Anyone who has been following Steinmühle for some time is likely familiar with the boarding school’s Christmas party. It’s a highlight every year, and after the pandemic years, it was once again held as the classic celebration. And although the last few Christmas parties—held as part of a cozy Christmas market in the boarding school courtyard—were a complete success, the students who have been living at the boarding school for some time were especially looking forward to this long-awaited comeback. As soon as the decision was made to revive the old traditions, outfits were planned and potential program items were developed. And so, weeks of rehearsals and anticipation were behind us, culminating last weekend in a successful Christmas party.
A sense of eager anticipation, a relaxed atmosphere, and a touch of nervousness—the curtain was closed, and the young people and guests in the audience waited, filled with curiosity, for the evening to begin. Soft Christmas music playing in the background set the stage for what was to come. Then the first notes of Etude Op. 8, No. 12 rang out on the piano, played by Mingzhou. “It was very impressive,” student Fabian said afterward. From that moment on, it was clear that the program would live up to every expectation. After a welcome speech by the boarding school administration, high school seniors Sarah and Fabian guided the audience through the program, which had something for everyone. In addition to a Christmas-themed tour of the Steinmühle, which transported the audience’s thoughts to a snow-covered landscape and thus set the mood for the celebration, some of the young people had prepared their own poems and poetry slams, which they performed. They gave the audience the chance to experience the many facets of the beautiful—and sometimes somewhat stressful—Christmas season. In addition, well-known fairy tales were reimagined in a humorous play and woven into a completely new and exciting story. Who could have guessed that a protest against wolves would suddenly break out while Hans and Little Hans were stomping through the forest together with Snow White? Time and again, hearty laughter could be heard from the audience as the dwarfs and the little goat ran through the hall shouting loudly. Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Match Girl” was also adapted and given a completely new interpretation. With the help of a shadow puppet show, the guests were invited to follow the girl on her very personal journey to the stone mill.
A good Christmas party always includes a little music, and there was no shortage of it at the Steinmühle. Many musical performances and acts enlivened the evening and gave it a very special atmosphere. A small mini-orchestra sang about being home for Christmas, while another group performed a song by the Japanese duo Yoasobi, and of course, a dance performance was also part of the program.
After the successful performances, the assistant boarding school director—who was clearly thrilled with the program—invited everyone involved back onto the stage, where they were greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. All the young people who had worked together to put on the evening’s performance were also thrilled. For Luisa and Janna, the stage show was the highlight of the evening.
Afterward, the guests made their way to the festively decorated dining hall, which was brightly lit by strings of lights and the glow of candles. A cozy atmosphere filled the room as the kitchen served a multi-course feast. The meal was accompanied by a quiz that included funny anecdotes from Steinmühle, among other things, and everyone eagerly joined in. In addition, the boarding school council had organized a Secret Santa exchange beforehand, so a small gift-giving ceremony could take place in keeping with the Christmas spirit.
Everyone was in high spirits at the party that followed as well. “The students were clearly having a great time,” said Sandrine, a teacher for whom this was also her first Christmas party, looking back. “And so were we as a team. It was just really wonderful.” Photos were taken, and above all, everyone danced happily.
The American author Edna Ferber once said, “Christmas is not a season. It’s a feeling.” And that contemplative and festive feeling of Christmas was everywhere at our boarding school celebration.
We would like to thank all the young people at the boarding school, the entire teaching staff, everyone who pitched in, the kitchen staff, and, of course, all our guests for a successful return of the Steinmühle Christmas party, and we are already looking forward to welcoming you back to the Steinmühle next year!
https://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_90531-scaled-1-scaled.jpg10001500Angelahttps://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Logo_SchuleInternat_Steinmuehle_2026_3.pngAngela2023-12-21 16:07:112026-06-18 17:37:41The Christmas Party Is Back—A Successful Comeback
To mark the 75th anniversary of the Steinmühle next year, the school and boarding school have set a milestone: Starting January 1, 2024, both institutions will operate under one roof. To this end, Steinmühle gGmbH—a wholly owned subsidiary of the Steinmühle Marburg School Association (Schulverein Steinmühle Marburg e.V.)—will take over the business operations of Landschulheim Steinmühle GmbH & Co. KG. Dirk Konnertz, who has been managing the school association’s affairs since 2013, will also serve as managing director of the newly founded company.
