Life at Boarding School

Plus-MINT Math Camp at the Steinmühle

Life at Boarding School, News, STEM, Talent Development

From January 16–19, the Math Camp took place in Marburg as part of the plus-MINT talent development program. Steinmühle, as the host and organizer, offered the 20 students from the plus-MINT boarding schools Birklehof, Louisenlund, Schulpforte, and St. Afra a very varied program.

Workshops in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Philipps University of Marburg

During her workshop at the University of Marburg, Prof. Dr. Agricola discussed the “mathematics of voting.”

The workshop led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Goertsche at the University of Marburg focused on geometry, topology, and spherical triangles. According to Prof. Dr. Goertsche, this material is covered in the fourth semester of the mathematics program and proved quite challenging for the participants of the plus-MINT Camp.

“The workshop was impressive; I’m a big fan of theoretical mathematics, and the content really challenged me,” says Luis, who has been a plus-MINT student at Steinmühle since the summer of 2022.

“I felt the same way—the lectures by the university professors really got my brain working. It’s motivating, and I really enjoy pushing myself to my limits,” agrees Fabian, a student at Steinmühlen.

Dr. Karl-Heinz Muth and Steinmühlen student Clara Steiner offered a completely different perspective on mathematics with their presentation titled “Entertainment Math: You Didn’t See That Coming!”

Field Trip to the Mathematikum in Giessen

During their field trip to the Mathematikum in neighboring Giessen, the students got hands-on. The Mathematikum is the world’s first interactive mathematics museum. About 200 exhibits offer visitors a new perspective on mathematics and invite them to participate. “The Mathematikum was actually closed for renovations, but it made an exception for the plus-MINT students and opened exclusively for us,” says Björn Gemmer, principal of Steinmühle School.

“We were able to try out all the stations; some were very easy, while others were really challenging. You couldn’t tell just by looking at them beforehand, and we were sometimes surprised by the complexity of exhibits that seemed simple at first glance,” Fabian says.

Participation in the “Bolyai” International Mathematics Team Competition

“The ability to work together is a core value in our lives”—this is the motto of the “Bolyai” math team competition, in which the plus-MINT students participated as part of the math camp at Steinmühle. The challenge was to work as a team to solve challenging math problems within a set time limit.

The students from Louisenlund and Schulpforte secured a spot in the top 10 thanks to their team effort.

Mathematical City Scavenger Hunt Through Marburg’s Upper Town

Marburg offers visitors several impressive sights: St. Elizabeth’s Church, the Old University, the Landgrave’s Castle, and the Old Town—known in Marburg as the “Oberstadt”—located below it.

The plus-MINT students got to know the Upper Town, with its picturesque alleys, colorful half-timbered houses, and hidden squares, during a math-themed city scavenger hunt. Together, they completed various tasks and immersed themselves in Marburg’s fascinating history.

We wrapped up the evening with a group dinner and a get-together in the tea room

The three-course candlelit dinner and the get-together provided a lovely conclusion to our time together and gave us yet another opportunity to catch up. “It was really nice to see the other plus-MINT students again and talk about our experiences at the boarding schools,” says Clara, a student from Steinmühle.

“We felt very comfortable and welcome at the Steinmühle, and interacting with the other plus-MINT students was very inspiring,” say Johanna and Paula from St. Afra.

“Yes, I completely agree, and spending the night in the gym added a touch of adventure to the whole thing! I’m already looking forward to the next plus-MINT Camp and can’t wait to see where we’ll get to go,” says Aaron from St. Afra.

PlusMINT – What’s Next? Selection Days at Birklehof in Early April 2023

It’s that time of year again in April, and the new plus-MINT candidates will have the opportunity to showcase their talents during the selection days at the Birklehof.

“We deliberately take plenty of time to get to know the students. We conduct research, experiment, and build things together. Afterward, the selection committee decides whether to admit them to the program,” explains Sven Meier, plus-MINT project manager.

In addition to interest and aptitude, the evaluation criteria include extracurricular involvement in STEM fields, personality and social skills, as well as a willingness to actively participate in the plus-MINT program.

For more information, visit: www.plus-mint.de

Steinmühle is already looking forward to welcoming the new plus-MINT students—and, of course, to the next plus-MINT camp!

