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

, ,

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.

Former student Vincent Haiges works as a war correspondent

, , ,

Images of bombed-out houses, scenes of war, dust, rubble, and ash: The images of Iraq shown on the news are authentic, but they don’t tell the whole story. This country—which is actually rich yet plagued by extreme poverty—has other facets as well. Selfies, hookah, bike races, pool, and excessive drinking under one of Baghdad’s Tigris bridges, where young men gather at night. At night, “at a bearable 35 degrees,” as Vincent Haiges says. People’s lives take place outdoors.

The former student at the Steinmühle boarding school lived in Iraq for two years—first in the north, then in the capital. He also visits other crisis-stricken areas—to touch on sensitive issues, to contribute to global transparency, and to get to know other perspectives. To provide a more complete picture, offer explanations, and share knowledge.

 

“Freedom comes with responsibility”

After graduating from high school, Haiges went on his first trip; at age 21, he arrived in Morocco. “Tell me about Germany,” he can still hear Mustafa say today. That was the moment Haiges began to become aware of global inequality. But what was he to do with that realization? he asked himself.

He realized that freedom comes with responsibility. Vincent Haiges began his studies in Vienna and London, focusing on conflict studies and international law.

He graduated from the university with a master’s degree in political science. His drive to seek out the world’s hotspots, capture the events through photography, and present them has remained undiminished.

This works well through images, and his documentaries resonate with audiences. A high-profile group of clients in the media sector is interested in what Vincent Haiges brings back to the safety of Central Europe: *Der Spiegel*, Deutsche Welle, *Die Zeit*, and the Goethe-Institut. But foreign publications are also interested: from Japan, Switzerland, and even Al Jazeera. Vincent Haiges also documents events in crisis zones for the UN.

 

“They were wearing masks— not because of COVID-19″

When the reporter talks about excessive drinking under the Tigris Bridge, he does not intend to downplay the violence and terror in the country. His visit to a maximum-security prison in Mosul, northern Iraq, remains his worst memory. According to Haiges, photos were able to capture what was happening there. “You could see people wearing masks.” “…But not because of COVID-19, but because of the smell of corpses.”

Over time, these experiences have instilled a certain humility in the reporter. Not everyone is cut out to be a crisis reporter, even if they can write or take photographs. It takes the ability to connect with people, a clear willingness to adapt, and a genuine desire to be one of them—at least temporarily. Vincent Haiges learned Arabic and always works with a female colleague who conducts on-site interviews with women—due to the social role of Iraqi women. In their presence, a foreign man is taboo, let alone as an interview subject. Nevertheless, bringing in a local producer and translator—a so-called “fixer”—is a necessity. It’s a system—albeit a manageable one—that must be organized and made to function.

 

“Let’s not get too at once”

During the lecture at the Steinmühle, Haiges is asked if he ever burns out. He finds peace during necessary breaks at his apartment in Berlin-Kreuzberg—a place whose very name instills respect in many people from the provinces. Some ways to maintain strength and energy are time-honored but still effective, says Haiges: taking breaks, not trying to do too much at once, eating well and sleeping well, and exercising.

His invisible adversary: post-traumatic stress disorder.

Vincent Haiges, born in 1988, still remembers rowing coach Martin Strohmenger as the head of his boarding house. Memories linger on both sides, though their priorities are certainly different today. While the Steinmühlen community began the new year quietly amid the ongoing lockdown, Haiges was preparing for his next mission in January. This time, it was in Europe—Bosnia, near the Croatian border.

He was asked if he would be ready again so soon, and his answer was clear: “Believe in what you’re doing. It’s the most important factor in resilience.”

(Vincent Haiges gave the presentation in December to 13th-grade students, in compliance with pandemic-related regulations. The event was organized by Bernd Hülsbeck, a teacher of politics, economics, and history at Steinmühle.)

