Welcome!

We’re excited to welcome you to PKS – where we put kindness, curiosity, and courage into action!

I’m proud of our school’s commitment to nurturing the global thinkers and doers of tomorrow. Our students develop the mindsets and skill sets necessary to thrive both within and beyond the walls of school, and PKS has become a beacon of dynamic, joyful learning with a strong sense of mission and purpose.

The hallmark of a PKS education is our focus on global competence - the integration of essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication - and ensuring our students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.

We look at global competence as the integration of multiple intelligences:

IQ: The ability to collect, analyze, and apply knowledge and skills

EQ: The emotional intelligence cultivated through self-awareness, self-regulation, active listening, perspective-taking, and relationship management

CQ: The cultural intelligence required for critical thinking, cognitive flexibility, and communication across languages and cultures

The foundation for all we do lies in the sense of belonging we cultivate in every member of our community from the very start. For our students, it’s about giving them a sense of place—a second home—and building their confidence to explore, create, and take action in the world.

For our youngest learners, what may often look like simple fun is, in fact, a carefully crafted pedagogical approach that leans into children’s natural curiosity. Our students grow into optimistic, capable individuals ready to make their mark in the world. We couldn’t be more proud of them!

Our students and graduates have explored subjects as diverse as astrophysics, cryptology, molecular genetics, and politics across the Taiwan Strait. They’ve established bipartisan political action committees, earned top honors in international Chinese language competitions, received commissions for their art, and held leadership positions in civic and advocacy groups. These endeavors are a testament to their ability to thrive across intellectual, artistic, and community pursuits.

The global context of our work reinforces a powerful truth. PKS students have a distinct advantage in a complex and evolving world, and they are poised to meet the future with the kindness, curiosity, and courage that define our shared values.

Onward!

Chris Livaccari
Head of School