The Howling Wolf

2023-24 School Year
Issue 11; 11 Sept 2023

QSI Astana Website

3D Virtual Campus Tour

Upcoming Events

SEPTEMBER

13 Sept & 14 Sept: "Frozen, Jr." Musical Tryouts

14 Sept, 8:15 am: PSG Monthly Meeting in the annex

23 Sept, 11-2pm: Community Garage Sale

23 Sept: Open Gym

29 Sept, 5-7pm: PSG Parent Social

OCTOBER:

2 Oct, 5:30-6:40pm: Parent Forum with our school counselor in the Annex

6 Oct: Spirit Wear Day & Sale

11 Oct: Parent/Teacher Conferences (times TBA)

11 Oct: PSAT

13 Oct: Last Day of Q1 Elementary ASAs

16-20 Oct: Fall Break (no school!)

25 Oct: No school

28 Oct, 1-3pm: Fall Festival

⚽️ ATHLETIC EVENTS 🏋️‍♂️

23 Sept: U14 Soccer friendly matches @QSI

30 Sept: U19 Soccer Tournament @QSI

2-4 Oct: Soccer Tournament in Almaty

5-7 Oct: Cross Country Tournament in Bishkek

7 Oct: U14 Soccer Tournament @QSI

U19 Futsal Friendly matches @Haileybury

14 Oct: U14 Futsal Friendly matches @Haileybury

2023-24 School Calendar

Events Calendar

Message from the Director of Instruction

Dear QSI Astana International School Community:

Here at QSI Astana International School we continually strive to not only be the best, but to dominate! Domination is not achieved through individual effort, it is achieved with the support of a pack; for us, it’s the Wolfpack.

Wolfpacks are intensely loyal and recognize the value of family—deep-social bonds, forged over time, committed to each other, to a task, and to targeted action. Targeting and turning our tracking gaze to Wednesday September 7th, or Back to School Night, anything the Wolfpack tracks, we attack! On Back to School Night, the pack successfully showcased our den (i.e., our school), our talents, skills, programs, and our teachers!

Wolves are known to be territorial, and our Wolfpack made its presence known! From our professional Expo with our Learning Support Program, BSA offerings, “languages that come alive (authentic Khakh, Russian, and French-themed clothing, food, & dancing) theme,” school spirit expressions (The Wolfman), to photo/selfie opportunities -throughout the school, our goals gained ground. The Wolfpack howled in unison, united, with unwavering service to each other.

However, this success could not have been executed without the fantastic teamwork of our Wolfpack family including our Parent Support Group (PSG) led by Mrs. Stefanie Hendricks, our paraprofessionals, support staff, and of course, our committed students.

Thank you everyone for a powerful start to the year. Humbly, I am looking forward to a positive and collaborative relationship with our school community and a synergistically successful school year!

Christopher Konitz,

Director of Instruction

Parent School Group (PSG)

PSG Instagram

PSG Spotlight: Stefanie Hendricks

Introducing this year's Parent School Group (PSG) President, Stefanie Hendricks! Stefanie's commitment to our school community shines as she embarks on her second year as an Executive Board member, following her previous role as Vice President.

Originally hailing from the state of Virginia, USA, Stefanie's journey has taken her across the globe, where she's gathered unique experiences and perspectives. Prior to her arrival in Astana, she resided in cities like Helsinki, Finland, and Luxembourg. Her husband, Paul, serves at the US Embassy, and their two wonderful children, Kayla and Elizabeth, are part of our school community in the 12-year-old and 10-year-old classes, respectively.

Stefanie's involvement extends beyond her role as PSG President. She actively contributes to our school's sports program. On any given day, you might find her on the sidelines, coaching our U14 girls soccer/futsal team and the U14 girls basketball team. Her dedication doesn't stop there; she's also an invaluable assistant to Coach Silvas, supporting the U14 girls’ volleyball team.

Let's join hands and extend our heartfelt appreciation to Stefanie for her dedication to our school and its vibrant community!

Frozen, Jr! The Musical

We are excited to announce that auditions for our upcoming production of "Frozen Jr." will be taking place next week, and we invite your child to participate in this magical journey!

Audition Details:

- Date: Wednesday, Sep 13 and Thursday, Sep 14

- Time: 4 pm

- Location: Music Room (ECEC building)

- Eligibility: Open to students in the 10 YO class and UP

- Audition Materials: Please prepare a short song (approximately 1-2 minutes) of your choice. We recommend selecting a song from the Frozen franchise, but it's not mandatory.

About "Frozen Jr.":

"Frozen Jr." is an enchanting musical adaptation of the beloved Disney movie, featuring all the cherished characters and songs. It's a fantastic opportunity for your child to showcase their talent, grow their confidence, and be part of a memorable production that will captivate our audience.

Audition Process:

1. Each student will have an individual audition slot, during which they will perform their chosen song.

2. We may also conduct cold readings from the script for character assessment.

Parental Involvement:

We welcome parents and guardians to support their children during this exciting process. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me

Rehearsal and Performance Schedule:

Rehearsals will begin shortly after casting is announced, and the performance dates are scheduled for the beginning of December (exact date TBD). Please be prepared to commit to the rehearsal and performance schedule.

We look forward to seeing your child's talent shine during auditions and are eager to create a memorable production of "Frozen Jr." If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us at akzhol-issin@astana.qsi.org

Thank you for your continued support, and we can't wait to embark on this magical journey with your child!