The ribbon was cut on Wednesday, marking the official opening of the Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning in Harrisburg.

In less than two weeks at Harrisburg’s new Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, 2-year-old Mathias Serrano has made noticeable progress.

“He’s already doing sign language,” said his mom, Melissa Serrano, whose 4-year-old is also a student. “He’s speaking more words. It’s only been a week and a half. If that’s just the beginning, I don’t know what the rest of the year is going to look like. We might have two geniuses walking out by the time we’re done.”

For the first time, Milton Hershey School ventured beyond Derry Township, as city and county officials helped Catherine Hershey Schools celebrate the Sept. 18 grand opening of its state-of-the-art facility on N. 6^th Street.

The 46,963-square-foot school opened its doors to a phased-in entry of students on Sept. 9. Employing up to 80 staff, the school provides free early education for 150 local children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Their income-eligible, “overburdened” families receive resources and guidance in parenting, jobs, and self-sufficiency.

The exterior of the new CHS facility

As dignitaries gathered in a tent to hear speakers welcome the new institution, CHS staff hovered around the perimeter in T-shirts saying “Nurture. Play. Discover.” Someone started a chant–“Who are we?”–and staff roared back, “CHS HBG.”

Teacher Shanice Taylor, one of the speakers, said she grew up in Harrisburg and was inspired to pursue a career in education by her second-grade teacher. Miss Scott made learning an adventure and made each student feel valued.

“I decided I wanted to create a classroom where imagination flourished, where I encourage each child’s individuality, provide a nurturing environment where children and families feel safe and supported, and committed to creating a love for learning,” she said.

A CHS classroom

CHS Harrisburg is part of a $350 million initiative by Milton Hershey School to establish six early childhood centers in Dauphin and Lancaster County. The first opened in Hershey in 2023. The next is scheduled to open in Middletown in 2025, followed by three in Lancaster County, according to CHS.

CHS Harrisburg is equipped with two infant-toddler classrooms, two toddler classrooms, and six preschool classrooms, each staffed with three teachers. Sandwiched between N. 6^th and 7^th streets, the facility features gross motor playrooms and discreet booths so classroom observers won’t interfere with learning.

Catherine Hershey’s love for nature springs up everywhere, from classrooms named after flowers and critters, such as Violet, Tulip and Caterpillar, to a STEM garden that invites children to spot hidden silhouettes of animals and use a rainwater harvesting system to water the plants.

With its model of addressing the needs of two generations, CHS Harrisburg has crafted partnerships with institutions citywide, starting with the office of Mayor Wanda Williams, who proclaimed that the school will be a “beacon of hope, equity, and opportunity” for 150 city children and “strives to ensure every child, regardless of background, has access to opportunities that nurture their potential and support their holistic development.”

Through more than 130 partnerships, families can get access to community resources, such as job and skills training through OIC, or health care through Hamilton Health Center, said CHS Executive Director Senate Alexander.

CHS Harrisburg extends the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey, founders of the K-12 Milton Hershey School, to the time of “critical brain development” in early childhood, said Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick. The new school contributes to Harrisburg’s 6^th Street revival, joining new and existing institutions, including the federal courthouse, state archives and re-establishment of the Hudson [Atlas] Building, he said. Future leaders “are going to be coming right from the investment in this facility,” he said.

CHS Harrisburg “reimagines” early childhood education with its 17,000 square feet of play spaces, innovation lab, family success center and oversized classrooms–“really trying to think how do we best serve children from birth to 5 and help them for lifelong success,” said Alexander.

A garden on the CHS campus

To CHS Harrisburg Center Director Malissa Lorenzo, reimagining means “providing a more structured opportunity for our students and also thinking about the two-generational impact that changes the trajectory not only of the family’s path but also the student’s education.”

“We’re going to bring families into their child’s education and educate them on child development and keep them engaged in all the things our teachers do with the kiddos,” Lorenzo said.

With enrollment of 150 children, the venture scratches the surface of a deep-seated need for child care and early childhood education slots, with only 19% of Dauphin County young children receiving high-quality prekindergarten, and nearly 70% unserved by state child care subsidies, according to Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole are suffering shortages of child care teachers, largely due to low salaries, but CHS pays “a little bit above average when it comes to our pay, and really trying to make sure that we can attract and retain high-quality teaching staff and ancillary staff,” Alexander said.

To Melissa Serrano and her husband, the parents of two of those 150 children, CHS Harrisburg is a gift from God. Unaffordable child care forced her to leave a management position, so acceptance at CHS opens new possibilities. Serrano grew up in the city, and now that she has returned and started two businesses with her husband, CHS has provided stability for the family and “a jump start” on school for the kids.

“My hope is for my children to be future leaders of this city,” she said. “I left and came back for a purpose that I would hope to bring some good back to this community in my adult years, and I want to raise my children here so they can do the same for theirs.”

For more information on Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, visit their website.

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