Greetings! Welcome to the fourth edition of the school journal, “Keio Academy: A Day in the Life.” With the arrival of the 2019-2020 academic year, I am pleased to announce a new era. This year will witness a range of bold reforms that are designed to strengthen the students’ educational experience, while presenting a pathway that will prepare all for success at Keio University and other elite institutions.
The purpose of these positive changes is to provide pastoral care throughout the academy’s community. One of the centerpieces of this reorganization is the residential system. Commencing this year, the residence halls will be divided into houses that are nurtured by a Resident Advisor and Head of House. These houses will become the focal point of the boarding school experience. Students will forge a community that respects and supports each other throughout their academic learning, social engagements, and house activities. Academic reform will also be a key element in improving our academy. Strengthening English language skills is the top priority, while upholding the high academic standards that are necessary for entering Keio University.
With all of these beneficial enhancements in store for the academy over the next few years, I am excited to share with you this fourth edition of “Keio Academy: A Day in the Life.” I believe that the events and descriptions in the journal provide a snapshot of the plethora of experiences that make our school so unique and wonderful! Thank you for your continued support!
12 文化部とコミュニティサービス
13 生徒ボランティアによる補習授業（ピアチューター活動）
14 ハウス主催のホリデーパーティー
15 ９年生と教員との昼食会
16 ハウスシステム
17 土曜日プログラム（音楽と美術）
18 -19 運動部活動記録
20 キャンドルウォーク
題字「道」は谷村絋美君（12-I）の揮毫 The cover calligraphy is
Cultural Clubs & Community Service
Peer Tutoring
Holiday Party Sponsored by Houses
Faculty Lunches with the Ninth Graders House System
On August 27, 2019, the Keio Academy campus sprang to life with the arrival of this academic year’s new students. With months of preparation completed and student helpers and staff in place, the academy eagerly welcomed these ninth and tenth grade students with open arms. The 85 new students spent six days acclimating themselves to all aspects of their school environment including boarding, academics, and living in New York.
The students were led through a rigorous schedule of sessions that emphasized independent living and were designed to ease their transition to the academy’s unique educational environment. Various workshops focused on academic success, wellness issues, and navigating life at a boarding school. Throughout the six days, there were also many ice breakers designed to allow the students to get to know each other and to create lasting bonds of friendship. By the end of the pre-entry program, the smiling faces of the new students were a great indicator of future success as they began their first day of class.
On September 4, 2019, the entire school community gathered in the Speakers’ Hall to welcome the new students and celebrate the start of the 2019-2020 academic year. The event began with the procession of excited new students, who took their seats in the auditorium. The ceremony address was delivered by the President, Dr. Townsend. In his speech, Dr. Townsend explained how the academy was undergoing major reforms. A key focal point of these reforms was in the area of boarding with the implementation of a house system. This boarding paradigm vertically integrates all grades into a series of houses, which incorporates commuters as well. The goal is to foster a close-knit community, which achieves harmony through a better sense of self-awareness. The congratulatory speech was given by the President of Keio Gijuku, Professor Haseyama. President Haseyama stated how he fervently wishes that these educational reforms will nurture individuals who can easily navigate and lead in a global society. Professor Kokuryo, a Vice President of Keio Gijuku and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Keio Academy, announced the Sakata Scholarship winners in the senior class. After an uplifting performance of the Keio Alma Mater, the Entrance Ceremony transitioned to a brief orientation session.
On Sunday, September 20, the academy sponsored a trip to Yankee Stadium, the most famous sports venue in the United States. Fifty-seven students went to enjoy a game on a perfect weather day. The students arrived well before the game started, so there was ample time for all to explore and shop throughout the concourses of the stadium. The game was critical for the Yankees. The previous day, they had clinched their first divisional title since 2012 and needed to finish their season strong in order to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The pregame activities featured a ceremony honoring the talented long-time Yankee pitcher, CC Sabathia, who will retire at the conclusion of the season. The pitcher’s entire family participated in this special moment. The Yankees cruised to an early lead over the Toronto Blue Jays and never trailed throughout the game. After a fun filled 8 to 3 Yankee victory, the students happily boarded their bus back to the academy.
It was a crisp autumn day on October 11, as the students gathered for the annual Athletic Day. The goal of the event is to unite the wider school community. Positioned at the beginning of the year, Athletic Day is an opportunity for students to develop personal relationships across grade levels.
In the morning, the students gathered in the gym for the Opening Ceremony. The short introduction included details from student leaders, a video montage, and a brief opportunity for everyone to stretch. Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed themselves throughout the day in a wide assortment of activities including relay races, ball tosses, and the ever competitive tug of wars. The highlight of the day was the cheering competition. Each team was allotted approximately ten minutes to perform a routine set to music. The group cheers were highly choreographed, as it was apparent that each team had spent hours preparing in the weeks leading up to the competition. The intricate performances combined music, dance, and storytelling together in a way that harnessed all of the enthusiasm and spirit that the students had to offer. During the Closing Ceremony, the judges announced the winning teams. Athletic Day concluded with the entire student body enjoying a special ice cream social in the cafeteria!
