Increase Your Frustration Tolerance Through Bouldering

Life at Boarding School, News, Sports & Health

The Steinmühle Boarding School’s Climbing Club meets every week at the Marburg climbing gym. They start in the bouldering area. Bouldering is rope-free climbing at a height from which you can jump down. It requires coordination, dexterity, strength, and endurance, but also a great deal of perseverance and repetition. Only then can the routes ultimately be conquered. A high tolerance for frustration is essential, as is the ability to work together with others—through interaction and communication—to tackle the often difficult crux of a route and finally overcome it. Applying these skills to school and everyday life is a key educational focus here.

Rope climbing usually takes place during the second part of the workshop. For the past two weeks, the participants have been practicing how to belay the climber on their own and have already been doing so independently. Everyone belays with great confidence and reliability. Now it’s all about: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Overcoming Fear, Building Trust

Lead climbing is also a new concept. In lead climbing, you must carry the rope—which serves as a safety line in case of a fall—up the wall with you as you climb. This approach differs from top-roping, where the rope is already attached at the top. Both lead climbing and belaying the lead climber are significantly more difficult and demanding than top-roping. Here, too, the process of trial and error—failing and trying again and again—is of central importance, alongside overcoming one’s own fear, trusting others, and taking responsibility for others.

Competition in May

The highlight of May will be the boarding schools’ BoulderCup. The Steinmühle Boarding School’s climbing club will travel to this year’s host, the Lietz Boarding School at Schloss Bieberstein. Our students are already excited and will continue to practice diligently until then.

31. March 2019

130 singers brought the Forum to life

Art, Music & Theater, News

On Friday, the Forum was the setting for what may have been the Steinmühle’s largest cultural project to date. At the very least, there have probably never been so many participants filling the space with song and music. And it wasn’t just any music. It was Mozart’s Requiem, the composer’s final work and, at the same time, one of his most beloved.

After more than six months of rehearsals, 130 singers from the Klangforum, along with 23 orchestra members and five soloists, gathered. They were all preparing for their joint performances on the following two days in Bad Homburg and Marburg. For over two hours, participants of all ages rehearsed under the highly professional guidance of choir director Daniel Sans, who is also a concert tenor and music teacher at the Steinmühle.

“An Unforgettable Event”

After the weekend, he himself was full of praise: “Being able to share this brilliant music with students, parents, and teachers from Steinmühle in our wonderful forum was a truly memorable experience.” Sans reported that the two concerts on the following days were completely sold out. “It was an unforgettable event to have delighted over 1,000 people with Mozart’s music.”

The Klangforum, led by Daniel Sans, is made up largely of teachers, students, and parents who love to sing. The members meet every Friday evening to sing at the Forum and are still open to new participants. Unlike the choir director, these participants do not need to be professionals. What matters is enjoying singing together in a group of mixed ages and having the courage to perhaps refine one’s own voice a little more.

The photos give a glimpse of the rehearsals. Two of the photos show the participants during the subsequent official performance.

21. March 2019

Steinmühle Boarding School is a sponsor of the Germany Scholarship

Life at Boarding School, News

Through the Deutschlandstipendium, the Steinmühle Boarding School is providing financial support to 21-year-old teacher-training student Julia Weber. During a visit to the Steinmühle campus, she got a feel for the institution that is making her daily life as a student a little easier financially.

Julia Weber, who lives in Lambrecht near Neustadt an der Weinstraße, is studying English and Protestant theology. Her goal is to become a teacher. Her academic records from the first and second semesters, the recommendation from her English professor Sonja Fielitz, and her volunteer work—which included youth ministry in her church and tutoring at the Association for Education and Integration—provided the ideal qualifications for applying for a scholarship.

Still, Julia hadn’t expected to have many opportunities: It’s rather rare for students of the social sciences or humanities to receive a scholarship. “It’s much more common,” Julia says, “for medical students and scientists to receive them.”

Still, the decision-makers felt that Julia Weber should be among the scholarship recipients. “That’s great,” she says, feeling appreciated. “I never would have thought that,” says the young woman, who lives in Cappel, near the Steinmühle. She’s delighted by this recognition.

