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This week, we’re proud to shine the spotlight on Dr. Alexys Flora, whose passion, expertise, and dedication help our students thrive every day. Dr. Flora joined Keswick School in 2020 after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Mary Baldwin University. Her journey with Keswick began even earlier as a Level II fieldwork student under longtime Occupational Therapist. Inspired by that experience, she knew Keswick School was where she wanted to build her career. When our former OT pretired after 39 years of service, Dr. Flora proudly stepped into the role and has continued that legacy of excellence. As our Occupational Therapist, Dr. Flora empowers students to build the skills they need to succeed at school, at home, and in the community. From strengthening executive functioning and emotional regulation to supporting sensory processing, motor coordination, and independent living skills, her work helps students gain confidence and independence that extends far beyond the classroom. Her impact reaches across campus. Whether she’s leading the Yellow House YMCA program, providing parent workshops, collaborating with residential staff, or helping strengthen school-wide initiatives, Dr. Flora is committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to grow and succeed. “At Keswick School, I get to collaborate with the best of the best every day and practice occupational therapy in a way so many practitioners wish they could. I feel fortunate to come to work here every day.” — Dr. Alexys Flora Thank you, Dr. Flora, for your unwavering commitment, compassion, and belief in every student’s potential. We are grateful to have you as part of the Keswick School staff! Outside of work Alexys has many hobbies and talents. You can find her running, biking, lifting, knitting, sewing, baking and decorating baked goods and roller blading with her husband! #FridayStaffFeature #KeswickSchool #OccupationalTherapy #StudentSuccess #ExecutiveFunctioning

At Keswick School, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our equine program gives students the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with horses while developing confidence, responsibility, and empathy. Caring for a horse requires patience, consistency, and trust—qualities that help our students grow both on and off the trail. From grooming and feeding to riding and simply spending time in the barn, students learn that strong relationships are built through respect, compassion, and commitment. Horses offer immediate, honest feedback, creating unique opportunities for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal growth. Every ride is more than a lesson in horsemanship—it’s a step toward greater confidence, resilience, and independence. At Keswick School, we’re proud to see our students discover not only what they can accomplish with a horse by their side, but who they are becoming along the way. #KeswickSchool #EquineTherapy #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #TherapeuticEducation #BoardingSchool

This week we are proud to spotlight Alex Dagitz, whose impact on our community has been felt since he joined Keswick School in 2008. Over the years, Alex has served in many roles, including Dorm Counselor, Support Counselor, Shift Supervisor, Director of Residential Life, and now our Program Director. Before coming to Keswick, Alex lived in West Virginia, where he worked as a wilderness guide — an experience that shaped the calm, steady presence he brings to our campus every day. Alex is known for his unparalleled ability to connect with students, think outside the box, and solve problems with both creativity and compassion. Whether supporting a student through a difficult moment or helping staff navigate challenges, he brings patience, wisdom, and confidence to every interaction. His ability to train and mentor staff is one of his greatest gifts. Alex has a unique way of instilling confidence in others while working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure both students and staff are set up for success. He can be found walking many miles per day on campus, doing a wide variety of tasks to keep campus running smoothly. He is a regular horse helper, therapy dog handler, Mandt trainer, and 3-miler run companion, to name a few roles. Outside of work, Alex and his wife are raising their three children here in Keswick along with Delia, one of the school’s beloved canine companion therapy dogs. Thank you, Alex, for your years of dedication, leadership, and heart. #BoardingSchools #TherapeuticBoardingSchools #StaffFeature #FridayFeature

As we start our summer session we are reflecting back on another incredible school year. In June we celebrated one of Keswick School’s most meaningful traditions—our End-of-Year Transition Ceremony. We honored the boys who are taking their next steps beyond Keswick School. Their journeys have been filled with perseverance, resilience, personal growth, and countless achievements. From academic milestones and therapeutic progress to new friendships, leadership, and confidence, each student has a story worth celebrating. To our departing boys: thank you for the impact you’ve made on our community. We are proud of all you’ve accomplished and excited to see where your paths lead next. Remember that you’ll always be a part of Keswick School. Thank you to our dedicated staff and families whose unwavering support makes these transformations possible. Here’s to a year of growth, hard work, and hope for the future. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 🎉 #KeswickSchool #EndOfYear #TransitionCeremony #StudentSuccess #TherapeuticEducation

