Diwali Mela Celebration at ISR

ISR Diwali Mela Celebration

Saturday, 4 November 2023

Last Saturday, we celebrated another colorful Diwali Mela Celebration at our ISR Campus in Neuss with hundreds of participants!

Alongside our Indian Community at ISR, many friends and guests from various cultural backgrounds joined us to commemorate this festive occasion and enjoy a memorable time together.

Ms. Sharma, ISR’s IB & External Exams Coordinator, together with our two Indian Community Representatives, Ms. Uday and Ms. Verma, our engaged Indian Community, as well as Ms. Mudgal and Ms. Gupta, who guided our guests through the program, dedicated a tremendous amount of effort to make this remarkable cultural event at ISR a resounding success! The festivities started with welcome words from our ISR Management Team, Ms. Lyons, and Mr. Soliman, who both highlighted the important meaning of the festival – the triumph of light over darkness.

The day unfolded with numerous dance performances by both children and adults, accompanied by a wonderful cultural program. In addition to the stage program, ISR hosted ten Indian Street food stalls, offering an array of Indian delicacies, snacks, and savory treats. Another highlight of the event was the Children’s Diwali Decoration Competition, with the chance for participants to win exciting prizes, including an ISR Summer School Voucher for next year. Moreover, the Diwali Bazaar showcased an array of handcrafted items that left a lasting impression on all attendees. The day ended in a Dandiya & Bollywood evening with a live DJ on site.

With 60 nationalities represented at ISR, it’s a source of pride for us to introduce diverse traditions and cultures to our international community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a part in making this day an overwhelming success, and we’re already eager for next year’s Diwali Celebration at ISR!

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Elizabeth

Spotlight On Our Student Elizabeth

This week, we spotlight our fourth-grader Elizabeth, who joined ISR in 2017. Elizabeth is very friendly and always willing to help. In addition to her amiable nature, she is creative and always draws beautiful pictures. She stands out as an exceptional Grade 4 student, displaying both academic and admirable personal qualities. Her dedication to learning is truly commendable; she approaches her schoolwork with a seriousness that is beyond her years. Not only does she excel academically, but she also embodies kindness and respect in all her interactions. Elizabeth’s teachers and classmates admire her for her hard work, discipline, and genuine nature.

Reflecting on her time with Elizabeth, Ms. Vittin, her previous homeroom teacher, shares: “Though I’m not teaching Lizzy this year, my experience with her last year was great. Lizzy is a bright and humorous student who finds joy in learning. She collaborates effectively with her peers and consistently puts forth her best effort.” Likewise, her German teacher, Ms. Dederichs, remarks: “I have the pleasure of teaching Lizzy in German class. Her creativity knows no bounds! She injects an infectious energy into the classroom, infusing group projects with excitement and imaginative thinking!” All in all, Elizabeth is an excellent student. She is an active participant in lessons, often eager to raise her hand to share her thoughts and opinions. She is a friend to all, both in the classroom and on the playground.

We are very proud to spotlight Elizabeth, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Thomas Römer

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Aashi

Spotlight On Our Student Aashi

This week, we spotlight our eighth-grader Aashi, who joined ISR in 2016. Aashi is a cheerful and highly polite student. She consistently shows respect to her classmates and teachers and enjoys spending time with her friends during breaks. “Aashi, one of our class presidents, consistently excels as a stellar student, setting a positive example for her classmates. Her leadership, marked by dedication and integrity, is a testament to her outstanding character and her commitment to enhancing our ISR community,’ as her teacher, Mr. Nisic, adds.”

Aashi consistently demonstrates her best and has shown significant growth during her time at ISR. This progress has been noted not only by her teachers but also by Supervisor Mr. Mo. He remarked, “Aashi is a very friendly student, and it’s wonderful to see her not only enjoying her time at ISR but also making substantial progress.” In conclusion, her music teacher Mr. Abner adds ”Bring so much energy to the table. Aashi is always smiley and happy to work with others. A very friendly student who loves listening to music with a great potential to sing and perform herself. Her confidence will keep growing, she just needs to always remember how great she is!”

We are very proud to spotlight Aashi, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Thomas Römer

ISR Open House 2023

ISR Open House 2023

Saturday, 21 October 2023

In bright sunshine this weekend, we celebrated our ISR Open House 2023 with numerous guests, ISR Cooperation Partners, our ISR Families from all three locations in Neuss, Düsseldorf, and Meerbusch, as well as many interested visitors. The hallways were filled with families and happy children proudly presenting their projects and classrooms. Our dedicated cooperation partners, who have enriched the ISR network for many years, were also on site.

Interested guests were given guided school tours by SLC students, often in their own native languages, to explore ISR’s expansive campus. In addition to numerous presentations, and demo lessons in various subjects and grade levels, families also enjoyed a Language Hallway where the various Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, French, German, and English teachers presented their lessons.

