Enrollment of the new fifth grade at the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium Mülheim-Kärlich

Class 5a with their class teacher Mrs. Hetzel and the obligatory sunflowers.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 120 fifth-grade students were enrolled at the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium in Mülheim-Kärlich .

Before the traditional school enrollment ceremony, an open-air church service was held on the school grounds, co-organized by Ms. Ely and Mr. Lambert. Thomas Gerber, pastor of the Holy Spirit parish in Mülheim-Kärlich , addressed the new students and, in the parable of the mustard seed, emphasized that great developments often begin small and then unfold powerfully; a truly fitting and encouraging story for the start of secondary school.

The enrollment ceremony was then moved to the school center's gymnasium. In his welcoming address, Headmaster Michael Pahlke warmly thanked the numerous guests for attending and all the members of the school community who had contributed. He then shared a short story from ancient Greece about a boy named Nikandros with the new students. Nikandros was particularly curious about the world and discovered that learning also requires patience and determination. Besides patience and determination, however, asking questions is especially important, Mr. Pahlke assured the students.

Following this, greetings were given by Mr. Stephan Schuth, the deputy mayor of the municipality Weißenthurm , Mrs. Billker, the school parents' representative, and Mr. Ortmann, the chairman of the support association of the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium.

Musically, Ms. Johann, Ms. Kindl, and Mr. Wolff enriched the event. In addition to the string ensemble's performance, Mr. Wolff, together with some sixth-grade students, performed the piece "The Little Green Cactus." Similar to the mustard seed, the cactus also illustrates that enormous power can reside in life's unpredictable changes.

Eliah Wiedemuth, from the 12th grade advanced sports course, contributed a successful acrobatic performance. This particularly demonstrated how much patience and willpower are required to perfect gymnastics.

Ms. Breiner, the head of the orientation level at the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium, introduced herself to those present and then called the children up class by class. The new learning groups were welcomed by their class teachers, Ms. Hetzel (5a), Ms. Nink (5b), Ms. Stamm (5d), and Mr. Lambert (5c), and led out of the gymnasium. While the children got to know their class teachers and mentors in their classrooms in the cluster, the accompanying adults were able to exchange their first impressions and expectations in the cafeteria. The parents of the current sixth grade kindly provided refreshments.

The school community of the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium wishes its new high school students a good start at their new place of work.