Events & Celebrations

Trunk or Treat: A Spooky and Fun Halloween Eve Celebration in the Steinmühle Schoolyard

Bilingual Elementary School, Events & Celebrations, News

“Trunk or Treat” was the theme on the eve of Halloween in the Steinmühle schoolyard. As an event organized entirely by the elementary school parents, cars were lined up there starting at 5 p.m.—each with its trunk open and filled with lots of surprises. With great attention to detail, the parents of our bilingual elementary school students had decorated their trunks in Halloween style and offered various treats to the children as they came by one after another. But that wasn’t all: Not only the children, but also the moms and dads were in costume, so you often had to take a closer look to see who was hiding behind the mask.

A Parent-Led Initiative

For those who were expecting the familiar phrase “Trick or Treat” rather than “Trunk,” here’s a quick explanation of this variation. “For many families, this idea replaces the tradition of children going door-to-door, which is sometimes viewed somewhat critically not only in the U.S. but also here in Germany,” explains Lorraine Herrmann, the deputy director of the Bilingual Elementary School. She expressed great pride in the successful parent-led initiative, which involved crafting, lighting, and decorating—and for which she provided only organizational support. Steinmühle says “Thank you” to all the parents whose dedication made such a wonderful evening possible for our elementary school children!

Click through the photos to get a sense of this fun event:

1. November 2024

“Do you remember…?” — Former students reminisced

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

How long has it been since they last saw each other: Ten years? Twenty? Or even thirty years? The Fall Festival, held on the last Saturday of September, not only provides an overview of the students’ current activities. It’s also a gathering place for alumni, who reminisce over a drink at dusk and ask each other the famous question: “Do you remember…?”

“Numerous alumni from various graduating classes attended the fall festival at Steinmühle, including some from the 1970s and even the 1960s,” reported Principal Björn Gemmer. A particularly large number of alumni came from the class of 2014, a double graduating class due to the G8 curriculum. There was also great joy among the class of 1999, who celebrated their 25th anniversary exuberantly in the festival tent. The alumni were touched that a meeting place had been created and decorated especially for them in the festival tent. In particular, the photo walls for all the anniversary classes, designed by Edeltraud Buurman, were very well received.

Former student—now a teacher there

One of them, Dirk Lange, was there in a dual role. Not only did he join the alumni team, but years later he also came to work at Steinmühle! Today, the German and ethics teacher is a member of the school administration team as a quality manager.

Even at the boarding school, there are staff members who now work where they once lived. Among them is Michel Hermens, a former boarding student who is now a boarding school teacher and house director. – It can therefore be said with certainty that Steinmühle is not only a sought-after educational institution for students, but also an attractive employer.

Impressed by the expansion, new construction, and renovation

During four extensive tours—each with more than 20 participants—led by Principal Björn Gemmer or his 12d class, the guests were impressed by the new buildings and the renovation efforts, but especially by the expansion of Steinmühle through an increase in student enrollment, the addition of an international program—including an elementary school—and the flourishing of the STEM program.

Some alumni were also interested in the chronicle, which had been compiled this year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Steinmühle, and purchased a copy. Anyone still interested in obtaining a copy is welcome to contact the Steinmühle at schule@steinmuehle.de with the subject line “Chronicle.”

15. October 2024

Alpacas, homemade honey, food art: Guests enjoyed the Steinmühle Fall Festival

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

As the last Saturday in September approaches, excitement builds every year at Steinmühle. On this day, the school and boarding school traditionally celebrate their fall festival with many guests: It’s a gathering of parents, families, friends, alumni, and everyone who feels a connection to Steinmühle. At the same time, it’s an opportunity for anyone interested to get a taste of the Steinmühle atmosphere.

“Many people on our campus have been working toward this day,” explained Frank Wemme, middle school principal and festival organizer, after Principal Björn Gemmer’s opening remarks on the music stage. The benches in the schoolyard were packed with spectators, and the sun was shining down on the guests, who clearly preferred to pull out their sunglasses rather than their umbrellas.

Here’s to us!

The musical introduction featured more highlights from the festival week celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Steinmühle. This memorable anniversary had been celebrated in June with a variety of events. The then 5th-grade choir—now in 6th grade—performed songs such as “Yellow Submarine,” “99 Luftballons,” and—fitting for the occasion—“Ein Hoch auf uns,” conducted by Anna Prokop and Ulrike Wilmsmeyer.