Steinmühle Boarding School: Requirements for a quality education and growing up

“It takes a while to see everything here—it’s a huge campus.” As she walks across the Steinmühlen campus, Julia Weber is impressed. Georg Ritter, the boarding school’s director, shows her the dormitories, all the sports facilities, and the school buildings. She can imagine that students will find here everything they need not only for a good education but also for growing up: a learning environment close to nature, qualified educators, dedicated teachers, modern buildings or those currently being modernized, peace and quiet, and opportunities to concentrate—all while still being close to the city. “Really great,” she says appreciatively.

For Julia Weber, the Deutschlandstipendium provides 300 euros a month. It’s a one-year grant. Meanwhile, her younger brother has also set his sights on college. All in all, it’s no easy task for their single mother. Thinking positively and following your own path is always the right thing to do, says Julia. She plans to continue her volunteer work.

Julia Weber during her visit to the Steinmühle with boarding school director Georg Ritter (Photo: Till Buurman)

Scholarship award ceremony with the Vice President of Philipps University of Marburg, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn (Photo: Markus Farnung)

19. March 2019

“A great week that we’ll never forget”

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, News, Sports & Health

Anna Dinges (Class 8a) wrote the following report about her grade’s school ski trip:

On January 18, the 8th-grade class and eleven chaperones gathered early in the morning in the schoolyard at Steinmühle amid freezing temperatures to set off for a week-long school ski trip to Mayrhofen in the Zillertal. What made this year special was that all three homeroom teachers for the grade—Rosie Boebel, Gisela Opper, and Frank Wemme—came along. That hadn’t been the norm before. The mood was lively as the large tour bus pulled out of the schoolyard at 6 a.m.

After a long bus ride, we finally arrived. After taking the yellow gondolas up to the Gschößwandhaus at about 1,800 meters, everyone was thrilled by the fantastic view of the valley from up there. Room assignments went smoothly, since groups had already formed beforehand that wanted to share one of the cozy rooms with four to fifteen beds.

The next day, we finally got started with skiing. While the advanced students were already exploring the large ski area, the beginners had their first experiences on skis in front of the Gschößwandhaus under the patient guidance of several instructors. They quickly overcame their initial difficulties and made rapid progress, so that after just a few days they were able to ski on blue runs and, by the end, even some red runs. Before long, everyone was able to ski down the “Steinmühlenweg”—the trail leading back home from the slopes—which made them all very proud.

Many activities were planned for the evening to wrap up the day together. The program included, for example, a disco by the campfire under the open sky, interesting talks about skiing, snow soccer, nighttime sledding, and room cleanup sessions. Ms. Boebel took care of the sick and injured—fortunately, there weren’t too many of them—and kept everyone in good spirits. That way, even those who didn’t ski didn’t get bored.

After a wonderful week—which flew by far too quickly thanks to all the great activities and the cheerful, friendly teachers—we left the Gschößwandhaus and set off for Steinmühle. It was a fantastic week for all of us, one we won’t forget anytime soon!

15. March 2019

Learning Spanish Abroad: Lars Froemel and Julius Hamel Begin Their Exchange Program in Uruguay

Languages & International Affairs, News, Steinmühle on the Road

Exchange students Francisco Bayce and Juan Ignacio Cambon from Montevideo have only a few days left at Steinmühle before they return to their home country of Uruguay. Their partner students, Lars Froemel and Julius Hamel, will make a return visit in a few weeks. After all, the best way to learn a language is in the country where it’s spoken. Both students want to improve their Spanish.

The visiting students answer questions in surprisingly good German. In Montevideo, a city of over a million people, they are attending the German school. At the DSM, the German School of Montevideo, they experience school life a little differently than at Steinmühle. With 1,200 students, the enrollment there is almost exactly double.

Otherwise, they see some similarities: Bilingual instruction—Spanish/German or Spanish/English—also helps young people develop their language skills at the DSM in Uruguay. Chaperone Laura Bergues can confirm this. She is their English teacher.

