Miss Jo Needham is a woman on a mission.  She is a teacher at Cornerstone, and also a member of the ‘Be Active Busselton Jetty Swim’ Committee.  With a crop of energetic teens before her in the classroom each day, it is inevitable that she is promoting this classic Busselton event as much as possible.

The result of her enthusiasm  is that as the annual Jetty Swim approaches, students at the College have commenced training to ensure they have the required fitness levels to complete this challenge.  As an extension to the Physical Education program at Cornerstone, regular time in the pool has been scheduled.

In February next year over 1000 swimmers will gather at the beachfront and participate in one of the two possible distance swims.  The full event, comprising of a 3.6 km swim around the length of the jetty together with the shorter distanced 1km race will have a total of 20 students from the College at the starting lines.

Jo is excited about the students’ participation and is encouraged that she has such an enthusiastic group to work with.

”Already their fitness levels have dramatically improved and we hope that will continue right up to the event”, she said.

Jo’s ultimate aim is to have students attempting the more challenging Geo Bay Swim event later in 2010.  A recent finish in that event by the College’s 15 year-old David Hill has no doubt inspired further commitment to training.  This 20km swim will require considerable preparation, but success in the Jetty Swim will be an incentive for the students to continue towards this goal.

The Be Active Busselton Jetty Swim will occur on the 7th February 2010.

Johaline is making her mark on the tennis circuit, and recently performed so well that she has been selected to play in a National tournament in Sydney next January.

Her recent performance at The Women in Tennis Foundation Cup resulted in being the recipient of a magnificent cup and her selection on the Western Australian team.   Johaline reached the Semi-finals in the singles game and was part of the team from the Southwest that won the event.

When she arrives in Sydney, she will have the remarkable opportunity to play at the Sydney Olympic stadium.

Johaline has played tennis since she was 5 years old, and now with 7 years of experience behind her (as well as a very supportive family), is regularly getting the opportunity to play in tournaments much further afield than Busselton.

Well done Johaline – your natural ability and hard work are bringing great results.

Rowan Brown in Action. Photo courtesy of Busselton- Dunsborough Mail

Rowan Brown is well known within the community of Australia’s best mountain bike riders – but he is also very much a presence in the corridors at Cornerstone.  Rowan is a  Year 10 student at the College.

Rowan has been competing in his chosen sport for the past 4 years and at a National level for 2 of those.  With the support of his parents he is making his way up to the very heights of this demanding field.

Rowan recently won the mens open division in the Cape to Cape Mountain Bike event after four gruelling days on his bike.  He finished in a time of 9 hours, 22 minutes and 17 seconds. A time that makes those of us without his level of fitness and expertise gasp at in amazement.  The physical demands with this sport are extremely challenging and not without danger.

This latest win can be added to a growing list of victories.  When asked about how many events he has won or performed well in, Rowan simply stated; ”I’ve lost count”.  That said, he is quick to recall the highlight of his career, which was the first national event he participated in.  Amazingly, Rowan finished third in this Australia-wide competition on his debut.

Rowan’s ultimate dream is to ride professionally and there is little doubt that he is on his way to achieving this goal.

Rowan, we take a great deal of pleasure in watching your successes.  We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

Photo Source top right : Busselton-Dunsborough Mail. 

Thanks BD Mail for sharing this terrific shot with us!

Cedric is a rising soccer star who was recently honoured for his skill in the game.

Over the recent school holidays, the very best players in the region were teamed together to take on other players from across the State.  Country week had over 750 players participating from regional clubs as far away as Karratha and Albany. 

The tournament is specifically designed for the regional areas and has three key objectives:  to offer a Regional Championship; to identify the talent of players; and to provide coaching education.

Cedric participated in the LNJSA Under 13’s team which performed well, but of even greater significance for Cedric, was the announcement that he was the fairest and best player in the competition for his age-group.

Well done Cedric, we are so thrilled at your accomplishment in representing our region so outstandingly.  We are very proud of you.

The October school holiday break saw a great deal of action on the College property – with ground being turned in preparation for the much anticipated Library extension and the addition of an Indoor Soccer and Multi-sports Complex.

The visual changes will be immediately noticeable to the College community when school recommences mid-October.  The sheer size of the new sporting complex has meant that several large trees have been removed from the edge of the oval, as well as the basketball hoops being taken down from the outdoor basketball courts and car-parking area.  Heavy machinery has been busy making preparation for the next phase which will commence shortly. 

Work will continue into 2010 on these projects, but it is expected that the library extension and relocation of the home economics classes will be completed by the beginning of the new school year. 

The Sporting Complex will cater for a variety of sports, such as indoor soccer, basketball and volleyball.  It will also house additional classrooms on an upper level.   These new facilities will provide tremendous opportunities for students when completed and be a valuable resource to the College and wider community.

This week has held the Athletic Carnivals for both the Primary and Secondary Schools at the College. 

The students dressed in their appropriate colours and came along to test their athletic abilities against their peers. 

As seem from the pictures to follow, the events were a terrific success and thanks goes to those who organised the events, and parents and students who assisted on the respective carnival days.

The Year 9/10 students at Cornerstone Christian College have been not only fine-tuning their jumping skills in preparation for the upcoming Athletics carnival, but have been learning how to coach others in those skills.
 
The winter sunshine made a perfect canvas for the students to learn the correct style for successful long-jump and high-jump.  Under the guidance of College teacher, Mr Lukas Martens, who is also the President of the region’s Little Athletics Association, students were taken through the finer aspects of style and technique. 

Mr Martens is providing a Coaching Option this term, and using his own skills as a qualified Athletics Coach to help students learn methods of aiding others in their sporting endeavours.

Learning extension for long jump and take-off positions for high jump were on the agenda and the students quickly grasped the methods shown. 
 
This Friday the true test of success will be measured, when the students pull their skills together and compete against one another in the College’s annual carnival.