Talent Development-Archiv

Equestrian School at Steinmühle Boarding School: Ten students earned their riding badges

Contests & Awards, News, Sports & Health, Steinmühle Riding School, Talent Development

With plenty of enthusiasm, team spirit, and a passion for horses, ten girls aged 7–12 completed a course at the riding school of the Steinmühle boarding school. Under the guidance of course instructor Beate Schridde, the young horse enthusiasts learned all the necessary skills during the last week of the Easter break to earn their achievement badges at the end of the course. The exam consisted of riding, theory, and ground work.

Various tasks awaited us at the riding stable

The course team—consisting of Sabrina Schneider, Chiara Cordes, Amaia Balzer, Julia Werth, and Anni Bohn—led the participants through various activities each day of the course. Starting at 9 a.m., after a meeting and welcome, the schedule included farm chores such as tending to the horses, sweeping the yard, and cleaning up manure from the paddocks. Then it was time to groom the horses. To boost everyone’s enthusiasm a bit more, a grooming competition was held, with the promise of a grooming trophy at the end of the week.

Under expert guidance, the horses were then saddled and bridled. Afterward, the girls rode in three groups.

Animal Care

How do you properly care for horses? That was also a topic covered during the training week. Along the way, the participants absorbed the necessary theoretical knowledge. Together, they created posters to help them better internalize the individual topics. The young riders then proudly presented their insightful results to the entire group. Really well done!

Balanced Meal Plan

Next up was ground work—with ponies and on foot. After lunch together at the Reiterstübchen, featuring a specially planned menu, everyone enjoyed some playtime together in the riding arena and in the tent before parents and relatives arrived to pick them up at 2:00 p.m.

Enormous progress

“It was a really great week with the girls; they all got along really well, and their progress in riding from Day 1 to Day 6 was truly remarkable!” Julia Werth says enthusiastically.

On the day of the exam, family members watched, and there was a delicious potluck buffet. During the exam, the students had to demonstrate what they had learned under the watchful eye of the judge.

Personalized Support from the Riding School Team

Some of the children were very excited, but thanks to the attentive guidance of the riding school team and their mutual support, all the riders passed their motivation badge test with flying colors and were beaming as they received their certificates.

The grooming competition prize was quickly changed to medals for everyone, since it was impossible to choose a single winner. Everyone did such a great job and made the ponies’ and horses’ coats shine!

The following badges were developed:

Motivational Badge 8:

Greta Emilie Reimann

Elise Charlotte Backes

Marie Di Cato

Anna Ayiana Schneider

Motivational Badge 9:

Cleo Emilia Bohn

Julia Geisler

Annabelle Estelle Wenz

Yasmin Werth

Motivational Badge 10:

Maya Sophie Mey

Frieda Sophia Reimann

The Badge System as a Measure of Training Progress: What Do Badges 10 through 6 Mean in Equestrian Sports?

You can find answers to this question at the following link on the website of our partner, the German Equestrian Federation (FN): https://www.pferd-aktuell.de/ausbildung/abzeichen-im-pferdesport/abzeichen-im-pferdesport

Interested in a course or riding lessons?

The next course at Steinmühle is already in the planning stages; for more information, visit https://reitschule.steinmuehle.de/

Those interested can find information about riding lessons at reitschule@steinmuehle.de

(Heinm)

15. April 2026

Plus-MINT Boarding School Steinmühle Won the State Championship at “Jugend forscht”

Contests & Awards, News, STEM, Talent Development

Anyone who claims that young people today lack an interest in the natural sciences and fail to achieve success in those fields clearly hasn’t yet taken a look around the plus-MINT boarding school Steinmühle. There, in fact, the students have racked up one victory after another in the “Jugend forscht” competitions. Akaash Bhagwat (14) and Emil Zuckermann (12) recently took first place in physics at the state level in this competition.

A Dedicated Team of Teachers

There’s a whole team of students at Steinmühle High School who are investing a lot of enthusiasm and time in the subjects of math, computer science, natural sciences, and technology. An amazing fact: Not a single one of them went home empty-handed from this year’s “Jugend forscht” competition! The fact that Steinmühle in Marburg stands out from surrounding high schools with these results also makes the teachers proud. STEM coordinator Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf says, “Our students are eager to do research, and we as a team of teachers support them in that.”

It goes without saying that this team itself consists of die-hard scientists. However Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, Dr. Sven Freibert, Malte Klimczak, Dr. Eva Neumann, Antje Seel, and Dr. Patrick Szabo manage to do it—they manage to inspire the young people.

