Playing Games
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent The schedule at Milton Hershey School is rewarding but rigorous—especially in Senior Division. There are chores to be done, rooms to keep clean, study...
My MHS BlogCategory: Houseparents and Home Life
With over 250 houseparent couples caring for students across our campus, no two experiences are the same. But what unites them all is a deep commitment to helping kids grow and thrive.
Whether you’re just beginning to imagine yourself in this role or you’re well into the hiring process, we invite you to explore this unique career through the stories of current and former houseparents.
ABC, Easy as 123
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent Trying to get my kindergartener to do his homework usually goes one of two ways: he’s either thrilled and can’t wait to do it,...
Whatever You Do, Do It Well
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent I’m not convinced that Milton Hershey loved chocolate more than anything else. Why? Hear me out. I think Milton Hershey enjoyed chocolate, but I...
Don’t Let the Feeling Fade
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent In addition to my houseparenting duties, I have the privilege of helping with New Spartan Academy. This is the program that all new students...
The Long Game
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent When it comes to houseparenting, I like to tell people that we’re playing the long game. When we’re dealing with people, especially teens, we...
How I’m Building Relationships with First-Year Students
By Tanya Alfonso, MHS Home Life Administrator First-year newly enrolled MHS students in first through fourth grade have the distinct advantage of participating in the MHS co-pilot program. Adult staff...
Connecting Home Life to the Classroom: Creating a Nurturing Learning Environment to Call Home
When students enroll at Milton Hershey School, they’re not only receiving a top-notch education. They’re joining a safe, nurturing community that feels like a second home, through the school’s Home...
Welcome Back: Gathering Around the Table
By Erica Clark, an MHS houseparent The table in our dining room is large. Actually, it’s a group of tables—five to be exact. We placed them together to create one...
Say What? The Battle Against One-Word Answers
By Clare Olge, an MHS houseparent Have you ever asked a teenage boy about his day? Regardless of how you phrase the question, it’s typical to get a one-word...
The Marathon Called Houseparenting
I am not built for running, but I’ve always wanted to be a runner. So through lots of practice, time and effort, I have worked up to running long distances—including...