25-26 New Parent Guide - Kazakhstan International School

2025-2026 NEW FAMILY GUIDE

Welcome, KIS Parents! Your KIS Family starts here.

We’re so glad you’re part of the KIS community! We’re excited to have you join our vibrant, international community. This is your starting point for everything you need to know as you settle in—from key information to helpful resources. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

If you have any questions or need support along the way, our Admissions Team is here to help. Just email Ms. Assel at almaty.admissions@kisnet.org anytime or call us at +7 (727) 356 5000 —we’re always happy to assist!

🖇️ALL SCHOOL - KEY INFORMATION FOR NEW FAMILIES

SCHOOL HOURS

At KIS, school hours vary slightly depending on the division to best suit the needs of our students at each stage.

Early Years
- Arrival: 8:00 am – 8:30 am
- Half-Day Dismissal: 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
- Full-Day Dismissal: 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Elementary School
- School Starts: 8:00 am
- Dismissal: 3:00 pm
- After-School Activities (ASA): 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Secondary School
- Before-School Activities (BSA): 8:00 am – 9:30 am
- School Starts: 9:40 am
- School Finishes: 4:15 pm

PARKING PASS

All KIS families receive a parking pass at the beginning of each school year. These are printed and distributed by our school receptionist and personal assistants of our principals.

If you are admitted during the school year, our school receptionist Adel will prepare your parking pass once your vehicle number plate is provided.

Please ensure your parking pass is clearly displayed when entering or parking on campus. This helps maintain smooth traffic flow and ensures campus safety for everyone.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Designed for comfort and practicality, our uniform allows students starting from Elementary school to engage in daily activities with ease while representing KIS with confidence. You can purchase the uniform at our uniform store, located in the Parent Hub at KIS campus. 🕐 KIS Uniform Store Open Hours: 7:30am - 3:30 pm (Mon.-Fri.)

The uniform collection is different for each school level: Elementary and Secondary.

Elementary students wear a KIS polo shirt, with the option to add a sweater or hoodie for warmth.
Secondary students follow a dress code that can include a KIS polo or button-up shirt, while KIS sweaters and hoodies can be worn for added comfort.

Learn more about our uniform catalog here.

SCHOOL BUS

Bus Service

At Kazakhstan International School, we prioritize student safety and convenience through our comprehensive bus service. We offer bus service at the following times:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	SECONDARY SCHOOL
08:00	09:40
15:00	16:15

2025-2026 Bus Fees:

One-way route - annual fee 600,000 KZT (could be made in 3 tranches)
Two-way route - annual fee 700,000 KZT (could be made in 3 tranches)

IMPORTANT! You can register for the bus service by August 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. using this link.

ASA Bus Service

The new ASA season is starting soon, and we are pleased to announce that we plan to launch school bus transportation for students attending these activities. We are excited to continue expanding our services and making after-school programs more accessible for everyone. This semester, the bus service will be available only for students attending ASA ﬁve days a week. We are also happy to inform you that free clubs have been added to the program and are available for registration.

To register for the ASA bus service, you will need to complete this online form, which will be sent to you shortly. The deadline for submitting the form is August 25 at 10:00 AM. Please note: the bus route will only be launched if a minimum of 5 students from the same district register for the service. This is the minimum number required to launch a bus.

Monthly transportation costs:

Total cost per child: 73,000 KZT

If more students join a particular route, the cost per child will be reduced accordingly.

Additionally, please be aware that once your child is registered for the ASA bus service, they will be removed from the regular 3:00 PM school transportation list. We are committed to continuing our development and plan to offer even more convenient and diverse options for you and your children in the future.

LUNCH ORDERS

At KIS, we recognize the importance of providing our students with nutritious and delicious meals to support their academic success and overall well-being.

To achieve this, we have partnered with Universal Catering (UC), a renowned catering company with over 25 years of experience in Kazakhstan. UC offers comprehensive catering services to our students from kindergarten through grade 12, as well as to our academic and staff members.

AY 2025-2026 Prices

Advance Payment at the beginning of each Semester:

NO	DESCRIPTION	PRICE/DAY
1	Toddler + PK3 + PK4	3,850.00 KZT
1A	No Snacks: Toddlers + PK3 + PK4	3,652.00 KZT
2	K. garten + Reception + Grades 1&2	5,123.25 KZT
3	Grades 3-5	5,491.70 KZT
4	Grades 6-11	4,743.75 KZT
5	Grade 12*	4,743.20 KZT

Monthly Payment at the beginning of each month:

NO	DESCRIPTION	PRICE/DAY
1	Toddler + PK3 + PK4	4,400.00 KZT
1A	No Snacks: Toddlers + PK3 + PK4	4,180.00 KZT
2	K. garten + Reception + Grades 1&2	5,891.11 KZT
3	Grades 3-5	6,315.45 KZT
4	Grades 6-11	5,454.68 KZT
5	Grade 12*	5,454.68 KZT

COMMUNICATION

At KIS, we believe clear and consistent communication is essential for a strong school community. Each week, families receive newsletters (emails)—one from the Head of School and one from each division —providing all the important updates, reminders, and information needed to stay informed and engaged.

You can also use our Parent Portal to stay connected and up to date with everything happening at KIS.

In addition, our dedicated mobile app makes it easy for parents to access school news, view events and schedules, and connect with the KIS community anytime, all in one convenient place.

