Fall Family Weekend 2026

Do you have a new student and want to learn the best ways to get involved with the MHS community? Join MHS Family Relations at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center, along with other parents/sponsors, to learn more about how you can support your student’s journey at MHS.

8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parent/Sponsor Shadowing

Parents/sponsors are invited to shadow their student(s) during the school day in Senior Division buildings from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and follow them to their classes. Parents/sponsors should report to the front office of Fisher Hall with their driver’s license to check in and meet their student(s).

Parents/sponsors should park behind Copenhaver Center.

Please note:

• All parents/sponsors must present a valid state driver’s license or photo ID upon entering the school building. Failure to present proper identification will deny access to school buildings. Contact the main office with questions regarding this policy.
• Shadowing is for parents/sponsors only (no children, friends, or extended family).
• Please do not bring flowers, balloons, or other gifts into school buildings.
• All cell phones must be turned off.

9-11 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. College and Career Counselor Conferences

Schedule an appointment to meet your Senior Division student’s college and career counselor from 9-11 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. It is a good time to ask questions about academic performance, postsecondary planning, or course selection.

Parents/sponsors should park behind Copenhaver Center.

2:30-3:15 p.m. 1st Marking Period Assembly

You are invited to join your student for their 1st Marking Period Assembly in the Founders Hall Auditorium.

3:30-5 p.m. Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent/Sponsors can register for a parent-teacher conference with their student’s teacher in their classrooms.

3:30-5 p.m. Home Life Administrator Conferences

Parents/sponsors are invited to schedule a meeting with a Home Life Administrator.

Parent/Sponsor Shadowing from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Parents/sponsors can visit their Elementary Division student’s classroom from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Parking is available in parking lot E by Henry Hershey Field, and a shuttle will run continuously from the parking lot to Memorial Hall from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Designated handicap parking is available closer to the building.

Please note:

• All parents/sponsors must present a valid state driver’s license or photo ID upon entering the school building. Failure to show proper identification will deny access to the school building. Contact the main office at 717-520-2400 with questions regarding this policy.
• Shadowing is for parents/sponsors only.
• Please do not bring flowers, balloons, or other gifts into the school building.
• All cell phones must be turned off.

2:15-3 p.m. Costume Parade

Students will parade around the outside of Memorial Hall in costumes for families and staff. Parents/sponsors are welcome to dress up in family-friendly costumes. No gory costumes, please.

3:15-5 p.m. Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent/Sponsors can register for a parent-teacher conference with their student’s teacher in their classrooms at Memorial Hall.

Parking for conferences is available in parking lot E by Henry Hershey Field, and a shuttle will run continuously from the parking lot to Memorial Hall from 3:30-5:15 p.m. Designated handicap parking is available closer to the building.

3:15-5 p.m. Home Life Administrator Conferences

Parents/sponsors are invited to schedule a meeting with a Home Life Administrator.

Parking for conferences is available in parking lot E by Henry Hershey Field, and a shuttle will run continuously from the parking lot to Memorial Hall from 3:30-5:15 p.m. Designated handicap parking is available closer to the building.

9:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Parent/Sponsor Shadowing

Parents/sponsors can shadow their Middle Division students at Catherine Hall from 9:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Parking is available at the bottom of Catherine Hall’s hill in the airstrip. A shuttle will provide access to the building. The final shuttle back to the airstrip will run at 2:45 p.m. Designated handicap parking is available closer to the building.

Please note:

• All parents/sponsors must present a valid state driver’s license or photo ID upon entering the school building. Failure to show proper identification will deny access to the school building. Contact the main office at 717-520-2600 with questions regarding this policy.
• Shadowing is for parents/sponsors only (no children, friends, or extended family).
• Please do not bring flowers, balloons, or other gifts into the school building.
• All cell phones must be turned off.

2:45 p.m. Transition to Parent-Teacher Conferences

If you are staying for Parent-Teacher Conferences, please report to the auditorium with your student at 2:45 p.m. Houseparents will meet you there and assist you with signing your student out.

Parents/sponsors and their student will remain in the auditorium until 3:15 p.m. At that time, you will be dismissed together to either report to your scheduled conference or to wait in the cafeteria until your scheduled conference time.

