Key artists and works are used throughout the years to promote a more expansive historical and global perspective, as students consider the ways in which art both reflects and shapes culture. Art instruction often interweaves with units of study in other classrooms, affording students meaningful opportunities to develop, expand, and demonstrate understanding across disciplines.

Keys immerses students in the world of literature. Students engage in critical analysis and discussion of texts, learning to articulate well-supported ideas with confidence and clarity, as well as to listen respectfully and respond thoughtfully to those of others. They become deeper readers and writers, able to discern the power of language and emulate the traits of great writers.

Using historical documents, interviews, oral histories, photographs, artworks, and artifacts, our History program challenges students to reconstruct and reconsider the past. At every grade level they are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, weigh evidence, and consider multiple perspectives in the quest for the “whole truth.” Ongoing study of current events challenges students to better understand and engage with a dynamic, interconnected, and global 21st century world.

When students enter our program they choose either a Mandarin or Spanish track. The Mandarin program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts taught through interactive and engaging activities. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Keys School uses the Singapore Math three-step approach – concrete to pictorial to abstract. Instruction challenges students to apply concepts to new contexts and engage in extended exploration and discussion. Time and attention are given to sharing and evaluating one’s reasoning, as well as that of others. By encountering concepts and skills repeatedly, but with increasing complexity, over time, students develop perseverance and flexibility with problem solving. Rather than memorizing isolated facts and procedures, students build skills in critical reasoning and communication, and a deep conceptual foundation.

The Keys Music program is based on the Orff approach, a developmental method that combines music, movement, drama, and speech. Throughout the year students have many opportunities to learn to prepare for concerts, support fellow performers, make and rebound from mistakes, and channel the nerves that can, and do, arise. A goal of the program is to help students to develop confidence in making music, by using their voices, bodies and instruments through a variety of improvisational and structured experiences.

Outdoor Education experiences are a hallmark of the Keys program, remembered long after students graduate. The sense of achievement that comes from facing fears and overcoming challenges is hard-won and persists over time. These excursions build character and foster a deep sense of trust and community. As students experience the excitement and adventure of exploring remote places, they also develop confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for environmentalism.

Physical Education in Middle School focuses on tactical sports skills, strategic game skills and appropriate fitness goals. Students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for team play, and to respect, value, and utilize the different strengths each player brings to the game. Reflecting on personal effort and giving compliments and encouraging feedback, are common practices.

Using scientific equipment and technology to manipulate, observe, test, and model phenomena, Keys students see themselves as scientists engaged in the process of discovery. They explore advanced mathematical relationships integral to scientific investigation, and demonstrate sound research practices, collaborate effectively with peers, and develop presentation skills that harness a variety of media. This approach is intended to model the increasingly interdisciplinary methods used to address the complex questions, issues, and dilemmas of the 21st century.

The Social and Emotional Learning curriculum is designed to develop the self-awareness and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in a school setting and beyond. Middle School students build on their foundation of coping strategies for dealing with stress, peer pressure, conflicts, and decision-making, and continue to delve into topics through reflection, discussion, and project work. This allows them to connect their growing self-knowledge to their academic lives, as they learn what they need in order to be balanced, successful, and inspired individuals.

When students enter our program they choose either a Spanish or Mandarin track. The Spanish program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, classes continue to be interactive and engaging, but the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Through theatre arts work, students develop deeper understanding of themselves and greater empathy for others. Middle School students use techniques such as tableau improvisation, debate, and choreographed movement. Students in Sixth and Eighth grade each stage an annual play, helping them to refine acting skills such as projection, articulation, and focus. By the end of the program, students will have experienced the entire dramatic process-character development, acting, costume creation, set production, and lighting techniques.

Key artists and works are used throughout the years to promote a more expansive historical and global perspective, as students consider the ways in which art both reflects and shapes culture. Art instruction often interweaves with units of study in other classrooms, affording students meaningful opportunities to develop, expand, and demonstrate understanding across disciplines.

