Steinmühle Without a Filter: Family Day at the Boarding School

Events & Celebrations, Former Students & Alumni, Life at Boarding School, News

Not “edited,” not altered by AI—but just as it is: That’s how the Steinmühle Boarding School presented itself at its annual Family Day.

During the tour, we went to the beach volleyball court on the Lahn and took a boat shuttle a few meters further to the boathouse. We toured the buildings, including the specialized classrooms for our science subjects, the gyms with a weight room, the tennis court, the soccer field, and the equestrian facility, where the horses had recently been given brand-new stalls.

First-hand Plus-MINT information

Teenagers from our plus-MINT team gave the young people—who had been selected by Steinmühle during the plus-MINT casting—a tour of the entire campus to provide information to them and their parents and answer any questions they had. We’d love to have you on the team! While the kids ran around the front sports field in transparent “bumper balls,” the boarding school’s teaching staff exchanged information with parents of interested students and conducted several admissions interviews.

Close to nature, yet centrally located

Parents and relatives of our prospective students, as well as the young people themselves, got a sense of our nature-oriented campus in southern Marburg, not far from the university and close to the lively atmosphere of the bustling city center and the traditional Upper Town with its historic half-timbered houses. Having all of this within easy reach is a very special bonus, in addition to our comprehensive academic program!

The weather was kind to us as organizers, and likewise to the families who gathered around the tables in our courtyard for a friendly get-together. They enjoyed food and cold drinks until, toward evening, the kitchen team served up delicious grilled treats.

Click through the photos—and get a feel for Steinmühle School & Boarding School!

We’re saying goodbye—and see you soon!

(Angela Heinemann)

31. May 2026

Steinmühle = Sportmühle: Children braved the high temperatures

Contests & Awards, News, Sports & Health

Phew, it was hot! But despite the high temperatures, Steinmühle’s Lower Secondary School Sports Day turned out to be a great event—with no injuries or unpleasant incidents. This suggests that parents and physical education teachers did a great job of preparing the students for the challenging conditions! “The kids participated really well and with great enthusiasm,” said school sports coordinator Marcel Kalb happily.

On that day, the students competed in a dodgeball tournament, a soccer tournament for boys and girls, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The program also included an Ultimate Frisbee tournament and a beach volleyball tournament. Earlier, many children had competed in the sprint and running events (50, 75, 100, and 800 meters) to earn their scores toward the Sports Badge.

The photos by Björn Wagner give a sense of the event.

(M. Kalb/A. Heinemann)

29. May 2026

New Concept: The Steinmühlen Spring Ergo & Gig Cup Kicked Off for the First Time

Contests & Awards, News, Rowing, Talent Development

Rowing is part of the curriculum for every 7th-grade class at Steinmühle. Because of this focus on the sport, the four 7th-grade classes once again organized the rowing event at the Steinmühle boathouse during this year’s Lower Secondary School Sports Day.

The Steinmühle rowing team has expanded on the concept of the rowing event from recent years to create a new event called the “Steinmühle Spring Ergo & Gig Cup.” This modified format made its debut at this event.

What has changed:

The new format consists of a triathlon featuring the following events, all of which are based exclusively on rowing-specific competition formats:

– Rowing-Ergometer-Challenge over 250m

– Rowing rally “ Monte Carlo ” in gig*)-4s: each mixed gig races over a distance of 500m-
Boat per class at the start.

– 250-meter gig boat sprint: Two mixed gig boats per class compete in the preliminary round using a time-trial elimination format to determine the four semifinalists. Starting with the semifinals, the winning boat is determined through head-to-head competition.

Despite limited time to prepare for the event, some of the students delivered outstanding performances, reported organizer Michael Neirich. The competition day was therefore marked by great athletic dedication, and the beautiful weather further contributed to the positive atmosphere. It was also impressive that the students cheered each other on during all the events—a lovely gesture that demonstrated their sense of camaraderie despite the competitive atmosphere!

A big thank you to all our colleagues who helped organize the event and provided photos!

(M. Neirich/A. Heinemann)

Below are the results of the 2026 Steinmühlen Spring Ergo & Gig Cup:

Ergometer Results (250 m)

Girl:
1st Place: Dana Schleich 7i
2nd Place: Clara Koch 7c
3rd Place: Lara Burk 7c – Anouk Sedlmayr 7a – Romilda Baralis 7c

Boys:
1st Place: Julian Lange, 7b
2nd Place: Titus Lampert, 7a – Jakob Heck, 7b
3rd Place: Leo Niederhöfer, 7c

Results of the “Monte Carlo” Gig-BootCompetition
1st Place: 7c Hannes Sondergeld, Ole Brutzer, Romilda Baralis, Johanna Schütte, Theodor Weber
2nd Place: 7a Tabea Moses, Anouk Sedlmayr, Finja Porth, Philipp Zschau, Mika Nordwald
3rd Place: 7b Miranda Lammerskötter, Justus Böth, Leo Keil, Yiheng Liang, Noe Becker

Result “250m Sprint” Competition Gig Boat
1st Place: 7i Ismail Özmen, Noah Gavrilas, Emmanuel Sarumi, Dana Schleich, Nika Jablonski
2nd Place: 7i Nic Dohmen, Alea Stübner, Aurelia Thielicke, Gianluca Schneider, Ricardo Tapia Gehring
3rd place: 7b Maximilian Bliemel, Philipp Leont, Jakob Heck, Alisa Neufeld, Nora Rettig

Results “Fastest Rowing Class” Competition
1st place: 7b
2nd place: 7a
3rd place: 7c
4th place: 7 i

—

For clarification:

*) The Gig-Boot (Gig for short) is a fast, sturdy type of rowing boat. It is characterized by its wider and more stable design compared to narrow racing boats and is the standard boat for recreational rowing, training, and touring.

27. May 2026

DS 11 presented a captivating theatrical performance titled “Titanic 2.0—A Reconstruction”

Art, Music & Theater, Collaborations & Partnerships, News

The 11th-grade DS class, under the direction of Ines Vielhaben, presented a magnificent performance at the Theater am Schwanhof (Tasch). The ensemble performed the play “Titanic 2.0—A Reconstruction” so authentically that the audience felt not as though they were sitting in front of the stage, but almost as if they were right in the middle of the action themselves. The 45-minute performance was extremely captivating and provided a few goosebump-inducing moments, which were due not only to the play’s title but also, to a large extent, to the actors’ skill.

Praise for Outstanding Teamwork

The performance at the Theater am Schwanhof took place as part of the Central Hesse School Theater Festival, as Ines Vielhaben reported. She was most pleased with the excellent teamwork among the students in the drama course, even in the run-up to the stage performance: “Together, the students found solutions for recasting roles due to illness. Everyone took responsibility for the props and all the stage equipment.”
The larger stage, Ines Vielhaben continued, was obviously a great challenge, and it was worth enriching the play with two additional scenes so that the versatility of the actors and actresses could be showcased even more.

It will be interesting to see what the audience will get to see during the Q phase.

(Heinm)

21. May 2026

Competitive rowers return to the Lahn with no fewer than four victories

Contests & Awards, News, Rowing, Talent Development

Head coach Martin Strohmenger was able to report a very solid performance for the Steinmühle School & Boarding School at the Rüdersdorf Spring Regatta this weekend. Janina Conrad (featured photo) alone won three gold medals!

This series once again made the competition on the outskirts of the federal capital a rowing highlight. The team also praised the great course, the excellent catering, and the comfortable accommodations—all topped off by good weather.

Max Beck followed suit and also claimed the victory

Coach “Stromi” was particularly pleased with the wonderful conclusion to the regatta on Sunday, courtesy of Steinmühlen rower Max Beck (first photo in the gallery). Although he hadn’t been able to fully demonstrate his potential earlier on, he finally broke through at the end of the event and once again secured a top spot as the fastest rower.

Feeling satisfied and having built a strong network through important conversations on the sidelines of the regatta course, the tireless team headed back west to kick off a new week.

Meanwhile, the Steinmühle School & Boarding School and the newly founded association Talentakademie Rudern Steinmühle (TARUS) e.V. are on the verge of launching the plus-RUDERN program, which offers ambitious rowers new opportunities in elite rowing combined with an education of the highest caliber.

