The Story of Our Year -- KIS Yearbook 2022-23

THE THE STORY STORY OF OUR YEAR OF OUR YEAR

Kyiv International School

2022-2023 2022-2023

Editor: Angelica Golubyeva

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to our talented creators for honoring Ukraine through their works and vision!

Простота, правда і природність – ось три великих принципу прекрасного

у всіх творах мистецтва.

Крістоф Віллібальд Глюк

ENG translation: Simplicity, truth and naturalness are the three great principles of beauty in all works of art. Christoph Willibald Gluck

Anna Leshchii

Elizaveta Konstantinova

Yelyzaveta Ishchenko

Polina Nechytailo

In Memorium

Alexander 'Big Sasha' Turchyn

Employed at KIS since 2001 as a Guard and on the Maintenance Team.

We referred to him as "Big" Sasha in order to know which Sasha we were referring to

It would be easy to attribute this solely to his height, but in reality, Big Sasha had a big heart, a big smile, and a big capacity to help others and in any way he could.

He will be missed.

L. Woodruff

Welcome to the Yearbook

Welcome to the 2022-23 KIS Yearbook, AKA 'The Story of our Year.'

I'm writing this just as we wrap up a full year's work on the book.

I’m proud to have been part of the process, but all credit goes to this year's student editor, Angelica Golubyeva We started with little more than a mandate, and a long list of reasons the job might well be impossible.

A crew of two is not ideal for an 80-page yearbook for a K-12 school. That's true in a ‘normal’ year, never mind this one. In ideal circumstances, it's an intricate creative & logistical challenge With a community scattered all around the world, the job is even harder

So, please take a moment to appreciate that our little online book is a kind of miracle. And please understand: that miracle would not have happened without Angelica, whose imagination and ambition led to some incredible collaborations (like the eight pages of incredibly evocative images provided by the Secondary Photography class )

The work Angelica did -- brainstorming, creating, emailing, shooting how-to videos, meetings-meetings-&-more-meetings, managing teams, designing & crafting pages -- was all important. Even more important is the way she did it. She never failed to show up without a fantastic attitude, great ideas, and a strong work ethic She not only contributed, she often took the lead. Here at the end of a long, long road, I can honestly say there’s no one else I would rather have worked with, and no one else that could have done the job she did.

The book is full of light & dark. Angelica chose images from the IB Visual Art show 'Call of a Siren' on our cover to set that tone clearly. In those images, created by four exceptional young women, all who are graduating this year, you can see the contrast: horror and hope, rage and resilience, pain and pride. This is what it is to be Ukrainian right now.

Looking at the portraits our students, international staff, local Ukrainian teachers and support staff shot themselves wherever in the world they happened to be and then shared with us, all I feel is joy. Their faces are bright with purpose and potential. But many have seen hard sights Some have seen unimaginable cruelty far too vividly This is clear in our 'Tiny Teacher Interviews', in which staffers share with great depth and honesty how the war has impacted them. It's also clear in two different sets of congratulatory messages for the KIS Class of 2023, the first from within the Kozak community, and the second from the front lines of the information war battlefield.

We hope you find those messages gratifying and inspiring, and we hope very much that you will enjoy this book, now and for years to come

Bob Hume Media II Teacher

Angelica Golubyeva Editor

Valentin Chmerkovskiy, a worldwide dance champion, and an Odesa-born Ukrainian, believed that “not everyone gets to be a winner unless they choose to be. Winning is a mentality”. Whether it’s in our culture, our blood, or the kvass we drink, Ukrainians have always chosen to win. One way or another, whatever it took, we persevered.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it”. This courage, as defined by Nelson Mandela, is evident in every single Ukrainian Courage glimmers in every tear we let fall, and every drop of blood our soldiers shed to protect our country. Courage echoes off the walls in bomb shelters, as mothers hum their children to sleep, and off the walls in our offices, rooms, and classrooms, as Ukrainians achieve their own, personal wins, amid inexplicable suffering.

You know that phrase adults use towards children who have experienced so much pain and redundant knowledge in life that they almost seem old? “You’ve grown up too fast”. Well, this year, all of us have. In ways we didn’t know was possible. In ways that were not at all necessary, and in these moments, it helps to remember that it is not our trauma that shapes us, but our perseverance and faith and every little good thing we accomplish throughout all of it. I want every person reading this to remember that every one of your achievements, however big or small, is a product of your emotional and physical drudgery. And, most of all, it is a win. May all our personal wins, combined with our wins as an independent nation, be cherished.

Slava Ukrainii

Luke Woodruff Director

A few years ago, Nike ran an ad campaign centered on athletes pushing forward and striving towards excellence. Across a variety of competitions, the ads demonstrated how the human spirit overcomes struggle. It was named, "You Can't Stop Us!"

I can't think of a better statement to describe our community. It's incredible to see a similar mindset in our students, teachers, staff, parents; in our collective community. The struggle has been real. Yet the power to overcome and push forward is a light that shines in darkness both seen and experienced.

I'm proud to be a part of KIS, and to rub shoulders with so many wonderful people. I'm in awe of the will & determination in our community that is always accompanied by an optimistic smile

Congratulations to the class of 2023! If there is one thing that I know for sure it is this … You Can't Be Stopped!

Once a Kozak, Always a Kozak!

Alexander Postolovsky Executive Director

My heartfelt greetings to all students, parents, and colleagues of KIS!

We completed a difficult school year – a school year during the russian federation’s ongoing war on Ukraine. The war has brought immense human suffering and destruction Yet we continue to show bravery, strength, resilience, and the importance of fighting for our freedoms I hope our students will carry these values throughout their lives.

I have been working at KIS for 30 years and am extremely proud to have contributed to its development.

I will continue doing everything to ensure the school prospers. I have no doubt that we will return to our normal school life, sports competitions, and students will have plenty of opportunities to show their outstanding achievements.

To our victory! Слава Україні!

Carla Grossman

PS / ELEM / MS Director of Instruction

The story of our year: It is safe to say that we will each look back on this year, and often, but what part of the story will we remember?

Although our specific experiences have been vastly different, for each of us this past year has been filled with uncertainty, shifting plans and challenging circumstances. We will remember those things, yes, but for me the recollection most central within my mind's eye, the story that matters most, is the individual efforts which fuelled the collective, enduring Kozak pride within the KIS community.