25. January 2023

Plus-MINT Conference at the Steinmühle

Collaborations & Partnerships, Life at Boarding School, News

On November 10 and 11, the six plus-MINT boarding schools gathered at the Steinmühle at the invitation of the Verein zur plus-MINT Talentförderung e.V. In addition to substantive program items and the association’s work, the conference provided ample opportunity for participants to get to know one another, exchange ideas, and gain professional insights.

Participants from the six plus-MINT locations enjoyed two eventful days of MIN(T) together in the university town.

Professional insights and peer-to-peer exchange at the “Science Fair”

Prof. Albrecht Beutelspacher, the founder and director of the Mathematikum in Giessen, gave an inspiring STEM lecture.

Immediately afterward, students from all plus-MINT boarding schools had the opportunity to present their own projects in short presentations. The plus-MINT students from Steinmühle, together with the day students, presented their research projects at a “science fair.” The experiments were set up on tables and displayed on display panels. The students stood next to their experiments, ready to answer questions. This type of presentation led to many in-depth discussions and was found to be very enriching by everyone involved.

“We got a lot of interesting tips for our project,” says Toshiro (14).

“I loved it because I got to present my experiments to so many people. The math presentation was great, too—it showed the fun side of math. But the very best part was that my dad didn’t pick me up until late, so I could hang out with the others at the tea room that evening,” enthuses Akaash (10).

“It’s precisely these encounters and conversations among equals that make such events so special. Here, people chat in a relaxed atmosphere and discuss their interests with like-minded peers. That’s exactly what we hoped to achieve at the conference at the Steinmühle,” says plus-MINT project manager Sven Meier enthusiastically. “We want to build a strong network of students, teachers, and scientists and provide young people with a platform where they are taken seriously and can inspire one another.”

STEM at the Steinmühle

In the summer of 2021, Steinmühle became one of six plus-MINT boarding schools in Germany. The plus-MINT program began with four students at the start of the 2022–2023 school year. Clara, Marlene, Luis, and Fabian applied online via the plus-MINT website in the fall of 2021 and were successful in the selection process. They have since become an integral and important part of the boarding school community. “The four of them really enrich our boarding school community—it’s great to have them here!” reports boarding school director Anke Muszynski.

At Steinmühle, STEM has long been an integral part of the school, and students celebrate major successes every year in statewide competitions such as “Jugend forscht.” “We’ve been working here for years to make STEM appealing to our students. We’ve developed the concept of the ‘Open Student Lab,’ where day and boarding students can conduct research based on their respective areas of interest, and projects naturally emerge from these interests,” reports Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, the STEM coordinator at Steinmühle, with pride.

Linking the plus-MINT program with the numerous other STEM activities at Steinmühle is an exciting challenge. The conference at Steinmühle and joint participation in plus-MINT camps are paving the way for the future. Most recently, five day students and the four plus-MINT students went to the astronomy camp in Heidelberg—a great experience for everyone involved.

“The partnership with plus-MINT is a huge asset and brings great new ideas and opportunities for all students at Steinmühle!” adds Björn Gemmer, principal of Steinmühle.

Establishment of a Student Advisory Board and Expansion of Collaboration

At the annual general meeting of the plus-MINT Association, a student advisory board was elected for the first time, in addition to the executive board. “In the future, students will have even more say and influence—that’s very important to us in the plus-MINT program,” explains Sven Meier, project manager of the plus-MINT program.

A podcast series is planned for the next six months, which will be produced by the plus-MINT boarding school Louisenlund. “All boarding schools are welcome to contribute to the podcast. Here at Steinmühle, we’re already thinking about what we’d like to present to people interested in STEM across the region,” says Fabian (15). He and his classmate Marlene (14) were elected by Steinmühle to the plus-MINT advisory board.

Fabian goes on to say: “The plus-MINT network offers us so many opportunities to further develop our passion for STEM. I’ve already developed a concrete idea for a project with a plus-MINT student from Louisenlund. It would be very difficult for me to carry that out on my own.”

Plus-MINT Camp in early 2023 at the Steinmühle

The next opportunity for group activities is coming up soon: “In January, we’ll have a first here at the Steinmühle. For the first time, we’ll be hosting a plus-MINT Camp,” says MINT coordinator Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf. “The focus will be on mathematics. We’re still fine-tuning the exact schedule, but there will definitely be an exciting and varied program.”

