Sports & Health

WU School Garden Produces Creative Products

Art, Music & Theater, Ecology and Sustainability, News, Sports & Health

It doesn’t get any more organic than this: Eighth- and ninth-graders showed particular creativity in the elective course (WU) “School Garden.” Under the guidance of Steinmühlen teacher María Ramos Iglesias, they used the produce grown in the school’s own garden to create original products with great dedication, proving themselves to be true connoisseurs of gourmet cuisine. To make their creations even more special, they added the Steinmühlen logo. The result included, for example, decorative vinegar products, oregano salt, jars of ratatouille, lavender sachets, and much more. The products—which make excellent Christmas gifts—are on display in the teachers’ lounge and are available for purchase in exchange for a voluntary donation.

13. December 2021

Theme Weekend at the Steinmühle: A Kickoff for Mental Health

Life at Boarding School, News, Sports & Health

The Steinmühle Boarding School, led by Anke Muszynski, has planned a themed weekend for each quarter of this school year to foster the development of the boarding school community and all its members. The program includes topics such as “sustainability,” “physical health,” and “the world of media.” The kickoff weekend focused on the topic of “mental health.” The workshops and extracurricular groups provided ample opportunity for discussion, self-reflection, and mutual understanding among both students and educators.

Getting to know each other in a different way

Talking about it, staying in touch, asking for help. Things that should go without saying, but that we all too often forget or deliberately avoid in our daily lives. Isn’t it embarrassing to bare my soul? What will others think? And I’m supposed to confront my weaknesses? Great! And I didn’t even know I had any strengths—and if so, how many? These questions were deliberately and very sensitively raised in small groups over the weekend.

At the end of the themed weekend, educator Luisa Völker summed up the particularly wonderful outcome of these group sessions: “It was impressive to see how, within a very short time, many students experienced a shift in perspective. They realized that there isn’t just ‘my world,’ but that people have had very different experiences and, as a result, the world can look very different to them.”

After all, everyone has their own cross to bear

At the beginning, there was some initial unease in many places. Concerns about what exactly lay ahead, how much to reveal about oneself—and feelings of embarrassment in front of the others. However, the activities were so well designed that these uncertainties quickly faded. The students learned to consciously observe their surroundings and were soon ready to actively participate in the discussions.

Accepting themselves, getting involved, and not giving up: For many students, this weekend was the first time they truly realized this. “It was great to see how the individual students began not only to become more aware of themselves, but also to become more aware of others,” educator Michel Hermens reports enthusiastically.

It was about happiness, resources, and self-worth

Staying active, trying new or creative things, and learning to relax consciously—these were the skills consciously practiced during this themed weekend, for example, in the origami class. Getting to know oneself and, above all, learning to appreciate one’s own strengths and needs. To consciously recognize and appreciate people and friendship as resources once again. To feel part of a supportive community while simultaneously becoming aware of one’s own individual greatness. That’s what this weekend helped bring about. For example, during the workshop on “Social Media and Mental Health,” our student Lydia suddenly realized: “It’s not that important to me to present myself on social media—I have my friends right here!”

This weekend was profound and memorable

Even after the themed weekend is over, conversations about what we experienced continue into the evenings. The workshops continue to have an impact; new perspectives have opened up, and best of all: we’re starting to talk about something that is deeply important to all of us—our collective well-being. This themed weekend has shown us how to become aware of this again, to reflect on ourselves, and to actively and positively influence the well-being of the boarding school community. I am never alone, and especially at boarding school, I am part of a community that can support me.

1. December 2021

Steinmühle Cycles Successfully for the Climate

Ecology and Sustainability, News, Sports & Health

After participating for the first time in the “School and City Cycling” competition , all active cyclists—including parents, students, and teachers—can celebrate an outstanding result: Over the course of three weeks of competition ,137 active cyclists rode a total of 24,884 km! As a result, Steinmühle took first place in the “Most Active Cycling Team” category in both the City Cycling and School Cycling competitions in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district.
A heartfelt thank you to all the cyclists for every kilometer they rode.
On October 29, school sports director Michael Neirich, as team captain and representative of Steinmühle, was honored at the awards ceremony at the Marburg District Office for winning first place in the School Cycling Challenge, a cash prize of 500,-€ and a cash prize of 150,-€ for the school library for taking first place in the “City Cycling” competition .
This great result, which contributes to greater climate neutrality, should motivate the entire school community to to participate in the “Schulradeln” campaign again next year and, for the sake of climate protection.

