Der 13-jährige Anton Tianhe Zhang verfolgt einen ambitionierten Plan: Er möchte herausfinden, wie er eine Drohne mit seinen Gedanken steuern kann. Für sein Projekt erhielt er nun einen Preis bei „Jugend forscht“.
Der 13-jährige Anton Tianhe Zhang verfolgt einen ambitionierten Plan: Er möchte herausfinden, wie er eine Drohne mit seinen Gedanken steuern kann. Für sein Projekt erhielt er nun einen Preis bei „Jugend forscht“
RP Online (Rheinische Post)
https://epaper.rp-online.de/api/sharing/article/rheinischepost69a5e619838909.80539380-8a11c4473f363
District Championships in School Chess 2026 at ISR
District Championships in School Chess 2026 at ISR
ISR once again proudly hosted the District Championships in School Chess, organized by the Department for School Sports of the Rhein-Kreis Neuss in cooperation with the Chess Youth NRW. This marked the sixth time that we had the pleasure of welcoming this exciting tournament to our school.
More than 250 participants from various schools across the region took part in the competition. The tournament followed the individual rapid chess format using the Swiss system, with each player competing in seven matches.
ISR was represented with teams in the categories of Elementary School, WK IV (Grades 5 to 6), and WK II (Grades 7 to 9). Our Elementary School Team proudly achieved 1st place, while both the WK IV and WK II teams secured 2nd place in their divisions—an outstanding success for all participants! Every student received a medal, and the Elementary School Team additionally took home the coveted challenge trophy.
A special congratulations goes to Mustafa (Grade 4) and Sai Ritvik (Grade 9), both of whom impressively won all seven of their matches! With these excellent results, all three ISR Teams have now qualified for the NRW State Finals, which will take place on April 27th, 2026, in Hamm. We are very proud of our talented students and wish them the best of luck for the next round in April. They are further proof of ISR’s motto: It’s cool to be good!
UCC Insights at Rochusclub: University Paths After School
UCC Insights at Rochusclub: University Paths After School
For several years, we have been proud partners of the renowned Rochusclub, one of Düsseldorf’s most traditional and prestigious tennis clubs, known for its long history of top-level tennis and its vibrant members’ community.
As part of this successful cooperation, our University & Career Counseling (UCC) Team visits the club annually to offer a special presentation titled “Wie geht es nach der Schule weiter?”. This past Sunday, Ms. Ulricke Wacker and Dr. Jill Corbin met with Rochusclub members to discuss university options after high school. Attendees aged 15 to18, together with their parents, explored a variety of academic paths and potential study destinations. Ms. Wacker delivered an informative presentation covering common course choices, popular universities, and practical tips for preparing successful applications. Following the presentation, the UCC team met individually with attendees to address specific questions about studying in Germany, as well as opportunities abroad and international study pathways.
We are delighted to provide this service to our long-standing partner, Rochusclub, and extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated UCC Team and to the Rochusclub – especially Mr. Dohmen, the Club Manager – for the kind invitation and excellent organization of this annual event!
Herausragender Erfolg der ISR-Schülerinnen und -Schüler bei „Jugend forscht“
Herausragender Erfolg der ISR-Schülerinnen und -Schüler bei „Jugend forscht“
Samstag, 21. Februar 2026
Veröffentlicht in: NGZ
RP Online (Rheinische Post)
Westdeutsche Zeitung (WZ)
Indian Harvest Fest at ISR
Indian Harvest Fest at ISR
Last Saturday, our vibrant Indian Community once again generously shared their rich culture and traditions with us at ISR!
This time, we celebrated the Indian Harvest Festival – a joyful thanksgiving for the annual harvest – under the dedicated leadership of our Indian Community Representative, Shubhi.
Hundreds of guests joined us from Düsseldorf, Neuss, and far beyond, including many international families, to enjoy the festivities together. The event featured 10 lively food stalls showcasing cuisines from regions across India, alongside stands presenting art, traditional clothing, and fun children’s activities like face painting. Our dedicated SLC students added to the culinary delights with delicious drinks and freshly popped popcorn.
The stage program was truly one of a kind, featuring captivating dance performances, singing, and a highlight heritage walk in which our Indian Community proudly showcased diverse clothing and dances from across their country – even inviting international students to join in the finale with their warm and welcoming spirit. A special thank you goes to Sayantika from the Indian Community for her wonderful organization of the stage performances. The celebration came to a joyful close with the rhythmic beats of traditional Dhol drummers, as everyone danced together around a glowing bonfire.
We sincerely thank our ISR Indian Community for sharing this beautiful tradition with our international school family and guests.
Special thanks goes to Shubhi and Sayantika for their outstanding organization, as well as to every member of our ISR Indian Community for making this event so memorable!