25. November 2022

plus-MINT students experiment with their idol: YouTube STEM star Marcel Häfele (aka Techtastisch) visits the Steinmühle

Life at Boarding School, News, STEM, Talent Development

YouTube STEM star Marcel Häfele visits the Steinmühle and conducts an impressive experiment with about 25 students.

On a sunny Tuesday morning, Clara (16), Fabian (15), and Luis (15) are standing at Marburg’s main train station with Steinmühle School Principal Björn Gemmer, waiting. For the plus-MINT students at Steinmühle, today is anything but “normal,” because any moment now they’ll get to meet Marcel in person.

Marcel Häfele is 28 years old and a real star among STEM enthusiasts in Germany. His YouTube channel, Techtastisch, has 478,000 subscribers, where chemistry and physics experiments are staged in spectacular ways. Marcel first visited the Steinmühle a year ago, and since then, a partnership has been established between Techtastisch and the plus-MINT Association. Marcel is a passionate supporter of the plus-MINT program. He’s convinced that “the plus-MINT program would have been the perfect opportunity for me as a student!”

plusMINT: Nationwide Talent Development at Selected Boarding Schools

In the summer of 2021, Steinmühle became one of six plus-MINT boarding schools in Germany. The plus-MINT program began with four students at the start of the 2022–2023 school year. Clara, Marlene, Luis, and Fabian applied online via the plus-MINT platform in the fall of 2021. The selection days took place during the 2022 Easter break. “They were incredible!” enthuses Clara (16): “We sat together with 50 people in the evenings and tackled math problems—everyone loved math.” At first, Clara couldn’t imagine going to a boarding school at all: “I was very unsure whether this was right for me, but the selection days completely won me over. Anyone interested in STEM should definitely apply!” Fabian (15) enthusiastically agrees: “The selection days were really great! I’m still in touch with some of the participants.”

Everyone agrees: “Best decision ever!”

The first few weeks at boarding school were an adjustment for all four of them, and for some, a major challenge. “After three days, I missed my family so much that I wanted to give up,” says Luis (15). “I then set myself a two-month deadline, and now, after a little over five weeks, I can say: Going to Steinmühle as a Plus-MINT student was the best decision of my life.”

Marlene (14) is surprised by her own reaction: “I thought I’d be homesick, but somehow boarding school life really suits me. I enjoy being around people my own age, and on the weekends when we go home, I visit my family.” Luis also finds spending time with the boarding school community to be a great experience: “Back home, I wasn’t very socially active and tended to hang out with my friends online. Here at Steinmühle, you just automatically take part in boarding school life and feel like you belong. That’s good for me!”

Luis has been an avid follower of Techtastisch for six years now. He never would have thought it possible to meet Marcel in person. And then there he is, standing right in front of them—Marcel. He’s friendly, open, and somehow feels like one of them right away.

Marcel’s message: “Follow your own path, live your dream!”

Upon arriving at the Steinmühle chemistry lab, Marcel receives a warm welcome from about 25 Steinmühle students enrolled in the research courses, as well as STEM teacher Dr. Patrick Szabo and STEM coordinator Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf. Soon, lab coats and safety goggles are put on, and Techtastisch gets started. Marcel approaches the task with enthusiasm, wit, and a touch of irony; he has a good rapport with the students. He is living his dream and has even managed to make a living from his passion for STEM.

“I never would have thought I’d be standing here one day. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age eight, and school was sometimes very difficult for me. As a teenager, I struggled with bullying.” Today, as a young adult, there’s no trace left of the once-introverted student. He’s passionate about STEM and wants to ignite that same passion in others. He treats everyone he meets as an equal, and that really resonates with people.

Everything is filmed specifically for the Techtastisch community and posted on TikTok and Instagram. Fabian, a student in the Plus-MINT program, is brought on as an assistant and mixes chemical substances under Marcel’s guidance (and with great caution). Shortly afterward, a jet of flame lights up the lab, and everyone present is visibly impressed.

What was done in the experiment?

The experiment is known in American English as “Negativ X.” In German, it is called “Feuer mit Wasser.”

