ISR students shine at the state competition 'Jugend musiziert 2025' in Essen
ISR students shine at the state competition ‘Jugend musiziert 2025’ in Essen
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025
Last weekend, the state competition “Jugend musiziert 2025” took place at Folkwang University in Essen. Our ISR students, who are also part of our in-house partner music school, Musicbox Oxana, delivered outstanding performances and proved our motto of It’s cool to be good further!
ISR students Peter, a student of Oxana Koppers, and his duo partner Yukichiyo, a student of Yuriy Broshel, won 1st prize with the highest score of 25 points in their age group. They qualified for the national competition, where they will compete against talented young musicians from across Germany. Peter also excelled in the guitar quartet category, achieving 1st place with 24 points and qualifying for the national competition in this area! Additionally, ISR students Lara, a student of Anna Pashkovska, and her duo partner Jade Anna, a student of Christof Hilger, secured an impressive 2nd place with 22 points.
The entire Musicbox and ISR Team is incredibly proud of our talented and hardworking students. Their success reflects the quality of music education provided by our esteemed teachers and the supportive environment at ISR. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Peter, Yukichiyo, Lara, and Jade Anna, and wish them continued success in their musical endeavors!
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Jun
Spotlight On Our Student Jun
This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on our fifth-grader, Jun, who joined ISR in 2022.
Jun was nominated for the spotlight by her homeroom teacher, Ms. Codina, who praises her as follows: “Jun radiates energy, positivity, and happiness in everything she does. Her genuine love for learning creates a fun and engaging classroom environment for both students and teachers. She is playful and curious, always eager to explore new topics further or ask insightful questions to deepen her understanding. Jun works hard, consistently pushing herself to excel beyond her own expectations. She is the kind of student who brings me a sense of fulfillment and joy in my job, making me look forward to the joy of teaching and learning. She is a wonderful human being!”
Jun’s German teacher, Ms. Schmitz, adds, “Jun’s kindness and respect for others are truly evident. She always strives for perfection in everything she does, and her dedication and positive attitude make her a joy to have in German class.”
Ms. Barba, Jun’s English teacher, agrees, “Jun is hardworking, resilient, sweet, and kind. She consistently does her absolute best and is an amazing student.”
Ms. Morris, the Academic Head for grades 4 and 5, comments, “Jun is an incredibly bright and creative student. She always has a smile on her face and approaches new situations with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn. Jun is a fantastic student both in and out of the classroom, and we are proud to have her at ISR.”
Jun also excels in sports, impressing both her sports teacher, Ms. Racheva, and her football coach, Mr. Baumann. Ms. Racheva notes, “I have been teaching Jun since 2024 and am impressed by her eagerness and dedication to her sports lessons. She is always well-prepared, on time, follows instructions, and tries her very best. She is a wonderful person and a great team player—it’s a pleasure being her PE teacher.” Mr. Baumann adds, “Jun is part of our girls’ football team. She has a lot of will and perseverance and enjoys competing even with older students. Jun is always polite and shows great team spirit!”
We are proud to spotlight Jun as one of ISR’s many outstanding students!
The ISR Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our students from the ISR-Community every Friday, who embodies our guiding principle “We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters” by consistently surpassing themselves. Whether through outstanding academic achievements, exceptional dedication, or remarkable character traits – we take pride in having already showcased hundreds of students – and there is more to look forward to every week!
Our Student Spotlights
ISR IB Visual Art Exhibition 2025
ISR IB Visual Art Exhibition
Last week, we opened our ISR IB Visual Art Exhibition, showcasing the artworks of our dedicated and talented students Adam, Demir, Suha, Samruddhi, Leonardo, Zimo, Felicia, Jannik, Leonard, and Arda. Ms. Henebry, the Head of the #SR Art Department, introduced the themes of each student and provided insights into their impressive works. Our School Director, Ms. Lyons, along with Mr. Cete, Head of Secondary School, and numerous ISR Teachers and Parents attended the festive Opening Ceremony. They were inspired by the creative artworks of our students who engaged with visitors and teachers, guiding them through their displays and explaining the background of their work and their perspectives.
Over the past five terms, each student developed their presentation around personalized topics, showcasing their creativity and thoughtfulness in the diverse themes on display.
We are very proud of all our students for their hard work, further proving our motto: It’s cool to be good!
We wish all of them the best of luck for their upcoming IB Exams and for their future career paths!
