How does one learn to safely interact with dogs, pet them correctly, and behave when a dog approaches? These important questions were the focus of a special morning at ISR. Eleven students from grades 2 to 6 had the unique opportunity to participate in VOX’s “Hund, Katze, Maus” (Dog, Cat, Mouse) format, gaining valuable experience in dog interaction.

Five dogs and their three dedicated owners visited ISR to teach the children proper dog handling through practical exercises. The students learned how to approach a dog cautiously by observing its body language and asking the owner’s permission. They practiced petting dogs correctly, first allowing the dogs to sniff their hands. A key aspect of the training was learning appropriate behavior when a dog approaches. Children were taught to remain calm, not run away, and keep the dog in sight to assess its reaction.

The children visibly enjoyed the learning experience, exploring their natural curiosity in a safe environment. This hands-on approach helped them build confidence in interacting with dogs while respecting the animals’ needs and boundaries.

We extend our gratitude to the entire Fressnapf team and “Helfer auf vier Pfoten” (Helpers on Four Paws) for this special and educational day at ISR. Such experiences are invaluable for developing responsible and empathetic relationships with animals.

Our special thanks go to our enthusiastic participating students: Yves, Lori, Muya, Jasmin, Lena, Elias, Awdepp, Carl, Ludwig, Felicia, and Lizzy. Their enthusiasm and openness made this day a great success!

The video can be found here: https://www.vox.de/cms/sendungen/hundkatzemaus/hundkatzemaus-videos.html

The most spook-tacular time of the year is here, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! From creative costumes to delicious treats, Halloween time to embrace fun, creativity, and a little bit of fright. Today at ISR, we had an absolute blast with a day full of fun and spooky activities!

The spooky day kicked off with a delightful parade of our kindergarten children! Dressed in their cutest and creepiest costumes, they eagerly filled their baskets with goodies from each station – a true joy for our little ones! Later in the afternoon they gathered once again to sing songs and celebrate Halloween with a special party in the Kindergarten!

Next up, Grades 1 through 6 took part in our beloved Trunk or Treat event, organized by our amazing ISR Parent Network. The students had a ghoulishly good time visiting each spookily decorated car, collecting delicious candy from the creatively adorned trunks. The cars were decked out in everything giant spiderwebs to friendly ghosts – what a sight!

Our Student Leadership Council also joined in on the Halloween fun by organizing a thrilling Halloween Party in the cafeteria for our Grade 5 to 8 students. The decorations were awesome, and everyone had a good time dancing and celebrating together!

It was a fantastic day for all, filled with laughter, candy, and Halloween magic. Whether you’re trick-or-treating tonight or soaking up the festive spirit at home, we wish you all a Happy Halloween!

On Sunday, our hallways were filled with little ghosts, eerie comic book characters, and a myriad of creative costumes as the American International Women’s Club and ISR once again hosted their traditional Kids’ Charity Halloween Party!

Hundreds of guests gathered to participate in numerous spooky games and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon at ISR. As always, the Haunted Hallway was a major highlight! Along the ISR Elementary School corridor, children were first greeted by a witch, then navigated a thrilling obstacle course before entering the laboratory of our mad professor. There, the excited youngsters were introduced to the professor’s latest invention: a living robot! The fun continued as children reached into Frankenstein’s nose and marveled at the professor’s fascinating experiments – a delightful experience for the whole family!

All proceeds from this charitable event will benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Düsseldorf, supporting their vital work with children.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the American International Women’s Club, our long-standing partner, for organizing yet another unique Halloween celebration that brought joy to so many children. A special recognition goes to our dedicated CAS students who contributed enthusiastically to the day’s success – from portraying a mad scientist, robot, and witch to running the exciting Halloween games. Their involvement was crucial in making this event a resounding success!

This event not only provided a day of fun and excitement for children while supporting a worthy cause, but it also served as an important opportunity to share traditions from all over the world at ISR – making the kindergarten and school a home away from home for our international communities.

As we look forward to our upcoming Halloween celebration at ISR on Thursday, we’re grateful for the opportunity to share this American tradition once again with our international families!

On Saturday, ISR was transformed into a vibrant sea of colors, traditional Indian attire, and enticing aromas. Hundreds of visitors gathered for Diwali Mela to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, – organized by our unique Indian Community at ISR!

The diverse program offered something for everyone: from captivating Bollywood dances and enchanting songs to a lovingly narrated story of Diwali that introduced international guests to the festival’s significance. A highlight was the impressive Heritage Walk, showcasing various regions of India through their traditional wears, dances, and music. Alongside the engaging stage program, numerous food stalls tempted visitors with a wide array of Indian cuisine, demonstrating the country’s culinary diversity. Additionally, stalls featuring henna art, handicrafts, Indian garments, paintings, jewelry, and more invited guests to immerse themselves in Indian culture.

A beautifully crafted Rangoli, prepared by our Indian Community at ISR, provided the perfect backdrop for memorable photos. We are confident that this day will remain a cherished memory for all participants, with or without photographs!