“An outstanding piece of work”

The laudatory speech for the winners of the Hessian state competition “Jugend forscht” in physics, Akaash Bhagwat and Emil Zuckermann, certainly offers deep insight: “…They presented an outstanding project on the topic “Smart Fluids—Smart Cars?”, which impressed us with its exceptionally high level of motivation and genuine interest in the subject.
We particularly appreciated your highly structured scientific approach, in which you systematically varied influencing factors independently of one another, conducted measurement series meticulously, and evaluated your results in a clear, meaningful, and reproducible manner,” the laudatory speech states.

What had Akaash and Emil done?

Since both students are huge car fans, it was obvious: their joint research project would be about cars. The two teenagers investigated the viscosity of MR fluids. Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are smart functional fluids that change their viscosity—that is, their viscous properties—from liquid to semisolid within milliseconds when exposed to a magnetic field. Using various measurement methods, Akaash and Emil developed a working prototype for adaptive shock absorbers. — A success that earned them press coverage, including an article and a video, about their research.

Considering that in the previous regional qualifying round, all 6 of the 6 teams from Schule & Internat Steinmühle that competed had emerged victorious, that fact alone must be described as absolutely extraordinary. The fact that several Steinmühle teams subsequently competed at the very top at the state level is evident from the following list:

The “Jugend forscht” winning teams in the regional competition (RW) and the state competition (LW):

Felix Sacher (10th grade) and Sophie Sacher (6th grade) / Topic: AIceBear cares everywhere—AI assistance system for chronically ill children: RW 1st place in the “Working World” category, LW 2nd place in the “Working World” category & Special Prize from the German Hearing Aid Industry Association

Aurelia Wild, Marietheres Schwabe, Fatma Sepetcigil (5th grade) / Topic: Making Baby Diapers More Eco-Friendly—Plant Power Instead of Superabsorbents: RW 1st Place in Chemistry, LW Geolino Special Prize (Participation in the “Jugend Forscht Junior” competition)

Marlene Jerrentrup, Ida Watzlawek (6th grade) / Topic: Living Foam Experiment: Elephant Toothpaste: RW 1st Place in Chemistry, LW 2nd Place in Chemistry & Special Prize from the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) (Participation in the “Jugend Forscht Junior” competition)

Lotte Wagner, Isabella Kuhl (7th grade) / Topic: The Formula for Flight: RW 1st place in physics, LW 2nd place in physics & special award for attention to detail (participation in the “Jugend Forscht Junior” competition)

Lara Khatib, Giorgia Kuhn (8th grade) / Topic: The Gen2 Horse Paper: RW 1st Place in the “Working World” category, LW Special Prize for Materials and Substances (Institute of Materials Science and Engineering). Participation in the “Jugend Forscht Junior” competition.

Akaash Bhagwat (8th grade), Emil Zuckermann (6th grade) / Topic: Smart Fluids—Smart Cars? MR fluids as metamorphic shock absorbers; RW: 1st place in Physics & Special Prize in Physics (game prize); LW: 1st place in Physics and the plusMINT Special Prize for Creativity in Physics. “Fascination with Electric Cars” experiment kit.

Unfortunately, there is no national competition in this category.

Akaash and Emil also participated in the “Jugend Forscht Junior” competition, which is for their age group. There is no national finals round in this competition category. However, both have been invited to the plusMINT Research Camp in Louisenlund in early August. — Have fun there, you two!

(Angela Heinemann)

Oberhessische Presse, April 7, 2026

7. April 2026

Doing math, tinkering, having fun: A visit to the Steinmühle for the +MINT Camp

Collaborations & Partnerships, News, STEM, Talent Development

A Flurry of Activities at the +MINT Boarding Schools: Together with a total of eight students from Schloss Louisenlund and Schloss Neubeuern, a team from Schule & Internat Steinmühle kicked off this year’s +MINT Camp. In addition to plenty of information and activities related to math, computer science, natural sciences, and technology, there was lots of fun and plenty to marvel at.

With kangaroo jumps

Some aspects were familiar from previous years’ camps, while others were new: For the first time, the event took place in March and was combined with the Kangaroo Competition. Under the proven leadership of Maximilian Moll, a math teacher at Steinmühle, the group headed to the Lahnberge, among other places, where Dr. Patrick Mehlitz, a professor of mathematical optimization, was waiting with his workshop on Eulerian graphs.

Another workshop on knot theory was held the following day, led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Goertsches.

