with warmth when I heard our Head
of School say, “We salute you,”
because it is the first time that I have
heard a Head of School saluting his
students,” writes grade 8 student,
Wang Zhaotian of the moment he
was listening to Malcolm McKenzie’s
speech at the school’s Dedication
Ceremony. In giving respect and
being respected, a virtuous circle
and cycle of values is already in
motion. This is a collective effort
that David Beare explains best: “I
feel profound respect and gratitude
for the creativity, dedication, care,
intelligence and goodwill of the whole
of the school staff. It is an awesome
thing to see an institution come to
life in the combined efforts of the
professionals who work here: ayis,
teachers, library staff, tradesmen,
curriculum coordinators, cooks,
servers, accountants, assistants, the
Head of School – all play a role in
making Keystone what it is…”
Compassion:
With A Smile
This effort may not always come
easily but it definitely comes with
a smile – a result and a symbol
of the kindness and benevolence
generated
in
a
respectful
environment. “Whenever I see a
residential student smile, it is a
defining moment for me. I worry
that they would not be happy being
away from home. But it is pleasantly
surprising to see the students getting
involved in activities, and enjoying it
with such ease and joy, and always
with a smile.” For Derek Davies,
Director of Activities, the students’
smiles are a compassionate thank
you for his efforts. Cindy Wang,
grade 1 learning assistant, also feels
her students smiling compassion
is what defines her experience at
Keystone, especially when they sang
on her birthday wholeheartedly,
enthusiastically and with big smiles.
Most often than not each person
at Keystone makes an intentional
effort to treat one and all with the
compassion they need and want,
“This was the first day of school,
and I captured a special moment on
my camera,” remembers Shi Mei,
primary school Chinese homeroom
teacher. “The Head of School was
standing at the center of the main
entrance watching as the gates
opened, and teachers and students,
shuttled in by school buses,
streamed into school. I realized that
Malcolm chose that spot so he could
greet students and teachers with a
smile. So to return the smile, I took
my class to his office to say hello
back with a smile.” In many ways,
there are conscious and intentional
efforts by various members of the
Keystone community to spread this
compassion even beyond our gates.
Justice:
Compassion Beyond
Our Campus
Sometimes a smile is not enough
compassion in a world that “is
not fair to everyone,” as grade
8 student Liang Sidi describes.
It is sometimes essential to
extend an act of compassion by,
writes Sidi, spreading our love
and warmth to those who may
not be bestowed with the same
advantages and opportunities as
others. Sidi, like many of his peers
and schoolmates, feels he is able to
commit to promoting a just world
by small acts of compassion in local
communities. For instance, Sidi and
his classmates, supervised by their
teacher, visited a school for special
needs children, and learned to
make clay objects from hearing and
speaking impaired teachers. This
“extraordinary experience” was an
eye-opener to the whole class.
It is experiences such as this that are
defining not only for Sidi, but also for
Keystone as a collective, explains Juli
James, Director of Residential Life
and Global Initiatives. “When our
students hold a child from a local
orphanage, show kindness toward
an animal at the local shelter, or
donate their time, week after week,
engaged in meaningful service
throughout the local community,
our collective sense of justice is
witnessed, and our individual sense
of justice is enhanced.”
www.keystoneacademy.cn
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