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Kozak Korner #21. February 06th, 2026 

| Interim Director's Message

Dear Parents,

It has been a wonderful week as we welcomed all of our students back to campus following two weeks of hybrid learning. Seeing classrooms full again, reconnecting with students in person, and restoring the daily rhythm of school life has helped reestablish the sense of togetherness that defines our school. 

We are also pleased to have continued after-school activities and are looking ahead to the possibility of additional athletic trips later this spring. These opportunities are such an important part of the student experience as well as encouraging teamwork, well-being, and school spirit. 

As a reminder to Ms. Tilney's messages last week, she needed to leave Ukraine for a major surgery that needed to take place in the UK. It is likely the recovery will take several weeks, and she will return as soon as she is able to make the journey. I will be serving at the Interim Director during this time.

Next week, we will have the parent meetings that needed to be rescheduled. Elementary meetings will take place on Wednesday at 3:15, while Middle School and High School will have a combined meeting on Thursday at 3:15. Both meetings will take place in the auditorium. During these meetings I will share some reminders and updates about our Student Code of Conduct. 

Chelsey Zoromski
chelsey-zoromski@kyiv.qsi.org

 

Early Dismissal Expectations

For student safety, all early dismissals must be coordinated through Reception. If a student needs to leave early, parents or guardians should contact Reception before the intended dismissal time.

Please remember:

  • Parents or Guardians must call or email Reception in advance
  • Reception will notify the teacher directly
  • Students should not arrange early dismissal on their own

  • Teachers cannot release students without Reception confirmation

Thank you for helping us ensure every student’s safety and a smooth school day.

| Important Notice: Term 2 Payment

 

Dear Parents,
This is a reminder that the Term 2 tuition payment was due on December 12.

If Term 2 fees have not been paid, students may not be permitted to attend classes.

An official Director's notification will be sent by email next week to those families who have an unpaid balance.

For payment status inquiries, please contact the Business Office at - businessoffice@kyiv.qsi.org.

Thank you.

Kind regards,
KIS Business Office

| Indoor Shoes In The Gym

 

Dear KIS Community,

We would like to remind you that 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 that student 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 everyone.

Key Dates

 Winter - Spring:

  • 13 February - International Night 
  • 11 -13 February - QSI wide Spelling Bee contest
  • 11 February-MSB- Basketball game at Nova-P school
  • 11 February - Elementary Parent Meeting
  • 12 February - MS and Secondary Parent Meeting
  • 13 February - PTO Bake Sale
  • 16 - 20 February - Regional Director's visit
  • 20 February - school half day
  • 23-27 February - February break - no school
  • 8 March - National Holiday - no school
  • 13 - 17 April - Spring break
  • 1 May - National Holiday - no school
  • 2 May - SAT Testing
  • 4 - 8 May - AP Exams
  • 7 May - Art Fest

  • 7-9 May - CEESA MSG Volleyball, Vilnius

  • 8 May - National Holiday - no school

  • 11 - 15 May - AP Exams

  • 14-16 May- CEESA HSG Volleyball, Riga

School Calendar 2025 - 2026

School Calendar 2026 - 2027

Policy and Procedures

 

| PTO & Community Engagement

Dear Parents,

Love is in the air - and so is the smell of something sweet! 💕 As we prepare for our Valentine’s Bake Sale on February 13, we’d love your support.

Whether homemade with love or store-bought and tasty, all treats are welcome. This is a fun way to share your favorite goodies, help create a festive Valentine’s atmosphere, and support our school community.

Please take a moment to complete the participation form - we would be delighted to have you join us and help make this event extra sweet!

Required

Namerequired
First Name
Last Name
Single Choice

All proceeds will go directly to the PTO supporting holiday celebrations and special treats for our students and school.

Thank you for spreading the love,
KIS 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.

| Week Without Walls

 
The image advertises a %22Week Without Walls%22 adventure trip to the Carpathian Mountains, featuring various outdoor activities such as rafting, hiking, and bonfires, along with local activities in Kyiv for those not traveling.

Have Questions About Week Without Walls?

Feel free to reach out to our Athletics Director, Mr. Anatoly Prima at anatoly-prima@kyiv.qsi.org

| Animal Supply Drive

 

Help Sirius Pet Shelter.