I am reminded of this quote which I think fits our story well: "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" - Aristotle

We were, each of us, involved with something truly special this year. As Kozaks we were each a part of something larger than the sum of our individual efforts. We’ve seen countless individuals within our community come together to support each other and our greater purpose in ways that have been truly inspiring. We’ve seen acts of kindness, resilience, and perseverance that have reminded us that even in the toughest of times, we could find hope and strength as Kozaks within our KIS community and for that I will be forever grateful

Slava Ukrainii

“The most important thing in life is to stop saying, ‘I wish’ and start saying, ‘I will’. Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities ”

So said the astute Mr Charles Dickens, in David Copperfield This sentiment reflects the story of our year in the secondary school at Kyiv International School. There are so many things our students and staff may have wished for during this yearafterschool sports, CEESA trips, StuCo dances, hanging out on the field – the list is endless. However, we have approached the year with intent and a commitment to making school engaging and meaningful We focused on ways to build community and facilitate learning. When our campus opened, we continued to find ways to balance online and on campus learning, inclusively and dynamically. As we look to the future, despite the uncertainties and the struggles ahead, we know that nothing is impossible. When Ukraine is victorious, we know our school will still be there – our campus will once again thrive – and our community will be stronger, bolstered by our experiences and our belief that everything is possible.

Rachel Geary Secondary Director of Instruction

Nataliia Bohush Registrar

Anna Golodryga Business Office Manager

Velichanskaya

ADMIN, OFFICE, & IT

Maintenance, Transportation, Custodial, & Security

Ivan Fikaniuk Driver

Sergey Snigur Sergiy Klymenok Driver

Olexiy Maksymenko Driver

Tatyana Boychenko Custodian

Ruslana Fedorenko Custodian

Yevhen Merezhko Driver

Ivan Zuev Driver

Nadiya Klimenko Custodian

Nataliya Klymenok Custodian

Mariya Konovalchuk Custodian

Lyudmyla Kovalenko Custodian

Vera Makodzeba Custodian

Nataliya Molochkova Custodian

Yulia Sabadash Custodian

Maintenance, Transportation, Custodial, & Security

Missing Photos

Alexandr Druz Guard Vasiliy Lazorenko Guard Sergey Lisovsky Guard

V l i Shakula rd

Alexander Y i S b d h

Maria Dvorko Nataliya Kotyk

Raisa Melnychenko Oleksandr Pysanko Andrey Simonenko Alexander Turchyn Sergiy Urupa

TEACHING STAFF

Oksana Chemerys Sec Maths

Nataliya Chervonyk Art

Amanda Denney Sec Literature

Maxim Filatov Sec Maths

Lily Gorbatenko Library

Sheryl Hinsvark Secondary Science

Dana Horbunova German

Bob Hume Film / Media

Leanne Hume Drama / Photography

Svitlana Ionova Music

Helena Kasian Art

Ksenia Kolonskykh Intensive English

Alba Becerra Perez Spanish

Maria Bizhyk Ukrainian

Anastasia Burynchenko Technology

TEACHING STAFF

Missing Photos

Anastasiia Rabchun French

Nataliya Rudenko 3 YO's

John Semeniuk Sec CS

Tetiana Rutkovska Learning Center Coordinator

Olga Shliakhovska Swimming

Yuliya Vazhka Learning Support

Nataliya Yegorova Pre-K Coordinator

Viktoriia Yerema Learning Center

Kateryna Zakharova Dance/PE

Mims Sec Humanities

Munteanu German

Petrunyok 2 YO's

Daria Filatova Vita Slobodeniuk Alla Yarmolenko Kateryna Luzhetska

OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS

Elizabeth Grzyb

Nina Kolonskykh

Neta Bider

Kirill Nikitin

Jacob Parkhomenko

Sarah Lopert

Tetiana Zlydar

Olena Shefner

Daniela Munteanu

Alan Sydorchuk

Kira Tarasiuk

Our Amazing 5/6 YO's Collage

Our teachers can do anything: zoom, classroom, fun!

all smiles :)

Thank you to all the teachers and students for making this year unbelievable through it all!

Deleena Paudel

Bohdan Tkachenko

Yurii Drobyazko

Anil Karimi

Anton Garbarenko

Larion Holodryha

Lyubov Onyskevich

Olena Petrenko-Agdi

Anna Plakhotniuk

Our Amazing 7 YO's Collage

Ms P-A transferred to another QSI school after Winter Break

Thanks so much to Ms P-A for all her hard work, and for making her students so happy for so long

"Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible" ~ MaryAnn F Kohl

Dzheilin Yusifova

Hryhorii Zolotukhin

Tomas Soltes

Polina Kutsenko

Yeva Kutsenko

Zlata Bondar

Julia Prima Olga Steblyanko Olga Kardash g

Our Amazing 8 YO's Collage

So much creativity in each photo. thank you to our teachers and students for creating happiness in every and any circumstance!

Davyd Babenko

Varvara Ivanova

Bogdan Chebunin

Polina Filatova

Yaroslava

Nikolaienko

Vira Tarasiuk

Illia Rutkovskyi

Ilya Sadovyc

Oleksandra Khvorostyna

Amy Mims

Zhanna Sotnyk

Lyuda Stetskova

Our Amazing 9 YO's Collage

Thank you to the teachers and students for being amazing all year round!

10 YO's

Sabrina Kostiuchenk

Kira Lykholob

Emma Mee

Kyryll Ivanov Lev Ivanov

Aram Afrikyan

Chi De Ni (Misha)

Bogdan Zhukovskiy

Anna Shefner

Nadiia Skudar

Anna Zabara

Olga Golitsyna

Mariana Zolotukhina

Emma Kaplun

Angela Motrych

Dayna Goldshmid

Mykyta Yegorov

Our Amazing 11 YO's Collage

Missing Photos

SEC I & II

Yehor Klimkin

Milo Billing Fedote Garbuz

David Krajc Oleksandra Rybak

Marcel Farhat

Abai Bieisiebaiev

Tetiana Honcharova

Rienat Khanin

Kira Melnyk

Missing Photo

Ielizaveta Rudiak

Kristian Nechayev

Anna Polovynko

SEC III

ra

Mykyta Kozh Elizaveta Konstantinova

Ollie Hume

Fryderyk Strycharz

Vyacheslav Surkis

Anna Svet

Nadine Wright

Missing Photo

Lev Kogan

OUR UKRAINIAN FAVORITES

Members of our KIS community shared their most beloved aspects of being Ukrainian! Their responses are assembled into four pages honoring Ukrainian culture. Some respondents chose to remain anonymous.