Procedure:
Weigh out the ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride and mix them in a beaker. The mixture is then placed on a fireproof surface, a weighed amount of zinc is carefully folded in, and the mixture is piled into a cone. A small amount of water is added drop by drop using a pipette.

The mixture is essentially ignited by water.

Marlene and Luis record the explanations for the experiment live and film them for YouTube. Luis is still completely blown away the next day: “Marcel and Techtastisch have had a huge influence on me over the years; he’s my idol. It was through him that I learned about plus-MINT, and I ultimately applied in response to his call for applicants. Getting to meet him in person here at the Steinmühle—and not just watching him, but actually working with him—was simply amazing!”

Techtastisch leaves his mark at the Steinmühle and promises to come back soon.

He has a clear message for anyone interested in STEM: “Apply for the next round of the plus-MINT program!” Clara, Marlene, Fabian, and Luis couldn’t agree more.

25. October 2022

A Very Special Boarding School Weekend—Sustainability Theme Weekend

Ecology and Sustainability, Life at Boarding School, News

For the past year, the educational team at Steinmühle has been organizing special weekends focused on the topics of physical and mental health, media education, and sustainability. After some preparation time, the educators form working groups to develop a specialized and practical program for the students, designed to benefit them in the long term in their everyday lives.

So, as the title suggests, last Saturday marked the start of the sustainability-themed weekend. The entire boarding school gathered in the dining hall for the kickoff. Two films were shown to explain the broad concept of sustainability, which was then explored in greater depth during a question-and-answer session. To wrap up the introduction, the students were able to take a self-assessment test on their cell phones. The test was designed to help them visualize their own ecological footprint in terms of the number of Earths required to sustain it. “If everyone on Earth had your footprint, we’d need 3.6 Earths,” the test results page read. The room was filled with whispering, as the students were amazed by their own environmental footprints; too many of them had results showing multiple “worlds.” After some lively discussions, the students were then able to join their chosen clubs, where they could further discuss and analyze the results of the self-assessment. A desire to reduce their own ecological footprint was already evident at the start of the weekend. All of the workshops offered were designed to help the students incorporate useful tips and tricks into their daily lives.

One of the first activities focused on the topic of sustainable energy supply. The school and boarding school had already been actively involved in this area in recent years. Thanks to Sonneninitiative e.V., the Forum’s roof was equipped with a photovoltaic system, which drew visitors for a tour over the weekend. A staff member from the initiative accompanied our students onto the roof to explain the system and answer questions.

Shortly afterward, the event continued in the dining hall with a focus on sustainable consumption. All students were invited to a flea market and swap meet. There, each student could sell or trade old items or clothes. Typical flea market tables were set up, and of course, there were plenty of treats to enjoy as well. On this Saturday, other clubs also met, focusing on environmental pollution—including a cleanup—and the upcycling of everyday items.

On Sunday, the program continued with a focus on sustainable eating. A group of students and teachers headed to a nearby farm stand to stock up on seasonal and regional fruits and vegetables. Later, they baked and cooked together using these delicious ingredients.

In addition, the activities on Sunday included building a compost bin, planting garden beds, or discussing sustainability as a group.

The goal of the weekend was to raise awareness among young people about living more sustainably, and by the end, the students were determined to put what they had learned into practice. Several follow-up discussions took place afterward about how they could take personal responsibility for reducing their own ecological footprint. Even after the weekend, students swapped clothes, used the compost bin for organic waste, and tended to the newly planted garden bed.

18. October 2022

Starting October 1, you can apply for the nationwide plus-MINT program!

Life at Boarding School, STEM, Talent Development

30. September 2022

Fall Festival 2022

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

The Fall Festival: for the students of Steinmühle, a well-known and beloved celebration that has been held for decades. On this one day of the year, all former students of Steinmühle School and Boarding School are invited to reminisce and share what they’ve been up to since leaving. “Those were such wonderful times at the boarding school,” you hear people say from all corners.

On the last Saturday in September, the time had finally come: the Fall Festival was able to take place in its usual format. There hadn’t been such a large reunion of former Steinmühle students since 2019.

