Keystone International Schools: Empowering Global Citizens Through Education
Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, Keystone International School (KIS) offers a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for international students. Founded in 2011, KIS expanded by adding a Toronto campus in 2018, enhancing the experience for both staff and students. We provide a diverse, student-centered environment that encourages students to critically engage with environmental and social issues while understanding their roles as global citizens. Our rigorous curriculum, combined with extracurricular activities, prepares students to excel in post-secondary educational institutions. Upon graduation, students receive a Canadian diploma, which is globally recognized and provides the opportunity to apply to international universities.
Nurturing Minds, Inspiring Futures: The Journey of Sema Kizilkaya and Keystone International Schools
In May 2024, when Canadian inspectors visited our school, we had a lovely memorial photo shoot with Anna Hall.
Sema Kizilkaya’s life is dedicated to education and shaping future generations. Born in Istanbul, she earned a Marketing Degree from Yeditepe University and an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Vienna.
In 1991, she founded a preschool named after her daughter, Doğa, leading it for 16 years. She then moved to Ottawa to work as an assistant teacher at the Carleton District School Board.
Sema later established Keystone International School (K-12) for expatriate families and Kilittasi School Dual Program (K-8) for Turkish nationals, where she serves as CEO, upholding high education standards.
Sema is also an accomplished author, publishing children’s books like “Hand in Hand,” “Good Morning Tale,” and “Omer’s in Oslo.” She divides her time between Toronto and Istanbul, contributing significantly to international education.
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Welcoming the World: Our Diverse Student and Teacher Body for 2023 -24
Every year, the distribution of our students’ countries of origin changes due to global events. We take great pride in our diversity and warmly welcome students and teachers from around the world.