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!
Special Visitor in our ISR Kindergarten: Santa Surprised our Kindergarten Children
Special Visitor in our ISR Kindergarten: Santa Surprised our Kindergarten Children
Last week, our kindergarten welcomed a very special visitor. Santa Claus stopped by our groups to surprise the children, filling the classrooms with excitement and festive joy. The children were thrilled to see him and will surely remember this magical moment for a long time!
Visit of a Delegation from Huiwen Beijing Middle School to ISR
Visit of a Delegation from Huiwen Beijing Middle School to ISR
Thursday, December 11, 2025
On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome a delegation from Huiwen Beijing Middle School – a renowned public school in Beijing known for its academic excellence, its large student body of over 2,000, and its emphasis on international exchanges – and Ms. Xu from the Austauschzentrum für Chinesisch-Deutsche Kultur und Bildung e. V. in Cologne, an organization dedicated to promoting cultural and educational ties between China and Germany.
Our longstanding partner, Mr. Hu from the Deutsch-Chinesische Gesellschaft für Bildung und Kultur NRW e. V., also joined the meeting and warmly welcomed our guests from China and Cologne, as well as Ms. Hofmann, our Chinese Community Representative at ISR.
Upon arrival, the guests were enthusiastically greeted by some of our Chinese students, who had crafted a special welcome poster for the delegation, along with our leadership and management team. After a brief introduction to ISR, secondary students Lucy and Lawrence guided the visitors through our kindergarten and school building. During the tour, our IT Department showcased ISR’s innovative approach to AI in education and presented small gifts printed by our 3D printer. The group then met our University and Career Counseling Team, who shared details about our internal university fairs, campus visits, and comprehensive support for students’ paths to success. Afterward, our student Leonard presented ISR’s recent trip to China with 20 students and alumni, emphasizing our deep commitment to partnerships with Chinese institutions.
The visit concluded with discussions on future joint programs, including potential student exchanges to further strengthen these ties. We sincerely thank Ms. Xu for this meaningful connection, and of course Ms. Ying Lu, Executive Principal, Ms. Qiong Xiao, Academic Director, and Ms. Xiaoqing Ge, College Counselor, for their time and for visiting ISR!
Der Lions Club Neuss Novaesia nominiert das Plakat-Kunstwerk einer Schülerin der ISR Neuss für die nächste Runde auf nationaler Ebene
Der Lions Club Neuss Novaesia nominiert das Plakat-Kunstwerk einer Schülerin der ISR Neuss für die nächste Runde auf nationaler Ebene
Bei dem diesjährigen Peace-Poster-Wettbewerb des Lions Club International gewann das Plakat einer Schülerin der ISR Neuss den regionalen Vorentscheid und wurde für die nächste, deutschlandweit ausgetragene Entscheidungsrunde nominiert. Mit ihrem Kunstwerk zu dem Thema ‚Together as one‘ (‚Miteinander. Einig‘ ) erreichte die 12-Jährige Olivia als einzige Teilnehmerin aus der Region diese nächste Ausscheidungsrunde. „Das ist ein verdienter Lohn für Olivias großes Engagement“, freut sich Simona Schultz, Kunstlehrerin an der ISR International School on the Rhine über den Erfolg der Siebtklässlerin: „Olivias Interesse an Kunst war stets unübersehbar und sie nutzte begierig jede gegebene Möglichkeit, ihre Begabung an der ISR weiterzuentwickeln.“ So hat Olivia als Mitglied des von Simona Schultz geleiteten ISR Art Clubs die unterschiedlichsten Kunst-Richtungen ausprobiert und dabei immer wieder kreative sowie originelle Ideen umgesetzt. Bei dem jetzigen Wettbewerbs-Plakat hat sie vor allem ausdrucksstarke Farben und starke Kontraste für ihre treffende und kraftvolle Botschaft genutzt.
Nach der Deutschland-Entscheidung werden dann im Frühjahr des kommenden Jahres auch die Sieger am internationalen Lions Club Wettbewerb verkündet. “Angesichts des beeindruckenden Motivs und der kreativen Umsetzung hat Olivia sowohl bei der nationalen als auch der weltweiten Prämierung durchaus eine Chance“, sagt Bettina Schulenberg, Verantwortliche für das Projekt “Friedensplakat-Wettbewerb” vom Lions Club Neuss Novaesia, der den internationalen Kunstwettbewerb in den Altersklassen 11, 12 und 13 Jahre auch in diesem Jahr in der Region Niederrhein ausgerichtet hat: „Wir sind beeindruckt, wie intensiv sich die Kinder mit dem Thema ‚Miteinander.Einig‘ beschäftigt haben. Die große Anzahl toller, künstlerisch gestalteter Plakate hat die Auswahl richtig schwer gemacht”
Seit über drei Jahrzehnten veranstalten die Lions Clubs diesen weltweit organisierten Kunstwettbewerb. Alle regionalen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer – auch die in diesem Jahr 37 an der ISR Neuss – erhielten für ihre großartigen Arbeiten eine Anerkennungsurkunde des Lions Club Neuss Novaesia. Kunstlehrerin Simona Schultz lobte vor allem die große Motivation der Schülerinnen und Schüler: „Die gerade politisch aktuell große Bedeutung dieses Themas war den Schülerinnen und Schülern sofort bewusst, auch wenn die Interpretationen künstlerisch je nach Herkunft und Kulturkreisen auseinandergingen. Diese verschiedenen Sichtweisen sind ja aber eine wichtige Eigenart der Kunst und sorgen für Diskussionen.“ Eine vielfältige Umsetzung war dabei gewährleistet: Insgesamt lernen an der ISR an den Standorten Neuss, Düsseldorf und Meerbusch 1.200 Kinder und Jugendliche aus 60 Nationen.
