News – Page 69 – Steinmühle

Inauguration of the new middle school building: a showcase project built on a solid foundation

Just 36 months ago, the Steinmühle Marburg School Association didn’t even own the land; today, the new Steinmühle middle school building has already been officially opened. Nearly 100 guests came to Cappel for the official dedication ceremony, and several of them spoke: expressing their amazement, gratitude, and enthusiasm.

The “Atrium,” as it has been named, stands as an impressive entrance right at the entrance to the Steinmühlen campus. It features 8,800 cubic meters of enclosed space and 1,780 square meters of usable and ancillary space. Twelve classrooms for grades 7–10 have been created here, featuring eco-friendly building technology and modern, future-oriented facilities. Egon Vaupel, chairman of the school association, summed it up: “All the conditions and foundations for successful learning are met here.”

Indeed, the atrium leaves nothing to be desired. It features a group room and a storage room for each grade level, as well as a flexible, divisible space, a kitchen, and a teachers’ lounge. Interactive smartboards with multi-touch systems have long since heralded the end of the chalk era. The view from every window is outstanding: to the south, you look out over the Lahn Valley; otherwise, the view is toward the castle. “It makes you want to go back to school”—that’s what someone said in the auditorium. Guests from the worlds of politics, business, and administration were in attendance, along with the teaching staff—and many others who contributed to the project’s success.

Expertise and Competence

The project didn’t just fall into their laps. As an independently operated school, the Steinmühle cannot automatically rely on public funds. The project, which had a total cost of 6.5 million euros, required the school to provide its own funding. Over 150,000 euros were donated, with 35,000 euros alone coming through the Friends of the School Association. A guarantee from the Marburg-Biedenkopf district supported the portion of the capital requirements covered by loans. The fact that costs remained within budget and completion was on schedule is a testament to the expertise and competence of those in charge. The school association chair said, “Everything was done right.”

Special thanks today went to Managing Director Dirk Konnertz. “He has achieved extraordinary and outstanding results; without him, we wouldn’t have made it,” Vaupel explained. Konnertz highlighted the support and first-rate teamwork he received from school principals Björn Gemmer and Bernd Holly. Working hand in hand, they made what we see today possible.

“The Steinmühle is very persuasive”

“School should be a place where people feel comfortable—in terms of how we treat one another, the atmosphere, and even the visual environment,” said Mayor Dr. Thomas Spies in his speech. He noted that fostering personal bonds is particularly strong at Steinmühle, which is a positive sign. “We’re also pleased about the bilingual elementary school,” the mayor said on this occasion, even though it’s important to keep an eye on the potential impact on enrollment at public elementary schools. The new program, which will launch at Steinmühle at the start of the 2019–20 school year, expands the city’s educational offerings, “another attractive educational building block.” The school sets standards for the education sector, from which everyone ultimately benefits. Spies remarked appreciatively: “The Steinmühle’s appeal is strong.”

Help in Developing One’s Own Personality

“Schools are naturally in competition with one another to develop the best educational approaches,” agreed Marian Zachow, First Deputy District Administrator. Education should change perspectives and ways of thinking and help students develop their own personalities. The Steinmühle fulfills this mission to a high degree.

Georg Ritter, managing director of Steinmühle GmbH & Co. KG— the organization that operates the Steinmühle Boarding School —had words of praise for the school association’s achievements and its projects. The increased collaboration between the boarding school and the school, which was recently put on a solid contractual footing, is already proving very fruitful and is focused on the future: “We still have a lot planned together.”

With local companies

Architect Thomas Oesterle concluded his assessment of the new Steinmühle building from a structural perspective. He noted that the building had been constructed to be future-proof in every respect. Soil improvements achieved by incorporating gravel to a depth of up to four meters had provided a solid foundation for the building, which is located in a flood zone. The project, which was managed by Gade Schlüsselfertigbau GmbH, was completed without any construction accidents, within the prescribed timeframe, and—with one exception—using only contractors from the district. Oesterle remarked with pride: “A showcase project.”

These words certainly fit the musical opening of the event, performed by concert tenor and Steinmühle music teacher Daniel Sans. Accompanied on the piano by concert pianist and wife Marie-Gabrielle Sans, he proclaimed in a powerful voice: “Today is the most beautiful day of my life.” There was certainly some truth to that—at least from Steinmühle’s perspective.