Our heartfelt thanks go to our Indian Community, the Indian Community Representatives Mrs. Raja and Mrs. Verma, as well as Mrs. Sharma, ISR’s External Exams Coordinator, for sharing their unique culture and the beautiful meaning of the Diwali Festival.

At ISR, we consider it a privilege to have 60 different nationalities as part of our kindergarten and school community. It is all the more significant that various traditions and cultures are celebrated, allowing children to appreciate the value of this internationality at ISR from an early age.

We are already looking forward to many more festivals with our Indian Community at ISR and wish all our Indian families and friends a Happy Diwali.

ISR Open House 2024

Saturday, October 12th

On Saturday, we celebrated our ISR Open House 2024, welcoming numerous guests, ISR Cooperation Partners, families and team members from our locations in Neuss, Düsseldorf, and Meerbusch, along with many interested visitors. The event showcased once again the unique ISR Community and our commitment to academic excellence!

The day began with informative presentations for interested families, providing a comprehensive overview of ISR and our educational approach. Our SLC students led guided tours in various languages, allowing guests to explore our expansive ISR campus. The event featured engaging presentations and demo lessons across various subjects and grade levels. Visitors had the opportunity to explore our Language Hallway, where our Spanish, Japanese, French, and Chinese teachers showcased their interesting materials and projects. Our University and Career Counseling Department offered individual counseling sessions, highlighting how we support our students at ISR for reaching a successful and fulfilling future after graduating from ISR. Additionally, we hosted various science fairs in our hallways and science rooms, showcasing different student projects and interactive demonstrations. We also invited our Kindergarten families from our branches in Meerbusch and Düsseldorf to attend a presentation by our Academic Head of Kindergarten and Grade 1, Ms. Vrem-Ydstie. She provided valuable insights into the transition to Grade 1 and introduced our enriching international curriculum. The families were also greeted by our Class Representatives from KG2 and Grade 1 to build connections and to further ease the transition process.

A highlight of the day was the visit of the First Deputy District Administrator, Ms. Katharina Reinhold, who graciously took the time to explore ISR. During her visit, she acquainted  herself with the charity projects of our CAS and SLC students. Furthermore, she observed several exciting projects in the Science Lab, providing our proud students with the opportunity to explain their work in detail.

Meanwhile, our IT Department once again captivated young and older visitors with immersive Virtual Reality experiences, enabling children to explore underwater worlds and outer space. We also introduced our AI Robot Nao, which was a standout attraction for many of our visitors. Additionally, our team demonstrated how AI is seamlessly integrated into our classrooms to enrich our students’ learning experiences.

Our dedicated Music Department organized captivating performances by our grades 1–3 and grades 4–6 Choirs in the entrance hall, drawing a large and enthusiastic audience. The children had a great time performing their songs. To conclude the event, our ISR and Oxana Musicbox Band, who also performed at the Sonnenblumenfest in Meerbusch two weeks ago, delivered impressive musical performances in our cafeteria.

Furthermore, our students once again demonstrated their commitment to charitable causes! SLC students offered handmade charity bracelets that children could create on-site to raise funds for women’s shelters in Düsseldorf. In addition, one of our Grade 7 students sold beautiful handmade floral hairbands, with all proceeds donated to UNICEF. Our dedicated CAS students organized a charity photo project, selling handmade postcards and offering a photo printing service. The money raised will be donated to the Gutenachtbus in Düsseldorf.

To refresh our visitors, our dedicated ISR Parent Network organized a delightful cake buffet, while our school caterer, Broich, provided a variety of food options and refreshing beverages. Adding to the community efforts, SLC students held a delicious popcorn sale. Guests could also enjoy delicious Italian specialty coffees from Coffee Bar Bacio é Amore and were able to get some delicious Ice Cream from Angelo Franciamore.

The action continued in our modern triple sports hall, where children were welcomed by our sports team. Students were able to demonstrate their skills at various sports stations, adding to the fun of the event!

We extend our heartfelt thank you to our teachers and staff, our exceptional ISR Parent Network, and all our families for making this ISR Open House a memorable and inspiring event. It truly reflected our school’s spirit and the strength of the ISR Community!

A huge thank you to our valued partners who were on-site: Musicbox Oxana, Broich Catering, Kunst am Platz, The British Women’s Club Düsseldorf, The American International Women’s Club of Düsseldorf, The International English Library, Eckehard Adams Wohnungsbau GmbH, Rochusclub, and Engel & Völkers.

Another huge thank you to our dedicated ISR Parent Network Events Team – Diler, Yuiko, Rania, and Maria – for all their efforts in organizing and supporting this important event. We also wish to thank our ISR Parent Network Leadership Team: Caroline, Aicha, and Cristy, for their continued support and loyalty. As the PN motto states: Good schools are made of students – great schools are made of families!

We are delighted with the success of this year’s ISR Open House and are looking forward to many more enriching Community Events this year!

Photos by Sarah Maria Photography