billkralovec

ISB Hosts the CEESA Middle School Math Counts Competition

February 9, 2009February 9, 2009billkralovec

Middle School Mathematics Teacher Lekisha Jackson is shown above assisting Nathalie and Alex moments before the team competition. This weekend we hosted the CEESA (Central and Eastern European Schools Association) Math Counts competition. Math Counts is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting math excellence among middle school math students. Seven schools with 54 “mathletes” competed in written and oral tests, with both individual and team categories. The students were billeted with ISB families and besides the mathematics, they enjoyed getting to know the cultural side of Belgrade and socialized with our students at a big dance on Saturday.

The event was dominated by Korean students. The top 10 students in the individual competition were all Korean students. ISB grade 8 student Rick was the top non-Korean in the competition, finishing one question short of the top 10 in 11th place. Winning the competition was Tae Suk Joung from AIS Budapest, with Victor Moon and Duk Sung Ahn from AAS Moscow finishing second and third respectively.

ISB Team Members Irem, Andrej, Rick, and Carl

In the team competition, the Anglo American School of Moscow took the top two spots with AIS Budapest finishing in third place. The gold medal AAS Moscow team consisted of Duck Sung Ahn, Victor Moon, Ji Tae Park, and Gi Cheol Shin. Also participating in the competition were AIS Zagreb (Croatia), the American School of Paris (France), the Anglo-American School of Sofia (Bulgaria), and the Tirana International School of Albania.

I would like to thank Tim Moynihan, Will Clowney, Igor Saljic, Aleksander Nikolic and Marija Vuckovic for their outstanding efforts in organizing the event. A lot of work goes into behind the scenes when hosting a successful event of this magnitude. A special mention goes to our Math Counts Coach and math teacher Ms. Lekisha Jackson. She spent countless hours preparing the students and the community for the event. Her dedication and organization paid off as our students learned much from the event and performed extremely well. Ms. Jackson has been a special addition to our staff this year and we all appreciate her teaching! Thank you Lekisha!!!

The dance on Saturday evening was also special. I would like to thank Mr. Sean Hayes and the STUCO students for the fine organization of the dance. Our students made our guests feel at home and they enjoyed themselves in a responsible manner. Thanks to Mr. Vrbaski, Ms. Tharalsen, Mrs. Medenica, Mrs. Jovanovic, and Mr. Hayes for chaperoning the dance. The out of the classroom relationships our teachers form with the students is one of the best characteristics of ISB. I would also like to thank our ISB families that hosted students. I only heard positive comments from the parents on the comportment of the students.

In summary, Math Counts accomplished its mission of encouraging math excellence. We look forward to next year’s competition.

ISB Students Enjoyed Saturdays Dance — ISB Students Enjoyed Saturday's Dance

Trip to the USA

February 8, 2009February 8, 2009billkralovec

I want to write about the my trip home to Michigan last week and reflect on the passing of my mother. This is more for posterity sake.

It began with a phone call to my mother two weeks ago. She was a patient at the big, regional hospital in Marquette, Michigan. My dad took my mom to her usual hair appointment on Friday. He then went to help out at the church and when he returned, my mother could not get up from bed. He called 911 and eventually she was transferred from the Iron County Hospital to Marquette. She was there for several days. I talked to her on the phone once and she sounded okay, complaining of pain in her back and legs. My father said there was not much the doctors could do for her and they were looking at transferring her to a nursing home in Iron River. He said the situation was grave so I immediately made plans to fly to Michigan.

My mother was a diabetic for over 20 years. Diabetes runs in her family as many members have it. She received a kidney transplant from her brother over 10 years ago. Diabetes in the long term harms the body’s circulation, eyesight, and other vital organs. Mom was an active person and never smoke or drank. It was sad to see the debiliatating effects of the disease on her.

