Weekly 10-10-14

PSI Weekly
Issue #7 10/10/2014
Important Dates
11 Oct: Libraries Open
Doors (10:00am:12:00pm)
9-12 Oct: CEESA MS Girls
Tennis (Cyprus)
13 Oct: University Visit
- Universita Catolica del
Sacro Cuore (11:25am,
Secondary Library)
14 Oct: PTA Meeting
(8:45am), followed by the
Coffee with Secondary
Principal ‘Introduction to
MYP and Secondary School’
15 Oct: Primary ParentTeacher Conferences
15 Oct: Primary School
dismissed at 12:00m
(Secondary School
dismissed at 3:00pm),
ASAs for both Primary and
Secondary school cancelled
15 Oct: PTA Bake Sale
(11:30am - onwards)
17 Oct: Fall Trips Assembly
(8:45am - 9:55am, Gym)
17 Oct: University of
Glasgow (11:25am 12:25pm)
A Place Where We Belong
An IB World School since 2000
Director’s Message
Dear Students, Parents and Community Members,
Change is a wonderful but scary thing!
Over the coming months, there will be several changes
to the school IT systems. Our aim is to communicate well
and work closely with families through these steps. The
first one is very simple and requires no work at all. This
month we will switch to a new PSI website that has been
under construction for six months. The web address
remains the same as do many of your favourite pages.
The addition of new information, social media content
and a more modern ‘look and feel’ are all quite exciting. Through the Friday
Weekly and Facebook, we will inform you shortly as to when we go live!
In November, we release our new Veracross Parent Portal. Initially this will
be for Primary School parents only, with the Secondary School being added
in the new year. A ‘one stop’, secure site for each family (and all siblings)
will provide enrolment and family contact information, daily attendance
data, timetables, calendars / assessment schedules, homework information,
curriculum overviews, a reports database and classroom websites.
Stay tuned for more information every two weeks in this important area.
The PSI Monthly Magazine Goes Quarterly
Recently I have been asked, where is the PSI Monthly Magazine?!
Our magazine will be a quarterly publication this year. It also has a new name,
PSI Life. It will still maintain a focus on teaching and learning but will be
presented and published at a higher standard. Editions will include articles
and photos from school leaders, teachers and a greater focus from students,
too. Our first edition will be published as we break for the October holidays
and will be available both electronically and also as a professionally printed
hard copy.
By John Burns, PSI Director
7a Victora Zabily, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039 | Tel: (380-44) 377 5292 | Fax: (380-44) 377 5242
communication@psi.kiev.ua | www.psi.kiev.ua
A Place Where We Belong
PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14
From the Primary Principal
Dear Parents:
As many of you already know, attendance
in school is crucial for a child’s success
academically, socially and with learning
English. To support strong attendance,
the school has an Attendance Policy
(LINK) to deal with students who miss too much
school. However, it is much better to focus and
reward those who adhere to our policies and miss
fewer than 10 days of school per year. That is why
both the Primary and Secondary schools award
house points twice a year for good attendance. In
January, those students with 5 or fewer absences
will receive points for their team. At the end of
the year, this is repeated, PLUS students who have
missed no school whatsoever receive an Amazon
gift certificate. I look forward to awarding many
house points this year!
I would like to clarify that dismissal time on
Wednesday, October 15th is 12 noon. There have
been different times posted. When both secondary
and primary are dismissed early, the time is 11:30
(when Secondary lunch begins). When just primary is dismissed, it is noon (when Primary lunch
begins).
I look forward to seeing many of you at my presentation on Learning to Read and Reading to Learn. If
you have not yet done so, you may sign up for one of
the times offered on the Conferences Sign Up link.
I will be offering the same information every hour
on the hour.
I would like to remind everyone that Primary After
School Activities are cancelled on Wednesday due
to Parent Teacher Conferences.
By Tatiana Lopukhin
From the Secondary Principal
Dear Parents:
In this upcoming week, we have two
great opportunities for you to visit our
Secondary School.
On Tuesday, 14th October at 9:45am
in Room 301, we’ll meet with Grade 6
parents, parents new to PSI and any others who’d
like to come. We’ll talk about the changing needs
of your pre-adolescent and adolescent child and
explain the IB Middle Years Programme.
Wednesday: Please note that there are no ASAs,
but athletic games will continue as usual.