(Angela Heinemann)

17. May 2026

Positive human experiences pushed the unfamiliar into the background

Collaborations & Partnerships, Languages & International Affairs, News, Politics, Business & Responsibility, Social Engagement, Steinmühle on the Road

This was the third time that students from Steinmühle visited One World Secondary School Kilimanjaro, their partner school in Tanzania. Over the course of seven long weeks, four tenth-graders had the opportunity to explore: What matches up with the stories of those who’ve already been there? What do I learn that’s different? And what might be new?

Mattis, Miklas, Timon, and Felix returned to the Steinmühle with somewhat differing impressions.

“My expectations were zero,” recalls Miklas, who wasn’t very enthusiastic about his first meal of rice flour and water, but was impressed by the surroundings in a broader sense. “The immediate surroundings took some getting used to,” he recalls of the simple living conditions at school. On the other hand, he fondly remembers the “beautiful natural surroundings.”

Exuding Contentment

“The people there are much happier,” Mattis says, reflecting on his impressions. He still vividly remembers the many smiling faces. He also made friends in Tanzania. In his view, limiting cell phone use to one, or at most two, hours led to a general sense of relaxation.

The mattresses made a lasting impression on Timon. But that term isn’t quite accurate, since the base of the sleeping pad was actually made of insulation material. “You get used to it,” he says with a wink—and that was probably true of many things. Positive experiences on a human level tended to push the lack of comfort and unfamiliar circumstances into the background.

Traveling with a Companion

For the first 10 days of the seven-week program, boarding school counselor Julia Ploch remained in Tanzania to support the students. Three eleventh-graders from Steinmühle even stayed with the group for the first three weeks. The rest of the time, the four students spent time among themselves—alongside the other students at One World Secondary School, integrated into their daily routine of classes, as well as sports and leisure activities.

To the Beach and on a Safari

Felix, the fourth member of the group, was a bit put off by the somewhat dirty, bustling metropolis of Dar es Salaam, but—like his classmates—was “rewarded” with a safari or a trip to the beach at Bagamoyo, located a little further north.

Would he fly back to Tanzania? Unlike at least two of his classmates, he’s a bit hesitant about that.

Be that as it may, no one can take away from him the experience of having once learned the difference between life in Central Europe and life in East Africa.

(Angela Heinemann)

13. May 2026

Steinmühle Boarding School on an Adventure Trip to the Netherlands

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, Life at Boarding School, News, Steinmühle on the Road

Accompanied by a group of 14 young people from the Steinmühle boarding school, the teaching team of Julia Ploch and Daniel Mlaeb traveled together to Citykamp Valkenburg in the Netherlands.

Each small group of 4–5 people had special accommodations at the charming campground, Julia Ploch reports: a tiny house, a construction trailer, or a well-equipped tent.

Trip to Maastricht

Julia Ploch continued: “We wrapped up Friday with a night of making our own burgers together. On Saturday, we went on a hike to Schaloen Castle, which also took us through a small petting zoo. In the early evening, we took a trip to Maastricht for anyone who wanted to go—including a stop at a delicious ice cream shop. That evening, we made wraps together at the campground and played games.”

Graduation photo in front of the flags

On Sunday, after checking out, the group drove to the Dreiländereck. There, they visited a maze featuring a puzzle game. After taking a group photo in front of the flags of the three countries, they headed back home. — A successful trip, as the young people unanimously agreed.

(Heinm)

12. May 2026

Grade 7 Theater Workshop: Who can do something like that?

Art, Music & Theater, News

Who could possibly do something like that?

Young actors and actresses in 7th grade can do that. They can tell entertaining stories of their own, create a wide variety of characters who bring these stories to life, and reliably slip into their roles, entertaining the audience brilliantly with wordplay, theatrical performances, and plenty of surprises. This is exactly what happened in the performances by all four 7th-grade classes as part of the theater workshop on May 7 and 8.

We got a glimpse of a dangerous school day where a dog was causing trouble (“Pipi, Piss Off” by Class 7c). “Werewolf” became a game that went beyond the boundaries of a children’s game (“The Werewolves Among Us,” Class 7a), Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and other fairy-tale characters boldly traveled back and forth through time, with plenty of predictable twists and turns (“Once Upon a Time” by Class 7b), and finally, there was an entertaining talent show featuring hilarious dancers, a dazzling three-generation band, and one of those worldly-wise scientists who, after all, has something dangerous up his sleeve—including the usual strong clichés in the jury members (“Who can do something like that?” by Class 7i).