She kept asking my Dad what day it was and when the boys were going to come home. I live in Serbia and my brother Andy, (on the far left in the photo above) lives in Ecuador. I arrived in my hometown of Caspian, Michigan last Friday evening. On Saturday morning, we got a call from the nursing home where my mom was staying. She told the nurse that she wanted to see us before she passed away.

I went up there with my daughter Ocean. My mom recognized me and called my name. She asked for her glasses so she could see her only granddaughter. Ocean sat on the bed next to her. During the day, we stayed in her room and Dad and I helped her stay comfortable. She asked us to move her because her back, shoulders, and legs were sore. Andy arrived in the afternoon and the nurses moved her to a private room.

Her three sons, husband, and sister were with her when she passed. I held her hand and hugged her in her final moments. We all said goodbye and told her that we loved her. I promised to take care of the her grandchildren and especially to teach Ocean to be a good basketball player. My mother died around 5:00 PM Saturday.

The next few days were sad. It was good that my two brothers, Dad, and I were together to get the funeral organized. We went to the funeral home together to help write her obituary and plan the funeral. We made a large bulletin board of photos as a memory to her.

My mother suffered greatly her final couple of years. There were many trips to doctors and hospital stays. My father spent much time helping her out.

The funeral was really nice. Most of our relatives on her side of the family came as well as people from our small town of Caspian. On the way out of the church, the choir played the West Iron County High School fight song, a fitting tribute to a sporting woman who gave so much to school’s basketball program.

Nadia, Ocean, and I had to fly back the next day. We left Owen and Oliver back in Belgrade. The emails, letters, and words of sympathy from our family and friends, both here in Belgrade and the USA was overwhelming and greatly appreciated. She had a full life and passed away knowing that she had a postive impact on the lives of so many people. We will miss her.

Nadia gets into our rental car in Caspian.

It was also my first time in Michigan in February for many years. It was very cold (-27 C on the day we left) with heaps of snow.

The cycle of life continues - Oceans growing up fast! — The cycle of life continues - Ocean's growing up fast!

Yvonne Kralovec Obituary

February 3, 2009February 7, 2009billkralovec

Yvonne Kralovec, 68, of Caspian, Michigan, died peacefully on Saturday January 31, 2009 at the Iron River Care Center in Iron River, MI. It was an end to a long battle with diabetes. She was surrounded by her loving husband and sons, who flew from around the world to be at her side.

She was born on October 16, 1940 at the Stambaugh Hospital, the daughter of Arthur Alexander Heikkila and Silvia Wirtaanen. Arthur was a first generation Finnish-American immigrant and worked in the iron mines in the local area. After the mines closed, Arthur became a private contractor and built many homes and structures in Iron County. She used to tell us stories of growing up in the small town of Caspian with her six siblings and grandmother. They did not have indoor plumbing and used to take a sauna in leiu of baths. She used to get the cow from the pasture located on the slopes of Caspian hill. She had nine brothers and sisters, three died at birth. Silvia died from diabetes at age 51. Arthur remarried after the death of his wife, and eventually passed away from spinal cancer.

Yvonne was a 1958 graduate of Stambaugh High School. She worked at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan in the medical records department for six months. She then got a job in Iron River as a receptionist for two doctors. She married Charles Kralovec on December 29, 1962 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church and the couple made their home at 508 Baltic Avenue in Caspian. Yvonne converted to Catholicism being raised a Finnish Lutheran. Charlie was her brother Daniel’s basketball coach at the Caspian School and that is how they met.

My parents wedding day in 1962. — My parent's wedding day in 1962.

They tried for many years to have children, as both wanted a large family. This was before fertility treatments. They adopted two sons through Catholic Social Services, receiving Bill in 1967 and Jim in 1968. In 1972 they were blessed with a pregnancy and the birth of a third son, Andy.

