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CHS Hershey

1050 Homestead Rd. Hershey, PA 17033
Monday-Friday | 7 a.m.-6 p.m. | open year-round
Daily family communication via our app
Prioritizes families in Derry Township, Palmyra Area, and Lower Dauphin School Districts*

Welcome to CHS Hershey

CHS Hershey, opened in 2023, offers a unique early learning program where children learn through play, curiosity, and exploration—all at no cost to families. Our Center features state-of-the-art classrooms, an innovation studio, a hands-on STEM garden, and a family success center. We work together with families to support each child’s growth and spark a lifelong love of learning.

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Ages served

Infants

6 weeks to 12 months old

Younger toddler

1 to 2 years old

Older toddler

2 to 3 years old

Preschool

3 to 5 years old

Minimum admissions qualifications

 

Come from an income-eligible family

Be six weeks to 4 years old at the time of enrollment

Have the ability to participate in and benefit from the CHS program

CHS receives many more applications than it can accept. This is due to limited space in our centers and our desire to maintain small class sizes with low teacher-to-child ratios. As a result, meeting the minimum admissions qualifications does not guarantee a child’s enrollment.

The admissions process

Application

Step 1 Submit application Submit the online application and indicate qualified location.
Step 2 Provide documentation We will reach out to gather additional information.

On-site visit

Step 3 Schedule interview If eligible, we will contact you to schedule an in-person interview.
Step 4 Conditionally accepted Following the interview, your child may be conditionally accepted to CHS.

New family orientation

Step 5 Home
visit A Family Success Advocate will meet with your family at your home.
Step 6 Now
enrolled We will start to prepare you for your child’s first day at CHS!

Admissions

Our admissions process is designed to be clear, supportive, and centered on each child’s success. Families complete a brief online application and meet with our Family Success team to discuss goals, learning styles, and support needs; please note our application is not open year-round.

Whole child support

From ensuring children arrive well-nourished and healthy to creating play-based, exploratory learning environments, we support each child’s growth in every way. When children feel safe, seen, and supported, they have the confidence to learn, explore, and thrive.

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Teachers and staff

CHS teachers and staff are experienced, dedicated professionals who understand how to support diverse learners. We work closely with families to ensure every child is surrounded by a team that communicates, collaborates, and celebrates progress together.

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Family success

Every CHS family is paired with a dedicated Family Success Advocate who keeps them informed and helps strengthen the home-school connection. We provide access to tools and resources including parenting information, health-care referrals, job-training opportunities, and more.

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CHS Hershey leaders

Kelly Williams-Firestone

Kelly Williams-Firestone

Kelly Williams-Firestone is the Center Director at CHS Hershey, bringing over 35 years of experience in early childhood education. She is committed to CHS’s two-generational approach and fosters collaboration among staff, families, and the community to create a nurturing learning environment. Kelly is passionate about supporting long-term success for children and finds inspiration in her team’s dedication and the mission of CHS.

Jennifer Viveiros

Jennifer Viveiros

Jennifer Viveiros, the Assistant Director at CHS Hershey, has over 20 years of experience in the education, human services, and non-profit fields. Her passion for early childhood education is rooted in her work with Head Start and Early Intervention, where she helped young learners and families build strong foundations. Jennifer is proud to join CHS because of its deep commitment to nurturing the whole child and empowering families.

Cory Haines

Cory Haines

CHS Hershey’s Family Success Manager, Cory Haines, is dedicated to helping families reach their goals and make the most of the opportunities CHS provides. Before joining CHS, he spent nine years working in adult protective services in Philadelphia, supporting individuals through challenging circumstances. Cory now leads the Family Success team to ensure enrolled children and families receive the support they need to grow and lead fulfilling lives.

CHS Hershey

Address:
1050 Homestead Rd.
Hershey, PA 17033

Phone:
717-995-3005

Prioritized Districts:
*CHS prioritizes applications from children and families who live, work, or attend school in Derry Township School District, Palmyra Area School District, and Lower Dauphin School District.

Each CHS Center works closely with the local school district(s) to support a successful transition to kindergarten.

If your family does not live or work in the priority school districts, CHS still encourages your family to apply as we consider many other aspects of a family’s circumstances to determine eligibility and prioritization.

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Have questions?

Admissions questions? Interested in CHS career opportunities? Contact us to learn more about Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.

Contact us
Catherine Hershey Schools

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School and will be staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© 2025 Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning