Inauguration of the new principal at Levana School
Kathrin Römermann ceremoniously inducted into office
Now it's round. The new principal of Levana School has been called Kathrin Römermann since September 27, 2022. But on Saturday, July 8, 2023, this was finally duly honored in a ceremony. In addition to family, friends, the teaching staff and other guests, representatives of the district and the ADD also gathered to pay tribute to Ms Römermann. All those present were welcomed by student representative Carina Noppinger and student representative Marwin Kelter. Colleague Maria Cramer took over the moderation of the event and always found suitable introductions. After the representatives of the local staff council (Ute Wagner) and the extended school management (Erika Schell, Maria Meyerhoff), the first district councillor Horst Gies, Nicole Lohse from the ADD, Ms. Susanne Müller (MdL) and the chairwoman of the school parents' council, Charlotte Schön, addressed their greetings to the special school principal. In addition to her professional career and qualifications, her great commitment and tireless dedication to the school community in the past times of crisis were emphasized. Kathrin Römermann joined Levana School as vice principal in August 2019 and, after a short settling-in period, immediately took over the implementation of hygiene rules and regulations during the pandemic. This was followed by crisis management after the flood disaster ... which came to a good end at the end of April when the school community moved back to Ahrweiler.
The speeches were musically framed by the school's teacher band. Kathrin Römermann's dream song "Alt wie ein Baum" by the Puhdys was presented by the band in their own version. Hotte Schäfer turned the lyrics and melody of "Wie schön, dass du geboren bist" into the version "Wie schön, dass du Rektorin bist" and his partly critical but also humorous lyrics made for happy faces and garnered a lot of applause. Special school principal Römermann was visibly moved as she expressed her thanks for the appreciative words and wished for continued good cooperation in the future for the benefit of the pupils and the positive development of Levana School. The ceremony in the school's multi-purpose room ended with the very moving song of blessing "God's good blessing be with you", which was sung by several voices. After a short champagne reception, the party gathered in the schoolyard to experience the blessing of the container school together with the friends of the Levana School who had arrived in the meantime and interested guests.
Education Minister Dr. Stefanie Hubig visits the Levana School
On June 6, a high-ranking visitor arrived at the Levana School at its temporary location at Schützenstraße 85 in Ahrweiler. The Minister of Education, Dr. Stefanie Hubig, visited the container school with a delegation. Here they were greeted by the whole school community during a singing circle with the song "Welcome, you lovely people". Together with Dr. Hubig, Nicole Lohse (ADD), District Administrator Cornelia Weigand, Head of Department Erich Seul and Jörg Hamacher (Head of the School and Facility Management Department) took a look at the facilities at the special school. They did not come empty-handed. On behalf of all the pupils, a member of the Minister's staff presented pupil representative Marwin Kelter with a net with balls and skipping ropes for fun and games during the break. After the singing circle, in which the song "Wir gehören zusammen" ("We belong together") was sung to express that all pupils and teachers are happy and grateful to finally be back in Ahrweiler after 21 months in Neuwied, the delegation went on a tour of the spacious school, which consists of three floors. Here, the visitors were given a comprehensive insight into the modern specialist, teaching and therapy rooms. In the classrooms, they experienced various teaching situations and learning opportunities with differentiated teaching materials and media. Principal Kathrin Römermann also proudly presented the well-equipped specialist and therapy rooms. It became clear that this transitional school has nothing to do with a temporary solution. After the visit, Nicole Lohse also thanked the school community for preparing the day and giving them such a great insight into the school.
Inclusive band "VOLLGAS CONNECTED" makes a guest appearance in Ahrweiler
Pupils from Aloisius Primary School and Levana School enjoyed an impressive concert
On July 7, the inclusive music group "Vollgas Connected" from Fürth performed in the sports hall of the Aloisius elementary school in Ahrweiler and impressed both the school community of the elementary school and the Levana school as well as some guests with a rousing concert.
Robert Wagner, director of the Fürth music school, was on the road with this special band together with his colleagues Uschi Dittus and Daniela Holweg, who stopped off in the Ahr valley as part of a rehearsal, leisure and concert tour. At the heart of the ensemble are professional musicians from the Lebenshilfe workshops in Dambach, the members of the band "Vollgas". They completed a two-year training course at the Fürth Music School as part of the unique nationwide project "Berufung Musiker*in". Since 2009, the music school has been an external workplace for them that corresponds to their inclinations, their talents and their "vocation". Over the years, the group "Vollgas" has developed into a sought-after band that can be proud of international engagements and even a performance at the Bundestag.
The band "Vollgas" often performs with musician friends, i.e. "connected". In Ahrweiler, they performed on stage together with pupils from the Fürth Music School and the Hallemann School Fürth (special school with a focus on mental development).
The inclusive music group presented an impressively varied program and had already won over the audience with the first song "I will survive". For over an hour, the dedicated band members created a great atmosphere in the hall with songs such as "Lemon Tree", "Don't worry, be happy", "Down by the riverside", "Follow me" and "Unchain my Heart". A female and male singer performed the songs with confidence and expressive voices, accompanied by numerous musicians on guitars, bass, drums, accordion, flutes and saxophones. The sound filled the hall and many students did not stay in their seats for long, dancing and clapping to the rousing music.
After an encore ("Lord of the Dance") and much applause, the band "Vollgas Connected" said goodbye to their audience and promised to come back again.
