Keystone Academy Begins Its Journey - First Day of School Filled with Excitement for the Academic Year Ahead

BEIJING, Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- At the stroke of nine on the morning of 1 September, Keystone Academy opened its gates to its first batch of students marking a momentous milestone in the history of the school. The campus came alive as over 100 middle school students and close to 200 primary school students, their parents and a few grandparents, attended the first day of school. Excitement and anticipation could be seen as students queued up to register for orientation, as they smiled at their classmates, as parents greeted each other, and as parents and students were welcomed by the Head of School and faculty. As one excited foundation year student said, "I am ready for school." And another student from foundation year was so excited he showed it with a thumbs up and a big smile. Mr. Zhang, parent of a grade 8 student, said, "It is really exciting today. As with the opening of any new organization there were concerns, but the Keystone team has made it happen." Another parent and Keystone staff, Mrs. Wang, said, "The first day of school is fantastic." Primary and middle school teachers, who had the opportunity to meet their respective students and parents, were equally elated.

It was a proud moment as the Head of School, Mr. Malcolm McKenzie, welcomed the founding batch of students and reminded them that they will form the culture and traditions of the school. Mr. McKenzie also reiterated that, "We are here to work hard and learn. We all believe in high academic standards. But we want to achieve these and also do other things. Like staying fit and doing sports; like enjoying art…like learning how to be good leaders…We want to do this in partnership between parents and teachers, and teachers and students." Middle school student Wang Qi Duan has no doubt that all this is possible, "I met some of my teachers and they are so qualified. I know because I spoke to them and they told me about their past schools, their ideas and plans." But the first week of school is not about putting plans into action, but about understanding the ideas.
Orientation Week

"Powerful ideas lie behind Keystone Academy," said Head of School, Malcolm McKenzie. He listed them as providing "the best of international, American and national Chinese education. All of these will be in a bilingual environment. Keystone is also a boarding school for some students. Most importantly, China and Chinese culture and history are the foundations of our school, starting from our shared values – Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin - drawn from Confucian teachings." Owing to these unique and robust ideas, the first week of school will orient students on these founding ideas and principles. These important lessons will be spread over one week during morning school meetings. Meanwhile Keystone's first residential students also began their journey into understanding the "foundations" of being a boarder, and creating and leading the Keystone culture and community. On their first night away from home boarders engaged in bonding activities to better know their roommates, other boarders and their dorm parents. Juli James, Director of the Residential Program and Global Initiatives said, "We spoke about the significance of their role in shaping the Keystone Residential Program, shaping the entire future of Keystone boarding. We had several activities, like the name game, human scavenger hunt, chicken team building and I heard a lot of laughter. It was a fun first evening for the boarders."

A Second Home
Keystone Academy is not only a home-away-from-home for residential students, but also a second home for all 291 students. As Mr. McKenzie said, "Please think of Keystone as your second home. I want you to be at home with the teachers, be at home within the classroom and around campus." Students - talking and interacting with their classmates, others nose-deep in library books, everyone listening and responding eagerly during their first lessons and some others running down the hallways - seem to have already taken this message to heart. The arrival of students has breathed life into the buildings, made them into a school and given birth to the Keystone community.

About Keystone Academy
Keystone Academy is a non-profit, philanthropic venture governed by a board of trustees. The school blends distinctive traditions in eastern, western, and international education, creating a "new world school" that is academically outstanding and a new model of education in China. At Keystone, we embrace a world that is dynamic and ever changing. We learn from and we learn for this enterprising, global community.

For further Information, please contact: 

Ms. Sabrina Liu, Director of Marketing and Communications

+86.010. 8049.6008
[email protected] 

www.keystoneacademy.cn

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140913/145954

SOURCE Keystone Academy Beijing