The school Singing and Bible story competition went to a new level this year, with our school Gymnasium as the venue for the first time. Around 700 people came to hear the singing and bible stories, and were also treated to spaceship crashes, ninja fight scenes,  a fake Jesus, and a Grandma eating pizza. 

Asher tribe continued their strong form in the singing competition, this year winning both the junior and the senior event. Meanwhile, Issachar Tribe were marginally ahead of Asher tribe in the bible story - with themes of how God will be with us always, and how faithful he is.  

"Praise God", were the first words out of singer Timote Muli's mouth when it was announced Zebradahs claimed second place in the regional finals.
Performing in their first ever Rockquest, the four piece group aged in years 9 - 13 at Cornerstone, won $400 in Rockshop vouchers for their efforts. The group also placed well in the regional competition. 

​The next step is to put together a music video for the national competition.

Full Credit to the 31 Hasting Christian School athletes who came to Cornerstone this week, and kept our exchange shield. The competition was a lot closer this year across the ten games, with volleyball and dodgeball being particularly close affairs. Cornerstone won hockey, our strongest sport, whilst Hastings dominated the football as usual.
The event is primarily about bringing together the very similar schools, with evening and morning worship, and a lot of fun between games and late night chocolate fish.
Thanks to Mr McDonald for tirelessly organising yet another sporting event, and we look forward to 2020, when Cornerstone travels to Hastings to play in their new Gymnasium. 

Dear Parents/ Caregivers

Yesterday we were notified by the NZEI and PPTA that all Area Schools in New Zealand would be joining the nationwide Teacher Strike on Wednesday 29th May 2019 (Next week). Cornerstone Christian School will therefore be closed for instruction on this day.. There will be no provision made for supervising students. Parents will need to make their own arrangements for childcare. We apologise for the inconvenience.

​Dr Peter Ferrar (Principal)

Cornerstone turned Pink for Pink-Shirt Day - standing for kindness, and not bullying.
Many students gave their hand print in a giant 'celebrating being us' mural.
​Staff also joined in with not just pink clothing but a pink morning tea shout as well.

It was a glorious sunny day at Linklater Reserve this week, as Cornerstone Christian School enjoyed the recently completed public reserve. With CCS students helping the city council design the park, it's 1.5km loop track and BMX track were put to good use today. 

The Open Girls cross country race was won by Shantay Savea for Naphtali tribe - the representative swimmer also showing good speed on land. The Open Boys race was won by Benjamin Murray, who was then summoned to help his Issachar tribe on the BMX track,  filling in their last team position.
​
The school's first BMX competition saw some big jumps as the the lead changed several times over the day. Nate Spargo of Issachar tribe put in the fastest lap on the Linklater BMX track with the last ride of the day - securing Issachar tribe second place behind a dominant Asher tribe.  

The overall winning tribe of the combined event is not yet known, but at the time of writing Naphtali tribe hold a strong lead over Issachar and Zebulun tribes. 

As we drew nearer to our end of term 'Summer Games' the weather forecast became more wet and winter-like. So the event was moved indoors to our Gymnasium, comfortably accommodating all 540 of our Year 1 - 13 students. The wacky indoor games were a chance for Secondary Students to bond with, and sometimes even carry their Junior counterparts.

​Issachar and Asher tribe won the bible quiz competitions earlier in the day, before superior basketball shooting from Issachar tribe helped them win the afternoon's games. The term was finished how it started - honouring our Lord as a school with song. 

As part of including our students of Swedish culture, at lunchtime today the national festival of Swedish Waffle Day was celebrated. In Sweden, March 25th is known as the day Jesus came into the world - nine months before Christmas, his birthday.

The queue of students lining up for a waffle were asked to sing the Swedish National Anthem, as well as what sauce they'd like.  

Thanks to the Swedish students who brought us a taste of their culture through hundreds of waffles, and for reminding us of the miracle of Jesus. 

Representing Cornerstone at the Manawatu Inter-Secondary School's Athletics, Reuben Harman won the Open Boys High Jump event with a leap of 1.75m. The athletic basketballer almost managed to jump his own height at the meet. Reuben will next compete at the North Island Schools Athletics Champs.

​As the smallest secondary school of over a dozen at the competition, Cornerstone's Intermediate Boys relay team also represented the school well, finishing just behind the winning team.

Thank you to everyone who supported the annual Cornerstone Gala over the weekend.  From people and businesses who kindly donated goods, to those who manned a stall, or came and purchased food. It was a wonderful event bringing the cornerstone and wider community together.
​Around $25,000 was raised for various projects chosen by the Cornerstone Fundraising Group, including items for a new playground between A and D blocks. 

In a glorious sunny day at the Massey Athletics track, Issachar tribe made a clear statement with another clear victory at secondary athletics. Several records were set on the hot day, cooled by Mr McDonald's supply of water bottles, and ice creams from Mrs Kool. Several students set dominant times and distances, showing Cornerstone will once again punch above its weight at the Manawatu Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics competition. 
The day finished with tribe relays, with the teacher's team again struggling to keep up. Issachar tribe won the junior boys and girls relays, with Zebulun winning the senior Girls relay and Asher tribe setting a blistering new school record to take out the Senior boys. The premier athletics champions were both Year 12 students, with speedy Jono McDonald, and all rounder Bex Mark enjoying the honours. 

For the second year in a row, Issachar tribe won Secondary Swimming Sports at Makino pool. Issachar, the tribe that appears to swim (and run) like a fish, took an early lead in the pool, leaving other tribes to battle for second place. 

The high dive competition saw some memorable entrants this year, with costumes, flips, impersonations, and a few brave teachers, taking the plunge. 

External NCEA results for 2018 have been released, with Cornerstone students enjoying the convenience of sitting examinations actually at our own school for the first time.

