ReportAnnual21-22
PSI was founded in 1995 in the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, by a group of parents from the diplomatic and business community, who were seeking a genuine international education for their children in Kyiv. After nearly 27 years of its existence, PSI is a modern, co-educational day IB World School that offers exciting learning opportunities to students from all over the world. PSI delivers balanced educational experience using the authorised programmes of the International Baccalaureate for children aged 3-18 years old: PYP, MYP and DP LearnProgrammes.moreabout exciting learning opportunities at Pechersk School International at linktr.ee/PSIKyiv Follow @PSIKyiv Published and edited Pechersk School International Editor Nikita Vasyliev, Communications & Marketing Manager Copy editor Pam York, Publications Coordinator Design and layout Natali Miller torime.ua@gmail.com@Miller_Natali
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Pechersk School International (PSI) is a dynamic, diverse, not-for-profit international school community. About PSI ul. Warszawska 202, Bielawa, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland, 05-520 7a Victora Zabily, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039
WARSAW KYIV CAMPUS Creative coordination Yulia Lagutina yulialagutina@gmail.com@yulialockman
SATELLITE CAMPUS
3 /48 Table of Contents 6Director's Foreword 8Board Chair’s Introduction 10Guiding Statements 12Key Achievements: 21-22 in Numbers 16Financial Statements 18Emerging Stronger: Learning in the 21-22 School Year 20Ukrainian Externum Programme 22Inspired by… 36Class of 2022 38University Acceptances for the Class of 2022 40#IBAnniversary: Happy 21st IB Birthday, PSI! 42Accreditation 44PSI in 22-23 School Year 26Stand With Ukraine 34Parent Teacher Association 12Central figures 13#PSIKyiv team 14Digital World 15Enrolment 22Scholarships 24Offers of support 26Art for Peace in Ukraine 27Student Action
VOICES
PSI's Vision Statement
WORLDSPASSIONSVALUEDNURTUREDCONNECTED
Yulia Lagutina
Creative coordination
When we heard that PSI is looking for someone who will make the updated Annual Report design, we realized that it is something we would like to work on. PSI is a Ukrainian school born in Kyiv with a fantastic team that can overcome all challenges and makes an outstanding contribution to education. We wanted to become a part of this community in some ways.
Editing Team
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the creative team that graciously offered to support PSI and worked with us on this edition of the report - Yuliya and Natali, my creative colleagues from Ukraine.
Natali Miller Design and layout
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Nikita Vasyliev Communications & Marketing Manager
21-22 school year was an extraordinary year in many ways. There are no doubts that PSI will continue to live a long life as an organisation and as the school will eventually re-open its beautiful campus in Kyiv, heart of our beautiful home country - Ukraine.
It is my privilege to work on this special and unique edition of the PSI’s Annual Report 2022.
The goal of this project was to reflect the school values and accomplishments of the team and students and highlight the patriotic mood and strengths every person in the PSI community upholds through fresh design.
Our programme lives, develops, and gains strength. We hope that interest in it will continue to grow.
Слава Україні! [Glory to Ukraine!] Director's Foreword
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After a wonderfully positive start to our school year in August 2021, our world was rocked to the core by the inhumane and devastating attack on Ukraine. Nothing is the same as it was before February 24, 2022. This Annual Report reflects the reality of a school year that began with great optimism, as we all returned to campus following the difficult pandemic period. A year that presented the greatest challenge in our school’s history as we responded to the inevitable impacts of the war. Although we were as well-prepared as we could be, logistically speaking, it is impossible to be ready for the full emotional impact. Our staff, students, and parents were all affected; most especially, of course, our Ukrainian population. In the midst of the horror that Ukraine continues to be subjected to, Pechersk School International (PSI) shares its sincerest gratitude with the community of international schools, which has responded with an outpouring of supportive messages and concrete offers of help. Throughout this extreme situation, our PSI community has continued to demonstrate courage and strength. I am endlessly proud to serve this community and to be connected to the people of PSI: our wonderful students, our dear families, our resilient teachers, our dedicated staff members and our extraordinarily committed Board members, led with determination by Peter Erben. We look optimistically to the future. We are doing all that we can to help PSI emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. We are inspired by the many beautiful stories and joyous events that took place throughout this school year before, during, in spite of and as a result of the horrible war waged against PSI’s Whilsthomeland.themain enduring message is a call for peace, the other is a celebration of kindness, empathy, and generosity. I would like to share our sincerest gratitude with our CEESA school friends who have stood up for PSI and our community… and, indeed, for the brave, inspiring and extraordinary nation of WithUkraine.ongoing hope for a better and more peaceful world.
Rachel Caldwell Director Pechersk School International
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is the same as it was before February 24, 2022.
Nothing
Again, I cannot help but admire our students and staff and express my sincere gratitude to our parents and school leadership. We will forge forward into the next year with even bigger ambitions, knowing that here at PSI our student voices are heard, passions nurtured, and worlds
As this school year comes to a close, I am confident that all of the difficulties we have faced and had to overcome have made us stronger, wiser, more considerate and more supportive of each other.
Dear PSI Community:
Board IntroductionChair’s
The 2021 - 2022 academic year has definitely put our community through many trials. As the events of the year unfolded, the PSI community, along with the Board of Governors, courageously faced and responded to many challenges. The Board’s diversity in backgrounds, professional experiences and, at times, views, contributed to our ability as a Board to consider and re-evaluate various perspectives and, ultimately, agree upon our positions on many issues. Under significant time constraints, and with great urgency, several difficult decisions were made, all the while keeping the safety and well-being of our students and community members at the forefront of our minds.
