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Kozak Korner #14. November 21st, 2025 

 

| Director's Message

Dear Parents, 

My message this week begins with staffing news. After a lengthy process I am delighted to introduce a new member of teaching staff, Mr. Pablo Rivera, who will join us next week. Mr. Rivera has a Master of Education degree from Kansas State University and joins us to teach 11,12 and 13 year old Science. He will also work with the 10 year old class teaching Literacy. All teachers new to QSI are required to undergo QSI specific training and Mr. Rivera will take this training during next week after which he will take over classes at the end of a unit of study in each relevant class.

The Secondary Geometry class that was being taught by Mr. Jake McGrew will now be taught by Ms. Yulia Vazhka. Ms. Vazhka is already teaching the parallel Geometry class and is well acquainted with the curriculum. With the departure of Mr. Boldosser, Mr. Jake McGrew has stepped in to work with the Admin team supporting students and teachers and this adjustment enables Mr. McGrew to have an additional period to work on some new responsibilities. 

Students and 5 volunteer teachers are currently taking part in 2 CEESA competitions - Speech and Debate and Mathematics. We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing all about their adventures, next week.

Staff Professional Development has been taking place at school yesterday and today. This has provided opportunities to reflect, review, revise and learn and is an invaluable time together. 

Have a lovely weekend and stay safe,

Susan Tilney
susan-tilney@kyiv.qsi.org

 

| Important Notice: Payment Deadlines Before Winter Break

Dear Parents,

This is a kind reminder about the upcoming tuition fee deadlines.

According to QSI policy, students whose Term 1 and Term 2 fees are not fully paid by the respective deadlines will not be able to return to school after the Winter Break.

Please note the due dates:

  • 1st Term: 22 August 2025

  • 2nd Term: 12 December 2025

  • 3rd Term: 27 March 2026

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Business Office at your convenience - businessoffice@kyiv.qsi.org

Thank you for your cooperation.

Kind regards,
KIS Business Office

| PE Class Reminder: Indoor Shoes Required

 

Dear Parents,

We would like to remind you of an important rule regarding the use of our gym facilities:

Students are not allowed to wear outdoor shoes on the gym floor at any time—whether during PE classes or lunch/recess, including MS/Secondary students. Outdoor shoes bring in dirt and moisture, which can damage the gym floor and create safety hazards.

For PE classes, please ensure your child has appropriate indoor athletic shoes. The following footwear is not permitted:

  • Boots
  • Crocs

  • Participating in socks is not allowed

  • Any shoes not designed for sports activities

✅ What to Bring for PE

Thank you for helping us maintain a clean and safe environment for all students.

 

| Charity Fair 2025

 
CharityFair (PDF)

KIS Community — Let’s Spread Kindness Together! ✨

KIS is collecting prizes for the IWCK Charity Tombola as part of the Annual Charity Fair, supporting children across Ukraine.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community and make a meaningful impact.

We kindly ask you to consider donating new items from the suggested list — toys, books, sweets, and small gifts that can brighten a child’s day. Even the smallest contribution can bring joy, warmth, and hope to those who need it most.

Together, we can show that we care.
Together, we can make a difference.

Please bring your donations to the school reception by November 27.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity, KIS Community!

Key Dates

November - December:

  • 19-23 November - CEESA HS Speech & Debate, Prague
  • 19-24 November -CEESA HS Math, Budapest
  • 26 November - PTO Bake Sale
  • 04-05 December - Book Fair Fest
  • 04-05 December - KIS Drama Premier - WILLPower
  • 10 December - Pre-K and Elementary Concerts
  • 10 December - PTO Bake Sale
  • 11 December - Winter Festival
  • 11 December - school half day
  • 12 December - 11 January - Winter Break
  • 12 January - students are back at school

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 Night Highlights

Dear KIS Community,

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents, teachers, and staff who joined for the PTO Wine & Cheese Night. It was truly a special evening - filled with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, great conversations, fun games, exciting prizes, and plenty of memorable moments.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our PTO for organizing such a wonderful event. From choosing the perfect venue to creating a lovely menu and planning every detail, your hard work made the night exceptional.

The photographer has shared the photo memories from the event, which you can view in the folder at this LINK.

Thank you once again for being part of our vibrant and caring KIS community!

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.

| KIS Drama Premiere: WILLPower

 

Here’s a glimpse of just one quarter of our KOZACTORS—the valiant, quick-witted, and hard working ensemble who will bring the Bard to glorious life this December 4th and 5th in the KIS auditorium.

If their portraits charm you, their performances will astonish you.

Gather your friends and family, and come witness a night of courage, comedy, and Shakespearean wonder

“The play’s the thing”—and this one is not to be missed!

| "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

 

KIS Joins Global Dance for Kindness 2025

For many years, KIS has proudly participated in the Global Dance for Kindness, and this year was no exception! Our students enthusiastically learned the moves, attended several rehearsals, and came together to dance as one vibrant community.

A huge thank you to all the participants for their energy, dedication, and spirit - and a special thank you to our dance teachers, who orchestrated the event with creativity and care.

This special dance, held in honor of World Kindness Day on November 13, reminds us to look beyond ourselves - beyond the boundaries of our country, culture, race, or religion - and recognize that we are citizens of the world. Kindness is the common thread that unites us all.

We have also collected the photos for you - please follow the LINK

| Integrated Technology Platforms

| 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.  

| 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.