Our math teachers presented their lessons in a playful way and invited students to participate in exciting quizzes and games. Our science team and middle school students presented in the hallways the many projects and experiments they worked on during the year and invited our guests to learn more about them. Our guests were given a glimpse into the creation of various projects in our science rooms, where upper school students worked on fascinating biology projects. In addition, exciting short stories were told by our German teachers and our guests were able to admire various works of art displayed by our art department.

Our IT department once again enabled the children to dive into different worlds through virtual reality, and explore the underwater world or outer space. The use of Artificial Intelligence also played a large role in this ISR Open House, allowing families and visitors to see how we at ISR use AI in the classroom to enrich the learning experience of our students.

This year, the cafeteria was colorfully decorated in ISR colors and our dedicated ISR Parent Network, without whom events like this would not be possible, provided the children and families with delicious waffles, hot dogs, cakes, and more. Refreshing beverages were served to our guests by our in-house caterer, Broich Catering, and they also enjoyed delicious Italian specialty coffees from Coffee Bar Bacio é Amore.

There was even more action in our modern triple sports hall, where the children were welcomed by our sports team. They demonstrated their skills at many sports stations, ending the day on a successful and balanced note.

Our guests and families were welcomed and bid farewell at the end with concerts and impressive musical performances by our students, which our dedicated music team and our in-house music school, Musicbox Oxana, successfully prepared in our entrance hall.

We thank our faculty and team, our unique ISR Parent Network, and our families for making this ISR Open House event repeatedly such a special day.

A big thank you to our valued partners who were on-site:

Photos were taken by our talented photographer, Melanie Osterried.

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Hannah

Spotlight On Our Student Hannah

This week, we spotlight our third-grader Hannah, who joined ISR last year. Hannah impresses with her open-mindedness and helpful nature. Hannah is a very kind and calm student who brings a soothing energy to the classroom and is always ready to offer a helping hand. Her friends appreciate her empathy and honesty. Hannah’s progress this school year has been immense, and I am very proud of her,” says her teacher, Ms. Dederichs.

In addition, she always does her best in class and has shown significant academic improvements since her time at ISR. Furthermore, she enjoys her time with her classmates and consistently demonstrates excellent manners towards both her peers and teachers. Her teacher, Ms. Duenas, adds, “Hannah is a lovely student who always has a smile on her face. She is kind and puts in her best effort in all subjects. She enjoys delightful friendships and engaging conversations. She also has a passion for art, and I’m glad to have gotten to know her through Arts & Crafts and now in my 3rd-grade class.”

We are very proud to spotlight Hannah, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Mila

Spotlight On Our Student Mila

This week, we spotlight our second-grader Mila, who joined ISR last year. During her time at ISR, Mila has made remarkable progress and continues to thrive each day, as Supervisor Mr. Mo confirms. In addition, he adds “Mila is a very helpful and friendly student. Her exemplary interaction with classmates and her enjoyment of spending time with friends during school breaks is commendable.” Mila’s German teacher, Ms. Lorenzen, further adds, “Mila is an amazing student who is not only super smart but also really helpful and caring with her classmates and teachers. She always has a big smile and an even bigger heart. I love having her in my class.”

Moreover, Mila consistently demonstrates excellent behavior in class and gives her best effort. She thoroughly enjoys her time at ISR. Her homeroom teacher, Ms. Hartmann, says in conclusion, ”Mila is an amazing student. She is always happy, friendly, polite and a really good friend to everyone in class. Mila is always up for a joke and a good laugh, but she is also very dedicated and trying her best at all times. I am grateful to be her teacher this year and to be part of her wonderful and bright journey here at ISR.”

We are very proud to spotlight Mila, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Filippos

Spotlight On Our Student Filippos

This week, we spotlight our fourth-grader Filippos, who joined ISR in 2019. Filippos is an enthusiastic learner and impresses with his friendly and helpful character. “Filippos is amazing! He is my class prefect and I couldn’t be without him. He is so mature and has lots of common sense, which means he can support the other children really well. He is very thoughtful and helpful, but he also has a strong character and a great sense of humor. The other children see him as a positive role model because he is a great all-rounder: book-smart, sporty, and a good friend”. as his teacher, Ms. Smith, adds.

Additionally, he recently represented ISR admirably when he was interviewed. As part of a visit from Ms. Dagmar Wandt, the Head of the Office for Schools and Education, the Neusser radio accompanied her and asked a few students questions, including Filippos! He not only answered the questions professionally and with a smile on his face, but he also impressed with his articulate words and the positive way he represented ISR. Ms. Poestges, Head of ISR Marketing, says about him, “I am pleased that his teachers suggested Filippos because he has done a great job. He spoke to the reporter in an enthusiastic and professional manner, and we were all very proud of him”. In conclusion, academic coordinator of grade 1, Ms. Ghica, adds “I met Filippos last year when he was in Grade 3. Throughout his academic journey here at ISR, Filippos has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to learning and personal growth. His achievements, both inside and outside the classroom, have been inspiring to everyone around him. His thirst for knowledge is insatiable, evident in his outstanding grades and insightful contributions to class discussions. Well done, Filippos!”

