Brilliant sunshine greeted a crowd of approximately 500 guests who attended the 10th anniversary celebration at ISR Internationale Schule am Rhein in Neuss in Germany on Sunday, September 15, 2013. Students, current and former, parents, teachers, staff, board members, stakeholders, and the press were among those in attendance for the event to mark the school’s 10 successful years in operation.
Guests engaged in a full program that started with a “meet and greet” and was followed by an open buffet of finger foods and refreshments before moving on to formal speeches interspersed with musical performances. Included among the speakers were ISR Chairman of the Board, Mr. Wilhelm Fuchs, who welcomed everyone, and ISR Co-CEO, Mr. Thomas Uhling, who gave a brief synopsis of ISR’s 10-year history. Vodafone Germany CEO, Mr. Jens Schulte-Bockum, delivered the keynote speech and emphasized the role that ISR plays in preparing students for the future, which he characterized as “the age of mobility and diversity, the age of competition, and the age of personality.” Mr. Schulte-Bockum, himself familiar with the value of high-quality international schools to globally-transient parents, praised ISR for its success in providing a solid education to local German as well as international students.
In a speech following Mr. Schulte-Bockum, SABIS® President and ISR Co-CEO, Mr. Carl Bistany, echoed the keynote speaker’s sentiments. “Ten years ago, we set ISR on a mission to provide students with a solid academic foundation, build their life skills, and prepare them for the challenges they would face in the future. Today, ten years later, I am pleased to say that ISR has lived up to its mission,” he stated. He went on to reference the school’s outstanding external exam results and the success its graduates have had in being accepted to the world’s top colleges and universities. “SABIS® is pleased,” he concluded, “to be in a partnership that makes a difference in the lives of future generations.”
An enthusiastic round of “Happy Birthday” followed the conclusion of the speeches and a cake made in the likeness of the ISR campus was cut and enjoyed.
The event, which ran from 11:00 to 13:00, also included the unveiling of two additions to the ISR campus: a 10th anniversary mural which was contributed to by ISR students and several staff members and a newly-designed foyer complete with trophy case, flat screen TV, and a photo gallery of the school’s graduating classes. The event culminated with the release of helium-filled, biodegradeable balloons with ISR 10th anniversary cards attached.
ISR will be celebrating its 10th anniversary year with a series of anniversary-themed events. To follow the celebrations, visit www.isr-sabis.net, friend them on Facebook (Internationale Schule am Rhein in Neuss), or follow them on Twitter @ISR_Neuss.