Under bright sunshine, we celebrated our ISR International Spring Festival 2026 last Saturday with a wonderful turnout on our ISR Campus in Neuss.

Our visitors enjoyed a rich and varied program. In addition to the many outdoor activities offered by our partners, including a challenging parcours by DAYO Sport and interactive games by Famville and Life in Germany, families had the chance to explore the campus, take part in hands-on activities, and enjoy the festive atmosphere across the grounds. A raffle for our younger visitors, giving them the chance to win exciting prizes, was another highlight of the day. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Kunst am Platz and Verkehrswacht for their generous donations to the raffle!

Our stage program began with Welcome Words and continued with the ISR Japanese Students Performance, ballet presentations led by Claudia Peltzer, the ISR Grades 1–3 Choir, a Chinese dance performance, the German Foreign Class Choir, the theatre performance by Grades 7–8, and a dynamic K-Pop dance. The audience also enjoyed performances by the ISR Band as well as a fantastic Banjo Band performance.

Culinary diversity was once again at the heart of the festival. The wonderful “Taste of the World” buffet, lovingly prepared by our ISR Parent Network, invited guests on a journey around the globe with specialties from Germany, India, China, Turkey, and Japan, alongside delicacies from our Arabic and Russian-speaking communities. In addition, our SLC team also contributed with a vibrant international table. Drinks and snacks from our caterer Broich, a coffee bike, and an ice cream cart rounded out the culinary experience.

We are grateful to all of our partners for being part of this special day and for creating such engaging experiences for our guests: the American Women’s Club, the British Women’s Club, Kunst am Platz, Lions Club Neuss Novaesia, MusicBox Oxana, Ballet by Claudia Pelzer, Broich Catering, the International English Library, the Japanese Consulate General, DAYO Sport, AUSBLICK Immobilien, Ekehard Adams Wohnungsbau, Böcker Immobilien, the Verkehrswacht and Police Neuss, Famville, Life in Germany, English Theatre Düsseldorf, and the Krokodil-Schwimmschule.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to all of our guests for joining us and making the day so special. We are especially thankful to our ISR Parent Network for once again creating an outstanding Taste of the World buffet, to our SLC team for their dedicated support throughout the whole day, and to all of our staff and teachers for their commitment, and dedication in helping bring this event to life!

The ISR International Spring Festival 2026 was a true celebration of community, and togetherness, and we are already looking forward to welcoming everyone again next year!

We were delighted to once again welcome guests from Michigan State University to our campus in Neuss today  – continuing a long-standing and highly valued tradition of collaboration and exchange between our institutions. During their visit, the university students had the opportunity to experience daily life at ISR firsthand through classroom observations, school tours, and engaging conversations with our students, teachers, and leadership team.

The day began with a warm welcome and introduction by ISR’s Academic Leadership Team, followed by guided tours through both the Elementary and Secondary School divisions. The students joined a variety of classes, including Science, Mathematics, and English lessons across different grade levels, allowing them to gain valuable insight into ISR’s dynamic and international learning environment.

Throughout the visit, the students from Michigan State University shared very positive feedback about the openness and engagement of our ISR students, as well as the welcoming atmosphere throughout the kindergarten and school community. We are grateful for this continued partnership and look forward to welcoming future groups from Michigan State University in the years to come. At the same time, we hope that some of the visiting students will consider returning to ISR in the future – perhaps as members of our own international team!

Thank you to Alexa, Allison, Ben, Ella, Emma, Emmerson, Gavin, Grace, Hayden, Isabella, Isabella, Katherine, Kennedy, Laura, Logan, Madeline, Matthew, Mia, Sarah, and Theresa for taking the time to visit ISR today. We truly appreciated the opportunity to welcome you to our campus and share insights into our learning community at ISR.

A special thank you also goes to Dr. Shea, Director of the Pathway Programs at Michigan State University; Dr. Freed, Department Chair at Michigan State University; and Ms. Sargent, Program Assistant, for organizing this wonderful visit and for the continued partnership between Michigan State University and ISR!

Yesterday, we had the honor of welcoming a very special guest to ISR for the second time: contemporary witness Mr. Manfred Hüllen. Having grown up in Düsseldorf and now residing in Hamburg, Mr. Hüllen shared his family history and personal experiences during the war and post-war years in Düsseldorf with remarkable openness and depth. For our Grade 9 students who attended the talk, history became tangible in a deeply moving and personal way.

At the heart of his visit was a powerful message to the younger generation: “You are the future. You all carry this power – the power of love – and it can overcome hatred and division.” His words resonated strongly, encouraging students to reflect on their role in shaping a more compassionate and responsible society.

Mr. Hüllen spoke candidly about the realities of war, including loss, fear, and uncertainty. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of looking forward, reminding students: “You have a great responsibility ahead of you.” He encouraged students to see themselves as engaged and articulate democrats and stressed that while differing opinions are natural, respectful dialogue and shared responsibility are fundamental to a healthy society. His message was clear: “Together, we can achieve far more!”

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, during which our ninth graders asked thoughtful and perceptive questions. Their strong engagement was closely linked to their history lessons, particularly their in-depth study of The Diary of Anne Frank, which enabled them to connect more deeply with Mr. Hüllen’s personal experiences. The impact of his visit was especially evident in the students’ feedback: two students approached our Head of Secondary School afterwards to share that this had been the most touching and engaging history lesson they could imagine. We are proud to provide such meaningful learning experiences that bring history to life and leave a lasting impression on our students.

