Weekly Message from Head of School 2025/09/15-2025/09/19

Dear Keystonians, 

In case you don’t get to the end of my loop letter, I hope to see you Sunday at Viva La KeyFes!  

Throughout my life, transformative learning has never been confined to a classroom. It happened in high school travel programs, on a mountain ridge in Maine during my college orientation, on camping trips with three-year-olds arranged by my daughter’s pre-school, and on week-long expeditions in the High Sierras where we tucked hot water bottles into our sleeping bags. These experiences build a specific kind of confidence and resilience that lasts a lifetime.  

This deep, personal belief was a primary reason I was drawn to Keystone. Experiential learning is not an add-on here; it is woven throughout our curriculum. It manifests in classroom collaborations, grade-level field trips, our outdoor education program, and culminates in the annual trips our 4th-11th graders embark upon—like the ones our 9th-11th graders just returned from this week.  

I am continually amazed by the power of this carefully constructed system to fortify our students. It prepares them for change, fosters movement across cultures, and builds the curiosity and resilience that Keystone is known for.  

One trip stands out: a horse-packing trip in California’s Sespe Wilderness. While California is known for mild weather and beaches, that week in the mountains was bitterly cold. We woke one morning to snow on our sleeping bags. I’ll never forget the feeling of pulling on my cowboy boots—they had frozen solid into blocks of ice that crunched with every step. We were freezing, but we were prepared. Growing up in New England, I was raised with the adage: "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes." You can survive anything if you are well-prepared. 

That day, we worked hard to find a trail out of our snow-covered campsite. The horses were timid, and the humans were uncomfortable. Once we packed up and started moving, one of the students began singing winter songs to lift our spirits—soon, we all joined in. We sang as we rode for hours, distracting ourselves from the discomfort. As the sun rose higher, so did our morale. It was an amazing experience we all carry with us to this day.  

I don’t expect we’ll have anything quite like that on our fall trips, but our students will experience cooler weather. We want children to experience manageable discomfort and learn they can not only survive but thrive. This is a central goal of our program.  

While our high school students are now back with stories to tell, our 4th through 8th graders are in their final weeks of preparation. As the weather turns cooler for their adventures, I’m reminded of that old adage. I am not worried. Our outdoor education partners have upgraded our equipment with thicker sleeping pads and four-season tents designed to keep everyone warm and comfortable.  

There is something amazing about waking up to frost on your eyelashes, cozy in your sleeping bag, and looking up at the stars fading in the light of dawn. I am confident our students will learn to stretch themselves in the best possible way. These experiences will shape their idea of what they are capable of for the rest of their lives.  

Welcome back to our high school travelers, and to our middle and primary school students—get ready for your adventure. I hope it will be one you remember forever. 

Warmly, 

Emily