When looking at academic results, it is important to acknowledge that "Diligence" is only one of our five school values, and we also aim for students to develop kindness, integrity, etc. However it is also important to celebrate and congratulate our students who have worked very diligently for these results. Highlights of this year's results:

• Once again 100% of Level 1 and 100% of Level 2 students achieved their NCEA qualification
• 92% of students who finished Year 13, acquired University entrance.
• Across NCEA Level 1 - 3, 51% of students earned an overall Merit or Excellence Endorsement
• Top Year 11 scholar, Chloe Grapentin (pictured at prize giving), earned a staggering 40 Excellence Credits in her end of year examinations. This was after earning 77 Excellence Credits internally, meaning, she accumulated the 50 Excellence credits required for endorsement twice over. 

* Students who left school part way through the year were not considered in calculations.

 Cornerstone's first ever Year 7-13 Prize Giving was a night of special memories, celebrating successes and fond farewells.

• In the school tribe competition the big lead that Zebulun and Naphtali had mid-year, was slashed by the year's final events. After the final event, which was school discipleship points, was counted Naphtali tribe won the overall shield by a whisker. 
• Winning sporting accolades were Kate McDonald with the Junior Sports cup, Natalya Bissell with service to sports, each playing coaching, and umpiring several sports.
  ​The Dux Ludorum award for overall sporting excellence went to Opeti Tuimana, recognised by Sport Manawatu as the top Hockey player in the region, after his achievements at national level.
• The top arts award, Dux Artium, went to Head Girl Lily Tongs, whose singing, drama and especially dance efforts in local competitions, were deservedly recognised.
• Academically, the inaugural Dux Litterarum was awarded to Caitlyn Brown, whose consistent academic prowess, also saw her win $16,000 worth of university scholarships.
• It was also a night of recognising Christian character and service to the school, with Olivia De-Groot, whose passion for service and helping others saw her volunteer in a number of places both in and out of school. Olivia was also recognised as Proxime Accessit, and Board of Trustees Representative. 

Goodbyes were said to leaving staff, including Assistant Principal Mr Black, who is heading to bible college next year. The night ended with a light-hearted farewell video from staff, to the school's first Year 13 class, many of whom had been together since pre-school. With former Principal Nigel Tongs on the piano, we sung our school song for the last time to departing students, reminding them of our purpose as Cornerstone Christian School.

We've just had Year 9 Activities Week and Year 10 Camp. Students served the community, enjoyed hiking, swimming, team building and even morning aerobics. There were meaningful worship times, games, and even some Bible smuggling. 

For many students it was a chance to get to know their class-mates and teachers better. At Year 10 camp, the games and activities were certainly fun, but for most the highlight of the week was encountering God in the evening worship. 

In a popular tradition at Cornerstone, Book Day was a celebration of literacy across the school. Guest readers from outside the school as well as senior students read to classes, along with a variety of other book-related activities. 

The costume parade was memorable and extravagant affair across all year groups with Staff also joining in with the fun. Students were tasked with dressing as a character from one of their favourite books.

After months of watching, from the first foundations, to final coats of paint, we've seen our new Gymnasium take shape, and today, the final day of Term 3 it is now open. Already it is being put to good use, with after school activities, holiday clubs booking the venue. The nine metre tall, full size international basketball court with office, and storage spaces, as well as weights, dance and class rooms will no doubt be put to good use for years to come.
Thanks to his Worship the Mayor Grant Smith (pictured), as well as local MP Ian McKelvie, the Proprietors, and local Kaumatua for joining us on the special day.

On Thursday 20th September, Mr Jorgensen took a group of 6 Level 1 students down to Wellington for the annual Geography Field Trip. The weather was absolutely stunning and the students visited 4 different locations, to gather useful case study information for their Final Examination. We have been looking at 'Extreme Natural Events' - in particular, Earthquakes. All of the students enjoyed the day and were awestruck by the fantastic landscape and scenery.

Tribe teams of over 100 children competed in Tyre turning, rope running, and a whole tribe obstacle course in this afternoon's end of term Tribe competition. Issachar tribe emerged victorious, winning the obstacle course by just a few seconds, and the tyre turning competition as well. 

Once again Cornerstone's values of kindness and humility were to the fore, as the smaller tribe members were befriended, cheered for and sometimes even carried by much bigger buddies. 

Term 3 Exams begin Tuesday 12th September (week 8), shortly after winter sports tournament week (week 7).

Check out our Examination Timetable page, for what you're allowed to bring into exams, study spaces, Exam rules etc. 

Cornerstone Christian School had it's first entries into a regional dance competition this week at the DanceNZMade competition. Two auditioned groups of Year 7 to 13s put in a lot of effort and practice preparing for the competition.
One of the groups managed a podium finish with their contemporary lyrical piece exploring the fragile nature of being human.  Lead by Head Girl Lily Tongs (pictured left), the piece was choreographed as part of a senior dance assessment. In the popular 'open' category, the girls placed third, ahead of some much more experienced groups.  

Kindly worded cards, acts of service, cupcakes and plenty of chocolate were shared around as Cornerstone celebrated Random Acts of Kindness day today - as the official RAK day is on the weekend. Students seemed quick to join in on a day celebrating one of our core school values - kindness.

As part of 11 Digitech students were instructed to program a reasonably complex game. Among the creative and original ideas was a Jesus Heals game, a Zombie game, some survival games and Pong.
​Try get a high score on these examples below.
Instructions: 

• Click blue button, top left, for full screen and green flag, top right, to start.
• In minesweeper (on left) use the '1' in the top right corner to toggle between mine and safe.
• In Pinball (on right) press space to move flippers. Hit orbs when yellow for points.