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. 

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. 

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. 

 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.

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.

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.