On October 19, during a warm Saturday evening, the Student Government hosted the annual Ice Breaker Event in the Dining Hall. Held right after dinner, this activity drew a full crowd as this popular event is always widely anticipated. The goal is to bring together the student body in an atmosphere that builds personal bonds and school spirit. The program began with the emcees introducing themselves and disseminating information about how the evening would unfold. The school’s impressive reservoir of talent was on full display, as rock band groups and Zion dance ensembles dazzled and entertained the elated crowd. The Ice Breaker also had a professional quality to it as the academy’s Public Address Group (PAG) expertly handled the lights and sound. Throughout the evening, there was endless cheering and clapping, which resulted in a swelling of pride and sense of community by the end of the event.
After the conclusion of the first quarter exams, students always look forward to their annual Costume Day. Sponsored by the Student Government, this is one of the most anticipated days on campus. Leading up to the event, the main academic building is transformed into a traditional Halloween setting, complete with cobwebs, ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. At the start of the day, students enthusiastically displayed their handcrafted or store-bought costumes. Many costumes were based on characters from books, movies, anime, and video games. Students performed scenes and recreated dialogue based on their characters. Countless pictures and videos were taken to commemorate this event as the entire school community enjoyed Costume Day.
On Friday, November 8, a select group of senior students with their chaperones took an excursion to see one of the hottest musicals on Broadway: Disney’s Frozen. Attending Broadway plays provides our students with the opportunity to see New York City and be immersed in an Englishspeaking environment. The students departed from the school by bus around 3:30pm, after their last class. Upon their arrival in Manhattan, they disembarked and dined at various local restaurants in the theater district. The performance of Frozen showcased fabulous costumes, wonderful songs, and fantastic acting. The students thoroughly enjoyed the show and their Manhattan experience.
Cultural exchanges with other schools are an important component of the experiential learning process at the academy. On November 12, Keio Academy hosted Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) students from New Jersey. Upon their arrival that morning, the PCTI students and chaperones were promptly escorted to the first floor Study Hall. After brief introductions and an explanation of the schedule, PCTI students and their Keio Academy counterparts were split into two groups. The first group remained in the Study Hall and rotated between stations, where they all engaged in origami and woodblock printing activities. The second group of PCTI students went with their Keio hosts to experience a Kendo demonstration. The Keio Kendo Club provided a wonderful tutorial for their new friends, as the PCTI students learned a few basic Kendo moves. For the rest of the day, the visitors attended classes and enjoyed lunch in the dining hall with their hosts. Prior to departing, all participating students posed for group photos and exchanged social media information. Once again, the cultural exchange was a tremendous success, as many new friendships had blossomed.
At the end of November, Keio Academy hosted its annual Parents’ Weekend. Many families attended the multiday event that was packed with activities. The event commenced on Thursday evening with performances by talented student musicians and singers in the Speakers’ Hall. The concert had a very festive atmosphere, as parents were excited to see their children perform.
On Friday morning, Parents’ Weekend began in earnest in the Speakers’ Hall, as the information desk welcomed all parents and distributed schedules. House sessions and group meetings with homeroom teachers started the day. This was immediately followed by classroom presentations. During the sessions, subject teachers described their classes and methodologies, while taking questions from parents. Following lunch, there were individual meetings between parents and teachers.
Late Friday, the parent, teacher, and staff reception was conducted in the Dining Hall, ending with a speech from President Townsend. The crowd then transitioned to the outside entrance of the school’s academic building to attend the Harvest Festival hosted by the Resident Advisor staff. Each house tended its own station, offering a traditional Japanese or American food or beverage including oden, hot chocolate, and s’mores. There was even a food truck providing delicious offerings for those in attendance while the crowd enjoyed the wonderfully carved pumpkins on display. Parents had additional opportunities to meet with the Resident Advisors and faculty throughout the day on Saturday. By that evening, Parents’ Weekend successfully concluded.
コミュニティーサービスは Junior Academic Extension プログラムに含まれ、近隣のコミュ ニティーへのボランティア活動の一環として、2019年度に新たに設けられました。今年度は Amani Public Charter School の行っている恵まれない家庭への玩具を贈るボランティアや、乳癌患者支援 のチャリティーウォークに参加しました。
Cultural Clubs & Community Service
To entice students to get involved in after school programs, the academy hosted an activities fair at the start of the year. The wide selection of clubs and organizations included:
Badminton
Calligraphy
Cheer Dance
Chess-Igo-Shogi
Chorus
Community Service
Fukuzawa Research
Kendo
Math Orchestra Photography
Rock Band
Rugby Science
Tea Ceremony
Zion (a hip hop dance club)
A new Community Service Program was instituted for the 2019-2020 academic year. With its inclusion in the Junior Academic Extension Program, community service was emphasized as a pathway for students to volunteer and give back to the local community. A few examples of Keio Academy students helping others include their participation in the Amani Public Charter School’s Toy Drive and the Breast Cancer Charity Walk.