I’d like to express monumental gratitude and the utmost respect to our Director, Rachel Caldwell, for her steadfast leadership, compassion, and calm; to the PTA for their energy, commitment to community, and flexibility; and to my fellow Board Members for their dedication and for sharing their expertise. I can assure you that being PSI parents ourselves, we have never lost sight of the essence of the Board’s main purpose, which is to ensure that our children receive the best educational experience possible. A special thanks goes to the Leadership Team, faculty, and staff for, once again, going above and beyond to ensure the quality of education never waivered, despite the circumstances. And finally, my sincere appreciation to the students and parents who demonstrated such resilience, courage, and empathy in manoeuvring through these unpredictable and difficult circumstances.
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Peter Erben Chair, PSI Board of Governors
PeterYoursconnected.sincerely,Erben
PSI Board of Governors, 21-22 school year 9 /48 Chair, PSI Board of Governors Peter Erben Chair, Facilities & Building Committee Lina Nemchenko Member, Governance & Strategy Committee Natalia Fiala Chair, Governance & Strategy Committee Nora Soliman Member, Governance & Strategy Committee Manuel Filon Morar Member, Facilities & Building Committee Jean-Louis Veaux Vice-Chair, PSI Board of Governors Member, Facilities & Building Committee Member, Finance & Risk Management Member,CommitteeFacilities & Building Committee Olena Malynska Secretary, PSI Board of Governors Member, Governance & Strategy Committee Lauren Shear Zinner Member, Finance & Risk Management Committee Robert McNeil Treasurer, PSI Board of Governors Chair, Finance & Risk Management Committee Ashley Mulroney Member, Finance & Risk Management Committee Floris Schuring Juliana Ballard
Sonja M Grade 12 student
The data collected was analysed and presented during a special retreat in November where a representative focus group (24 members) provided input. The process of determining our new guiding statements was filled with fruitful discussions and many interesting ideas.
PSI: How do you connect with the new PSI guiding statements?
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Sonja: I loved working up the different levels from being only involved in the student groups to then being part of practically the whole community and finally a very small finalising group. Being able to challenge different ideas and have my own ideas challenged was very productive and opened my eyes to how different people view the school I consider my home. I would love to be part of this again and see even more perspectives included, beyond just roles in the community but nationalities and backgrounds too.
Guiding Statements
PSI: What is your feedback about the experience of being involved in the development of these?
Sonja: I connect with the new PSI guiding statements very strongly. They better represent who our school is at this moment and the direction we are heading as an entire community. In the development of the new Guiding Statements we included a diverse group of community members across different areas of our community. Because of this the new statements better reflect all opinions and perspectives on the school. Personally, the new vision statement is especially exciting for me since the former vision statement was one of the more iconic and well-known statements of our school. It was sad to see it go but very exciting to build off of and enhance what PSI aims to do.
We would like to share with you feedback from our students who have been a part of this inclusive and to some extent student-driven process!
Earlier this school year we began a review of our guiding statements including our mission, vision, core values and parameters. Our aim was to assess whether or not these continue to reflect our reality and aspirations. This review process is common as a way to help schools (and other organisations) to stay current and remain forward-thinking. We invited our Board consultant, Dr Andy Page-Smith, the CEO of the Academy of International School Heads, to meet focus groups including students, parents, faculty, staff, leadership team, PSI’s Parent Teacher Assocaition and PSI’s Board of Governors. Andy synthesised the responses and ideas that were shared with him.
Everett J Grade 9 student Everett J: I connect to the new guiding statements more because they feel made by the whole community with everyone's voices echoed in each of the statements. I feel that they represent us better as a whole community, not just those creating the statements. The new statements, especially the inclusion of joy and happiness in learning is so essential to the process of discovery. Enjoying learning is so important in my learning that I feel more connected to our guiding statements now that they include this.
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PSI: How do you connect with the new PSI guiding statements?
It is an honour to present to you our updated guiding statements that reflect the voices of our diverse and vibrant school community. PSI’S MOTTO, MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS PSI’S CORE VALUES Motto A Place Where We belong personnalisedJoyful,challenging,andlearning an an inclusive communityinternational Mission We value acting on strong ourbuildprinciplesmoralthattrustwithincommunity Integrity, Honesty, Trust We value ideascultures,individualities,forandunderstandingrespecteachother’sbeliefs, EmpathyRespect, We value a diverse community where everyone is safe, appreciatedincluded, and feels free to be themselves Diversity, Equity, Inclusion We value a communityandpromotesenvironmentjoyfulthatahappymotivated JoyHappiness, We risk-taking,inspiration,creativity,value and passion everythingin we do CouragePassion, We value voice, choice empoweringagencyandin the ownership of learning AgencyVoice, Voices WorldsPassionsvaluednurturedconnected Vision
Everett J: Being involved in the development of these was one of the best things I did during my time at PSI. It felt as though I was helping craft and create guidance for what our school should look like years into the future. And the idea that I could be helping to improve the school not just for myself but for everyone was an incredible experience. Another great part of it was reaching out to students who wouldn't typically be heard to see what their thoughts were on the statements and hearing about where they wanted to go. And then taking them to the meetings where we developed the statements and doing my best to represent their thoughts and feelings about them. I was deeply impressed by how well my voice was heard. I wasn't pushed away or not heard, rather, listened to. Which only encouraged me more and helped me resonate more with the inclusion of ‘voice’ in our core values. All in all it was a tremendous process that I enjoyed, and felt that I was a part of something bigger to help guide a school that I both love but also think has room to grow and different directions it can reach out into.
PSI: What is your feedback about the experience of being involved in the development of these?