Lovable Four-Legged Friends

As we walked through the grounds, there were new things to discover. Alpacas had never been seen at the Steinmühle before—for the fall festival, six animals, normally based in Weimar/Lahn, gathered near the equestrian center. District Administrator Jens Womelsdorf was also charmed by the cute appearance of these four-legged friends with their button eyes, which their owners often bring along to events. On the other side of the building, Steinmühle ponies, smartly adorned with the Steinmühle logo, posed, ready for a ride with interested young visitors.

Information About the Day Group

The two child care providers for the new “Mühlen-Minis” group took advantage of the Steinmühlen event to show interested visitors around the rooms in the fully renovated log cabin and explain their work.

It’s all part of the fun

And then the time had come. This time, the two reporters from the Steinmühle couldn’t avoid visiting the haunted house, which was once again very crowded—as evidenced by the long line in front of the building. Both crept through the darkened corridors with a sense of awe, guided only by bright lines on the floor. Here and there, water dripped from above; rustling sounds and faint touches in the pitch darkness made the whole experience truly spooky…and then… there it was—the skeleton, illuminated in shifting colors… and captured in a photo in the blink of an eye. Great job, students of Class 7a!

An Insight into Food Art

The presentation by the 13a advanced art class, led by teacher Heike Rabben Martin (“Rado”), was a work of art that was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Their display was simply titled “Food Art”—an extensive collection of sweets that had been handmade and packaged by the students themselves the night before.

The elective course (WU) “Vegetarian Cooking & School Garden,” led by teacher María Ramos, offered gourmet products.

The tattooing skills of other students, meanwhile, were put to the test on several occasions—including by one or two teachers, incidentally. The donations collected for this went to charity.

The WU Computer Science Department showcased the impressive results of the group’s work. LEGO robots were presented.

Questions About the School and the Parent-Teacher Association

As always, there was a long line in front of the AROMA ice cream truck, which had been organized by Jasmine Weidenbach, the chair of the Friends Association. There was also a great deal of interest in the Friends Association’s own booth. Visitors spoke with board members to learn about the association’s activities and how to become a member, and they were able to ask questions. The same was true at the school administration team’s information table, where school administrator Dirk Lange and his colleagues spoke with Autumn Festival guests to answer questions about what Steinmühle has to offer.

Stone Mill Honey

Something special was on offer at the entrance to the Steinmühle grounds: Stone Honey! The young Steinmühlen beekeepers, Mara Schleich from class 5i and Julian Busch from class 5b, presented and explained the fantastic results of their work so far with two bee colonies and offered the jars of honey—featuring labels designed by art teacher “Rado” in exchange for a donation. They revealed that two more bee colonies are set to join the hive soon.

Games from Ancient Greece

The experiment conducted with liquid nitrogen at the Chemikum—with which Steinmühle collaborates—always makes a big visual and auditory impression. This collaboration is reliably supported by Steinmühle teacher and STEM coordinator Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf.

The “Games of Ancient Greece” event in front of the Forum required quite a bit of skill. Inside the Forum itself, karaoke was on the program. Lady Gaga and the gang would surely have been amazed!

A film provided information about the phenomenon of the Miyawaki forest. Former Steinmühle principal Bernd Holly had planted one such forest on the grounds in front of the new gym. There, anyone interested could see for themselves how this natural phenomenon grows and thrives.

The first set of our photos gives a glimpse of the Fall Festival activities during the day. We’ll report on the evening atmosphere and the alumni reunions soon.

29. September 2024

LöwenMutKids celebrated their anniversary at the Steinmühle

Collaborations & Partnerships, Events & Celebrations, News, Social Engagement

This month, the association Leben mit Krebs Marburg e.V. invited guests to a celebration at the Steinmühle for several occasions. Not only were the association’s 30th anniversary and the 10th birthday of the LöwenMutKids celebrated, but the handover of the association’s leadership from Christiane Schmitt to Anke Scheld was also marked. After Steinmühle School Principal Bernd Holly retired, school board member Tobias Karlein took over the role of maintaining contact with the association, particularly with the LöwenMutKids. He himself was present at the anniversary celebration, along with his colleague Tim Elmshäuser, whose advanced sports class provided sports activities for some of the students at the event. Technical support was also provided by Jaron Häußermann from “Sound and Light,” who is also from Steinmühle.