29. January 2019

Advanced Art Class Explored Kassel’s Art School Scene

Art, Music & Theater, News, Steinmühle on the Road

Graduates and master’s students from the programs in Fine Arts, Art Education, Art History, Product Design, and Visual Communication at the Kassel Art Academy hosted their graduation exhibition in December. The exhibition took place in the documenta Hall. The artists’ final projects gave the students of the Steinmühlen Art Elective Course, led by Ines Vielhaben, insight into the quality and diversity of contemporary art and design in Kassel. The report from the Steinmühlen Art Elective Course states:

Armed with their cameras, the students first wandered through the exhibition, capturing the unusual, the surprising, and the thought-provoking from various perspectives. The students agreed: Almost everything about these exhibits is amazing! While they had previously been accustomed to traditional art forms such as drawing, painting, sculpture, film, and design at school, the arrangements in this exhibition seemed to blend all these genres together, employing cutting-edge technical methods and repeatedly subjecting art itself to ironic scrutiny. For example, graduates of the film classes painted over canvases and projected animated drawings of a running figure onto them.

The Creepy Face Scanner

One graduate experimented with seemingly mundane materials from the hardware store and the kitchen to create painterly images that emerged more by chance. A work featuring a facial scanner—which was given its own room—was both unsettling and technically impressive. Here, visitors could interactively animate a virtual face—similar to a video game—by changing their own facial expressions and head position. The face scanner’s learning ability was very unsettling for everyone and hinted at cutting-edge programming for artificial intelligence.

The Changing Role of the Viewer

In an installation that included a real swimming pool, above which a projection screen displaying a video was mounted, the boundaries of art became completely blurred. In the videos, the artist staged herself as she explored existential questions about life and its meaning. Through this artistic work, the students realized that, in addition to the use of unusual materials, the role of the viewer in contemporary art had also changed significantly: By being invited to step into the 37-degree water—swimwear and towels were provided—the viewer became a participating subject, intended to experience a sense of “oneness” with the water and with the other swimmers.

Female visitors as part of the performance

“Even though,” the report states, “none of us accepted this invitation, our small group was to become part of a performance-like presentation.” After an hour of exploring the art exhibition on their own, the students pinned their hopes on a guided tour by a professional art educator that would hopefully explain everything. But the guide, Julian, dashed those expectations right at the start of his tour. He literally slipped into the “role of the educator” by donning a costume, thereby making them—and us—part of a performance: he had photos of the exhibition printed on canvas, from which he had sewn together elements of clothing that exuded power. In this way, as the guide for this exhibition, he demonstrated his authority to us; at the same time, however, this attire reflected his ironic approach to the role of the educator, upon whose shoulders rested the burden of interpretive authority and the evaluation of the exhibition’s exhibits.

Discussing Aspects of Art Studies

Apparently, the older visitors who had intended to join our guide were so unsettled by his slightly provocative manner that only our advanced art class continued to listen to his explanations. Even though Julian didn’t explain the exhibits themselves, he was able to share some insightful background information with us about the creation of the masterclass final projects and the concept behind the exhibition. As the “private tour” came to a close, the students found it particularly exciting to ask him about various aspects of studying art and the art scene.

A visit like being thrown in at the deep end

All in all, this first-time visit to a contemporary art exhibition felt to the students as if they had been thrown into cold water—not 37 degrees. However, the discussions with the guide and former Steinmühle student Maren Eidenmüller about studying at the Kassel Art Academy were so interesting for everyone that no one regretted spending the third Sunday of Advent in the documenta hall instead of enjoying cookies and candlelight. The conclusion: These days, everything seems worthy of being called art and possible within the visual arts. It’s just a matter of how you sell it and how you make your case.

16. January 2019

From Zero to Silver: Maxim Dyck Rows His Way to Success

Contests & Awards, News, Rowing, Sports & Health

Rowing has a long-standing tradition at Steinmühle Boarding School. Fourteen-year-old boarding student Maxim Dyck seized this opportunity and trained so relentlessly over the past few months that he won the silver medal right off the bat at the Hessian Ergometer Rowing Championships in Frankfurt—and he did so as the youngest competitor in the older 15/16—in his very first official competition!

