How Milton Hershey School Family Relations Supports Families

By MHS Family Relations 

Enrolling a child at Milton Hershey School is no small decision. Being apart from a child and navigating the deep emotions of missing them can be incredibly challenging. When you made that choice, you no doubt weighed those emotions against the incredible opportunities that awaited your child at MHS—exceptional classroom learning, rich multicultural experiences, outstanding Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) programs, competitive athletics, and hands-on career and technical education.

But one of the most meaningful opportunities at MHS isn’t just for students—it’s for families.

For the Family Relations team, our mission is to engage, equip, and empower MHS families to grow alongside their child. As their child embraces every opportunity for development at MHS, we aim to provide parents and sponsors with opportunities to thrive, connect, and feel supported on this journey. We offer a variety of programs and opportunities for our parents and sponsors to receive support and develop themselves.

Support Groups

Kidsickness is real, and no one understands it better than another parent or sponsor walking the same path. Once a month, we host a virtual gathering where they can connect with other MHS families and Family Relations staff. It’s a safe space for encouragement, shared stories, and heartfelt connection.

As more grandparents step into the role of a sponsor, we’ve created a group just for them. Once a month, grandparents gather in person over brunch at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center—or virtually—for connection, understanding, and support tailored to the unique journey of grandparenting a student at MHS.

Through these support groups, parents and sponsors have developed bonds with one another based on their unique experiences. They stay connected between these monthly meetings and even plan their own in-person meetings during Family Weekends.

Family Weekends

Three times a year—fall, winter, and spring—families are invited to immerse themselves in the MHS campus experience. From shadowing their student in a classroom, sharing meals in a student home, enjoying performances by our VPA students, to meeting teachers and staff, and more—Family Weekends are all about celebrating parents and sponsors and the foundational role they play in this community.

Spartan Family Network Meetings

Held in local communities and timed with our charter bus program’s schedule during school breaks, these gatherings bring together MHS families and staff for food, fellowship, and shared experiences. We provide the space and the meal, and our families bring the heart and connection that make the Spartan Family Network so special.

Opportunities for Growth

Empowerment workshops, hour-long sessions held monthly in person at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center and virtually, bring in experts to speak to parents and sponsors about five key areas: parenting confidence, pursuing education and training, health and wellness, financial wellness, and career readiness. These workshops are a chance for parents and sponsors to focus on bettering themselves while their child lives and learns at MHS.

These workshops have provided parents and sponsors with vital tools to make an impact in their own lives. One sponsor turned the lessons learned during a goal-setting workshop into action by saving for and purchasing a home.

Now in its second year, a partnership between MHS Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) and Central Penn College provides local parents and sponsors with the opportunity to participate in a three-week summer program focused on career exploration, job readiness, and professionalism. Participants engage in self-assessments, develop career plans, build resumes, complete mock interviews, and more.

With the support of our Hershey community partners, this program helps our parents and sponsors explore real job matches or take their first steps toward further education and training. Last year, three parents/sponsors obtained full-time employment by the end of the program. It’s a powerful opportunity to invest in yourself and grow alongside your student at MHS.

No matter where you are on this journey, you’re not walking it alone. With so many ways to connect—whether in person or online—the Family Relations team is here to support parents and sponsors, encourage their growth, and help them feel deeply rooted in the MHS community. As their child thrives at MHS, we hope they’ll take every opportunity to grow right alongside them. The presence of parents and sponsors, as well as their voices and stories, matter here. We can’t wait to welcome them to our events and continue building this journey together.

Explore How Families Stay Connected at MHS