12/48 33 Grade 12 students graduated in the 21-22 school year 100% pass rate on the IB DP Exams of the Class of 2022 15 zonestime 100 average number of students that joined PSI lessons virtually 59 countries 71 number of times PSI’s Board of Governors held meetings 21-22 PSI Life in PSI’s learning programme was redesigned to enable learning experience for students all across the globe. Key 21-22Achievements:inNumbers Central figures 17 Virtual Town Hall meetings were hosted by forleadershipPSIteamPSIfamilies
49 Operational Staff 15 Nationalities Inna Suslova Human Resources Manager Our staff are experienced, highly qualified professionals driven by a strong belief in PSI’s guiding statements. They are excited about, and committed to, creating dynamic learning spaces and learning experiences. 11% from the UK 34 Teaching Partners 44% from USA 14% from Ukraine 13/48 #PSIKyiv team 80 StaffTeaching
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FOLLOWERS 485 FOLLOWERS 3,6K SUBSCRIBERS 3,4K FOLLOWERS 1,8K FOLLOWERS 610 FOLLOWERS 540
Nikita Vasyliev Communications & Marketing Manager
Digital World Over the course of 21-22 school year PSI continued to grow and expand it’s digital community. We have been working hard to ensure that PSI’s voice was not silenced. We remain grateful to active members of our community and invite you to become a part of PSI’s digital family by following our social media pages. Please visit our business card page here: linktr.ee/PSIKyiv
PSI remains a very popular choice among both, Ukrainian and international families, despite the current situation in Ukraine, and we maintain strong enrolment for the options offered for the SY 2022-23: Warsaw satellite campus and the online programme in partnership with Avenues Online.
PSI grew from an initial enrollment of 47 students when it opened in 1996, to a school of nearly 550 students in the school year 2021-2022 (99% of its total capacity). In fact, enrolment has grown every year to date, arriving at a total number of 546 students at the end of the school year 2021-2022. This is a huge achievement, and one that makes the 2021-2022 school year positive for us, despite the pandemic crisis and the horrible war waged against Ukraine.
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52 NATIONALITIES 378 FAMILIES 546 STUDENTS 29% FROM UKRAINE 383 INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS 22% FROM THE USA 163 STUDENTSDIPLOMATICFROMFAMILIES Enrolment
Tetiana Dronchak Admissions Manager
5% FROM THE UK
As for the School financial performance, the graphs below illustrate Income sources and expenses categories for the 2020 - 2021 school year.
Financial Statements
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Audit results for last SY Key reviewprojects Key Financial Indicators for the period from SY 2017 - 18 to SY 2021 - 22
Natalia Mostepanyuk Business Manager
Financial Year Annual Story
PSI as a not-for-profit school continues to undergo the annual financial audit. According to our procedure the audit is run by the most reliable auditing firms in Ukraine. The auditor analysed our financial reports for SY 2020 - 2021 as well as assessed the key risks. The general conclusion stated in the auditor’s report is ‘consolidated financial statements present fairly […] as at 31 July 2021, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
PSI(IFRSs)’.isanot-for-profit school governed by the Board of Governance elected from within the parent community. All School income is generated by tuition fees and is redistributed to teaching and learning activities and campus operation support. Separately, the School collects a Strategic Development Charge (formerly Capital Levy) that is being accumulated in Strategic Development Funds for the purposes of capital investments and strategic long-term initiatives. The key projects for SY 2021 - 2022 overseen by the Finance and Risk Committee of the Board are: Ukrainian restructuring and business continuity plan development. Development of the next SY financial scenarios was the focus of the Finance Committee during the second semester.
School Year 425 429 483 486 519Enrollment (paid students) 1,266,228493,179779,962986,8691,329,813Operational Income 3,182,0113,794,4925,115,7576,411,6038,352,364
The Strategic Development Fund aims to ensure the School has funds for its development and strategic initiatives to improve the learning process. The fund reached the level of 2.2 million USD at the end of the 2020 - 2021 school year. The graphs above are generally typical for not for profit international schools. Staff and their expertise are seen as the major expense and greatest asset of the school.
94% Tuition Fees 6% Strategic Development 6%94% 78% Staff Expenses 8% Educational Program 4% COVID Mitigation 4% Maintenance&Service 3% Equipment&Software 3% Other Expenses
Share of total Expenses, %SY2020-2021 Share of total Income, %
2017/2018ActualActual ActualActual 2018/20192019/20202020/20212021/202201.08.2022Projection
Accumulated cash at the end of School year* 10,403,01510,605,35111,612,75712,155,94112,640,014Operational Revenue (9,136,787)(10,112,172)(10,832,795)(11,169,072)(11,310,201)Operational Expenses 2,284,1972,528,0433,503,3364,270,1965,600,009*including Raserve Fund
The table below displays the school's financial performance over five years, including the latest estimation for the SY 2021 - 2022.
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PSI continues to increase the reserve fund to strengthen its financial and operational stability. According to PSI policies, it amounts to 25% of Operational Expenses. The reserve fund reached 4.2 million USD in SY 2020 - 2021, reflecting the School's strong position in regards to expected economic shortfalls due to the pandemic and geopolitical crises.
SY2020-2021
The 21-22 school year required flexibility, patience and resilience from every PSI community member. We united in a strong partnership which allowed us to continue to offer an outstanding learning environment - no matter where we were. We would like to thank all our students, our faculty and staff, our families and our Board of Governors. Everyone provided exceptional support and showed remarkable strength and true dedication.
Emerging Stronger: Learning in the 21-22 School Year
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Olena Kovalenko Director of the PSI’s Ukrainian School
20/48 In the 2021 - 2022 school year, the Ukrainian Externum Programme at PSI had 96 students enrolled in 11 classes across the school.
Our programme lives, develops, and gains strength. We hope that interest in it will continue to grow.