The Steinmühlen Campus is large: It encompasses far more than just the buildings housing the high school, the international high school, the bilingual elementary school, the daycare center, the Forum, and two sports halls. The gGmbH will become the owner of all the land, the additional school and residential buildings, as well as the cafeteria, riding stable, and hydroelectric power plant.
A Win-Win Outcome After Fair Negotiations
For a year, boarding school director Olaf Bien and school director Dirk Konnertz had been negotiating the planned move in order to work out all the details by mutual agreement. “We deliberately took this time for fair negotiations in order to ultimately reach a win-win solution,” Dirk Konnertz recalls. Both sides are proud of the outcome and this historic step, which was taken shortly before the 75th anniversary of this long-established educational institution.
While the anniversary celebrations are scheduled for June 2024, the parties have already toasted the signing of the current agreement: Following a two-hour notarized presentation of the agreement’s contents by Notary Dr. Anton Schmölz, the parties signed the document. The occasion was celebrated with the second and third generations of the Buurman founding family, the board of the school association—Egon Vaupel and Gerhard Müller—senior staff members of the boarding school, and the school administration team led by Principal Björn Gemmer: “The school and the boarding school have always been in agreement regarding their educational goals, which has always allowed us to work well together at the operational level—that is, when it came to the students,” Gemmer recalls, adding: “I have great respect for the Buurman family for selling their family business to secure a positive future for Steinmühle. Emotionally, that certainly wasn’t easy.”
Further development of a modern and internationally oriented educational institution
The creation of the systemic conditions needed to implement our shared educational philosophy even more effectively through meaningful programs and offerings at Steinmühlenweg coincides with a shift in the image of German boarding schools. Located in the heart of Germany and the heart of Hesse, just outside the university city of Marburg and not far from the metropolis of Frankfurt, Steinmühle is one of the talent-oriented, modern, and internationally oriented institutions that, with their exceptionally diverse academic offerings, enable both specialization and personal development in equal measure, and at the end of students’ academic careers send young, cosmopolitan individuals out into society.
Managing Director Dirk Konnertz: “This development—made possible by our dedicated employees—can now advance even further and be secured thanks to the steps we have taken. The transformation of our Steinmühle into a sustainable educational institution for future generations now has a promising foundation.”
The culmination of twelve months of fair negotiations was the signing of the agreement last Friday. Front row, from left: Dr. Anton Schmölz, Dirk Konnertz, Olaf Bien, Dr. Randolf Boetzkes. Back row, from left: Anke Saß, Johanna Buurman-Rogalla, Frerich Buurman, Christiane Buurman, Gerrit Buurman, Gisela Buurman, Friedhelm Faecks, Gerhard Müller, Erwin Löber, Egon Vaupel.
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The Marburg-Cappel Volunteer Fire Department conducted its annual drill at the Steinmühle. The simulated emergency: a fire in the chemistry lab! Late in the evening, in the darkness of November 9, a fire engine arrived with its emergency lights flashing: After the bollard was lowered, five vehicles—including a turntable ladder—passed through the entrance to the school grounds and skillfully positioned themselves between the flower beds in the courtyard and on the adjacent open area.
When the alarm was sounded, reports indicated that several boarding school students were on the first floor of the main building, where smoke was coming from the chemistry lab, though the cause was unclear. While fellow firefighters were busy rolling out the fire hose, four firefighters equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus had to make their way up the stairs to guide themselves and the people in danger through the smoke—realistically simulated with stage fog— and to guide the students to safety. The rescue was carried out by leading the students down the stairs; in some cases, they were also evacuated via the turntable ladder.
The Tasks: Water Supply and Rescue Operations
A total of 31 firefighters—both men and women—had come to the Steinmühlen campus for the drill. “In cases like this,” reported Steinmühlen teacher Jonathan Gröb, “some are tasked with the water supply, while others are responsible for rescuing people.” There’s a special reason why Jonathan Gröb is so knowledgeable about this: The math and physics teacher is himself the fire chief in his hometown in the Vogelsberg district, and thanks to the close ties between colleagues, he was happy to agree when Cappel’s fire chief, Dominik Wagner, asked about a training opportunity.
This is a win-win situation. While the fire department can fully practice such operations a short distance from its station on the bypass, Steinmühle learns specific rules of conduct and procedures for emergencies. It is no coincidence that Jonathan Gröb also serves as Steinmühle’s fire safety officer, and an updated fire safety policy—tailored to the building’s current layout—is already in the works.