Before he got into a boat for the first time at the Steinmühle, Maxim had already gained some experience. He took his first strokes on the Moselle near his hometown of Koblenz. From the Rhenania Rowing Club, he brought not only his skills but also a healthy dose of ambition. The new member of the Rudern und Sport (RuS) Steinmühle club quickly decided: I want to achieve something.

Four times a week during practice

No pain, no gain. That’s why this teenager is currently one of the most ambitious athletes in the Steinmühle weight room. He works out there four times a week and accepts that his free time is otherwise rather limited. Little changes in the summer. Then the 14-year-old rows in a single scull and trains at the same pace on the Lahn.

One of Maxim’s role models is RuS athlete Lucas Schäfer. It’s therefore hardly surprising that his goal is to become the Hesse champion himself one day. Just like Lucas, Maxim discovered cycling as a complementary sport to help with his training. “A good complement,” he says.

The fact that the boarding school student feels the RuS coaching staff fully supports his ambitions—and that, in his view, the club offers everything needed for successful rowing—makes it all come together. The fact that his parents support his rowing also gives the young rower a sense of security.

In his report, RuS coach Martin “Stromi” Strohmenger described Maxim as a “promising talent,” so it will be interesting to see how things unfold. The boarding school and rowing club community at Steinmühle will certainly be following Maxim’s activities with interest.

On the left in each photo: Maxim Dyck

15. January 2019

An Evening for All the Senses: Christmas Party at Steinmühle Boarding School

Archive, News

The joint Christmas celebration attended by students, parents, and the teaching staff is one of the annual highlights at Steinmühle Boarding School. About 150 guests enjoyed a varied and humorous evening in the Forum—exactly the kind of harmonious way to end the year one would hope for.

The evening opened with Chopin’s Étude, Op. 10, No. 3, performed by Jieni Zhang. This was followed by welcoming remarks from boarding school directors Anke Muszynski and Nils Schwandt, as well as from boarding school council members Lukas Kießling and Robert Mahl.

Felix Müller then captivated the audience with his voice and the song “Hört der Engel helle Lieder.” The audience then enjoyed a performance of “The Dancing Reindeer” by the residents of the Hessenhaus. The performance received a round of applause.

Residents of Westfalenhaus and Biohaus had prepared a performance of scenes from Shakespeare: The play “Romeo and Juliet” was impressively presented in a single act that served as both the first and last act. It wasn’t just Romeo’s adversary, Bodo, who surprised the audience.

There was plenty of movement during the dance performance by residents of the Stammhaus, Westfalenhaus, and Hessenhaus. The young people conveyed a good dose of spirit to the audience and captivated the spectators with their dance under black light.

Felix Müller can also do Johnny Cash—he proved that during the next part of the program with his performance of “Ring of Fire.” He was sure to receive a round of applause from the audience.

“Christmas Isn’t Really His Thing…” was the title residents of the main building gave to their performance, which was next on the program. With their sock puppets, they showed that even the biggest Christmas grouch can be won over by the spirit of the season.

Next, Viviana Leege and Laura Cluss performed “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry, earning a round of applause.

Fairy Tale Hour at the Westfalenhaus: “Cinderella with a Twist” was the title of the performance presented by the residents of the Westfalenhaus as the next item on the program, thus contributing to the “Fairy Tale Hour.”

After that, the focus returned to singing. Katharina Filin performed “Dancing On My Own” by Calum Scott.

To the applause of the audience, several residents of the Mühle invited everyone on a journey through the world of Christmas, before the song “Christmas Everyday” by Simple Plan—sung and performed by Selina Lu, Rachel Gu, Jieni Zhang, Chang Lu, Charles Zha, and Lena Schmeltzer—was presented on stage as the finale.

The evening had once again demonstrated the dedication and skill with which the students at Steinmühle Boarding School can create an evening that appeals to all the senses on a festive occasion like Christmas.

20. December 2018

Sparkasse Marburg-Biedenkopf Donates 12,500 Euros to Support the Construction of the New Steinmühlen Building

Archive, News

Sparkasse Marburg-Biedenkopf is supporting the construction of the new middle school building at Steinmühle with a donation of 12,500 euros. CEO Andreas Bartsch presented a check for that amount to Dirk Konnertz, executive director of the Steinmühle Support Association, in the presence of school principals Björn Gemmer and Bernd Holly. The largest construction project in Steinmühle’s history is now in its final stages of completion. “We’re currently putting the finishing touches on a few areas of the interior,” Konnertz reports.