PSI is the only international school in Ukraine with approval from the Ukrainian School of External Studies to offer an additional general education programme accepted by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine. Students study a combination of classes offered by Ukrainian programme teachers and IB classes which are accepted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. During the course of the last school year, the Ukrainian school continued to work hard on implementing a series of tasks from the educational experiment “Teaching and methodological support of teaching International Baccalaureate programmes in the system of Ukrainian education" that is being officially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In the fall of 2021, we gained recognition at a national level and received a letter of gratitude from the Institute of Modernisation of Education of Ukraine. We are committed, and remain excited, to continue this journey as we learn more about the implementation of the IB programme's curriculum into the Ukrainian one. We are proud of our four students from Grade 11 and 8 students from Grade 9 who successfully completed their studies in PSI’s High and Middle school divisions of the Ukrainian Externum Programme. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, Primary school graduates also received their diplomas - a state standard document that qualifies their receipt of education in PSI’s Primary division of the Ukrainian Externum Programme.
Ukrainian ProgrammeExternum
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Our students
Freie Schule Anne-Sophie
Amsterdam International Community School Avenues Online School
French American School of Princeton International School of Bergamo International School of Carinthia International School of Copenhagen International School of Estonia International School of Hannover Region School of InternationalKrakowSchool of Latvia International School of London
Inspired by…
Big Picture Montessori School
Albanian College Tirana American School of Warsaw Anglo-American School of Sofia Anton Bruckner International School
Branksome Hall Asia Cebu International School Frankfurt International School
Pechersk School International would like to express its sincere gratitude for the support and practical assistance offered by so many schools and organisations across the globe during the very challenging and painful times that defined the 21-22 school year. These pages are dedicated to you, our dearest partners, friends and supporters. Together we demonstrate a strong stance reflecting the values necessary to create a better and more peaceful world
Since the beginning of the war waged on Ukraine, 140 PSI students were supported by 78 International schools around the world through the allocation of tuition free placements:
Benjamin Franklin International School Berlin Brandenburg International School Berlin International School
American International School of Bucharest American International School of Budapest American International School of Vienna American International School of Vilnius American International School of Zagreb
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Scholarships
isllondon.orgisl.edu.lvise.edu.eecopenhageninternational.schoolisc.ac.atisbergamo.comecoleprinceton.orgfreie-schule-anne-sophie.defis.educis.edu.phbranksome.asiamapletree.casa/big-picture-montessori.htmliskonline.orgis-hr.deaas-sofia.orgaswarsaw.orgactirana.edu.alaisz.hraisv.ltberlin-international-school.de/enbbis.debfischool.orgavenues.org/aonaics.espritscholen.nl/homeabis.schoolaisb.roaisb.huais.at
Monnet International School Nelson Mandela School Phorms Education in Germany QSI Schools (worldwide)
The International School in Genoa
American Community School of Abu Dhabi Schutz American School Bishkek International School International School of Prague Tashkent International School
Strothoff International School
International School of Paris International School of Riga International School of Stockholm International School of Trieste
Istanbul International Community School
ismonaco.orgisdedu.destjulians.comias.edu.pluwcsea.edu.sgsas.edu.sgbaliinternationalschool.comacs.sch.aenova.edu.mktisa.azisstavanger.noisbergen.noiscomo.comaisc.ac.cyclip.ptdwight.or.kryisseoul.orgtashschool.orgisp.czbis.kg/schoolschutzschool.org.egisriga.lvphorms.de/en/frontpagenelson-mandela-schule.netmaturamiedzynarodowa.pliics.k12.tristrieste.orgstockholmis.sedwightlondon.orgislyon.orgisb.rsasmilan.orgwbais.netvis.ac.attois.worldisgenoa.itstrothoff-international-school.comqsi.orgobs.edu.ptdanubeschool.comishamburg.orgisparis.edu
TISA Baku Nova International School
The International School of Como International School of Bergen International School of Stavanger
American School of Milan International School of Belgrade International School of Lyon Dwight School London International School of Hamburg Danube International school Oporto British School
Walworth Barbour American International School
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Vienna International School
American International School Cyprus
Bali International School
YISS DwightSeoulInternational School Seoul Oporto International School
InternationalUWCSEA American School of Warsaw St. Julian's DusseldorfSchoolInternational School International School of Monaco
The Ostrava International School
Singapore American School
Offers of support Standing together
KeepingKidskidsdiscover.comJStorTurnItInturnitin.comInThinkingthinkib.netFollettfollett.comEduCareReadymagreadymag.comSchoolAcademyacademyish.orgTumbletumblebooks.comWIDAwida.wisc.eduSeesawPebblepebblego.com/pebblego-nextGo&PebbleGoNextweb.seesaw.mebooksforInternationalHeadseducare.co.ukjstor.orgDiscoverkscpc.sa.edu.auSafeInternationalceesa.orgunifrog.orgcharacterstrong.comadobe.comecis.orgneasc.orgnwea.orgschoolsbuddy.comhappeo.comtoddleapp.comkonicaminolta.ua/uk-uaveracross.comjamf.comVeracrossKonicaMinoltaUkraineBaccalaureateToddleHappeoSchoolBuddyJAMFNWEA(MAP)NewEnglandAssociationofSchoolsandCollegesEducationalCollaborativeforInternationalSchoolsAdobeCharacterStrongUnifrogCentralandEasternEuropeanSchoolsAssociationibo.org
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Since the beginning of the war, PSI received more than 200 offers of support from individuals and organisations around the globe. These offers included: virtual teaching, support with counselling, offers of accommodation to employees, transportation for employees and special events such as Graduation as well as many other opportunities for displaced families and other members of our extended community.
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We invite you to enjoy this special project here: We hope that these combined and continuous efforts helped and will continue to help in any way our home host country and its brave and resilient people.
