By now, we can count on it: the spring run for grades 5 and 6 always brings spring-like weather and excellent performances.

The Spring Run around the boathouse features four individual races on the 1,300-meter-long “Boathouse Loop,” followed by relay races.

Paula Auschill (5a) delivered an outstanding performance this year; not only was she the fastest girl, but she also outpaced the rather fast boys in her grade.

Timo Baalbaki (6c), who had already dominated last year’s Spring Run, posted the fastest time ever. Timo was the only one to finish in under 5 minutes.

The students once again approached the event with great enthusiasm and demonstrated excellent sportsmanship by cheering each other on. This led to outstanding times in the relay races. All six classes completed the lap in less than four minutes.

Seasons:

1. 6a 3:44

2. 6c 3:48

3. 5c 3:49

4. 6b 3:52

5. 5a 3:54

6. 5b 3:59

The “winning photo” features:

Back row, from left: Svenja Grebe, Clara Freudenstein, Jola Strohmenger, Joel Wormsbächer, Timo Baalbaki, Johanna Egbring

Front row, from left: Benjamin Schul, Tim Seidel, Paul Anton Schmölz, Bennet Bredendiek, Finja Grün, Paula Auschill

The countdown to the final Rio qualifying race is on

Cappel/Varese (I). Lucas Schäfer of the Rudern und Sport Steinmühle club, along with his three teammates Jonathan Koch, Tobias Franzmann, and Lars Wichert, was in top form at the A final of the Rowing World Cup I in Varese, Italy. The well-coordinated team easily advanced to the final in the coxless four and finished in fifth place. A total of 17 boats were entered in this class for World Cup I. The reigning world champion, Switzerland, took the victory. Ahead of the European Championships in Brandenburg (May 4–8), the team has set itself a few more goals to further optimize its overall performance. For Lucas Schäfer, training for all these competitions is aimed at getting him in top form for the final qualifying race in Lucerne, Switzerland, from May 19 to 25, which will ultimately determine whether he qualifies for the Olympic Games in Rio.

Photos: DRV/Brodersen

Photo 5587: The DRV’s lightweight four; Lucas Schäfer is third from the front.

Photo 5700: The lightweight four (Lucas Schäfer on the left) during a cycling training session.

On the third Thursday in March, nearly 850,000 students in Germany from third grade onward took part in the Kangaroo Math Competition—worldwide, the total was about 6 million. At Steinmühle, 42 students signed up for this voluntary test—mostly from fifth grade. The Kangaroo problems are usually very stimulating, sometimes entertaining, and can be solved using a wide variety of approaches. Sometimes all it takes is common sense, a bit of ingenuity, or a creative idea. In addition, it is a multiple-choice test, which suits the students very well.

Everyone who participated has now received a certificate, a booklet containing all the problems and solutions, and a small game. In each grade level, first, second, and third prizes are awarded to the top 5% of participants nationwide; these prizes include science experiment kits, strategy games, math puzzles, and books.

There were four award winners at the Steinmühle this year, including Paula Auschill even won first prize. Second prizes went to Johanna Egbring and Joshua Wieder, and a third prize went to Lotte Jungfer. The award for the longest “kangaroo jump” (i.e., the greatest number of consecutive correct answers) went to Lenn Stumm received a Kangaroo T-shirt. Congratulations!

The successful students from Class 5a, from left to right:

Johanna Egbring, Lotte Jungfer, Paula Auschill, Lenn Stumm, Joshua Wieder

On March 4, 2016, the student body elected its student representatives, its delegates to the faculty meeting, and the team of student advisors.

The “new” student council introduced itself at the faculty meeting on April 12.

Two topics discussed at this faculty meeting highlighted just how important their participation in school committees can be: first, the issue of assessment of classroom performance (oral grades), and second, the topic of participatory structures at Steinmühle.

The two principals expressed their hope for a constructive and trusting collaboration with the new student council and thanked the outgoing student body presidents Finn Busmann and Leon Döringer for their trusting and dedicated collaboration.

Student Council Team: Wissah Miran and Jannes Kühn

Upper School Student Council Team: Flora von Bethmann and Linus Boas

Middle School Student Council Team: Bodam Lee and Carolin Mauersberger

Lower School Student Council Team: Pauline Fehlinger and Emma Sander

Members of the General Conference: Leon Sauer, Benet Meier, Lennart Holly, Leon Rees,

Alina Schulte, Riko Uphoff, Mio Essers, Ella Herborth

The following student representatives serve as student advisors:

Ms. Almut Sersch and Mr. Dirk Lange

Alternates for the GeKo: David Binz, Anna Steinfeldt, Tom Bartsch, Gordian Bachmann,

Chiara Weber, Luke Schröder, Urs Seifart, Sebastian Koch