Keys immerses students in the world of literature. Students engage in critical analysis and discussion of texts, learning to articulate well-supported ideas with confidence and clarity, as well as to listen respectfully and respond thoughtfully to those of others. They become deeper readers and writers, able to discern the power of language and emulate the traits of great writers.

Using historical documents, interviews, oral histories, photographs, artworks, and artifacts, our History program challenges students to reconstruct and reconsider the past. At every grade level they are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, weigh evidence, and consider multiple perspectives in the quest for the “whole truth.” Ongoing study of current events challenges students to better understand and engage with a dynamic, interconnected, and global 21st century world.

When students enter our program they choose either a Mandarin or Spanish track. The Mandarin program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts taught through interactive and engaging activities. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Keys School uses the Singapore Math three-step approach – concrete to pictorial to abstract. Instruction challenges students to apply concepts to new contexts and engage in extended exploration and discussion. Time and attention are given to sharing and evaluating one’s reasoning, as well as that of others. By encountering concepts and skills repeatedly, but with increasing complexity, over time, students develop perseverance and flexibility with problem solving. Rather than memorizing isolated facts and procedures, students build skills in critical reasoning and communication, and a deep conceptual foundation.

The Keys Music program is based on the Orff approach, a developmental method that combines music, movement, drama, and speech. Throughout the year students have many opportunities to learn to prepare for concerts, support fellow performers, make and rebound from mistakes, and channel the nerves that can, and do, arise. A goal of the program is to help students to develop confidence in making music, by using their voices, bodies and instruments through a variety of improvisational and structured experiences.

Outdoor Education experiences are a hallmark of the Keys program, remembered long after students graduate. The sense of achievement that comes from facing fears and overcoming challenges is hard-won and persists over time. These excursions build character and foster a deep sense of trust and community. As students experience the excitement and adventure of exploring remote places, they also develop confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for environmentalism.

Physical Education in Middle School focuses on tactical sports skills, strategic game skills and appropriate fitness goals. Students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for team play, and to respect, value, and utilize the different strengths each player brings to the game. Reflecting on personal effort and giving compliments and encouraging feedback, are common practices.

Using scientific equipment and technology to manipulate, observe, test, and model phenomena, Keys students see themselves as scientists engaged in the process of discovery. They explore advanced mathematical relationships integral to scientific investigation, and demonstrate sound research practices, collaborate effectively with peers, and develop presentation skills that harness a variety of media. This approach is intended to model the increasingly interdisciplinary methods used to address the complex questions, issues, and dilemmas of the 21st century.

The Social and Emotional Learning curriculum is designed to develop the self-awareness and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in a school setting and beyond. Middle School students build on their foundation of coping strategies for dealing with stress, peer pressure, conflicts, and decision-making, and continue to delve into topics through reflection, discussion, and project work. This allows them to connect their growing self-knowledge to their academic lives, as they learn what they need in order to be balanced, successful, and inspired individuals.

When students enter our program they choose either a Spanish or Mandarin track. The Spanish program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, classes continue to be interactive and engaging, but the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Through theatre arts work, students develop deeper understanding of themselves and greater empathy for others. Middle School students use techniques such as tableau improvisation, debate, and choreographed movement. Students in Sixth and Eighth grade each stage an annual play, helping them to refine acting skills such as projection, articulation, and focus. By the end of the program, students will have experienced the entire dramatic process-character development, acting, costume creation, set production, and lighting techniques.

Key artists and works are used throughout the years to promote a more expansive historical and global perspective, as students consider the ways in which art both reflects and shapes culture. Art instruction often interweaves with units of study in other classrooms, affording students meaningful opportunities to develop, expand, and demonstrate understanding across disciplines.

Keys immerses students in the world of literature. Students engage in critical analysis and discussion of texts, learning to articulate well-supported ideas with confidence and clarity, as well as to listen respectfully and respond thoughtfully to those of others. They become deeper readers and writers, able to discern the power of language and emulate the traits of great writers.