Art for Peace in Ukraine
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In addition to the ‘Stand with Ukraine’ support campaign, we launched a global student-driven art movement ‘Art for Peace in Ukraine’, which became a platform for contributors to raise their voices and attract additional attention from the global Ourcommunity.teamasked students and educators in the CEESA region and beyond to create art pieces depicting what ‘peace’ means to them. These were then uploaded onto a designated padlet that shows pins, images and messages from around the whole world. As of now, this beautiful padlet-map has more than 1900 submissions from more than 1000 locations.
Stand With Ukraine
After a wonderfully positive start to our school year in August 2021, our world was rocked to the core by the inhumane and devastating attack on InUkraine.response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, PSI launched two global initiatives to support all OneUkrainians.ofthem is a global digital campaign ’Stand with Ukraine’ that involved a massive spread of a special web page created on our website. This webpage explained the situation and provided viewers with an opportunity to commit and take action in supporting different groups of people that have been affected by the war. This list was compiled in cooperation with PSI staff and the School’s friends and partners. Areas of immediate support that we have researched included military and medical support, help to the children and volunteers; supporting women in Ukraine; support that can be offered to refugees from Ukraine; humanitarian aid and donations; sources for racial equity and inclusion in Ukraine; repository of LGBTQ+ organisations that require support in Ukraine; and ways to support Ukrainian Culture and Media through donations. Since the start of this campaign, PSI has reached more than 500,000 individuals digitally through our channels. We received support from dozens of international organisations that helped us by sharing the repository, donating and raising awareness within their audiences and partners. We continue to share this source and use it while communicating with the global community overall. Many teachers, staff members and parents have been kind enough to support us by spreading information about this source within their own circles.
This club emphasizes the beauty of Ukraine
Ukrainian Culture Club
Dariya Simonova PSI’s G6 student
I got the idea of this club by wanting to take action in a hands-on way. I always wanted to pass on my knowledge to other people, and that is when I began creating the club. We have scheduled meetings about once a week, which last thirty minutes. I organize games, activities, and presentations for the people that come, in order for them to be able to learn more about my beautiful country's culture. The announcement about my club is on our bulletin board weekly, where people can fill out a survey to register their interest. A lot of students and teachers have signed up just after the first few days of planning. This club emphasizes the beauty of Ukraine, and while these terrible events are going on around us, I try to bring joy to people who are part of the club, and that is something I really enjoy about the Ukrainian club. I love seeing smiles on people's faces throughout the whole session, and the way we explore new things together. My audience comes from many different countries, and not just European. There are people in Asia who are provided with a recording of our sessions so that they can learn with us even if they are in a different time zone. I learned that even if I may not be an adult, I still have the power to take action and represent my country the way I want. I plan on continuing this club in the future, even when there is peace and I am back in Ukraine.
Student Action PSI students continue to be proactive. There are many untold stories about student driven charity projects and fundraisers, outstanding volunteer work in the refugee camps as well as media work around the world to help raise awareness about the war in Ukraine… In this spread, we would like to share with you a collection of some stories from 6 of PSI students.
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I would also like to thank Mx. Mor [MYP Coordinator] and Dr. Krueger [Secondary School Principal] for helping me organize this, and being with me on this incredible journey.
They are our pride and indeed a great example of how strong young women are, just as we see it happening in Ukraine. Each of these students believes that our strength is in belonging. We invite you to take a moment and read these inspiring stories from Dariya, Mariya, Sasha Z, Maya, Sasha B and Karina.
msnwarszawa
The first days upon arriving in Warsaw were somehow both stressful and relieving at the same time. The survivors' guilt was intense, alongside the constant media coverage that would overwhelm me from performing any sort of task. I knew that one way I could get my mind off of things is to volunteer. Our family friend that already lived in Warsaw showed us a place where volunteers would make sandwiches for the people crossing the border. It was a museum that temporarily turned into a volunteering ground, which was convenient because the train station was 5 minutes away, so the sandwiches would get directly sent to the border. Although we did not know anybody there, it took one conversation to fully immerse ourselves into the environment, put latex gloves on, and get to work on the ‘sandwich making conveyor belt’. Everyone was very friendly, language did not feel like a barrier at all. If we ever ran out of an ingredient, there would always be someone stocking up in the nearest grocery store, to buy things from their own pocket. I truly felt like I was part of a community there. published on the museums Instagram Mariya Shevetovska PSI’s G12 student
From Sandwich Making to Awareness Raising
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Photos
Speaking of community, I also volunteered to co-create a presentation with my classmate, Sasha, for the whole community of PSI, to talk about what they can do to help Ukraine. The information ranged from reading reliable sources, to all kinds of Ukrainian artists for every genre. As an international school, I feel like we have a lot more opportunities than many Ukrainians to help this war, so the purpose of the presentation was to encourage students, teachers, staff, and parents to not give up and find ways they can contribute to the cause in their own way.
Link to the presentation
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International Student Council When the war started, I was on vacation, so upon return to Dubai, the home I hoped to be temporary, I wanted to take action. As the days went on, I watched the people in my community go on protest, and call out their governments to take action, while I could not do the same, all in-person aid attempts of mine fell through. For approximately a year, I had been attending a CEESA Leader's roundtable, which focused on maximizing snacks at social events, and getting students engaged in online activities. I had got to know these people and the type of leaders and doers they were. I was also talking to my close friend in Hamburg, who had raised hundreds of euros and collected numerous boxes of humanitarian aid. After Zoom calls with friends from Hamburg, we devised a plan - we would create a centralized platform that international schools could rely on to see how they could help. If I couldn't raise humanitarian aid myself, the least I could do was provide people willing to help with ways to help, so that as much as possible could be done. While it is still in the works, I am working on creating a website, with a section for everything about the conflict: the history and cause, reliable resources, and the main ways that each country/school can help, the website is not up yet, however hopefully will be running very soon. We have also made an Instagram @stucointernational which will focus on more quick updates. StuCo is working on a way to engage a community through a bingo, and the more engaged the communitythe more money StuCo will donate to an organization of choice. Whilst feeling hopeless and like I could not contribute, I found a way to connect with people all throughout Europe to find ways to help my favorite place on Earth, and its Ifpeople.youare
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interested in helping, we are looking for people who are good at website design/technology in general. As well, if you have moved schools, or know Student Council members, advisors, etc. from schools outside the CEESA area, I would appreciate it if you could give them my email 2023sashaz@psi.kiev.ua or vice-versa. We want to connect as many communities to this project.