The concept of “Half Learning, Half Teaching” is an important component of the educational philosophy at Keio Academy of New York. This time-tested tradition at Keio Gijuku states that those who learn first will teach the rest. Administered by the Counseling Department, this tradition is over 25 years old and is defined by a system where peer tutors provide one–on-one academic guidance for students requesting assistance. For the 2019-2020 school year, there were a total of 32 peer tutors for a variety of subjects. In high volume subject areas, multiple peer tutors were deployed to help small groups of underclassmen. Throughout the year, it is typical for the Counseling Department to receive approximately 1,000 requests for assistance, resulting in a hugely successful program!
With the arrival of December, the spirit of the season began permeating throughout campus as the students started preparing for their annual holiday party. This year’s festive event was hosted by the six residential houses and planned by the House Captains. The party took place in the rotunda of the first floor of the main academic building. A traditional Christmas tree, brimming with beautiful student crafted origami ornaments, adorned the first floor. The students were entertained during the event by rock band musical numbers and Zion dance routines. A new feature this year was a Talent Show. Each house sponsored a performance that highlighted the creative and diverse skills of various students. All in attendance enjoyed the event as they sampled seasonal treats and posed for pictures in a photo booth and in front of meticulously created seasonal backdrops. Many joyous memories were made throughout the evening!
Another successful reform instituted this past year was the concept of faculty and staff eating lunch with the students. This traditional boarding school concept of sharing meals as a way to enhance community bonding was established in September, with assigned faculty members dining with the entire ninth grade at reserved tables in the Dining Hall. Every Friday, during the designated lunch period, each participating educator dined with a rotating group of approximately six students. With the focus on conversing in English, students and adults exchanged opinions and ideas on everything from personal and school topics to current events throughout the world. By the end of each lunch period, all staff and ninth graders were satiated with the combination of healthy food and invigorating conversation.
One of the exciting new features of the boarding environment at the academy has been the implementation of the traditional and effective House System. This type of boarding experience has divided the residence halls into six socials that are vertically integrated by grade levels. The goal is to create a sense of belonging within a comfortable home atmosphere. The house system at the academy will be nurtured to create a sense of pride, responsibility, and accomplishment, while also inspiring members to support each other. Recent events undertaken by various houses include a tie-dye shirt activity, game nights, a holiday shopping excursion to the mall, and an outing to Pumpkin Blaze, a local pumpkin carving display. As the house system takes root, there will eventually be friendly rivalries between the houses that will take place in the form of debates, musical competitions, and athletic matches.
One of the signature reforms of the 2019-2020 school year has been the creation of a structured music and art program for juniors (9th and 10th graders). These classes were developed with the intent of creating a world-class boarding school experience at Keio Academy of New York. On a typical Saturday morning, all the juniors engage in the choral aspect of the music program, which emphasizes vocal training. Afterwards, students participate in a variety of art and music classes. Art program offerings include expressionist drawing, printmaking, and still life drawing. The music curriculum is comprised of a brass band, chorus classes, and two levels of orchestra (strings for beginners and advanced). The results of this first year of the Saturday Program have been extraordinary, and plans are in place to expand this going forward.
Keio Academy of New York has a long and proud tradition of athletic success as it has garnered many titles and championships over the years. The academy offers an array of opportunities for athletic participation throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Our teams compete at a high level within the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section One against other American schools located in Westchester County. During the afternoons and weekends, it is common to find Keio’s sports teams engaged in practice on the academy’s state-of-the-art turf field, in the school’s gymnasium, or at neighboring Manhattanville College’s facilities.
The athletic prowess of the academy was once again on display throughout the academic year’s fall and winter seasons. Many teams, such as Girls’ Volleyball and Girls’ Basketball advanced to their sectional tournaments. The Cross Country squad had another fantastic year as three male and three female athletes participated in the New York State Public High School Athletic Championship. Unfortunately, the spring season for all teams was cut short due to the disruptive coronavirus pandemic.
With the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, the world was forced to confront the issue and make adjustments to all facets of life. One result of the pandemic was that Keio Academy decided to transition to distance learning when it was apparent that the virus had infiltrated the New York region. In the midst of the school shifting to distance teaching and students packing, there was a moment set aside for one more honored academy tradition: the beloved Senior Candlewalk. On March 8, the school community gathered together to celebrate the soon-to-be departing seniors. Dressed in their formal attire, the twelfth graders carried roses as they commenced their procession through their school halls one last time as underclass students, faculty, and staff expressed their heart-felt goodbyes. The future graduates and underclass students returned to their homes in the following days and started distance learning. As a result of the continued global impact of the coronavirus, the academy decided to host a virtual graduation ceremony on June 6 to honor the Class of 2020.
