Selecting the right school involves evaluating several key factors to ensure it aligns with your child’s needs and future goals. Here’s a checklist of what you should consider:

Curriculum	Accreditations	Faculty	Credentials
Student – Teacher Ratio	Campus Facilities	Safety and Security	Extracurricular Activities
School Culture and Values	Location and Transportation	Parent Engagement	Communication Channels

Schedule a visit to observe the environment and meet staff. Our school regularly gathers data on parent and student satisfaction through surveys – information which can be shared upon request.

Why Keystone?

Proven Academic Excellence

Kilittaşı & Keystone students are consistently taking part in internal and external assessments, which ultimately help guide our teaching strategies. Our Grade 6 to 12 students take MAP assessments every year so we can track their academic progress and shape our teaching practices to cater to our students’ learning needs. Data gathered through our assessment practices provides us with clear insight into identifying our students’ areas of improvement.

Canadian Curriculum Advantage

Kilittaşı follows the Canadian Curriculum for ELA, French, Physical Education, Visual Arts and Music lessons, offering a world-class learning experience in Istanbul. Kilittaşı Anatolian High School students are simultaneously enrolled in both our Toronto campus and our Istanbul High School, making Kilittaşı a unique school in Turkey that provides the opportunity to earn an official diploma recognised worldwide: the Canadian diploma.

WASC Accreditation – A Global Standard

Kilittaşı & Keystone is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a prestigious U.S.-based accrediting body recognised worldwide. WASC’s comprehensive approach focuses on continual improvement and school-wide quality, providing broader recognition than specific program-based accreditations like IB. This ensures that Kilittaşı & Keystone students receive a high-quality education in a student-centered environment.

Robust Extracurricular Activities

TRIPS

In an era where information is easily accessible, the importance of curriculum-supporting activities and events grows daily to ensure comprehensive learning and the application of knowledge in real life. For this reason, meaningful field trips are organized for each grade based on their learning objectives. For example, our 5th Grade students in the French Preparatory program travel to France annually, while our middle school students participate in the Edinburgh Scotland Science Fair. Here, they have the chance to see firsthand the science activities they learn in the classroom and experience in our laboratories, while also connecting with young science enthusiasts from around the world. Similarly, an annual trip to Canada is organized for our high school students, where they embark on an exciting adventure and continue their education at our campus in Toronto. To nurture our students’ athletic skills, we offer annual winter ski and summer surf camps, which have become a cherished part of our school culture.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

In addition to in-school clubs, our school offers a variety of after-school clubs every year. These clubs, where students combine their interests and skills, are both enjoyable and educational. For the past three years, we have partnered with the Real Madrid Football School. Twice a week, our students hone their football skills and techniques with the guidance of experienced Real Madrid coaches. Through the Theater and Art Clubs, students develop their talents in visual and performing arts, learning to express themselves creatively.

OFFICIAL CEREMONIES AND SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS

Learning motivation is one of the most critical factors to support throughout a student’s educational journey. A student who loves their school and enjoys learning is destined for success. To this end, we organize monthly school spirit days such as Crazy Hair Day, Pajama Day, and International Love Day, events that students eagerly look forward to. Additionally, activities like debates, talent shows, and Junior MUN help foster leadership and self-confidence and are among the students’ favorite events.

Our school, committed to Atatürk’s principles and reforms, conducts official ceremonies with great seriousness and ensures students understand the significance behind each commemoration and celebration.

Proficiency in French

At Kilittaşı & Keystone, French is taught as a second language starting from kindergarten. By the end of 5th grade, students who have already reached native-level proficiency in English transition into an intensive French Preparatory year. During this time, they develop fluency in French and become fully literate in the language. In middle and high school, students continue to advance their French skills and have the opportunity to take the DELF exams at the end of each academic year, officially certifying their language proficiency.

Our Unique House System

The House System at Kilittaşı & Keystone is designed to foster a sense of community, collaboration, and healthy competition among students and teachers. Every student is assigned to one of four houses – Orcas, Caribous, Lynxes or Hawks. This system strengthens commitment and unity across the school by offering leadership and mentorship opportunities. All in-school events and competitions are organized among these four houses.

Healthy Nutrition

At Kilittaşı and Keystone, we implement a comprehensive healthy eating program for our students. All food served at our school is prepared fresh in our kitchen, using seasonal ingredients carefully selected for quality. Meals offered in both the cafeteria and canteen are entirely homemade, crafted with ingredients sourced from trusted local suppliers we have partnered with for many years.

Our high-quality meats come from one of Istanbul’s leading restaurant suppliers, while ethically raised produce from well-known farms forms the foundation of our meals.

For our kindergarten students, we provide homemade morning and afternoon snacks. To encourage healthy eating habits, students are offered unlimited portions.

Parent Teacher Organization

Our PTO is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the community, including students, families, and staff. PTO’s objectives are to facilitate communication among all stakeholders and add enjoyment to the school year for everyone involved. Together, we organize events and activities which rely on the support of the entire community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have IB?

Following a combined Turkish and Canadian dual curriculum program, Kilittaşı Schools is not a PYP or an IB school. The Canadian curriculum focuses on critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and global competencies, preparing students to excel in international settings. At the same time, a Canadian diploma is sufficient for acceptance from the world’s top universities.

What’s the language of instruction?

Certain core subjects (Turkish, Social Studies, and Revolution History etc.) are delivered in Turkish, while other subjects (Science, Math, ELA, Visual Arts etc.) are delivered in English.

What’s unique about 5th Grade?

In 5th Grade, students undergo a special preparatory year that includes 13 hours of French lessons per week. Other core subjects (Turkish, Mathematics, etc.) continue intensively.

How do you handle allergies or other chronic conditions?

The health forms of all our students are filled out by parents every year and submitted to the school nurse. All students are closely monitored. If a student has allergies or a chronic condition, parents only need to inform the school nurse of the student’s specific situation for personalized planning to be made.

Do you offer payment conveniences?

We offer discounts for early registration and full payments made before specified dates.

What measures are in place for student safety?

Our school is protected by security personnel who have known our students well for many years, not a subcontracted company. There are a total of 53 security cameras on our campus, and our school is monitored 24/7. Our civil defense and sabotage plans, approved by the Ministry of National Education, the Canadian Ministry of Education, and WASC, are revised and updated annually. Additionally, our students are insured each year against any potential accidents that may occur within the school.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
info@keystoneschools.com.tr, +90 216 370 4951 or +90 506 399 6957

We look forward to assisting you.

Kilittaşı & Keystone Admissions Team

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