High School Graduation 2021 - The Class of 2021 Leaves Steinmühle - Steinmühle

High School Graduation 2021 – The Class of 2021 Leaves Steinmühle

Contests & Awards, Events & Celebrations, Life at Boarding School, News

The 2021 high school graduation—it was a special adventure for the nine students at Steinmühle Boarding School who earned their college entrance qualifications this summer. The Abitur, already an exciting journey, was made even more thrilling for this graduating class by COVID-19 and what we might call the “unique challenges of the learning environment.”

And so it’s no surprise that this year’s graduating class has been compared to the nine companions from *The Lord of the Rings*. For as individual and unique as these nine students may be, they are united by their shared journey at Steinmühle. The Steinmühle boarding school as “Elrond’s House”—a safe haven and second home that provides strength and perseverance.

“The mill will always be my home as long as I’m here!”

As is the case every year, in addition to the official presentation of report cards, the graduating boarding students were also treated to a separate farewell ceremony organized by the boarding school and their homeroom teachers, which they attended together with their families. In an idyllic setting on the banks of the Lahn, over brunch and a toast together, each student received their very own personal farewell speech. The occasion served as a reminder of the wonderful moments they shared together: for example, Charles, who couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than the mill during his time here at the boarding school. Like Charles, however, all the high school graduates now face the major challenge of this new chapter in their lives.

Steinmühle Brings People Together—Even Beyond High School

Although the traveling adventurers’ time at the Steinmühle comes to an end here, their hope for a reunion was also expressed in their farewell speeches: “Let us hear from you!”, “You can do it!” and: “I’ll do what I can—no longer as a teacher, but as a colleague and friend.”

The warmth of the relationship between students and teachers was palpable in those moments. “I’m thrilled by these emotional speeches,” says Ms. Kersten, mother of our graduating senior Timo. “I could totally recognize my son, and I’m so proud of him and what he’s accomplished here.”

Roksana Stronzeck expressed how the Steinmühle can continue to be a home even after graduation. With tears in her eyes, the former student—who is currently completing her internship year for her vocational diploma at Blista, a residential group for the visually impaired in Marburg—shared how much she misses her time at the Steinmühle: “I was at the Steinmühle for six years. I knew in advance that I would miss that time. But it’s only when you’re really no longer here that you realize just how much the Steinmühle meant to me.”

Remembrance as a Tradition—The Time Capsule at the Steinmühle

And precisely because these memories of our time together at boarding school can be so wonderful, a new tradition has taken root over the past three years: Graduating seniors receive a metal time capsule in which they can place personal items, letters, and mementos. These time capsules are buried on the Steinmühle grounds and dug up again at the Fall Festival after 10 years. In seven years, the first graduating class will be able to reminisce together at the Fall Festival.

This year’s high school graduates, on the other hand, will have to wait another 10 years. “Whatever,” says graduate Luca Ledro, shrugging it off, “I come back here every year for the Fall Festival anyway.”

Here’s to saying goodbye and to seeing each other again

“What a wonderful farewell!” says Ms. Gorges, mother of graduating senior Kris, “I’m so glad we were able to enjoy this moment one more time with our small boarding school group.” And so, after the official farewell portion of the graduation ceremony, everyone came together to bring their time together to a joyful close. Tears were shed—some out of emotion, some out of happiness, and a few out of sadness and thoughts of parting.

But by the time the Fall Festival rolls around—which we hope will take place again this year—everyone is warmly invited to visit Steinmühle Boarding School once more. Until then, the boarding school community wishes our nine classmates a successful and exciting journey into this new chapter of their lives, filled with happiness, courage, hope, and, of course, good health.

30. July 2021

Hesse’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, visited the Steinmühle

Collaborations & Partnerships, Digitalization & AI, News

Just popping in, a bit of small talk, and back in the car—that’s not how it works with Kristina Sinemus. As a guest at a school, the Hessian Minister of Digital Affairs took a closer look. On her summer tour, she visited Steinmühle, which was awarded the Bitkom “Smart School” certificate just a few weeks ago. It’s also a STEM school—reason enough for the trained high school teacher and scientist to take a closer look at the school’s digitalization concept on site.

