for a question and answer session.
Takeaways
Attending a Hershey Montessori School Open House will inform and equip you to make the best decision for your child’s education. It will also allow you to visualize your child in the school setting and determine if it is a good fit. The feeling you get from being on campus will be an important indicator of whether the school is a good choice for your child and family. Ask questions, be open-minded, and trust your parental instincts.
Open Houses Are Scheduled
Hershey Montessori School open houses are scheduled through May 2022.
Registration is required.
OPEN HOUSE DATES
- September 18th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- October 16th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- February 5th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- March 5th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- April 9th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- May 7th | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- September 18th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- October 16th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- February 5th| 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- March 5th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- April 9th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- May 7th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
What Is an Open House?
An Open Houses is a set time for prospective parents and students to visit our school campus to learn more about Hershey Montessori School’s curriculum and culture. The Open House is structured to provide a better understanding of what a school has to offer. There are numerous benefits of attending these school open houses, many of which cannot be achieved by simply browsing a school’s website. Not only do open houses allow you to see the campus, but they also provide valuable insight into the programs and culture of each school.
What Are the Benefits of Attending an Open House?
Prospective families and students benefit greatly by attending a Hershey Montessori School Open House. There is only so much that can be learned from literature, browsing a website and its videos, or even peer reviews. An in-person visit provides greater understanding through physical experience.
When participating in a school Open House event:
- You have face-to-face dialogue with school personnel and sometimes students.
- You experience authentic classroom settings.
- You learn more about the curriculum and will be able to differentiate between Hershey Montessori School and other schools.
- You will gain a clearer understanding of the school’s values and its approach to education.
- You will learn what outcomes can be expected from our Montessori education model.
- You learn how the school communicates with you about your child’s educational progress.
- You will get a feel for the culture of the school.
- You will learn things that help you in your decision-making process.
- You are given the opportunity to ask questions.
- You will meet some really nice people! 🙂
What to Expect
Upon arrival, and in keeping with current CDC guidelines, we will take your temperature (a temperature of 100⁰F or greater will result in a reschedule of your visit) and provide you with hand sanitizer. Face-coverings and physical distancing when interacting with others will be required.
You will be given a tour of the school building(s) and see our Montessori classrooms as well as our outdoor space that provides much-needed, stress-reducing connections to nature. A presentation will be given as well as time for questions and answers.
Takeaways
Hershey students develop into confident, articulate leaders. Hershey Montessori School is known worldwide as a leader of Montessori education.
Attending a Hershey Montessori School Open House will inform and equip you to make the best decision for your child’s education. It will also allow you to visualize your child in the school setting and determine if it is a good fit. The feeling you get from being on campus will be an important indicator of whether the school is a good choice for your child and family. Ask questions, be open-minded, and trust your parental instincts.
120 Trees To Be Planted in Hershey’s Name
Hershey Montessori School is having 120 trees planted in the school’s name. Hershey received recognition as a TreeRing Green Yearbook School upon partnering with TreeRing to build, publish, and sell 120 Hershey Montessori School yearbooks to its students and families.
TreeRing, a partner to Trees for the Future, prints on partially recycled paper and only produces the exact number of books parents buy, eliminating unnecessary waste and resources.
Trees for the Future is an organization that works closely with farmers to continually discover ways to make positive environmental and economic impact. Trees for the Future has been planting trees across the world for more than 30 years to not only end deforestation, but help with poverty and hunger, providing families with food and income through their Forest Garden Approach.
Hershey Montessori School and TreeRing are pleased to be helping students preserve memories while also doing our part to help save the planet. Our school community can feel good about providing students and parents with a yearbook that captures their personal memories in a beautifully produced book. It can also have confidence in the sustainable and environmentally conscious approach taken in producing them. It’s the least we can all do for the next generation.