Für Peter Soliman, Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter der ISR, ist der Kunstwettbewerb ein gutes Beispiel dafür, wie die Schülerinnen und Schüler an der ISR ganzheitlich gefördert werden. „Um auf das Leben gut vorbereitet zu werden, sind Erfolge in allen Bereichen wichtig und dass die Schülerinnen und Schüler die Möglichkeit haben, ihre Talente auszubauen. Und manchmal entwickelt sich daraus dann sogar eine Profession. Es gibt zum Beispiel eine Absolventin, die inzwischen ihre eigene Galerie erfolgreich eröffnet hat.“
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 weltweit. 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 Elementary School (Klassenstufen 1 bis 6) 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.
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Mia
Spotlight On Our Student Mia
This week, we are proud to feature our seventh grader, Mia, as the ISR Student Spotlight. Mia joined ISR in 2020 and has continually impressed her teachers, quickly becoming a steadfast role model for her peers.
Mr. Darren Kirk, ISR Physics Teacher, shares: “Mia is very hardworking and has made an excellent start to her secondary school experience in science.”
Ms. Smith, ISR Mathematics Coordinator for Grades 1 to 4 and Mia’s Grade 4 Homeroom teacher, adds: “I remember Mia from when I first met her in Grade 3 – she was so sweet, but still very shy. Never could I have imagined just how much she would grow from that quiet, little girl into the confident, conscientious Grade 7 student she is today. She has faced every challenge with real determination and resilience. Mia, I know you will succeed at whatever you put your mind to, because you have the personal qualities to overcome any barrier. I still have the card you gave me, where you wrote an acrostic poem of my name, so here’s yours: Meritorious – Inspirational – Awesome.”
Ms. Gadea-Corrales, Mia’s Spanish Teacher, reports: “Mia is an absolute pleasure to work with. She consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, approaches every task with dedication, and is always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Her positive attitude and genuine kindness make her a valuable member of any classroom. I am very happy to have her as a part of my homeroom.”
Mia’s dedication, growth, and positive impact on our school community truly embody the spirit of ISR. We are proud to celebrate her achievements and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things she will accomplish in the years to come. Keep shining, Mia!
We are proud to spotlight Mia 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
International Peace Poster Contest by the Lions Club Novaesia: ISR Participates for the Second Time
International Peace Poster Contest by the Lions Club Novaesia: ISR Participates for the Second Time
After the incredible success of our student Arjun last year – who was among the top 23 winners worldwide and secured first place from Germany – ISR once again saw an enthusiastic participation in the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. This year, 38 students took part, and on Wednesday the voting for the best poster in the age groups 11, 12, and 13 was held at ISR. We are proud to announce this year’s winners, who received the most votes in their respective age categories: Xuanya, age 11; Olivia, age 12; and Mian, age 13.
This inspiring international competition, brought to ISR by Bettina Schulenberg, President of the Lions Club Neuss Novaesia and former ISR Parent, invites children to share their visions of peace through art. ISR remains the only school in Neuss participating in this longstanding project, supported by the Lions Club for over 30 years.
Under the dedicated guidance of our ISR Art Teacher Ms. Schulz, all participating students poured their creativity into interpreting this year’s theme, “Together. United”. Selecting the winners was no easy task, as every poster was both thoughtful and artistically impressive.
Our winners will now advance to the next level of judging by the Lions Club District Governor and Council Chairperson, with the possibility of moving on to the international competition.
We extend our warmest congratulations to all participants for their dedication and creativity!
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Lions Club Neuss Novaesia for bringing this remarkable project to ISR, to Ms. Schulz for her excellent mentorship, and to all our students who brought the theme “Together. United” to life. Their enthusiasm truly embodies our motto at ISR: It’s cool to be good!
Discovering China: ISR Students and Alumni on an Educational Journey
Discovering China: ISR Students and Alumni on an Educational Journey
During this year’s autumn break, a truly special trip took place in cooperation with the DCBK, the German-Chinese Society for Culture and Education in Düsseldorf.
A group of eight secondary school students and eight alumni from ISR embarked on an educational journey to China. The itinerary began in Shanghai before heading to Jiaxing, where the group visited a senior high school. In Jinhua, participants were warmly welcomed by the Jinhua University of Vocational Technology and had the opportunity to spend two exciting days on campus. During the first days, the program also included visits to two companies, one of which was the Leapmotor Factory.