We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Hüllen and his companions for their dedication and invaluable contribution to democratic education. Their willingness to travel great distances to share their firsthand experiences is truly inspiring, helping to keep history alive while fostering a deep sense of responsibility for the future!

We proudly celebrated the official opening of our newly modernized tennis courts at ISR last Friday at the NTC Stadtwald  –  an important milestone that represents far more than the completion of a sports facility. After years of planning, this project has become a reality through a strong partnership between ISR and NTC Stadtwald, located just opposite our Neuss campus.

Last year, we further expanded our campus by taking over the adjacent tennis and archery facilities, bringing our total grounds to an impressive 150,000 m². Over the past months, seven tennis courts have been fully modernized to provide professional-level conditions for training and competition beginning next season. This project stands as a strong example of how collaboration between education, sports clubs, and the city can create lasting value for the entire region.

We were especially honored to welcome the following guests of honor to our event: Dr. Geerlings, Deputy Mayor of the City of Neuss and Chairman of the Sports Committee; Katharina Reinhold, District Administrator (Landrätin) of Rhein-Kreis Neuss; Sascha Karbowiak, Deputy Mayor and City Councillor for the Stadion-Viertel; Dietmar Dahmen, Deputy Mayor of Neuss and Chairman of the Sports Committee; and Stefan Schmitz, Deputy Chairman of the SPD. In addition, we were delighted to welcome numerous other guests, including ISR teachers and staff, families, students, as well as NTC members and friends.

The official ceremony began with welcome addresses by Mr. Soliman, ISR Proprietor; Dr. Geerlings; and Mr. Tesic, Chairman of NTC. In his speech, Mr. Soliman emphasized the true win-win-win nature of this partnership and expressed his sincere gratitude to NTC and the City of Neuss for making this collaboration possible. Dr. Geerlings likewise highlighted the importance of such long-term investments in sports infrastructure and their positive impact on the citizens of Neuss. Mr. Tesic also warmly welcomed all guests, expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership, and shared his optimism for a successful future collaboration.

Following the speeches, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting took place, during which Mr. Soliman, Dr. Geerlings, and Mr. Tesic jointly cut the red ribbon as a symbol of the official opening of the new tennis courts. Shortly afterward, Mr. Soliman and Dr. Geerlings made the first symbolic serves on the courts, marking the beginning of sporting activities on the new surface. Our dedicated SLC students supported the event throughout, and soon afterward, members were already enjoying their first rallies.

We wish to sincerely thank NTC Stadtwald for this long-standing and trusting partnership and look forward to many successful years ahead. Our thanks also go to Ms. Reinhold and Dr. Geerlings for taking the time to join the ceremony, as well as to Mr. Tesic and his team for organizing the event with such dedication. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to all other participants and guests who joined us and contributed to making this event such a special and memorable occasion.

Last Thursday, our annual ISR Grade 12 IB Visual Arts Exhibition Vernissage took place, showcasing the creativity and dedication of our talented students Madison, Emily, Annica, Leon, Jason, and Larui. Over the past five terms, each student developed and refined a carefully curated body of work that expresses their artistic themes and intentions.

Each student explored a unique concept: Madison investigated how perspectives can be manipulated, linking visual illusion with global issues such as climate change. Emily created an interactive, detective-inspired exhibition that invites viewers to actively engage and uncover meaning. Annica’s work, Phoenix, explored light and darkness as symbols of resilience and transformation. Leon focused on storytelling through layers, depth, and composition, showing how subtle elements shape perception. Jason addressed stress in high school life, using cartoons to present serious topics with humor. Larui’s exhibition reflected a personal journey of identity and self-exploration, encouraging viewers to consider the question, “Who are you?” As part of their final IB Art experience, students also curated their exhibition spaces, carefully considering display, lighting, and the overall viewer experience.

Ms. Henebry, Head of the Art Department, shared her pride in the students’ commitment and growth. During the event, our students presented their work, guiding visitors through their exhibitions and reflecting on their artistic journeys.

We are very proud of our IB Art students for their hard work and creativity. Their exhibition once again demonstrated that at ISR, learning goes beyond the classroom. We wish them all the best in their upcoming IB examinations and continued success in their future academic and career paths!

Last week, our ISR Persian Community brought the spirit of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, to life at our ISR Campus in Neuss, sharing this meaningful tradition with our school community. The celebration filled our campus with joy, color, and cultural richness!

Our Persian families beautifully decorated a traditional Haft-Sin table, showcasing the seven symbolic items that represent rebirth, health, beauty, prosperity, and growth. They also prepared a selection of traditional Persian sweets, which our students, staff, and teachers were delighted to enjoy during their break and after school.

Celebrated for over 3,000 years at the spring equinox, Nowruz marks the Persian New Year and symbolizes renewal, hope, and new beginnings. At its heart lies the Haft-Sin table – “Haft” meaning seven and “Sin” referring to the Persian letter S – displaying seven meaningful items including sprouts (rebirth), garlic (health), and apples (beauty). Beyond its beautiful traditions, Nowruz remains a timeless symbol of resilience and optimism, reminding us that even after the longest winter, spring always returns.

We sincerely thank our ISR Persian Community for organizing this wonderful event and sharing their vibrant culture with us. At ISR, we celebrate the richness of our diverse community and cherish the opportunities to learn from one another’s traditions. Moments like this remind us of the strength and beauty that cultural diversity brings to our school, and we are deeply grateful for these value experiences.