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Kozak Korner #34. May 22nd, 2026

 

| Director's Message

Dear Parents,

This week we welcomed Dr. Karen Hall, President of QSI, and her husband Tim to our campus. They had opportunities to meet with several members of the community and Tim taught some Science classes. Students were mesmerised as he enthusiastically shared his passions.

Mr. Luke Woodruff has been with us all week and he will be at school for a few days next week too. Ukraine has a special place in Luke's heart which is so apparent whenever he visits. Preparations are underway as we transition to the incoming Administration team over the next few weeks, in readiness for the 2026-27 academic year.

CEESA events have concluded for this school year and our students continued to represent KIS with pride and determination. We would like to thank CEESA member schools for their support throughout the year. In particular thanks to those families who voluntarily opened up their homes as host families allowing KIS students to truly experience the CEESA spirit as well as helping to reduce costs for KIS families. Looking forward to next year when KIS will be invited to CEESA events.

What a stunning spectacle on Thursday as we celebrated Vyshyvanka Day. Students, parents and staff wore beautiful, traditional, intricately embroidered shirts and dresses. Flower garlands adorned heads, colourful traditional beads hung around necks.

Upcoming events:

  • International Night on 23rd
  • Middle School Band Concert 26th
  • StuCo elections 29th
  • Week without Walls 2nd to 5th June
  • Elementary concerts 11th June
  • Secondary 'Water War' 11th June
  • Secondary 4 Graduation ceremony 13th June

Have a lovely, restful and safe weekend, 

Very kindest regards,

Ms. Susan Tilney
susan-tilney@kyiv.qsi.org

 

Key Dates

May - June:

  • 23 May - International Night & Open House

  • 26 May - MS Band Concert

  • 29 May - STUCO Elections

  • 2-5 June - MS WWW

  • 3 June - PTO Bake Sale

  • 11 June - PTO Bake Sale

  • 11 June - Summer Concerts

  • 11 June - Secondary 'Water War' 

  • 13 June - Class 2026 Graduation (Sec IV)

  • 18 June - Last Day of School - Half day

School Calendar 2025 - 2026School Calendar 2026 - 2027
 

| Meet Our Middle School and Secondary Academic Coordinator starting 2026-2027

My name is Paul Hodgson, and I am originally from Washington in the North of England. Although a Geordie by birth, I studied, trained and spent many years teaching in and around Greater Manchester, until moving to Ukraine in 2018. This is something I have never looked back on, and I consider Kyiv to be my home - I now live here with my wife and extended Ukrainian family. I hope to bring wide-ranging experience in education to benefit KIS and I am very much looking forward to joining the team in August. As the incoming Academic Co-ordinator of Secondary and Middle School, I know I will be deeply involved in helping our students to achieve, and supporting our staff to provide the most effective teaching and learning experiences. I am a keen Newcastle United fan and enjoy playing football myself, when not studying Ukrainian language. I also enjoy music and film, guitar and photography, cooking and developing my skills in the kitchen. 

| International Night 2026 This Saturday!

InternationalNight2026 (PDF)

🌍 KIS International Night 2026 – A Celebration of Community, Culture, and Connection

Dear KIS Community,

We are delighted to invite you to one of the most anticipated events of the year — KIS International Night 2026!

International Night is more than just an event — it’s a chance to come together, celebrate our cultures, and experience the sense of belonging that defines KIS. 

📅 Date: Saturday, May 23rd
📍 Location: Kyiv International School
⏰ Time: 16:00 - 19:00

Bring your family, your friends, and your appetite — there will be plenty of food, fun, and unforgettable moments!

| KIS Middle School Band Concert: You're Invited!

 

Dear KIS Students, Staff, and Parents/Guardians of Middle School Band Students,

You are warmly invited to attend the KIS Middle School Band Concert on Tuesday, May 26 from 13:30–14:15 in the KIS Auditorium.

At this concert, our 12YO Band, both 13YO Bands, and our after-school program, Kozak Ensemble, will showcase the musical skills and growth they have developed throughout the year. This is the first band concert that has happened at KIS in years, and these students have grown a lot, going from not knowing how to put their instruments together to now being able to perform for an audience! We are excited to share their hard work and performances with the KIS community.

The musical selections will include:

12YO Band
• With Honor and Praise!

13YO (Tues/Fri) Band
• Lightly Row
• Petite March

13YO (Mon/Thurs) Band
• Alpha Overture
• Rock-It
• Yuki (Snow)

After School Kozak Ensemble
• Great Beginnings
• Tambora!

We hope you can join us to celebrate the dedication, effort, and musical growth these students have shown over the course of the year.

As audience members, please help us create a respectful and supportive performance environment by:
• Arriving on time
• Silencing phones and devices
• Remaining quiet during performances
• Applauding at the end of each piece
• Staying seated until the concert has concluded whenever possible

Thank you for supporting our student musicians. We look forward to seeing you there!

Mr. Jake McGrew

Teacher, Mathematics and Music

| Summer Concerts! Save The Date!

 

| PTO & Community Engagement

PTO Bake Sale Coming Up! 🍪

Our PTO is excited to host another Bake Sales on June 3rd & June 11th, and we would truly appreciate your support!

We warmly invite families to contribute by bringing along homemade or store-bought treats to share. Every contribution helps make the event special - and delicious 😊

All proceeds will go toward supporting school initiatives and enriching activities for our students.

Thank you in advance,
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.

| Secondary IV Spotlight

 

University Acceptances

| "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

 

Vyshyvanka Day at KIS

On May 21st, we celebrated Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day 🇺🇦

It was a true joy to see so many people wearing their beautiful embroidered vyshyvankas, proudly sharing a piece of Ukrainian culture and tradition.

Our school community also joined in the celebration, filling the day with color, warmth, and a strong sense of unity and pride.

A simple outfit, but such a powerful reminder of identity, heritage, and togetherness. 💙💛

| 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.

Policy and Procedures