Weekly Message from Head of School 2025/5/11-2025/5/16

Dear Keystonians,  

This week, as our DP students were coming to the final stages of their exams and looking ahead to their graduation ceremony in just over a week, many of our primary students enjoyed a week of exciting science-based activities after school.  

In an oversubscribed event on Tuesday—Bright Futures: Science Experience at Keystone—students and families enjoyed hours of engaging demonstrations about everyday science. This fun and popular experience was great preparation for our students as they took the stage in the Primary School Science Fair later in the week.  

The 2025 Primary School Science Fair took over the first floor of the Primary School from Wednesday through Friday, culminating in the closing ceremony on Friday afternoon. It was amazing to see the excitement in the children, not just for their own inquiries, but for those of their peers.  

I was honored to serve alongside other teachers and leaders as a judge for the fair, each day being assigned a small number of projects to examine more deeply. I was so impressed with what I saw. Even though I majored in science in college, I learned a great deal at the fair! I discovered things I had never known before about static electricity, gyroscopic precession, non-Newtonian fluids, volcanoes, and a myriad of other topics.  

Many of the students expertly recited their research, methodology, results, and findings. What fascinated me most, however, wasn’t their prepared and polished expertise (though that was impressive)—it was their answers to the question: “What challenges did you overcome in this project?” For some, it was wrestling control of the project from their (overly?) supportive parents or assembling their posters. For others, it was figuring out how to blend the interests of group members into a coherent hypothesis. I loved hearing students reflect on what was difficult and seeing the confidence in their eyes as they described overcoming challenges by taking risks.  

I also enjoyed talking to students who chose not to participate in the science fair. One had a twinge of regret when I asked why she hadn’t done a project—but then she quickly realized that if she had, she might not have had as much time to explore her classmates’ work. To her, it was “so cool” to focus on and celebrate their achievements. This was another important reminder for us: we don’t always have to be in the spotlight to learn. Learning comes from all directions, and in a community like ours, students just need to show up to find opportunities to grow. This week was a perfect example of that!  

Happy weekend to you all,  

Emily