The program also included the traditional visit to Pfeiffer-Vacuum in Aßlar to learn about state-of-the-art vacuum technology.

To find out just what a beautiful city the Steinmühle is actually located in, we naturally set out to explore Marburg, packed with a lunch to go.

Mathematikum: Educational and entertaining

“The world is—according to Pythagoras—numbers. And no one does the math.” That was the title of Dr. Muth’s workshop. It took place at the Steinmühle.

The grand finale of the four-day event was a visit to the Mathematikum in Giessen (cover photo). This is a well-established and engaging part of the program that demonstrates in many ways that math doesn’t have to be so “dry,” but instead holds plenty of surprises.

The dinner event was a culinary highlight

Events at the Steinmühle are renowned for their attractive supporting program and excellent catering. And this year’s +MINT Camp once again lived up to that reputation. Refreshments in the bistro with snacks and drinks, delicious meals in the Steinmühle cafeteria prepared by Chef Sebastian Riehl and his team, and topped off by a festive dinner.

Which rocket flies the highest?

For some entertainment in between activities, participants took part in a rocket competition, the goal of which was to build a water-pressure-powered rocket and make it fly as high as possible. And for those who wanted to get some exercise themselves in addition to launching their rockets, there were various sports activities to choose from.

Our takeaway: It was great hanging out with you guys, and we had a lot of fun! — We’ll say: Ciao — see you next time!

(Angela Heinemann)

25. March 2026

Tennis Fever in Steinmühle: Programs for All Skill Levels

News, Sports & Health, Talent Development

In cooperation with the agency Play the Pro and its managing director, Heiko Hampl from Marburg, Steinmühle has put its tennis program on a professional footing. Now that the tennis facilities on the boarding school grounds have been modernized and are complemented by the newly opened Café Mühle—run by the boarding school students—the focus is shifting toward tournament participation—but that’s not all. Beginners are also warmly welcome.

The tennis program at Steinmühle is open to students in grades 1 through 13—that is, all grade levels represented on campus. “It’s popular with both elementary school students and high school students,” reports Heiko Hampl.

You don’t have to be a pro to start playing tennis at Steinmühle. According to Hampl, many of the people on the court are beginners, while some are more advanced. “Anyone who wants to learn to play tennis should feel free to give it a try.”

Morning Sessions for Parents

The program is primarily aimed at students at Steinmühle, who no longer have to travel long distances for their after-school sports activities. Training times have therefore been scheduled mainly in the afternoon. “But we also offer morning sessions, so we can keep an eye on the parents,” Hampl reports. Players can play on three courts at the same time.

Siblings Philipp and Jana Nowakowski show what it’s like when you’ve caught “tennis fever.” Philipp, who is still in elementary school, has attended a few tennis camps with his sister. “The camps will be back,” says Heiko Hampl, looking ahead to the future and at his calendar. Demand is currently being finalized, and after Easter—to stick with the sports metaphor—things will be in full swing.

Even a spontaneous start can be successful

There is great excitement about the revival of tennis at Steinmühle: “This wonderful sport had been in a deep slumber here for a long time, and we have now brought it back to life together with a professional partner,” explains Dirk Konnertz, managing director of Schule & Internat.

Anyone interested in tennis—whether you’d like to take lessons, pick up a racket again after a break, or try the sport for the first time—is cordially invited to learn more about our offerings at the following link: https://www.play-the-pro.com/steinm%C3%BChle-schule-internat/. If possible, you can also join a class on the spot.

Our cover photo shows Lanah Reithmayer and Jana Nowakowski enjoying their hobby. The group photos give a glimpse of the tennis camps.

(Angela Heinemann)

19. March 2026

Sports at Steinmühle: Strengthening Tradition, Breaking New Ground

Collaborations & Partnerships, Life at Boarding School, News, Rowing, Sports & Health, Steinmühle Riding School, Talent Development

Horseback riding, rowing, team sports, and an ever-growing number of partnerships: The sports program at Steinmühle School & Boarding School has evolved significantly in recent years. Modernized facilities, a growing team, and numerous projects ensure that physical activity has a firm place in the students’ daily school life—and will continue to be expanded in the future.

Steinmühle has always been known for its wide range of sports programs: established equestrian programs, professional rowing instruction, and successes that have even led to Olympic participation. Tennis has long been played on the school’s own courts, ball sports—including beach volleyball—are played along the Lahn River, and strength training is offered even during the winter months. But even good things can be made even better, explains Marcel Kalb, head of school sports, organizer of many training sessions, and coordinator of partnerships with other clubs.

