With a theme of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, Secondary students at Cornerstone Christian College recently put on their finest and attended their Annual Senior School Ball.

Students showed as much glamour in their attire, as they did in creativity with their arrivals.  From Kombi vans, horse floats and car trailers, to vintage cars, trucks and more, there was little in the transport department that was not utilised on the night.

Following the arrivals, the students joined with parents for Pre-Ball drinks at Abbey Beach Resort, and then moved into the Ballroom for the main event.

Student leaders planned much of the night, including the theme and decorations.  These young men and women have every reason to be extremely proud of the way the evening came together.  The integrity and responsibility of our secondary students was shown in how they conducted themselves on the evening, and was highlighted with several staying behind after the event to help clean up.

The Busselton-Dunsborough Mail was on site to capture the couples as they arrived, and photos will be found shortly of all participants on their website.  Additionally, formal photos and arrival photos will be available to students in the coming weeks.

As for the stand-outs on the night, the following awards were given out:

Beau: Jordan Robinson

Belle: Lauren Rogers

Cutest couple: Ethan Ashton & Jess Rowe

Best arrival: Gabe Cawley & Tess Bosveld

Best dressed female: Lovisa Sandlund

Best dressed male: David Harrison

Dance master (male): Elias Joslin

Dance master (female): Brooke Mills

A terrific evening of celebrating our most senior students.  Special thanks must go to Mr David van der Tang, and his team of secondary helpers who made the night such a success.

The annual Middle School (Year 7 & 8) Camp commenced last week, with the first event a showdown on the water in a Bathtub Derby.

Construction of crafts was left to students and parents, with the final products delivered to camp along with everything else.  After claiming dormitories, a quick change into swimwear was on the cards, and then teams took to the beach ready for the true testing of their watercraft.  SS Unsinkable and H3O were amongst the more creatively named crafts.

This year, new rules were applied.  The creations were to be boats, and not rafts.  Most adhered to the rulings, with some very clever design techniques applied.  A catamaran, a boat with a keel, canoes and more were seen amongst the flotilla, but often with the simple designs performing best upon the water.

Some disintegrated upon contact with the water, but others were extremely resilient and buoyant.  Most crafts were designed to carry two crew, but some carried one.  The benefits of having two students on board with the capacity to help propel the boats was an advantage.

A number of parents came along to watch their children’s participation, with some holding particular interest as they had invested knowledge and time into the design process.  One Dad, who wishes to remain anonymous, had spent three weeks on the design, which proved very sea-worthy, but ‘was let down by the crew, who had an un-natural capacity to keep travelling in circles’, he said.

The morning was one that showed great teamwork, and a lot of good natured competition amongst the students.

The winning tea was Pania Kara and Eleanor Hartill.  Other prizes were given to the boats considered the most decorated, and the one that utilised the most masking tape.

A sensational day for everyone.

Peter’s concern, as is mine, is that society is quick to point the finger at the youth of today – but not so prompt to see its part in providing the solutions.

Part of his letter states:

‘I too have been frustrated by mindless vandalism, however it is a complex issue that is a symptom of some deep issues in modern society. As a school teacher I care a great deal about my students and how we help them develop themselves for the future. I recognize the hardships in family life that some battle every day. I recognize that they are growing up in a society that has come to view the teenager in a negative light. Just over 70 years ago the term teenager did not exist. It was first used in a 1940’s Readers Digest article’.

Peter continue by saying that the stage of life we could term as the ‘teens’ is a time where many young people struggle to know where their place is.

I agree with how Peter concluded his letter:

‘I believe that every one of my students has the capacity to become a valuable and supportive member of society, and that each one has potential to accomplish great things in their own individual way. I also recognize that most of my students need help and guidance to accomplish greatness and develop their potential. Young people need men and women around them to show the way. When the role models and the encouragement and the opportunities for young people to shine are removed, what do we expect will happen?

We are all responsible for our community. The teenager is responsible to embrace the challenge of entering the adult world, to develop themselves and engage with life in a way that honours the wider community. Those of us who are supposedly in the adult world are responsible to be the role models, to give direction and encouragement and to help present opportunities for younger ones to thrive. Will we play our part?’’

The Bible is clear about our part in producing the next generation of young men and women who live wisely and contribute to our society:

Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

It begins with us.

Bruce

Colin Buchanan is a name that is well known across a number of fields within Australia, and this week, Cornerstone became his audience.

Colin Buchanan’s unique career is as successful as it is diverse.  He has 9 Golden Guitars to his credit, is an APRA and ARIA award winner, is loved by a generation of children for his role on ABC TV’s iconic Play School, is one of Australia’s most successful picture book authors and internationally acclaimed Christian children’s artist

Colin has grown to become Australian country music’s go-to song collaborator, contributing to the award-winning careers of Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, Troy Cassar Daley, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Adam Brand, Melinda Schneider, The Bushwackers, Tamara Stewart, Amber Lawrence, Markus Meier and Tania Kernaghan.

