On Campus
A Note from Mr. Handmaker

Dear Members of the Keystone Community,

During the 2018-19 school year, Keystone will be engaging in our Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Self Study as a component of our accreditation process. 

Over the course of the year, we will study all aspects of the school with a desire to learn what we do well and where we can improve. Keystone is doing great work now; our goal with the self-study is to look at ourselves closely and make plans for becoming even better in the years ahead. 

Toward that end, we will be surveying students in grades 5-12, faculty/staff, parents, and trustees. We will send you a link to the survey soon, and we hope you will take a few minutes to fill it out.

Thank you for giving us your feedback. We appreciate it. 

With gratitude,

Billy

William B. Handmaker
Head of School
Book tasting inspires reading
Looking for a good book to read? Ms. Tyroff has a great way to try several.

It's called a “book tasting," and it's kind of like speed-dating a bunch of books in a short amount of time.

Seniors complete essential paperwork
As the members of year's senior class work on college applications and head toward the homestretch of their Keystone experience, several of them just registered to vote in their first election.

Mr. Parker brings out the
Jackson Pollock in 4th graders
If every child is an artist, as Picasso once said, then it takes the talent of a skilled art teacher to channel that talent into specific styles.

So art teacher Mr. Parker took his 4th grade students through the process of creating abstract paintings inspired by Jackson Pollock.

Eighth grader helps Jr. Rampage win state hockey tournament
Of all the accolades that Keystone students win, it's safe to say that hockey is pretty far down the list.

So it's a sweet achievement that eighth-grader Jeffrey has made the U-14 San Antonio Jr. Rampage hockey team.

Billy's Blog
There’s something wonderful about being in a PK-12 school, and a couple of days last week strongly reaffirmed this. Over the course of a day, a week, a month, and a year, we have the opportunity to see children in every step of their pre-collegiate educational journey. No matter the division, the children and young adults come to Keystone with purpose and passion, and although this manifests itself differently depending on the age, their devotion to doing their best work and being their best selves is ever present. 

Meet the Faculty
Head of Middle School Theresa Powers
Education: BFA in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design; MFA in Studio Arts from University of CA, Irvine
What did you do before you came to Keystone:  I was Co-Director of New Roads Middle School in Santa Monica, CA
Why do you like working here: I love the people – both the students and the adults!

Important Events and Notes
Annual Fund Coming in October

Did you know that tuition covers only 95 percent of the cost of educating a Keystone student? That's where the Annual Fund comes in, and this year's campaign begins soon. When your class captains reach out to you, please consider supporting the Annual Fund. It supports items such as art, music, technology, staff development and facilities upgrades. This year's campaign has a goal of $350,000 and 100 percent participation.
Please fill out and sign your forms
This year, Keystone has moved to an electronic version of the Parent Handbook and related forms. Please take a moment to review the Handbook, sign that you have done so, and fill out any other forms that are pending.

To do it, go to the Parent Portal on KeystoneSchool.org . Then look on the left side of the ParentsWeb screen, click on "Web Forms." When it loads, review the handbook, or download it. Then scroll down and click the "Yes" button to acknowledge that you have read it and agree to abide by the school's rules and principles.
Keystone merchandise on sale through Sept. 23
The response has been great -- our online store is open through Sunday, Sept. 23.

Choose your items, pay online, and pick up your gear at school. 

Since you're already shopping on Amazon...
Your next purchase on Amazon could benefit Keystone. Yes, if you're like many of us, you spend a lot of time shopping online.

Author, Stanford dean speaking Sept. 25
at St. Mary's Hall

Every Keystone parent should consider attending an event our colleagues at St. Mary's Hall are hosting: a talk on Sept. 25 from Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former dean at Stanford and author of " How to Raise an Adult ."


Taco Tuesday and Bake Sale Thursday

This week, the Foreign Language Club presents two sales:

Breakfast Tacos : Until 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 25. Come score a Bean and Cheese or Potato and Egg taco.

Bake Sale : Noon-2 p.m. Sept. 27. Open only to Middle and Upper school students.
Fifth and Sixth Grade Student-Led Conference Day - Sept. 28

Fifth and sixth graders won't have class on Sept. 28. Instead, they're attending conferences with their eighth period study hall teacher. The conversations are centered on organization and study habits.
Kinder through Fourth Grade - Parent-teacher conferences Sept. 28

Students in Kinder through Fourth Grade won't have classes on Sept. 28 due to Lower School parent-teacher conferences. Childcare will be available during each parent’s conference time in the Lower School Library. It is open for little school siblings, lower school and middle school students.  
Little School - Parent-teacher conferences Sept. 28

Students at the Little School won't have classes on Sept. 28 due to parent-teacher conferences. Childcare will be available to look after kids while their parents are meeting with the teachers.
Grades 7-12: Yes, you will have school on Sept. 28

While students in the lower grades are off on Sept. 28, students in grades 7 through 12 will have a regular day of school.
Parent Connection Book Club - October 3

Please join Keystone Counselors Alison Raymer, Erica Shapiro, and Keystone parents for a lively discussion of  Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Listen , in which author Dr. Wendy Mogel invites us to discover how each age and stage of a child’s life brings new opportunities to connect through language. The event takes place at 8:30 a.m. in the Lower School Library. Here's the flyer. Please RSVP to either araymer@keystoneschool.org  or
College visits this week

For the week of Sept. 24-28, representatives will be on campus from Dartmouth College, Hillsdale College, Kenyon College, Macalester College, University of Miami, University of Richmond, Seattle University, University of St. Andrews, Syracuse University, Tufts University, Tulane University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Alumni in the News
Toya Cirica (Cook) Bell '83 appointed to Rice alumni board
Congratulations to Toya Cirica (Cook) Bell '83 on her recent appointment to the Board of Directors for the  Association of Rice Alumni .


We want to hear from you!
If you have news to share about the students, alumni, faculty or staff at Keystone School, please send it to: etijerina@keystoneschool.org .
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