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Upper School Virtual Introduction

Upper School Virtual Introduction

Oct 25, 2023 | Events, Featured Posts | 0 comments

Join us for a virtual introduction to our Upper School on Wednesday, December 6th. Choose one or both sessions, at 2:30 pm or 9:00 pm EST, to learn how our integrated academics, intentionally designed environments, and college and career counseling programs are leading Montessori alumni to careers that change the world.

It is becoming increasingly important in our rapidly changing world to focus on providing adolescents with opportunities for interdependence, development, and collaboration.

Hershey Montessori’s Upper School provides students with experiences and academic preparedness that cultivate a sense of self-sufficiency within dynamic and complex communities, and the critical-thinking skills required to ponder and assess situations that impact the future of our world.

Learn more by RSVP’ing to Stori Zinkhann at szinkhann@hershey-montessori.org to request the Zoom link. Please specify which session you’ll be attending and provide your name and affiliation. Additional questions regarding Hershey’s Upper School, enrollment, boarding, transportation, and more, may also be addressed to Stori.

We look forward to seeing you on December 6th!

Upper School Virtual Introduction

Upper School Virtual Introduction

Oct 25, 2023 | Events, Featured Posts | 0 comments

Join us for a virtual introduction to our Upper School on Wednesday, November 15th. Choose one or both sessions, at 11:30 am or 7:30 pm EST, to learn how our integrated academics, intentionally designed environments, and college and career counseling programs are leading Montessori alumni to careers that change the world.

It is becoming increasingly important in our rapidly changing world to focus on providing adolescents with opportunities for interdependence, development, and collaboration.

Hershey Montessori’s Upper School provides students with experiences and academic preparedness that cultivate a sense of self-sufficiency within dynamic and complex communities, and the critical-thinking skills required to ponder and assess situations that impact the future of our world.

Learn more by RSVP’ing to Stori Zinkhann at szinkhann@hershey-montessori.org to request the Zoom link. Please specify which session you’ll be attending and provide your name and affiliation. Additional questions regarding Hershey’s Upper School, enrollment, boarding, transportation, and more, may also be addressed to Stori.

We look forward to seeing you on November 15th!

Hershey Middle Schoolers Build Computers, Experience Digital Age

Hershey Middle Schoolers Build Computers, Experience Digital Age

May 3, 2023 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

In Hershey Montessori School’s Adolescent Community, studies in Humanities give adolescents the opportunity to connect with the whole of human history through integrated scholarship, including research, experiential investigation, and expression.  

This quarter, some students explored the Digital Age. Students, led by Humanities guide Nicole Lederle, first began their exploration by learning about the evolution of communication, from the invention of the printing press to today’s growing use of A.I. (artificial intelligence).

Adolescents researched the ins and outs of computer functions, creating their own presentations on selected topics involving technology and communication. 

The next step was to begin the hands-on execution of building their own computers. Students worked in teams of three to build Piper Computer models. The Piper Computer comes in a kit and is designed to give a hands-on STEM learning experience. It also provides students with the fundamentals of electronics and coding through the use of Minecraft Pi and a Scratch-like coding language.

Each model was put together like a puzzle and students got to see how the parts of the computer connect and work together. The adolescents took two class sessions to strategize, problem-solve, and build their fully functioning model. By the end of the second building session, students basked in the glory of their final product, eager to show the other Humanities class what they had accomplished.

The Piper Models consist of a wooden shell fully put together by the students, a Raspberry Pi motherboard, a screen, a small mouse, breadboards, and wiring for controls.  

Hershey middle school students engaged individually, and collaboratively, in sophisticated academic and multisensory, project-based learning. 

The hands help the development of the intellect. When a child is capable of using his hands, he can have a quantity of experiences in the environment through using them. In order to develop his consciousness, then his intellect, and then his will, he must have exercises and experiences.

Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures, p. 130

Bringing lessons to life through an experiential, hands-on learning process is what truly captivates the student. Dr. Montessori knew this. Her approach to educating the whole child in this manner is what makes the Montessori method the sought-after education model families love providing for their children and adolescents.

Hershey Adolescents Undergo Suicide Prevention Training

Hershey Adolescents Undergo Suicide Prevention Training

May 1, 2023 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Mental health training professionals from the Integrated Student Supports and Prevention Services for the ESCWR (Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve) came to Hershey Montessori School’s Huntsburg Campus to lead Middle and Upper School students in QPR Training. They were impressed with the students’ openness, respectful demeanor, and thoughtful questions.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, and its mission is to reduce suicidal behavior and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to best help.

QPR training teaches both adults and adolescents to identify signs that other people, especially adolescents, may be at risk for attempting suicide. QPR is a nationally recognized, research-based approach to providing life-saving, short-term support and refers people to the professional help they need.

Hershey’s Huntsburg staff was fortunate enough to receive this training earlier this year and will now be able to share a common language with the adolescent students. Providing social-emotional support is not only a focal point in Montessori education but it is also a renewed commitment by school leadership and staff to ensure that every student has the support and the tools to navigate social and emotional challenges they or their friends and peers might encounter.

Through Hershey Montessori School’s close partnerships with parents, our Social-Emotional Learning program, our collaboration with mental health professionals through Family Pride of Northeast Ohio, regular student check-ins with staff advisors, and our holistic, adolescent community-centered Montessori approach, our goal is to guide and support students to recognize and respond to mental and emotional health needs for themselves and others.

For more information about the QPR student training, please visit the QPR website at: https://www.qprinstitute.com/ :

Community Art Partnership Enriches Students

Community Art Partnership Enriches Students

Feb 18, 2021 | Featured Posts, School News | 0 comments

Tania Bertolone, Middle School Director

Earlier this school year, Tania Bertolone, Hershey’s Middle School Director at our Huntsburg campus sought outside specialists for the purpose of broadening exposure to the arts for our Middle School students. In her search, Bertolone connected with Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, Executive Director at Fairmount Center for the Arts.

At Tania’s direction, Hershey hired two of Fairmount’s artists to serve as specialists for Middle School students to enhance Hershey’s Creative Expression curriculum.

Liliana Garlisi, who serves as Fairmount’s Piano faculty, meets weekly with Hershey students, inspiring, connecting and providing opportunities for them to learn, grow and express themselves through music.

Brigitte Fiorille, who serves as Fairmount’s Art Director and Ceramics faculty, also meets with students to work with them in the ceramics studio at Hershey’s Huntsburg campus. Both women have brought the students great inspiration and expertise in their crafts.

“Creative Expression is a core component of our Middle School curriculum and we are intentional about supporting and connecting with our community,” Bertolone said. What I found with Fairmount Center for the Arts was a perfect alignment for us and our students. They bring professionalism and expertise to every class and every project. Our students are engaged and are learning so much.”

Clay pots hand-crafted by Hershey Middle School students.

Fairmount generally conducts its programs at its facility in Novelty, Ohio, but this partnership has been ideal in that they were willing to travel to the school campus each week.

Fairmount Center for the Arts has many hands-on forms of expression from dance, to art, music, and theater. They offer several different activities like camps, workshops, and even fitness classes. We are so grateful to have such a fantastic organization in our community for our students to experience and enjoy. They also offer classes to the community in a COVID-safe environment. You can view and register for a variety of offerings on their website. Learn more about Fairmount Center for the Arts by visiting their website at www.fairmountcenter.org/.