Make sure to download our KIS mobile app before the school year begins—it’s your go-to tool for staying connected and informed. From accessing school news and calendars to viewing ASA/BSA schedules and important updates, the app is designed to make your experience smoother. You can download the link on iOS & Android through the links below:

IOS

android

To help you get started, we’ve prepared a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the app efficiently. You can watch it here.

CHECKLIST OF DOCUMENTS

For KZ citizens, uploading online (OpenApply):

Father's & mother's ID card with IIN
Child's birth certificate
Child's passport

For foreign citizens, uploading online (OpenApply):

Parents' passports
Parents' registration marks in the Republic of Kazakhstan (CIS countries)
Parents' visas (not CIS countries)
Child's passport
Child's birth certificate
Child's registration mark in the Republic of Kazakhstan (not CIS countries)
Child's visa
Child's IIN (obtained from TSON)

General Documents

Application (Admissions Office)
Transfer letter from the previous school/air ticket in case of arrival from another country
Records and reports
1 child's photo 3*4

Medical Documents (the originals are handed over to the Admissions Office)

Child Health Passport
Form 026 (physical examination)
Form 063 (vaccination card)
Epidemiological environment certificate
The triple scraping on the helminth eggs analysis certificate (for children up to Grade 4)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

KIS offers a dynamic range of After- and Before-School Activities, providing students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and connect with others. These programs are designed to enrich their learning experience beyond the classroom, fostering personal growth and creativity.

For Elementary School students, After-School Activities (ASAs) are typically held from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

For Secondary School students, Before-School Activities (BSAs) usually take place from 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM.

These programs include a wide range of options—from sports and arts to academic clubs and more. Please kindly note that there

ASA/BSA SEASON 2 2025

Season 1 ASAs and BSAa will finish on Friday, November 14th. Season 2 ASAs and BSAs will commence on Tuesday, November 18th, and run until Friday, February 13th.

Season 2 registration is now open via SchoolsBuddy app/website. Registration will close on Friday, November 7th, at 10 am. Please make sure you submit your Season 2 preferences by then.

The Season 2 ASA schedule can be viewed by HERE.

The Season 2 BSA schedule can be viewed HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Saltanat: +7 771 780 2135 (WhatsApp)/ asa@kisnet.org (email). You can read more about the ASAs/BSAs here.

📝DIVISION SPECIFIC - KEY INFORMATION FOR NEW FAMILIES

Early Years

Elementary School

Uniform Requirements: Students will need to purchase a school uniform, both regular polo shirts and bottoms, as well as KIS PE uniforms to be worn on PE days. During the winter, children are required to wear winter clothing, including snow boots and snow pants, to wear outside in order to keep their uniforms dry when returning back into the building after outside play. Students will also need indoor shoes to change into when returning back to classes after outside play.
iPad Requirements for Students in Grade 3-4: Students in grades 3-5 will be required to bring their own iPads to school. From grade 3 students that will start in January and for grade 4-5 in August. Please note the iPads are strictly used for educational and instructional purposes under the supervision of teachers. Students are not allowed to use them for entertainment purposes or durinh break times. More information will be shared during Back to School Night session we will have for parents once we begin the academic year.
- Prior to the use of iPads in the classroom, teachers will be sharing a Bring Your Own Device / Acceptable Use Policy document for parents to read and sign, which explain the expectations and responsibilities of families in regards to the devices.This will need to be signed in order for students to use their devices on campus. We appreciate your support and look forward to sharing some of the wonderful learning that can happen with the support of this technology.
- The following requirements ensure compatibility with the necessary apps and future updates. Please review the iPad requirements carefully:
  - iPad Model and Software:
    - iPad running iPadOS 17 or higher. (all iPad models from 2020 or newer will support this, some older models might support this as well)
  - Accessories:
    - A durable case to protect the iPad from damage.
    - A keyboard (either Bluetooth or physically connected) that has been paired and tested at home.
    - Headphones (either Bluetooth or physically connected) that have been paired and tested at home.
  - Camera and Media Usage:
    - The iPad must have working cameras capable of taking photos and recording videos for educational purposes.
  - Ensure readiness for school use:
    - Please label the iPad’s case with your child’s name.
    - Please ensure the operating language is set to ENGLISH.
    - Please test the device’s accessories (keyboard, headphones) and cameras at home to ensure readiness for school use.
    - Please log out of any family Google accounts.
- We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your child has the necessary tools to participate fully in our learning activities. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact mfranken@kisnet.org.

Secondary School

Minimum Recommended Laptop Specifications

Processor (CPU): Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 (or better)
Memory (RAM): 8GB (16GB recommended for multitasking)
Storage (SSD): 256GB (512GB+ preferred for more files)
Operating System: Windows 11, macOS, or ChromeOS (check the school’s preference)
Battery Life: 8+ hours for all-day use
Ports: USB-C / HDMI (for connecting to projectors or monitors)
Wi-Fi: 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6

Recommended Models:

Microsoft Surface Laptop (common in universities)
MacBook Air/Pro (for design/media students)
Lenovo ThinkPad / Dell Latitude (durable for daily use)

📆IMPORTANT DATES

Dec 11 2025

ASA Concert

Dec 15 2025

Winter Break - Dec.15-Jan.2

Dec 16 2025

Independence Day

Dec 30 2025

School Closed

📩NEW FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Below you can find an archive of all past issues of the "Welcome to KIS" newsletters, which provide essential information to support a smooth and successful transition into our school community.

🔗 QUICK LINKS