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Cornell
Spotlight On Our Student Cornell
This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on our eleventh-grader, Cornell, who joined ISR in 2019. Cornell was nominated by our ISR Student Leadership Council (SLC) Advisor, Ms. McGee, who highlights his exceptional contributions.
Ms. McGee praises Cornell, saying, “As Deputy Head Prefect of the Student Leadership Council, Cornell has been invaluable. His dedication earned him this role, and we’re grateful for his skills this year.” She continues, “Cornell connects with everyone and has grown significantly in leadership and communication. He takes his responsibilities seriously, supporting our eight departments with attention to detail. Whether listening to ideas, organizing, or planning, he approaches every task with dedication. We’re delighted to have him inspire future SLC generations and look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Mr. Urban, ISR’s CAS Coordinator, also commends Cornell: “He is a dedicated and hard-working student who consistently delivers. Cornell founded and leads the Debate Club and actively participates in History Club and Model United Nations, engaging in discussions on ethics, philosophy, current events, and world history.”
Mr. McGee, Cornell’s IB English teacher, adds, “Cornell is a true Renaissance man and the epitome of an IB learner. He excels in English, consistently improving his writing and demonstrating a remarkable command of vocabulary. What impresses me most is his genuine helpfulness; he offers empathetic advice and support to anyone who approaches him; and there is no doubt that it is good and useful advice!”
We are proud to spotlight Cornell as one of ISR’s many outstanding students!
The ISR Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our students from the ISR-Community every Friday, who embodies our guiding principle “We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters” by consistently surpassing themselves. Whether through outstanding academic achievements, exceptional dedication, or remarkable character traits – we take pride in having already showcased hundreds of students – and there is more to look forward to every week!
Our Student Spotlights
Neusser Schuler gewinnt internationalen-Wettbewerb
Neusser Schuler gewinnt internationalen-Wettbewerb
Freitag, 14. März 2025
In: NGZ
https://rp-online.de/125181179
Der Neusser ISR-Schüler Arjun Karthik erreichte beim Internationalen Friedensplakat-Wettbewerb des Lions Club International als Bundessieger für Deutschland das weltweite Finale und gewann unter 600.000 teilnehmenden Kindern aus 70 Ländern einen von 23 Ehrenpreisen
ISR International School on the Rhine Neuss / Düsseldorf / Meerbusch
Der Neusser ISR-Schüler Arjun Karthik erreichte beim Internationalen Friedensplakat-Wettbewerb des Lions Club International als Bundessieger für Deutschland das weltweite Finale und gewann unter 600.000 teilnehmenden Kindern aus 70 Ländern einen von 23 Ehrenpreisen
Der 11-Jährige Arjun Karthik, Schüler der ISR Neuss, erreichte als Bundessieger für Deutschland das weltweite Finale des vom Lions Clubs International veranstalteten Kunstwettbewerbs zum Thema „grenzenloser Frieden“. Unter ursprünglich rund 600.000 teilnehmenden Kindern aus 70 Ländern gehörte Arjun Karthik am Ende zu den 23 Schülerinnen und Schülern, die nach mehreren Runden auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene mit einem Ehrenpreis ausgezeichnet wurden. Bei der Peace-Poster-Ausschreibung des Lions Club International musste das Thema „grenzenloser Frieden“ von den 11- bis 13-jährigen Kindern über künstlerisch gestaltete Plakate veranschaulicht und interpretiert werden. Mitorganisiert und unterstützt worden war die Teilnahme durch den Lions Club Neuss Novaesia.
Zunächst gewann Arjun Karthik den Wettbewerb seiner Altersklasse an der ISR International School on the Rhine, dann auch deutschlandweit und wurde in der nächsten Etappe für die Teilnahme am internationalen Finale des Lions Club Wettbewerb nominiert. „Unter den durchweg beeindruckenden Plakat-Kompositionen, die wir begutachtet haben, hat Arjun mit seinen kreativen und vielfältigen Motiven zu dem Thema gezeigt, wie allumfassend sich für Kinder Frieden in verschiedensten Lebenssituationen darstellt“, sagt Bettina Schulenberg, amtierende Präsidentin des Lions Clubs Neuss Novaesia: „Das unterstreicht, wie intensiv man sich bereits in diesem Alter mit dem Thema auseinandersetzt und wie ausgeprägt das soziale Verständnis ist.“
Arjun selbst wollte mit seinem Plakat zeigen, dass jeder noch so kleine Beitrag zum friedlichen Zusammenleben wichtig ist: „Um das zu erreichen, hat jeder seine eigene Herangehensweise. Manche engagieren sich in ihrem Beruf besonders stark für die Menschen, andere nutzen ihre künstlerischen Talente für Unterstützungs-Projekte oder sie helfen durch die besondere Freundlichkeit. Zum Frieden gehört zudem der Schutz von Tieren und der Umwelt.“ All diese Aspekte wollte Arjun in seinem Kunstwerk vereinigen.