"Borscht"

Irene B, Amanda D,

Leanne H, Tamara Z, Alina F, Alba B-P, Anonymous

"Olivier"

Oleg N

"Deruny"

Oksana C, Alina F

"Deruny with mushrooms"

Anna V

"Buckwheat"

Sarah L

"Poltava Galushky"

Olga S

"Piryzhky"

FOODS

"Varenichki z vyshnyamy"

Helen K

"Sirnyky"

Alina F

"Kutia – a mix of boiled grains, honey, nuts, poppy seeds, dried fruits, and other toppings"

Tetiana R

"Lazy varenyky"

Alba B, Alina F

"Kyiv International School"

Bob H, Aditya D, Anonymous

"My old apartment"

Leanne H

"Podil in Kyiv"

Amanda D, Olga S "My native town is Fastiv, everything is dear to me there"

Tamara Z

"Lavina; Bukovel"

Aditya D

"Holubtsi"

"Varenyky"

Aditya D, Olga K, Alina F, three Anonymous respondents, Alla T

"EVERYTHING!.. no um mulled wine, Borscht, honey cake, cabbage rolls, cucumber and cabbage salad... I could go on FOREVER" -

PLACES

"Kyiv"

Leanne H

"Tin-Tin restaurant by the Velotrek in Kyiv"

Wojciech C

Alba B-P, Alla T "Lviv"

Sarah L

"The beach along the Desenka River in Kyiv"

"Ibiza, Odessa"

Oleg N

"Golden Gate"

Helen K

"Carpathian Mountains"

Olga K, Irene B, Anna V, Oksana C, Alina F, Nataliya B, Anonymous

FOODS, PLACES, PEOPLE

"Armed Forces of Ukraine"

Alla T

"My Baba"

Leanne H

"Volodymyr Zelenskyy"

Alba B, Amanda D, Anna V, Anonymous

PEOPLE

"Hryhorii Skovoroda as an example of a multifaceted person

Tamara Z

"Maksym Kryvonis"

Olga S

"My grandmother"

Anonymous

"Lina Kostenko"

Oksana C

"Mykola Amosov"

Anonymous

"Bohdan Stupka"

Alina Filipchuk

"Absolutely ALL Ukrainians! Because we are so strong, brave and fearless!"

Alina Fishchuk

"Volodymyr Vladko with his science fiction and historical fiction"

Tamara Z

"Oles Ulianenko"

Oleg N

"Taras Shevchenko"

Amanda D, Olga K, Anonymous

"Lesya Ukraïnka"

Oksana C, Alba B-P

"Mykola Hohol"

Alina F

"Valya and Zoya Khimich"

Bob H "Princess Olga of Kyiv, I was named after her"

Olga K

"Ivan Sikorsky (creator of helicopter)"

Helen K

"Valerii Zaluzhnyi"

Irene B

"Taras evchenko"

Nataliya B

DJ Dmitry"

Sarah L

"Can t choose just one krainian, bro (shoutout to my man Zinchenko though.)"

Aditya D

"Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky"

AUTHORS

Alla T

"Serhii Plokhy"

Bob H

"Lada Luzina"

Anna V

"Serhiy Zhadan"

Nataliya B

"Pavlo Zagrebelny"

Olga S

"Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky"

Helen K

OUR UKRAINIAN FAVORITES

Members of our KIS community shared their most beloved aspects of being Ukrainian! Their responses are assembled into four pages honoring Ukrainian culture

Some respondents chose to remain anonymous.

WORDS

безмежно, щиро, моя мила, неймовірно"

Anonymous

"друг"

Sarah L

"Батьківщина, Розум, Завзяття, Родина"

"Будьмо! Пишаємось!

Тримаємось!"

Irene B

"Kochannya (Кохання - Love); Nezalezhnist' (НезалежністьIndependence);

Zhovto-blakytnyy (Жовтоблакитний - Yellow and blue)"

Alina F

Aditya D

"Dyakuyu"

Leanne H

"сила"

Anonymous

Oleg N

"Біла ворона -

a white crow"

Wojciech C

Alba B-P

PHRASES & IDIOMS

Olga S

"запашний"

Alla T

"Смаколики"

Helen K, Anonymous

"All Ukrainian words sound very melodic"

Tamara Z

"Мир, кохання, діти, сонце, мама, щастя, життя, Україна"

Oksana C

"'Nightingale language', meaning Ukrainian language"

"Не той дурний, хто не знає, але хто знати не хоче"

Olga S

"'There we plant potatoes' - Natasha

Tamara Z "Ложка дьогтю у бочці меду"

"Борітеся - поборете!"

Maksina told it to me..."

Leanne H

"''Небо прихилити'зробити все можливе для чийогось щастя"

"Злісна корова

турбує все стадо"

Sarah L

"Хай йому грець"

Olga K "Так не роблять!"

Oleg N

"Бубнить, як Головко в погребі."

Olga S

Oleg N, Sarah L

"Без вірного друга - багато туги"

Olga K

"Slava Ukraini!"

Oksana C, Amanda D, Irene B, Alba B-P, Alla T, Tamara Z, Leanne H, Anonymous

"Героям Слава!"

Alina F, Alla T, Oksana C, Anonymous

"Все буде добре."

"Прощу"

"давай (come on)"

LANGUAGE & TRADITION

"Слово - не горобець,

вилетить - не спіймаєш."

Alla T

PHRASES & PROVERBS

"Любов зла-полюбиш і козла."

Alba B-P

"Дурень думкою багатіє."

Nataliya B

"Життя прожити не поле перейти."

Anna V

"Під лежачий камінь вода не тече."

"Ukrainian embroidery (vyshyvanka) and Pysanky"

Anonymous

"To bring our pumpkin if I don't want this guy"

Olga K, Sarah L

"To gather with relatives, family and friends at one big table on any occasion."

Alina F

"Christmas celebrations: kolyadky, shchedrivky, leading the goat (koza)"

Olga S

"Без вірного другабагато туги"

Olga K

"Хто рано встає, тому Бог подає."

Olga S

"Диму без вогню не буває (There is no smoke without a fire) - there is always a reason for something."

Helen K

"'Тéпле слόво й лід розтόпить' - A warm word melts ice. 'Усьóму свій час.' - Everything has its time."

Alina F

TRADITIONS

"Vishyvanka Day"

Bob H

"Making bonfires on Ivana Kupala, and probably singing Kolyadky"

Tamara Z

"12 dishes at Christmas... and easter bread"

Leanne H

йдан кожних 10 років."

