Bravo! A Story of Courage and Resilience at KIS

In the heart of Kyiv, where sirens pierce the night and uncertainty lingers in every breath, one word rises above the chaos—a word that echoes through every hallway of Kyiv International School: Bravo.

Bravo to our teachers—everyday heroes who stand tall against the storm. After nights filled with explosions and sleepless hours in shelters, they arrive at school at 8:15 a.m., ready to teach. Some have buried loved ones who fell on the front lines; others have family members serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Yet, they keep going—turning fear into hope, organizing drama productions, sports events, and after-school activities to bring back the smiles stolen by war.

Bravo to our students—children of resilience—who, after nights spent in metro stations or basements, still show up with nearly 95% attendance. They learn under the harshest conditions—sometimes in bomb shelters, sometimes in classrooms, gyms, or even on the sports field. At any moment, they may grab their books and run underground while sirens wail above. Despite power outages, air raids, and damage from night attacks, KIS students keep learning, playing sports, and embracing life.

And yet, amid this reality, KIS achieved the extraordinary. This season, we sent five teams to international CEESA competitions:

• Middle School Girls’ Soccer in Krakow (with PSI)
• MS/HS Cross Country in Bucharest
• High School Speech & Debate in Prague
• High School Math in Budapest
• High School Boys’ Soccer in Sarajevo

For some schools, five CEESA trips might seem routine. For us, in Kyiv, under constant threat, it is monumental. It echoes Neil Armstrong’s words on the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Every trip was a leap of faith, a triumph of courage, and a declaration that we will not be broken.

But our bravery doesn’t stop at classrooms or sports fields. Recently, KIS organized a school-wide Marathon—a river of determination flowing through our community. From preschoolers to seniors, parents and students ran countless laps to raise funds for the Ukrainian Army. Together, we collected $3,200, donating to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and supporting KIS Athletics and CEESA teams.

Locally, we created moments of joy amid chaos:

• A Cross Country Meet with three schools
• The “Stand With Ukraine” HS Boys’ Soccer Tournament
• Friendly matches for MS boys and girls
• Drama production “Will Power”—a spectacular effort involving 42 students and 6 teachers, nearly three months of practice, and three big performances that brought our community together in a celebration of creativity and resilience.

These are not just games or events. They are lifelines—reminders that even under fire, education and teamwork endure.

We are deeply grateful to every CEESA school that opened its doors and hearts to our students, hosting them in family homes. This generosity gave our students something priceless: friendship, hope, and the belief that the world stands with us.

So today, we say it loud and clear:
Bravo, KIS. Bravo, Ukraine. Bravo to every CEESA school.