Sasha Zhygalkina PSI’s G11 student
Living in Ukraine most of my life has made it feel like a second home. Despite not being a Ukrainian, losing that second home was a shocking and difficult process to go through. I moved to Poland before the attacks occurred, however, the knowledge of having people I know there during these times was terrifying. We did everything we could to help whoever needed to move to my country. My mum organized charities for collecting necessary resources and finding homes and jobs. I have gained motivation to start my own way of helping. I have created integrational lessons for Ukrainian students in Polish schools. We created a Polish-Ukrainian program with my CAS group and my brother’s nanny who is an assistant in the school, and who in fact lived during the bombing in Bucha. With her
Maya Kobyletska PSI’s G11 student
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help, we teach kids about Poland and our culture in an entertaining manner to make them feel welcomed. My CAS group took part in creating the presentations and coming up with new lessons. For our first lesson, we focused on Polish food. We spent some time exploring the various traditional dishes in sections of Poland, and then learned some useful words. Afterwards, we shared some delicious desserts that originate from the place where we live right now. For our next idea, we will continue with Polish traditions and some holidays which are essential to our culture.
Integrational lessons for Ukrainian students
It is a fascinating experience to work with these students, as they are all such wonderful people, and it brings joy to see them find happiness during this time.
Sasha’s Story Oleksandra (Sasha) Bakal (G12 student) spoke with Dr David Freeman about her experience at the outbreak of the war. Here are some excerpts from that Oleksandraconversation:(Sasha)
We were enslaved for many years, but our generation is going to break the cycle
Sasha plans a career in journalism. She believes this experience with the refugees will help her conduct interviews in the future with people in crisis. With the Russian withdrawal from Kyiv, she and her family returned home in time for the Orthodox Easter. She and her family were happy to be home. No one more so her very large dog raced around the house. But the sounds of explosions soon returned either in the form of new Russian missile attacks or Ukrainian forces detonating landmines planted by the retreating Russian invaders. “Oh, not again!” But as before, she became accustomed to the explosions and the constant air raid sirens. Like many other Ukrainians, she had her doubts about the President before the war; not anymore. She sees Zalenskyy as the man to lead Ukraine to Sashavictory.has ventured into the city center. She says it almost felt normal. Being with family is nice. Most of her friends, however, have yet to return. Some never will. But she feels her generation of Ukrainians will chart a new course, “we were enslaved for many years, but our generation is going to break the cycle.”
Bakal remained in Ukraine when nearly all of the other members of the PSI class of 2022 opted to leave. On the morning of the invasion, Sasha slept through the initial explosions. “You don’t wake up because of the explosions. You wake up because of an alarm. That represents the life of a DP (Diploma Program) student.” She says the sights and the sounds of the war were initially unsettling. “When I heard the helicopters flying overhead, I was really scared, but you get used to it quickly.” But another sound, or lack thereof, she found more bothersome. Her normally talkative father became very quiet. As an officer in the Ukrainian military, she knew he would be leaving soon to join the fight. Her family remained in Kyiv for a week until the rocket attacks drew too close. They escaped to Uzhhorod, a western Ukrainian town on the Slovak border. They join thousands of other Ukrainians fleeing the war in the central and eastern parts of the country. She worked as a volunteer, handing out relief packages to the newly arrived refugees. “Their eyes. I didn’t see anything in their eyes: no emotions, no stress, no tears. It was the worst thing I have ever seen, but the experience was very valuable for me.” Now she knows how to communicate with people in a crisis; how to help them without overloading them with more - making sure they have what they need in that moment.
Oleksandra Bakal (PSI’s G12 student) was interviewed by Dr David Freeman, PSI’s IB DP Coordinator. Oleksandra Bakal PSI’s G12 student
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Karina Gladka PSI’s G11 student
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The Story of Karina and her Family My mother and I have taken up the initiative to provide a range of distinct resources and services for Ukrainian people, both in Ukraine and those who have fled. Firstly, my family bought blood-stopping bandages for the army, as well as material out of which body armor is made. We also bought medicine for people with asthma, which is still very scarce and difficult to obtain in Ukraine, however we must also highlight the crucial contribution of the people of Kufstein who also provided medicine which my family helped organize. Finally, we bought and transported animal food from Austria to Ukraine, as well as diapers for little children. It was also crucial for us to ensure that not only people are safe, but their corresponding animals and pets as well. Facebook was used as a resource to gain information on people’s stories and their needs, which is where we found the story of a 22-year-old man who has unfortunately left his cat behind in his apartment in my neighborhood after evacuating to Poland. Thanks to my uncle who continuously goes in and out of Kyiv, we were able to organize him coming to the man’s house, picking up his cat from his friends, and driving to Warsaw where my Uncle and the man met. As my uncle described, seeing them reunite was a very emotional experience, further showcasing the value of pets and their effects on the mental state of Ukrainian people. Finally, here in Austria, we aim to stay in contact with Ukrainian people who have also moved to our area of Tyrol, and help them through the process of applying for health insurance, employment and other resources.
ideas. We are looking forward to interactions and integration with the well-established Parent Teacher Organisation (PTO) at the American School of Warsaw. We are very grateful for their readiness to welcome us and support!