3:15-5 p.m. Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent/Sponsors can register for a parent-teacher conference with their student’s teachers in their classrooms at Catherine Hall.

Shuttle service will continue throughout conferences between Catherine Hall and the airstrip. The final shuttle from Catherine Hall will depart at 5:00 p.m. All parents/sponsors attending conferences should park at the airstrip.

3:15-5 p.m. Home Life Administrator Conferences

Parents/sponsors are invited to schedule a meeting with a Home Life Administrator.

Shuttle service will continue throughout conferences between Catherine Hall and the airstrip. The final shuttle from Catherine Hall will depart at 5 p.m. All parents/sponsors attending conferences should park at the airstrip.

Visit the Founders Hall Visitors Center where more than a century of MHS history comes to life. The renovated Visitors Center features interactive exhibits, historical albums, and alumni awards/collections.

Parent/Sponsors can register for a conference with Student Health Services in their division offices.

Please send an email to the appropriate division below and include the following information:

• Student’s division and grade
• Appointment type (dental, medical, psychology, social work)
• Student’s name
• Parent/Sponsor contact information (name, cell phone number, email address)

Division: 

• Elementary Division (grades pre-K through 4)
• Middle Division (grades 6-8)
• Senior Division (grades 9-12)

You will receive an email confirmation of your scheduled time

From 4:30-6:30 p.m., enjoy a meal with your family and interact with MHS staff and community partners in the Founders Hall dining room.

Activities in Founders Hall: 

• Trail mix bar hosted by MHS Social Work staff
• Photobooth
• Crafts with Education and Human Services students
• Discounted Hersheypark tickets for $40 while supplies last. Cash only, no card.

Join Senior Division drama students and crew in the Memorial Hall auditorium for a performance of “The Secret Garden.”

No tickets are required; entry is free.

Join us at Henry Hershey Field at 7 p.m. for the varsity football, cheerleading, and marching band senior night. Stay to enjoy the game against the East Pennsboro Panthers.

Spartan Spirit apparel, created by Senior Division students, will be sold in the store in Fisher Hall. The store is run by students from various Career and Technical Education pathways and their advisors.

To find the store’s new location in Fisher Hall, enter the store through the sidewalk from parking lot F. Look for the windows that say “MHS Spartans.”

Meet one-on-one with your student’s Houseparents or Transitional Living staff to review their progress in the student home. Enjoy refreshments in the student or Transitional Living building while you’re there.

Visit Project Market, an Agricultural and Environmental Education program student-run business,to enjoy fall treats and shop our selection of fresh produce and student-made products.

Visit the Founders Hall Visitors Center where more than a century of MHS history comes to life. The renovated Visitors Center features interactive exhibits, historical albums, and alumni awards/collections.

Join us for Spartan Fall Fest, a celebration for our entire MHS community! Enjoy an afternoon filled with festive fun, including:

• Trunk or treat
• Paint a pumpkin
• Face painting
• Mini donut and apple cider truck
• Hay bale maze
• Hay slide
• Pumpkin-themed games
• Trebuchet pumpkin throwing exhibition
• Petting zoo
• Hayrides

All attendees should park at the Supply Center. Campus Safety staff will be present to ensure safety as you cross the road to the event location.

Families are invited to spend time at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center to unwind and enjoy time as a family. While you’re there, create a thank-you note for a houseparent, transitional living, or Home Life staff member who has made an impact in your life.

You can purchase discounted Hersheypark tickets for $40 while supplies last. Cash only, no card.

Join Senior Division drama students and crew in the Memorial Hall auditorium for a performance of “The Secret Garden.”

No tickets are required; entry is free.

You are welcome to attend our weekly chapel services on Sunday. Sit with your child and their student home or Transitional Living building, or utilize our visitor seating. You must be seated 10 minutes before the start of each service.

Services by Division

• Elementary Division: 9 a.m. in the Memorial Hall Auditorium
• Middle and Senior Division: 9 a.m. in the Founders Hall Auditorium

Join us for a delicious family brunch from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Founders Hall dining room.