Yvonne loved sports! She was an avid fan of all the Michigan and Detroit sport teams. She listened or watched every Tiger baseball team for decades. She was a fine athlete, although ahead of her time as women in the 1950’s and 60’s were not encouraged to do sports. Yvonne won many bowling tournaments in the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. Her greatest series was 614 (224 high game) in a mixed doubles tourney in 1969. She won three honor counts (600 total pins for three games) in her career and finished with an average of 70 and a highest ever game of 238. She was an outstanding infielder in fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball. Twice her teams (Gil’s Mileage & Dina Mia Kitchens) won Upper Peninsula titles and were runners-up in the State of Michigan.

Her biggest sporting legacy however is coaching basketball. She coached girls’ basketball for 42 years. She coached at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. She helped found the West Iron County High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. Later, her son Jim coached the girls team for years. She influenced the lives of thousands of young women through coaching. She had a gentle heart with the kids and really knew the game of basketball. Her teams regularly won tourneys and games.

She is survived by her husband Charles, three sons, William (Nadia) Kralovec of Belgrade, Serbia, James (Michelle) Kralovec of Iron Mountain, Michigan, and Andrew Kralovec of Quito, Ecuador. Also surviving are a brother Daniel Heikkila of Green Bay, Wisconsin; two sisters Ione (James) Condon of Crystal Falls, MI, and Darlene (Bernie) Williams of Oneida, Wisconsin. There are also six grandchildren, Scott Youngren, Tony, Beau, Owen, Oliver, and Ocean Kralovec and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by brothers Carl Maki, Wallace Heikkila, and a sister, Viola Nowicki.

Visitation will be today from 9 – 11:00 AM at the Saint Cecilia Church in Caspian. Funeral service will be also today at 11:00 AM at the St. Cecilia Church with Rev. Daniel Moll to offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in the Stambaugh Cemetary in Iron River.

The family is asking memorial contributions made to the American Diabetes Association. Condolences can be expressed to the family on line at the Jacobs Funeral Home web site or here on my blog.

We will miss my mother! Although she had a stubborn, feisty personaility, underneath she had a warm heart. She was a dedicated wife and mother to us. She would attend every game or activity we had and her life revolved around her children and grand children. I developed my love of sports and an active lifestyle from her as well as the value of hard work. The last few years she really suffered from the long term effects of diabetes. I am happy that she is now free of the pain and that we were all there as she passed. Thanks for everything Mom, we love you.

Tribute Game to Yvonne Kralovec

February 3, 2009February 3, 2009billkralovec

It was a special West Iron County High School girls’ basketball game tonight. My father, Charles is pictured above with my brother Andy and daughter Ocean. He is the public address announcer for the school’s football, basketball, and track n’ field games. Tonight, the Wykons (West Iron County High School nickname) were taking on Kingsford High School and my Dad was at his usual post as the announcer.

There was a moment of silence before the game for my mother. Yvonne Kralovec started the girls’ basketball program at the school. The first team debuted in 1974. My mother coached girls’ basketball for a total of 42 years. She mostly worked with the younger students, ranging from grades 4 – 10. In her later years, she was the official scorekeeper for the games. It was nice to see her niece, Kim Heikkila, scoring tonight’s game. It was also a warm touch that all of the Wykon players when they were announced came over and shook my Dad’s hand. My mom coached all of the girls on the team at one time. I think it was also appropriate that her grand daughter, Ocean was at the game. She wanted to keep running out on the floor. Many of our friends came up to us to offer their condolences.

Charles Kralovec Introduces the Starting Line ups

Kingsford vs. West Iron County At WIC High School Gymnasium

Raising Global Nomads

January 25, 2009January 25, 2009billkralovec

I am preparing for a panel discussion this Wednesday evening at our school. The topic will be Raising Global Nomads. Below are some notes for the panel of experts to review. These will be some of the discussion points.

We decided to raise our children internationally because we feel the experiences and lifestyle will make them better people. Over the holiday break, I am reading two books that discuss this. The first is the classic, “Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds” by David Pollack and Ruth Van Reken and the second is “Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World” by Robin Pascoe.