Nataliia B

"Horseshoe above door for luck, greeting people with bread"

"Maybe not Ukrainian (KIS tradition), but hot chocolate on the first snow day!"

Amanda D

"One of my favorite Ukrainian traditions is sharing a special wedding bread "Korovay" with all the guests. It looks like a big cake, which may have from 1 to 5 tiers, decorated with unleavened dough, marshmallow or whipped eggwhite (meringue). This bread accompanies the prospective couple from the very beginning of their wedding day and is shared among the guests at the end of the party." Alla T

This collaborative artwork commemorates an extremely powerful moment that was covered by press outlets around the world It took place on Monday, February 20, 2023, the first day of KIS's Spring break.

President Joe Biden swept unannounced into Ukraine on Monday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a defiant display of Western solidarity with a country still fighting what he called “a brutal and unjust war” days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion “One year later, Kyiv stands,” Biden declared “And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”

By EVAN VUCCI, JOHN LEICESTER, AAMER

Associated Press

Drawing

MADHANI and ZEKE MILLER for the

This photo was taken in front of Михайлівський золотоверхий монастир, or Saint Michael's Golden Domed Monastery, in English.

Mosaic

We couldn't find a photo credit, so we can't recognize the photographer whose work we started with. We chose this photo because it shows many important elements of the ongoing war: the incredible beauty of St. Michaels (and, by extension, the city and the entire country), the rich history & culture of Ukraine, the steadfast courage of President Zelenskyy (and, by extension, all Ukrainians), and the unwavering support of Ukraine's allies. Although the photo shows only one, we recognize and are grateful for the support of all right-minded, free-thinking states, their leaders, and their people.

We cropped the photo square, and then divided it up into 36 smaller squares After that, we asked the KIS Art Department (Ms. Chervonyk, Ms. Gorbatenko, Ms. Kasian, & Ms. Myronova) to recruit volunteers to draw two squares each.

The resulting mosaic is a beautiful celebration of collaboration of support for Ukraine -- exactly like the original photo!

TINY TEACHER INTERVIEWS

March 30, 2023 marked the 400th day of the war. It was also the first anniversary of the liberation of Bucha.

Against the backdrop of both significant dates, we asked a small selection of KIS staffers to share some of their stories. The responses, which were both incredibly candid and stunningly honest, paint a vivid picture of how the war has affected and continues to affect our community.

While leaders like President Zelenskyy and the brave members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine rightly earn massive respect, these firstperson accounts should remind us all that Ukraine's resilience is due to the character of all Ukrainians.

The text below has been edited for clarity and space.

unique stories, united experience

Leanne Hume IB Visual Arts; Photography, & Lit / Writing I teacher

Where were you born?

I was born and I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

What do you remember about growing up?

Winnipeg is where my DNA comes from. It's a city, but it's not a big city. You know, lots of good people, lots of art. It's still home, even though we've lived many, many, many places.

What place is most important to you?

KIS. That’s where we raised Ollie, where she grew up. That’s where I hit my stride as a teacher. I got to build theatre & photography programs So opportunity to work with great people and great students, to raise a family It's this huge chunk of our lives, like, the most important time in your life, right? It's the golden years. You're running around like a maniac, because you have so much to do, but you wouldn't want to change it for a second.

What most prepared you for the war?

Nothing I'm a mess Nothing Like, really, no! Nothing

You realize that other people have gone through stuff like this because you see it in art, literature, music, and theatre And you're like, “How?” Like, how did they get that? And, I mean, I haven't really gone through a war I just I ran away, and, like, have not even been there I see other people going through it, and, you know, nothing on Earth should have to prepare anyone to ever have to go through anything like that ever.

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

Realizing how naive I was I really, honestly, honestly, honestly said, “Like, as if this is gonna happen!” How naive I was about how truly, honestly evil human beings can be to each other I really did not get that, uh, in my bones. I got it from the context of history, things you read, but I didn't understand that it could actually happen It’s like, you know it's going to be awful to lose a parent, but you don't know how awful till you do You don't really know how awful people can be until someone's really that awful

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I'm gonna hug everybody. Everybody! You can't even stop me! And there'll be some dancing And maybe some, like, screaming? I don't know I'll be so happy I might drink some vodka! And then I'm gonna start rebuilding And then, ensure it never ever happens again, which people said after WW II, but they seem to have forgotten.

John Semeniuk IB & AP History/ Business Mgmt Teacher

Where were you born?

I was born in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and that's where I grew up.

What do you remember about growing up?

The park next to my house because there were tennis / basketball courts When there was ice, they put up boards so we could play hockey Then, when the snow melted, you could shovel away a little spot and play basketball I spent many, many hours at that place

What place is most important to you?

Our home in Ukraine I think of the backyard and the amount of time we've spent there, and the effort we've put in there. You know, planting trees and watching them grow, and just building dreams and a family there.

We never even thought we'd be able to necessarily own a home, and the fact that we do -- and then to have had so many special, special memories and moments there -- it's I guess I hold it quite closely

What most prepared you for the war?

On one hand, it's like, nothing can you equip you for it But then, on the other hand, everybody's got to manage. I think I would lose my mind if we couldn't help. For our first five years in Ukraine, we worked in some orphanages in Southeastern Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih We would do a little bit of fundraising and just coordinate things.

The reality is, Ira is an unbelievable coordinator. I'm just the muscle that does what she says, so I think we end up being a good team in that way You know, “Here's your mission Go do it ” That really equipped us to do the logistical stuff in Poland, get stuff from other parts of the world into Ukraine.

Also connections in Western Ukraine -- especially from Ira growing up in her Church community -helped us create a distribution line into Western Ukraine and then beyond into the rest of the country

Also, working at KIS and having all these connections with people all over the world who want to help. So, kind of using the skills and the relationships we had before I feel very, very fortunate to be able to be useful in that way.

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

The fact that evil really does exist You feel that it's, like, a theoretical thing and then, once the war started, it's, like, “Oh no, it's a real thing ” And it's dark It's very, very dark You know, losing people, and, just… for no reason at all.

You feel the pain that a lot of other people have felt Because we're very fortunate in what we’ve experienced We've been very, very fortunate through all of this So, we can’t complain because a lot of people lost way, way, way more.

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

Honestly, I haven't thought too much about this I don't want to get my hopes up or think it's going to happen anytime soon. Not too high not too low. I think it'll just be probably lots of tears. And then it'll be figuring out, “Okay, what's next? How do we get back to where are we most effective?”

Helen Kasian Middle School & High School Art teacher

Where were you born?

