Moments of Connection at Keys

As we head into Winter Break II, I find myself reflecting on just how much connection filled our campus in the days leading up to this pause—and how intentional that connection truly is at Keys.

For me, it began at Skate Night. Winter Lodge was buzzing on both Friday and Saturday evenings, and I loved observing this familiar, yearly ritual again: standing in line, along with everyone waiting for a meal and skate ticket, then stepping inside to the hum of activity. Adults crouched down, tying laces. Small people bundled in coats and mittens waited eagerly to head onto the ice. There was that unmistakable nip of cold-in-your-cheeks feeling that took me straight back to childhood memories of skating outdoors on frozen ponds.

On the ice, our students—helmets in every color imaginable—moved counterclockwise with varying degrees of confidence and flair. Some clutched the hands of older buddies, some carefully found their balance, and some (looking at you, Mr. Quinton!) zipped by with joyful abandon. Parents and caregivers skated alongside their children. Frank’s barbecue was alive with energy. Families gathered along the edges, sharing meals, sipping hot chocolate, warming up before heading back out. It was festive, ordinary, and deeply connective all at once. It was a joy to witness.

And then, on Monday, our Middle School campus transformed—this time for Lunar New Year. Thanks to the thoughtful and visionary planning of Grace Ting and Ying Cui, a full festival came to life at Keys. Families helped decorate the campus, played a chopstick picking game, paper cutting, played games of Jianzi, and taught students the art of traditional calligraphy. Live music filled the air during the Guzheng performance by the Chiffon Fu Guzheng Ensemble, followed by a Lion Dance performed by LionDanceMe. Students watched in delight, feeding red envelopes to the lion, their eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. It was a beautiful day, honoring tradition and celebrating community.

What struck me most wasn’t just the beauty of the celebration—it was what it represented. Here was our community coming together to honor tradition, identity, and belonging. Here was learning that didn’t happen at a desk, but through shared experience, curiosity, and joy. Here was a connection across grade levels.

These moments matter. We need places where we can come together, not just to learn the A, B, Cs, but to eat together, celebrate together, laugh together, and learn about one another’s traditions and rituals. We need spaces where children see that community is something we make—by showing up, by being curious, by honoring one another.

That is what Keys does. It doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because we value and know connection as essential to learning, and because we believe that honoring identities and traditions strengthens the fabric of our school culture.

As you head into Winter Break II, my hope is that you find moments of connection in your own communities—shared meals, joyful gatherings, quiet rituals, and maybe even a little (or a lot of!) randomness and fun. For those celebrating the Lunar New Year, I wish you a happy and meaningful Year of the Horse.

I look forward to welcoming you back for the final week of February, before we gather momentum and head into March together. Until then, thank you for your presence, your partnership, and for helping make Keys the connected, caring, and dynamic learning community that it is.

Happy New Year, and see you soon!

Heather