“Mr. Gröb, we want to ride the turntable ladder.”
Once the students participating in the drill realized that, depending on the situation, these kinds of operations can sometimes get a little rough, their spirits lifted all the more shortly afterward. They didn’t exactly sing “Hurrah, hurrah, the school’s on fire” like the band Extrabreit did back in the legendary ’80s, but they did ask for a bit of fun: “Mr. Gröb, we want to ride the turntable ladder,” they pleaded at the end. And so it came to pass that a group of students, under professional supervision, was lifted a good 20 meters into the night sky in the basket of the extended turntable ladder and was able to enjoy the view of Marburg.
Steinmühle would like to thank the Cappel Volunteer Fire Department, the students who participated, and our teacher Jonathan Gröb for giving us the opportunity to have these experiences and expand our knowledge of the work of the fire department!
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Once again this year, the Fall Festival—organized jointly by the school and the boarding school—was a highlight for many students, families, and alumni. For weeks, everyone had been working hard to plan the event and make the day unforgettable for everyone involved. From face painting and a haunted house to the evening festivities in the festival tent, there was something for everyone.
Preparations for the event began days in advance, with the boarding school students pitching in as well. The schoolyard gradually transformed into the festival grounds that visitors from previous years are likely already familiar with. Benches and booths were set up in the courtyard, and the stage was erected for the choir and band performances. This year, the school helped the boarding school with baking cakes, resulting once again in a varied buffet. As a result, the dorms smelled of delicious pastries for days on end, with one baking sheet after another being slid into the oven. Of course, a little tasting was a must. But who can resist fresh cinnamon rolls?
On the big day itself, the anticipation kept building. After the tables in the courtyard were decorated with the help of the Mühle residential group, the time had finally come, and the guests arrived, curious to explore the grounds and marvel at the program that had been put together. The Hessenhaus and the Biohaus worked hard to support the bake sale, and the students from the main building helped the kitchen with the barbecue, while the Westfalenhaus and Bremerhaus collected dishes all day long—because a celebration this big can only be a success if everyone pitches in together. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the students and the teaching staff for their active support!
The fall festival was marked by the presence of many familiar faces, all of whom were warmly welcomed. Time and again, people would say, “Back when I was at boarding school…” Alumni, current students, and faculty members happily exchanged stories about boarding school life, shared their experiences, and reminisced about shared memories. Once again, it became clear that the boarding school community extends beyond one’s time as a student and that Steinmühle often plays a formative role in the lives of young people.
We’re already looking forward to the next Fall Festival in 2024!
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The day of the year when the Steinmühle, as a school and boarding school, attracts the most visitors to its grounds is the Fall Festival. A great many people came last Saturday to meet up, chat, and have fun. It seems there’s no longer any need for a Plan B in case of bad weather, because the sun always shines reliably—and that was the case this time, too.
The planning on campus—with its dozens of booths—the timing, and the coordination—all of that goes by one name: Frank Wemme. The head of the lower secondary school, nicknamed “Mister Herbstfest,” made sure, as always, that everything ran smoothly. Accompanied by plenty of music, the 6th-grade brass band, led by Stephan Reissig, welcomed the large crowd gathered on the school grounds—some standing around the stage, others sitting on benches and applauding. They’ve only been practicing their instruments for a year—which was hard to believe. Principal Björn Gemmer welcomed the guests, many of whom had come as entire families and even brought their grandparents along. They also enjoyed the rhythmic performances by the musical theater band, which played under the direction of Anna Prokop.
During the tour of the Steinmühle grounds, numerous activities stood out that had been well-received in the past and were therefore repeated. One example is the haunted house: Once again this year, people eager to experience it lined up! All the activities were spread out across the entire grounds—from the boarding school area with pony rides, to the Forum with its disco and karaoke, all the way to the boathouse, where coach Martin “Stromi” Strohmenger was waiting.
Pedal away for a smoothie
A few new features caught the visitors’ attention. Among them was a booth where “fortune tellers” offered interested visitors a glimpse into their future. Another great attraction was the smoothie bike, where visitors could make their own fruity fitness drink by pedaling. The bike was on loan from the Marburg Food Bank, which its chairwoman, Rita Vaupel—wife of school association chair Egon Vaupel—had made available to the Steinmühle for the fall festival.
