Sports & Health

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

It does matter what you eat: Meat Free Monday at the Steinmühle

News, Sports & Health, Uncategorized

Starting immediately, the Steinmühlenküche’s menu will be completely meat-free on Mondays: Neither the cafeteria nor the bistro will serve meat or sausage on that day of the week. With this measure, the school and boarding school are heeding a prominent call that is spreading around the world: Paul McCartney and his daughters launched the “Meat Free Monday” campaign. “Everyone can do their part to raise awareness of the harmful environmental impacts of animal agriculture and the consequences of industrial meat processing.” With this appeal, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health had already advocated for one meat-free day per week as a public health awareness program as early as 2003. The campaign was supported by numerous other schools of public health, but it has only gained worldwide attention since Paul McCartney and his daughters began supporting it as the nonprofit project “Meat Free Monday.”

Principal Björn Gemmer gave the Steinmühlen kitchen the key suggestion that has now superseded the previous, rather half-hearted solution. Although every Wednesday had been “Veggie Day” up until now—it was limited to lunch and only in the cafeteria. Breakfast, dinner specials, and the bistro menu still featured meat and sausage. That’s no longer the case on “Meat-Free Monday.” “Veggie is simply the trend.” August 17 marked the launch of Meat-Free Monday at the Steinmühle.

Head chef Sebastian Riehl also welcomes the initiative: “It’s about raising awareness of doing something good for yourself and the world.” He knows that eating vegetarian has long since ceased to be merely the philosophy of a few individuals. “Veggie is simply in.” Through its curriculum and building initiatives, Steinmühle has already demonstrated on multiple occasions that it places a high priority on the environment and the ecosystem. Now, the school and boarding school are placing further emphasis on this approach when it comes to meals. This initiative is one of many activities that help slow climate change, conserve valuable natural resources, and improve personal health. For more information on the Meat Free Monday campaign, visit www.meatfreemondays.com.

27. August 2020

Focus on the “Health-Promoting School”: Working Toward the Second Certificate

Contests & Awards, News, Sports & Health

Steinmühle School has cleared another hurdle on its path to becoming a Health-Promoting School and has earned the “Movement and Perception” partial certificate. As a result, the school now holds two of the at least four partial certificates required to earn the overall certificate. Both partial and overall certification are issued by the Hessian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs.

All certification stages require a high degree of organization and commitment in the respective area. After the first partial certificate focused on the topic of “Nutrition and Consumption,” the focus shifted to school activities related to physical activity and awareness. “The certification process was initiated by forming a steering committee,” reports school athletic director Michael Neirich, who coordinated the overall process and also provided professional development on the topic. “It worked to Steinmühle’s advantage that many of these elements were already part of our everyday school life,” says Neirich in retrospect. “We were in a pretty good position right from the start.”

Nevertheless, it was necessary to collect basic data, compile conceptual information, and prepare documentation on the work. This included conference minutes, project descriptions, press reports, and professional development events. The assessment was based on a self-evaluation and an external evaluation by the certification group of the State School Authority—including a meeting with the school administration, an on-site tour, and classroom observations.

In addition to Michael Neirich, the main contributors to the development of the “School Promoting Physical Activity and Perception” sub-certificate were Manuela Schmidt (steering committee chair), Moritz Zöckler (documentation), Nicole Hohm and Heike Rabben-Martin (addiction prevention), Carmen Bastian (Environmental Office), and Bernd Holly, representing the school administration. Angela Heinemann

They were the “front-line workers” who helped earn the certificate, which was presented by School District Director Heike Grosser (right). From left: Moritz Zöckler, Manuela Schmidt, Michael Neirich.

27. April 2020

Escapes from reality into art, music, literature, or physical relaxation: The Advanced Art Class designed escape pods

Art, Music & Theater, News, Sports & Health

Students in the advanced art class concluded their exploration of architecture and design by developing artistic ideas for the public space at the Steinmühle. They were tasked with creating a design and model for an escape capsule, or “escape vehicle.” The capsule’s interior was intended to provide a space to escape the daily routine at Steinmühle and immerse oneself in another world.

A Dream World Made of Books by Natalia Bieker

This escape pod isn’t just filled with books and stories—the floor is made of text, and even the shell, roof, and walls are modeled after the appearance of an old, open book. The space invites visitors to make themselves comfortable in the realm of words.

“Creative Escape Vehicle” by Lea Zessin

The exterior of this art capsule resembles a White Cube that has lost its sharp corners. Daylight floods the studio from the roof and the north side. Inside, canvases, an easel, and paints are ready to give shape to his inner visions.

Sound Space by Jieni Zhang

This space, which resembles a speaker cabinet even from the outside, is entirely dedicated to sound. Inside the darkened room, visitors can relax and lose themselves in the music, escaping the sounds of everyday school life. The millwheel at the entrance to the cabinet echoes the stone mill logo.

Meditation Room – Room of Silence by Jieni Zhang

In this stone-like, circular room, small lights in the vaulted ceiling remind visitors of a starry sky. They can settle down on the soft floor and meditate.

A Wellness Oasis by Selin Canim

This room contains nothing but a large waterbed with massage jets. Depending on the visitor’s level of tension, this wellness bed offers everything from a gentle, sleep-inducing bubbling sensation to a invigorating back massage.

(Ines Vielhaben)

18. March 2020