Last week, our ISR students had the great opportunity to participate in two fantastic basketball events!

On Wednesday, November 13th, and Thursday, November 14th, ISR hosted a special Basketball Elementary School Week in partnership with the German Basketball Federation. Students in Grades 3 to 6 engaged in skill-building activities focused on coordination, teamwork, shooting, dribbling, and other essential basketball techniques. They completed a series of stations and earned certificates for passing all levels. A big thank you to the German Basketball Federation for selecting ISR to host this exciting event, and to all the students who participated and contributed to its success!

In addition to this, our students also took part in the School Area Basketball Championship in Meerbusch. Our U16 Girls and U16 Boys teams competed successfully, both securing 2nd place in their age groups! The participating students included Anna-Maria, Saanvi, Amina, Zoe, Noemie, Sara, Meryem, Nanaka, and Yike on the U16 Girls Team; and Brent, Felix, Tianlin, Elyar, Faris, and Sam on the U16 Boys team.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and dedication on the court. Keep up the great effort – and thank you to our amazing PE team for organizing these competitions at ISR – and beyond!

ISR was filled on Friday with glowing lanterns, joyful children, and the delightful aroma of freshly baked St. Martin’s pastries!

The day began with a delightful Kindergarten St. Martin’s Parade in the morning. The children proudly carried their carefully crafted lanterns high as they paraded around the playground to the front of the kindergarten, where they were happily greeted by their awaiting families. Two children performed the traditional St. Martin story, while others stood proudly in a large circle around them, singing traditional St. Martin’s Songs with their families and educators. It was wonderful to have so many families join us for this cherished tradition!

Later, during the morning break, the ISR Parent Network continued the festivities by distributing pieces of large Weckmänner, the traditional St. Martin’s sweet bread, to students and staff. This thoughtful gesture brought smiles to everyone’s faces and added a sweet touch to the day’s festivities. Moreover, this gesture reinforced the core message of St. Martin’s story: the importance of sharing with one another!

In the afternoon, ISR families and staff were then invited to gather for a beautiful St. Martin’s Celebration, featuring an inspiring musical program organized by our talented ISR Music Department. The choir and band performances truly captured the spirit of St. Martin, and we are incredibly proud of our students and teachers for their hard work and dedication. A special thank you to Ms. Ewing for inviting her band to accompany the singing of traditional St. Martin’s songs. Following the musical performances and parade, led by St. Martin on horseback, guests were treated to a special reading and reenactment of the St. Martin story by our very own Mr. May, who was supported by ISR Secondary School Student, Nicholas, playing the poor beggar. Their performance was enjoyed by all and highlighted the meaning of the event. With over 60 nationalities represented at ISR, it is essential for us to celebrate traditions from around the globe, thereby introducing our community to the rich and diverse cultures of others.

To conclude the evening, guests gathered around a cozy fire to enjoy hot chocolate, mulled wine, and snacks provided by our dedicated ISR Parent Network. It was a warm and inviting end to a memorable day!

A special thank-you goes to all our amazing ISR Parent Network Members, without whom all these events wouldn’t be possible. A special thanks to the PN St. Martin Events Coordinators – Mrs. Kaya, Mrs. Tsumura, Mrs. Spyridopoulou, Mrs. Pico Stæhr, Mrs. Schaurte-Küppers, and Mrs. Caldwell – as well as to the ISR Parent Network Leadership Team, Mrs. Fehlberg, Mrs. Gall, and Mrs. Williams. Your efforts ensured that our community could celebrate this meaningful tradition! In addition, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who joined us in celebrating St. Martin’s Day at ISR this year. Your participation made the day truly special, and we are grateful for the strong sense of community that filled every moment of our celebrations.

We look forward to celebrating St. Martin at ISR next year – and we can’t wait to see all families at our upcoming ISR Winter Wonderland!

