The Keystone Connection

As we near the end of November and approach the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates about the progress we're making in shaping the future of Keystone Local Schools. The work we are doing together – as a district, as educators, and as a community – is something to be proud of, and it’s an exciting time to be a Wildcat!

At the heart of everything we do is our commitment to ensuring that every student is prepared for success. We remain focused on delivering an educational experience that is rigorous, engaging, and meaningful. Our world-class students deserve nothing less than a world-class learning experience, and we will continue working diligently to create the vision and framework necessary to make that a reality.

One of the key initiatives we’ve been focusing on is the development of our Portrait of a Graduate, a vision that will guide us in preparing our students for their futures. As we move forward with the development of our Portrait, we are preparing to begin re-engaging with all of you to ensure that what we have learned thus far this year reflects our values as a school community. We are committed to providing a world-class education, and this framework will be a key component in ensuring that our students are prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Over the past month, I have been so impressed with our students. So many of our students are stepping up in a variety of ways. At the KHS, we’re seeing our students demonstrate leadership by providing after-school club opportunities to our KES students. These clubs not only allow our younger students to engage in fun and enriching activities, but they also give our high schoolers a chance to develop important leadership and mentoring skills.

At KES, we continue to see significant growth in our students’ academic abilities, particularly in the areas of writing, problem-solving, and collaboration. Our teachers are working hard to engage students in more complex, higher-level thinking, which will serve them well as they continue to develop their skills.

Staff at KMS, too, are excelling in providing students with relevant, engaging learning experiences that require critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. It’s inspiring to see students at every level rise to these challenges, and it speaks to the dedication of our amazing staff.

Keystone Middle School students recently held a food drive to benefit the LaGrange Lions Club. As a building, they collected 1,386 canned goods and non-perishable items! Thank you SO much to all who helped make this donation drive a success!

Hosted by Keystone's Vocal Music Director Bethany Pearce, our now annual lip sync battle was filled with fun performances and audience participation! Click on any of the images below to view the competitors performances!

Click on any of the images to view clips of their performance at our Lip Sync Battle!

The students in National Honor Society were excited to welcome 18 new members to their distinguished organization at the annual NHS Induction Ceremony. Students are selected for NHS based upon the four pillars of the organization: character, scholarship, leadership, and service.

Current NHS officers, President Colton Smith, Vice President Marissa Keener, Secretary Lilly Horner, and Treasurer Mallory Skvor presented at the ceremony and spoke about the exceptional qualities that characterize NHS members. Special thanks to these students and to the exemplary work done by advisor Ms. Catanzarito for organizing this ceremony.

Congratulations to these new members on their induction into this group of outstanding and talented students.

Deeper Learning goes beyond memorizing facts and figures. It’s about developing skills that matter most for success in the real world. These include:

1. Mastering Core Academic Content
   Students gain a solid understanding of subjects like math, science, and language arts and learn how to apply this knowledge in different situations.

2. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
   Students learn to ask questions, analyze information, and come up with creative solutions to challenges.

3. Collaboration
   Students work together, share ideas, and learn how to communicate effectively with others.

4. Effective Communication
   Students build skills in writing, speaking, and presenting their ideas clearly and confidently.

5. Self-Directed Learning
   Students take ownership of their learning by setting goals, staying organized, and persevering through challenges.

6. An Academic Mindset
   Students develop a positive attitude about learning, believing in their ability to grow and succeed.

The world is changing rapidly, and our children will need more than just good grades to thrive. Deeper Learning prepares students to:

• Adapt to new situations and technologies.
• Succeed in college or career paths.
• Become thoughtful, responsible citizens in their communities.
  
  

We want EVERY child in Keystone to feel confident in their abilities and excited about learning. By focusing on Deeper Learning, we’re helping students build the skills they’ll need to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to the world. These skills also align with the skills and competencies that have been identified by our staff and community as skills they would like to see our students have when they leave us.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide the best education possible for our students. Please be sure to check out the Curriculum website which can be found on the Keystone website under the curriculum section.

Keystone partners with the Lorain County ESC to provide a parent mentor to our families, Paula Drummer. The primary role of the Parent Mentor is to provide resources and support to families of children with disabilities and school staff. They draw from their experiences to provide staff and families with valuable resources, timely information, and genuine empathy. Ms. Drummer can be contacted with any questions: (440) 324-5777 ext. 1166 drummer@esclc.org. Click on the image to access their November Newsletter.

Finally, as we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my most sincere gratitude to all of you. Entrusting us with the education of your children is a tremendous honor, and we are grateful for the trust and support you have shown us. The partnership between home and school is vital to our collective success, and we are so fortunate to have such a supportive and caring community.

As we close out November and head into December, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, family, and gratitude. Thank you again for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing all the amazing things we will accomplish together in the coming months.