During his time with the College and Cornerstone Church, Colin’s focus was on his younger audience.  He and his friend ‘Nudge’ the puppet took children on an entertaining journey of unpacking who Jesus is and that ’10,9,8, God is Great’.  With his well-known humour and ability to engage with the whole audience clearly on show, Colin was a very welcome guest with the diversity of generations present.  Many were able to begin the journey of introducing their own children to a man that they themselves grew up with.  His renown for teaching children the truths of scripture was much discussed amongst the parental group present.

A wonderful opportunity to have a man who has been powerfully used by God across so many fields impacting on these youngsters.

The students at Cornerstone have put fun into fundraising this week, with a themed free-dress day providing the opportunity for money to be put aside for a good cause.

The Secondary student council elected to give the theme selection to forms – with each year group responsible for choosing their dressing focus, and to encourage team work within the form class.  The result was quite spectacular, with a majority of students participating and over $700 raised across the College.  This included a more traditional Free-Dress event in the Primary school.

With the College’s Sponsor Children the main beneficiaries, as well as the Compassion Charity, the benefit of the fun-filled antics will continue on for some time to come.

The Year 7/8 spies were great to see, the Year 9 fairy-tale characters very colourful, and the ‘famous pairs’ theme that was run with the Year 10 form showing great thought.  Additionally, the Year 12′s in their ‘onesies’ was quite endearing, as well as the range of movie characters of other form groups.  After MUCH debate, the ‘Flintstones’ (and their Year 10 form) were declared the winners, although not an entirely unanimous decision by all judges.  Due to a remarkable effort by so many students, Mr Douglas, Mr Davey and Mrs Fraser couldn’t all come to agreement, so a preferential voting system was put into place and the Year 10′s declared the winner.

This is the first Free Dress Day that new Secondary Deputy, Mr Boyd Davey, has experienced at the College, and he was impressed by the creativity and level of participation seen.

‘I am blown away by your participation and the enthusiasm I have seen today.  It’s been remarkable to see the effort you have put in.  I am very impressed’, he said when announcing the winners.

Special thanks must be given to Mrs Smith and the Secondary Student Councillors for their enthusiasm and thought into making the day such a success.

Local Federal Member for Forrest, Mrs Nola Marino, who is a member of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, has made a profile in educating students and parents about social media networks and how best to ensure that personal protection is maintained.

Deputy of Secondary, Mr Boyd Davey, invited Nola to present her workshop to a group of Year 10 students, who were very engaged with what she had to say, and could see the truths behind her presentation.  Her practical wisdom, real life examples and enthusiastic manner had students very responsive and as a result, educated.

The College was delighted with Nola’s time with us, and has invited her back to speak to other year groups on the same topic.

This is a very necessary form of education in this era, and as such, Cornerstone recognises its need to provide an avenue to support and protect its students.  As such, Cyber Safety seminars can be expected to be seen regularly in the future.

As such, the weeks leading into Easter are filled with more than just the expected academic endeavours.

Re-visiting the historical events of Jesus’ death and resurrection are firmly on the agenda for many classes, and the Kindy and Pre-Primary children have been amongst the first. Delightful children, dressed in costumes that reflect the clothing worn in Jesus’ time, have been acting out the events of Palm Sunday. Mrs Bindi’s class also had morning tea that was based on the last supper, with a student portraying Jesus, and taking on servant-like qualities and sharing food with his friends.

Students playing the part of Jesus will also seen washing the feet of the other students. In Biblical times, this was an act of service. Jesus washed the feet of others, (whose sandaled feet were dusty from the roads they travelled) as an act of servitude and hospitality. The students will be encouraged to translate this act of love for others into life in modern day Australia.

In coming days, they will also be making Hot Cross Buns.

There won’t be visits from the Easter Bunny, or stories of fictional characters – but instead, the greatest act of love ever shown is being remembered.

Throughout the College, tributes to Easter are being made. Amongst them, will be a whole of school assembly, which will give students and families alike the opportunity to celebrate the occasion. It is a wonderful time of year for Christians across the world – and staff at Cornerstone aim to make it that way for every child in our care here.

Fellowship – community through God Ask any student what they most enjoy about coming to Cornerstone and they will probably mention community. Despite Cornerstone’s many other virtues, we choose to identify with one in particular, this sense of community. I ,myself, was able to get elected to the position of Head boy on the back of a promise which, at its core, was about community (Yes, I haven’t forgotten my promise, I do intend to remember everyone’s name before the year is out). Politics aside, I’m left with a question, Why is it that we so cherish this community spirit and why is it so synonymous with Cornerstone? Eilidh, any thoughts?