For weeks beforehand, the boarding school students had been preparing for this big event. Everything was planned down to the last detail, because there was still a lot to do behind the scenes. The students did a fantastic job organizing everything. They selected recipes, scheduled baking times, and supported one another. Working independently and with great enthusiasm, the students immersed themselves in their baking, resulting in the most amazing and delicious variety of cakes. Their goal was not simply to bake the same recipes over and over, but to offer as many different flavors as possible and to let their creativity run wild.

And so it came to pass that Bremerhaus, Stammhaus, Mühle, Hessenhaus, Westfalenhaus, and Biohaus baked nearly a hundred cakes.

Several students also volunteered to help set up. With their handyman skills, they worked diligently to build the huts. At the fall festival itself, the boarding school students had their own tasks: they sold cake, grilled food, and cleared away dishes. All boarding school students carried out these duties until 6 p.m. to ensure that all guests had a wonderful day. From 6:00 p.m. onward, however, everyone became a guest and celebrated the fall festival together. Former and current boarding school students met and exchanged stories about boarding school life then and now.

On Sunday afternoon, a few of us met up again in the dining hall at “SchniPoSa” and talked about what a great festival it had been. We’re already looking forward to the Fall Festival in 2023.

28. September 2022

2022 House Visits—Not as Planned

Life at Boarding School

Summer vacation is over, and the empty rooms at Steinmühle Boarding School are coming back to life. The rooms are being lovingly decorated, personalized, and prepared for the upcoming school year. Everyone had a relaxing summer and is arriving full of excitement and anticipation for the new 2022–23 school year. To ensure that the […]

Time to burn off some energy again: Sports Day 2022

Life at Boarding School, News, Sports & Health

The Sports Day, featuring the Federal Youth Games and a sports festival, took place at Georg-Gassmann Stadium. In addition to faculty members, students from the 12th-grade advanced physical education class helped organize the event. Rowing activities took place around the Steinmühle boathouse under the guidance of rowing coach Martin Strohmenger. By the end of Sports Day, the students had earned quite a few points that count toward the Federal Youth Games standings, for which certificates were awarded once again this year. The participants proved in all disciplines that they can really give it their all and achieve great results! These performances also serve as the basis for earning the 2022 German Sports Badge.

17. August 2022

The festive spirit is back: Steinmühlen Spring Festival 2022!

Events & Celebrations, Life at Boarding School, News

A promise kept: Steinmühle celebrated the start of spring with a festival, marking the return of group activities after the COVID-19 restrictions, which had previously prevented events of this scale. People chatted and laughed together—the lively bustle in the Steinmühle courtyard was back! Organizer Frank Wemme said, “It was wonderful to hear the buzz of voices again and to see students of all ages gathering at the various booths. Everyone pitched in—from elementary school all the way up to 12th grade. It was a wonderful and lively day after a period that wasn’t always easy.”

Thanks to Frank Wemme, who planned the party down to the last detail and organized it perfectly!

16. August 2022

And the 2022 Abi goes to…

Events & Celebrations, Life at Boarding School, News

The speeches have been given, and the farewell celebration has taken place. The class of 21/22 was bid farewell the weekend before last amid much joy, but also many tears.

At the traditional boarding school brunch held before the official graduation dance, a total of 16 graduating students were personally honored. Among other awards, Oscars were presented for “the greatest transformation” and for the “superhero” of the boarding school class. Each graduate received a personalized speech from the teaching staff.

Great Speeches for Great Personalities

These very special moments between the teaching staff and the students they mentor always stir up a lot of emotion. Parents, family members, and friends of the graduates were once again deeply moved by these encounters this year. “I’ve rarely heard so many fitting and beautiful words spoken about my daughter at the same time,” said one mother, visibly moved. “Choosing the Steinmühle back then was simply the best decision we could have made.”

Both boarding school director Anke Muszynski and the teachers heard this phrase repeatedly that morning. And by that morning at the latest, one thing becomes clear to all graduating students: Steinmühle is more than just a time spent in school. You remain a Steinmühle student forever. A Temporary Farewell—The Next Fall Festival Is Coming

“We’ll definitely see each other again!” That’s what the teachers and graduates promised each other. We want to thank you for the time we spent together at boarding school and wish you all the best for your future. Dear graduates, we’ll see you again at the Fall Festival!

19. July 2022