Review and Overview of the Programs

Just how many—and how many different—people are working together toward the goal of improving the quality of life for cancer patients and making the challenges faced by patients and their families more bearable was evident from the packed hall filled with public figures and from the well-wishes offered to the association during the traditional birthday cake candle-blowing ceremony. In addition to wishes for the future, there were reflections on the association’s history, such as the move to the “Krebsbüro” in Niederweimar, the St. Lucia services during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, and the “Lichtblick” project, which continues to have an impact on some families to this day.

New Movie About the LöwenMutKids

The new film about the LöwenMutKids along the Lahn River was also presented. This group provides help and support to children whose parents or family members are battling cancer. Following creative interview segments, a heartfelt thank you was extended to the founders, longtime companions, volunteer supporters, and sponsors. Those who could no longer join in the celebration of this anniversary were remembered, and despite the colorful program, there was room for silence. Above all, it was an anniversary of caring for one another and giving, and one farewell in particular made it clear just how much passion has gone into strengthening this organization: After 25 years, Christiane Schmitt is handing over the leadership of the organization to Anke Scheld. The mark she has left—the big footsteps she leaves behind—will remain, but as Anke Scheld aptly summarized in her speech: “We can walk side by side. That way, your footsteps will always remain, and I’ll leave my own behind.” Following the varied and colorful program, everyone celebrated, laughed, and danced together until sunset, and many good conversations took place, as Hannah Golin, Anke Scheld, and Theresa Ottenthaler reported in closing. Our selection of photos gives a glimpse of the event.

Contacts for Those Affected

The association Leben mit Krebs e.V. hopes to remain a point of contact for anyone affected by cancer for the next 30 years as well. Email: beratungsstelle@lebenmitkrebs-marburg.de, Phone number: 06421-162625.

23. September 2024

First Day of School for 5th Graders: An Important Day for Girls, Boys, and Their Families

Events & Celebrations, News

The doors to the Steinmühle Forum were wide open on this beautiful summer day—and that was a good thing, because it allowed all the parents, grandparents, siblings, and relatives of our fifth-graders to watch the entire orientation program. It really is a special day when high school begins at Steinmühle!

14 Languages in the International High School Program

We are starting the 2024/25 school year with four classes in Grade 5. In addition to 5a, 5b, and 5c, Class 5i is the lowest grade level in our International High School Program. And indeed, there were quite a few familiar faces in this class—students who, after attending the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, are continuing their educational journey in the International High School Program. The girls and boys attending this program speak 14 different languages at home!

A Glimpse into the World of Music

Today, however, on the first day of school, all 5th-grade students were introduced to a different language: the language of music! The current sixth-graders once again performed excerpts from their anniversary musical—which they had staged in June to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Steinmühle School & Boarding School—and presented their choral singing. The music department—led by Ulrike Wilmsmeyer, Anna Prokop, Frank Wemme, and Daniel Sans—had pulled out all the stops to give the audience a taste of vocal and instrumental performances right from the start. With popular songs from music history, starting with the 1950s, the sixth graders immediately captivated the entire audience. Catchy tunes like “Rock Around the Clock,” “Dancing Queen,” “They Don’t Care About Us,” and “Waka Waka” simultaneously took the audience on a journey back in time to Steinmühle’s past and brought to mind many a school milestone.

Trust, Patience, and Fun

“Have faith, be patient, and have fun together”—this was the advice the teachers gave the students as they left. Principal Björn Gemmer concluded by suggesting that everyone stop by to see Jasmine Weidenbach on their way out. The chairwoman of the Steinmühle Marburg Friends Association had a welcome surprise in store for everyone.

Photos are part of it

The students in the new 5th-grade classes then gathered at the legendary climbing spider in the schoolyard to pose for the photographer—first by class with their parents, and then as a whole class on their own.

The photos below show, in the following order, the classes with their homeroom teachers: Stephan Steinebach (5i), Dirk Lange (5c), Jonathan Gröb (5b), and Rieke Schüssler (5a). The other photos provide a glimpse of the first-day-of-school celebration, which was organized primarily by students in the 6th-grade classes.

