VOICES

When summer arrives in June and July, many imagine the Keys campus to be still and silent—no students, no staff, no activity. But in truth, our school has been anything but quiet! While students enjoy their well-deserved break, our dedicated teams have been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that when our gates open for School Year 2025–2026, everything is ready to make Keys a haven for quality progressive education.

Let’s take a look at what our operations, admissions, and academic teams have been preparing this summer.

Refreshing Our Campus

This summer, Keys received a refreshing makeover. The focus was on enhancing the exterior of our campus to reflect the warm, engaging environment we nurture inside. These upgrades not only beautify the school but also show the care we invest in creating a space where students, families, and the community feel welcome and inspired.

The most striking change is our newly renovated facade. With modern brown linear accents, the front of the school now boasts a polished, contemporary look while maintaining the approachable, friendly vibe that defines Keys. This update sets the stage for the creative, meaningful learning that happens here every day.

We're also thrilled to announce that Keys is growing! This school year, we’ve opened a brand new preschool location at 844 Balagtas, expanding our commitment to quality early childhood education. This exciting addition allows us to serve more families in our community while maintaining the same progressive, nurturing approach that defines Keys education.

Our new preschool facility has been thoughtfully designed to provide young learners with an engaging, safe environment where they can explore, discover, and develop foundational skills. With the same dedicated teachers and innovative curriculum that our families trust, this location ensures that more children can experience the Keys difference from their earliest educational years.

Strengthening Our Leadership

This year marks an important step in our growth, as we launch an enhanced leadership framework. Teacher Rafe Liboro and Teacher Jonah Zaraspe, who have successfully led the Primary and Secondary Schools for three years, will now be joined by newly appointed Curriculum Heads to further strengthen Keys’ educational foundation.

To ensure progressive teaching methods are applied consistently across all levels, we have designated specific Curriculum Heads:

• Teacher Leah See – Pre-K curriculum development
• Teacher Mocs Javier – Primary School programs
• Teacher Iris Velasco – Secondary School curriculum initiatives

Working together with our Principals, this team will provide clear focus areas: Principals will continue to guide the school’s mission and build strong community ties, while Curriculum Heads will drive innovation in their fields and support teachers in refining instructional practices.

Reimagining Our Library

The library is also welcoming the new school year with big changes. The team is conducting a full inventory to refresh the collection, removing outdated materials and updating resources to better serve student needs.

“We’re reviewing titles that haven’t been used in over five years or no longer meet student needs,” shares Head Librarian Teacher Al. Alongside this, the library is being redesigned to create a more interactive, inviting space for exploration and discovery.

New books aligned with academic goals are on the way, while well-loved programs like book fairs, read-alouds, and author visits will continue. This year also brings fresh initiatives: the “Little Librarian” program, where students take on library roles, and a Library Club to encourage greater student involvement.

“Our goal is to transform the library into a vibrant hub of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration,” T. Al concludes.

Empowering Our Teachers

At Keys, learning never stops—not for students, and not for teachers either. This year, our educators participated in a robust Professional Development Program designed to strengthen instructional practices and student outcomes.

Training highlights include:

• Workshops on classroom management, learning space design, and literacy strategies such as running records and assessment rating
• Subject-specific sessions, including dynamic approaches to Social Studies and intensive ManageBac training for our IB teachers
• Arts team preparation for the Christmas program
• Faculty-wide training on higher-order thinking and the table of specifications for improved assessment design

These initiatives reflect our deep commitment to educational excellence, equipping our teachers with evidence-based strategies that support every student’s growth.

With refreshed spaces, strengthened leadership, a reimagined library, and empowered teachers, we’re excited to welcome our community back to Keys for another year of learning, growth, and innovation.