News and events from ISB
The popularity of the social networking web site Facebook (FB) has got me thinking about its role in the learning of students at ISB. I am also pondering our use of technology tools (software / websites) at the school.
I see that I was thinking the same as Stanford University. They are offering a Facebook for Parents course .
This is another good website to get you thinking about the subject. It is my goal to produce guidelines for teachers, students, and parents on using these tools.
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:
The challenges or downside to overseas living is as follows:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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)
Today is the final day of the first semester. We will be starting on Monday January 12 with Day #1.
I have an interview at 8:30 AM. Ana will be distributing exams and be the contact person this morning as Bojana will be away. In the afternoon I will be at the Middle School for their Christmas celebrations.
Final Exams:
Today is the final, final exam mathematics.
The Daily Bulletins this semester have been posted on the secondary chatterbox. It will be good to check them next year to see how we can improve.
Things I have learned for the next time we do exams.
• Give explicit instructions for the students who have accommodations. Separate their exams from the others immediately. Make a separate schedule for them.
• Remind students to take their calculators to the science and math exam days.
• Do not schedule exams on big slava days.
• Put the major Slavas on the school calender for 2009-2010.
• Use Independent School Management’s 10 Commandments for Exam Scheduling when making the exam schedule.
• Identify and remember the students who are taking HL exams. Do not make announcements during the HL exams.
• Make a form to put on the envelope with all of the information. Student list, HL students, proctor name, classroom, date, session, etc. can be put right on the envelope holding the exams to make it easier for the proctor and administrative assistant.
• Meet with the students who take school transport to set changes in times with the bussing.
• Remind HOD’s to estimate the time of their department’s exams. We had several that ran a bit short.
• Meet briefly with teachers before the start of exams to review the proctor guidelines and discuss clarifications.
Krsna Slava Sveti Nikola: Congratulations to the many Serbians who are celebrating today. On the staff, Nevena, Katarina, and Bojana are home today with their families. Sveti Nikola died on this day in 343 AD. He was the Greek Bishop in the city of Myrna in Turkey for many years.
Humanitarian Organization Divac: The Christmas Card Drive is ending today and Vladamir reports between 50,000 and 60,000 dinars have been sold. He will be coming out with the exact amount later today. Congratulations to him and the CAS students for their work. The visit with student leaders to the Collection Center has been postponed until next year.
Second Semester Schedule / Report Cards: Our IBO Coordinators Liz and Branka have been hard at work with schedules and report card preparations. Branka will re-send the report card schedule.
SPACES: Paul McKenzie has done some excellent work on the SPACES Interdisciplinary Project on the Moodlic web page. Teachers involved in the project are now asked to set deadlines for turning in the students’ material for posting. The big SPACES exhibition will be January 30th. Mark your calendars. Also, I would like to congratulate Natasa Skoric and the Grade 10 students on the completion of their epic film for the project.
ISB IB Theatre Arts DP Class and The ISB International Thespian Society 7335 present:
24 HOUR THEATRE
Saturday January 17, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Tickets RSD100. On sale from Thespian Society Members or at the HS Reception from January 12.
The students will arrive on Friday January 16 and begin to work on original theatre pieces. The audience is asked to join us on Saturday evening the 17th to see the presentation of their original work that they devised over the 24 hour period (with sleep in between).
This is a curricular event enabling IB theatre students a chance to combine numerous components of their IB syllabus into a real production experience, supplemented by the ISB Thespian Society.
Today is Day #1. I will be in the HS for the day.
ISB Web-based Forms Presentation: Bane is giving a short presentation on the new ISB web-based forms. This is an easier way to do service requests, cash advances, etc and will cut down on the amount of email. The presentation will take place Monday December 8th in the HS Computer Lab. Simultaneously, there will be the same presentation given by Neša in the LS MPR. All MS and HS teachers are asked to attend one of the two meetings. The presentation will begin at 3:30 PM and will take no longer than 30 minutes.
STUCO Community Drives: The HS students through the Red Cross are helping the children’s oncology ward in Tirsova Street. At the ward there are 57 children, ranging in ages from 1 to 19 years old. These holiday gifts are new toys and for older children, books in Serbian, magazines/newspapers, classroom material (notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.). These items are to be collected by Thursday, December 11, 2008. The group is aware of the busy schedules of the parents and students, and have decided to accept money for purchasing these gifts.
The final day to donate winter clothing — especially shoes, jeans and jackets (new and old) to the Drinka Pavlovic orphanage is today. Tomorrow the HS Choir will be visiting the Orphanage and putting on a mini-concert for them.
Blue & Gold: The latest edition of the student newspaper, Blue and Gold came out on Friday. Congratulations to the student journalists and Mrs. Jamie Van Drunen.
Final Exam Schedule: The latest version of the final exam schedules and proctoring schedule were placed in the student and teacher boxes Friday. Remember that exams begin next Tuesday, December 16th. The final exams need to be completed and sent to your department heads this week. They will be photocopied on Friday and Monday and stored securely in my office over the weekend.
ISB Time: Please send ideas for ISB time Wednesday. Liz is wrapping up the semester two schedule and would like to devote 20 minutes to selection of electives for the students.
Education News: (Online Textbooks):
Our own Web 2.0 guru Jenny McKenzie sends along this link to a Washington Post article about the State of Virginia on line textbooks and supplements. This is a timely article considering our purchase order this week. The article has links to several sites with on line modules to help teachers, especially in science.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112901809.html
“Rather than waiting two years for the Virginia Board of Education to review its science standards, then another year for publishers to print new physics texts, the state secretaries of education and technology asked a dozen teachers to write their own chapters in biophysics, nanotechnology and other emerging fields and post them online.