Photo: Marburg-Biedenkopf District

10. November 2021

Steinmühle Boarding School: Surging Interest in the School’s Own Riding Stables

Life at Boarding School, News, Sports & Health, Steinmühle Riding School

Elke Buurman is delighted. The new director of the Steinmühlen Riding Stables has noticed a steadily increasing demand for riding opportunities on the Steinmühlen campus. At the start of the school year, there were a total of 15 interested riders just for a spot in a regular after-school club. Restrictions due to weather or the pandemic have not dampened interest in equestrian sports. “However, we are very much hoping for an end to the restrictions so that riders can resume their activities in full.”

The Steinmühle riding stable has always been an integral part of boarding school life. It’s convenient for the students to be able to pursue their hobby right on campus, with the riding stable just a few steps away. Some are discovering the joy of riding for the first time. Traditionally, it’s mostly girls, but boys are also proving to be talented riders.

More club activity times to meet each rider’s specific needs

To accommodate the high demand and take individual prior experience into account, three club session times were introduced. This way, separate groups bring together advanced riders, beginners, and those interested in riding who are just getting a taste of the “basics” and learning everything involved in working with horses.

Horseback riding for beginners covers the basics of movement, equine theory, getting to know the horse and its needs, as well as tips on establishing a connection between rider and horse.

If someone has already spent some time in the saddle but lacks more advanced knowledge and skills, the initial focus is on handling the horse, daily care, saddling and bridling, riding in a group, and how human and animal interact during direct work together.

Experienced riders will continue their training in the third group. They can refine their techniques and, under professional guidance, build on and improve their riding skills.

In addition to the equestrian activities offered in the clubs, Steinmühle Boarding School also offers the option of taking private lessons. Students can book additional riding lessons or arrange to share ownership of a horse. It is also generally possible to take part in holiday riding courses to earn riding badges. It is also possible to board your own horses. Currently, two boarding school students are taking advantage of this opportunity and are delighted to have their horses right nearby.

From the basics to riding independently:
Anything is possible at Steinmühle

“Our goal is to build on the foundational knowledge of theory and practice to progress from independent, free riding to specific training for both rider and horse—all while fostering a healthy and harmonious relationship between animal and human,” explains Elke Buurman.

Additional activities during boarding school weekends—such as groundwork courses or intensive training in the care of Shetland ponies and school horses, as well as opportunities to work in the stables—are designed to provide a comprehensive and realistic experience of life as a rider.

The Steinmühle boarding school currently has seven school horses available for riding. In addition, there are five Shetland ponies. In total, there are 31 horses at the riding stable.

Animal and Human and Animal Health First

Elke Buurman approaches her work with a deep love for animals and takes the students’ varying wishes into account: She sees it as her mission to meet the needs of both people and animals equally. She plans to expand the riding program at Steinmühle even further in the future, depending on demand. She views the riders’ commitment—which extends far beyond the club and includes helping out in the stables and caring for the Shetland ponies and horses—with approval, but also with a watchful eye. As an educator, the Steinmühle teacher of German and physical education knows that a healthy balance must be struck in this regard.

“Everyone is looking forward to the end of the pandemic-related restrictions”

A major success for the riding program at Steinmühle was that interest in riding remained undiminished well into the winter following the club’s new elections—despite the adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in the works. The restrictions imposed by the Hessian Equestrian Association (Pferdesportverband Hessen e.V.) naturally apply at Steinmühle as well. As a result, riding operations had to be almost completely suspended at times and only gradually resumed. Stable manager Elke Buurman has been and continues to be committed to ensuring the well-being of the school horses despite these circumstances. The horses’ care needs—and above all, their lack of exercise—must be addressed.

We must also keep the students’ needs in mind. In order for them to continue participating in activities with the horses, strict planning is necessary, safety measures must be implemented, and contact restrictions must be enforced. Elke Buurman: “Even though riding lessons can only take place to a limited extent, we’re trying to continue supporting students’ participation in the horses’ daily lives.”

It’s no surprise, then, that both the riding stable management and the boarding school’s riders are hoping that restrictions on riding will soon be eased. The students are eager to resume their beloved hobby in full.