According to Steinmühle, the Sparkasse’s donation will go toward equipping Group Rooms 1 and 2, located on the ground floor. The building is designed to meet all the requirements for digital learning. With its generous donation, the Sparkasse is helping to provide students with a modern learning environment. Andreas Bartsch: “Today’s students are tomorrow’s skilled workers and decision-makers; they are our future. Sparkasse views this donation as an investment in society—something from which everyone can benefit. Nothing can replace education.”

In collaboration with the boarding school, the school had the entire Steinmühle campus equipped with high-speed internet via a fiber-optic connection this summer. The next step is to introduce tablet-based instruction in select grade levels, with a partnership with Philipps University of Marburg providing academic support. As a new branch of the school, the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School will open on the Steinmühle campus in the Cappel district of Marburg at the start of the 2019–20 school year.

The new middle school building, which was completed entirely on schedule and within budget, will be ready for occupancy at the start of the second semester in February 2019. As a privately run school, Steinmühle cannot automatically rely on public funding.

19. December 2018

Sound Engineering Workshop with Abbey Road Studios

Archive, News

On December 17, a special workshop took place over the course of an entire afternoon at the Steinmühle Forum, reports Ulrike Wilmsmeyer from the Music Student Council:
Students in music courses E and Q were introduced to the basics of sound engineering by Walter Hauschild from Abbey Road Studio in Frankfurt. First, there was an extremely interesting introductory presentation on sound engineering, the training program, and a very comprehensive description of the job profile of a sound engineer in the field of popular music. Afterward, the students received a thorough introduction to working with microphones, mixing consoles, and sound effects. Afterward, they were able to work in groups of three using the mixing consoles brought in for the workshop and individually mix a given pop song. The results were listened to and discussed together as a group. It was a successful workshop that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

19. December 2018

Bingchen Zhou from China Receives DAAD Award

Archive, News

A student at Philipps University volunteers as a language teacher to help refugees

For her outstanding academic achievements and social commitment, Bingchen Zhou from China has been awarded the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) prize, worth 1,000 euros. Zhou studied German as a Foreign Language (DaF) at Philipps University and is considered one of the top students in her class. In addition, she volunteers as a language teacher in refugee aid programs, including at the Steinmühle. The award was presented by Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Philipps University.

Zhou successfully completed her bachelor’s degree in German Studies at Wuhan University, one of China’s most prestigious universities, and came to Marburg in 2016 to pursue a master’s degree in German as a Foreign Language. The topic of her thesis, which was supervised by Prof. Dr. Una Dirks of the German as a Foreign Language research group at the Institute of German Linguistics, was: “Typical Errors Made by Chinese Learners of German in the Use of Definite and Indefinite Articles: An Analysis Using a Pre- and Post-Test Design”; a topic that has been largely neglected in language teaching research to date. “For learners of German whose native language, like Chinese, lacks articles, the development of appropriate language support measures in this area is of central importance,” says Dirks, who nominated Zhou for the award. With her study, Zhou not only addressed a gap in the research but also paved the way for her future academic career—the young Chinese researcher hopes to pursue her doctorate at the University of Marburg.

The DAAD Prize also recognizes Zhou’s wide-ranging commitment to a variety of volunteer roles, particularly her work as a language teacher in refugee aid and in intensive German-as-a-second-language classes. One of these classes is located at Steinmühle High School, which recently became an official partner school of Philipps University. “Wherever Ms. Zhou has offered her help, she acts not only as a language mediator but also as a cultural mediator. Using pragmatic, everyday approaches, she promotes self-understanding and understanding of others among new immigrants and contributes to mutual appreciation and the development of new ways of thinking and acting,” says Dirks. This is clear evidence of her willingness to actively engage with current social challenges in Germany.

The DAAD Prize is awarded once a year to international students who are pursuing their studies in Germany and have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement and remarkable social or intercultural engagement. The recipients are selected by their respective universities. The prize money is provided by the Federal Foreign Office.