By February, physics teachers from Vienna to Tappahanock should be able to rip, mash and burn new chapters in real-time physics, said Secretary of Technology Aneesh P. Chopra. The virtual pages, which cost the state and schools nothing except teacher time, will be an optional, free supplement to hardbound books. “
Lower School Winter Shows: These are taking place Wednesday through Friday evening this week in the MPR beginning at 6:30 PM.
Today, Serbia is a country with the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Europe.
Thousands of refugees and IDPs still live in collective centers across Serbia, in poor conditions, terrible hygiene, without jobs, salaries, pensions and often without the opportunity to legally obtain any type of income.
They can’t return to their homes. The refugee camps are their only “home”.
After more than 10 years of living in such circumstances, they feel abandoned, forgotten, without hope that they can make any change for the better. They have no will or strength to even try.
We ask that anybody who feels compelled, to join us in this effort to help them find new homes, material and financial security, so they can live a decent and dignified life once again.
Humanitarian Organization Divac (HOD) launched the “You Can Too” initiative with the mission to help these people realize their right to a home, a job, material security, psychosocial help and an opportunity to start a new life after years of living in refugee centers.
Individuals such as Vladimir Radmanovic, Zarko Paspalj, Scot Pollard, Sasha Danilovic, Chuck Peterson, Sasha Djordjevic, Chris Webber, Savo Milosevic, Dejan Bodiroga, Zoran Savic, Peja Stojakovic and many others, have already taken part. We invite you to join us.
If Divac can help, You Can Too!
I will let the refugees tell their own story in the video below. We plan on visiting a collection center in two weeks and the students want to help more.
I also came across a really good post on video lecture sites on the internet.
Today is Day #1. I will be at the High School today.
A “Cool” Lunch: Head on down to the Performing Arts Studio today at lunch and listen to some jazz and blues music. Our group is preparing for Thursday’s concert. All students and teachers are welcome.
Library: A reminder that the last day to check out books is December 12. There are to be no book checked out over the holidays so students and teachers are asked to return them before the 19th of December. Thank you.
Secondary Faculty Meeting Reflections (Monday November 24, 2008)
I am getting around to some things I didn’t have time to finish last week:
· Teachers said that some students are not completing their homework. They feel there is no immediate consequence for not completing it. An idea for homework is to set an appointment with students to do the missing assignment. This can be done at break, lunch, or teacher office hours (3:00 PM – 3:30 PM). Yvonne has found that it works and I will support you with the parents or students. Teachers can require students to come in for “extended learning opportunities” to complete specific homework assignments. When it is done, then the student can leave. Another suggestion was to have a day and time designated for homework help. Teachers would volunteer to assist students. It was mentioned that some students lack a quiet place at home to study. I want to note that students may always work after school in the library or computer lab as someone is usually around until 4:30 PM.
· Many teachers mentioned that many Grade 11 students were not giving much of an effort in their studies. There seems to be an atmosphere of laughing at academics and students that are serious about their studies. This is confirmed with the second quarter progress reports. 11th grade had the most reports of any grade (38.9%) and 11 A had (24%). … all had four progress reports and parent meetings will be set up with them this week and next.
· Academic Probation Students – … was also mentioned as he had three progress reports. All of us agree that the probation should be very clear on the expectations and include attitudes, effort, and behavior as well as academic performance.
· Tardies – This is a big problem and the group came up with the idea to offer an “extended reflection period” for Friday from 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM. Bill will write letter to parents and hold the first session for those students with 3 tardies this Friday, December 5th.
· CEESA & After School Activity Eligibility – Some teachers noted that there are some students involved in activities and they are not getting their work done in class. They asked use eligibility forms that classroom teachers sign. Both Igor and Patty sent forms to me last week and I am meeting with Will to do this.
STUCO Toy and Book Drive: On behalf of the ISB High School 12th grade CAS students, I would like to inform you of the current project we are organizing with the Red Cross in Belgrade. In order to contribute to the Belgrade society, we contacted Ms. Milka, the volunteer for the Red Cross in Belgrade. She has informed us on the current humanitarian action which involves collecting items for the children in the oncology ward in Tirsova street. Altogether, there are 57 children, ranging from 1 to 19 years old. It is of importance to us to contribute and raise their spirits for the holiday season. Ms. Milka has given us a list of the needed items:
-new toys for children
-books in Serbian language for the older patients
-magazines/newspapers (older editions are also accepted)
-classroom material ( notebooks, pencils…)
The items are supposed to be collected by Thursday, December 11th ,2008. Furthermore, we are aware of the busy schedules of the parents and students, and have decided to accept money and buy the items in place of them being donated.
Sandra Krstovic 12A
ISB Time: Ana Divac will be giving a presentation to the students about Humanitarian Organization Divac (HOD) and how they can help. This will take place in the Bubble beginning at 10:50 AM. Grades 9-11 will be required to attend. HOD is a non-profit organization founded by Ana and Vlade to assist Serbian refugees from the war. Many Serbs lost their homes in Bosnia and Croatia during the breakup of Yugoslavia. As of October 2008, HOD has provided 44 families with homes. Some of their other projects are a renovation of a shelter for homeless children, building of schools in Serb enclaves in Kosovo, basketball clinics in poor countries, etc.
Bill's Blog 