Sports & Health-Archiv

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

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

Steinmühle Boarding School: Active on the Slopes

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, News, Sports & Health, Steinmühle on the Road

Spectacular weather awaited us in Randa:

The ski trip to Randa, Switzerland, has long been a staple of the annual schedule at Steinmühle Boarding School. On February 13, ten students set off together with

Nils Schwandt and Freya Penschuck set out from Marburg for the Grächen ski resort. The weather throughout their three-day stay more than made up for the eight-hour trip there, which took place in the rain and under less-than-ideal conditions. “We had what you might call perfect weather in Randa,” the participants reported. Indeed, the cloudless sky and clear visibility treated the students from the Steinmühle boarding school to a view of the distant Matterhorn!

Helping One Another

It quickly became clear that all the passengers had been on a ski vacation before, on their own. You could tell that some were experienced skiers or snowboarders: they turned out to be seasoned and skilled riders. In contrast, others still needed a little extra help or a refresher on their skills. In many cases, everyone quickly helped each other out to navigate the slopes successfully. We also had Freya, a certified snowboard instructor, who had a few helpful tips for everyone.

Working Out During the Day

We slept in old, rustic wooden cabins on the grounds of a former farm in a traditional mountain village at an elevation of about 1,400 meters. We hit the slopes around 9 a.m. The day there was active and full of exercise. Around 4:30 p.m., the group met up to ski down to the valley. So it’s no wonder that everyone was thoroughly tired and exhausted by evening. After cooking and eating together, we chatted a bit or played some games to wind down the day peacefully.

Refreshing all around

Once again this year, none of the participants could escape the ritual that has been a tradition for years: Anyone visiting Randa for the first time must take a quick dip in a water trough. Since it is fed by pure mountain spring water, this turned into a “pleasantly refreshing” splash around. Everyone took the decidedly cool temperatures in stride and saw it as a sign to return to their schoolwork with a clear head once they were back at the Steinmühle boarding school.

13. March 2020

School Ski Course: A varied program featuring hands-on activities, theory, and fun at the mountain huts

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, News, Sports & Health

At the end of the third week of January, the annual school ski trip for 8th-grade classes began. With a total of 72 students and 11 teachers, the group set off by bus for Mayrhofen in the Zillertal.

After overcoming the initial organizational challenge of transferring all the luggage from the bus to the Penkenbahn in no time at all, everyone was then able to enjoy the Alpine panorama to the fullest. Upon arriving at the Gschösswandhaus, run by the Mitterer family, everyone settled into their rooms and enjoyed their first hearty dinner.

For the following days, everyone was divided into three skill-level groups—from beginners to advanced—to improve their skiing skills or learn to ski with the help of the instructors.

The days began with a wake-up call at 7:30 a.m. and ended with bedtime at 10:00 p.m. We hit the slopes for two hours each morning and afternoon. Everything went smoothly, and aside from a few minor scrapes, everyone had a great time—especially in the bright sunshine starting on the second day.

About slope rules and Alpine Hazards

There was also a varied program at the lodge, and the theoretical side wasn’t neglected: the instructors presented a lecture on international slope rules, skiing adapted to external conditions, and information about alpine hazards. In addition, there was always plenty of entertainment. There was a moonlight disco; at night, participants could marvel at the clear starry sky on a night hike; and on the ski-free afternoon, they could even tour the Penkenbahn or head down to Mayrhofen for some shopping. Highlights included the final afternoon on the slopes, when students were allowed to ski in mixed groups; a fire alarm accidentally triggered by deodorant spray; and the elaborately and creatively designed “rocket” in the room decoration contest. On the day of departure, everyone headed back to beautiful Marburg with mixed feelings.
The WU Student Newspaper

dav

4. March 2020

2020 School Chess Championships: Philipp Dubinker (5b) won his age group

Contests & Awards, News, Sports & Health

A tense calm hangs in the air during the final round of the Marburg Student Chess Championship. You can’t even hear the clocks ticking—electronics have made their way here, too. Full concentration on opponents and the board. A large group of students comes through the door and quietly gathers around the first table of the 5th/6th-grade group to watch their top players compete on the top boards. And they aren’t disappointed—the game is thrilling and ultimately ends with their classmate’s victory and his title win in this group. Applause!

The School Chess Individual Championship, organized by the Chess Club and Steinmühle, was well attended again this year. A total of 59 students from 13 schools in the Marburg district took part and competed in three categories (up to 4th grade, 5th and 6th grades, and 7th grade and above) to determine their champions. The event was sponsored by Sparkasse Marburg-Biedenkopf. City Councilwoman Kirsten Dinnebier served as the event’s patron and personally welcomed the participants.

Among the winners were some new faces and some familiar ones. The winner in the category for grades up to 4 was Mark Scherer from the Erich Kästner School, with 6 out of a possible 6 points. In the 5th and 6th grade category, Philipp Dubinker from the Steinmühle School took first place, also with 6 out of 6 points. Finally, in the “older” category, Jakob Wolf from the Elisabethschule won once again.

The organization, which is now well-established, ran smoothly. The next major chess event on the horizon is the schools’ team championship, which will take place this summer.

Text and photo: Helge Neidhardt, Schachklub Marburg e.V.

This is what winners look like: (from left) Jakob Wolf (Grades 7 and up, Elisabethschule), Mark Scherer (up to Grade 4, Erich-Kästner-Schule), Philipp Dubinker (Grades 5/6, Steinmühle, Class 5b)

2. March 2020