Modern Infrastructure

At this point, we’ve already reached a stage where things have expanded considerably compared to about ten to 15 years ago. Compared to back then, the infrastructure has been modernized and significantly expanded. A renovated boathouse, a large second sports hall, and a modernized existing hall are now available for rowing equipment and indoor sports. The selection of sports equipment is also being continuously expanded. The selection in the weight room already gives a good idea of what this looks like.

More People for Sports

The development of the sports program was a process—both in terms of infrastructure and staffing. The faculty in the Sports Department has now grown to 17 teachers, with one educator from the boarding school and three FSJ volunteers providing support in various roles. “We’re also in contact with the departments of Sports Science and Motology at Philipps University in Marburg,” reports Marcel Kalb.

No Grades in Physical Education for Grades 5–8

Promoting physical activity is a top priority at Steinmühle. For example, there are extracurricular programs such as rowing trips and ski trips, and students have the option to choose the sports track in 11th grade—the so-called “E-Phase” of upper secondary school. One unique feature is also worth mentioning: In grades 5 through 8, no numerical grades are given in physical education. “We believe that a numerical grade cannot reflect the diversity of sports and the associated assessment of student performance. For this reason, we strive to provide differentiated and meaningful feedback on performance in physical education classes,” explains the school’s physical education director.

Para-sports are part of the program

Thanks to partnerships with other clubs, the range of sports offered at Steinmühle School & Boarding School is virtually limitless. While some Steinmühle teachers offer sports such as fencing out of personal interest, traditional sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer are already part of the regular program. The new, spacious sports hall enables Steinmühle—which is already a Paralympic training center for rowing—to now also offer wheelchair basketball as a team sport.

On Mondays, inclusive soccer is also held: A few years ago, the Unified Team began regular training in cooperation with the local sports club, SF Blau-Gelb Marburg. At the time, Egon Vaupel, chairman of the sponsoring association Steinmühle Marburg e. V., had been a particularly strong advocate for the formation of this team.

New School Structure Model Opens Up Opportunities

According to Kalb, the school’s athletic director, the school is seeking further partnerships with other clubs. He has in mind extracurricular activities such as track and field, gymnastics, and swimming. “The new school restructuring model set to be implemented in the future will open up great opportunities in this regard.”

Keeping an eye on competitive sports

Marcel Kalb also keeps an eye on competitive sports and cites, for example, the volleyball club and the elective volleyball classes (WU) for grades 5 and 6, as well as the gymnastics program offered as part of “Youth Training for the Olympics,” in which five female students performed exceptionally well. His credo: “Sports and achievement go hand in hand. And that’s what we encourage.”

In addition, a two-hour-per-week upper-school sports program is offered to students across all grade levels. Marcel Kalb oversees the program, but the students also organize many activities on their own, thereby creating self-directed spaces for physical activity and training.

Getting to know each other in two ways

For several years now, Steinmühle has also been holding sports project days during the last week of school, says Kalb, who has been working at Steinmühle for seven years. The additional sports days in May are for grades 5 through 10 and include rowing, running finals, and other disciplines. In addition, Steinmühle has held—and plans to continue holding—a sports festival during the last week of school. Partnering sports clubs and physical education students from the university are also invited to this event. In addition to promoting physical activity, the festival serves as an opportunity for participants to get to know one another—both among the athletes themselves and through exposure to other sports programs.

Fitness Programs for Faculty

“Our day-to-day work is becoming increasingly complex, so we also need to ensure that our staff gets enough exercise,” adds Marcel Kalb. At this point, he brings up the “StoneFIT” program—an initiative designed to promote physical activity specifically for employees.

“We can be proud of the opportunities we have,” Marcel Kalb sums up. But he adds that they haven’t reached the finish line yet: “… there’s still more to come.”

He also mentions the lively break in the gym that comes with the cell phone ban. Led by a volunteer doing a year of voluntary social service (FSJ), grades 5 and 6 are active during the first long break, and grades 7 and 8 during the second long break. “If you curb the urge to play digital games, you have to offer other alternatives—ones that promote health through sports and physical activity.”

Sports are part of school culture

Steinmühle does not see its future as limited to its own offerings. “We also like to take a look at what public schools are doing and try to adopt the best practices.”

This makes it clear: At Steinmühle, physical education is much more than just a school subject. It is part of the school’s culture—driven by dedication, collaboration, and the shared goal of sustainably promoting physical activity, health, team spirit, and a drive to excel.