Overall, many booths were focused on collecting donations. For example, the sports challenge on the soccer field—located in the back area of the campus—was also a charity event. The Steinmühle Friends Association, chaired by Jasmine Weidenbach, recruited new members at its beautifully decorated booth right at the entrance to the schoolyard. Not far from there, Executive Director Dirk Konnertz, Upper School Director Cornelia Oestreicher-Gold, and Dirk Lange—speaking on behalf of the entire school administration team—provided information about the various academic programs offered at Steinmühle.
It’s well known that the culinary aspect is a key part of the Steinmühle Fall Festival. For this reason, the selection of cakes, hearty dishes, and various beverages was once again extensive and delicious.
The Steinmühlen high school graduating classes of 1993, 1998, 2008, and 2013 had received a special invitation. Each class gathered in the tent for a group photo and, like many other alumni, raised a glass to “the good old days.”
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Things were quiet on campus for six weeks while the boarding school students enjoyed their well-deserved summer vacation. After arrival Sunday, the houses came back to life. The rooms were lovingly decorated, and new and familiar faces were warmly welcomed. And after the first week of school, the first joint activity for the residential groups was already on the schedule: the annual house trips.
The Mill in Fantasialand
The students from the Mühle went to a guesthouse in Leverkusen. After a delicious dinner, a group sat outside in the sun to sing together and get in the mood for the next day. Saturday’s schedule was packed with activities. Early the next morning, the group set off for Fantasialand, where they spent the rest of the day. The group was particularly taken with a roller coaster that had a quick-start feature. As soon as they got off the ride, they immediately got back in line for another go. To protect themselves from the sun, they quickly turned the park maps into hats.
The Eco-Friendly Cabin at the Glamping Site
The Biohaus made itself at home for the weekend retreat in Groß-Eichen. In large tents, which were also equipped with a kitchen, the group kicked off their time together with a delicious barbecue, for which the sunny terraces were the perfect setting.
Just like at the mill, a trip to an amusement park was on the agenda for the Biohaus on Saturday. The group headed out together to the Steinau an der Straße Adventure Park. In addition to the petting zoo, the park offered many small rides. The bumper cars and the summer toboggan run were especially popular. With the warm weather, ice cream was of course a must before heading back to the campground in the evening for a second barbecue.
Nature and Culture with the Bremerhaus
The residential group from the Bremerhaus headed a little further afield to Durbach in the Black Forest. Surrounded by sprawling vineyards, the group was able to relax and unwind in peace and quiet at the vacation home they had booked, which featured shared rooms.
Saturday was spent sightseeing and shopping in Strasbourg, about 40 km away. After taking a walk together, the group split up. Some of the young people took the opportunity to wander around, while others preferred to see the city from the water on a boat tour.
For the new residence director, Sandrine Fischer—who was experiencing a residence trip for the first time—the highlight, however, was a short, optional hiking tour on Sunday morning. The teens were also thrilled by the panoramic views that unfolded before them across the vast landscape. A perfect balance of culture and nature!
Water Activities at the Main Store
The kids from the main campus made the most of the last of the summer weather. After the group arrived at the campground near Kalkar, they headed straight to the swimming lake to cool off. “It was so awesome,” said student Mika as he recounted the school trip. In the evening, they had a barbecue before the group headed across the Dutch border the next day to tackle the swirling currents of Center Parcs’ fastest whitewater ride. The underwater world of a sunken city surrounded by tropical fish also sparked excitement. Afterward, they satisfied their hunger at a French fry restaurant. That evening, the real water lovers jumped right back into the campground’s swimming lake. But the secret highlight of the trip was a parrot the group got to meet at the campground. 😉
Relaxation and Action in Bad Sachsa
The Westfalenhaus set off for a self-catering house in Bad Sachsa, where the residential group had already stayed two years ago. Once everyone had found a place to sleep, they got right to work preparing dinner. Thanks to the summer-like weather, nothing stood in the way of a long evening of barbecuing. They played games and chatted late into the night.
The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, we headed straight to a Clip’n Climb gym, where everyone really let loose. The group supported one another as they tested their limits and overcame challenges. One of the students even made it onto the center’s record board in speed climbing and took second place in his age group.