Months of planning. Weeks in the woodshop. One unforgettable race day. 🏁 Our annual Pinewood Derby is more than just a competition — it’s creativity, craftsmanship, patience, and personality all rolled into one tiny car. From the first sketch to the final coat of paint, students pour their imagination and hard work into every detail. Race day brings the excitement, but the real magic happens in the process: learning new skills, solving problems, encouraging each other, and seeing an idea come to life piece by piece. We love watching our students’ creativity hit the track every year. 🚗💨 #PinewoodDerby #HandsOnLearning #Woodshop #SchoolTraditions #StudentCreativity MakerMindset

Every spring, one of our favorite traditions returns — the Annual 3 Miler. 🏃‍♂️ We celebrated our 21st 3 miler event on campus yesterday. For weeks leading up to race day, our boys train during PE, building endurance, encouraging one another, and pushing themselves to reach personal goals. What starts as a challenge quickly becomes something much bigger: confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a lot of fun along the way. Race day is filled with energy, laughter, determination, and school spirit as students cross the finish line cheered on by staff and peers alike. Whether they’re chasing a personal best or just proud to finish, every boy has something to celebrate. We’re proud of the hard work, perseverance, and positive attitude our students bring to this tradition year after year!

Three cheers for one of our favorite therapy dogs turning 3! 🎉🐾 Every day, Delia brings comfort, calm, confidence, and countless smiles to our students. Whether she’s helping ease anxiety, encouraging connection, sitting beside a student during a tough moment, or celebrating successes big and small, her impact on our school community is impossible to measure. #therapydog #caninecompanions #birthday #boardingschool

The spring pond restocking event on campus is a highly anticipated community event. It’s a significant contribution to the prosperity of our campus ecosystem, and it’s a great opportunity to showcase our student pond and fish experts’ dedication to the cause.

Keswick School’s Career Day was a huge success on campus! After the presentations, the presenters were treated to lunch at the Depot, where students expressed their gratitude and pointed out what they enjoyed most about each talk. Students also gave each guest a handmade pen they had made in the woodshop for the event. The presenters were so happy to receive such thoughtful, well-made gifts. We’re so thankful for these amazing professionals who spent the day with us!

Horseback riding, woodworking, community service, art, and sports are just a sample of the many activities and interests our students experience with us. Our goal is for them to build “islands of competency” that enrich their lives and create new opportunities for personal and social success! #studentlife #therapeuticboardingschool #therapy #community #learning

Although we haven’t seen all of our flowers bloom yet, here are some photos of our beautiful campus from years past. Welcome spring!

Sometimes, it’s okay to be a little silly! Nitro, Tally, Delia, and Blue all play important role in helping our students, especially when it comes to being a tiny bit goofy and relaxing! Who do you think is the silliest of our dogs? #studentlife #therapeutic #treatment #boardingschool #community

December 5th is traditionally celebrated as the Feast of Saint Nicholas (more commonly known as Santa Claus). One of our students who hails from Europe brought with him a Dutch tradition for the day, Kruidnoten. Kruidnoten are tiny crunchy spiced cookies that are a bit like a combination of speculoos and ginger snaps. It is traditionally eaten during Sinterklaas festivities in the Netherlands. We are proud to have a diverse community where each member can share their traditions and experience those of others! #santaclaus #community #international #studentlife #boardingschool

Our campus is a panoramic winter wonderland! Last night we had our first snowfall of the season. #winter #boardingschool #snow #studentlife #community

This Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to consider contributing to Keswick School’s Annual Fund. Because we are a non-profit, independent school, your gift goes directly towards the benefit of our students and program. Generosity from donors like you helps us secure a future in which we can continue to provide vital support to those we serve while also making those services more accessible to students of all backgrounds. You can donate by following the link in our bio! #givingtuesday #giving #community #donate #donor #gift #therapy #nonprofit #boardingschool #studentlife

While working our way towards fall break, our community took time this week to give thanks and celebrate. The past week saw multiple students earned new levels. Yesterday, we came together for our longstanding tradition of a potluck Thanksgiving feast. Staff and students contributed to the meal which was attended by some of our parents and former staff members. Our kitchen team provided the core dishes such as turkey and mashed potatoes making sure our plates and stomachs were full. After some time to digest, the students took the field for our annual Turkey Bowl. It was a high flying game of flag football that came down to the wire with a 33-32 photo finish! As our students begin to depart for break, we want to express gratitude for our students and their families, as well as for our staff. Thank you for all you contribute to our community! #thanksgiving #gratitude #community #studenlife #boardingschool

Keswick closed out its soccer season yesterday with an unforgettable performance against The Waldorf School. This matchup marked the second meeting between the two teams this year. In their first contest — only Keswick’s second game of the season — Waldorf earned a 3–0 victory, exposing a Keswick squad that was still searching for its identity and rhythm. Yesterday’s rematch told a very different story. It became a testament to just how far this group has come. In a fast-paced, high-scoring battle, Keswick earned a 9–7 win, powered by an offensive surge unlike anything seen earlier in the season. The midfielders led the way, each recording a hat trick and providing constant pressure on the attack. Their composure, ball movement, and aggressive mindset set the tone from kickoff to the final whistle. Before the match, the team captains gathered the players for a pre-game message that resonated deeply. They reminded the team how much progress they had made since those early losses — that they were no longer the uncertain group from the beginning of the season, but a confident, united, and hardworking squad. They emphasized that this was a game to “leave it all on the field,” especially for the players transitioning out of Keswick next year. And throughout the match, those words showed. Every player contributed, supported one another, and played with heart. This truly felt like a team win. Keswick opened the season 1–3, facing challenges and tough opponents early on. But the group stayed together, trusted the process, and continued to grow each week. Their season ended on a two-game winning streak — and more importantly, with the team playing its best soccer of the year. It was a meaningful, spirited, and fitting final chapter for this team, and a proud moment for Keswick athletics.

We celebrated Halloween today! With activities like Trick or Treating, a haunted carnival, cookie decorating, and pumpkin carving, our students had a spooky fun time! #studentlife #boardingschool #therapeuticboardingschool #community #halloween

Riding has been a part of Keswick School since the very beginning. Every student who comes to Keswick School learns how to ride. This is one of many unique interests, along with things like drama, music, woodworking, and outdoormanship, that our students have the chance to develop while with us. These interests help support future social interactions by providing inroads with others who have shared interests. They also serve as positive Identity markers for our students. #studentlife #therapeutic #therapeuticboardingschool #boardingschool #horses #equestrian #growth #education #learning #socialskills

Today we held our annual Spring Showcase in which our community has the opportunity to put is artistic talents on full display. From singing to dancing to comedy skits, it was a wonderful show. Congratulations to all of our staff and students who made this such a fun and successful event! #studentlife #music #community #therapeuticboardingschool #boardingschool #talent #singing

We are excited to announce that we have been recognized by @virginialiving magazine as one of the top specialized education schools in Virginia! We are featured in the current March/April issue. #virginialiving #specialeducation #topschool #excellenceineducation #therapeuticboardingschool #therapeutic

Last Saturday, some of our students participated in a Rake-a-thon to support @habitatforhumanity . Service learning is a powerful tool that teaches empathy, compassion, and working for the greater good. We are proud of our students and the hard work they did to help better the lives of others. #servicelearning #service #community #therapeutic #therpapeuticeboardingschool #studentlife #giving #habitatforhumanity