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- Why was the Springboard Academy started?
- Some students – especially middle school children – can find the structure and high expectations at Milton Hershey School a culture shock at first. Springboard Academy is meant to help them ease into this new place so they can realize more success at MHS.
Our hope is to help students transition into the Milton Hershey School in a more developmentally appropriate way.
- Who attends Springboard Academy?
All new 8th grade students will attend Springboard Academy when they enroll at MHS. This group of students was selected because a higher percentage of middle school students have withdrawn from the school than from other grades. - How long will students remain at Springboard Academy?
- Students will remain at the Academy for the entire academic year. At the end of the year, students will move into the Middle Division program at MHS.
- What is the program like?
- Our program helps students learn how to live in a student home, what it means to keep their community healthy, and how to develop skills necessary to be successful in school. In addition, we provide opportunities that allow students to be active and involved in their MHS experience. Students will work directly with animals in a farm setting, grow vegetables, canoe, camp, cook meals, do laundry, and help with chores around Springboard Academy’s campus.
- Are students permitted to stay at Springboard Academy after the first year?
- No. The goal of Springboard is to prepare students to take full advantage of the Milton Hershey School program. As a result, Springboard is just that, giving students a jumpstart into their careers at MHS.
- What kind of staff has been hired to work at Springboard Academy?
- Our talented staff come to us from all over the United States with proven success in working with kids in all areas. The key characteristic of all of Springboard staff is a heart for working with the students that MHS is privileged to work with, in an experiential, student-focused environment.
- How will you prepare students for their transition into the MHS program?
As part of their yearlong experience, each student will come up with a plan that focuses on individual strengths. These plans will be developed together by Springboard staff, students and parents/sponsors. The goal of these plans is to help students recognize their strengths and use them to address areas of struggle. For example, if a student is struggling to wake up in the morning, we can use their love of animals as a way to help them wake up, because the animals in the barn need to be fed. Another example is using music, art or sports as a way to connect a student to reading and math. This plan will go with each student as they transition, which will allow the Middle Division program to help meet each student’s needs.- How will parents/sponsors be involved at Springboard Academy?
- Milton Hershey School recognizes that our families want and need to be involved with their children. At Springboard we plan to pilot new and innovative ways to involve our willing families in the Springboard program. We will offer a special website, regular calls from staff members and on-campus programming to help parents/sponsors feel connected and involved in their child’s life at MHS. By using technology, a longer enrollment period and frequent staff contact, our hope is that our parents/sponsors continue to support their child at MHS.
- Will the students at Springboard Academy live in student homes?
Not exactly. There are two cottages that students live in, with approximately 40 students in each. Naturally, we have a cottage for girls and a cottage for boys. This environment allows students to learn how to adjust to a group living environment with the support of our 24/7 staffing pattern. Staff will be awake through the night in each cottage to offer safety and support for students during those hours, if the need arises.- Where will the students go to school?
- Milton Hershey School is a home with a great school to support student development. At Springboard, students will both live and learn in the cottages, as well as at the Springboard Commons and Welcome Center. At Springboard, we realize that students new to MHS have much to learn and academic skills are only one part of our program. Therefore, learning is not be limited to traditional “school hours.” The laundry rooms, kitchens, lawns, barn, creek, play fields and fireplaces are all key learning areas where our staff works with children at building their essential skills.