My name is Mariia K., and I am a Secondary 4 IB student. I would like to share a new initiative that 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 school lunches.

We are now launching an Animal Supply Drive, where students and families are invited to donate items such as toys, blankets, beds, food, and treats for both dogs and cats. Everyone can participate and help support animals during the winter season.

For Elementary School students, this initiative will take the form of a class competition. The class that collects the most donations will win a pizza party! Donation boxes will be placed in each elementary classroom starting Monday.

For Middle and High School students, donation boxes will be available in the school lobby. If you have trouble finding them, please ask at reception.

The drive will run from Monday, February 9, until the February break, after which all donations will be delivered to the shelter.

While all donations are appreciated, the shelter has especially requested food for sterilized cats and gastrointestinal cat food. Non-perishable human food, such as pasta, buckwheat, and rice, is also very much needed.

We hope many of you will join this initiative and help animals who need our support.

Thank you!

| #CEESA Story

 

Bravo! A Story of Courage and Resilience at KIS

by Anatoliy Prima

Kyiv Intenational School

Published:

 

 

In the heart of Kyiv, where sirens pierce the night and uncertainty lingers in every breath, one word rises above the chaos—a word that echoes through every hallway of Kyiv International School: Bravo.

Bravo to our teachers—everyday heroes who stand tall against the storm. After nights filled with explosions and sleepless hours in shelters, they arrive at school at 8:15 a.m., ready to teach. Some have buried loved ones who fell on the front lines; others have family members serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Yet, they keep going—turning fear into hope, organizing drama productions, sports events, and after-school activities to bring back the smiles stolen by war.

Bravo to our students—children of resilience—who, after nights spent in metro stations or basements, still show up with nearly 95% attendance. They learn under the harshest conditions—sometimes in bomb shelters, sometimes in classrooms, gyms, or even on the sports field. At any moment, they may grab their books and run underground while sirens wail above. Despite power outages, air raids, and damage from night attacks, KIS students keep learning, playing sports, and embracing life.

And yet, amid this reality, KIS achieved the extraordinary. This season, we sent five teams to international CEESA competitions:

  • Middle School Girls’ Soccer in Krakow (with PSI)
  • MS/HS Cross Country in Bucharest
  • High School Speech & Debate in Prague
  • High School Math in Budapest
  • High School Boys’ Soccer in Sarajevo

For some schools, five CEESA trips might seem routine. For us, in Kyiv, under constant threat, it is monumental. It echoes Neil Armstrong’s words on the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Every trip was a leap of faith, a triumph of courage, and a declaration that we will not be broken.

But our bravery doesn’t stop at classrooms or sports fields. Recently, KIS organized a school-wide Marathon—a river of determination flowing through our community. From preschoolers to seniors, parents and students ran countless laps to raise funds for the Ukrainian Army. Together, we collected $3,200, donating to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and supporting KIS Athletics and CEESA teams.

Locally, we created moments of joy amid chaos:

  • A Cross Country Meet with three schools
  • The “Stand With Ukraine” HS Boys’ Soccer Tournament
  • Friendly matches for MS boys and girls
  • Drama production “Will Power”—a spectacular effort involving 42 students and 6 teachers, nearly three months of practice, and three big performances that brought our community together in a celebration of creativity and resilience.

These are not just games or events. They are lifelines—reminders that even under fire, education and teamwork endure.

We are deeply grateful to every CEESA school that opened its doors and hearts to our students, hosting them in family homes. This generosity gave our students something priceless: friendship, hope, and the belief that the world stands with us.

So today, we say it loud and clear:
Bravo, KIS. Bravo, Ukraine. Bravo to every CEESA school.

 

Written by Mr. Anatoliy Prima and published in the CEESA newspaper, which represents over 30 international schools across Europe, this article delivers a powerful message to Europe and the entire world: despite the ongoing war, Kyiv International School continues to live, learn, travel, and grow. It shares the inspiring story of courage, resilience, and unity among our students, teachers, and families, who face daily challenges yet remain committed to education, athletics, the arts, and community service. Through their strength and determination, KIS proves that hope and learning endure even in the most difficult times.

| "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

 

| 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.

If you need to contact the school during an air raid alert, please use the following mobile phone number:
+38-067-477-2918 - Reception

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.