On Friday, 17th October at 8:35am in the Gym,
we’ll hold our annual Fall Trips Assembly. Each grade
level will give a brief presentation about where they
went, what they did and – most importantly – what
they learned.
We hope you can join us for one or both of those
events. In the meantime, as always, I encourage you
to connect with your child’s teachers. We’re just
about halfway through the first quarter, so it’s a
great time to check in and find out how your child
is doing in school. Our teachers are always happy to
talk to you.
I hope to see you soon!
Regards, Patricia Puia
House Points Totals, October 10th
Khoriv - 84
Kyi - 90
Lybid - 89
Schek - 68
Schek - 68
Important Information for the day schedule on Wednesday, October 15th
• Primary students are dismissed at 12:00pm. Secondary students - at 2:55 pm.
• Please note that ASAs are cancelled for both Primary and Secondary students. However, Secondary Sports (HSG
& HSB Football) will still be taking place.
• Buses will run at 12:00pm, 3:00pm and after the Secondary Sports are over on this day.
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PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/2014
A Place Where We Belong
Student Council Initiative
Dear members of the PSI community:
The Student Council will be selling T-Shirts with the
Ukrainian trident from now on. ​ Please click here to see
a PDF of the advertisement with product photos.​
If you wish to buy a tee shirt, please fill out this survey.
You will then be contacted by a Student Council
representative for the money. If any questions, please
contact Oksana at 2016oksanap@psi.kiev.ua
K/G 1 News
Our Kindergarten
and Grade 1 parents
turned out to learn
how their children
are taught the
‘learning to read’
process through
the Daily 5 CAFE
strategies and to
see the process in action in the classroom. One child
noted that parents were very well behaved! Halloween Ceelbration
Secondary Week in Sports
Monday, October 13th
HSB Football vs KIS JV @ Novaselki 4pm
HSG Football vs KIS @ KIS 4pm
Tuesday, October 14th
MSG Football vs KCA @ House of Football 4pm
MSB Football vs KCA @ House of Football 5pm
Wednesday, October15th
HSB Football vs KIS @ KIS 4pm
HSG Football vs KCA @ Novaselki 4pm
Thursday, October 16th
MSB (2) vs KIS (2) @ House of Football 4pm
MSB vs KIS @ House of Football 5pm
MSG vs KIS @ KIS 4pm
Friday, October 17th
HSB/G Football Practice @ House of Football
On Friday, 31st October, the Primary
School will celebrate Halloween
from 5-6 PM. Students are invited
to come to school in their costumes
and trick-or-treat for candy in the primary classrooms. There will also be a Haunted House in the
cafeteria, face painting for a donation to support
a Secondary CAS project, and the opportunity to
make a Halloween or autumn card for rehabilitating Ukrainian soldiers. We are currently in need
of Halloween candy. If you would like to donate,
please send candy to Ms. Tatz’s office by Wednesday,
October 29th.
New House Teams T-Shirts
Our new House Team t-shirts
are now on sale. To purchase
a team t-shirt please do the
following:
1. Fill out the House Team t-shirt order slip
(available at Reception and from the PSI
Cashier).
2. Pay for your t-shirt in UAH at the Cashier (all
t-shirts are 140 UAH)
3. Take your signed order slip to the Uniform Office
at the following times to receive your t/shirt.
October - (Tuesday and Thursday only) - 8.30am to
10:00am and 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
Note: The Uniform Office is located in Secondary
School building basement (next to the music room).
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A Place Where We Belong
PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14
Ure dolore vel ing eugue
Different News and Updates
PSI Board Report 3 - October Board
Meeting 6/10/2014:
This week the Board met for its second meeting of the
School year. The following items were part of the agenda,
discussions and decisions made.
Presentation - At each meeting the Board does
some ‘learning’. A presentation was provided about
our accrediting agencies, support service companies,
external testing providers and recruitment agencies.
• International Accreditations
• Council of International Schools in Europe and
New England Association of Schools and Colleges in
the USA.
• IB World School Status
International Baccalaureate
• International Services Organisations
• European Council of International Schools and
Central East Europe Schools Association
• International Recruitment
Search Associates and International School Services
Boards Goals - The Board approved their annual goals
PSI Welcomes New Students:
We would like to welcome the following students :
Anna (Grade 8)
Wishing them the best academic results!
