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!
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Brent
Spotlight On Our Student Brent
This week, we are proud to spotlight our ninth-grader, Brent, who joined ISR in 2024. He was enthusiastically nominated for the Student Spotlight by his French teacher, Ms. Chanal, who shares:
“Brent takes initiative in his French learning, exploring idiomatic expressions and sentence structures on his own to express himself as he does in English. He has been leading the way in this approach since the end of last year.”
Brent’s English teacher, Mr. Davis, adds:
“This is the second year I have taught Brent, and he is a joy to have in class. He always gives his maximum effort and demonstrates a strong writing style, with an extensive vocabulary that he enjoys experimenting with in his work. Brent is eager to contribute to class discussions and debates, bringing a rich range of experiences from his time in Singapore and visits to Japan. I am consistently fascinated by his wide interests – from books to obscure British TV documentaries to history – which make him an eclectic and engaging presence, and a real asset to the class.”
Dr. McGee, Brent’s history teacher, shares:
“It is an absolute delight to teach Brent. He is absorbed in every lesson, shares his vast history knowledge and passion with his classmates on a regular basis, and is not afraid to ask meaningful and challenging questions. It is also always a pleasure to read his written work, as he is like a walking thesaurus, consistently surprising us with clever vocabulary and beautiful turns of phrase!”
Brent’s music teacher, Dr. Perez, also praises his dedication:
“Brent is a talented and bright student with a passion for guitar. He has made impressive progress academically and continues to develop his musicianship beyond performance. He is friendly, cordial, and respectful. A thrilling future awaits him and his artistic soul!”
Ms. Van Rhee, Brent’s Business Management teacher, comments:
“Brent is a joy to have in class! He is very kind, always participates, and brings positive energy to our lessons. He consistently does his best, asks thoughtful questions, and works well with his classmates. Keep up the great work!”
Finally, Ms. McGee, Brent’s Student Leadership Council Advisor, highlights his contributions:
“Brent is a new member of the Student Leadership Council this year, and he has already proven to be a fantastic addition to the Social Involvement Department. Kind-hearted, friendly, and thoughtful, Brent consistently makes time to volunteer and support the school community. This year, he has been developing strong skills in organization and accountability, taking on these responsibilities with care. Without question, Brent shows the potential for an even larger leadership role in the future, and we are excited to see where his journey leads.”
We are proud to spotlight Brent 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
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!
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!
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Soshi
Spotlight On Our Student Soshi
This week, we are proud to spotlight our seventh-grader, Soshi, who joined ISR in 2025. He was enthusiastically nominated for the Student Spotlight by his English teacher, Ms. McGowan. She writes:
“Soshi is a brilliant student to work with, and he is a fantastically positive presence in English lessons, listening attentively and supporting his classmates at all times. He takes his learning very seriously, but he also has a fantastic sense of humour and fun, and I am really enjoying getting to know him and helping him make progress. It is such a pleasure to teach someone so focused on being the best they can be, and I feel very lucky that Soshi is in my class. I cannot wait to see what else he achieves this year and beyond!”
Soshi’s German teacher, Ms. Adamczyk, also has great things to say about him:
“In German class, Soshi shows motivation and a very positive attitude. He works hard in every lesson and is not afraid to try speaking German, even when it is difficult. He always participates, asks good questions, and helps create a friendly learning atmosphere. Soshi treats everyone with respect and brings a positive attitude to every lesson. He is a wonderful example of kindness, respect, and positive teamwork in the German A1 class. I appreciate the way Soshi enriches our classroom community. I am very proud of Soshi and excited to see how he will continue to develop in German.”
We are proud to spotlight Soshi 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
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!
Student Spotlights: Spotlight On Our Student Vivienne
Spotlight On Our Student Vivienne
This week, we are proud to feature our fourth grader, Vivienne, in the ISR Student Spotlight. Since joining ISR in 2024, Vivienne has consistently impressed her teachers with her positivity, dedication, and maturity, becoming a role model for her peers.
Her Homeroom teacher, Mr. Noomen, shares that Vivienne is a positive and friendly student with a genuinely kind personality. “She is polite to everybody and treats others with respect. In everything she does, it is clear that Vivienne enjoys learning new things, and she is a supportive classmate who helps others succeed. It is a real pleasure to have her in our class.”
Vivienne’s German teacher, Ms. Sahin, adds: “Vivienne is a delight to teach. She brings creativity, commitment, and a calm, kind presence to the classroom. She picks up new ideas quickly, engages actively with the material, and approaches challenges with confidence. I look forward to watching her language skills continue to grow.”
In addition, Ms. Eggert, Vivienne’s SEA instructor for Happy Threads, highlights her dedication and teamwork: “It has been a pleasure having Vivienne in my course this year. She approaches every lesson with attentiveness and enthusiasm, always eager to learn new sewing and handwork techniques. Vivienne consistently demonstrates patience and creativity, and she is always willing to lend a helping hand to her classmates, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere. She can be very proud of her growth, and I look forward to seeing what she will create in the next term!”
We are proud to spotlight Vivienne 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
