Skip To Main Content

Kozak Korner #18. January 16th, 2026 

| Director's Message

Dear Parents,

I am so proud of every student, member of staff and family who have weathered the storms that this week has showered upon us all.

Please make sure that you carefully read the KIS informer message sent out earlier today advising you that KIS will be closed for the next 2 weeks, according to an urgent order from the Ministry of Education.

We sincerely hope that school will be able to resume on Monday 2nd February, or maybe even sooner if we are fortunate enough that the situation improves significantly and the Ministry of Education makes any other announcements, there will be further regular communications throughout the school closure. 

Teachers will keep you well informed and will of course be available to help with queries and any concerns.

Stay safe and warm,

Very kindest regards,

Susan Tilney
susan-tilney@kyiv.qsi.org

 

| International Night 2026

Dear KIS Community,

We are delighted to announce one of the most beloved traditions of our school year — International Night! This long-awaited celebration brings together our entire KIS community to honor the rich cultural diversity that makes our school truly special.

On Friday, February 13th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, the KIS Gym will transform into a vibrant tapestry of cuisine, traditional attire, music, cultural displays, and our iconic Flag Parade. It is an evening where families proudly share the flavors, stories, and traditions of their home countries — and where we celebrate what unites us as one global community.

We warmly invite all families to participate and represent their country. Whether through food, dress, a cultural display, or simply joining the Flag Parade, your involvement helps make this night unforgettable.

If you would like to take part, please complete THE PARTICIPATION FORM and let us know which country you will represent. Form submissions are requested by January 18th.

If you have any questions or proposals, please reach out to Ms. Olga Kardash at olga-kardash@kyiv.qsi.org.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the beauty, diversity, and unity of our KIS family. We look forward to creating another memorable International Night together!

Warm regards,
International Night Committee

Key Dates

 Winter:

  • 20 January - Elementary Parent Meeting - new dates to be advised
  • 21 January - Middle School & Secondary - new dates to be advised
  • 13 February - International Night
  • 23-27 February - February break - no school

School Calendar 2025 - 2026

School Calendar 2026 - 2027

Policy and Procedures

 

| KIS STUCO

 

The Student Council has been busy making a real impact across our secondary community, and the past few weeks have been especially full of energy and teamwork. Led by President Sofiya S., Vice-President Artem M., Treasurer Andrii L., and Secretary Zoryana K., with outstanding graphic design support from Nikita R., StuCo continues to turn ideas into action.

One of the biggest highlights of the winter season was the warm welcome back from break. On Monday, January 12, students and staff were greeted with a hot cup of cocoa to start the term on a positive note. This event would not have been possible without the truly superhuman contribution of Oxana Grynevych and the Sunnyside Catering Team, who arrived at 6:00 a.m. to help prepare everything in the kitchen. Their generosity and dedication made a simple gesture feel like a school-wide celebration.

Before winter break, StuCo also hosted its second Secret Santa event, bringing together 40 secondary students and staff for a festive gift exchange on the final day of classes. In addition, the launch of the new StuCo Telegram channel—largely organized by Zoryana—has created a new space for sharing updates and building community.

Looking ahead, StuCo will soon recognize student achievement with the Success Orientation Awards for Quintile 2, including raffles and a fun assembly activity. Students who join the Telegram channel will also be entered into a second prize draw.

As the year continues, the council is planning events that fit the realities of life in Kyiv while still bringing people together—starting with:

  • a movie night on January 23,
  • Valentine’s activities on February 13,
  • a Hide and Seek evening on March 6,
  • and a Mafia Night on April 3.

StuCo’s focus remains simple: doing what we can, when we can, to keep school life connected, positive, and fun. 

| "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

 

| PTO & Community Engagement

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.

| 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.