Yesterday, we hosted the first TEDxYouth event at ISR, organized by our students Derinsu and Carl together with their dedicated team. Centered around the theme Paradox, the event brought our community together for an evening of inspiring ideas and thoughtful reflection, exploring different paradoxes through the perspectives of four engaging speakers.

The speakers approached the theme from distinct but equally thought-provoking angles.

Hannah Helmke, founder of right° based on science, demonstrated that people often know which decisions are harmful to the climate yet still justify their behavior. Knowledge alone, therefore, does not automatically lead to responsible action. For this reason, her company, right° based on science, focuses on making abstract emissions data easier to understand. It translates CO₂ values into degrees Celsius, making visible the extent to which companies, products, or individual decisions contribute to global warming. The central paradox is that people often have enough information but only begin to act more consciously when that information becomes concrete, comprehensible, and personally relevant.

Deborah Hüller, Partner for Public Sector at IBM Consulting and Board Member of the Initiative D21 e. V., spoke about artificial intelligence and humanity, raising important questions about technology, ethics, and what it means to remain human in an increasingly digital world. She also emphasized the importance of human interaction in a society that is increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Ananya Talreja, a student at Albert Einstein Gymnasium, focused on the human tendency to always want more, even when we already have enough, offering a reflective perspective on ambition, satisfaction, and perspective.

Linda Kastrup from Fridays for Future Deutschland addressed the paradox of climate awareness, reflecting on why so many people know about climate change but still struggle to change their behavior. She also underlined the responsibility of politics and companies, showing that meaningful change depends not only on individuals but also on broader structures and decision-makers.

The break and networking sessions created space for students, staff, and guests to connect and exchange their impressions of the event, as the talks sparked curiosity and discussion among the audience.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our Grade 9 and 7 students, Yukichiyo and Soji, for opening the event with an outstanding jazz performance on the piano and double bass. A huge thank you also goes to Grade 6 student, Aniego, who entertained the audience with a wonderful piano performance between the speaker sessions.

The evening was a tremendous success and a strong example of student leadership and initiative at ISR. Special thanks go to Derinsu, Carl, and their entire team for making this memorable event possible, as well as to all speakers and guests who contributed to the success of the evening.

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.