A brief tour of the school and boarding school grounds was part of the athletic minister’s general orientation—with a favorable glance at the beach volleyball court. Even on the way to the student lab, which the prominent visitor was eager to see, the “escort” through the new school buildings had grown longer and longer. Not only school and administrative staff, local state parliament representative Dirk Bamberger, and media representatives, but also the young participants of the summer camp—currently being held at the Steinmühle by the Marburg-based educational organization LernTeam—had joined the line. “Can I have an autograph?” Of course that was possible! So, in addition to the coveted autograph, the girls and boys also received a few giveaways featuring the Hessian lion.

Kristina Sinemus, a biologist with a master’s degree and a Ph.D. who holds a professorship on leave of absence in the Department of Public Affairs at Quadriga University Berlin, is a political newcomer. No other federal state has a Ministry of Digital Affairs—she heads the only one in Hesse. The fact that Prof. Sinemus is also an entrepreneur and founded a science communication company has given her a particularly broad perspective. “One of my responsibilities is to strengthen the connection between schools and education,” the guest explained.

Of course, the visit’s agenda included a focus on the StoneApp at the Steinmühle. Former student and developer Aaron Stein personally explained the app. Livia and Sophia from 8th grade explained how the app’s features are used, with an additional focus on homeschooling. Malte Klimczak, the digitalization coordinator, gave a brief overview of the Steinmühle’s fundamental conceptual approach to media literacy. He discussed the staffing arrangements for its implementation and described the wide range of uses for the tablets, which are used starting in 7th grade.

“Digital-supported instruction opens up new learning and teaching methods that have become more important than ever during the pandemic,” said Hesse’s Minister for Digital Affairs. She is all the more pleased that many schools and school types are actively committed to the digital advancement and continuation of instruction, as is the case here at Steinmühle, one of 81 “Smart Schools” nationwide. “When, moreover, technical innovations originate from the students themselves and lead to the creation of important tools like the ‘Stone App,’ it is a special joy and a great benefit for everyone,” said the minister, referring to Aaron Stein’s development. Around 1,000 students, parents, and teachers now use this tool every day.

“I’m also here to find out what else I should keep in mind for the schools,” explained Prof. Dr. Sinemus before setting off for the next stop on her summer tour. The Minister of State found the idea of making the technical capabilities of the StoneApp available to other schools for customized use “definitely interesting and worth considering.” Schools could then adapt the app to their specific needs in their own computer science classes.

29. July 2021

“Down to Zero” the Steinmühlen Way

News

It has long been a tradition at Steinmühle: Every school year, the students in the 12th-grade DS course work on staging a play. This year, due to the pandemic, it was unclear for a long time whether the play would be allowed to go on. Finally, they got the green light.

On June 30, the Q2 class at Steinmühle performed Kristofer GrØnskag’s play “Runter auf Null.” The audience experienced some suspenseful moments:

The ten scenes build to a crescendo, exploring the experiences of adolescents in a world shaped by social media. A girl is standing on the tracks. To her left stands a boy filming her with his cell phone camera. You can hear the rumble of an approaching train. Her heart is pounding. She stands there, motionless. Is this a test of courage? Will she manage to jump out of the way in time?

The play deals with issues that are constantly and increasingly affecting young people: higher, faster, further. Everyone wants recognition in some way, but what are the consequences? The central question: What is the most important thing in my life, and do genuine feelings even exist anymore? The play critically examines the motivations of young people and encourages reflection.

For nearly an entire school year, the talented young actors had been working intensively on their own interpretation of the play under the expert guidance of art teacher Ines Vielhaben. The theater performance was promoted with posters created by the 12th-grade advanced art class, also under the direction of Ines Vielhaben. The posters were displayed in prominent locations throughout the school grounds. The event was also promoted on the school’s internal “StoneApp.”

Cara Berghöfer
Angelina Isabella Omlor

Photos: Ines Vielhaben

15. July 2021

Remarks We Made: CD Available

Art, Music & Theater, News

It’s not often that a school band displays as much motivation and love for music as the Stonemill House Band and our jazz ensemble do. To help us remember this in the years to come, we wanted to document our work together. In January 2020, we were able to record our program—consisting of the songs “Romantically Helpless,” “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” “Whisper Not,” and “A Remark You Made,” which we had arranged a year earlier in Wolfhausen. With the wonderful support of Werner Eismann, we created a professionally produced CD that captures our time together. Anyone who would like a copy can pick it up at the school office for a nominal fee.

Talea Funk

15. July 2021