First some definitions. The term Third Culture Kid comes from a study done in the 1950’s by a husband and wife team (Useem) that did research on Americans (culture #1) living in India (culture #2) in an expatriate enclave (culture #3), hence the name third culture. The term global nomad is defined as a child who has lived abroad during their identity formative years because of a parent’s occupational choice. Another term I use a lot is expatriate or in the shorter form, expat. This is someone that is living outside (ex) of their home (patria) country.

Those definitions apply to my three children perfectly. I am not a global nomad. I was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and lived in the same town and house from practically birth until I left for my first job at age 23. My wife is a bit different, as she was born in Australia (first culture) to Bolivian parents (second culture), but she did not live in an expat enclave. She also moved back to Bolivia at age 14. She doesn’t really “belong” in either Australia or Bolivia. This really doesn’t bother her, although some people discussed in the books are bothered by this. I have lived abroad for almost 20 years and don’t feel I belong to one place entirely. I enjoy everyplace I have lived and feel “at home” where ever I am. But the reason I am reading these books and thinking about this is not for me, but for my children. I wonder as they get older, what they will think about our choices of this global, nomadic, lifestyle.

The cases discussed in the book are mostly families that are employed as diplomats, multinational businesses, or missionaries. I haven’t found any parts yet about teachers in international schools. In Venezuela, all the families came because of the oil business. Here in Belgrade, they are mostly from the diplomatic missions, although we also have children of employees from Nokia, Kraft, Hotel Zira, US Steel, etc.

At the International School of Belgrade (ISB) I work mostly with global nomad teenagers. It reaffirms my decision as I really enjoy seeing the positive traits this lifestyle has given them. These traits as explained in the books are as follows:

More globally aware and worldly wise
they spend more time with adults than their domestic peers so they are more mature
they are generally high achieving and work harder at their studies than domestic children
they are exposed to the children of highly skilled professionals which is always good.
they are flexible and tolerant of different views and cultures
Drawn to careers with service to the community or to the world

The challenges or downside to overseas living is as follows:

they can feel special and privileged – depending on the country they can have maids, nannies, drivers, gardeners, etc.
they can be snobbish as they have traveled and experienced more than their domestic counterparts
they may experience grief in the loss of friends and teachers throughout their lives
adolescent rebellion may be delayed until they are gone to college, as they may not be as independent as domestic children
children are silent partners in relocation
they may feel rootless and restless, as if they don’t belong anywhere; a migratory instinct may takee hold
they may have issues of unresolved grief as they lose so many friends and teachers throughout their lives

The book, “Raising Global Nomads” gives advice for many of the challenges for families. There is a chapter on re-locations and how much to involve the children, timing, traveling tips, etc. Another chapter gives advice on culture shock, especially the difference between children’s sense of shock and adults. Some of the other issues are as follows:

The work demands on parents and its effects on the family.
Sensitive children
First-timers overseas
Loss of friends
Dual career marriages – multicultural marriages – divorce
Transferring worries and fears of parents to the children
Choosing a school
Health issues (finding a doctor – insurance – etc)
Repatriation

Wings & Roots – by Gail Schoppert (long-time international schools director)

We thought we couldn’t give them roots

We gave them wings.

The things that nurture children

Can be named,

Although they are not the same in every home.

When you choose to roam outside your native land

And you have children

Be prepared to have them grow up special

And to grow up quick.

They learn the trick of being with adults,

And how to make friends fast,

But not to make fast friends.

When friendship ends,

Each time a parent is transferred

It is hard to trust.

Just nothing seems to last.

But overseas

The family grows close,

Depending on each other.

But where are

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins?

They are cast in distant, part-time roles.

Some souls that should influence growing minds

Are far away.

And so the home

And so the school

Must fill the lives and set the rules.

It would be good

If we could slow our children down.

They move so fast,

Becoming mature so soon.

Here is a word of hope;

We have raised three children overseas.

