9 Back-to-School Mottos for Students
Milton Hershey School teachers are sparking excitement and anticipation for the new school year by sharing their back-to-school mottos. Through the nurturing environment and strong support system offered at MHS, students are driven to excel both in and out of the classroom.
To encourage success and set clear expectations, several MHS teachers shared their favorite inspirational quotes to motivate students throughout the school year!
1. “If you knew there was no tomorrow, how hard would you play today?”
I tell students, ‘you are in the driver’s seat—I just help you make the map and choose your destination.’ —George Pecchio, MHS high school English teacher
2. “It matters not what someone is born but what they grow to be.” (Albus Dumbledore)
My back-to-school motto and, quite frankly, daily motto comes from Harry Potter! —Megan Heister, MHS second grade teacher
3. “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” (Maimonides)
I start every school year by sharing this quote with my students. Teenagers aren’t often viewed as having respectable world views, but when asked to explain their opinion on this quote, they are spot-on. My main goal is for my students to begin looking at the world around them with more compassion. —Casey Ainsworth, MHS middle school social studies teacher
4. “A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges.”
The slate is clean and anything can happen. —Denise Witmer, MHS second grade teacher
5. “Don’t let yourself down.”
—Brian Nowotnik, MHS high school English teacher
6. “We can do hard things.”
I first heard this from another MHS teacher, Mrs. Halliday, and I’ve adopted it in the Innovation Lab as our motto. —Joel Crowley, MHS elementary Innovation Lab instructor
7. “It’s a brand new year to become the best ‘you’ that you can be.”
I always tell my students on the first day of school that whatever happened last year stays in the past. —Courtney Royer, MHS second grade teacher
8. “Life is full of choices…choose wisely!”
I use this quote quite a bit throughout the school year. —Christine Cook, MHS kindergarten teacher
9. “You can’t expect to succeed if you only put in work on the days you feel like it.”
—Heather Dougherty, MHS high school science teacher
MHS Thought Leadership
Education experts are core to the makeup of MHS staff. Their goal is to help MHS students achieve success by giving them the best opportunities in education.
