Kozak Korner #35. May 23rd, 2025
| Director's Message
Dear KIS Community,
What a week of adventures, competition, team building and fun! We had our Middle School Week Without Walls trips, both locally in Kyiv and in the Carpathian Mountains and an elementary football tournament where the whole school came to cheer. Whether hiking mountains or scoring goals, the students had an amazing week.
These WWW trips and extracurricular activities are a vital part of being a “Kozak”. These programs help students build confidence, form lasting friendships, and gain a broader perspective of the world around them. Most importantly, they support your child’s journey to becoming a well-rounded, thoughtful, and capable young adult. Learning to cope with all kinds of challenges from being hungry and tired, to pushing themselves to the highest peak, to both winning and losing with grace and to being patient and tolerant of those who are around you are life skills that will forever serve them well.
We hope you have a great weekend!
You can always contact us by calling +38 044 452 2792.
Warm regards,
Rachel Geary
rachel-geary@kyiv.qsi.org
| Parent Coffee Chats
Dear KIS Families,
We are excited to invite you to a series of Parent Chat Meetings with Ms. Susan Tilney, our new School Director for the 2025–2026 academic year.
These informal gatherings are a great opportunity to meet and chat with the new Director and share your thoughts, questions, and ideas in a friendly, open setting.
📍 All meetings will take place in the KIS Auditorium at 3:00 PM on the following dates:
- May 26 – Elementary School Parents
- May 27 – Middle School Parents
- May
2829 – Secondary School Parents
We look forward to welcoming you and working together to make the next school year an exceptional one!
| Spring Fling Picnic
Dear KIS Community,
The School Picnic Day is approaching and you are invited!
📍 Location: Kyiv International School
📅 Date: Saturday, May 31st
⏰ Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
This year’s picnic will follow a potluck format, so we kindly ask each family or guest to bring a dish to share.
Please take a moment to let us know what you’ll be bringing by filling out this short form HERE
We look forward to a warm, sunny day filled with fun activities, great food, and time together as a community!
🐾 Help Us Help Them! 🐾
Our compassionate CAS students are leading a campaign to support local pet shelter—and they need your help!
Many shelters are doing their best to care for animals in need, but they can't do it alone. That’s where we, as a community, can make a difference.
We’re inviting everyone at KIS to join the cause by donating pet food. Every bag, box, or can makes a real impact in the lives of furry friends waiting for a forever home.
Key Dates
Spring - Summer:
- 26 May - Elementary Coffee Chat
- 27 May - Middle School Coffee Chat
2829 May - Secondary Coffee Chat- 28 May - Teacher Appreciation Day
- 31 May - Spring Fling
- 6 June - Sec IV Graduation Walk
- 7 June - Sec IV Graduation
- 8 - 14 June - HS WWW
- 12 June - Concerts (Elementary and Preschool)
- 18 June - Awards ceremonies MS / Secondary
- 19 June - Field day
- 20 June - Last Day of School
Policy and Procedures
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.
![EMPOWER: Ms. Amanda Denney]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747981357/qsiorg/sohdaevd8f9lubbqxjcl/FrameEmpower.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747981357/qsiorg/sohdaevd8f9lubbqxjcl/FrameEmpower.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747981357/qsiorg/sohdaevd8f9lubbqxjcl/FrameEmpower.png","width":800}])
![Child Protection]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1727422012/qsiorg/bouactk81napqpjmfd04/Screenshot2024-09-27at101858AM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1727422012/qsiorg/bouactk81napqpjmfd04/Screenshot2024-09-27at101858AM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1727422012/qsiorg/bouactk81napqpjmfd04/Screenshot2024-09-27at101858AM.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1727422012/qsiorg/bouactk81napqpjmfd04/Screenshot2024-09-27at101858AM.png","width":1092}])
![Beyond the Classroom: Middle School’s Week Without Walls Adventures]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747990365/qsiorg/zkqhj22qrgodjjbbajwo/WeekHighlight7.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747990365/qsiorg/zkqhj22qrgodjjbbajwo/WeekHighlight7.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747990365/qsiorg/zkqhj22qrgodjjbbajwo/WeekHighlight7.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747990365/qsiorg/zkqhj22qrgodjjbbajwo/WeekHighlight7.png","width":1200}])
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: MIDDLE SCHOOL WWW ADVENTURES
This past week, Kyiv International School's middle school students stepped beyond the classroom walls and into a world of hands-on learning, team-building, and adventure during our much-anticipated Week Without Walls. Our 12-
![Across the Net: KIS and Chisinau Volleyball Match]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747989577/qsiorg/gz0cofw93leta3l4w1ao/WeekHighlight6.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747989577/qsiorg/gz0cofw93leta3l4w1ao/WeekHighlight6.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747989577/qsiorg/gz0cofw93leta3l4w1ao/WeekHighlight6.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747989577/qsiorg/gz0cofw93leta3l4w1ao/WeekHighlight6.png","width":1200}])
ACROSS THE NET: KIS AND CHISINAU VOLLEYBALL MATCH
Last weekend, 10 Sec I and II players traveled to the QSI Chisinau campus for a friendly volleyball exchange between the two schools. Three teams competed for first place, and our Kozaks brought home the cup, winning 9 of their 10 matches!