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at PSI is all about enhancing our school community. We believe that by supporting families and making connections between teachers, staff, students and parents/guardians, we enhance the school experience for our children overall.
Tawnia Sanford Ammar Parent Teacher Association President
Parent AssociationTeacher
At the same time, we believe that fostering our connections as a PSI community is extremely important as we all settle into this unprecedented school year. We don’t know exactly what this will look like, and for that reason, we intend to invite all parents to an inclusive, fun event to share ideas that will influence our plans.
Overview of the 21-22 school year
The PTA has always been an invaluable group within PSI’s community. Excited by the opportunities that the 22-23 school year will present, we will re-imagine how our PTA operates in response to our very different circumstances and we will be guided by our community members’
In the 2021-2022 school year, our PTA supported specific initiatives for students and for adults in our community and often brought students, teachers and families together for fundraisers like the Holiday Card Drive, which featured art produced by students and parents and the art series held online for both parents and students in February this year. For community members, we held a welcome Wine and Cheese in September and regular Coffee Mornings throughout the fall. The online Pop-Up Market replaced the usual on-campus Art Market allowing us to continue to support local artists. At school, we helped enhance our childrens’ experience with Fall and Winter celebrations, with decorations donated by parents and an on-campus pumpkin sale.
The PTA worked enthusiastically with the school’s Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) team and supported them in organising PSI’s annual Zoom-a-Thon fundraiser event in December 2022. The successful collaboration led us to raise over 100,000 UAH. All contributions were allocated to support CAS programmes and the PTA’s community Theevents.PTA is delighted to be reuniting with the PSI families joining us in Warsaw! We hope you will consider becoming a member of this important group.
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The PTA is delighted to be reuniting with the PSI families joining us in Warsaw 35/48
Congratulations, class of 2022 and the faculty members who guided you through this most challenging episode.
Dr
Class of 2022 PSI’s achievedgraduates100% pass rate on the IB DP
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The class of 2022 earned an average of 36 points (this year’s global average is 31,98). Five candidates earned 42 points or more; with the highest score being 43 (out of a possible total of 45). The student earning the highest mark also earned a Bilingual Diploma. In total, 10 members of the class of 2022 earned the Bilingual Diploma. That’s a record high number for PSI. Congratulations, class of 2022 and the faculty members who guided you through this most challenging episode. School Principal Dr Jessica Krueger Amy Thompson Secondary School & University Counsellor David Freeman IB Diploma CoordinatorProgramme
Secondary
averageGlobal31.98pt.resulthighestPSIaveragePSI36pt.max45pt.43pt.42pt.
We were delighted to be able to host the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022 on the beautiful campus of the American International School of Budapest (AISB). They graciously hosted the event which allowed our graduates, their families and some faculty to come together and celebrate their collective achievements. Of our 33 graduates, 30 were able to join us in person and three were recognised virtually in the ceremony. We were also pleased to include two students who were graduating from AISB’s Ukrainian School Within a School in our celebrations. We are very grateful for the others who helped to make the event meaningful and memorable. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Hungary, H. E. Nepop joined the ceremony and shared an insightful and poignant speech to our graduates and guests of the ceremony. The reception was hosted by the Budapest Marriott Hotel on the banks of the Danube river and CEESA provided us with buses to transport our guests from the city centre to AISB.
Graduation for the Class of 2022
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UnitedCanadaStates
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Minerva University New York University (NYU)
University of (GlobalEDHECVrijeUniversityUniversityFinlandTampereofAmsterdamofGroningenUniversityAmsterdamNetherlandsBusinessschoolBBAtrack)France
University of Winnipeg Lawrence UniversityTechnical
We are extremely proud of our 2022 graduates and all of their hard work and perseverance throughout this difficult year. They continued their studies towards graduation and managed to apply and receive offers from many top universities across the globe.
University Acceptances for the Class of 2022
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United Kingdom
Queen Mary University of London Regents University London Royal Holloway, University of UniversityLondon College London (UCL)
University of Bristol University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Kent University of Law Business UniversitySchool of Leicester University of Lincoln University of the Arts UniversityLondon of Westminster University of York
University of Bath University of Birmingham Bayes business school (CASS) City University of London HULT International Business KingsSchoolCollege London Newcastle University
At PSI, learning occurs in a nurturing, stimulating and joyful environment. We aim for every student to fulfil their potential through learning opportunities that are inquiry-driven and applied to real-world contexts. Our IB teachers inspire students to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective learners. We value the development of personal skills and attitudes relevant to the learning needs of today and the challenges and opportunities of our world tomorrow. At PSI, we educate our students to be critical thinkers, problem-solvers and compassionate citizens who take positive action both within the school and beyond. We prepare students for global citizenship by emphasising intercultural understanding and by participation in engagements that emphasise global issues.
What does IB look like at PSI?
In many cultures, it is considered that once you turn 21, you enter the passage to adulthood. We believe that to some extent this age would refer to PSI as a ‘mature and established International Baccalaureate World School’, which we would like to acknowledge.
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At PSI we value student agency and seek ways to include our students in the decision-making processes of the school. This happens within the classroom contexts and on a grander scale such as the inclusive process for creating our school’s core values. Our Student Councils and Student Advisory Group are important vehicles for developing leadership skills, expressing creative ideas and addressing issues identified by the student body.
A well-established programme in international schools for many decades, the IB is also the fastest-growing curriculum in the world, in both international and national schools. The three IB programmes offered at PSI, (the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma) focus on developing deep conceptual understanding through the acquisition of knowledge, and development of skills and attitudes.
