Letter from Leadership: Approach to Curriculum

Dear Families,

One of the many highlights in my short time here at Keys has been working with the Curriculum & Instruction team. Collaborating alongside Betsy, Kelsey, Larry, and Joanna to guide the curricular work that happens at Keys has provided me with valuable insight into how learning opportunities are structured for our students, while also understanding how SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice) practices and priorities are woven into the fabric of our academic program.

The “Our Heart” and “Our Mind” commitments in the Strategic Plan have been helping to drive the work that the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) team has started this year, and the visual below is something that our team created to capture and communicate the learning priorities at Keys. This visual also serves to convey what our team will prioritize when we make decisions this year with regard to the K-8 learning experience, the curricular review work we’ll be doing, and any faculty and staff professional development we will be facilitating.

As partners in your child’s educational journey at Keys, it’s important that you, too, are aware of what drives our curricular work and what grounds our purpose as educators, so I’m pleased to take this opportunity to share this with you. To help you interpret the visual, here’s how each layer connects to your child’s classroom experience:

At the heart of the diagram-and our work- are our students.
Surrounding them are four priorities that anchor classroom learning at Keys:
– SEL/DEIJ: The social and emotional development of our students, alongside our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, is embedded within daily learning experiences
– Curricular anchors:  Standards, frameworks, and research-based guidelines are used to inform lesson design and ensure consistent, high-quality instruction.
– Pedagogical practices: The methods, practices, and approaches our educators use to facilitate learning.
Encircling these priorities are the qualities that characterize instruction at Keys. We strive to ensure that learning is: Aligned & Integrated (with Keys’ mission, values, and priorities) – Relevant & Culturally Responsive – Engaging & Challenging – Intentionally Designed.

At Keys, our curriculum is more than a framework for what students learn—it’s an evolving reflection of our shared values and aspirations. You see this in action on Wednesdays during the Lower School Welcoming and at the Middle School Gathering, in classrooms where our students bring their energy, imagination, and insight into their learning, and very much alive during lunchtime club meetings and recess. Grounded in curiosity, compassion, and critical thinking, we design learning experiences that help our students grow not only as scholars but as thoughtful, caring people.

As we continue this work, our Curriculum & Instruction team remains committed to ensuring that your children’s educational experiences are cohesive, meaningful, and aligned with our school’s mission and values. We look forward to sharing our progress with you over the course of the year and to continuing this collaborative effort toward cultivating both the heart and the mind of each Keys student.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and trust as we bring this vision to life.

Warmly,

Dr. Veal
Associate Head of School for Curriculum, Community, and Culture