I was born in Ukraine, in Kyiv I grew up on the Right river bank, near Sevastopol's'ka Square

What do you remember about growing up?

I studied Hindi in the Gymnasium of Oriental Languages Number 1 on L’vivska Street I could say that I actually grew up over there because most of my time I was at school Literally, starting at 8:30 and finishing up at 7:00 P.M. I really love Golden Gate area, the coziness of the area, the history behind it The majority of the buildings were built before Stalin's period, before 1917, before the Bolsheviks Revolution That particular area has the spirit of the old Kyiv

What most prepared you for the war?

So, you have no choice about whether or not to go through it First of all, it's the ability to be flexible I think actually Covid was quite useful You know, you cannot give up You just move on and become flexible. The other part would be the ability to speak a different language. At the beginning of the war, I was in Poland, and I was able to help Ukrainians because I spoke English. I've learned Polish as well, just catching up Something that was extremely useful was that I traveled a lot, so I was used to not being scared by being alone in another country My family were very worried You know, they told me, “Do not go back.” And I'm like, “But I want to go back!” I knew nobody in Poland. I absolutely had no contacts and no place to live and stuff but, you know, you can find the options.

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

It's not to have the ability to go to your home. I got back initially in April. For the first two weeks of War, I just couldn't feel any worse. I've never felt like this before. It's exactly how I think people would feel if they're saying goodbye to somebody who's, like, in space but they know they will never be back I'm very thankful that it wasn't me physically, but I felt exactly like this every time I was talking to my family or to my friends I felt that this could be the last conversation I'm having with them. This was an extremely painful experience. I wasn't ready for that, you know? Realizing that, at some point, I could lose everyone from my life, everything -- and I literally can do absolutely nothing about it -- was the most devastating experience that I've ever had

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I think that I'm just gonna hug people around me! It doesn't matter who they are Like, if I know them or not, it doesn't matter! Then, I think I'm gonna buy a bottle of champagne and make a family call

Tiny Teac nterviews

Irene Bykova. Intensive English Coordinator at KIS

Where were you born?

Irene Bykova Intensive English Coordinator

Where were you born?

I was born at a military base in the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan My father used to be a military man

I was born at a military base in the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan My father used to be a military man

Wh t d member about growing up?

What do you remember about growing up?

place to place When I was five, we moved to Ashgabat, then we were in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Algeria oved to Kyiv when I was fifteen From the moment I stepped out of the airplane, I felt like I came home ost important to you?

We moved from place to place When I was five, we moved to Ashgabat, then we were in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, a couple other countries We moved to Kyiv when I was fifteen From the moment I stepped out of the airplane, I felt like I came home

Ukraine. The minute I came, I got interested in the culture and history. I got interested in customs and traditions. I fell in love with Ukrainian embroidery I have a collection of over 100 antique Ukrainian shirts The ‘youngest’ one is 70 years old The rest are much older That brought me to know a lot of musicians who were interested in folklore music, and artists that specialize in Ukrainian everyday village life. I got very deep into the hidden part of the Ukrainian culture. I realized how big the country is and how unique every single part of it is

What most prepared you for the war?

What place is most important to you?

Ukraine The minute I came, I got interested in the culture and history I got interested in customs and traditions I fell in love with Ukrainian embroidery I have a collection of over 100 antique Ukrainian shirts The ‘youngest’ one is 70 years old The rest are much older That brought me to know a lot of musicians who were interested in folklore music, and artists that specialize in Ukrainian everyday village life. I got very deep into the hidden part of the Ukrainian culture I realized how big the country is and how unique every single part of it is

My parents, I guess my dad in particular He and my mom would always say, “You are the representative of our family Wherever you go, whatever you do, it's not just you. It's us and your brother with you.” Both of my parents are Ukrainian, but in the Soviet Union, we were all mixed up It was meant to be that way, so we would lose our national identity But I knew deep in my heart that I'm Ukrainian Now, I would like everyone to know my country from the way I present myself I just decided that it's my mission I was I was raised that way

What most prepared you for the war?

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

My parents, I guess my dad in particular He and my mom would always say, “You are the representative of our family Wherever you go, whatever you do, it's not just you It's us and your brother with you ” Both of my parents are Ukrainian, but in the Soviet Union, we were all mixed up. It was meant to be that way, so we would lose our national identity. But I knew deep in my heart that I'm Ukrainian. Now, I would like everyone to know my country from the way I present myself I just decided that it's my mission I was I was raised that way

Every single day, no matter what I do, I think that I'm not doing enough I didn't leave Kiev I stayed here until all the nearby cities were freed I volunteered It was so scary to stay alone at night Our apartment has a concierge room One person is in charge of so many entrances I took night duties for two and a half months During the daytime, since I had a car, we rescued pets from the apartments People thought that they were leaving for a couple days, but then realized that they're not coming back So they were sending us the apartment keys by Nova Poshta We would get into the apartment, get the pets, and then decide where to send them

When I was able to finally reunite with my dad in the countryside outside Kiev, we did everything to support the territorial troops and our army But no matter what, no matter how much I do, I still think that I am not doing enough, and that bothers me

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

The hardest moment for me is that my brother, from the very first day he volunteered to join the Territorial Brigade After Hostomel, and Bucha, and Irpin were freed, they were sent to the northern border, the border with Belorussia, until the beginning of March. Now, he is in the Bakhmut area Every morning and every evening starts and ends with me checking to make sure he's okay

Every single day, no matter what I do, I think that I'm not doing enough. I didn't leave Kiev. I stayed here until all the nearby cities were freed I volunteered It was so scary to stay alone at night Our apartment has a concierge room

Of course, I need to make it sound fine for my dad, who is not a young man now. But he's a strong guy. He's a military man. I think he's proud to be the father of me and my brother

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

One person is in charge of so many entrances I took night duties for two and a half months During the daytime, since I had a car, we rescued pets from the apartments. People thought that they were leaving for a couple days, but then realized that they're not coming back. So they were sending us the apartment keys by Nova Poshta. We would get into the apartment, get the pets, and then decide where to send them When I was able to finally reunite with my dad in the countryside outside Kiev, we did everything to support the territorial troops and our army. But no matter what, no matter how much I do, I still think that I am not doing enough, and that bothers me.