And I am proud of all the many things

They’ve done because we gave them wings

And what I thought was a minus really was a plus:

They had to find their roots in us.

Australian Open

January 24, 2009January 25, 2009billkralovec

I am enjoying watching the Aussie Open in the early mornings. Tennis is one of the things that Nadia and I share a passion for. With her 10 years younger than me and a good athlete, we can play together and it gives me a workout. It is an activity that we can do together. With the birth of Ocean (child number three) our tennis playing has been cut drastically, but now with Ocean able to walk, we will be looking to play more, especially as the weather improves.

Sunday January 25 Update: #1 seed Jelena Jankovic lost to Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli the #16 seed. The only interest I have left in the women’s draw is Jelena Dokic. She is a fascinating story. Her family is Serbian and they fled Croatia during the war of the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990’s. They first went to Serbia and eventually ended up settling in Australia. She became a top tennis player (peaked at #4 in the world) and renounced Australia to play for Serbia. Her father/coach was strange and battling alcohol problems and her career fizzled out. She is back now, and playing for Australia, sans father. She is making a comeback and defeated two seeded players to get into the third round. The only other names I recognize are Serena Williams and Marat Safin’s sister.

The men’s side is much more interesting for me. Andy Roddick just defeated Spaniard Tommy Robredo and will play the winner of the Baghdatis – Djokovic match. James Blake plays against Muhammed Ali look-alike Tsonga. An intriguing match! Federer is in the fifth set against Tomas Berdych. I also like Monfils, the wild hitting Frenchman.

The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the long tennis season. Our favorite player is Lleyton Hewitt because when we lived in Perth (2000-2001) he was number one in the world. I also fashion my game after his – run after every ball, never give up, fist pump, weak serve and no killer winner shot, etc.

Serbia is a tennis power with 2 of the big three still alive in the singles draws. Novak “Nole” Djokovic won his matches in the first three rounds quite easily, only dropping one set. He now has an interesting match against Cypriot Marco Bagdhatis. My other country I am following, the USA, both Roddick and Blake (won first two sets) made it to the fourth round. I don’t have much hope for those guys to win it however, becasue they often lose in the big matches. I feel that however, that Blake could break through and win a grand slam.

On the women’s side, the number one seed, Jelena Jankovic is through to the third round. Ana Ivanovic was knocked out in the second round.

Family Journal: Friday January 23, 2009

January 24, 2009January 24, 2009billkralovec

Owen is pictured above in his kinder classroom. I stopped by after my administration meeting to take a peak on the boys and how they were doing. Ollie was still sleeping from his nap time. Owen was in the midst of an art class. He was enjoying himself.

It was another busy week. I have a bit of a cold and earlier in the week, Ocean kept getting up many times during the night. She mercifully slept most of the night both last night and Thursday evening. She kept getting up screaming and the only thing that would get her back to sleep was more milk. Who knows what it was. We tried feeding her more before bedtime, but that really didn’t help.

The temperature got into the mid 50’s this week and all of the snow melted. The melting snow and light rain, combined to make things quite muddy. The forecast looks like it will stay warm until the middle of next week, when temps will finally go down close to the freezing mark.

I also sent this photo to Nadia yesterday. We visited the Ethnographic Museum last weekend and I spotted this photo. The museum in downtown Belgrade has some wonderful displays of costumes and artifacts of life in Serbia in the 1600’s to the early 1900’s. I teased Nadia with the photo below. The woman has collected is carrying back a load of firewood, has a pot of water on her head, knitting clothing, AND watching the child all at the same time. I wonder who took the photo and if it was staged? Anyway, we have come a long way since then with modern conveniences and technology that does away with three of the activities that she is doing. Where is her husband? Sitting on a bench in the village with his buddies? Hunting? Behind a plow? I think that spirit of the woman handling everything in the home and the man just worrying about his work is now gone.