As soon as it becomes possible again, more time slots for equestrian activities should be scheduled each week, in addition to the regularly scheduled riding clubs. Elke Buurman: “The students are eager to further develop their enjoyment of horses and life at the riding stable. That’s why we’re looking forward to the end of the restrictions.”

30. November 2020

Exercise Equipment for Recess

News, Sports & Health

For some time now, the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School has had skateboards and jump ropes to help students stay active and have fun during recess. The sports equipment, valued at approximately 800 euros, was donated by gesundekids.“Gesundekids”is a nonprofit initiative of the Rotary Clubs in Germany. Under the motto “Fit for Life,” the initiative works nationwide to promote the health of children between the ages of 3 and 12. The Rotary Club of Marburg was pleased to receive the request from Steinmühle, which explained the need for physical activity equipment for the elementary school division by noting that many students—having moved to Germany only recently—often haven’t been able to form many social connections yet, struggle with language barriers, and spend a lot of time at their desks learning a new language. The goal is to create opportunities for physical activity and to encourage the students to cooperate and communicate with one another. The balance boards and jump ropes are ideal for this purpose.

20. November 2020

Steinmühle and blista – A New Partnership for Inclusive Competitive Sports

Collaborations & Partnerships, News, Sports & Health

Steinmühle Marburg e.V. (Steinmühle) and the German Institute for the Blind (blista) are expanding and strengthening their collaboration in the area of sports programs for blind, visually impaired, and sighted students.

“With the partnership we entered into today, we are laying the groundwork to expand competitive sports programs at both schools and to demonstrate that children and young people with and without disabilities can compete on equal footing, even in competitive sports,” explains Egon Vaupel, chairman of Steinmühle.

“The children and teenagers at our two schools have been participating in joint sports classes and activities for many years. The experiences have been consistently positive,” explains blista Director Claus Duncker. “It’s not pity or forced friendliness that makes the difference, but the desire to train together and work hard together—with everyone and all the human emotions that go along with it: hopes, joy, disappointments, encounters, and friendships.”

The new alliance for inclusive competitive sports is built on a strong conceptual foundation. According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, children and adolescents have the right to an education that is geared toward the development of their whole personality. Both schools attach particular importance to the potential of sports for the personal development of their students. For many years, Steinmühle has been known for its excellent training conditions, particularly for high-performance rowing; blista serves as the state training center for judo and blind soccer, as well as the Paralympic training center for goalball. Starting this year, blista has also implemented a program that enables ambitious young athletes to pursue a successful individual academic path as part of a “dual career” while simultaneously supporting their development in competitive sports.

Based on the experiences at both schools, sports bring young people together in an inclusive way and thus also shape the cultural life of our society.

Photo: Signing of the contract: Egon Vaupel, Chairman of Steinmühle, and Claus Duncker, Chairman of blista.

16. November 2020

The State of Hesse is providing 60,000 euros to support the renovation of the boathouse

News, Rowing, Sports & Health

State Secretary Dr. Stefan Heck presented the grant notification during a visit to the Steinmühle

The renovation of the Steinmühle boathouse is a major undertaking—but it is now much easier to finance: Dr. Stefan Heck, State Secretary at the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sports, presented Dietrich Mägerlein, chairman of the Rudern und Sport Steinmühle (RuS) Marburg association, with a grant notification in the amount of 60,000 euros. “Coming here was particularly important to me,” said Heck, who made the visit to Steinmühlenweg before the restrictions imposed by pandemic-related regulations took effect. He added: “Our state government is particularly supportive of the club’s inclusive approach. By applying for this grant, you were really just preaching to the choir.”

The Steinmühle boathouse was built in 1970. Champions and Olympic athletes used to come and go there, but now the building is showing its age. Dietrich Mägerlein: “We’ve basically renovated whatever we could with a few brushstrokes. Recently, however, we’ve also found that the roof and plumbing are in a condition that can no longer be tolerated.”

For generations, the Steinmühlen boathouse has been the gathering place for rowing and the home of the rowing equipment. Weather permitting, a large group of rowing enthusiasts currently meets several times a week to hone their rowing technique and speed under the guidance of rowing instructor and coach Martin “Stromi” Strohmenger. The partnership with the German Institute for the Blind (blista) is also a long-standing tradition. As part of an inclusive project, rowing has been made accessible to visually impaired athletes at the Steinmühle for many years.

