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Learning During Covid-19

Our Definition of Learning

At Keystone Academy, learning is a life-long journey rooted in heritage, outward in perspective and framed by our five shared values. Learning encompasses the discovery of new knowledge, skills, and understanding, allowing for creativity and connections in a local and global context. This journey empowers our learners to develop character and fosters a joy of learning in experiences that occur both inside and outside the classroom.

Reopening Scenarios

Keystone Academy’s initial response to COVID-19 focused on acting promptly after the school’s closure to continue the teaching and learning process for students. As online learning will likely be a reality for some time to come, we need to continue thinking about the quality of our program and to make decisions about what will define online learning at our school now. Here are three learning scenarios that may happen in the 2020-2021 school year:

Distance Learning
Students and teachers work remotely from home and connect virtually using the platforms established for this purpose.

Distance Learning serves several key functions within the recent reality, providing a platform for education when the school campus is closed. Teachers meet students online during the regularly scheduled classes on Live Lessons and at additional times as needed. This scenario is typically associated with higher levels of risk of virus transmission (levels 1 & 2).

Blended Learning
The campus is open, and many students are on campus.

The Blended Learning model is a combination of on-campus face-to-face interactions with teachers who are in Beijing, and virtual Live Lessons from teachers not currently in Beijing. Some teachers and students might be outside of Beijing or China due to government and travel restrictions. Teachers not in Beijing work with a Teacher Partner who supports learning face-to-face in the classroom. This scenario is typically associated with a medium risk of virus transmission (levels 2 & 3).

Conventional Learning
Everyone is back on campus.

When students and teachers are all able to be on campus, we are able to deliver our program in our customary manner or with varying degrees of modification. These modifications are based on the level of risk of virus transmission. Essential elements of Distance Learning are used to support and enhance our program. This scenario is typically associated with lower levels of risk (levels 3 & 4).

Communications from the Head of School

Mr. Malcolm McKenzie has continuously guided the Keystone community since the onset of the corona virus disease pandemic in China.

Revisit his messages in the past weeks.

Read More Recent Letters

School Reopening Guidelines

Primary School
Parent Guide
Middle School
Parent Guide
High School
Parent Guide

Parent Education Videos

More Resources and Guides

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Innovative Learning
Primary Parents Secondary Parents
Keystone Activities Program
Center for Student Development
Residential Program
Health Center

Health and Safety

  • Follow precautionary health procedures Wear a mask in public settings; keep six-feet safe distance from others; wash hands after touching public items and surfaces; and open windows for ventilation three times per day.
  • Keep warm in morning and night Wear warm clothing (coat, windproof jacket) during outdoor activities in the morning. Use adequate blankets as you sleep at night. The large temperature changes your body can experience during this season can have an effect on your health.
  • Respect your limits during outdoor activities and sports Avoid activities with underlying risks (climbing, long-distance hiking, fast cycling, grueling match) unless you are fully prepared for these activities. Do not try things beyond your physical or skill limitations.
  • Avoid foods and beverages that may be unsafe, especially from street vendors or markets When in doubt, drink filtered/bottled water and avoid any food that is not thoroughly cooked. Wash your hands before and after every meal.
  • For many reasons, traveling is still not recommended in this period

Student Handbook On Covid-19 Prevention and Control

  1. Colleagues still in the 14-day self-health observation period. Wherever you are from, if you have returned to Beijing less than 14 days ago, you need to stay home for the self-health observation. During this period, you should report your daily body temperature to the Keystone Health Center through this link. Other symptoms you should pay attention to are cough, shortness of breath, muscle ache, fatigue, headache and sore throat.
  2. Colleagues who are not feeling well. If you feel sick, regardless of whether or not you have a fever, we suggest you stay at home and rest. We encourage you to contact the Keystone Health Center Hotline 1871-0190-387 if you are not sure if you should come to school.
  3. Colleagues who have had close contact with confirmed or suspected cases, or the asymptomatic infected. In this case, you are required to report to CDC and be quarantined for 14 days from the last contact day.
  4. Colleagues whose family member has fever. If you live in the same apartment with him/her, you are not recommended to come to school until your family member has been excluded from COVID-19 infection and fully recovered for more than 3 days.

To prevent the spread of the virus, to avoid cross infection, and to create a healthy and safe working environment, all facilities including classrooms, offices, canteens, etc. are following the requirements of the Keystone Disinfection Guidelines, increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection.

Before entering school, colleagues are required to go through temperature screening and mobile roam history check at the entrance. Only those whose body temperature is normal can enter the school. Colleagues should return home for further observation if found with a high temperature. In this case, please also inform the Health Center by calling 1871-0190-387 .

If health conditions allow, we recommend colleagues use the stairs. Colleagues should try to reduce the number of people on each elevator to less than 6 persons. Please leave enough space when waiting outside the elevator. Please wear a mask in the elevator. Wash your hands before entering the classroom/office when you arrive at your floor.

  1. Surgical masks can effectively block the spread of droplets, which is the main way coronavirus is spread.
  2. Masks must be worn in public places (such as library, canteen) or crowded offices/classrooms. “Crowded” refers to places where more than half of the seats are taken.
  3. Masks are recommended for non-crowded indoor offices and classrooms.

Colleagues who work in school can request for masks from the health centre if your mask is broken or damaged. But employees will need to prepare their own masks when coming to work.

Please suspend or cancel all in-person external meetings and activities until further notice. Unless it’s unavoidable, we don’t recommend holding any form of in-person meetings. Please choose video or teleconferencing as an alternative.
If you must hold in-person meetings, please control the number of participants in the room and use a larger meeting room to ensure low population density (≥6 feet between participants.) When talking face to face, please wear a mask.

No, we do not allow visitors to come in school in this period. In special cases, (e.g. inspector from authority), the visit will be approved by the head of school and reported to the security department in advance.

Please wear a mask in the canteen when picking up food. Sit separately and avoid talking while having the meal. Please avoid social gathering before and after the meal. Do not eat lunch in the academic building.

Please inform the Health Center by calling 18710190387.