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Kozak Korner #09. October 11th, 2024

| Director's Message

Dear Parents,

We talk a lot at KIS about accountability and responsibility because we want our students to be empowered. But, what’s the difference between being empowered and being entitled?

Empowerment is about giving children the tools, confidence, and support they need to take charge of their lives. It helps them to:

  • Make choices and accept the results - both positive and negative
  • Develop skills by facing challenges
  • Take responsibility by being accountable

Entitlement, on the other hand, can lead to unrealistic expectations and a lack of appreciation for effort. When children feel entitled, they may:

  • Believe that they deserve rewards and privileges.
  • Lack appreciation for the value of hard work and the contributions of others.
  • Avoid responsibility by blaming others for their mistakes.

So, what can we do to ensure our children are empowered, not entitled?

Encourage Decision-Making: Let your child make age-appropriate choices.

Celebrate Efforts: Recognize not just outcomes but the process that leads to achievements.

Promote Problem-Solving: Help brainstorm, rather than providing immediate solutions

Model Responsibility: Demonstrate accountability in your own actions

At Kyiv International School, we believe strongly that children should feel empowered and believe that this mindset needs to be instilled both at school and at home. Together we can ensure that our Kozaks are empowered, not entitled.

You can always contact us by calling +38 044 452 2792.

Best regards,
Rachel Geary 
rachel-geary@kyiv.qsi.org

| Spirit Week

 

Spirit Week is Here at KIS! 

Get ready to show your school spirit! Join us for Spirit Week with fun themes every day. STUCO is sponsoring some tasty prizes for the most spirited participants.

Wanna take part? It's easy!!

👉🏻 October 28 is Pajama Monday - Wear your comfiest, coziest night time outfit all day!

👉🏻 October 29 is Twin Tuesday - Partner up with another Kozak and match as much as you can (clothes, hair, accessories etc)

👉🏻 October 30 is Ukrainian / Kozak Wednesday - Dress head-to-to in your most patriotic clothing.  You can go with yellow / blue or red / black, depending on what you have. Vishyvankas are also 100% appropriate!!

👉🏻 October 31 is Wacky Tacky Thursday - Mix and match badly on purpose! Horizontal with vertical stripes? Perfect! 

Clashing colors? Yes! If it makes your eyes hurt and your tummy funny, you're on the right track!

👉🏻 November 1 is Costume Friday - Wear your best, most school-appropriate costume! More famous characters from books, movies, or TV shows, less terrifying monsters, please. (Remember the littlest Kozaks!)

Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

SecStuCo is going to keep track of who has the highest level of participation across these five groups: Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, and Staffers

(NOTE: Pre-K & Elementary teachers count their students, but if they dress up, they get counted as 'Staffers.')

Each day, StuCo will tally up the numbers.

At the end of the week, one group (Pre-K, Elem, MS, Sec, Staffers) will have the highest percentage of participation. 

Everyone in that group gets entered in a draw for some food on STUCO!

| Fall Festival

 

Hello KIS Families!

We're thrilled to invite you to KIS Fall Festival on Friday, November 1! It's going to be a fun-filled evening for the whole family, and we can't wait to see you there!

Event Details:

  • Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

  • Where: Cafeteria, Old Gym, Trunk-or-Treat Area

Here's what's happening:

  • 4:00 - 4:30 PM: Got plans? No worries! We'll have playground supervision for the kids. Just make sure to pick them up by 4:30 PM.

  • 4:30 - 5:00 PM: Let's get crafty! Join us in the Cafeteria to decorate your very own bags for the festival.

  • 5:00 - 6:00 PM: The fun continues at the festival stations in the Old Gym - games, activities and more!

  • 5:45 - 6:30 PM: End the night with some sweet treats at our Trunk-or-Treat! 

It's going to be a blast, and we're so excited to spend this special time with you! 

See you there! Costumes welcome!

| Trunk Or Treat At The Fall Fest

Dear Parents,

As we begin planning for the upcoming Fall Festival, we’d love to invite our amazing KIS community to participate in Trunk or Treat! This fun tradition is always a highlight of the festival, and we would greatly appreciate your involvement.

If you’re interested in participating, please let us know HERE.

More details will be provided closer to the Festival date. 

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to celebrating together!