#IBAnniversary: Happy 21st IB Birthday, PSI!
The 2021 - 2022 School Year marks the 21st anniversary of Pechersk School International as an IB World School.
1999 PSI was authorised to offer a Diploma Programme 1998 PSI was authorised to offer the Middle Years Programme 2000 PSI was authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme
We remain committed to the development of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in the framework of what PSI is. We are grateful for the positive feedback which we received from the IB / New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Collaborative Learning Protocol (CLP visiting team, represented by Darlene Fisher and Miranda Rose.
We have seen an incredible commitment to the continued learning and well-being of students, as well as intentional care for the whole learning community in the thoughtful, responsive and supportive manner in which they have transformed learning programs as circumstances have evolved…We feel confident that the PSI team will continue to adapt, transform and embrace whatever lies ahead building on their already strong culture of learning.”
Looking to the future
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Jan Humpleby Primary Principal
“We have witnessed first hand the resilience, perseverance and strength of the Pechersk School International community in the face of unprecedented challenges
Recognition of PSI’s Status as an International Baccalaureate World School
As an organisation, we are excited to continue developing as a school through the joint IB / NEASC Collaborative Learning Protocol’s ‘Year of Reflection’. A part of this process, the school community will select five of ten Learning Principles as areas of focused reflection and future growth. Next year, members of the community will meet in teams to reflect upon these selected areas. These teams will then develop and share with the CLP Peer Evaluation Visit Team, our Future Design Plans that outline our aspirations as a school.
International Baccalaureate Baccalaureat International Bachillerato Internacional
PSI is proud to have completed the first two stages of the 18-month long Collaborative Learning Protocol (CLP) in the process toward re-accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and confirmation of our status to continue offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. In January we submitted the foundational standards report that details the required compliance that ensures PSI remains a safe and sustainable school for students (Phase I). Additionally, we submitted the preliminary report, highlighting aspects of our learning programme and we continued with the Preliminary Visit of the CLP during February and March (Phase II). This visit provided the team with an opportunity to learn more about the school through a virtual campus tour, conversations with members of the community and class observations.
Cindy Beals Director of Learning 42/48 Expected timeline for CLP process v1. [Trial school & early adopters] Accreditation a) Preliminary Reviev of IB Documents b) StandartsFoudationVisit (if new NEASC) IBtoApplicationNEASC&forCLP CLP VisitPreparatory(+FSupdate if returning NEASC) CLP Report&CommunityLearningReflectionsubmissionnof Evalution DecisionAccreditationandCLP VisitEvalutionPeerSpring, 2023March, 2022
We received positive recognition for our strong programme including compliance with standards, the thoroughness of our documentation, and the high calibre of learning at PSI. These stages have helped prepare us for Phase III of the CLP where in August we will begin a year of reflection as a community. This process will focus on five chosen aspects of learning with an emphasis on the evidence of impact on learning. This reflection, in tandem with our newly revised guiding statements, should provide key areas of focus as we position ourselves to reflect, grow and emerge from this crisis stroger for the future. In spring of 2023, the end of Phase III, we will develop and share with the CLP Peer Evaluation Visit Team (Phase IV), our Future Design Plans that outline our aspirations as a school.
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 4Phase 3
Feedback
Darlene Fisher Accreditation Team Visitor / NEASC International Education Miranda Rose Accreditation Team Visitor / American School Warsaw from / IB Collaborative Visiting Team
Protocol Accreditation
the NEASC
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“As the NEASC / IB Collaborative Learning Protocol visiting team, we have witnessed first hand the resilience, perseverance and strength of the Pechersk International School community in the face of unprecedented Wechallenges.haveseen an incredible commitment to the continued learning and wellbeing of students, as well as intentional care for the whole learning community in the thoughtful, responsive and supportive manner in which they have transformed learning programs as circumstances have evolved…We feel confident that the PSI team will continue to adapt, transform and embrace whatever lies ahead building on their already strong culture of learning.”
Satellite Campus in Warsaw
PSI in 22-23 School Year
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Pechersk School International is emerging even stronger than before and we are excited about the opportunities presented by the new school year.
The PSI team worked with determination and dedication to create unique learning opportunities for PSI students in various locations: both for face-to-face and online experiences. We are committed to our published plans for the whole of the next school year, whilst we are also planning to re-open our beautiful Kyiv campus home as soon as we can. Our goal is to provide continuity of learning and also to be an active contributor to the rebuilding of Ukraine.
A secure, beautifully maintained space at the American School of Warsaw Prefabricated buildings that provide additional learning spaces and offices. An area dedicated to PSI, to help us maintain our identity whilst we also integrate with TransportationASWand cafeteria services are available for all students in Warsaw Integration with ASW’s extensive co-curricular programme, service learning opportunities, student events such as dances etc
The IB Diploma Programme students, in addition to face-to-face learning, will also have enhanced access to Pamoja courses, a recognized course provider by the International Baccalaureate, meaning that a rich variety of IB DP courses will be available to them.
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46/48 A dynamic, thoroughly researched and proven to be effective online experience Online Programmes customised for students aged 3 to Collaborative,18 interdisciplinary projects that make purposeful connections to global issues One learning platform that integrates the student experience into one dashboard, where they can easily access daily schedules, Zoom links, courses, instructional resources, and assignments. Online Learning Programme with Avenues Online Scan this QR code to learn more about Pechersk School International:
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ul. Warszawska 202, Bielawa, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland, 05-520 7a Victora Zabily, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039 WARSAW SATELLITE CAMPUS KYIV CAMPUS @PSIKyiv enrol.psi.kyiv.ua