Besonders stolz auf die internationale Auszeichnung von Arjun Karthik ist vor allem Simona Schultz, Kunstlehrerin an der ISR und Leiterin des ISR Art Clubs, in dessen Rahmen der Wettbewerb auf Schulebene gestartet wurde: „Beeindruckend war, mit welch vielfältigen Überlegungen Arjun das Thema verbunden hat. Und viele Projekte wurden dann durch Diskussionen in der Gruppe noch verbessert. Das zeigt, wie ernsthaft sich die Kinder mit dem Thema auseinandersetzen. Ein besonders interessanter Aspekt ist hier zudem die Internationalität der Kinder an der ISR, die eine vielfältige Sichtweise auf das Thema bringt. Die Kinder haben im Rahmen des Wettbewerbes festgestellt, dass man die eigene Auffassung über ein Kunstwerk manchmal klarer und gezielter ausdrücken kann als über Erklärungen oder auf anderem Wege. Gerade Arjun ist das so hervorragend gelungen, dass er auch international beeindruckte.“
Für Peter Soliman, den Geschäftsführenden Gesellschafter der ISR, ist der beeindruckende Preis ein gutes Beispiel, wie auch Kunsttalente an der Internationalen Schule gefördert werden. „Arjuns Erfolg wird auch andere Kinder und Jugendlichen an der ISR motivieren, in allen Bereichen ihr Bestes zu geben. Bereits in diesem Jahr will die nächste Gruppe an dem Wettbewerb teilnehmen und ihre Interpretationen dieses so wichtigen Themas präsentieren.“ Insgesamt lernen an der ISR an den Standorten Neuss, Düsseldorf und Meerbusch 1.200 Kinder und Jugendliche aus 60 Nationen.
Disclaimer
Die ISR International School on the Rhine GmbH mit Sitz in Neuss ist eine privat geführte internationale Ganztagsschule. Über 1.200 Schülerinnen und Schüler aus der Region und aus aller Welt bereiten sich gemeinsam auf international anerkannte Schulabschlüsse vor. Akademische Exzellenz und Charakterbildung stehen im Zentrum der Ausbildung und qualifizieren für ein Studium an führenden Universitäten in Deutschland und weltweilt. Für jüngere Kinder bietet die ISR einen internationalen Kindergarten auf dem ISR-Campus in Neuss, in Düsseldorf-Niederkassel sowie eine deutschsprachige Dependance in Meerbusch-Büderich. In naher Zukunft eröffnet zudem eine weitere internationale Grundschule der ISR in Düsseldorf-Oberkassel. Düsseldorf wird damit der zweite Haupt-Standort der ISR. Anfragen zu Kindergarten, Grundschule und weiterführender Schule werden ganzjährig entgegengenommen: admissions@isr-school.de.
Neusser Stadtgespräch at ISR: Focus on the Future of Economic Strength
Neusser Stadtgespräch at ISR: Focus on the Future of Economic Strength
Saturday, March 8th, 2025.
Last Saturday, we had the honor of welcoming over 100 guests from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Rheinland to ISR. Under the patronage of Hermann Gröhe, the foundation invited participants to the Neuss City Talk (Neusser Stadtgespräch).
The event centered on the question of how to revitalize economic strength in Germany. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the RWI – Leibniz Institute, and Ella Heising, Managing Director of TechHub.K67, led the discussion.
Simone Gerhards, Head of the Regional Office Rheinland, opened the City Talk with an impressive welcome speech. In her remarks, she emphasized: “A successful economy is the foundation for a strong welfare state and our prosperity.” The subsequent insights from Prof. Schmidt and Ms. Heising provided thought-provoking perspectives. Following the discussion, a lively Q&A session with the guests enriched the event further, highlighting the topic’s relevance and importance.
We sincerely thank the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and all participants for a thoroughly successful event and look forward to future opportunities for dialogue!
