Opening of School 2023
Welcome to the 2023-24 School Year
This year’s Opening of School Assembly kicked off a Breakthrough year at Milton Hershey School. The MHS community marked the 10th anniversary of the special celebration with speakers, musical performances, videos, and more.
Rewatch the Livestream
Rewatch our 2023 Opening of School Assembly held on Monday, Aug. 14 at GIANT Center.
The Key to Our Breakthrough
The key to our Breakthrough is found in all of us. Nowhere is this better represented than the Keyhole structure located on our main campus. At MHS, we believe education is the key to the future, and students can unlock their own potential.
Read Our Breakthrough Stories Learn More about Enrolling a Student at MHS
Breaking through Barriers
This year’s Opening of School Assembly featured student and staff voices from across campus. Rewatch the videos shared during the assembly and learn more about their Breakthrough stories.
Watch the YouTube PlaylistFirst Things First
Student homes are where the best habits are formed, and personal accountability is instilled. In this video, MHS Elementary Division Houseparents share how their homes have given students a strong foundation for success.
Leading the Way Together
MHS students Damian Mattos, Kamso Ebiringa-Chika, and Nieyel Soto are breaking stereotypes and overcoming obstacles such as athletics, visual and performing arts, academics, homesickness, and more.
A Vision for Success
MHS alumna Tatiana Ariola ’15 explains how authentic work experiences—both at MHS and the entities—helped launch her career in photography/videography. It was the relationships that she built that played a role in her success.
Are You Good?
Following the loss of her husband, MHS parent/sponsor Tiffany Sandridge was determined to keep her children on the right path. Together, Tiffany and her sons wrote a book about using good character traits to achieve a Breakthrough.
Everyone Can Achieve a Breakthrough
Whether it’s experiencing a pivotal success, finding new knowledge, overcoming adversity, or breaking through a barrier, Breakthrough moments define who we are. Download the MHS theme graphics to carry our Opening of School message with you all year. Options include:
- Wallpapers for desktops, iPads, and mobile devices
- Posters
- Graphics
One Community, One Mission
Milton S. Hershey was a man of intention. He created a town and a school with the power of community in mind. Today, our Hershey entity partners are committed to providing MHS students with exciting new opportunities. Our students can make groundbreaking discoveries and define their futures through these meaningful connections.
This year, our entity partners played a special role in the 10th Opening of School Assembly.
Read More about Our Community PartnershipsLearn More about Our Partnerships
Expanding Their Vision
When Milton and Catherine Hershey founded our school in 1909, they intended to give children with less more. For more than 113 years, we have done that. Through the 2020-2025 Our Future in Focus strategic plan, our work continues. This school year, our community will remain focused on achieving a breakthrough in the four pillar areas of this plan:
- Modeling Character and Well-Being
- Innovating Career-Focused Education
- Leveraging Impact
- Teamwork to Strengthen Community Alignment and Engagement
A Breakthrough in Early Childhood Education
This fall, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning will open its first Early Childhood Education Center in Hershey, Pa. This milestone will allow even more families to be impacted by the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Hershey.
