This week, Year 10 Food and Technology students were given the weighty task of catering to the Honourable Kelvin Davis - the Associate Minister of Education and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. As part of their knife skills unit, students prepared slices, soup, fruit kebabs and other treats for the visit at Wholegrain Organics before delivering them to the function.
Hon Kelvin Davis and regional MP Adrian Rurawhe were in the region announcing $20m of new education spending locally. 
"Everyone was so focused, the food turned out really well - the minister and his team were very impressed!" reported Mrs Naomi Hall - Head of Food Technology.

Months of hard work, hypothesising, log booking, testing, recording results and graphing, came to fruition today in the Year 7 to 9 Science Fair. 
There was an entry from a Year 5 group about stain removal, someone explored the five second rule, others wanted to experiment in their chosen sport, and yet others invented electrical and mechanical devices.  One student made prototypes for a percussion vest to help people with a lung condition, another explored which bread grew mould first and one student attempted to find a more environmentally friendly bread tag. 
Head of Science, Mr Hayden Hewitt was "...impressed with the quality of work students put in, and appreciative of all the support from parents at home".  
A quarter of the 70 entries will be entered into the Manawatu Science and Technology Fair. 

"Worth the investment in my child" was how one parent described the Vanuatu trip. 
Instead of taking a holiday, 18 Year 13 Students spent 12 days, serving in Vanuatu this July. Not knowing what to expect when the got off the plane, students found themselves hand making bricks for a school, building a fence for a new church, hiking to unreached villages, and sharing testimonies in schools.
There was strange food, tropical weather, large insects, long drops, and even a half marathon hike for the tenacious group. Working alongside local YWAM Vanuatu staff, students performed their songs, dramas, and shared testimonies to numerous groups around the islands.
​Principal Peter Ferrar was quick to say how proud he was of the students, of their handling all the challenges, and their willingness to serve. "They learnt what it was to really give of themselves, to grow together and personally as a result." said the proud principal, who was clearly keen to return in 2019. 

Prospective 2019 students in Years 7 - 13 , and their families are welcome to hear our vision, and ethos, tour our facilities, talk to our school leaders, subject specialists and see our classrooms in action.

​Tours are at 3:30pm and 6:30pm on Tuesday 7th August, at Cornerstone. We will outline the structure of Year 9 classes as we continue to grow, options and activities available and the staff involved.    

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".