I haven't cried since February 24, 2022 It's all inside of me I used to be so easily touched by a movie, reading, watching little kids in the strollers, seeing puppies, singing. I would just easily start crying. It's not because I became rock-hearted. I think it's just, I'm keeping it all to myself to be strong

I think the minute I will cry, I will just lose whatever keeps me all tight and ongoing. I do hope that on the day of Ukrainian Victory, which is approaching, I will just burst into tears of happiness and relief

The hardest moment for me is that my brother, from the very first day he volunteered to join the Territorial Brigade After Hostomel, and Bucha, and Irpin were freed, they were sent to the northern border, the border with Belorussia, until the beginning of March Now, he is in the Bakhmut area Every morning and every evening starts and ends with me checking to make sure he's okay. Of course, I need to make it sound fine for my dad, who is not a young man now But he's a strong guy He's a military man I think he's proud to be the father of me and my brother

I just want to let all this out and be myself again.

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I haven't cried since February 24, 2022 It's all inside of me I used to be so easily touched by a movie, reading, watching little kids in the strollers, seeing puppies, singing. I would just easily start crying. It's not because I became rock-hearted. I think it's just, I'm keeping it all to myself to be strong. I think the minute I will cry, I will just lose whatever keeps me all tight and ongoing I do hope that on the day of Ukrainian Victory, which is approaching, I will just burst into tears of happiness and relief I just want to let all this out and be myself again.

Anatoly Prima Physical Education teacher

Where were you born?

I was born in Kyiv, and I grew up in Kyiv. I'm just 100% a Kyiv citizen.

What do you remember about growing up?

Old Winters The winters that we have now, it's totally different than we used to have Old Winters and quite happy childhood times I was busy with my friends after school, you know, on the ice slides and stuff like that I did swimming professionally in the club, and then then I did the biathlon Lots of sports Lots of activity

What place is most important to you?

I did a lot of things in my life I started to work at 19 years old I visited a lot of places But the last 25 years was dedicated to KIS That's one of my best places In this place, I got family You know, we worked in this place, basically, a quarter of my life

Just recently, I watched the CEESA online swimming competition in Warsaw. There’s memories and memories and memories Some of the students, they study in Warsaw at PSI

Also, the gastronom where I met my wife; standing in the line for three hours to get oil, and there’s a nice girl standing behind me, so I give her a spot in front of me “Please go ” And, you know, talking, talking And this is how I met my wife

What most prepared you for the war?

It's a really philosophical question Family and Community It's family and people surrounding you

When the war started, nobody knew what to do. It was just loud explosions. But then, you have a family and everybody's supporting each other The family talks, discusses It was not just one decision made by me It was decisions made by the family Even escaping from Bucha, it was a difficult decision for entire the family Julia and I were a little bit afraid because we knew everything was surrounded by Russians But, again, we had a family meeting We had a nice conversation and we all decided.

Having neighbors was also really important We were supporting each other People were helping each other, next to each other At that moment, we had How do you say? I would say suspense, right? It was unknown for everybody We never experienced the loud sounds, or, you know, explosions. It's just … it's not easy to talk about the war.

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

I remember some students from KIS contacted me and, you know, they tried to escape They asked me to help them, but when you’re far away... They were outside of Kiev. It was impossible. That was really difficult. Somebody said -- I don't know how it will it sound in English -- something like, “If you tasted the war at least one day, you will never forget until the end of your life ” And it's true After the war, rebuilding the buildings, rebuilding the economy, the factories, it's another 15, 20 years A tremendous, giant piece of work People are helping right now In Bucha, for example, they’re cleaning the parks. A lot of people came out.

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I'm gonna go and hug the neighbors I'm gonna hug my family and just gonna be probably screaming and celebrating for hours!!

Olga Kardash Intensive English Teacher (any possible age)

Where were you born?

I was born in a little village in the east of Ukraine, in Luhansk Region. I grew up there. I went to school there, fell in love with English there.

What do you remember about growing up?

My home was a combination of many nations. My mother's father was from Russia. My grandparents were from Western Ukraine. What I loved about my dad's parents is that they taught me this: family matters the most Family’s number one Every Sunday, wherever we go, by lunchtime we’re supposed to be at Grandpa's My uncle, my cousins We eat, you know, traditional food that Grandma cooks We are there regardless of anything. We have no choice but to stand for the family. That's what makes Ukraine. We're made of strong families. The Army fights for us. We stand for the Army. That's how it goes. The Army doesn't fight for presidents They don't fight for parties The Army fights so we can sleep and live and enjoy life and we do all we can to stand behind the Army's back

What most prepared you for the war?

I love history I love the culture Everything about Ukraine was brought to me by my grandparents from Western Ukraine. I think it's with the blood, the love for Ukraine. Also, I loved school. I loved studying. I loved analyzing history and seeing and hearing the real-life stories from Ukrainians. I knew if we were going to be in war, it's only with Russia, because that's what we've been doing as long as Ukraine exists

I believe in education. I believe you need to bring it up with all the truth. You know, with all the negative things also that we do, but it's our business. It's our country and it's our thing. We will deal with it. Who are you to tell us what to do with tanks?

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

That thought that I might never see my house again where I was born The thought that my parents … You know, they're old already, and for almost 10 years, they're kind of a scattered, not having their place. It's hard for me to see that. Nobody knows, right?

We hope Hope never dies We hope We dream about going back and rebuilding our parent’s home and celebrating My dad said he's going to cook shish kebabs and open the doors and treat everyone celebrating victory.

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I will kneel and praise God for standing by our side, for keeping my family safe, that I get to live to that moment, and that Ukrainian soldiers and people will not die anymore. I will be grateful forever. I will sing to the Lord with all my heart, saying, “This is the moment we hoped for, and this is the moment you helped us get through.” And then I will stand up and plan the biggest celebration I ever planned in my life and invite everybody I can think of.

Oksana

Chemerys

Secondary Mathematics Teacher

Where were you born?

I was born in Kyiv I lived all my life in Kyiv

What do you remember about growing up?

I was born in the old wooden house my great-great-grandfather built Many, many years, many generations we lived in this house He planted trees in honor of his wife, my great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mom These trees are still there

What place is most important to you?

I love Kyiv My roots are there I love to go to Podil It's my favorite way to spend weekends if I have good weather and a lot of time

What most prepared you for the war?

I think nobody could prepare for all which happened My great-grandmother lived until 91, and she was absolutely in a clear mind. You know, she could not move. She was lying 10 years in the bed. She went through the First World War, the Second World War I was just twelve years old when she died When I talked to her, she told me about what happened with her She went through absolutely crazy things, and still, when she was going to die, she said, “I am happy ” How can it be? She went through everything, all this cataclysm She lost her son in the Second World War. Her daughter was suffering for cancer. She died in three months. So, how can she say, “I'm happy”? Probably because she could see me and my brother, just newborn. Just the family, you know? I think she put some wisdom into me It helps me to go through all these things

What has been the most painful thing you've experienced?