Well, I think community is a fundamental part of being human. We were created to seek community with each other and ultimately, with God. Unfortunately, in day to day life, community is not as abundant as it once was. Life has become so easy that there is no longer a real need to belong to communities. Social media, TV and other modern indulgences serve to satisfy us without having to talk to each other. Less people are going to church, hanging out at local parks and forming interest groups. So I suppose in a way, Cornerstone is a bastion of community in a world slowly losing its social connectivity. Wouldn’t you agree?

Yes, I mean it is a dark thought but it is true. Cornerstone is the exception to the rule, in a way, and as such it is a uniquely tolerable school. I would suggest that the reason Cornerstone has such a community-centric atmosphere is not only due to its size but also a factor you just touched upon, this notion of community with God. I believe that this is what sets Cornerstone apart. I mean, the school is doused regularly in prayer, the teachers truly care for their students and students can act like themselves without fear of persecution. I think it’s all because the school is built upon a strong Christian ethos.

I agree, actually, it brings a bible verse to mind, Mathew 22:37 (oh look, I have it right here, what a coincidence), anyway, it reads like this: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” I think that verse sums up the Cornerstone ethos quite well. By placing Christ first and each other second, we are doing exactly what we have been instructed by the Lord in the Bible and in the process we create an enduring, love-filled fellowship with each other.

It’s this fellowship which people see and remark upon when they visit the school. In knowing this we can further build upon it and take this sense of community out into the rest of society.

Written and Presented by WJ Meyer and Eilidh Lucas.

 ‘Ask any student what they most enjoy about coming to Cornerstone and they will probably mention community. Despite Cornerstone’s many other virtues, we choose to identify with one in particular, this sense of community. Why is it that we so cherish this community spirit and why is it so synonymous with Cornerstone?’

WJ and Eilidh spoke for a few moments about how within the broader sense, community in our world is breaking down. However, they see, that due to the foundation of prayer, connection with God, and living out the mandate God calls us to with respect to loving one another, that Cornerstone is ‘a bastion of community in a world slowly losing its social connectivity’.

It thrills me to see our students appreciating how set apart Cornerstone is, and even more so, to be able to communicate with such insight the source of the community spirit we have.

It is summed up in the verse from Matthew 22:37 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

They closed their speech with this line, and it fits beautifully for me to do the same:

‘It’s this fellowship which people see and remark upon when they visit the school. In knowing this we can further build upon it and take this sense of community out into the rest of society.’

Amen to that.

Bruce.

Cornerstone is delighted to advise that it has a Chaplain on site three days per week, who provides a range of services and intiatives that enhance the educational experience for our students, as well as provide crucial support to families.

It is with the greatest of pleasure, that we can introduce to you the lady responsible for our Chaplaincy Services at Cornerstone.  Since early in 2008, Mrs Debbie Robinson has brought a great deal to the College community in the above-mentioned position, and is a well liked and loved member of the team.

Debbie comes with a background in Education.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education, which she obtained from Curtin University in Perth.  Prior to working at Cornerstone, she worked as a Junior Primary Teacher at Maranatha Christian College.  She stepped away from teaching to take on a youth leadership role and pastoral position with Down South Gospel Church in Busselton.  This marriage of past employment experiences, make her the ideal choice to work in an education setting with a pastoral role.

Debbie thoroughly enjoys her job at Cornerstone.  She has a passionate love for the students and their families she has the privilege to work with, and there is no better way to gain an understanding of her views than to hear it from the lady herself.

‘I like that I am involved in the whole school and I love to interact equally with Year 1 or Year 12 students. I like the students to have a safe place and person where they can find reprieve from the pressures of school/life. I also like the variety in my job. Basically I am involved in either reactive or proactive work to do with the students social, emotional and spiritual needs. Some days I will have lots of one to one conversations either planned or incidental, other days I will teach programs to educate on the above areas. I also am available to listen and help parents, as obviously what happens in the home will impact on school life. I passionately believe that if each student has a good God esteem and self esteem they are more resilient to the issues of life and their academic performance will also benefit.’

Debbie is married to our Business Manager, Stuart, and has four children who are all students at the College. Outside of the role she holds, she enjoys coffee outings, reading books, exercising and spending time with her friends.

There is no greater tribute to Debbie’s approachable manner, than the fact that she often has students seeking her out for help or support.  Her quick smile, and willingness to listen, ensure that she is considered a real option for help by a child that may be finding life at school or home more challenging.

In conclusion, what does Debbie say she loves most about her job?

‘I get to be nice to everyone!’     And she is.

In addition to the individual support that she provides, Debbie runs a range of programs within the College, including Parenting Seminars, camps, Puberty Nights and retreats for senior students.

If you wish to have your child or family utilise the services of our chaplain, please contact our  administration on 9754 1144 and we will happily arrange for an appointment to be made.

Likewise, we would welcome the feedback from families who have utilised our Chaplaincy Services, or who have suggestions or input to the programs that we run.    Suggestions can be sent by email to admin@cornerstone.wa.edu.au