Using historical documents, interviews, oral histories, photographs, artworks, and artifacts, our History program challenges students to reconstruct and reconsider the past. At every grade level they are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, weigh evidence, and consider multiple perspectives in the quest for the “whole truth.” Ongoing study of current events challenges students to better understand and engage with a dynamic, interconnected, and global 21st century world.

When students enter our program they choose either a Mandarin or Spanish track. The Mandarin program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts taught through interactive and engaging activities. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Keys School uses the Singapore Math three-step approach – concrete to pictorial to abstract. Instruction challenges students to apply concepts to new contexts and engage in extended exploration and discussion. Time and attention are given to sharing and evaluating one’s reasoning, as well as that of others. By encountering concepts and skills repeatedly, but with increasing complexity, over time, students develop perseverance and flexibility with problem solving. Rather than memorizing isolated facts and procedures, students build skills in critical reasoning and communication, and a deep conceptual foundation.

The Keys Music program is based on the Orff approach, a developmental method that combines music, movement, drama, and speech. Throughout the year students have many opportunities to learn to prepare for concerts, support fellow performers, make and rebound from mistakes, and channel the nerves that can, and do, arise. A goal of the program is to help students to develop confidence in making music, by using their voices, bodies and instruments through a variety of improvisational and structured experiences.

Outdoor Education experiences are a hallmark of the Keys program, remembered long after students graduate. The sense of achievement that comes from facing fears and overcoming challenges is hard-won and persists over time. These excursions build character and foster a deep sense of trust and community. As students experience the excitement and adventure of exploring remote places, they also develop confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for environmentalism.

Physical Education in Middle School focuses on tactical sports skills, strategic game skills and appropriate fitness goals. Students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for team play, and to respect, value, and utilize the different strengths each player brings to the game. Reflecting on personal effort and giving compliments and encouraging feedback, are common practices.

Our Research and Design class for seventh and eighth graders focuses on learning different approaches to problem solving. In class, students solve real world problems with an emphasis on social impact issues by applying the principles of design thinking – empathizing, iteration, prototyping, empathy maps, and identifying the correct problem.

Using scientific equipment and technology to manipulate, observe, test, and model phenomena, Keys students see themselves as scientists engaged in the process of discovery. They explore advanced mathematical relationships integral to scientific investigation, and demonstrate sound research practices, collaborate effectively with peers, and develop presentation skills that harness a variety of media. This approach is intended to model the increasingly interdisciplinary methods used to address the complex questions, issues, and dilemmas of the 21st century.

The Social and Emotional Learning curriculum is designed to develop the self-awareness and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in a school setting and beyond. Middle School students build on their foundation of coping strategies for dealing with stress, peer pressure, conflicts, and decision-making, and continue to delve into topics through reflection, discussion, and project work. This allows them to connect their growing self-knowledge to their academic lives, as they learn what they need in order to be balanced, successful, and inspired individuals.

When students enter our program they choose either a Spanish or Mandarin track. The Spanish program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, classes continue to be interactive and engaging, but the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Through theatre arts work, students develop deeper understanding of themselves and greater empathy for others. Middle School students use techniques such as tableau improvisation, debate, and choreographed movement. Students in Sixth and Eighth grade each stage an annual play, helping them to refine acting skills such as projection, articulation, and focus. By the end of the program, students will have experienced the entire dramatic process-character development, acting, costume creation, set production, and lighting techniques.

Key artists and works are used throughout the years to promote a more expansive historical and global perspective, as students consider the ways in which art both reflects and shapes culture. Art instruction often interweaves with units of study in other classrooms, affording students meaningful opportunities to develop, expand, and demonstrate understanding across disciplines.