We are very proud to spotlight Filippos, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Annika Poestges

Sustainable Child Health - Lecture at ISR

Sustainable Child Health  – Lecture at ISR

Thursday, 28 September 2023

How can families promote the physical and mental health of children? How can parents, as well as school staff, contribute to children’s responsible use of digital media? These and many other intriguing questions were addressed today in a lecture by Fritjof Nelting, CEO of the Gezeiten Haus Clinic Group.

As a coach, speaker, and mentor, Mr. Nelting supports families on the path to sustainable health. On this occasion, interested families from the primary and secondary levels gathered at ISR to attend Mr. Nelting’s keynote speech. Many ISR staff members also took the opportunity to draw inspiration from Mr. Nelting’s presentation. Following the lecture, families came together to discuss the presentation and to enjoy the evening together.

Mr. Nelting’s visit follows his first highly successful lecture in early May 2023, which he delivered to our Chinese community in Mandarin. Due to the positive feedback, we were delighted to offer our primary and secondary school families the opportunity to participate in an expert’s lecture.

We sincerely thank Mr. Nelting for his time and look forward to hopefully welcoming him back to ISR soon.

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Hannah

Spotlight On Our Student Hannah

This week, we spotlight our ninth grader Hannah, who joined ISR in 2019. Hannah stands out as a very determined, creative, caring, and responsible student. Her sports teacher, Ms. Racheva, was enthusiastic to share about Hannah. “I have known Hannah for a few years, and she is one of the most wonderful girls inside and outside. She is always on time, always ready for challenges and always giving her best. Hannah has been an absolute joy to teach, and she is a true team player with a positive attitude. It’s a pleasure to have her in my class. She is full of energy, not only in sport lessons. Hannah is a friendly, polite, kind and a lovely young lady!” Hannah’s positive influence is still remembered by her Middle School teachers, even though she has since joined the Upper School. Head of Middle School, Ms. McLeod, noted that Hannah was a wonderful Middle School student. “Even though she just transitioned to Upper School a few months ago, we already miss her positive attitude and greetings each morning in the hallway. Hannah is not only a hardworking student and role model for her peers, but a kind and welcoming ambassador for new students. I am so pleased that she is involved in the Student Leadership Council which ensures she is still able to positively impact the experience of Middle School students!”

In her role on the Student Leadership Council, Hannah is highly motivated. As part of her duties she also collaborates with the marketing team and has created a new Instagram account for the student organization. Ms. McGee, Student Leadership Advisor, adds, “In addition to being a top student at ISR, Hannah is an energetic and charismatic young lady who has been selected to work as the Deputy Team Leader of the Student Leadership Council’s Press and Media Team. She has already demonstrated that she is a rising star in the council with her new and engaging ideas to create a Social Media platform for SLC. We look forward to seeing where her creativity and hard work helped take the team this year.”

We are very proud to spotlight Hannah, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Annika Poestges

Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Lasse

Spotlight On Our Student Lasse

This week, we spotlight our seventh-grader, Lasse, who joined ISR in 2016. All the teachers agree on one thing about Lasse: he impresses everyone with his positivity and stands out, particularly because he warmly greets everyone, whether he knows the teacher or not. Ms. McGee, Student Leadership Advisor, also shares this experience, saying, “I have not had the chance to work with him directly, but he has already made a positive impact on me and my colleagues by always greeting us and asking how our day is going.” In addition to his friendly nature, Lasse excels academically and has a great sense of humor. His teacher, Ms. Chroni, remarks, “As Lasse’s math teacher for the second year now, I am delighted to commend him as an exceptional student in our class. He exemplifies outstanding qualities, displaying impeccable manners, articulate communication, a delightful sense of humor, and genuine character. Moreover, Lasse consistently brings positivity to our hallways, radiating a warm smile, which brightens the day for all around him.”

In his free time, Lasse enjoys climbing and attending concerts. Even in his music class, he is inquisitive and contributes with interesting questions and suggestions. Mr. Perez says, “Lasse was one of the first students I met when I started teaching at ISR two years ago. He was a very confident and talkative student. He is always eager to help and assist the teacher and his classmates, whether it’s distributing materials or clarifying instructions. Furthermore, he is respectful, full of curiosity, and with a delightful personality, he is a joy to teach and he is a pro at playing the Stylophone!” In conclusion, his teacher, Mr. Lillywhite, adds, “Lasse has always been a joy to teach and shines like a beacon of positivity in the hallways. His enthusiasm is unmatched, and he carries a genuine interest in the topics in my class that makes him a positive influence that other students often follow.”

We are very proud to spotlight Lasse, one of ISR’s many outstanding students!

Every Friday, our Student Spotlight Project aims to highlight one of our outstanding students who, in line with this year’s theme, is striving for “extraordinary achievements” on a daily basis. No matter if it is academic success, special commitment or outstanding character traits – we look forward to sharing each of these success stories.

by Annika Poestges