Winter Gas & Crisis Planning - Update 2
and KPIs for the year. There are four broad goals this
year;
• Goal A - Governance and Strategy Committee Develop board and governance best practice
• Goal B - Governance and Strategy Committee - Design,
evaluate and deliver academic greatness
• Goal C. - Finance and Risk Committee - Ensure a
strong and compliant legal financial and legal position
• Goal D - Facilities and Building Committee - Define
and launch Phase 2
Directors Goals - The Board approved the Directors
annual goals and KPIs. Included are focuses for; literacy
and numeracy standards, new school year marketing
plans, promoting ‘school spirit’ and the ongoing
improvement of business systems. The full document of
goals can be viewed at this link.
School Budget - The 2014 / 2015 budget was approved
and includes several contingency funds to address any
decline in students numbers due to the ‘Ukraine Crisis’,
heating and additional electricity use over the winter
and the ongoing devaluation of local currency and its
impact on our budget.
have responded by identifying two authorised shelters
in walking distance of the school and are currently
updating our evacuation plans with this information
and the procedures necessary for students.
Key documents in this area:
• Link to ur original letter regarding ‘limited gas for
winter’ and all plans (Link).
Every two weeks we will provide updated information
in these two important areas. We do this not to worry • PSI Emergency Communication Procedures (Link).
families or to preempt any danger but to keep the • Ukraine Crisis Management Procedures / Documents
community informed of ongoing planning in this area. (Link).
Our 60 external classroom heaters have been ordered PSI Reminders
and paid for and we expect delivery shortly. We are also
investigating with our facilities management company Community Emergency Communication Policy prices for an external fuel generator and solid fuel Please follow the link to this important information.
boilers. Quotations will be presented at our Board School Calendar - Is available to all families for your
Facilities and Building Meeting next week.
semester and holiday planning. Click here.
Recently several families contacted the school about
letters being posted on apartment buildings notice
boards by government departments about ‘air raids
in Kyiv and air raid shelters. Our work with local
embassies tells us this is very much precautionary. We
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PSI Facebook - We use Facebook every day at PSI.
Please visit our site to ‘Like Us’ and join in.
Feedback - PSI welcomes feedback, questions and
concerns. Please email communication@psi.kiev.ua
A Place Where We Belong
PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14
PSI in Brief
PTA News
Last weekend the first Quiz Night was held. And what a
fantastic evening it was. Lots of teams signed up, lots of fun
questions were answered, as well as games played between
the rounds.
The money raised is going to the charity of the winning team’s
choice: a refugee centre in Kotsyubynske, a center of 150
people of whom 72 are children.
Thank you, Pam and Melissa, for organizing, Michael, for being
a fabulous quiz master and John for organizing fun games in
between the rounds.
This coming Wednesday, 15 October, PTA will host a bake
sale to help fund upcoming PTA events. Please come and
support this cause, either by donating baked goods or by buying all these goodies. The bake sale will be held from 11.30
until sold out.
Upcoming PTA events:
Next PTA meeting will be held on October 14. The meeting
is followed by coffee with the Secondary Principal.
October 15: Bake Sale: to help fund upcoming PTA events.
November 14: International Night: a great all family evening
to celebrate our nations and our unique customs through a
potluck type fair.
Save the dates!
PSI VZSC Band Presents....
Gate Security Cards - To issue
security cards for your family,
we kindly ask you to fill out this
Parental Security Form. Please
send your photographs to this
email address: securityphoto@psi.
kiev.ua For additional information
please contact the PSI Security
Office: security@psi.kiev.ua
Secondary School Smart Cards
- All Secondary School students
are reminded to use their gate
security as a ‘cash smartcard’
in the cafeteria. Money can be
charged to your cards before and
after school and then it is used
daily for all purchasing. As we get
more students involved this will
help our waiting lines move more
quickly.
Saturday Sports Programme
Days for Season 1:
During Season 1, the following
Saturdays will have Saturday
Super Sports activities as well
as Secondary Ukrainian Mother
Tongue lessons:
• 11, 18 October
• 1 November
Menu for the Next Week
Please click here.
PSI Social Media Links
PSI Contacts
PSI Reception: Olga secretary@psi.kiev.ua
PSI Cashier: Oksana cashier@psi.kiev.ua
After School Activities: Natasha & Melissa asa@
psi.kiev.ua
School Buses: Lilia lilia@psi.kiev.ua
Security Cards: security photo@psi.kiev.ua
PE Uniform Orders: Oksana oksanam@psi.kiev.ua
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