China Ready For New World School

Hundreds Seek Beijing Keystone Academy's Unique Education Model

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Dec 15, 2014, 10:30 ET

BEIJING, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year, The Wall Street Journal[1] reported a six-time increase of Chinese students in private American high schools. The report cited the U.S. Department of Homeland Security putting this figure at a little over 4000 Chinese students in 2008 and only 65 students in 2005. These staggering numbers are a testimony to the growing trend of Chinese students' readiness to compete on the global stage. But, parents also recognize and struggle with the side-effects that come with this growing trend – your children live away from home in their most vulnerable teen years; they are also exposed to other cultures, most often, at the cost of losing their own cultural identity. The over 850 people, present at Beijing Keystone Academy's Open House Day, definitely want to avoid these pitfalls. Keystone Academy offers the solution these parents need.

Open House Day drew hundreds of families eager to come to Keystone next school year

Caught In Cultural Undercurrents

"I want my daughter to study abroad but I didn't want to send her yet; she is still very young. I don't want her to forget her Chinese roots," said Zhai Li Cheng, father of a Keystone Academy student speaking at the school's Open House Day, adding, "that is why Keystone Academy is the ideal choice…it provides an international education with an emphasis on Chinese culture and identity." Parents, prospective students and their families visiting the school seem to agree with Mr. Zhai's point of view. Another 150 families already in Keystone's wait-list also feel the same. Parents and families want their children to be closer to them, yet offer them all the opportunities that could afford them a better chance in a highly competitive world.

Keystone Academy: The Model

Weaving the best pedagogical facets of the eastern, western and international educational models, Keystone Academy offers Chinese and expat students and families an opportunity – including a residential program – like none other. For Chinese and international students, Keystone would be an ideal choice because, as a grade 9 student's mother speaking at the Open House Day said, "It offers an international learning environment right here in China." Learning beyond the classroom, and in every aspect of growing as a person also makes the Academy today's choice for a better tomorrow. A few middle school students who shared their first-hand experience at the same event highlighted these very reasons for being proud to be a Keystone student. Sun Xiao Chen from grade 9 appreciated that he is learning to be a responsible independent person whether it is through being a boarding student, or while camping with classmates and teachers. His classmate An Yue Han, meanwhile, valued the many leadership opportunities the school and boarding life offered. Most of all, "It is the people that make Keystone unique," said Liang Xiao Long from grade 9, who, like his friends, values the friendships built, nurturing he receives from teachers and mentors, and the people he connects with in the local community through volunteering or other engagements.

A Chinese student graduating from Keystone would be an asset not only in the Chinese job market that values international academic values and a strong sense of self, but also in the international job market. Whereas for expat students, the school's emphasis on the best of global and Chinese learning methods means a solid academic foundation like no other with a professional competitive edge honed by thoroughly understanding the culture of one of the largest economies today – China. And whether you are a Chinese or an international student, a Keystone education lays the foundation to a cognitively progressive person that can navigate culturally varied societies sensitively and with the critical thinking ability needed for success.

About Keystone Academy: Keystone Academy is a non-profit, philanthropic educational venture governed by a board of trustees. The school blends distinctive traditions in eastern, western, and international education, creating a "new world school" that is academically outstanding and a new model of education in China. At Keystone, we embrace a world that is dynamic and ever changing. We learn from and we learn for this enterprising, global community.

www.keystoneacademy.cn

[1] http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/04/04/turning-american-pitfalls-of-u-s-high-schools-for-chinese-students/

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SOURCE Keystone Academy Beijing