28. August 2024

Welcome to our school: We welcome the “first-graders” at our bilingual elementary school

Bilingual Elementary School, Events & Celebrations, News

“Nice to see you all!” With warm words and plenty of music, we welcomed the new students of our bilingual elementary school—along with their parents, grandparents, and relatives—to our school’s lovingly decorated auditorium. It was a big day for the 17 students from diverse international backgrounds! Over the next four years, Janine Küster, Lori Herrmann, and their team will prepare the boys and girls in two languages—English and German—for their secondary school careers, which will ideally lead them to Steinmühle’s rapidly growing International High School program.

The First Stage Performance

The morning’s program consisted of musical performances featuring both instruments and voices. As is tradition, the “older” children at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School gave their younger classmates a warm welcome with songs and poems, and the excitement spread quickly. During Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” the audience—which included Principal Björn Gemmer—actively joined in, clapping, patting their hands, and stomping their feet. It was still a bit nerve-wracking for the youngest children on our campus, however, as they were called up to the stage one by one. But their homeroom teachers, Hannah Achenbach and Tobias Leisge, were already there waiting to welcome them. By the time the audience broke into a huge round of applause, the ice had completely melted.

Photos as a keepsake

To commemorate that morning—which will remain a very special day in the lives of each and every student—numerous photos were taken of the “first graders” themselves, their entire class, and their classmates’ performances on stage. Jasmine Weidenbach, the chairperson of the Steinmühle Support Association, even gave each and every one of them a personal gift.

We hope you all have a great time at the Steinmühle!

28. August 2024

Faculty Summer Party at Steinmühle: An Evening of Gratitude and Farewells

Events & Celebrations, Former Students & Alumni, News

This year’s Steinmühle School summer festival took on special significance: For the first time since the school and boarding school merged, the festival was celebrated jointly by all staff members. In addition, the 2023–24 school year marked a special milestone in Steinmühle’s history: In May, our educational institution celebrated its 75th anniversary with a week of festivities. These remarkable events presented both emotional and physical challenges for the staff.

Principal Björn Gemmer and Managing Director Dirk Konnertz took the opportunity to extend their heartfelt thanks to all their colleagues. Special thanks were given to the planning team at the Hotel Management School, which was responsible for organizing parts of the celebration that evening.

Those who have passed away leave their own unique mark

As is tradition, the celebration also included a farewell: Several colleagues left Steinmühle at the end of the school year. Among them were Leonie Zapf, an English and German teacher; Florian Portsteffen (physical education and geography); and Moritz Zöckler (English and physical education). Jessica Schuhmann (German and Political Science) and Susann Siegfried (Chemistry and History) also said their goodbyes after completing their teaching internships, heading to Battenberg and Lauterbach, respectively. Marc Kevin Zopf moved to Herborn.

Particularly painful was the departure of Claudia Natterer, who had been teaching German and Ethics at Steinmühle since 2008 and had distinguished herself through her great dedication and her special ability to communicate on an equal footing. She will be working as a university professor in Heidelberg in the future. In their speeches, Ines Vielhaben and Nicole Hohm paid tribute to Claudia Natterer’s dedication, while Kristina Sokoli, on behalf of the German Department Student Council, wished their valued colleague all the best for the future. The staff council, represented by Dr. Rainer Nietzke, also bid her farewell with warm words and best wishes: “We hope you had a good time.”

A warm welcome to our new members!

Steinmühle also welcomed some new additions: Christina Becker has joined the team at the Bilingual Elementary School; psychologist Hanne Wolf moved into an office on campus after the start of the new school year.

At the conclusion of the official portion of the event, Dirk Konnertz addressed the boarding school staff personally, thanking them for their trust since he took over as CEO at the turn of the year and emphasizing the value of their collaboration.

An atmospheric musical performance set the stage for the more relaxed part of the evening, which was also attended by several former teachers: Over a lavish buffet and refreshing drinks, everyone celebrated and looked back on an eventful year—a wonderful tradition that strengthens the sense of community among the faculty.

20. August 2024

Get a Taste of the Atmosphere at Family Day at Steinmühle Boarding School

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

It’s simply a tradition at the end of every school year: Family Day at the boarding school. Here, parents of current and prospective boarding school students have the opportunity to get to know one another, exchange ideas, and get a feel for the school.