In the evening, we went on an outing to the Sonnenblick observation deck, where we were able to enjoy the sunset together.
At Holidaypark with the Hessenhaus
For the Hessenhaus, too, the group trip included a visit to an amusement park. First, however, the residential group set up camp for the weekend at a campground near Speyer. The young people took on the challenge of lighting the fire for the barbecue themselves and ultimately received active support from a group of firefighters. The group spent the rest of the evening getting to know one another and playing games.
For many of the teenagers, the freefall tower at Holidaypark was the highlight of the weekend. They also tried out the various rides in small groups.
Before the Hessenhaus group set off back to Marburg on Sunday, they once again demonstrated their teamwork skills. They used handcarts to transport their luggage back to the cars, and then enjoyed a few hours of sunshine by a lake before heading home. Of course, a few water acrobatics exercises were a must.
Starting Sunday afternoon, cars slowly began rolling back onto the boarding school grounds. Everyone enthusiastically shared their many experiences from the past few days and exchanged stories. The final of the Basketball World Cup was playing in the tea room, and the sense of community continued on the Lahn grounds as well. With such a great start to the new school year, we’re looking forward all the more to many more experiences to come.
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Cedric Engels (28), also known as Doctor Whatson, spent an entire day visiting the Steinmühle to get a sense of what plus-MINT means at the Steinmühle. Suffice it to say, he was impressed!
Dr. Whatson is one of Germany’s most successful science bloggers. He has just under 18,000 followers on Instagram and 318,000 subscribers on YouTube.
His posts are about science, space, technology, and the future—in short, videos that will blow your mind.
@DoktorWhatson finds the plus-MINT program so fascinating that he visited the Steinmühle in Marburg in the summer of 2023. He is accompanied by the Steinmühle students, who are presenting their exciting projects to him.
And here’s the video of Dr. Watsons’ visit:
Enjoy watching!
What is plus-MINT?
Particularly talented students with a gift and passion for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, or technology (MINT) receive special support at plus-MINT boarding schools specifically selected for this purpose. One of these special boarding schools is Steinmühle.
Who is eligible to apply for plus-MINT?
Students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in STEM subjects, have already (successfully) participated in STEM competitions, are involved in extracurricular clubs focused on these subjects, and/or show exceptional dedication and sustained enthusiasm for STEM topics are eligible to apply.
The application period for the 2024–2025 school year has already begun!
Anyone interested in joining the plus-MINT program can apply online at https://plus-mint.de until January 31, 2024.
All additional information about the program can also be found at https://plus-mint.de.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Steinmühle directly at any time:
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One Year of Plus-MINT Talent Development at Steinmühle / The next application period is already underway
For the past year, Steinmühle has been one of seven boarding schools in Germany participating in the plus-MINT talent development program. We spoke with Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, the head of the MINT and plus-MINT departments at Steinmühle.
Hello, Dr. Töhl-Borsdorf. Looking back, what all happened during the first year of plus-MINT? Oh, quite a lot. It all really got started in October 2022. That’s when YouTuber Marcel Häfele, aka Techtastisch, came to Steinmühle with some spectacular experiments. That really got all the students from the research labs excited.
In November, the annual plus-MINT conference took place. Many students and staff members from the other plus-MINT boarding schools came to Steinmühle for the event. The atmosphere was fantastic. The same was true in January 2023, when we hosted our first plus-MINT Math Camp at Steinmühle. This was followed by the plus-MINT Astronomy Camp in Heidelberg. And in July of this year, YouTuber Dr. Whatson finally came to Steinmühle for a video shoot (the link to the video can be found at the end of the interview).
Many day students from Steinmühle also took part in all of these events. That makes me personally very happy. It’s a great opportunity for everyone and helps STEM and plus-MINT grow together.
That sounds like a very exciting and varied program. Do the plus-MINT students already have their own project?
Yes, indeed, the “Boat Project.” The four of them are working there in collaboration with the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Marburg—that is, with the support of Dr. Christoph Reudenbach. They are building a boat equipped with sensors to semi-automatically measure water quality in the Lahn River and collect water samples. It’s a very ambitious project.
Have there been any STEM achievements to report this year?
Yes, you could certainly say that! The Steinmühle won the Hopp Foundation’s school award for its commitment to STEM education as part of the “Jugend forscht” state competition.