ISR Students Shine Globally: Excellence Award in Japan's Prestigious Sedia Foundation Contest
ISR Students Shine Globally: Excellence Award in Japan’s Prestigious Sedia Foundation Contest
ISR 5th-grade students Sawa, Yojuro, Haruka, and Shuma have achieved a remarkable distinction by securing the Excellence Award (3rd place) in a prestigious nationwide competition in Japan. The “10th Sedia Foundation National Elementary School ‘Our Lives and Water’ Wall Newspaper Contest 2024” challenged elementary school students to create innovative wall newspapers based on the annual theme. Our ISR students conducted in-depth research on “the essential water that is indispensable in our lives” and crafted their wall newspaper after studying the innovative role of sheep in protecting the Rhine River.
This year’s contest attracted an impressive 4,766 entries from 176 schools across Japan. What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that ISR was the only school outside of Japan to participate, demonstrating our students’ ability to excel on a global stage. The winning entries were selected through a rigorous judging process, and we are thrilled that our students’ hard work and creativity have been recognized with this award.
The contest was supported by prominent organizations such as the National Association of Municipal Education Committees and the National Union of Elementary School Principals, highlighting the ingenuity and creativity of elementary school students from across Japan.
As a result of this outstanding achievement, Sawa, Yojuro, Haruka, and Shuma will receive a certificate, a commemorative trophy, and a ¥20,000 bookstore gift card. Additionally, the booklet featuring the winning works will be distributed to over 10,000 elementary schools in Japan, further amplifying the impact of their project. We extend our deepest gratitude to our exceptional Japanese teacher, Ms. Inagaki, for her tireless efforts in organizing the project and inspiring our students to produce such outstanding work. We hope this accomplishment will inspire us all to continue exploring the importance of water and to keep learning. As we always say, “It’s cool to be good”!
ISR Student Lizzy Achieves Great Success in Mathematics and Music Competitions
ISR Student Lizzy Achieves Great Success in Mathematics and Music Competitions
We are delighted to share the outstanding achievements of Lizzy, one of our talented Grade 5 students. She has consistently shown exceptional dedication both inside and outside the classroom, achieving outstanding results in Mathematics and Music competitions last month.
Lizzy’s dedication to academics earned her an impressive second place in the second round of the Math Olympiad, a fantastic achievement that reflects her strong problem-solving skills and perseverance. The Mathematics Olympiad was part of the Mathematics Competition 2024/2025 organized by the “Regionales Bildungsnetzwerk Rhein-Kreis Neuss.” In addition to her success in mathematics, Lizzy showcased her remarkable musical talent in the Jugend Musiziert competition, where she won first prize with 24 points in violin in Mönchengladbach and first prize with 23 points in viola in Dortmund.
We are incredibly proud of Lizzy for her commitment to both academic excellence and musical talent. Keep up the fantastic work, Lizzy!
She is a true reflection of our school motto at ISR: “It’s cool to be good!”
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Abdulrazak
Spotlight On Our Student Abdulrazak
This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on our third-grader, Abdulrazak, who joined ISR in 2024. His positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm have had a great impact on both his peers and teachers, inspiring a supportive and collaborative classroom environment.
Abdulrazak, affectionately known as ‘Abudi’ in class, was nominated for the Student Spotlight by his homeroom teacher, Ms. Vittin. She says, “Abudi is a bright and selfless learner, who genuinely loves learning. He is constantly helping others out and considering them in the classroom. Furthermore, Abudi is a wonderful partner, who is patient, and always takes the time to explain different concepts to people who need help. He is also more than willing to help out in the classroom, or to help other teachers and students outside of the classroom. Abudi strives to do his very best and always puts 110% into all the work he does. All in all, he is a role-model student, who is a true joy to have in class, well done!”
Mr. Nous, Abudi’s Sports teacher, adds, “Abudi is a friendly, sporty boy who clearly enjoys being active. He adjusted in the group quickly last year and is an appreciated member of the group.”
Abdulrazak’s ability to balance being a supportive classmate with his own academic pursuits is truly commendable. We are proud to have him as part of our ISR family and look forward to seeing his continued growth and achievements. He truly embodies our school motto: “It’s cool to be good!”
We are proud to spotlight Abdulrazak as one of ISR’s many outstanding students!
The ISR Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our students from the ISR-Community every Friday, who embodies our guiding principle “We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters” by consistently surpassing themselves. Whether through outstanding academic achievements, exceptional dedication, or remarkable character traits – we take pride in having already showcased hundreds of students – and there is more to look forward to every week!
Our Student Spotlights