(Angela Heinemann/Photos: Steinmühle Archive)

15. March 2026

Female riders have grown closer as a team: Steinmühle hosted the Youth Cup

Contests & Awards, News, Sports & Health, Steinmühle Riding School, Talent Development

Finally, another horse show at Steinmühle! Shortly after the return of Beate Schridde—the trusted stable manager, riding instructor, and trainer—to the Steinmühle Riding School, the popular Youth Cup was held there again following a lengthy hiatus. Teams from Sterzhausen, Mengsberg, and Rauschenberg were in attendance to demonstrate their skills before the experienced judge Albrecht Welz. In addition to the dressage test, participants were also tested on their theoretical knowledge, as is customary at the Youth Cup.

Improvements in performance are already clearly evident

As for the riding performances of the Steinmühlen riders, Beate Schridde has already noted a significant increase in the scores achieved compared to their first two appearances in the Youth Cup following their long “hiatus.” The girls, dressed in their riding attire bearing the Steinmühlen emblem, cut a fine figure not only as spectators along the sidelines but also on horseback—much to the delight of the parents of all the participating riders.

Applause for the Renovation and Decor

The riding club’s planning team had worked tirelessly to prepare for the event, renovating and decorating the premises until they were barely recognizable. A wide selection of food and drinks was provided to cater to the needs of the visitors, who included members of the riding teams and numerous interested guests.

“Proud to be able to lead the riding club”

In light of all these positive developments, Manuel Miltschelff, the new president of the Steinmühle Riding Club, was full of praise: “My daughter has been taking riding lessons with Beate Schridde since November 2025 and is part of the Steinmühle Youth Cup team. It’s really great to see how the girls have grown together as a team and how much their riding skills have improved in such a short time. I’m grateful, and it fills me with pride to be able to lead this wonderful riding club.”

Lots of activity on the grounds

There will continue to be a lot of activity at the Steinmühle Riding Club’s stables in the near future, including the renovation of the stable wing, which is already underway. As for the club’s activities, a variety of courses and workshops are enriching the existing riding programs. More on this coming soon. For an overview of the various courses, click here: https://reitschule.steinmuehle.de/ausbildung/

(Angela Heinemann)

10. March 2026

Outperforming the “Informatik-Biber”: Joel and Emil Beat the Highest Score

Contests & Awards, News, STEM, Talent Development

With a performance that far exceeded the standard required for first place, Steinmühlen students Joel (left) and Emil (both in 6a) impressed the judges at the Germany-wide Informatik-Biber competition.

Among the 204,150 participants in grades 5 and 6, they were ultimately among the nearly 2 percent who took home a first prize. That required 117 points—but Joel and Emil scored 144!

The two classmates had worked together as a team on the same screen—and that clearly worked out wonderfully, said computer science teacher Steffen Ullwer. Like his two students, he, too, was awarded a certificate for this remarkable achievement.

All we can say is: Hats off to such talent in computer science! We’re sure we’ll be hearing even more from you in the future.

(Angela Heinemann)

9. March 2026

More Eco-Friendly Baby Diapers: All Six “Jugend forscht” Projects Took First Place

Contests & Awards, News, STEM, Talent Development

The Steinmühle sent six projects to the regional “Jugend Forscht” competition over the weekend—and returned with six first-place finishes! All of the Steinmühle’s participating projects won the regional title in their respective fields! As a result, the Marburg high school will travel to Kassel from March 20 to 21 with a total of 11 students and five projects to compete in the state competition of “Jugend Forscht Junior.” One group will compete in the state competition for older students in Darmstadt.

Ideas… they don’t really exist. Marietheres Schwabe, Aurelia Wild, and Fatma Sepetcigil from 5th grade had one. In their research, they focused on making baby diapers more eco-friendly—using plant power instead of superabsorbents.

Under the guidance of teachers Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf and Dr. Patrick Szabo, the group’s project in the “Working World” course sought an ecological alternative to the non-biodegradable superabsorbent used in baby diapers. In extensive tests of absorption capacity, absorption speed, and pressure stability, the students found that a mixture of apple pectin and konjac powder works very well. This combination of materials even passed the practical test in a “modified diaper” with Aurelia’s little brother.

A Closer Look at Elephant Toothpaste

Marlene Jerrentrup and Ida Watzlawek from 6th grade, under the guidance of Dr. Patrick Szabo and Antje Seel, conducted a “Living Foam” experiment in their chemistry class: Elephant Toothpaste

The group investigated how temperature, the amount of yeast, the amount of dish soap, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide affect the amount of foam produced. Among other things, the young researchers found that you should use a lot of yeast, but not too much dish soap.