The Leapmotor Factory is a state-of-the-art production facility of Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2015 and headquartered in Hangzhou. The factory covers about 380,000 square meters and was completed in 2019, beginning full production in 2021. With multiple workshops and flexible production lines, it can produce up to 250,000 vehicles annually, showcasing China’s rapid technological advancement in electric mobility. This visit gave participants exclusive insight into cutting-edge electric vehicle manufacturing and innovation in China.
The journey continued to Yiwu and Hangzhou, featuring a stimulating exchange and a visit to the Tourism College. The institution prepares students for diverse careers in the tourism sector, offering specialized programs in hotel management, airline services, culinary arts, tour guiding, and more. The college is well-known for its modern facilities and strong focus on practical skills, ensuring students are well-equipped to meet industry demands.
The final destination was the Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, which offered fascinating insights into its campus and diverse range of study programs.
Cultural enrichment was another highlight throughout the trip, with various workshops such as traditional paper art and cooking classes, athletic activities like Kung Fu, as well as cultural shows, theme parks, boat tours, and sightseeing forming just some of the elements of the comprehensive program.
To conclude this exciting trip with a spectacular highlight, participants marveled at breathtaking views of Shanghai from over 632 meters high — atop the Shanghai Tower, the third-tallest building in the world!
We warmly thank our partner, the German-Chinese Society for Culture and Education in Düsseldorf, which made this journey possible in cooperation with ISR for our students and alumni. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the students and alumni who were outstanding representatives of ISR, as well as to the parents for their trust and support. Everyone returned home with a deeper cultural understanding, countless positive impressions, and many shared memories as a group. This is an important testament to the fact that education at ISR goes beyond the classroom – and we are proud to be able to offer this opportunity to our students and alumni!
Diwali Celebration at ISR – A Morning Full of Light and Joy
Diwali Celebration at ISR – A Morning Full of Light and Joy
Our morning at ISR was brightened by our wonderful Indian Community, who shared the beautiful tradition of Diwali with us.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most cherished celebrations in India. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Just as the light of Diwali dispels darkness, education enlightens young minds, opening doors to understanding, empathy, and opportunity. We were therefore delighted to welcome ISR Families from around the world to our Diwali Coffee Morning, where we celebrated together with our Indian Community.
Before the event, families lovingly decorated the ISR entrance hall and created a stunning Rangoli, a traditional Indian art form that symbolizes luck, prosperity, and hospitality through colorful floor patterns. These designs are also believed to bring protection, positive energy, and spiritual harmony.
Following welcome words from Eileen Lyons, School Director at ISR, Peter Soliman, Proprietor of ISR, and Shubhi Jain, Indian Community Representative at ISR, families were invited to enjoy delicious Indian delicacies lovingly prepared by our parents for the international community. It was a truly wonderful morning, and we are deeply grateful to our amazing Indian Community for sharing this beautiful tradition with our international community of more than 60 nationalities!
We wish all our families, friends, and partners a very Happy Diwali!
Inspiring Debut: International Finance & Economics Forum at ISR
Inspiring Debut: International Finance & Economics Forum at ISR
Today, the first session of the International Finance & Economics Forum took place successfully at ISR and proved to be an inspiring event for everyone involved!
Organized by our committed Secondary School Student Lawrence, the session brought together students interested in global financial and economic developments.
The forum began with Lawrence’s introduction, in which he outlined the purpose and goals of his initiative. Following this, Professor Li delivered a fascinating lecture on macroeconomics, focusing particularly on the opening up and reform of the Chinese economy.
Mr. Li is a professor of Finance at the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. An entrepreneurial academic, he founded the Institute for Industrial Innovation and Finance, an interdisciplinary platform dedicated to researching and promoting industrial innovation for sustainable development in China. Professor Li was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003 and has served on the Standard of Practice Council of the CFA Institute and the editorial board of the Financial Analysts Journal. He has held appointments as J.G. Riesman Research Professor at Northeastern University in Boston and as a visiting scholar at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In addition, he has provided consultancy services to the central bank, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the CSRC, China Construction Bank, and State Street Bank in Boston.
His insights offered valuable perspectives and sparked thoughtful discussion among the 24 selected participants.
The Q&A session that followed encouraged active engagement, with students exploring topics ranging from market dynamics to financial strategies. The event concluded with the formation of working groups, where students were assigned scenarios inspired by Professor Li’s lecture. Over the next two weeks, these groups will collaborate on strategic presentations, applying what they have learned and presenting their analyses to our economics faculty at ISR.
We are proud of Lawrence’s leadership and initiative in organizing such a meaningful event, which deepened our students’ understanding of international economics and further enriched our school’s culture of engagement with global topics that inspire our students. We look forward to seeing the creative ideas and energy Lawrence will bring to future events, and to witnessing the positive impact he continues to make at ISR!
A heartfelt thank you also goes to Professor Li, whose commitment and valuable insights left a lasting impression on all participants. We are deeply grateful for the time and expertise he contributed to the forum, helping make this experience truly memorable for everyone involved.
