ISHR Students Go Behind the Scenes at the Lower Saxony Parliament

At the end of March, four of our Grade 11 students—Max Dorn, Mariella Jaensch, Joel Wagner, and Victoria Weitze—had the exceptional opportunity to take part in the Landtag-Online project, attending the March plenary session of the Lower Saxony Parliament in Hanover.

As part of this immersive two-day experience, the student editorial team observed key debates and interviewed several prominent political figures, including Minister President Stephan Weil and Vice President of the State Parliament Jens Nacke. They delved into pressing political topics—from ship recycling to youth language trends on TikTok.

A special highlight was the mentorship of Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education and Vice Minister President, Julia Willie Hamburg (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), who not only helped organise interviews but also joined the morning editorial briefing. She also gave an in-depth interview on issues such as mobile phone bans in schools and education for democracy—topics chosen by the students themselves.

The ISHR team’s journalistic work is now live on the project’s editorial platform: https://www.online-redaktionen.de/plenum03-2025

“This was more exciting than we expected. The debates and interviews really opened our eyes to how politics works behind the scenes,” said the team. Their teacher, Judith Schmidt-van Die, added: “It was a fantastic experience, and we are especially grateful for the support from Ms Hamburg.”

This marks ISHR’s first participation in the Landtag-Online project, and we couldn’t be prouder of how our students represented the school. Their curiosity, critical thinking, and communication skills shone throughout the experience.

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TRANSLATION:

Online editorial team of the International School Hannover Region (ISHR) gets ready for the March plenary session

Member of Parliament, Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Willie Hamburg (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) is a political patron and visited the e-paper team at school

Excitement is building for the online editorial team at the International School Hannover Region (ISHR): From March 26-28, Max Dorn, Mariella Jaensch, Joel Wagner and Victoria Weitze (Year 11) will get the chance to report on interesting debate topics from the Lower Saxony state parliament. The team of four wants to get to the heart of cabinet members and MPs from all parliamentary groups. “Landtag-Online” is the name of the project of the state initiative n-21: Schulen in Niedersachsen online e. V., which makes this special form of political education possible.

Introducing herself and her work: Julia Willie Hamburg (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), directly elected member of the state parliament and sponsor of the four-person online editorial team from the International School Hannover Region (ISHR).

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Julia Willie Hamburg is providing active and prominent support. As a directly elected member of the state parliament for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, she has taken on the sponsorship of the editorial team from her constituency of Hannover-Mitte. Her task is to prepare the team for the plenary sessions and to make contact with potential interview partners during the sessions.

The project kicked off on March 5. During “political coaching” at the school, mentor Julia Willie Hamburg explained how a plenary session usually works and also answered questions from the class, for example about her activities as Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister. Information on the sponsor: Julia Willie Hamburg, a member of the state parliament since 2013, has represented constituency 27/Hannover-Mitte in the Lower Saxony state parliament as a directly elected member of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen since November 2022. She is Deputy Minister-President of Lower Saxony and, since her appointment as Lower Saxony’s Minister of Culture, Deputy Chairwoman of the n-21 state initiative.

Julia Willie Hamburg (Alliance 90/The Greens), Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister with online editors Joel, Mariella, Victoria, Max, teacher Judith Schmidt-van Die and director John Barker after the political coaching at the International School Hannover Region (ISHR).

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From Wednesday morning, March 26, the group will be in the thick of the action. In addition to the day’s topical issues, appointments with the Prime Minister and the President of the State Parliament are on the editorial team’s agenda. The journalistic results will be posted on the editorial team’s own website at https://www.online-redaktionen.de/plenum03-2025 and http://www.landtag-online.de (temporarily).

Principal John Barker welcomes the project: “We are delighted that our school has been accepted with its first application. It will certainly be instructive for our pupils to see what role national politics plays at an international level.” The group will be accompanied by their teacher Judith Schmidt-van Die: “The editorial work will be exciting – especially as we are planning some English-language texts for our readership. This journalistic learning scenario will certainly expand our media skills in a variety of ways,” she promises of the project.

Background: The aim of the Landtag-Online project is to promote democratic education and media skills among pupils through journalistic work and to get them interested in state political issues. The group was selected from 35 applicant teams by the advisory board of the state initiative n-21. The school is taking part in the Landtag-Online project for the first time.

Message from Landesinitiative n-21, dated 4 March 2025 (translated from German via DeepL)

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A Night of Talent and Generosity: ISHR Benefit Concert Success

On Thursday, 6th February 2025, our students delivered an unforgettable performance at the ISHR Benefit Concert, showcasing incredible talent, enthusiasm, commitment, and joy. From the youngest to the oldest performers, and from the singers to the dedicated sound and light crew, everyone played a part in making the evening truly spectacular.

As a community, we couldn’t be prouder. The concert was not only a celebration of artistic talent but also an event with a purpose – to support Hannöversche Tafel in their mission to provide educational opportunities for those less privileged. Through the power of music and unity, our school came together to make a meaningful impact.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, from the performers and organisers to the families and supporters who attended. Your generosity and spirit of giving have helped us make a difference.

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Robotics Teams Shine at Berlin-Brandenburg LEGO® League Challenge!

Huge congratulations to our incredible robotics teams and their coach, Mr. See, for their outstanding achievements at the Berlin-Brandenburg FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge 2024/25, held on Saturday, January 25, 2025!

Our talented teams secured 2nd and 3rd place overall, with the 2nd-place team advancing to the prestigious Dresden finals. Along the way, they also earned two special accolades: the Core Values Award and the Research Award—a testament to their dedication, innovation, and collaboration.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Sankey for his exceptional organization and unwavering support of our teams.

We are so proud of the hard work, creativity, and teamwork displayed by our students.

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Winter Wonderland: An Afternoon of Joy and Togetherness

On November 30, our school community came together for a magical afternoon filled with delicious food, endless laughter, and fabulous live music. Primary and secondary students showcased their musical talents, bringing smiles and cheer to everyone in attendance. It was a true celebration of joy, community, and the winter spirit, reminding us all of the warmth and connection that make this season so special.

The event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our incredible PTA. Their meticulous planning and behind-the-scenes efforts created an unforgettable experience for all. From organizing the delightful food offerings to ensuring everything ran smoothly, the PTA’s contribution was nothing short of extraordinary.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to all the parents, teachers, and students who helped to make this event so special. Your time, effort, and enthusiasm truly brought our Winter Wonderland to life, creating cherished memories for everyone involved.