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Kozak Korner #12. November 07th, 2025 

 

| Director's Message

Dear Parents,

"It takes a village to raise a child" is a proverb that means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

This week I would like to highlight the dedication of the many people who work 'behind the scenes' in our KIS 'village' to help our school function successfully and safely. 

In particular, our security guards, who keep our campus safe day and night. An example of this was when the guards on duty were patrolling the school grounds and discovered that our smaller generator caught fire. Their swift action in calling the emergency services and KIS staff averted possible damage to the school building. Please join me in thanking them. 

Also of note currently are the grounds staff who are  expertly handling the seemingly continuous Autumn leaves clean up around the school grounds. Beautiful although the leaves are it is an enormous task to clear them!

So many others too - bus drivers and chaperones, kitchen staff, coffee shop barista, cleaners, front office and business office, admissions, marketing and communications, lawyers, accountants, IT staff, human resources, Parent Teacher Organisation volunteers and Advisory Board members.

With sincere gratitude to every single one, 

Susan Tilney
susan-tilney@kyiv.qsi.org

 

| Dance For Kindness

 

Join Us for the Dance for Kindness Event!

Dear KIS Families,

Are you ready to shine in our Dance for Kindness video? 
If you’ve learned and practiced the dance flash mob at home — and are ready to show your moves — we would love for you to join us for the final rehearsal and filming sessions!

🗓️ Schedule:

  • Friday, November 7: Periods 7 & 8 – Rehearsals & Possible Filming

  • Monday, November 10: Periods 7 & 8 – Filming

  • Wednesday, November 12: Periods 7 & 8 – Filming

📍 Location: Gym

Dress Code: Kozak Colors!
Wear red, white, and black to show your KIS Spirit!

Let’s celebrate kindness together through dance! We can’t wait to see our students (and families who practiced at home!) join in the fun and kindness on the dance floor.

 

Key Dates

November - December:

  • 10, 12 November - Dance For Kindness
  • 12 November - PTO Bake Sale
  • 10-17 November - CEESA HSB Football-Sarajevo
  • 15 November - PTO Wine & Cheese 
  • 19-23 November - CEESA HS Speech & Debate, Prague
  • 19-24 November - CEESA HS Math, Budapest
  • 20-21 November - Professional Development Days - no school for students
  • 26 November - PTO Bake Sale
  • 04-05 December - KIS Drama Premier - WILLPower
  • 10 December - Pre-K and Elementary Concerts
  • 11 December - Winter Festival (tent.)- school half day
  • 12 December - 11 January - Winter Break

School Calendar 2025 - 2026

Policy and Procedures

 
The image features various baked goods and pastries, including cupcakes, cookies, and a croissant, along with a schedule for a PTO Bake Sale event taking place on three different dates in November and December.

| PTO & Community Engagement

PTO Wine & Cheese Evening – Adults ONLY!

Join us for a cozy and elegant evening of great company, fine wine, delicious food and good fun! 🥂

🗓️ Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
🕓 Time: 16:00–18:00 (and possibly longer if the mood’s right 😉)
📍 Place: The Roof – see location here

Enjoy a complimentary sommelier service and a thoughtfully curated wine tasting experience — from crisp whites to bold reds, with a touch of Prosecco to kick things off.

🎟️ Registration Fee: 2,000 UAH per person
👉 Pay at the PTO Shop

Plus:
🎁 A raffle with fun prizes
🎲 Light-hearted games to keep the mood flowing

Please let us know if you plan to join by filling out this short FORM before November 10th — this will help us make sure there’s a cozy spot reserved just for you!

This is an excellent opportunity to dress nicely, relax, connect, and unwind with fellow parents, KIS admin and teachers — we can’t wait to see you there! 

Sincerely,
PTO

Who We Are

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.

| Help `Sirius` Animals To Find A Home

 

Hello KIS,

My name is Mariia K., and I’m a Secondary 4 IB student. I’d like to share my CAS project, which continues our school’s collaboration with the Sirius Animal Shelter. As many of you know, KIS has been supporting Sirius for some time by donating leftover food from our lunches.

Last month, I had the chance to visit the shelter myself and meet some of the amazing dogs there. Sirius currently houses over 3,000 animals—mostly dogs, but also some cats—many of whom were rescued during the war. They are kind, affectionate, and waiting for a loving home.

To help them find one, I’ve created a PDF catalogue featuring a few of the dogs available for adoption (you can access it by scanning the QR code on the posters around school). If you’re interested in learning more about any of them—or if you’re looking for a dog of a specific size, age, color, or personality—please feel free to reach out to me directly at mariia-kudriavtseva@kyiv.qsi.org. I’ll be happy to help you connect with the shelter and find the perfect match.

Here is an online version of the poster, families can scan the QR code to see the dogs currently looking for a family.

Let’s work together to help these wonderful animals find the homes they deserve!

| College and Counseling

 

Secondary 3 and Secondary 4 Students – SAT Testing Opportunities

The image shows a smiling young man wearing glasses and a red backpack, standing in front of a poster advertising the SAT test dates at a school.

KIS is an official SAT testing site, providing our students with the opportunity to take the SAT conveniently on campus.

The SAT is an important step for students planning to apply to universities abroad, especially in the United States and Canada. Taking the SAT early helps students become familiar with the test format, strengthen their university applications, and open doors to a wide range of international study opportunities.

KIS will host the SAT on the following dates this school year:

  • November 8th

  • December 6th

  • May 2nd

If you would like to take the SAT on a date other than those offered at KIS, you may register at another official testing site in Ukraine.

The next available test date at KIS is December 6th, and registration closes on November 21st — don’t miss your chance!

Click HERE to see all SAT registration deadlines and register.

| 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.  

Have Questions About SAT?

Feel free to reach out to our AP Program Coordinator, Ms. Alina Filipchuk at alina-filipchuk@kyiv.qsi.org

| "Empower" Program

 

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.

Have Questions About "Empower"?

Feel free to reach out to our Empower Program Coordinator, Mrs. Alla Titova at alla-titova@kyiv.qsi.org 

| Week Highlights

 
Physical Education at KIS

KIS PE IN ACTION: EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH MOVEMENT

Our high school physical education curriculum has set a goal to finish ten team sports units this year. Students will experience a variety of sports, including lacrosse, soccer, flag football, basketball, volleyball, frisbee games, softball, badminton, and handball

Continue reading about Physical Education at KIS

Fall Festival at KIS

Last Friday, Kyiv International School transformed into a scene straight out of a fall fairytale. Golden leaves, glowing smiles, and a dash of Halloween sparkle set the tone for an afternoon to remember. Families and students strolled between creative activity stations, danced to upbeat tunes, posed in the photo booth, and cheered for winners of fabulous PTO prizes.

Later in the night the atmosphere turned delightfully whimsical with the grand finale — Trunk-or-Treat. Decorated cars, candy-filled surprises, and playful costumes brought pure joy to the KIS campus. 

A big thank-you to our incredible staff, PTO, parents, volunteers, and everyone who joined the fun. The night was a perfect reminder that at KIS, community spirit is always in style.

👉🏻 As was promised, the collection of photos from KIS Spirit Week and the Fall Festival can be accessed HERE

| Integrated Technology Platforms

| How To Contact Us

How to Contact Your Child During the School Day:

If you need to talk to your child during the school day, please contact reception and a message will be delivered to them. Please do not call or text your child directly during the school day.

Contacting School Staff

Staff hours are 8:10am-4:15pm Monday-Friday. If you email a teacher outside of these times you may not receive a response until the following day. We endeavour to respond within 24 hours.