Keys immerses students in the world of literature. Students engage in critical analysis and discussion of texts, learning to articulate well-supported ideas with confidence and clarity, as well as to listen respectfully and respond thoughtfully to those of others. They become deeper readers and writers, able to discern the power of language and emulate the traits of great writers.

Using historical documents, interviews, oral histories, photographs, artworks, and artifacts, our History program challenges students to reconstruct and reconsider the past. At every grade level they are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, weigh evidence, and consider multiple perspectives in the quest for the “whole truth.” Ongoing study of current events challenges students to better understand and engage with a dynamic, interconnected, and global 21st century world.

When students enter our program they choose either a Mandarin or Spanish track. The Mandarin program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts taught through interactive and engaging activities. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Keys School uses the Singapore Math three-step approach – concrete to pictorial to abstract. Instruction challenges students to apply concepts to new contexts and engage in extended exploration and discussion. Time and attention are given to sharing and evaluating one’s reasoning, as well as that of others. By encountering concepts and skills repeatedly, but with increasing complexity, over time, students develop perseverance and flexibility with problem solving. Rather than memorizing isolated facts and procedures, students build skills in critical reasoning and communication, and a deep conceptual foundation.

The Keys Music program is based on the Orff approach, a developmental method that combines music, movement, drama, and speech. Throughout the year students have many opportunities to learn to prepare for concerts, support fellow performers, make and rebound from mistakes, and channel the nerves that can, and do, arise. A goal of the program is to help students to develop confidence in making music, by using their voices, bodies and instruments through a variety of improvisational and structured experiences.

Outdoor Education experiences are a hallmark of the Keys program, remembered long after students graduate. The sense of achievement that comes from facing fears and overcoming challenges is hard-won and persists over time. These excursions build character and foster a deep sense of trust and community. As students experience the excitement and adventure of exploring remote places, they also develop confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for environmentalism.

Physical Education in Middle School focuses on tactical sports skills, strategic game skills and appropriate fitness goals. Students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for team play, and to respect, value, and utilize the different strengths each player brings to the game. Reflecting on personal effort and giving compliments and encouraging feedback, are common practices.

Our Research and Design class for seventh and eighth graders focuses on learning different approaches to problem solving. In class, students solve real world problems with an emphasis on social impact issues by applying the principles of design thinking – empathizing, iteration, prototyping, empathy maps, and identifying the correct problem.

Using scientific equipment and technology to manipulate, observe, test, and model phenomena, Keys students see themselves as scientists engaged in the process of discovery. They explore advanced mathematical relationships integral to scientific investigation, and demonstrate sound research practices, collaborate effectively with peers, and develop presentation skills that harness a variety of media. This approach is intended to model the increasingly interdisciplinary methods used to address the complex questions, issues, and dilemmas of the 21st century.

The Social and Emotional Learning curriculum is designed to develop the self-awareness and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in a school setting and beyond. Middle School students build on their foundation of coping strategies for dealing with stress, peer pressure, conflicts, and decision-making, and continue to delve into topics through reflection, discussion, and project work. This allows them to connect their growing self-knowledge to their academic lives, as they learn what they need in order to be balanced, successful, and inspired individuals.

When students enter our program they choose either a Spanish or Mandarin track. The Spanish program at Keys is designed to build the language skills and social knowledge required to communicate meaningfully and effectively, setting students on a path to strong language acquisition in high school and beyond. As students develop proficiency with the language, classes continue to be interactive and engaging, but the focus shifts to develop advanced grammar concepts. Research projects and presentations immerse students in the history, arts, traditions and current events of various countries and afford them a growing understanding of world cultures.

Through theatre arts work, students develop deeper understanding of themselves and greater empathy for others. Middle School students use techniques such as tableau improvisation, debate, and choreographed movement. Students in Sixth and Eighth grade each stage an annual play, helping them to refine acting skills such as projection, articulation, and focus. By the end of the program, students will have experienced the entire dramatic process-character development, acting, costume creation, set production, and lighting techniques.