Visit to the Bajrakli Mosque

January 22, 2009January 22, 2009billkralovec

Tuesday I tagged along with the grade 8 humanities class as they took a tour of the Bajrakli Mosque in downtown Belgrade. It was my first time to a mosque and I felt like the Ottomans were speaking to me. The name Bajrakli means banner or flagship. The name originates from when the Ottomans left Belgrade in the early 1800’s, this was their lasting monument of their presence.

The mosque was built in 1690 by Sultan Suleiman during the heydey of the Ottomans in Serbia. At the time, there were 22 mosques in the city, and this is the last one remaining today, although the iman told us several newer mosques are being built. The Austrians converted it to a Jesuit church for a short time, and then when they left, it was reopened as a mosque. The iman showed us the window that was walled up on one side of the mosque by the Austrians.

As you can see, the minaret is the classical Turkish style -thin, with a pointed cone peak. The mosque featured a huge dome, typical of the Ottomans and strongly influenced by the Byzantines. I also noted that St. Sava’s Cathedral has a large central dome.

The authorities of the mosque were very kind to allow us access to the mosque. I understand in countries with a more strict interpretation of Islam, non-muslims may not be allowed as much access as we did. The iman explained the prayer service, and answered all of our questions regarding the building and the faith of Islam. I guess the Balkan form of Islam is more like the Turkish form than in Saudi Arabia. From his talk I learned the following:

Allah has 99 names which are related to His virtues. In a mosque, pictures of humans are not allowed and so the 99 names were written on plaques in Arabic script.
Islam has prayer beads similar to a Catholic rosary. There are beads of 33 prayers or 99 prayers.
The congregation worships in straight lines to emphasize their equality before god.
They always face towards Mecca.

The students align as worshippers would as the Iman explains the prayer service.

I would like to thank Mr. Vrbaski for allowing me to attend the trip with his class. I would also like to thank the mosque authorities for giving us the opportunity to experience a mosque. The students unit on Islam was really enhanced with this trip. It was also nice to see the students translating for us, the iman’s Serbian speech to English.

The mosque trip also continued to perk my interest in learning more about the Ottoman empire.

The girls wore headscarves upon entering the mosque.

Basketball Season Underway at ISB

January 20, 2009January 20, 2009billkralovec

It is basketball season here at ISB! Four teams (MS and HS Boys and Girls) are preparing for the upcoming games. ISB competes in the Central and Eastern European Athletic Association, which is composed of other international schools. We belong to the small school “blue” division. Each grade category has their own championships and they will be held throughout the month of March. Above are the high school boys in practice last Friday in our bubble gymnasium. They will compete in Helsinki, Finland on March 26-28. They are practicing 3 times a week and we are working on arranging games for the team with local schools in preparation for the championships.

24 Hour Theater at ISB

January 20, 2009January 20, 2009billkralovec

This process–24-hour theater–condenses creativity to its essentials and boils the collaborative process down in a manner unlike any other in the realm of theater-making. Participants have only one full day to write and stage a play. It puts ‘experts’ and ‘newbies’ on the same playing field, providing nearly instant gratification for all. The anticipatory audience, drawn by curiosity, wonders–will these crazy kids be able to pull it together and keep it rolling? The result: energized (rather than exhausted!) students for the beginning of a new semester of theater. (U of Minnesota)

The above is a description of the process of 24 Theater. The International School of Belgrade’s Thespian Society and the Grade 11 Theater Arts class put on a 24 hour theater this past weekend. The students arrived on Friday afternoon at 5:00 PM, and overnight, created plays which they performed on Saturday evening. With over 40 people in attendance in our black box performing arts theater, the student groups performed their plays. The photo above was taken from the question and answer period at the end of the evening. The students described their inspiration and the process behind the performance. The plays were excellent and most importantly, it was a great learning experience for the students. They went through the entire process of theater. Congratulations to all of the students and especially our performing arts teacher, Mrs. Patricia Sands!

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