The biggest difference the teenagers noticed was that cell phones play a bigger role in classes back home. “We’re allowed to use them more than we do here,” Francisco reports. He says the internet connections are worse in Germany, but he did notice something else positive: “You definitely have the nicer soccer stadiums,” he says with a laugh.

Francisco and Juan Ignacio noticed something else: “We eat a lot more meat at home.” A few figures make it clear what the dietary situation is like in this South American country: Uruguay has 15 million cows and 13 million sheep for its 3.5 million residents.

“Every country has a different concept of politeness.”

Meanwhile, Lars Froemel, a 10th grader, and Julius Hamel, an 11th grader, are looking forward to their upcoming stay in Montevideo. They’re excited to see their two exchange partners again—people they’ve already gotten along with so well. All four boys agree: It was a great fit!

The teenagers from Uruguay would like to say thank you: “Thank you to the Steinmühle and to our host families. We had a great time.”

María Ramos, Lars and Julius’s Spanish teacher, is glad that the Uruguay exchange program is thriving at Steinmühle. “We started it a few years ago and have now expanded the program.” The linguistic nuances of Spanish in Uruguay, as well as in Argentina, are minor variations and by no means a dialect. “The intonation is a bit like that of Italian.”

Otherwise, she and her colleague from Uruguay give the young people tips on how best to behave in everyday situations in Uruguay. “Every country,” she says, “has a different concept of politeness.”

“In our country,” the guests from Uruguay emphasize, “you’re always warmly welcomed and in good hands. It’s the safest country in Latin America.”

14. March 2019

Prevention Day Against Drunk Driving

News, Sports & Health

This issue isn’t just important during Carnival season, but the “fifth season” offers a good opportunity to remind everyone: The limit is zero per mille when driving! As part of the annual prevention program, students in the entire 11th grade were shown just how deadly drinking and driving can be. Senior Police Inspector Tobias Decher from the Regional Traffic Service based in Cölbe introduced the BOB campaign. The idea is that at parties where people still need to drive home afterward, a designated driver who remains sober should be chosen in advance to ensure everyone gets home safely. The alternatives are a taxi or public transportation.

Alcohol Metabolism and Driving Ability

On the day of the prevention program, the class was divided into two groups. Tobias Decher explained the dangers of drunk driving, driving even under the influence of small amounts of alcohol, the process of alcohol metabolism, and driving ability. The students were also able to get an idea of what vehicles involved in accidents can look like through a photo presentation. The presentation also included cases in which, tragically, passengers were killed or seriously injured as a result of drunk driving. The aim is to foster understanding through deterrence.

The prevention event was led by Nicole Hohm and Heike Rabben-Martin. Businesses, clubs, and organizations can support the BOB campaign www.aktion-bob.de.

14. March 2019

Justus Schneider on the Gifted Students’ Team at the 27th Inventors’ Lab

Contests & Awards, News, STEM, Talent Development

At the 27th Inventors’ Lab organized by the Center for Chemistry, based in Bensheim an der Bergstraße, 17-year-old Justus Schneider, a student at Steinmühlen High School, was one of 16 highly gifted students who spent a week at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences exploring the topic “Electromobility—Fuel Cells.” In front of a large audience, including prominent figures from business, academia, and government ministries, he and his group presented their research ideas and proposed solutions at the event’s conclusion.

Out of nearly 200 outstanding applicants from all over Hesse, Justus was one of the 16 selected participants. He and Luca Weigel from the Lahntalschule in Biedenkopf were the only representatives from the entire county. At the Inventor Lab in the Department of Engineering at Rhein-Main University of Applied Sciences in Rüsselsheim, the young inventors were given their challenge. The challenge was to build a small vehicle on site that is powered by fuel cells. But that wasn’t all: the vehicle also had to be capable of powering other devices at the same time, including a lamp.

Fuel cells and a capacitor were among the components provided. But that was the extent of the assistance. Justus Schneider’s team built a car body out of wood and cardboard. The wheels were created using a 3D printer. The young researchers used the capacitor as an energy storage device. This allowed the lamp to stay lit even when the car was no longer moving.

