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Hi there, welcome to KeyStone.
Do you know what we think?
We think your special student has a special learning style, and unique strengths. At Keystone, we build on those strengths and encourage curiosity. Neurodiversity requires creative teaching styles, unconventional evaluation systems, and appropriate curriculum. In our private setting, our highly effective teachers have autonomy to be creative, innovative, and flexible. Students love coming to our center, the unique kids in our community have friendly learning environments, and our teachers have freedom to move away from state standards that don't serve them--isn't that exciting?
We provide just the right amount of structure to create emotional safety conducive to love of learning, but we also provide freedoms that aren't available in public schools.
We believe your child can thrive in the right environment. Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with the seed, it's just in the wrong soil.
We think traditional post-elementary public schools are good at serving some students, but one size does not fit all. If your student has fallen through the cracks of the system and needs more support, or you anticipate they will not thrive in schools with 400+ students, you can find an oasis with Keystone.
Name, Core Values & Mascot
Character Development
Our focus on whole-person development is a core tenet of the center, so that we have learners not only with strong problem-solving skills, but who can also relate to others. This integration of character development into daily activities will strengthen trust between teachers and students, and create responsible, kind citizens.
Connection
Meaningful Learning
Every student has strengths and areas they have room to grow. We focus on practical social and life skills that will really help them engage in a meaningful way with the world around them, through experiential, multi-sensory, pre-vocational, and training in managing projects. In this way we spark engagement and retention, which produces invested students who are intimately connected to their learning, and are being prepared for life after Keystone.
Growth Mindset
We support a population of students, faculty, families, and community partners to foster connectedness, and we pledge a commitment to an ecosystem of connection and symbiosis. This includes building parent-teacher relationships as substantial evidence shows that parent involvement benefits students, including raising their overall achievement. Our model is rooted in the importance of community, collaboration, and connection.
Cultivating an organization-wide culture that embodies a growth-mindset is a value that frames all that we do, with meaningful metrics and frequent measurement that is not an end-point in itself, but rather a point of reference to nurture growth. A growth mindset and joy-filled environment predicts teacher retention and satisfaction while also predicting student achievement and behavior. Cultivating a growth-mindset for our community is vital because it is in fact one of the strongest predictors of long term success.
"What's with the stacked stone guy?"
We're so glad you asked.
We love this iconic figure made up of stacked stones...it can be traced back to the Arctic regions of Canada. Traditionally, inunnguaq were used as navigation markers by the Inuit people. These markers were used to guide travelers on their journeys across the vast and often treacherous terrain of the Arctic. The stacked stones of the inunnguaq would often be placed at strategic locations, such as on mountain tops or near river crossings, to help people find their way. In addition to its practical use as a navigation tool, the inunnguaq also has a deep spiritual significance in Inuit culture. It is seen as a symbol of unity, strength, and hope. The act of building an inunnguaq requires patience, skill, and cooperation, which are all values that are highly valued in Inuit culture. Whether used as a practical navigation tool or as a symbol of community and strength, the Inunnguac is the perfect symbol for our students and teachers at Keystone. There are no two alike, just as each of our students is unique. The Inunnguac ability to guide and navigate is also an essential aspect of our center's identity as we strive to help our students navigate through their training and guide them towards success. The strength of the Inunnguac is also an important symbol to our center as we believe in building strong, resilient individuals who can overcome any obstacle that comes their way. By choosing the Inunnguac as our school mascot, we hope to inspire our students to embody these values and carry them with them throughout their lives.
Why Keystone
When we were deciding on a name for our center, we wanted something that would represent the values and mission that we hold dear. The word "keystone" has a few different meanings, but the one that resonated with us the most was its architectural significance. A keystone is the central stone at the top of an arch, which locks all the other stones in place and supports the weight of the structure. In this way, it is the foundation and centerpiece of the arch. We felt that this was a perfect metaphor for our center. At Keystone, we strive to be the foundation and centerpiece of our students' training and skill development, providing them with the support and structure they need to thrive. We believe that with the right guidance and resources, our students can achieve great things and become the keystone of their communities. It is our hope that every student who walks through our doors feels empowered and supported to be the best version of themselves.
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