Key Dates

Fall:

  • 21 - 25 October - Fall break
  • 28 October - 1 November - Spirit Week
  • 1 November - Fall Festival
  • 21 - 22 November - Professional Development - no school

School Calendar 2024 - 2025 

Event Calendar

Policy and Procedures

 

| Dance For Kindness

 

Join Us for the Dance for Kindness Event!

Get ready to move for a great cause! We are thrilled to invite all middle and high school students to join our Dance for Kindness event, held in collaboration with 14 other QSI schools worldwide. 

Elementary students are warmly welcome to join the practice sessions with their parents. Please note that adult supervision is required for elementary participants.

Practice Details

  • When: Every Tuesday and Thursday
  • Time: 4:15 - 5:00 PM
  • Where: MPR Room

To join us, please fill out the following participation FORM.

Let’s Spread Kindness Together!

Come, dance, and be a part of something inspiring! No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm! See you there!

 

| College and Counseling

 
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First page of the PDF file: QSIVirtualFairs4thNovember

| "Empower" Lesson Plans

The Empower curriculum integrates the Success Orientations, Social Emotional Learning concepts, and Child Protection principles into individual lessons throughout the year. These lessons will be delivered during a dedicated weekly EMPOWER class time. This approach aims to equip students with a comprehensive set of skills applicable throughout their lives. Specific lessons tailored to each grade level ensure developmental appropriateness. While some concepts may be revisited annually, the lessons will vary based on the students' age. For more information, please see the QSI Empower statement.

Teachers will keep parents informed about the upcoming lessons for their child, and for certain grades, the lesson plans will be accessible in this newsletter. Click on the post below to view the message from the teacher.

| Meet Your School Counselor

To schedule a meeting with Ms. Zoromski, our school counselor, please click here.  Her email is: chelsey-zoromski@kyiv.qsi.org. 

As a reminder, she works with all students in our school to support them academically and emotionally.  

| HS Magazine

 
First page of the PDF file: TheSpecrtum31

Hello, dear High Schoolers!

We are excited to announce the first edition of our monthly magazine, “The Spectrum”! We hope you will embrace the occasional mistake as part of our journey together. 

Happy reading!

| Week Highlights

 

| PTO & Community Engagement

Who We Are

Parent-Teacher Organization

The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), a non-profit group, brings together parents, teachers, and administrators to enhance the school experience for our students. PTO Lobby Shop raises funds to support school events, gifts, and surprises for students, teachers, and staff. Any KIS parent is welcome to join.

Learn more about Parent-Teacher Organization

What is KIS Moms & Dads? 

KIS Moms & Dads is a private Facebook group for KIS parents and the PTO. It's a place to discover ways to get involved in school activities, PTO events, and volunteer opportunities, as well as to share ideas, feedback, and suggestions with the school and PTO. To join, please complete the membership questions.

How to join PTO? 

It's simple - just send an email at pto@kyiv.qsi.org or talk to one of the PTO members at the PTO Shop.

| Integrated Technology Platforms

| Extra Services

 

| Announcements

 

 

We Are Hiring: Substitute Teacher

We are currently looking for a Substitute Teacher to join our team!

Do you know someone who:

  • Has good English speaking & writing skills
  • Holds a teaching certificate
  • Is passionate about education
  • Enjoys working with students in a dynamic international environment

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

For more details or to apply, please contact us at maria-sydorchuk@kyiv.qsi.org

 

English  Tutoring!

Are you looking for a tutor to enhance your child's English language skills? Look no more!

KIS teacher, Ms. Nataliya Rudenko offers:

  • Customized Lessons: Tailored to meet your specific needs and goals
  • Flexible Scheduling 
  • Focus Areas - Elementary, Kindergarten:  grammar, reading, writing, and math!

Why to choose Ms. Rudenko?

  • She is an ESL tutor with 10 years of teaching experience. 
  • Proven track record of helping students achieve fluency. 
  • Passionate about helping students succeed in a comfortable and supportive setting. 

If interested, please contact her at +38 067-665-36-97. 

English For Parents!

KIS is delighted to offer English Classes For Parents! 

Class starts at 8:30 am in Room 204.  

  • Tuesday, Thursday: Beginner learners
  • Wednesday, Friday: More advanced​ learners

Got questions? Please contact: natasha-kuzovleva@kyiv.qsi.org

Please follow the links below to access the Classifieds: 

If you have an announcement that you would like us to publish, please reach out to kozakconnect@qsi.org .