Art teacher Ines Vielhaben took Class 5a and the students enrolled in the art course from the 11th grade on a “visit” to see Otto Ubbelohde at the Marburg Art Association. Of course, this didn’t happen on a single joint visit, since the objectives naturally differ depending on the students’ ages. While the fifth graders were first introduced to the rules of a museum and an art association and then focused on the works of the famous painter, the older students immediately began applying the knowledge they had learned in class.

Developing Drawing Skills

Landscape depictions, especially trees in drawings, were a central theme for Class 5a. The students were first asked to identify which drawings they found particularly appealing, and then to recreate them in a simplified style in their own sketchbooks. Since Ubbelohde drew his fairy-tale characters in landscapes from his local surroundings, the students were also encouraged to try their hand at depicting landscapes themselves. A supply cart was made available for this purpose. Class 5a benefited from this “somewhat different art class” in particular by sharpening their own vision and perception, analyzing landscape and image composition, and thus developing their own drawing skills.

A Picture Takes a Journey Through Time

The 11th-grade class also practiced their drawing skills. The focus here was initially on analyzing the techniques Ubbelohde used in a particular work to create the illusion of space, for example. Students then tackled assignments across a total of five difficulty levels. These ranged from imitating the depicted trees as simplified representations, to transferring a painted tree into a graphic, to painting with muted colors, or the task of taking a picture on a journey through time and modifying the chosen motif in their own design so that it is transported into the present day.
According to Ines Vielhaben, the participants of all age groups successfully mastered all the challenges of the excursion and found it to be an educational and refreshing change of pace.

He has never sung at a school before—but he made an exception for Steinmühle: Concert tenor Daniel Sans usually performs on national and international stages, but this time he sang in the high school’s auditorium.

Daniel Sans himself had initiated the event. Since he works as a music teacher at Steinmühle in addition to his career as a singer, he came up with the idea for a benefit concert to raise funds for the interior design of the new building currently under construction. Principal Björn Gemmer and Managing Director Dirk Konnertz were quite surprised when they counted around 110 attendees at the concert that afternoon.

The guests were so enthralled by the performances from the repertoires of Beethoven, Mahler, and Schumann—which ranged in mood from the anguish of unrequited love to cheerful, lively pieces—that they demanded two encores with a standing ovation. For his song recitals, Daniel Sans was able to rely on the tried-and-true—and no less magnificent—accompaniment of pianist Matthias Guthier. The successful duo performed “To the Distant Beloved” (Ludwig van Beethoven), “Songs of a Wayfarer” (Gustav Mahler), and “Poet’s Love” (Robert Schumann).

According to the Steinmühle management team, the proceeds from the donation box have far exceeded expectations.

The tried-and-true catering team—made up of students from Steinmühlen—took care of serving the guests during the intermission; this time, the team was led by Maria Ramos Iglesias.

Effective immediately, Steinmühle now has a defibrillator for use in cardiac emergencies. “This has expanded the medical equipment available to the approximately 30 colleagues at our school who are certified as first responders,” reports Bernd Holly (right) on behalf of the school administration team. A defibrillator (“defib”) uses targeted electrical shocks to treat cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, which is often fatal if not treated promptly. The defibrillator, which is stored near the teachers’ lounge, was funded by the Steinmühlen Friends Association. Chairwoman Jasmine Weidenbach (center) presented the device, valued at 1,300 euros, in the presence of board member Christian Finance (left), who is also a member of the teaching staff.