Boarding school director Anke Muszynski and her team were on hand in the parents’ lounge in the courtyard to chat, while students had a blast on the water slide, playing beach volleyball, and soccer. The Beach Bar was a popular spot to cool off—unless, of course, you preferred to take a dip in the Lahn River. The boarding school kitchen treated guests to delicious buffet-style fare. The creative part of the day took place right next to the parents’ lounge. Colorful headbands and flowers, silver pendants, and cords invited visitors to get crafty. Many visitors later took home a temporary tattoo as a souvenir of this wonderful day.

There is great anticipation for the day the boarding students arrive—Sunday, August 25—when everyone will be reunited. At the same time, the new boarding students will be welcomed—a forward-looking day full of emotion!

19. August 2024

Celebrate, chat, dance: Parents’ Party Was Another Huge Success

Events & Celebrations, Former Students & Alumni, News

A party—for parents? In fact, this type of event has become a tradition at Steinmühle! For the third time, the School Parents’ Council invited the parents of our students to celebrate together and get to know one another in a new setting. For the first time since the merger half a year ago, the invitation was extended to parents of boarding students as well!

With music alternating between the Boptown Cats and recorded tracks, and no dress code, parents from all grade levels had the opportunity to chat with one another. Thanks to the reliably efficient organization by Bianca Zenker, the acting chair of the school parent council, many parents actively pitched in with selling merchandise, setting up tables and chairs, and serving drinks.

“We are delighted that this Steinmühle event was once again so well received,” said the company and school management, who were of course in attendance that evening, along with Steinmühle employees from all departments.

The party was held in the renovated small gym, which, with a little decoration, was quickly transformed into a cozy setting. We say: See you next time!

14. August 2024

Back at the Steinmühle with the podcast “Des Pudels Kern”

Collaborations & Partnerships, Events & Celebrations, Former Students & Alumni, News

“Des Pudels Kern” is the name of a podcast that recorded a live segment on campus during Steinmühlen Festival Week: After an extensive look back at the past during festival events and the like, the focus has now shifted to the future. Former Steinmühlen students Philipp-Leo Mengel, Philipp Kreiter, and Marco Kosic posed the following question to the audience in the boarding school’s well-attended tea room: Does school actually prepare students well for the future, and does it inspire future innovators?

The Environment Influences Innovative Thinking

What could schools do better to inspire innovative ways of thinking and ideas in their students? What role does education play in fostering creativity and adaptability? — Two essential qualities for innovation.

The participants reflected on their own formative school experiences and examined which structures and teaching methods foster innovative thinking. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of environments that support experimentation, a willingness to take risks, and critical thinking. At the same time, the podcast episode questioned traditional educational approaches and emphasized how interdisciplinary approaches and tackling real-world problems can better prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In doing so, they compared educational systems in different countries and also noted a correlation with the social environment. Good grades in school or college are not necessarily an indication of strong professional performance. The podcasters cited examples of students who struggled in high school, such as Steve Jobs and Dr. Martin Luther King.

Respond flexibly to problems

The podcasters noted that schools can learn from innovators to raise awareness and create the necessary conditions. As for the personal qualities of potential innovators, the key points ranged from “being good at math and science” to “responding flexibly to problems” and “knowing how to search effectively on Google”. Other qualities mentioned included an open-minded approach to outcomes and an answer to the question: “How do I apply my knowledge?” The role of college dropouts and career changers was also discussed.

Leo, Philipp, and Marco have personally experienced in recent years that the conditions for innovative projects, startups, and ultimately for innovative thinking and action are not the same everywhere in the world. Leo, who is now an economist at Bocconi University in Chicago, studied at Oxford and at University College London. Philipp Kreiter also studied at Oxford and now works at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart as a product manager for strategy for the Mercedes-Benz Operating System.

Steinmühle as a Learning Organization

The third member of the trio, Marco Kosic, works in the creative industries. He is an editor and communications consultant who focuses on topics relevant to culture and society. Among other things, he is responsible for the design of the podcast, which covers a wide range of topics in the fields of culture, philosophy, music, and science and is often produced in collaboration with institutions such as WDR.

“For us at Steinmühle, hosting this event was both refreshing and educational,” enthused Dirk Lange, a member of the school administration. “After all, Steinmühle sees itself as a learning institution—and there were plenty of opportunities to learn something new.”

15. July 2024