Brother Jürgen’s Inspiring Visit to ISR
Brother Jürgen’s Inspiring Visit to ISR
Yesterday, we were honored to welcome Brother Jürgen Neitzert from Düsseldorf’s Firminusklause soup kitchen to ISR.
Brother Jürgen Neitzert, originally from Germany’s Eifel region, joined the Franciscan Order as a lay brother at the age of 19. Trained as a nurse, he devoted several decades to various ministries, including the care of elderly friars, service on justice and peace commissions, refugee relief projects, and interreligious dialogue. He also spent 23 years working with young people in Cologne before serving as General Definitor in Rome. Since 2022, he has led the Firminusklause soup kitchen in Düsseldorf, where they support around 200 people every day. Brother Jürgen speaks German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Turkish.
During his visit, he shared powerful insights on poverty, human dignity, and Franciscan values, deeply inspiring students and staff alike.
The day began with a heartwarming welcome from our Kindergarten children, followed by an engaging exchange with the ISR Management Team. The highlight of the visit was Brother Jürgen’s presentation to our Grade 10 students, teachers, and staff. Throughout his presentation, Brother Jürgen emphasized unity and compassion over division: “It doesn’t matter which religion volunteers belong to – only that they wish to help others.” In his closing words to students, he urged them to take responsibility as active citizens: “You may not run a soup kitchen, but as voters, professionals, and community members, you can stand up for others. Support those who put the common good first.” He concluded with a heartfelt reminder: “Don’t just focus on negative news – there is so much love and care in the world. See the positive and act on it!”
After the presentation and the meaningful Q&A session, Brother Jürgen met our CAS Coordinator, André Urban, and SLC Advisor, Samantha McGee, and discussed meaningful opportunities for ISR students to support the Firminusklause. Topics discussed included student internship opportunities at the soup kitchen. Furthermore, our SLC Students will support organizing food donations, focusing on staple items such as rice, pasta, and lentils. In addition, the idea of a community event was discussed, uniting students, parents, teachers, and staff in support of the soup kitchen.
Brother Jürgen’s visit beautifully reflected ISR’s commitment to community service and social engagement within our curriculum, demonstrating how small acts of compassion can create a meaningful impact in our diverse society. We sincerely thank Brother Jürgen for his time and his inspiring presentation. We look forward to many more inspiring moments and future collaboration to come!
ISR Winter Wonderland 2025
ISR Winter Wonderland 2025
Following our joyful Christmas Tree Decoration event at the end of November, our ISR Campus turned into a sparkling Winter Wonderland last week. Our families, students, and staff came together to enjoy delicious treats, cheerful music, and plenty of festive fun – the perfect start to the most wonderful time of the year!
With six beautifully decorated huts, this year’s event offered a wonderful variety of festive treats, handmade gifts, and heartwarming moments for all our students, families, and friends. Our dedicated ISR Parent Network Team once again organized this special week – a heartfelt thank you to them for making our ISR Winter Wonderland possible!
Visitors could enjoy homemade waffles, hot dogs, and a creamy pumpkin soup, as well as hot chocolate, mulled wine from Oberkirchner Winzer, and refreshing homemade lemonade. Our Student Leadership Council (SLC) and Model United Nations (MUN) huts offered delicious snacks, ornaments, and sweet treats, while our Grade 12 students delighted everyone with churros and poffertjes. Our CAS students impressed with creative charity projects, including origami, handmade bracelets, and upcycled art pieces. The ISR Parent Hut featured charming items such as bags, toys, souvenirs, and even delicious homemade Chinese buns. Furthermore, our Library Team once again hosted a lovely book sale, and our beautiful and festively decorated carousel brought a lot of joy to our youngest visitors!
A special highlight this year was the visit of the U.S. Consul General Preeti V. Shah, who joined us on Wednesday to enjoy a performance by our talented student choir. Later in the week, our kindergarten children filled our ISR Winter Wonderland with festive cheer as they sang classic holiday carols on Thursday and Friday.
We extend our heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this unforgettable celebration – especially our ISR Parent Network Organizer Team: Faronda, Maria, Sara, Sati, Shubhi, Linda, Nina, Sultan, Tina and Christin. We also thank all students, teachers, and parents, and of course, our wonderful visitors who joined us throughout the week.
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Wilfred
Spotlight On Our Student Wilfred
This week, we are proud to spotlight our eighth-grader, Wilfred, who joined ISR in 2024. He was enthusiastically nominated for the Student Spotlight by his German teacher, Ms. Przybylski, who shares: “Wilfred is a kind, dedicated and hard-working student who brings imagination and creativity into everything he does. His strong writing skills and passion for acting allow him to shine in class and approach tasks with originality and enthusiasm. Wilfred achieves excellent results, not least thanks to his remarkable memory and an impressive ability to absorb new knowledge, which is also crucial in a foreign language class. It is a real pleasure to watch him perform in German and read his written work which always feels genuine and engaging. A solid performance, Wilfred!”