![Proud Moments on the Field: KIS KOZAKS Shine Bright]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747987156/qsiorg/m9my4ngaukmfcwwoqw50/WeekHighlight5.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747987156/qsiorg/m9my4ngaukmfcwwoqw50/WeekHighlight5.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747987156/qsiorg/m9my4ngaukmfcwwoqw50/WeekHighlight5.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747987156/qsiorg/m9my4ngaukmfcwwoqw50/WeekHighlight5.png","width":1200}])
VICTORY, TEAMWORK, AND SPIRIT: KOZAKS MAKE US PROUD
We are incredibly proud of our KIS KOZAKS who took part in the 2nd Annual Football Tournament, facing strong competition from Umka School, A+ School, and PSI. Our talented team showed true heart and determination—winning two out
![Fiber Forensics: Environmental Science in Action]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747989032/qsiorg/w9ufsdxkfwdgirzvneiq/WeekHighlight5_1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747989032/qsiorg/w9ufsdxkfwdgirzvneiq/WeekHighlight5_1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747989032/qsiorg/w9ufsdxkfwdgirzvneiq/WeekHighlight5_1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747989032/qsiorg/w9ufsdxkfwdgirzvneiq/WeekHighlight5_1.png","width":1200}])
CLUES IN THE CLOTH: A CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
This month, our Environmental Science students were presented with fibers found at a simulated crime scene. Their mission? Identify the source of the mysterious strands and match them to potential suspects—using science, of course!
Who We Are
![Parent-Teacher Organization]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1724952968/qsiorg/phanh8la8eyhojoei5tb/PTO.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1724952968/qsiorg/phanh8la8eyhojoei5tb/PTO.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1724952968/qsiorg/phanh8la8eyhojoei5tb/PTO.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1724952968/qsiorg/phanh8la8eyhojoei5tb/PTO.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1724952968/qsiorg/phanh8la8eyhojoei5tb/PTO.png","width":1500}])
The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), a non-profit group, brings together parents, teachers, and administrators to enhance the school experience for our students. PTO Lobby Shop raises funds to support school events, gifts, and surprises for students, teachers, and staff. Any KIS parent is welcome to join.
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.
![Moodle]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692953769/qsiorg/qukzjzojr3gt0iyd7qiu/Moodle.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692953769/qsiorg/qukzjzojr3gt0iyd7qiu/Moodle.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1692953769/qsiorg/qukzjzojr3gt0iyd7qiu/Moodle.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692953769/qsiorg/qukzjzojr3gt0iyd7qiu/Moodle.png","width":1200}])
Moodle: Your All-in-One Platform for Seamless School Engagement
![Seesaw]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692953783/qsiorg/odnijc6fizay3o821acw/Seesaw.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692953783/qsiorg/odnijc6fizay3o821acw/Seesaw.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1692953783/qsiorg/odnijc6fizay3o821acw/Seesaw.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692953783/qsiorg/odnijc6fizay3o821acw/Seesaw.png","width":1200}])
Seesaw: Elevating Learning Engagement
![Office 365 Teams]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692953769/qsiorg/hkmcde8c1xfmkfsnfgfj/Office365.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692953769/qsiorg/hkmcde8c1xfmkfsnfgfj/Office365.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1692953769/qsiorg/hkmcde8c1xfmkfsnfgfj/Office365.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692953769/qsiorg/hkmcde8c1xfmkfsnfgfj/Office365.png","width":1200}])
Office 365 Teams: Empowering Collaborative Excellence
![Cafeteria]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1693568882/qsiorg/umftehmvndlzx6h22jnf/Cafeteria.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1693568882/qsiorg/umftehmvndlzx6h22jnf/Cafeteria.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1693568882/qsiorg/umftehmvndlzx6h22jnf/Cafeteria.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1693568882/qsiorg/umftehmvndlzx6h22jnf/Cafeteria.png","width":1200}])
We ensure that students have access to delicious and nourishing meals
![Transportation]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1693569290/qsiorg/f0c0ilmexpyrekrii6ph/Transportation.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1693569290/qsiorg/f0c0ilmexpyrekrii6ph/Transportation.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1693569290/qsiorg/f0c0ilmexpyrekrii6ph/Transportation.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1693569290/qsiorg/f0c0ilmexpyrekrii6ph/Transportation.png","width":1200}])
Safe and efficient transportation is a key factor in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable school experience
Book Club For Adults
KIS has started a book club for adults, and you are invited to join!
Here are the plans:
- Read one book per month and be ready to discuss it in English.
- Each month one person in the club chooses three titles and we will vote for which one we want to read. We will have one month to read the chosen title before our next meeting.
- That book host/hostess of the month will also choose the restaurant or cafe where we will meet to discuss the book and enjoy each other’s company.
If you are interested, please contact Diane Baima at diane-baima@kyiv.qsi.org
English Tutoring!
Are you looking for a tutor to enhance your child's English language skills? Look no more!
KIS teacher, Ms. Nataliya Rudenko offers:
- Customized Lessons: Tailored to meet your specific needs and goals
- Flexible Scheduling
- Focus Areas - Elementary, Kindergarten: grammar, reading, writing, and math!
Why to choose Ms. Rudenko?
- She is an ESL tutor with 10 years of teaching experience.
- Proven track record of helping students achieve fluency.
- Passionate about helping students succeed in a comfortable and supportive setting.
If interested, please contact her at +38 067-665-36-97.
English For Parents!
KIS is delighted to offer English Classes For Parents!
Class starts at 10:15 am in Room 204.
- Tuesday, Thursday: Beginner learners
- Wednesday, Friday: More advanced learners
Got questions? Please contact: natasha-kuzovleva@kyiv.qsi.org