Hershey Adolescent Community Updates Fall Return to Campus
By Judy Kline Venaleck, Associate Head of School and Adolescent Campus Director
Hershey Montessori School staff and Adolescent Community are eagerly anticipating the 2021-2022 school year and the return of international and domestic boarding students to the Huntsburg campus. All signs from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the Ohio Department of Health look positive for increased vaccination rates and drastically reduced numbers of COVID-19 cases in many regions, and in particular, Ohio. We hope that the continued increase in numbers of vaccinated people in the United States will prevent the take-off of new, more virulent, variants of the virus such as those we are currently seeing in other countries.
What We Know Today
We are still in the planning stages for health protocols for re-entry to boarding life. We will design for well-being and expect that the boarding community will live like a family without masks and other COVID protocols. We will certainly honor any residential member who wishes to wear a mask and we will continue the increased level of attention to handwashing and day-to-day health awareness practices in general.
We closely follow announcements from the CDC as well as the Ohio Department of Health and weekly announcements from Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine. Following the science of these organizations is what informs our decisions. Please be aware that any unforeseen changes and announcements in the coming months can have an impact on our health protocols and planning.
Vaccinations
• Students 12 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine. We appreciate the science behind the fact that as more of us are vaccinated, the healthier the boarding program will be for everyone.
• Vaccination – we are not ready to make a decision about whether COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for boarding students, but we do strongly encourage them. This decision is subject to change as we follow the science or have a sense of any more contagious variants.
• Students who will not have all vaccinations required on Hershey Montessori School’s Medical Statement and Immunization Data form for 2021-2022 at the time of arrival in August, need to claim EXEMPTION status.
Quarantine
• If there is a significant spike in COVID-19 cases by mid-August, it is possible that students may have to quarantine prior to arriving to campus. It will be necessary to factor in a 5-day hotel stay followed by a negative COVID test to your arrival time.
• If there is a high rate of cases in only certain states or countries, students from those particular regions may need to quarantine off campus.
COVID-19 Testing
• We will be testing boarding students upon arrival to campus on August 23rd with a rapid results test.
Timeline and Date by Which Protocol Will Be Finalized
• June 17, 3:00pm EDT – Boarding parent ZOOM meeting with house parents.
• July 8 – Update on COVID-19 trends and the rate of any variant spread.
• July 22 – Final decision on whether COVID-19 vaccine will be required for boarding students.
• August 2 – Final protocols announced for boarding community.
I-20 Documents for International Students
• We will be releasing I-20 documents in the next 10 days that each student will need to:
o obtain a Student Visa through the U.S. Consulate in your country.
o enter the U.S. along with the Student Visa and passport.
• If a student has dual citizenship with the U.S., please notify us as an I-20 is not required in this case.
Regular updates regarding health protocols for next school year will be provided to enrolled families as we monitor the data over the next few months and continue to consult with our medical expert advisors.
Interested and enrolled families are welcome to contact the school office with any questions.
Hershey Graduates 4th Class in Groundbreaking Birth through 12th Grade Montessori Continuum
It has been a year unlike any other: navigating a global health crisis with a student body that attended from both near and far, and remaining healthy and joyful while planning for an even more uncertain future. It was a lot. Perhaps this is why seeing the Class of 2021 cross the threshold from adolescent student to Hershey alumni felt that much richer.
Paula Leigh-Doyle, Head of School; Wesley Wilson, Upper School Director; Judy Kline Venaleck, Associate Head of School and Adolescent Campus Director
“What we are seeing from our graduates is a readiness, a firm but fluid preparedness for anything life may bring to their door,” said Wesley Wilson, Hershey Upper School Director.
“Dr. Maria Montessori had a vision for the adolescent, and we have realized that vision here at Hershey Montessori School,” added Paula Leigh-Doyle, Head of School. “An integrated, project-based curriculum that combines with community and practical work is proving an effective approach to education as we see more and more students come up through the planes of development and complete their Montessori education with us.”