The past Tuesday, we welcomed a very special guest to our ISR Campus in Neuss  – motivational Speaker and coach, Luke Staton! Luke delivered a series of inspiring lectures to our students from Grades 5 – 11, sharing his remarkable life story and leaving a lasting impression on our students.

Hailing from England, Luke travels the world visiting schools, leading workshops, and speaking at conferences. We were very excited that ISR had the honor of being his first school visit in Germany!

From the moment he began speaking, Luke captivated our students with his engaging and interactive approach. He encouraged them to actively participate, sharing their own dreams and aspirations throughout the sessions. Luke recounted his humble beginnings in England, where financial struggles were part of his daily life – his father once used black tape to repair his football boots. A great opportunity came when his head teacher, Mr. Spencer, invited him on a class trip to Wembley Stadium in London. Though money was tight, Luke’s parents managed to gather enough for the ticket. It wasn’t until years later that Luke learned Mr. Spencer had quietly paid for his ticket himself, believing it would be a life-changing opportunity for him.

Standing in Wembley Stadium for the first time, Luke was awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the venue. It was there that Mr. Spencer spoke six simple but life-altering words: “That could be you one day.” Those words ignited a fire in Luke, propelling him toward a career in football that eventually led him to the Champions League. When his professional career came to an end, Luke found a new calling—motivating others just as Mr. Spencer had once inspired him.

During his lectures, our students asked thoughtful questions and shared stories about their own dreams. One of our Grade 11 students summed up his experience: “Listening to Luke share his journey and the valuable life lessons he’s learned throughout his career was both inspiring and eye-opening. His words motivated me to pursue my goals with more dedication and to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles I might face.”

After each session, Luke generously took time to sign books and football gloves, pose for photos, and answer questions from our students.

At ISR, we are committed not only to academic excellence but also to fostering our students’ wellbeing. Luke’s visit perfectly aligned with this philosophy, providing our students with invaluable lessons on resilience and motivation for reaching their goals – no matter the circumstances.

The day concluded with an equally inspiring session at the International English Library, led by Melanie Schuth.

We are immensely proud to have provided our students with such a memorable and motivating experience. Luke’s motto, “Inspiring The Next Generation,” truly came to life at ISR, leaving our students ready to chase their dreams.

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Luke for his time and valuable insights during his visit!

A special recognition ceremony took place at ISR today. Twenty-four artistically inclined students participated in the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. This globally recognized competition, supported by the Lions Club for over three decades, invites schools and youth groups to explore the theme of peace through art, offering children the opportunity to express their visions of peace through art and inspire the world.

Bettina Schulenberg, President of the Lions Club Neuss Novaesia, introduced the project to ISR, making ISR the only school from Neuss to participate in this international competition. Under the guidance of ISR Art Teacher, Ms. Schulz, the students diligently worked on their interpretations of this year’s theme: Boundless Peace. Yesterday, all artworks were presented, and ISR faculty and staff had the chance to select their favorites among posters created by 11, 12, and 13-year-old students. This proved to be a challenging task, as all posters were thoughtfully conceived and artistically valuable.

Ultimately, three exceptional posters stood out: Arjun (11 years old), Mian (12 years old), and Anna-Maria (13 years old) prevailed in the jury’s evaluation. Their works will now advance to the next stage of the competition, where they will be reviewed by the District Governor and the Council Chairperson of the Lions Club Novaesia before being submitted to the international competition. The second and third-place winners in each age category also received recognition awards from the Lions Club, while all participants will be presented with certificates of appreciation for their outstanding contributions.

We extend our gratitude to the Lions Club Novaesia for bringing this remarkable project to ISR, to Ms. Schulz for her excellent implementation, and to all students for their interpretation of Boundless Peace – a theme that resonates deeply in today’s world. The creativity and passion displayed in these posters truly embody our motto at ISR: It’s cool to be good!

All artworks will be displayed at next year’s ISR Art Evening and the ISR International Spring Festival