The boat project by the plus-MINT students played a major role in the application. The prize money of €2,500 came at just the right time, since the necessary sensors are quite expensive. The money also made it possible to purchase a high-performance 3D printer. Now, of course, we’re hoping for success when the project’s results are presented at “Jugend forscht.” So please keep your fingers crossed! Beyond the public recognition that comes with success, what’s most important, of course, is that the students are given every opportunity to fully pursue their interests in the natural sciences.
How did you personally experience the first year with the four plus-MINT students?
It’s labor-intensive, but very exciting. A first run-through like this is never perfect. We had actually planned to start with something involving biological and chemical water analysis, since we didn’t know much about the four students’ STEM interests. However, three of the “STEM students” are primarily interested in physics and math. So we had to improvise at first. But with the boat project and the university partnership, we found a great project that’s interesting for everyone.
Still, the four of them had to find their footing as a group first. We had the opportunity to get to know four remarkable and very different young people. Of course, there were also some “dry spells” along the way. As is often the case in science, things don’t always work out the way you imagine at the beginning. In any case, the four of them have already demonstrated perseverance and a willingness to work hard.
What makes the plus-MINT program special? That a framework is being created for students passionate about STEM—one they certainly didn’t have in this form at their former schools. They’re working on a major project in the STEM module and have many other opportunities to conduct research and network across regions. Clara, for example, has been studying mathematics at the University of Marburg since last semester, and Fabian is starting his biology studies this semester.
Because all plus-MINT students live in the boarding school, they can meet up at any time to continue discussions, conduct research, or simply have fun.
Speaking of having fun, what else can the plus-MINT students expect at the Steinmühlen Boarding School?
The plus-MINT students are part of the boarding school community. In addition to their STEM talent and passion, the MINTis are teenagers at the boarding school. They have the same rights and responsibilities. They attend the study hall, eat together, choose their extracurricular groups, and live in one of the six residential groups on campus. They contribute their share to the community. Fabian and Marlene, for example, are active on the boarding school council. Fostering the academic talents of our STEM students is one of our goals. However, to integrate into the workforce and succeed in the future, young people also need team spirit, empathy, and self-confidence. A boarding school can provide optimal support on this journey.
That sounds great! Is the plus-MINT talent development program continuing at Steinmühle?
Yes, plus-MINT is definitely continuing. We were able to welcome four more MINTis to Steinmühle at the start of the new school year. In total, there are now 8 plus-MINT students at Steinmühle. Now the goal is to raise even more awareness of this great opportunity at Steinmühle and to encourage even more young people to apply for the next round (the 2024–2025 school year).
What are Steinmühle’s STEM plans for the future? We would like to further expand the program for our day students. We want children and teens not only to participate in camps and competitions, but also to work on collaborative projects. To do this, we urgently need a larger lab so that all research groups can have their own workspace—a place where they don’t have to constantly put away their experimental materials, but can continue working on their projects during breaks or free periods.
Another issue is access to the SFM, the Central Hesse Student Research Center. Unfortunately, it’s relatively far from the Steinmühle for our students.
And—we want our school to become climate-neutral. Of course, we’re also planning to involve our STEM students in this effort, for example with the hydroelectric power plant.
Those are some very ambitious plans! In addition to financial resources, you’ll probably need a lot of personnel as well. How are you going to manage that?
I’m happy to share some good news: Our STEM mentor team at Steinmühle has grown! I’m very pleased to have the support of Dr. Sven Freibert and Mr. Jonathan Gröb, and I’d like to welcome them both once again. That means there are now five of us in the STEM department at Steinmühle.
What are your suggestions for the plus-MINT and MINT programs at Steinmühle?
It’s clear: more time for students. My greatest wish would be to “streamline” and reform the curricula. Our society is changing rapidly right now, but the state ministries of education are barely responding. Why not give students more time to work on their strengths and interests? Our students have so much to accomplish and too little time for projects close to their hearts, especially in high school, where we have little influence.
Are there still possible solutions at the Steinmühle?
At the next SchiLf (in-school teacher training session), Steinmühle will explore a new school schedule model designed to provide more opportunities for independent work and interest-driven learning. I expect this to bring many improvements for STEM subjects. Currently, our structures—with WU, the GuFi Lab, the STEM module, and the Open Lab—are very complicated, and there’s a gap in 7th grade that’s currently only being filled by the Open Lab. For example, forming groups has become extremely complicated.
Of course, this applies not only to STEM but also to the other subject areas. After all, we at Steinmühle want to do justice to all students!
I, too, would like to have more time to focus more on the subject matter with the students again. I’m just as fascinated by the STEM subjects as they are. I enjoy having in-depth discussions with the students and sparking their interest. I always learn something new myself with every project—that’s really great. But there’s so much administrative work to do these days that there’s hardly any time left for the students.
Yes, science requires time AND space. You’ve already mentioned that there’s a shortage of space.
That’s correct. We’d like to have a STEM lab to make our school even more attractive to future STEM and plus-STEM students.
How do you become a plus-MINT student at Steinmühle? You can apply online for the plus-MINT program until January 31, 2024, starting with a short letter of motivation (initial application). Steinmühle accepts students entering 10th or 11th grade. In the second round of the selection process, you submit teacher recommendations, report cards, etc.
Once you’ve cleared these hurdles, you’ll be invited to a 4-day selection camp at the Birklehof in the Black Forest. Passing the camp there isn’t as difficult as you might think. A large number of spots are made available.
The alternative is a wildcard (free pass), which can be awarded by plus-MINT students or teachers; if you receive one, you’ll be invited directly to the selection camp.
In addition to interest and aptitude, key admission criteria include extracurricular involvement in STEM fields, academic performance, as well as personality and social skills.
We hope to receive many applications for the coming school year!
The current application deadline for the plus-MINT Talent Development Program is January 31, 2024.
For more information, visit www.mint-verein.de
https://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/Einzelbild_Jutta_Toehl_Borsdorf-scaled-1-scaled.jpg10001500konnertzhttps://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Logo_SchuleInternat_Steinmuehle_2026_3.pngkonnertz2023-10-02 11:03:102026-06-18 17:37:19A great prize, ambitious projects, and an expanded team of STEM mentors
Students, teachers, boarding school staff, and even four alumni—with twelve relay teams and one half-marathon finisher, a total of 49 runners competed for Steinmühle. This made Steinmühle the largest group of runners at the 24th Marburg Night Marathon. But once again this year, organizers Patric Hahn and Björn Gemmer weren’t focused on setting records—neither in terms of the number of participants nor in terms of finishing times. The relay teams were a diverse mix, and the focus was on camaraderie. Waiting for one another at the relay handoffs or in the university stadium, cheering each other on, and “pushing each other to the limit” were defining moments of this wonderful shared experience among the various groups within the school and boarding school community. Principal Björn Gemmer reports: “We first entered Steinmühle relay teams in 2014. So, after the two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this year marked Steinmühle’s eighth participation. I was particularly pleased to meet many former Steinmühle students at the starting line and in the university stadium who had organized their participation on their own. Some of them told me that they have such fond memories of the event from their time at Steinmühle that they now run in it every year. It seems we’ve started something worthwhile.”
https://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/alle_2023-scaled-1-scaled.jpg8561500konnertzhttps://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Logo_SchuleInternat_Steinmuehle_2026_3.pngkonnertz2023-08-22 11:07:262026-06-18 17:37:08An evening of hard work and lots of fun—Steinmühle is participating in the 24th Marburg Night Marathon
School stress is over, and we’re quickly heading toward summer vacation! It’s the perfect time for the boarding school’s end-of-year camp. This year, we headed back to Wallenstein. Located in the beautiful Burgwald forest, this nature campground—spanning 160,000 square meters around the Wallenstein castle ruins—offers plenty of space for amazing experiences.
There, the students and the boarding school’s teaching staff spent a weekend together to really unwind and kick off the vacation mood. In addition to countless rounds of games, the natural swimming area at the rustic campground was a major highlight. The boarding school’s residential groups took turns preparing their own meals. When the weather was nice, the students burned off energy with sports activities. After a hearty barbecue buffet, the evening wound down around the campfire with guitar music and good conversation.
A successful conclusion to an exciting 2022–2023 school year at boarding school.
Bring on the vacation!
https://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/1-1-scaled-1-scaled.jpg10001500Angelahttps://steinmuehle.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Logo_SchuleInternat_Steinmuehle_2026_3.pngAngela2023-07-18 21:21:342026-06-18 17:37:02Steinmühlen Boarding School’s 2023 End-of-Year Camp in Wallenstein