My son is inside of it It was difficult, in the beginning, because he was prepared I thought maybe, maybe “Not maybe, Mom It will be for sure ” He was a very successful IT worker, very smart Just 25 years old In November, 2021, he signed a contract with the Territorial Defence. Mostly, he had no training. Maybe a couple weekends. Saturday, Sunday, some training with a wooden gun, you know? And, immediately, on the 24th, at the beginning of the war, at five o'clock I hear this explosion, and understood: 100%, it's War

I said, “What are you doing?” “I'm going to my location ” And it was very hot I thought, “Oh my goodness I have seen him on the 31st of January, and maybe it's the last time.” This was very painful. This day was very painful. I did not eat I did not want to do anything I was with my mom We just sat and looked at the computer We did not talk to each other We were just just trying to have some hope

But today, I got an SMS from him. We have an agreement. Every morning, if it's possible, he writes me, “Good morning,” and then my life starts.

He sent me a picture just a couple days ago It was in a basement, I guess So strange, so blue He's smiling, but, you know, I look at his eyes, and his eyes are just, yeah, very stressed. The doors to the soul, right? You can smile, but, in his eyes, I see.

What will you do immediately after you hear that Ukraine has won?

I will probably mentally emphasize all my appreciation to God, then the military guys who were killed in this war. And then, probably like, breathe with my family and with my friends.

Vyshyvanka Day 2023

On Thursday, May 18, KIS (along with the rest of the world) Celebrated Vyshyvanka Day.

Vyshyvanka symbolizes beauty, power, and family memory. Each region of Ukraine has its own special embroidery. In total, there are more than a hundred stitches in Ukraine. Each region has its own theme of ornamentation, traditional colors and details. Vyshyvanka is the clothing of free people. Since ancient times, Ukrainians who fought for their freedom wore vyshyvanka as a symbol of their national identity. This continues to this day: Ukrainian soldiers, defenders and volunteers believe that the next day of embroidery will be held in a peaceful Ukraine.

First Day Back (On Campus)

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Was A Very Great Day!

For the first time in almost a year, the KIS campus once again welcomed Kozaks in person!

Nearly a year to the day after the ruZZian War of Aggression forced the Kozak Nation home -- blanketing the always-lively KIS hallways & playgrounds in unnatural, unwelcome silence -- the campus re-opened.

A titanic amount of work by the admin and maintenance teams created conditions for the safe return of staff and students. Once again, Ukrainian determination, resilience, ingenuity, and hard work was on display.

On this page, you can see the joy on the faces of the very first group of returnees.

As KIS prepared to open its doors again, Kozaks past and present watched and waited

One of the most important guiding principles of our Kozak Nation is the unbreakable maxim, 'Once a Kozak, Always a Kozak '

Rarely has that been clearer or more important than it was in the days leading up to the reopening

A call went out for everyone who wanted to express their solidarity with those in Kyiv, and their fervent hope that KIS would make a strong first step towards a full return to the past level of activity and engagement

The photos on this page are a collage of the responses to that call

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

Originally a show tune from the 1945 musical Carousel, You'll Never Walk Alone has become synonymous with showing support and solidarity, including for individuals or groups who are mourning, isolated, or otherwise feeling down It is sung before and after every Liverpool match at Anfield.

(Source: https://www sportingnews com/)

To be clear, not every photo on this page was taken to acknowledge the first day back on campus.

But ever single one was sent to us by people who have called KIS home

Thought their hearts may be broken by the cruelty of the war, they shared a little of that same heart with us

This is what it is to be a Kozak in 22-23.

Thank you to everyone who answered the call, and sent us a little glimpse of where you are now and what you're doing

THE KIS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023

OUR SENIORS

Procrastinated everything. Even this quote.

the most likely to quietly take over the world

"See kids I told you mom was hot in high school." -

The most likely to be the life of the party, Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" style, is...

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. - Jim Rohn

Mariam Alharmi AKA

Tija Bassut

Sia Bhagat AKA the best candidate for the CIA

OUR SENIORS

"Everybody loves a bad idea when it works" - Cayde-6

The most likely to be killed first if he were in any horror movie ever made (no matter how kid-friendly it is) is...

"Life is like a camera. Focus on the good, develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, take another shot :)" - Chat GPT

AKA the most likely to be on the cover of Men's Vogue with Oleg

"Balls." Me. I said it.

The most likely to become a millionaire overnight is...

Wojciech Cichocki

Aditya Deshmukh

Taisiya Garbarenko

OUR SENIORS

"If you take the game of life too seriously ... you must turn on, tune in, and drop out."

"Dream until it is your reality."

The most likely to blame all her problems on mercury retrograde is...

"What a plot twist this was. " 2019-2023

Angelica Golubyeva

AKA the most likely to become a famous artist

Timothy Leary

- Anonymous

Veronika Iagniuk

Yelyzaveta Ishchenko AKA our school's most famous best buddies with Polina

OUR SENIORS

"I love when people underestimate me and then become pleasantly surprised "

The most likely to become a beauty blogger is...

"Life is too short to blend in.” on

AKA the most likely to know all the gossip at KIS (try me, Gossip Girl)

- Kim Kardashian

The most likely to become the next Bill Gates is

"The

dog barks, but the caravan moves on. "

Alexandra Kershaw

Anton Klimkin

Anakhita Latypova

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity"

ORS

efeats in life, be defeated"

The most likely to fight aliens (a

“Sometimes, the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else”

most likely to become president (for better or worse)

Anna Les

the Guinness Book of World s

- Albert Einstein

Omkar Nayak

- Uncle Iroh

Andriy Maksin

OUR SENIORS

"The soul selects her own society"

- Emily Dickinson

Our school's most famous best buddies with Liza is

“This sh*t's got to go. ”

Oleg

Nevidomskyi

AKA the most likely to be on the cover of Men's Vogue with Aditya

"We kno f h opl d th h d 't, ma

The mo e t rs trope too seriously and fall in love with her BFF is...

- Jacque Fresco

Polina Nechytailo

Daria Nikolaienko

OUR SENIORS

Listen to your heart." - Blad

I'm not big on formality and ritual but I would bow in front of any of these people because they were put into the most unforgiving of circumstances and they still managed to prevail. The grit and resolve of these people is unwavering and I'm honoured to be included here alongside you.