Rowers as Role Models During the Pandemic

Several guests gathered for the grant presentation in the foyer of the newest Steinmühle building, located at the entrance to the school campus. Dirk Bamberger, a member of the Hessian State Parliament, delivered a welcoming address: “As a resident of Cappel, I am well aware of the significance of the Steinmühle,” he emphasized, and expressed his hope that the construction work would proceed smoothly and without accidents. First District Deputy and Vice-District Administrator Maria Zachow paid tribute to all active members of the club and described rowing as symbolic of how to deal with the pandemic: “You pool your strengths, all pull together, and find the right stroke rate. It’s all about mobilizing our strength together.” Georg Ritter, Executive Director of the Steinmühle Boarding School, highlighted the importance of rowing within the school’s overall athletic program and emphasized the support the project receives from the school’s governing body.

Ultimately, the state’s grant paves the way for a renovation project that can only be financed through a collective effort. As one of the key stakeholders—and the operator of the high school and bilingual elementary school—the Steinmühle Marburg School Association deserves special mention; its executive director, Dirk Konnertz, was also present. But it’s not just in financial matters that a network comes together. When it comes to pulling the organizational strings, coordinating efforts, and even rolling up his sleeves to help out, RuS Chairman Dietrich Mägerlein can rely on a team. His deputies, Björn Gemmer—who is also the principal of Steinmühle—and Bianca Zenker keep the rowing community on course in every respect.

4. November 2020

One of Hesse’s largest soccer-golf courses is located on the Steinmühle grounds

Collaborations & Partnerships, News, Social Engagement, Sports & Health

School, boarding school, and strong networks enable new activities in inclusive sports

Plenty of exercise in the fresh air and lots of fun for young people with and without disabilities—that’s what the new soccer golf course on the Steinmühle grounds has to offer. The 12-station course is designed for use in inclusive sports. That’s why the soccer team from the Kerstin-Heim and soccer-loving families from fib—the association for promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities—attended the opening ceremony. Together with members of the Sportfreunde Blau-Gelb and Steinmühle, they immediately set out to explore the individual challenges.

“Hesse has never seen such diversity before,” said Anne Effe enthusiastically. The Special Olympics regional coordinator for Hesse had traveled there specifically for the opening ceremony. Egon Vaupel expressed his gratitude to her in his brief speech. The chairman of the Steinmühle Marburg School Association also thanked Marc Mercurio and the Hessian State Sports Federation for their financial support. He emphasized the collaboration among individual institutions on this project, noting that the partnership formed a year ago between Steinmühle and the Blau-Gelb Marburg Sports Club was a key component of it.

Vaupel explained that, under normal circumstances, the course would be completed in groups of five made up of participants from all participating institutions. “Unfortunately, due to pandemic-related regulations, this is not possible at the moment, so the groups of five will remain separate,” he explained to the guests, among whom was Verena Gottmann from the Culture and Sports Department of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district.

There are still too few Unified teams, Vaupel said. That makes it all the more wonderful to launch this initiative in Marburg. “But this can only work as a team,” emphasized the school association president, whose networking skills once again came into their own in this matter.

The focus is on social skills

The idea for the soccer-golf course came from Bernd Holly, one of the two principals at Steinmühlen School: “Our goal was to promote sportsmanship and teamwork, free from the pressure to perform.” In inclusive sports, he explained, teaching and results take a back seat. The focus is instead on acquiring and applying social skills within a team where young people with and without disabilities participate together. The plan is for one or two Steinmühlen students to always be on hand to assist those who need support due to their disabilities as they navigate the course.

“It’s wonderful that we can present this facility today,” said Michael Neirich, the school’s athletic director at Steinmühle, with delight. “We’re inaugurating 12 stations today; eventually, there will be 18.” A unique feature of the facility is that it was designed by students at Steinmühle. The future advanced sports class from 11th grade and their teacher, Mirko Radatz, invested many hours in developing and designing the course. The course elements are weather-resistant; some can be set up and taken down within ten minutes; they can also be used individually for recess sports and, for example, at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School. The high school students provided a description of all the course stations and a “score card” on which all participants’ results can be recorded. The course details alone would provide enough material for another report.

