Opening of School 2024
Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year
The Milton Hershey School community celebrated the start of a new school year with speakers, performances, videos, and more at GIANT Center to reveal this year’s annual theme, Raise the Bar. Learn more about the event highlights below.
Read the StoryFollow Along on Social Media
Watch the Livestream
Rewatch the livestream of our 2024 Opening of School Assembly held on Monday, Aug. 19.
Raise the Bar: Hear from Our Community
This year’s assembly featured voices from students, staff, and Hershey community partners. Rewatch the videos shared during the assembly.
Take Flight with Career-Focused Education
With a passion for engineering and aviation, Josh is on a path to becoming a pilot, with aspirations to reach for the stars through a career as an astronaut.
Community Service Instills Values
MHS students extend their commitment to community service beyond Dauphin County, PA, to places far and wide—including Floyd County, KY.
Generations of Impact
At MHS, the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey profoundly influences the lives of our students.
Connections at Catherine Hershey Schools
Today, we honor Catherine Hershey’s enduring legacy by continuing her mission through CHS.
The Milton Hershey Way
The MHS community is rooted in the culture defined by the Deed of Trust and lived through our Sacred Values. The Milton Hershey Way initiative reinforces our commitment to excellence through mutual respect and a strong work ethic.
The Compass Project provides the structure and support to MHS staff to teach essential social and emotional learning skills. MHS prepares students for career and life success through daily teaching, high expectations, and accountability structures.
As we start a new school year, we reflect on how The Milton Hershey Way prepares students for success.
Chocolate Changes Lives
The MHS community reflects on the impact of HERSHEY’S chocolate on our lives. Discover how a simple chocolate bar has not only created sweet moments for millions but also shaped values, forged connections, and built lasting memories—all in the name of helping children.
Remember How You'll Raise the Bar
Download the MHS theme graphics to carry this year’s Opening of School message with you all school year. Options include:
- Wallpapers for desktops, iPads, and mobile devices
- Email headers
- Posters
- Graphics
Expanding Their Vision
When Milton and Catherine Hershey founded our school in 1909, they intended to give children with less more. For more than 114 years, we have done that. Through the 2020-2025 Our Future in Focus strategic plan, also known as the MILT Plan, our work continues.
In the final year of our strategic plan, our community remains focused on achieving success in four key areas:
- Modeling Character and Well-Being
- Innovating Career-Focused Education
- Leveraging Impact
- Teamwork to Strengthen Community Alignment and Engagement
One Community, One Mission
Milton and Catherine Hershey understood the importance of intentionally providing an exceptional educational experience and developing a rich community. Today, along with our Hershey community partners, we are committed to providing MHS students the opportunities to define their futures and pursue success through these meaningful connections.
Read More about Our Community Partnerships