His French Teacher, Ms. Chanal adds: “Wilfred is not only talented in French. He shares his experience and knowledge at every opportunity, and he does so with humility.”
Ms. Chroni, his Mathematics teacher, also expresses her appreciation: “Wilfred is truly a pleasure to have in my Math class. He is polite, respectful, and exceptionally well-spoken, with a vocabulary beyond Grade 8 level. He handles mistakes with humor and maturity and has shown remarkable growth in Mathematics since joining ISR.”
His homeroom teacher, Mr. Krönke, furthermore comments: “In my homeroom, Wilfred is a student I have experienced as consistently punctual and highly engaged. He is also a true word wizard. Whenever we play games, or try to solve various riddles, he regularly proves that language is his natural habitat. He also serves as my unpaid English teacher, patiently explaining unfamiliar words and introducing absolutely essential vocabulary such as “dingbat,” which, as we all now know, is another word for a picture riddle.”
Ms. McGee, SLC Advisor, says: “Wilfred became a member of JSLC this school year and was a welcome addition to our team. Over the last few months, he has challenged himself, grown in confidence, and continually shared his creativity, humor, and critical thinking skills to help other members of JSLC. We look forward to seeing the ways that he continues to develop his leadership skills!”
Finally, his English teacher, Mr. Davis, concludes: “It is always fun to teach Wilfred due to his enquiring mind, great work ethic and willingness to present and consider offbeat interpretations. Wilf is a positive presence in class and I always appreciate his understated sense of humor.”
Wilfred stands out as a thoughtful, talented, and versatile learner whose creativity, curiosity, and kindness leave a lasting impression on his teachers and peers alike. Whether through his writing, performances, or classroom contributions, he embodies the ISR Spirit of learning with enthusiasm, respect, and an open mind.
We are proud to spotlight Wilfred 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
Inspiring Visit by U.S. Consul General Preeti V. Shah Highlights ISR’s Commitment to International Education
Inspiring Visit by U.S. Consul General Preeti V. Shah Highlights ISR’s Commitment to International Education
The visit of U.S. Consul General Preeti V. Shah to ISR last week was a true highlight for our school community and an inspiring experience for our students! Consul General Shah, who has led the U.S. Consulate General in Düsseldorf since 2024 and brings extensive diplomatic experience from numerous international postings, embodies the values of dialogue, global citizenship, and educational exchange. Her visit underscored the importance of strong transatlantic relations and the role that international education plays in shaping future leaders.
Upon her arrival at ISR, Consul General Shah was warmly welcomed by a group of our American students, dedicated staff members, and the ISR Management and Leadership Team. This personal reception set the tone for an engaging and lively afternoon, reflecting the close ties between the school community and the U.S. Consulate General in Düsseldorf.
A central element of her visit was her inspiring Career Talk and Q&A session with our Grade 10 and 11 students. In an open and motivating exchange, Consul General Shah shared insights into her diplomatic career, her international experiences, and the many opportunities that come with a globally oriented professional path. The session was described by students and staff as hugely inspiring, and she concluded her talk with a powerful and encouraging message to our students: “I feel the future is bright because of you.”
Following the Career Talk, Consul General Shah met with the ISR Leadership and Management Team to discuss current topics and potential avenues for further cooperation. During this conversation, she emphasized how much she values direct interaction with young people, noting that “Talking to children is one of the best parts of my job.” These discussions opened exciting possibilities for deepening the collaboration between ISR and the U.S. Consulate General in the areas of education, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Consul General Shah and the U.S. Consulate General for this enriching afternoon, for their time, and for the invaluable inspiration imparted to our students. Her visit has left a lasting impression on our school community and has further strengthened ISR’s commitment to fostering international understanding and celebrating the diversity of our 60 nationalities represented at ISR!
Exciting Sports Developments Await Our ISR Community - Modernization of seven Tennis Courts!
Exciting Sports Developments Await Our ISR Community – Modernization of seven Tennis Courts!
Families joining ISR or continuing their journey with us can look forward to exciting developments in our sports program, offering even more opportunities for our students to stay active, grow, and have fun!
Earlier this year, we expanded our campus by taking over the adjacent tennis and archery fields, bringing our total grounds to an expansive 150,000 m² – plenty of space for students to play, train, and thrive. Sports play a vital role in our educational philosophy, as they help students build confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle.
Complementing our triple sports hall, beach volleyball court, soccer pitches, and expansive outdoor area with track and field, we are now modernizing all seven tennis courts for professional-level play next season. This upgrade will deliver a cutting-edge sports experience for ISR students, all NTC club members, and parents alike! We can’t wait to see the final results in spring 2026!
