Kindergarten & International High School Programs in Toronto

Keystone International School, Toronto - Kindergarten & High School:
Keystone International School in downtown Toronto offers both private kindergarten (for 4-5 year olds) and coed high school programs (Grades 7-12), as well as online high school courses & homeschool program for students globally to earn their Canadian High School Diploma. Keystone International Secondary School is a unique and dynamic school which follows the Ontario curriculum combined with a project-based, experiential approach to learning.

Junior & Senior Kindergarten Programs:
- English & French Bilingual inquiry-based & academic program.
- Junior & Senior Kindergarten groups for children ages 4-5 years old.

Kindergarten Curriculum subject areas:

• English Language Arts

• French Language Arts

• Phonics (Learning certain phonetic rules, and letter-sound relationships).

• Reading & Writing (Learning how to write each sound in the alphabet. Sentence building).

• Mathematics (Number sense, experimentation, making observations, investigating a topic further, concepts of time, and using graphs).

• Science (Investigate, ask questions and research.)

• Music (Children sing, play musical instruments and move to the music, develop a beginning recognition of musical notation.)

• Movement (Physical education program).


Elementary School Program - 2022-2023:
• We currently do not offer grades 1 through 6. We are looking forward to grow with our Kindergarten students and offer Grade 1 in 2022-2023 Academic Year. If you would like to be updated, please email us below.


High School Diploma Programs:

- Prepare for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- Continue your high school studies in Toronto with the goal of transitioning smoothly into higher education or university studies in Canada or the USA.
- Small class sizes allow our teachers to tailor the curriculum to the needs of each student. This results in a truly unique education, crafted to the needs and personality of each child.

Junior High School - Grades 7 & 8:

Curriculum
• Students take English, Science, Technology, Math, Social Studies (history and geography), French, Physical Education, Visual Arts, Drama and Study Skills as part of a broad preparation for high school.

• We believe that learning should happen both in and out of the classroom in a consistent manner as part daily life. Students are encouraged to be in charge of their own learning with the guidance and support of their teachers. They select questions which they want to investigate in each subject area;  encouraging their continued engagement based on their individual curiosity.

• The middle school years form an important period in your child's progress toward independence. Students practice collaboration and leadership throughout the day in and out of the classroom. Inquiry based Learning is a dynamic process that builds on students’ natural curiosity about the world in which they live.

• Inquiry-based learning is student-centric; student drives the learning process forward through inquiries, discussions and reflections.

• Students spend more than 7 hours a week in arts and physical education during the middle school years. 

Upper High School - Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12:

• Keystone International School offers a broad high school program that caters to the varied interests and skills of each student. Students are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to choose their pathways in their post-secondary journey, and all students take compulsory Academic/University Preparation courses as well as electives.

• Flexibility & Focus: There are 2 semesters a year. Students take 4 credits in each semester. If needed or desired, students can also take up to 2 credits during the Summer. Classes are 75 minute blocks. 

• Project-based Learning: Students discover new capacities for critical thinking and forming independent judgments. Students become financially literate in the Canadian system, learn to open their own business, use technology to their best advantage, read classics and explore scientific concepts. Classes debate ethical issues in science, history, economics and literature.

• Leadership through Experiential Learning: There are many leadership opportunities for students both in and out of the classroom. Many of the courses provide an opportunity for students to take lead, when students become teachers they also become become independent thinkers while practicing valuable soft skills such as self-reliance, resourcefulness and decision-making.

High School Courses: 

• Grade 9:  English, Mathematics, French, Science, Geography, Visual Arts, Physical Education Communication Technology.

• Grade 10:  English, Mathematics, Science, History, Careers & Civics, Digital Media Art, Physical Education Introduction to Business.

• Grade 11:  English, Mathematics, +6 Electives (Sciences, Social Sciences, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Designing Your Future, Technological Design, Healthy Active Living)

• Grade 12:  English + 5 Electives (Mathematics, Sciences, World Studies & Humanities, Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals, Media Arts, Recreation and Healthy Active Living Leadership).


English Language Enrichment Program for International Students:

• There are five ESL courses (Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) based on the student's level of proficiency in English. Depending on the international student's previous exposure to the English language, his/her level of English is assessed during an interview, and when needed, supplemented with an English Assessment Test. Based on the results, students will be placed in the appropriate level of English class. At this time, we do not offer ESL Level 1.

• Our ESL students will take other subjects such as science and math with non-ESL students, allowing them to emerge in the school culture and improve their English in a class setting.


High School Graduation Requirements:

• 30 Credits: Students must complete; 18 Compulsory Credits & 12 Optional Credits.  

• The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a compulsory standardized test for secondary school students in Ontario who wish to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The OSSLT is written every year in March in all public, private and Catholic secondary schools in the province of Ontario.

If you are reside outside of Canada, you can take the test on the same day proctored at a local school vouched by Keystone International Schools. 

• Community Service: Every student must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).


University Pathway:

• Our Mentoring Program: We work with students individually, to plan for life after Keystone as of grade 9.

• The post-high school planning process (lead by our principal and independent career counselors) empowers each student to assess their own interests & capabilities, and to think independently about the direction of their life after high school.

• On arrival at Keystone International School, each student is given a career assessment, an education plan is then made, and this plan is re-visited on a regular basis. Teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators, along with family and faculty, provide resources and support, which encourages each student to make the best possible choice for life after graduation.

• Each school year, we organize trips to various colleges and universities in order to ensure that our students enjoy the feel of the college campus environment and have an opportunity to speak with fellow students.

• Universities and colleges also visit and meet our students at our campus for information sessions followed by one-on-one meetings.


Online Study Programs & Learning Options:
Students from all over the world can take online courses to earn their Canadian High School Diploma. There are various options to meet each students needs.

• Dual Diploma:  Online Program for students who are attending a high school abroad. Students who are continuing their regular day school can take just a few online courses to earn their Canadian Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

• Homeschool:  Keystone Homeschool Program is designed for students who are independent learners. From Grade 9, students who prefer to continue their schooling online from home, can complete the entire high school program and earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

• Hybrid Program:  Whatever your changing circumstances may be, you can now switch between on-campus and online programs at any time. This hybrid program is designed for students who are currently studying abroad on a full-time basis or are homeschooled and would like the flexibility to change between the programs and even join our campus in Toronto for a school term or a full academic year.

• Virtual Campus / Synchronous learning is essentially is the same as on-campus learning. Classes are conducted live via video conference. Part of the video conference with live teachers consist of live instruction and the rest may be independent or collaborative working period.

Synchronous learning students can:
- Attend live classes of maximum 15 students.
- Follow the course schedule completing each course every 2 months.
- Take a maximum of 2 classes per day.
- Be anywhere in the world with a strong wifi, camera and microphone.
- Switch to on-campus classes if they choose to, in the beginning of each semester.

• Self-Directed / Asynchronous learning is a student-centered teaching method widely used in online learning. It's designed for students who are self-disciplined and like working independently. Students will have the opportunity to engage in class discussions via the discussion boards and interact with one another. Teachers are available to students on an appointment basis. 

Asynchronous learning students can:
- Complete their courses within 4 weeks to 6 months
- Be anywhere in the world with a wifi connection
- Accelerate graduation
- Complete missing credits
- Update grades.