Sascha Huhn had the hardest shot

“If everyone is having fun, diving right into the activities, and the facility can be used in a variety of ways, then we’ve done something right,” Dirk Konnertz concluded. As a former active soccer player and coach, the managing director of the Schulverein Steinmühle Marburg e.V. couldn’t resist taking a shot at the goal wall. The best performance at this station—where shot speed can be measured electronically—was achieved on the day of the inauguration by 23-year-old Sascha Huhn, with a shot speed of 118 kilometers per hour. The student is a winger for Blau-Gelb and a former Steinmühle student.

26. October 2020

Fall Break at the Waldhaus: Students Showed Off Their Fitness, Cooking Skills, and Creativity

Life at Boarding School, News, Sports & Health

Well, what a wonderful coincidence: 14 students spent 14 days of their fall break at the Waldhaus—this combination made it a natural fit to have a different group prepare dinner each day. This not only ensured an interesting variety at the table but also provided a daily opportunity for community and connection.

Supporting the community even in difficult times

Like everyone else, the educational team at Steinmühle’s “Waldhaus” weekend and vacation retreat faced a major challenge during this year’s fall break: offering the students an exciting program while keeping a close eye on the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring their safety.

As a result, in addition to the group cooking nights and game nights, the program for these two weeks focused primarily on outdoor activities and creative workshops:

The students at Steinmühle Boarding School got plenty of exercise at the high ropes course, and the hike to the Frauenberg castle ruins in the Beltershausen area offered, as always, a magnificent view of the Marburg countryside. Even a brief drizzle couldn’t dampen the spirits during the activities.

The indoor program was also well-received. Equipped with a projector, popcorn, and a large sound system, movie day was one of the highlights. Sometimes it’s the oldies that are the best: Harry Potter took the top spot in the movie rankings.

Discovering the Art of Woodcarving

Some of the program activities brought out the group’s creative side. Batik-dyeing gym bags revealed a few artistic talents. The Waldhaus staff also provided carving tools and wood and offered initial guidance on how to bring their own ideas to life in wood. These have since evolved into independent projects. Boarding student Shawn took on the challenge of carving a Terminator bust. We can’t wait to see the result…

But of course, vacation fun isn’t complete without some big activities. Since laser tag is a favorite pastime for many young people, the Waldhaus educational team rented a laser tag setup. To offer a change of pace from the usual activities back home, the students were able to let off steam in a variety of ways here, under supervision and with safety precautions in place.

In addition, our classmate Cindy had her big day during the fall break: she turned 18—and of course, that had to be celebrated in style that evening. The break ended on Saturday with a raclette dinner together, to mark our time together with another delicious meal.

The end of vacation is approaching: All boarding school students will gather on Sunday

School will resume on Monday for all students at Steinmühle. Boarding school parents and students were well prepared for their return trip by boarding school director Anke Muszynski. The teachers at Steinmühle will continue the measures that Waldhaus has already implemented during the break: as much safety as necessary to maintain as much normalcy and joy as possible during these times!

18. October 2020

Launching a New Sport: Tennis Clubs in Elementary School and Grades 5–6

Bilingual Elementary School, Collaborations & Partnerships, News, Sports & Health

During a visit to the Steinmühle campus, Hans-Jürgen Schneider, chairman of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Tennis Association, found ideal conditions for tennis: The boarding school maintains the courts and thus the necessary infrastructure. Schneider’s suggestion to get young Steinmühlen students excited about tennis was well received by Principal Björn Gemmer. The school then surveyed interest in the “white sport” among elementary school students and those in grades 5 and 6.

The call for participants generated such a strong response that, since the beginning of September, 16 elementary school students have been training on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., followed by 19 fifth- and sixth-graders from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Three coaches are available to work with the children: Patrick Voyé is provided by the tennis association, and former Steinmühlen students Nina and Tom Horn assist him.

The opportunity to use the tennis courts for school clubs is yet another sign of the successful collaboration between the school and the Steinmühle boarding school. The administrators at Steinmühle—and, of course, Hans-Jürgen Schneider as the initiator—hope that the students will enjoy tennis so much that they will join a tennis club in the local tennis district and make the sport a lifelong hobby.

21. September 2020