Inspired by the topics of electric mobility and fuel cells

Producing hydrogen proved to be a test of patience. Since the fuel cells had two ports for hydrogen, this was the stated goal. In the lab, the talented young scientists broke down water through electrolysis. However, the endeavor to store hydrogen in balloons required the staying power necessary for research work. “Don’t give up” was also Justus Schneider’s motto when the balloon burst several times. It ultimately took five hours to make everything airtight.

The successful completion of this project has inspired Justus Schneider. Although he had already planned to pursue a career in research in mathematics or physics before the project, he can now imagine working on the further development of vehicles powered by fuel cells. Although such vehicles already exist, Justus Schneider says, they are relatively expensive to purchase. Justus Schneider’s idea is that gas stations could produce hydrogen themselves or have it delivered by industry. Based on his observations, he believes it would be easy to make changes in this area.

Justus was encouraged by his Steinmühlen teacher and STEM coordinator, Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, to enter the competition, which had previously required practical skills. She, along with his physics teacher Dr. Rainer Nietzke and the entire school, is delighted that Steinmühle’s “streak” of participation in this prestigious event has continued this year as well.

If Justus’s work in the Inventors’ Lab did indeed serve as a catalyst for his career—so much the better. Who knows: Perhaps one day it will be a team led by Justus Schneider that achieves a breakthrough in the further development of fuel-cell-powered vehicles.

7. March 2019

No pressure to perform: Let’s speak English!

Languages & International Affairs, News

The English Department has received some welcome support for this semester: Simon Davison, a British national who regularly visits Marburg and has personal ties to Steinmühle, had the wonderful idea of offering a series of free conversation sessions during lunch break. Upper-level students who’d like to practice their spoken English—without the pressure to perform that comes with a typical classroom setting—are welcome to sign up. Several students have already expressed interest, and both the photo and the feedback so far suggest that it’s fun and beneficial. Those interested can contact Jeannine Walter to schedule a session. Before the Easter break, March 14 and March 28 are still available.

7. March 2019

Skiing in Winterberg – there’s more to come

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, Life at Boarding School, News

Winter sports opportunities are practically right on our doorstep: the Sauerland region is just an hour’s drive away. So, as part of a weekend outing, a group of boarding school students set off on a trip to Winterberg.

We set out early in the morning. A variety of runs of varying difficulty, totaling 50 kilometers in length, awaited the group at the ski resort. There were even beginners among them—people who were on skis for the first time in their lives. They were in the capable hands of experienced ski instructors and enjoyed excellent conditions in the Winterberg area.

A bright blue sky and perfect weather conditions made the outing a truly wonderful day, which came to a close in the evening—exhausted but satisfied—after a smooth trip back to the boarding school.

The weekend in Winterberg was just the beginning: A weekend trip to Austria is planned for March, during which we can further build on the knowledge we’ve recently acquired and refreshed.

6. March 2019

Great costumes and music: Lower School Celebrated Carnival

Events & Celebrations, News

Being able to really let loose, running around the gym in costumes to cool music, playing games, and burning off some energy—that sounds like the Steinmühlen Carnival for grades 5 and 6. The atmosphere among Steinmühlen’s youngest students couldn’t have been better, even in a traditional Carnival stronghold; it’s hard to believe that the whole thing took place in Central Hesse.

After getting dressed in their costumes and applying makeup, two appropriate costumes were selected per class for the Carnival Costume Story. The young revelers made their entrance to the polonaise at 2:00 p.m. After the presentation of the Carnival Costume Story, the Carnival Olympics began with a biathlon. The program included running, target throwing, and a three-legged race. This was followed by a disco and the much-anticipated Carnival snack, complete with French fries.

As usual, WU Sound & Light and its team provided the best music. Sam Kempkes and his team were swamped at times as people tried to get as many song requests as possible to them.

We would like to thank the teaching staff led by Frank Wemme, as well as Jasmine Weidenbach, chair of the booster club, for their flawless coordination and for actively helping to shape this “crazy” afternoon with their own original costumes.

5. March 2019