Year 12 students Andrew and Caleb received their Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards from Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith this week.

To earn the silver award, students had to first complete their bronze award, and then complete months of service, playing a sport, learning a skill and finally an expedition, tramping through the ruahine ranges for a few days.

​It is neat to see Cornerstone students living a full and fulfilling life, and we wish these young men well on their next step - the Gold award. 

This year's annual Music, Dance, Drama and Art showcase will be remembered for some hilarious acting , moving dramas, a lot of money raised for World Vision and a joke by young Amon.
As part of the school's world vision fundraiser, around $1000 was raised for South Sudan by auctioning art works created by students. This was followed by South African and Indian dancing, plays written and directed by Senior Drama students, and Senior Music class performances.
The evening had a community feel with parents and teachers enjoying a good laugh together, and celebrating the successes of our school's finest performers. Principal Dr Ferrar reported he smiled the whole way through the 'deeply satisfying' evening. Meanwhile Year 9 Amon Sahayam managed to steal the limelight in dedicating the final song to his math teacher. 

The senior Food Technology class flew to Auckland this week for The Fine Food New Zealand Show. Analysing ingredients, pricing, and cuisines for their own class projects, students immersed themselves in the restaurant industry. There was also a lot of taste testing. 
Mrs Naomi Hall who runs Food Technology at Cornerstone was proud of the intelligent and engaging way students interacted with stall holders.  "All the different samples and flavours were fantastic. I'd go just for fun" said Samuel Rusden who, like many of his class, clearly has a passion for the industry.  For other students the highlight was meeting international celebrity French-Australian chef Manu Feildel.

The Year 10 Business Studies class sold hotdogs, pies, drinks, burgers.sweets like donuts and fudge as well as savouries like tacos, and hot dogs today in their class project.
Once again the special Cornerstone community came together, with parents helping out behind the scenes, older students guiding younger students around, and a lot of students and staff comparing meals together.
Students learnt about budgeting, team work, organisation, and some aggressive marketing. One group was seen to stand at the school gate earlier in the week, giving out free samples to students and parents in preparation for the day. The Taco group started offering deliveries to teachers who couldn't make it to the court, while another slapped a burger sticker on each of their customers for an extra bit of marketing. 
Teacher in Charge Mrs Wucherpfennig was grateful that everything came together so well on the day, and was also pleased about the hygienc food preparation. Meanwhile Mr Doody appreciated all the behind the scenes effort students put in, as well as the "hearty and affordable burger, drink and lollipop combo". 

Senior Food Technology students prepared the dishes and slices they've created themselves in a series of assessments on developing healthy and delicious food. Parents and teachers bought tickets for seemingly a five course meal at Wholegrain Organics this week.
As classes were in a professional kitchen-cafe, students were able receive feedback on their products from actual paying customers throughout the process. The parents and teachers in attendance on the night would prove to be a tough but appreciative audience, with one teacher writing on the feedback form: 'Your Lemon-Beet slice has excellent texture, There wasn't enough lemon flavour in your Lemon-Beet slice, but it is very well presented, and I'm so proud of you". 

Thanks to everyone who supported our 40 hour famine night market. Students slept overnight at the school in cardboard boxes, fasting from talking, technology, furniture, food, among other things.

The final tally for amount raised will be announced after the Secondary Arts showcase on the 26th of June, where pieces of art made over famine weekend will be auctioned. 

Hopefully we can raise a good amount for the children of South Sudan. 

Cornerstone hosted the second annual Hastings Christian School Sports exchange this week. From the first game where Cornerstone lost 25 to 26 in Netball, to the last game of basketball at the Arena, it proved to be not Cornerstone’s event. Regular Cornerstone sports teams, like Senior Boys Hockey, had convincing wins, and sports that Cornerstone doesn’t regularly play, like Senior Boys Football, had convincing losses. An honourable mention should go to Amon, the only Year 9 on the field in senior boys who earned man of the match as goalie despite the final score being nine to nil.
The event was about more than just sport, starting with a welcoming powhiri ceremony and song, eating meals together, and a combined games night all developed healthy friendships off field – despite the rivalry on field. As one student described it ‘ after spending all this time together, it started to feel like we were all at the same school’. As the Hastings bus left the carpark, Hastings students held up signs to their windows showing contact details, and also showing the strong connection between the schools. 
​Photos by Year 12 and 13 photography students.

As part of the annual Rotary Music Festival, Cornerstone Senior Music class performed at Bethany's Cafe this week. The performers included recent Rockquest groups, original songs and NCEA compositions by Level 1, 2 and 3 Music class students.
For many the memorable moment was Namory's latest entertaining and memorable  lyrics, with his hiphop song about christian parties.
​Thanks to Palmerston North Rotary Club and Bethany's Cafe for having us. 

With flashing lights, evolving costumes, a Robotic Ninja, and a giant Cell Phone and Twink bottle, the wearable arts festival was a celebration of creativity. Organised and ran by the Year 13 social committee, students completed for prize packages, and plaza vouchers. The biggest surprise came from Industrial Revolution Category entrants; Hannah and Emily whose giant candle costume suddenly dropped to reveal two models wearing digital lighting.
 
The Supreme Award went to Amy and Sarah Pinkney - who spent over 20 hours cutting and folding paper flowers and butterflies, for their garden themed dress. 

In their final year at Cornestone, Year 13 Music students rocked the globe theatre at this year's Rockquest. Entering the tightly contested Solo/duo category, Levi and Bailey (pictured) scored a near perfect score for their original song.
Fresh from headlining his first local concert, Namory Keita who goes by the stage name "Sketchy Mugz" brought his own brand or African Rap Hip-Hop to the stage as a crowd favourite.  Neither act managed to win their category, but certainly did the school proud. Images courtesy of Smokefree Rockquest .nz