Unraveling the Formula for Flight

Isabella Kuhl and Lotte Wagner, seventh-graders, tested the formula for flight under the supervision of Malte Klimczak and Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf in the physics department.

The two researchers re-examined a recently discovered formula that can be used to calculate the wingbeat frequency of insects and birds based on the animals’ masses and wing areas. To do this, they measured and analyzed free-flying insects and butterflies they had raised themselves using video analysis. They also investigated how changes in the mass of an ornithopter (a wind-up model bird) affect its flight behavior.

A special project by young car enthusiasts

Akaash Bhagwat (8th grade) and Emil Zuckermann (6th grade) focused their project on the potential interaction between smart fluids and smart cars. Under the guidance of Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf and Dr. Sven-A. Freibert in their physics class, they investigated the fascinating properties of magnetorheological fluids and subsequently conducted experiments they designed themselves, which demonstrated how viscosity and damping behavior can be specifically controlled by magnetic fields. Finally, the students filled the shock absorbers of a model car with the magnetorheological fluid and demonstrated adaptive damping using a ramp test.

Paper made from horse manure has been further developed

Lara Khatib and Giorgia Kuhn from 8th grade worked on further developing their project, which involves producing eco-friendly paper from horse manure. Under the guidance of Dr. Sven Freibert and Dr. Eva Neumann, the two students were able to significantly improve the production of their eco-friendly paper from horse manure in this follow-up project as part of the “Working World” course. Among other things, adding starch reduced the paper’s brittleness. The result is a second-generation (Gen2) paper that is sturdy, thin, uniform, and easy to write on.

The AIceBear is a seasoned competitor

The AIceBear has already traveled with siblings Sophie and Felix Sacher to many competitions, including one in Singapore (as we reported). Now, the project—an AI-driven assistance system for chronically ill children—has been presented at Jugend Forscht in the “Working World” category and has qualified directly for the state competition. To present it to the jury, they’ll be heading to Darmstadt at the end of March, while the younger students will have to explain their experiments to the experts in Kassel.

The students are feeling confident about the next round.

(Angela Heinemann)

22. February 2026

Steinmühle Announced the Winners of the Rocket Competition

Contests & Awards, News, STEM, Talent Development

Sign up to participate in the rocket competition, build a water-pressure-powered rocket, and launch it as high as possible on our campus! — That was the challenge issued in project-based learning to physics-enthusiastic students in 6th grade and above.

Several teams got together and began tinkering before later presenting the results of their work to an audience of STEM teachers and classmates.

The rockets could be made of any material, had to have space for an altimeter, and had to include a parachute. The key requirement was that only water-pressure propulsion was allowed.

Start in the cordoned-off area

On the day of the competition, the demonstration began at 2:00 p.m. The setup time in the specially cordoned-off area was also limited—work could not continue for more than an hour.

Finally, the moment had arrived: All the rockets took off one after another. Then it was time to determine which rockets had flown the highest. The winners were later presented with certificates and posed for a photo. They were (from left to right) Emanuel (11d), Jan (11d), Alexander (12 PoWi), Felix (10b), Sophie (6), and Junus (10c).

– A slightly different kind of class that everyone really enjoyed, organized mainly by students Helena Steidl and Luca Weingärtner.

(Heinm)

23. January 2026

powiPlus — for anyone who wants more than just regular political science classes

News, Politics, Business & Responsibility, Talent Development

Starting in the coming semester, Steinmühle will launch the powiPlus project for 9th and 10th graders. Subject teachers Phillip Knaack and Dr. Claudia Röder explain this to the students: “powiPlus is for anyone who wants more than just regular political science classes.”

Contacts in the political arena, visits to parliaments and businesses

This program focuses on real issues that affect you: elections, local politics, the economy, businesses, Europe—and how you can have a say and help shape the future. You’ll debate with politicians, participate in simulation exercises, visit state legislatures and businesses, work in teams on your own projects, and get a hands-on look at how politics and the economy really work. powiPlus is voluntary but requires a commitment—no grades, but you’ll receive a certificate and gain some really valuable experience. It’s ideal if you find politics and economics exciting or plan to take the advanced course later on.”

For more information, visit powiPlus.

Phillip Knaack and Dr. Claudia Röder look forward to your feedback.

(Heinm)

16. January 2026