Section I. School Overview

School’s Guiding Statements

Mission

Pechersk School International is a diverse learning community which provides an academically challenging programme in a student-centred environment. As an IB world school, PSI is committed to developing well-rounded, global citizens by promoting personal excellence in the classroom and beyond.

VISION

We grow. We lead. We succeed.

SCHOOL MOTTO

‘PSI…a place where we belong.’

CORE VALUES

Integrity, Honesty, Trust: We value acting on strong moral principles that build trust within our community.

Respect, Empathy, Tolerance: We value respect and understanding for each other’s individualities, cultures, beliefs, ideas and needs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: We value a diverse community where everyone is safe, included, appreciated, and feels free to be themselves.

Happiness, Joy: We value a joyful environment that promotes a happy and motivated community.

Parameters

• Maintains its status as a mid-sized IB world day school (not to exceed 600 students) that provides an international education for students aged 3 - 18

• Aligns school enrolment, facilities, finances, resources and capacity to ensure sustainability

• Maintains the international identity of the school whilst respecting Ukrainian culture

• Uses English as the main language of instruction, whilst demonstrating respect of mother tongue languages

• Approves and maintains programmes that promote the overall well-being of its students

• Ensures students' best interests are at the centre of all decision-making

• Enrols students and families, and employs staff who accept and exemplify the school’s mission, vision and core values

• Only accepts behaviour, from all community members, that ensures the safety, integrity, and dignity of all individuals

• Hires and retains qualified and flexible staff members who are committed to ongoing professional growth

• Expects direct parent involvement in the lives of their children at school

Commitment to Nondiscrimination

PSI is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of its community - irrespective of race, religion, creed, colour, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability or ancestry. The school does not tolerate physical, mental, sexual or cultural discrimination or harassment of any type.

Commitment to an Environmentally Friendly Campus

PSI recognises that its activities' impact upon the environment. The School is committed to continuously improving its performance in order to minimise that impact by implementing good practices that comply with national standards and international best practices. Guidelines for sustainability at all levels of the school, and its activities, are contained in the relevant procedural handbooks.

Definition of Learning

PSI is an IB World School that defines learning as a holistic, purposeful, learner-centred and inquiry-based process. At PSI, learners engage in a personalised journey of discovery, reflection and action, which is motivated by their passions and interests. Recognising that learning is limitless, individuals collaboratively build their knowledge, skills and understanding in academics, arts, athletics, and service, with the well-being of themselves and the wider global community in mind.

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end, the organisation works with schools, governments and international organisations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The Ib Learner Profile

As a fully authorised IB World School, Pechersk School International follows the philosophy and guidelines laid out by the International Baccalaureate, including its commitment to international education. The IB Learner Profile runs across all three IB programmes and, ‘is central to the definition of what it means to be internationally-minded’. (IB Learner Profile Booklet. March 2006).

Definitions and Philosophies

As a school committed to following best practices in education, PSI staff and leadership are working on clearly defining key terms and rationales. For example, you will find the definition or learning on page 5 of this guide.

As an offshoot of that process, each department / content area is developing its own K-12 philosophy statement. Here is one example.

The mathematics programme at PSI inspires students to discover the beauty and power of mathematics. In both Primary and Secondary School, students work both independently and cooperatively to become flexible, fluent and accurate in using multiple strategies and tools for solving mathematical problems and recognising patterns. At every grade, students develop their abilities to clearly communicate their thinking orally, in writing and using models, as they efficiently apply their mathematical understandings to find solutions to real-life problems. Learners are supported by teachers who use a differentiated approach to deliver inquiry-based, concept-driven instruction.

As the School continues to develop these clarifying and guiding definitions and statements, we will continue to share them with the PSI community as a whole.

Overview

Pechersk School International Kyiv (PSI) is a modern, comprehensive, co-educational day school serving students between the ages of 3 and 18 years of age (Early Childhood [EC] through Grade 12) from more than 40 countries. The name ‘Pechersk’ was taken from the area of Kyiv known historically as the city’s centre of learning, reflecting the discipline and integrity of the scholarship practiced at the famous Pecherska Lavra, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The school was started in 1995 by a group of parents from the diplomatic and business community, and is a not-for-profit entity. Enlisting the help of embassies, companies and individuals, parents opened the school with just 47 students. Since then, the school has grown to approximately 500 students. In August 2003, PSI moved to its current location at Viktora Zabily 7a, close to the centre of Kyiv on the right bank of the Dnipro River.