The most likely to become a comedian is...

Strive to work less and earn more than to work more and earn less Sergiy Volvach (My dad)

Maryna Pivnenko

Nikita Shefner

Sergiy Volvach

AKA the most likely to be the biggest drama queen

Messages for Our Seniors

From Current & Former Staff

One of the coolest things about having a physical copy of the yearbook in your hands is getting friends and colleagues to sign it.

Like a lot of the cool stuff that makes school more than just a building, that experience has been taken away from the KIS Class of 2023.

By way of providing a little something to make up for that, the yearbook team put out a call to Kozaks who wanted to 'sign' your yearbook for you. Since we used Facebook, the congratulations below are screen-grabs of the messages we got back.

Enjoy!

Congratulations on graduating and here's to your next adventure! We're so proud of you, and honored to celebrate graduation day with you! You are a star in the making! Congrats and shine on! Best of luck on your new beginnings!

CONGRATULATIONS to KIS Class of 2023!

Our warmest Italian hugs & Best wishes to such an amazing class of Kozaks!

Alberto & Lucia (parents of old Kozaks Gio & Pietro)

Messages for Our Seniors

From the Frontlines of the Information War

Since the war started, the world's attention has been focused on Ukraine. Governments, groups, and individuals have expressed outrage and horror at ruZZia's illegal, immoral, and brutal acts of terrorism and cruelty. Ukraine's allies have donated billions of dollars worth of humanitarian and military support. Tens of thousands of individuals have joined protests and marched in support of Ukraine in every capital city in the free world.

Yet, there is still support for ruZZia, and the ruZZian state itself produces huge quantities of propaganda, disinformation, and misinformation. Shocking as it is, this information exists, and it complicates Ukraine's war effort in many, many ways.

Fortunately, Ukrainians and Ukrainian allies on the information battlefield are just as creative and tireless as the AFU.

When the yearbook team put out a call for messages of congratulations for the Class of 2023, we received an overwhelming number of heartfelt, emphatic responses from information warriors of all kinds: pro-Ukrainian social media activists, writers, speakers, humanitarian activists, journalists, academics, diplomats and government leaders. We are overcome with gratitude, and humbled by the power of the words we got back.

Please read the Twitter bios that accompany each message. These are prominent defenders of Ukraine, and of the ideals at the heart of free, democratic government. All of them recognize the courage shown by the Class of 23 (and, of course, by extension, the entire Kozak community.) All of them are aware that once Ukraine wins the war, important work will need to be done by right-thinking, principled, and knowledgable citizens.

Consider following them and others like them on social media, not just for access to their invaluable words & ideas, but also to offer them your support as they support Ukraine

The messages on the following pages are all 100% real They have been arranged in the form of Tweets

To the class of 2023: Never forget this fact Thanks to the strength each of you, and your entire generation, Ukraine has already won.

School is tough Being a teenager is even tougher Add in a global pandemic followed by a full-scale invasion and few could expect Kyiv's class of 2023 to reach the finish line – yet you have! The grit you've shown is an inspiration I can't wait to see what you achieve next

Dear 2023 graduates, I salute you. Graduation is truly one of the most wonderful things in life. Unfortunately, we’re now going through a difficult time in this country. But we all have a glorious future this world is a wonderful place and it’s now wide open for your talent.

Congratulations from Saint Javelin! No matter what was happening in the last few years, you persevered and made it here Each of you should be proud of yourself and I am incredibly proud and amazed by each of you Now go on into the world and do amazing things for Ukraine!

The class of 2023 has lived through some difficult times Nonetheless, you succeeded and are ready to impress the world! I know you will make Ukraine proud and great things lie ahead of you

Be brave, be strong, be bold!

Congratulations!

I just want to say a massive congratulations to the Kyiv International School graduating class of 2023 I'm currently sat here in the container of a train We're delivering humanitarian aid to Kharkiv But, I wanted to take the time to say, 'Thank you so much for everything you guys have done You're going to rock the world!' Congratulations!!

Congratulations to the Kyiv International School graduating class of 2023!

The Fellas want each and everyone of you to know just how proud we are of you The world now awaits you all, and we will be here to support you and the country of Ukraine through everything

Slava Ukraini!!

Dear graduates of the year 2023! I sincerely congratulate you. Thank you and your teachers for your courage and perseverance. Despite everything, you have successfully completed a very important stage of your life.

I believe in your happy future, the future of strong and brave people, those who, having gone through the anxieties of war, will build a strong and democratic country, a progressive and highly moral world. Good luck in all your future endeavors!

Volodymyr Shkurov Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Albania

Dear KIS Class of 2023,

Many of you have felt extraordinary tragedy alongside many Ukrainians and experienced various hardships of war first-hand. You have demonstrated resilience, bravery, and exceptional work ethic – all of which you should be very proud of. Dream big, be imaginative, and continue to bring what you have learned to help Ukraine achieve victory. Congratulations to the 2023 class at the Kyiv International School. Slava Ukraini!

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 from the Kyiv International School! Every graduating class of 2023 is special; reaching this moment is a major achievement for anyone But the circumstances under which you reached this milestone are truly extraordinary! Your bravery, determination, and focus –like all Ukrainians today – will serve you well in your next chapter From extraordinary challenges emerge extraordinary people You are that!

Congratulations to the Kyiv International School graduates of 2023!

The courage and resilience of Ukrainians is exemplary to the world Your generation will lead a free & independent Ukraine So keep learning and stay engaged for your country, for peace, for freedom, for democracy The European Parliament will continue standing by your side

The future of Ukraine is with you!

Slava Ukraini

Congratulations to the KIS Class of 2023! Now, more than ever, Ukraine needs a new generation of leaders: professionals with high moral character who are committed to making the world a better place, making Ukraine part of a united Europe using their acquired knowledge, and remaining faithful to the ideas of humanism and democracy I hope you stay honest, open-minded and hardworking

"We do not want our children to go through wars and suffering. Humanity has a chance to overcome global crises and build a new philosophy of life.

It’s time to assume the responsibility

We don't know how much of the time we still have. And since this Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony takes place during the war, I will allow myself to reach out to people around the world and call for solidarity

You don't have to be Ukrainians to support Ukraine. It is enough just to be humans."

From Ms. Matviichuk's Nobel Peace Prize lecture

Time to Take Responsibility given on behalf of The Center for Civil Liberties

December 10, 2022

Oslo City Hall, Norway.