Photo: Christina Mühlenkamp

19. December 2018

Winter Concert at the Forum: Enthusiastic Applause for a Spectacular Evening

Archive, News

Not only in the summer, but also during the cold season, musicians and singers from the Steinmühle gather to showcase their diverse talents in front of an audience at the Forum. Once again, many audience members accepted the invitation to the winter concert and were impressed by the progress the bands, choirs, and ensembles have made.

The 6th-grade wind ensemble, led by Andreas Jamin, opened the evening with the pieces “Key Lime Pie” and “My Heart Will Go On.” Next, the Swing & Sing club, led by Kim Kaletsch (10th grade) and Sarah Werner (9th grade), took the stage. The students in grades 5 and 6 put on a lively dance performance to the songs “Cooler than Me” (Lucky Luke) and “Shotgun” (George Esra). Next up was the jazz ensemble, led by Frank Wemme, which dazzled the audience with fantastic improvisations. They performed “Silent Night” and “We Three Kings.” Next up were the chamber musicians, also conducted by Frank Wemme. They delighted the audience with the piece “The Midnight Sun Will Never Set.”

Drums—a new musical genre at the Steinmühle

What a contrast right after that—a new musical genre at Steinmühle: It was the turn of the 10th-grade drum group, led by Kerstin Itzenhäuser! With the sounds of “Beat One” and “Samba Reggae,” things got really loud but incredibly rhythmic. Since the end of summer break, the school has owned the drums thanks to a donation from the booster club, making it possible for students to learn this musical instrument.

Following this impressive performance, the concert band, led by Stephan Reissig, performed the pieces “I’m a Believer” and “Camille”—the latter conducted by Karl Reissig, while Stephan Reissig captivated the audience with his warm tone on the solo trumpet.

The high school choir, with about 100 singers, brought the concert evening to a close. They were accompanied by a compelling band consisting of Olaf Roth on piano, Frank Wemme on bass, Fynn Konnertz on guitar, and Aaron Ruff on drums.

The songs “With or Without You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” were performed in an impressive manner by 14 tenors! Bennet Meier captivated the audience with his beautiful voice during his solo performance of “Ohne Dich,” originally by the band Rammstein.

The evening, which had been engagingly hosted by 11th-graders Tom Herfert, Fynn Konnertz, and Samuel Ruff, came to a close with the song “Don’t Stop Believin’”—a performance that drew a full house to the Steinmühle and earned the performers enthusiastic applause.

19. December 2018

Grades 5 and 6 Celebrate Christmas at the Forum and Centrum

Archive, News

The row of students standing side by side was wider than the stage. It almost reached the two walls of the not-quite-so-narrow auditorium—a beautiful sight of the youngest of all the Steinmühlen children!

“Gloria…in excelsis Deo,” they sang in unison, led by Daniel Sans. It was a wonderful welcome for all the mothers, fathers, and family members who had taken the day off to celebrate Christmas at the Steinmühle with their children that early afternoon.

The day was the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, as the tables were decorated for Christmas and a Christmas tree sparkled. It also gave the parents the perfect opportunity to see for themselves, “live,” how much their children had progressed in singing and music.

The class teachers explained that the afternoon is set aside every year for everyone to get together, get to know one another, and encourage parent-teacher conversations among themselves—all without a rigid schedule. Nevertheless, atmospheric songs, poems, and performances were presented at regular intervals to set the mood, and together with coffee and cookies, they rounded out the Christmas spirit. – Just the right thing to start looking forward to the day—which is not far off—when all the students will be dismissed together three days before Christmas Eve to begin their Christmas break.

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14. December 2018

Pre-Christmas Spirit at the Boarding School

Archive, News

Christmas is just around the corner—and it’s unmistakably evident at Steinmühle Boarding School: the residential groups have set up Advent calendars and Christmas trees, and string lights and Christmas decorations are glowing in the schoolyard.

In addition, preparations for the Christmas party are in full swing. It will take place on Saturday, December 15. All the students are already looking forward to enjoying this day together with their families. Once again, the cultural program for the Christmas party promises to make for an atmospheric and exciting evening together.

In addition to the traditional napkin-folding for the Christmas party, Steinmühle Boarding School’s pre-Christmas activities in the coming days will also include a sporting event that is popular with many: a group ice-skating outing in Frankfurt.

10. December 2018