On Saturday, June 24, 2017, the boarding school welcomed several parents to the Parents’ and Information Day at Steinmühle, which was launched in this new format. We were happy to take this opportunity to connect with many of you in person once again, just before the end of the school year, and we look forward to welcoming many of you back in the future. There was plenty on offer once again, especially for the boarding students: whether it was “bubble soccer,” box climbing, Viking chess, or beach volleyball—there was something for everyone. The wide variety of activities and the beautiful weather created a great atmosphere.

In addition to the parents we already know, the boarding school administration was pleased to hold discussions with parents of potential new students and advise them on the admissions process.

The day came to a lovely close with a barbecue together. We’re already looking forward to welcoming you back to the Steinmühle soon!

From May 24 to May 30, 23 students and five teachers set out on the traditional trip to Randa, Switzerland. We spent the week enjoying midsummer temperatures and were able to offer a wide variety of hikes. Among the highlights were certainly the visit to the Domhütte at 2,940 meters above sea level and the ascent of the Groß Kastell at 2,830 meters above sea level. Each hike involved a climb and descent of around 1,500 meters in elevation. The hike to the Groß Kastell began at 3:00 a.m., and the summit was reached just in time for sunrise, so the hiking group was back for breakfast by 9:00 a.m.

With an elevation gain of just under 300 meters and a distance of nearly 15 km, this year’s hike once again followed the route from Eggerberg to Außerberg and back. What makes this hike special are the many small tunnels and one long tunnel that’s 1.2 km long. The brave ones ran through it in complete darkness, and the legend of the tunnel keeper in the middle of the tunnel particularly impressed one student, who claimed to have seen as many as four cave dwellers.

Our other hikes took us to the Randaer Kreuz and Hauspil, via Chuebodmen to Bergij, from Randa to St. Niklaus, via Arigscheiß to Lake Schalisee, and via Rötiboden to Lake Schalisee as well.

Of course, we couldn’t miss out on the obligatory trip to Brigerbad. So everyone got to relax and have fun at the pool for a day in nearly 40-degree heat.

That week in Switzerland went by way too fast, as usual. But we’re already planning our hiking week for next year.

In early May 2017, it was time for the annual experiential education field trips. A group of ten set out on a cultural trip to Essen, where they explored the Ruhr region and sampled all kinds of international cuisine. The group enjoyed African, Spanish, and German delicacies and visited a coal mine and also visited the Museum Folkwang, which is located next to a large shopping center.

Another group of 19 students headed to Lake Eder, where they camped without electricity or running water and enjoyed a break from everyday life. The evenings around the campfire, in particular, were filled with a great atmosphere. Various puzzle games and the popular game of Werewolf kept boredom at bay. During the day, we took advantage of the good weather to go swimming, allowing us to spend a thoroughly enjoyable weekend together.

The most athletic of the offered excursions began right on Steinmühle’s doorstep. We’re talking, on the one hand, about the canoe trip and, on the other, about the bike tour. The first of these took six young adventurers—who weren’t exactly afraid of the water—out onto the local Lahn River. Setting off from Cappel, the group paddled—with plenty of provisions on board— They paddled their canoes all the way to Wetzlar over the course of a weekend. Everyone spent the evenings together around the campfire and slept soundly in the tents they had brought along. With perfect weather and everyone in high spirits, the new paddlers were able to enjoy a harmonious weekend on the water before being picked up again in Wetzlar.

The competitive cyclists on their three-day tour also rode to Wetzlar at first. As a result, the cyclists enjoyed perfect weather, so even the inevitable flat tires couldn’t dampen the mood. It was only on Sunday, the day of the return trip, that the weather unfortunately didn’t cooperate. This made Saturday all the more enjoyable for the hard-working group, who, after reaching their destination for the day in Weilburg, visited the city and explored the old town. With conditions that were mostly ideal, the cyclists were able to spend a wonderful and eventful weekend together, and everyone agrees: We need to do this again.

The fifth and final trip took a diverse group to the Harz Mountains, part of which is designated as a nature park. The impressive
experiences ranged from a castle tour and a walking tour of the picturesque old town of Wernigerode to a hike in the beautiful Bode Valley.

Although they were a bit exhausted, everyone agreed in the end: Stunning natural scenery is always worth the trip.

At this point, the teachers would like to thank the entire student body for their tremendous dedication and the wonderful time we spent together!

 

Impressive performances at the 2017 Summer Concert

At the summer concert, the stage belongs entirely to our younger students in grades 5–7.

 

The concert, which was lively from start to finish, kicked off with a performance by Wind Class 5, led by Ms. Wilmsmeyer. For Wind Class 6, led by Mr. Jamin, this was their final concert. It was impressive to see how much the students had mastered in their repertoire after just two school years! Through their collaboration with the concert band, conducted by Mr. Reisig, the students learned that their musical journey doesn’t have to end after Wind Ensemble Class. Depending on their musical interests, there are plenty of opportunities to further develop their musical skills in the concert band and our school’s other ensembles.

The group Swing and Sing delighted the audience with their original choreography and impressed everyone with their singer, Svea Turba (6a), who displayed remarkable confidence in her vocal performance.

The bagpipes donated by the Friends of the School a few months ago were played by the 7th-grade students in such a way that they proved to be a welcome addition to the school’s various musical ensembles.

The 6th-grade choir, supported by the Chamber Music Club, provided 90 minutes of fresh and spirited student music, bringing the event to a fantastic close.