A Note from Mr. Handmaker
Dear Friends,
As we prepare to leave for the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to express our gratitude for all the wonderful people who make up the Keystone Community.
To our students, thank you for coming to school eager to learn and grow. Your enthusiasm, your love for learning, and your devotion to doing your best inspire our faculty and staff to be as good as we can be.
To our parents, thank you for sharing your children with us; we all are humbled by your trust and we realize that we are fortunate to work with you and your children.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for the hard work and the care and compassion for our students that you demonstrate daily. You help children become their best selves, and we appreciate all you do.
To our trustees, thank you for your vision and your attention to fulfilling Keystone’s mission. You support the students, families, faculty, and staff of Keystone with your dedication.
Thank you for all you do. Have a Happy Thanksgiving filled with the blessings of family and friends.
With gratitude,
Billy
William B. Handmaker
Head of School
|
|
|
|
On the last day of school before the Thanksgiving break, our campus bubbled with excitement from visitors for the Lower School's Grand Friends Day
|
|
5th graders present roller coasters
|
After weeks of work, the fifth graders presented their roller coasters.
It was a project that invovled math, science, engineering, technology and writing to create a ride and pitch it to a Disney executive.
|
|
|
|
|
Atomic Runway shows off elements
|
Here's a way to learn about the elements: Create a fashion show and have students create their own costumes, research and write their scripts, and team them up so they read each other's work.
|
|
6th graders experience lake, streams, stars and more
|
Over a couple of days, the sixth graders got to walk in the mud of a warm creek, gaze at stars on a beautifully clear night and then bundle up for a chilly and foggy morning.
It was all part of their class trip to New Ulm, about halfway between San Antonio and Houston.
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign language students visit Doctors Without Borders exhibit
|
Students from upper level Spanish and French classes visited "Forced from Home," an interactive exhibit from Doctors Without Borders.
The tour aims to give participants greater insights about the global refugee crisis.
|
|
Hiking Club goes on first trek of the season
|
With some crisp days ahead, it's perfect time for some hiking.
And just in time for the arrival of fall weather, the Middle School Hiking Club recently enjoyed their first hike of the season.
|
|
|
|
|
Little School donates to Food Bank
|
This year, the Little School's Helping Hands program donated 472 pounds of food to the San Antonio Food Bank.
That's enough for 369 meals.
|
|
Upper School students practice gratitude
|
From Mr. Spedding: As part of the advisory program, Upper School students took two Wednesday advisory periods to consider what they were grateful for.
During week 1...
|
|
|
Congratulations to Mr. Stancek
Upper School Math/Science and Middle School Math teacher Mr. Stancek and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed a daughter, Guinevere Rae. She was born Nov. 12 and weighed 7.3 pounds. Mom, Dad and baby are doing great.
|
|
Billy's Blog: From the Head of School
|
|
“
A Republic, If You Can Keep It
”
--Benjamin Franklin
Another round of midterm elections has come and gone, and regardless of how people feel about the results, one response may be a sense of relief that it’s over.
|
|
Important Events and Notes
|
|
There's still time to support the Annual Fund
|
Nov. 16 is the last day of the active phase of the Keystone Annual Fund, but you can still donate. Your donation to thel Annual Fund touches helps maintain school buildings, provides technology and equipment in classrooms, provides teachers' professional development, and much, much more.
Click here
to check out this video for more information.
|
|
Congratulations to Third Grade
|
|
Third Grade was the first class to hit 100 percent class participation in the Annual Fund. As their prize, the students got cupcakes and this picture.
|
|
Family Handbook
If you haven’t already done so, please log on to Renweb (now called FACTS) to take care of the Required Family Handbook Form. This form asks that you acknowledge that you have familiarized yourself and agreed with the terms and conditions of our Family Handbook.
|
|
Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 19-23
School will be closed from Nov. 19-23. Classes resume on Monday, Nov. 26.
|
|
No Communiqué next week
With no school next week, the Keystone Communiqué will not come out on Nov. 23. Look for the next issue Nov. 30
|
|
SAMMinistries Clothing Drive - Nov. 26-Dec. 13
The Foreign Language Club, National Honor Society and 4th Grade Leadership are sponsoring a clothing drive to benefit
SAMMinistries
.
The drive is accepting any type of wearable clothing of any size. Bring your items to Stevens Hall, Room 205.
SAMMinistries is an interfaith ministry dedicated to helping those who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless.
|
|
Picture Day Retakes - Nov. 27
If you didn't get your picture taken in October or don't like the first pictures, this is your chance to retake them.
|
|
Register for Gingerbread Workshop Dec. 1
|
This year's PTO Gingerbread Workshop happens on Dec. 1.
Kit Myers and her Gingerbread Angels will instruct and supervise the artists at work.
This year, there are three building options: barn, house or mini village.
|
|
Junior College Night - Dec. 5
A College Night for 11th graders will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 5.
It begins with dinner in the lunchroom and then continues at 7 p.m. in the Theater for a presentation that covers all aspects of the college application process including a testing calendar, how to research schools, college interviews, financial aid and more.
All juniors and their parents are encouraged to attend this event which kicks off the college search process for the Class of 2020.
|
|
6th Grade Volunteering at Food Bank - Dec. 15
Attention 6th grade families:
The first activity for class families will be a volunteer event on Dec. 15 at the San Antonio Food Bank.
Participants will have an opportunity to work in the San Antonio Urban Farm. Volunteers may work in and between the garden, orchard, or farm. Tasks will vary seasonally but volunteers most frequently aid in planting, transplanting, harvesting, weeding, and mulching.
The volunteering session runs from 8-10 a.m. It's at the Food Bank, 5200 Enrique M Barrera Parkway, near the intersection of State Highway 151 and US Highway 90. If
you're interested, send a note to 6th grade representative Retta Pullman at
retta_pullmann@hotmail.com
with the number of participants from your family.
|
|
Parent Connection Book Club - Jan. 10
Please join Keystone Counselors Erica Shapiro, Alison Raymer, and Keystone parents on
Thursday January 10, 2019 at Lower School Library
for a lively discussion of this book, in which the authors challenge us
not
to leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance…when we can create them. The discussion begins at 8:30 a.m.
|
|
Keystone Night at Spurs game - Jan. 14
|
Get your tickets for Keystone School night at an upcoming Spurs game.
The game takes place Jan. 14, 2019, when the Spurs take on the Charlotte Hornets, featuring former Spur and former NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker.
|
|
|
To purchase Gala tickets or sponsorships,
click here
.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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
.
|
|
Follow Keystone on social media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