Strong Interest in the StoneApp: RTL Hessen Visited the Steinmühle

, ,

Am 3. Dezember 2020 besuchte uns RTL Hessen. Nach Veröffentlichung des Podcasts bei HR-iNFO hatte auch der Fernsehsender großes Interesse, unsere StoneApp kennenzulernen und vorzustellen.
Entstanden ist ein wirklich sehr schöner Beitrag. Herzlichen Dank an die Reporter Pascal Wede und Tim Ellrich – und großes Kompliment an Aaron, Jan, Eberhard Wieth und Bernd Holly für den perfekten Auftritt!

Steinmühle and blista – A New Partnership for Inclusive Competitive Sports

, ,

Steinmühle Marburg e.V. (Steinmühle) and the German Institute for the Blind (blista) are expanding and strengthening their collaboration in the area of sports programs for blind, visually impaired, and sighted students.

“With the partnership we entered into today, we are laying the groundwork to expand competitive sports programs at both schools and to demonstrate that children and young people with and without disabilities can compete on equal footing, even in competitive sports,” explains Egon Vaupel, chairman of Steinmühle.

“The children and teenagers at our two schools have been participating in joint sports classes and activities for many years. The experiences have been consistently positive,” explains blista Director Claus Duncker. “It’s not pity or forced friendliness that makes the difference, but the desire to train together and work hard together—with everyone and all the human emotions that go along with it: hopes, joy, disappointments, encounters, and friendships.”

The new alliance for inclusive competitive sports is built on a strong conceptual foundation. According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, children and adolescents have the right to an education that is geared toward the development of their whole personality. Both schools attach particular importance to the potential of sports for the personal development of their students. For many years, Steinmühle has been known for its excellent training conditions, particularly for high-performance rowing; blista serves as the state training center for judo and blind soccer, as well as the Paralympic training center for goalball. Starting this year, blista has also implemented a program that enables ambitious young athletes to pursue a successful individual academic path as part of a “dual career” while simultaneously supporting their development in competitive sports.

Based on the experiences at both schools, sports bring young people together in an inclusive way and thus also shape the cultural life of our society.

Photo: Signing of the contract: Egon Vaupel, Chairman of Steinmühle, and Claus Duncker, Chairman of blista.

Launching a New Sport: Tennis Clubs in Elementary School and Grades 5–6

, , ,

During a visit to the Steinmühle campus, Hans-Jürgen Schneider, chairman of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Tennis Association, found ideal conditions for tennis: The boarding school maintains the courts and thus the necessary infrastructure. Schneider’s suggestion to get young Steinmühlen students excited about tennis was well received by Principal Björn Gemmer. The school then surveyed interest in the “white sport” among elementary school students and those in grades 5 and 6.

The call for participants generated such a strong response that, since the beginning of September, 16 elementary school students have been training on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., followed by 19 fifth- and sixth-graders from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Three coaches are available to work with the children: Patrick Voyé is provided by the tennis association, and former Steinmühlen students Nina and Tom Horn assist him.

The opportunity to use the tennis courts for school clubs is yet another sign of the successful collaboration between the school and the Steinmühle boarding school. The administrators at Steinmühle—and, of course, Hans-Jürgen Schneider as the initiator—hope that the students will enjoy tennis so much that they will join a tennis club in the local tennis district and make the sport a lifelong hobby.

Further Support for Education from the Chemical Industry Fund

, ,

Every three years, secondary schools can apply to the Chemical Industry Fund for financial support for experimental science instruction. Steinmühle regularly applies for these grants. In the spring, another €2,500 was approved. With these funds, the school has since been able to purchase new molecular building sets and magnetic applications for modeling chemical processes and concepts, as well as additional specialized literature. With an attachment for carbon dioxide cylinders designed to compress dry ice tablets, small amounts of dry ice can now be produced right at the school. Experiments with dry ice are among the most popular activities among the students. Additional experimental materials for student experiments have also been purchased and will be gradually added in the coming weeks.



Experiments with dry ice are fascinating

 



Models make it easier to understand chemical structures and reactions

 


Smart sensors, when used in conjunction with a tablet or smartphone, enable the measurement of various parameters over time

 


Conductivity can be measured very easily using LEDs

 
12
 
123456

Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

  • NEWSLETTER
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • WORK AT THE STONE MILL
  • SUMMER CAMPS
  • LEGAL NOTICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT