Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Rihito
Spotlight On Our Student Rihito
This week, we are proud to spotlight our third-grader, Rihito, who joined ISR in 2023. He was enthusiastically nominated for the Student Spotlight by his second-grade teacher, Ms. Hartmann. She writes, “Rihito is a dedicated and hard-working student. He strives to do his best work and truly embodies our ISR Guiding Principle – We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters. It was a pleasure to teach Rihito in Grade 2. He brightened the classroom with his wit, curiosity, and inquisitive questions, as well as his strong understanding of justice. His cheerful nature and big smile are infectious, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him”.
Rihito has also made a strong impression on Ms. Ghica, the Academic Head of Grades 2 and 3. She says,
“I’d like to give a very special shoutout to Rihito. When he first joined our school in Grade 1, he didn’t speak any English at all. That can be a big challenge, but Rihito worked hard, stayed positive, and never gave up. Mr. Edwards, his former Grade 1 teacher, and Ms. Hartmann, his Grade 2 teacher, can be proud! Now, just two years later in Grade 3, he has grown into a confident student who not only excels in his learning but also supports others. Rihito, your journey shows us the power of resilience, and we are so glad you are part of our school community!”
Now in his new Grade 3 class, Rihito’s homeroom teacher, Ms. Vittin, writes,
“Rihito has just joined my third-grade class, and he is a very joyful and enthusiastic learner. He is always willing to lend a helping hand and work well with others. Although I have not known him for very long, he has already been a wonderful addition to our class.”
We are proud to spotlight Rihito 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
AmCham Summer Barbecue in Meerbusch: ISR Students Impress the Guests
AmCham Summer Barbecue in Meerbusch: ISR Students Impress the Guests
As proud partners of the American Chamber of Commerce, we are delighted to have attended yesterday’s Summer Barbecue in Meerbusch. Representing ISR were Eileen Lyons, School Director; Annika Poestges, Head of Marketing; Colm Rowan, Head of Elementary School; Emil Cete, Business Development Director; Peter Soliman, Proprietor of ISR; and three of our talented students — Yuki, Kevin, and Soji — who wowed the audience with two fantastic jazz performances!
The event, hosted at the beautiful Golfpark Meerbusch and opened by Regional Chapter Chair Christin Schack, celebrated the strong transatlantic partnership between North Rhine-Westphalia and the United States.
A special thanks goes to everyone who made the evening so memorable, including U.S. Consul General Preeti Shah, who will visit ISR again in December for another inspiring Career Talk, as well as to the event organizers for their excellent work!
(Photos by Michael Lübke)
ISR First Grade Ceremony 2025
ISR First Grade Ceremony 2025
This Wednesday, we celebrated a very special milestone – our ISR First Grade Ceremony 2025!
Around 250 guests gathered to witness the official start of our youngest students’ journey into our ISR Elementary School. The event opened with a warm welcome from Mr. Colm Rowan, Head of Elementary School, who highlighted what makes ISR so special:
“At ISR, we believe that it’s cool to be good. It’s cool to be kind, to work hard, to help others, to be a good friend, and to always try your best. Every good choice you make helps make our school an amazing place to learn and grow.”
He was followed by Ms. Eileen Lyons, ISR School Director, who emphasized the importance of this day for the children and their families.
A musical highlight of the ceremony was a beautiful performance of our school song, “Ode to ISR”, presented by Grade 7 student Eliza. Afterwards, Ms. Alexandra Vrem-Ydstie, Head of Kindergarten and Academic Head for Grade 1, introduced all of the Grade 1 teachers, who will play an integral role in guiding and supporting our newest students throughout this important first school year.
The most anticipated moment came with the presentation of the traditional “Schultüten”, lovingly handed to the children by their Grade 1 teachers. This symbolic gesture marked the beginning of their first school year and was met with excitement and many happy smiles.
Following the ceremony, families were warmly invited to a Welcome Get-Together. Over refreshments, parents and staff had the opportunity to connect, share stories, and celebrate this joyful new beginning together.
We are delighted to welcome our new first graders into our ISR Family and look forward to an exciting academic year ahead!
ISR Robotics Camp 2025 – A Week of Innovation, Team Spirit, and Future Technologies
ISR Robotics Camp 2025 – A Week of Innovation, Team Spirit, and Future Technologies
The ISR Robotics Camp 2025 brought together 11 ambitious participants for a week of high-tech exploration and hands-on learning at ISR. Under the guidance of our Head of IT, Mohammed Aloof, Artificial Intelligence Expert and ISR Alumnus Hugo, who is currently studying Artificial Intelligence in Italy, and Camp Assistant Adrian, all participants were immersed in a future-facing curriculum designed to spark curiosity and technical mastery.
The program included several hands-on workshops and learning modules. In Artificial Intelligence, campers learned the principles of AI, how it influences modern technology, and its potential impact on society. A highlight of the camp was our humanoid Robot Nao, which played an integral part in the AI learning experience. Nao demonstrated how robots can interact with their environment and process information using AI, giving students an engaging, hands-on look at robotics in action.
The students furthermore experienced 3D printing by turning digital models into physical objects layer by layer. In Virtual Reality sessions, they explored immersive worlds and learned about applications in education, gaming, and professional training. In Excel Drawing using Pixels, participants created digital art by treating Excel cells as individual pixels, which encouraged logical thinking and creativity!
We are fortunate that all of these cutting-edge technologies — from AI and VR to 3D printing and robotics — are part of the regular school equipment and curriculum at ISR, meaning our students can explore them throughout their academic journey at ISR!
Guided by our three passionate camp leaders, the ISR Robotics Camp 2025 was a fun and educational experience for all students involved! The participants not only built practical skills but also developed a deeper understanding of technology’s foundational elements and future trends.
We thank all participants for their curiosity and look forward to another ISR Robotics Camp soon!