Judy Kline Venaleck, Associate Head of School and the Adolescent Campus Director, said, “I have experienced the benefits of a full continuum of a Montessori education as a parent as well as a staff member. The reward is great from both perspectives. A Montessori education is very special and extremely effective in helping children grow and develop into happy, fulfilled, and emotionally intelligent adults.” explained Kline Venaleck. “They come away with a confidence and know-how that continues to give me great hope for this world’s future. If there was anything we could do differently, it would be to increase the amount of students we have by a hundred fold each year.”
On behalf of the entire Hershey community, we wish our newly graduated Class of 2021 much happiness and joyful adventures as they embark on their journey to impact the world in whatever manner they choose.
Hershey Students Taking Products to Market
Tenth and eleventh year Hershey Montessori School students are nearing the end of their Food Systems Project, a project that combines content and skills from the student’s Humanities, Integrated Science, and Business courses.
Hershey 10th and 11th year students each chose a food item to produce and sell at local markets. In support of quality production, students learned foundational food chemistry concepts and used scientific methods in order to improve their product. They also investigated historical, cultural, or social justice aspects of their product to strengthen their branding and story-telling. Students then calculated the price of production and break-event points in order to take a loan from Hershey’s Microeconomy – a hallmark component of Hershey’s Adolescent Community modeled after Dr. Montessori’s vision for adolescents to participate in, and manage, small business endeavors in order to experience economic activity as an introduction to real economic life.
Students also presented their products at a “Shark Tank” event with guest expert judges. Each student’s project survived, allowing them to move on and finish readying their product for market.
The Food Systems Project students are now nearing the final stage of their endeavor as they complete the final tasks of website creation, food production, and packaging. They will take their finished products to local markets, making them available for sale to the public.
A list of student products is as follows:
- Hot Chocolate Mix
- Easy Aussie Damper Mix
- Cornbread Mix
- Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Bagels
- Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade White Bread (great for those picky eaters!)
- Maple Cotton Candy
- Fresh-made Shade-grown Coffee Beverages
- Homemade Fresh Soda-Pop
- Marinara Sauce
- Fermented Pickles
- Smokin’ Mitch’s BBQ Sauce and Meal Plates
- Conscious Chocolate Bars
Each off-campus market will have two to four students present, representing their items and Hershey Montessori School. However, all local, participating students will be present for Hershey’s larger Huntsburg Campus market.
Currently scheduled markets and dates are listed below.
May 22nd
8:00 – 12:00 pm
June 2nd
2:30 – 4:30 pm
Alumna Update: Melissa Kwitowski, PhD
Melissa Kwitowski, PhD, Hershey Alumna
Hershey Montessori School would like to recognize Hershey alumna Melissa Kwitowski. Melissa began her first full-fledged position as a PhD clinical psychologist at the University of Colorado Department of Psychiatry in December 2020.
Melissa is now a clinical health psychologist in the Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness service line in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Colorado School of Medicine. She received her graduate degree in counseling psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University with an emphasis in health psychology. She completed her internship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and postdoctoral fellowship at Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Melissa has expertise in women’s mental health and the management of chronic medical conditions. She provides outpatient psychotherapy services within the Department of Psychiatry with an emphasis on treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Melissa also serves as the psychologist on the Perinatal Behavioral Health Pathways program which provides mental health services for patients hospitalized on the labor and delivery and mother/baby unit at UC Health. Another of her roles in the Department of Psychiatry is conducting psychosocial candidacy evaluations for patients seeking auto-transplantation procedures for conditions such as Nutcracker Syndrome and Loin Pain Hematuria Syndrome. In this position, she assists in connecting medically complex individuals with appropriate care and coping resources before, during, and after surgical intervention.
Melissa says she is very proud of, and thankful for, her time at Hershey and how well it prepared her not only for higher education, but for working collaboratively and thinking critically.
Congratulations, Dr. Melissa Kwitowski, on all your hard-earned success. Your life-changing work gives us more hope for humanity, knowing young people like you are in leadership roles like this. We are all inspired by your achievements!
Hershey Holds Senior Signing Ceremony
If you are interested in learning more about our Middle or Upper School and/or our boarding program, please message us or visit our website.