You can purchase discounted Hersheypark tickets for $40 while supplies last. Cash only, no card.

Visit the Founders Hall Visitors Center where more than a century of MHS history comes to life. The renovated Visitors Center features interactive exhibits, historical albums, and alumni awards/collections.

Parents/sponsors and their families are invited to spend time at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center. While you’re there, create a thank-you note for a houseparent, transitional living, or Home Life staff member who has made an impact in your life.

You can purchase discounted Hersheypark tickets for $40 while supplies last. Cash only, no card.

Meet one-on-one with your student’s Houseparents or Transitional Living staff to review their progress in the student home.

Join Senior Division drama students and crew in the Memorial Hall auditorium for a performance of “The Secret Garden.”

No tickets are required; entry is free.

Years from now, what might your child say about their time at MHS? Join a panel of alumni at the Gertrude Gurt Family Center as they reflect on the opportunities, relationships, and life lessons that shaped their futures and still influence their lives today. Their stories offer a powerful reminder of the difference the MHS Scholastic and Home Life program can make for generations to come.

What are Family Weekends?

• Family Weekends are special weekends designed just for MHS students and families.
• Fall Family Weekend 2026 will begin on Friday, Oct. 30, and end on Sunday, Nov. 1. Students must return to their student homes by 5 p.m.
• All MHS families are invited to join teachers and staff on campus to experience fun activities with their students, visit school buildings, see amazing student performances, eat meals together, and more!
• Family Weekends are an excellent opportunity to connect with your student on campus and meet MHS community members who are important to them.

Do we need to participate in all of the events?

• Families are encouraged to participate in the activities they choose. There are no mandatory events.
• We encourage our families to get involved, meet staff, and experience campus with their student. We also understand that schedules and distance may prevent some of our families from joining.

How do I qualify for a free weekend?

• The passport system is an opportunity for families to earn a free overnight weekend visit by attending on-campus events.
• Download the passport (PDF) from the Family Weekend website, see your houseparents for a passport, or get a copy from an MHS staff member at an event.
• Attend two conferences at any time during the weekend and have a staff member sign your passport. Turn the completed passport in to your student’s houseparent to have an overnight visitation that does not count as one of your allotted weekends. Please note: parents/sponsors only need to attend two conferences per family, not per child.
• Reminder: Passports only qualify families for a free weekend during Fall Family Weekend and must be used Oct.30-Nov. 1, 2026. Passports are not valid for any other dates.

Can I bring other family members or family friends along for the weekend events?

• Yes, we welcome families to bring others along to visit with your student. It is a great way to show off your student’s educational and Home Life experiences.
• Although we encourage family participation in most Family Weekend events, please note that sponsor shadowing is limited to adult parents/sponsors only.

Do all events require an RSVP?

• Many Family Weekend events do require RSVPs.
• If an RSVP is needed, it will be clearly marked within the event description.
• Read each event description carefully to find out if RSVPs are not needed for that event.

Can I RSVP to MHS staff for all events or do I need to RSVP separately for each event online?

• You must RSVP to all events you want to attend separately.
• Many different departments on campus host their own events, so it is important that you RSVP or register for each event.

We know that our campus can be overwhelming with directions. We are providing Google Maps directions to parking lots of the main locations for Winter Family Weekend events.

Catherine Hall – Middle Division

Parking Lot Directions

Memorial Hall – Elementary Division

Parking Lot Directions

Gertrude Gurt Family Center

Parking Lot Directions

Founders Hall

Parking Lot Directions

Copenhaver Gym

Parking Lot Directions

Project Market

Parking Lot Directions

The Parent Portal lets you view your student’s grades, activities, and life in the student home. You received your username and password for the Parent Portal on Enrollment Day. Please email [email protected] for assistance with your login credentials. Be sure to keep your contact information updated to continue receiving communication from the school.

Access the Parent PortalSteps for Signing In to the Parent PortalEmail MHS IT for Login Credentials

The portal also has a smartphone app to help you stay connected when you’re on the go.

Download a printable version of the Family Weekend at-a-glance schedule. The PDF version of the schedule will be available soon.