Keystone homepage features student's video
Next time you visit the Keystone homepage , scroll down just a bit and check out a new video. Created by junior Hashim, it focuses on four seniors -- (from left in the photo above) Jack, Isabella, Beril and Mario -- and asks them to share memories about their experience at Keystone.

Take a look at the video and remember some of the many things that make this such a special place.
Upper School students meet with students from Chengdu
Four Keystone Upper School students met virtually Friday with four students from Chengdu Foreign Language School for an hour and a half. 

These students discussed their lives during the pandemic, introduced their communities to one another, and spoke about their plans and dreams for the future as a global community. 

Organized by Alpha Exchange, which helped sponsor a trip for Head of Upper School Mr. Spedding to China last April, students hope that this is just the first step in building a bridge between both schools.
Middle School Fun Day brings activities for 7th and 8th graders
What a fun break for the 7th and 8th graders!

After weeks of intense distance learning, Friday was Fun Day for the students.

9th graders create music video
Congratulations to 9th graders Jasmine and Mihika for their work in putting together a music video they shared with Upper School students this week.

Jasmine provided the vocals and Mihika played piano to the tune of "Inside Out" by Set it Off, with lyrics inspired by Keystone life in distance learning during the pandemic. All of the photos in the video came from Upper School.

Said Head of Upper School Mr. Spedding: "It was a nice art project conceived by two 9 th  graders made possible with just a bit of work on the school’s end, but great work on theirs."

Seniors meet with rising 9th graders
There's no way anybody's going to cancel the annual Senior Appreciation Dinner/9 th  Grade Rising event. It's a long standing tradition where seniors reflect on their Upper School career through speeches and a slideshow that takes them through the years of their Keystone experience.

Seniors held aspects of that ceremony online Wednesday where they got a chance to pass down some wisdom and welcome the current 8 th /rising 9 th graders to the Upper School.
4th graders ask tough questions about school
This week, the student's in Mrs. Vilagi's 4th grade leadership asked Mr. Handmaker some tough, good and necessary questions about school.

The questions made such an impact that Mr. Handmaker wrote a letter to parents to address the issues the students raised. That letter is coming out soon.
Order yearbooks now
Although we are in distance learning mode now, the Yearbook Staff had enough time to complete the book and now it's available for pre-order.

Order by June 1 to guarantee a yearbook, and pick them up at the beginning of next school year.

Those who don't buy a book online in advance risk not having a book available, because they may sell out before distribution next year, said Yearbook sponsor Mrs. Arnold.

Click here or on the image above to order.
Wellness Weekly
From Nurse Penny and Counselors Mrs. Raymer and Dr. Shapiro:

Hello to our Dear Cobra Community,

        Mrs. Raymer, Nurse Penny, and Dr. Shapiro hope that you have had a wonderful last week of April. Here are our wellness and self-care resource selections for this week. Please peruse and enjoy at your leisure.

Nurse Penny’s Picks:

Mrs. Raymer’s Picks:

Dr. Shapiro’s Pick:

Keystone’s Wellness Team remains available by virtual meeting, phone, or email during this period of distance learning for support of students and families. Please do not hesitate to contact us and we hope this finds you and your families healthy and well.

All our best,

Penny, Alison, & Erica
Keystone community responding to pandemic

Members of the Keystone community are living out the school's pillars of Community Involvement and Responsible Leadership by launching or supporting fundraisers to help organizations involved in the pandemic. We'll include them on the Keystone website at: https://www.keystoneschool.org/covid-19-resources . Click on the "fundraising efforts" tab.
Billy's Blog: From the Head of School
“Human beings are bound together across oceans through the spirit of creativity.”
--Tony Ciaravino

Perhaps one silver lining in the COVID-19 cloud has been the profusion of performance art shared online. Although we cannot attend concerts or plays in person, we can enjoy music and theater from all over the world in our homes. In fact, with the number of companies providing access free of charge, we may be able to see and hear more artists than ever before. This raises a few questions. In these difficult times, why do artists need to create and why do audiences demand art? In addition, what lessons can our Keystone students learn from art and artists during this time?

Important Events and Notes
Save the Date: May 22
Students who have been issued an iPad are to return the devices on Friday May 22 between 11 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Please watch your email for a notice from your division head and check next week's issue of the Communiqué for more information on how the dropoff will take place.
This week's morning messages

Every school day begins with a short video from Mr. Handmaker. If you missed any, here are this week's messages:





Keystone part of Big Give Emergency Relief fundraiser
In this unprecedented time, many of you have asked how you can help. All members of the faculty and staff have been working with the goal of helping our students be successful despite the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19.

If you are in position to give back at this time, please consider honoring all of Keystone’s faculty and staff with a generous gift that is most comfortable for you. Your support will go towards Keystone’s operating budget and the school's commitment to academic excellence in this fluid and rapidly-changing situation.

Keystone apparel available online
Classes may take place online, but you can get physical merchandise through Vivroux Sports.


Or visit the company's store at 2222 Breezewood Blvd. in Alamo Heights to shop in person.
Alumni News
Support Keystone while you shop
If you're getting school supplies or adding to your home office from either Office Max or Office Depot , please mention Keystone. As part of the Give Back to Schools program , the stores give 5% of the purchase price of qualifying school supplies in credits to Keystone for office supplies. Be sure to include the school's ID number when you make your purchase. Keystone's school number is: 70100727.
If you're purchasing items from Amazon, please consider supporting Keystone with your purchases and use AmazonSmile. Just designate Keystone as the beneficiary and a portion of your purchases will go to the school.
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