Our EC – Grade 12 staff is made up of more than 60 teachers from nine different countries with the four largest national groups representing the USA, Canada, Ukraine, and UK. All hold teaching degrees and more than 70% hold a Masters Degree; four of our educators have doctorates.

Admission is determined by the age of the student, previous school reports, an admissions screening procedure, and the school’s ability to provide a suitable programme within class size limitations.

The average class size for all MYP (Grades 6 - 10) courses is 15; DP classes (Grades 11 and 12) have an average of 10 students. The preferred maximum class size is 20, allowing for significant personal attention. (Please note that class sizes vary based on subject area and size of year group.) An English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme is available for non-native English speaking students through Grade 12 to support their development as English language learners. The school has no special provision for children with significant learning disabilities, but does offer support to those with mild to moderate identified cognitive or learning disabilities. The Secondary School has one full time Learning Support teacher and two teaching assistants who serve students Grades 6 - 12.

Facilities

PSI Secondary School is contained in two of the three buildings on campus. Building A includes a full-service cafeteria; art, music, and drama classrooms; three science labs and a science classroom; a performing arts space; and a double gymnasium with a swimming pool underneath. Building C has classrooms on all three floors, as well as a Design Technology lab, a library, an IT office, and other administrative offices. There are approximately two acres of outdoor area, including a covered Astro Turf soccer pitch. We also use the pitch and running track at the Litsey School adjacent to PSI; these facilities were completed in 2018 and are shared by both schools.

The site is completely enclosed with a gated entrance with access through electronically controlled turnstiles. The School is under 24-hour surveillance by security guards. PSI also leases tennis courts and other athletic facilities off campus to extend our physical education programme. The whole campus is equipped for wireless Internet.

Daily Schedule

Extra Curricular Activities begin at 15:30 or 16:00, depending on the activity. Students should not arrive at school before 8:00 or stay after 17:00 unless they are part of a scheduled and supervised activity. Students are not permitted on campus on weekends unless this has been pre-arranged with school administration and includes adult supervision.

The Six Day Cycle

PSI operates on a six-day rotation of classes. For example, Week 1 would hold classes for Days A, B, C, D and E. Week 2 would have classes for Days F, A, B, C and D. Week 3 would run classes for Days E, F A, B and C. The days are always communicated in our Monday emails and are posted at entrance points to the School.

Advisories

Our Secondary School Advisory Programme promotes a student-centred learning environment within a small group, enabling it to be responsive to the needs of all students.

At PSI, we recognise the importance of social-emotional development in the holistic growth of our students.

Through our Advisory Programme, we aim to foster meaningful relationships, to cultivate empathy, and to encourage a journey of self-discovery in a safe and supportive community. Our collective and individual well-being is enhanced as students and faculty engage authentically within their advisory group, crafting outcomes that are purposeful and personalised.

Specifics of the programme:

• Every student in Grades 6 - 12 is assigned to an advisory group with approximately 8-10 students and one teacher.

• Advisory meets daily for 20 minutes daily between 2nd and 3rd periods.

• Advisory lessons support the social-emotional development of students.

Exploratories And Study Periods

Every MYP student has opportunities to take some non-graded classes. The programme is designed to allow students to explore areas of interest from the arts to physical activity, from languages to leadership. Throughout the 6-day cycle, students may have as many as four Exploratory opportunities. Each class lasts for one quarter and is non-graded.

In addition, all Secondary students have at least two 40-minute study periods in the 6-day cycle. For MYP students, these are teacher-monitored sessions that allow students to work on upcoming homework assignments, work in small groups, or ask questions of teachers. DP students in Grade 11 and 12 are not usually teacher monitored, but they are encouraged to use the time to work on their academic subjects, meet with the counsellor regarding university applications, or speak with teachers.

Programme Organisation

PSI is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering all three of the IB programmes – Primary Years Programme (PYP) in EC – Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Grades 6 - 10 and Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12. (Both MYP and DP will be explained in depth in this guide.)

At High School level (Grades 9 – 12), students may follow one of three paths toward graduation.

• All students who successfully complete our high school program receive a PSI diploma, which is accredited by the Council for International Schools (CIS) in Europe and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in the United States.

• In addition, students may opt to earn IB certificates for some classes in Grades 11 and 12.

• Finally, highly motivated and proficient students may choose to work toward the IB Diploma, which will be explained in the DP section of this guide.

Regardless of which path they choose, all students must meet the PSI standards for graduation, as outlined in the chart below.

Three Paths To Graduation

It is important to note that students on any track can apply for top tier universities; each tier provides different options for acceptances to colleges around the world.