The audience enjoyed excellent entertainment and warm hospitality from the Class of ’13 and responded with warm, well-deserved applause. Thus, another Theaterworkshop season came to a very joyful and satisfying conclusion.

Many thanks to everyone involved, both on stage and behind the scenes. For cast lists and additional information, see the program: Theaterwerkstatt. Flyer. 2026

(Frank Wemme)

To get a sense of what it’s like, we recommend scrolling through the photo gallery (Photos: Rainer Waldinger):

12. May 2026

From Poetry to Slam: A Treasure Waiting to Be Uncovered

Art, Music & Theater, Collaborations & Partnerships, Contests & Awards, News, Politics, Business & Responsibility, Talent Development

Literary talents from Steinmühle met with the well-known author and spoken-word artist Leah Weigand to prepare for the 1st Marburg School Slam. It is a treasure waiting to be unearthed: the ability to transform one’s own thoughts and experiences into artistic words and to inspire others with them. This goal united the 11th-grade students who met with Leah Weigand at Steinmühle on May 8 to write—in a way that was quite different from how they usually have to write in school.

“Respect the poet”

In a pleasantly relaxed and highly motivating atmosphere, the participants gained valuable inspiration through various creative writing exercises. The result was a range of texts, both short and long—sometimes funny, sometimes mundane, occasionally philosophical, thought-provoking, and poetically striking—all guided by the event’s theme: “Respect the poet,” and captured on camera by Björn Wagner.

How It All Began

It all started at the poetry slam at KFZ last December. Class 11a attended the event, was very impressed by the artists there, and our colleague Björn Wagner—who also performs as a slammer in his free time—put us in touch with Leah Weigand, who hosted the slam at the KFZ, who is also a bestselling author and a sought-after slam poet in her own right.

Cross-School Collaboration

The desire to nurture not only scientific but also artistic and literary talents at Steinmühle has long been a priority, and now the opportunity has arisen to bring a professional woman to our school. But that’s not all. When discussing how to finance this project with the Hessian Innovation and Advisory Network for the Promotion of Gifted Students (HIBB), the idea arose to establish a cross-school collaboration.

The project’s highlight on June 10

We were able to recruit a teacher from the Elisabethschule and a teacher from the Philippinum, who also offered poetry workshops at their respective schools. The highlight of this project so far is scheduled to take place on June 10 at 7 p.m., when students from all three schools will compete in a literary contest at the Forum der Steinmühle and celebrate the 1st Marburg School Slam, moderated by Leah Weigand.

We’re really looking forward to it and say: Don’t miss it! Mark your calendars.

(Kristina Sokoli)

11. May 2026

ALUMNI SUMMER WEEKEND, June 26–28, for alumni of Steinmühle Boarding School

Former Students & Alumni, Life at Boarding School, News

At Steinmühle, we’re just kicking off a regular exchange with all our alumni. “A supportive community” is the motto we promote in our mission statement—and that applies not only during our time at school, but also beyond!

A Journey Back in Time

This year’s ALUMNI SUMMER WEEKEND is primarily aimed at all alumni of Steinmühle Boarding School. It is an invitation to spend a weekend together on campus from June 26 to 28 to catch up, reminisce, and celebrate together.

Not only can you relax by the Lahn and enjoy food and drinks while listening to music, but you can also stay overnight at the boarding school and take a trip back in time together.

Lots of New Things on Campus

Without wanting to toot our own horn, we promise those of you who haven’t been to the Steinmühle in a few years: You’ll be blown away by the structural changes that have taken place in the meantime! Of course, you’ll be guided through the buildings and to all the relevant spots—from the boathouse all the way to the weight room, the cafeteria, and the equestrian facilities.

Scan the QR code and sign in

To join us for the first ALUMNI SUMMER WEEKEND in Steinmühle’s history , scan the QR code on the poster and register by May 15 at the latest.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you again!

(Heinm)

6. May 2026