A traditional part of the Year 6 calendar is a four day camp, where students get to participate in a range of challenging, yet fun activities.

This year’s event was held at Fairbridge in Pinjarra.  A team of teachers and enthusiastic parents accompanied the students, offering encouragement as well as practical guidance.

This year, students were able to abseil and take part in adventure activities and games.  According to those who went, even the food was sensational.

Mr Dixon and Mr Norris’s classes were both delighted with all that they were able to experience.  The participants learnt a lot about team work, as well as their own personal abilities whilst away.  It is hoped that the benefits will continue on during their transition into the middle school in 2011.

Special thanks must go to the parents who took time away from their homes and jobs to help make the event possible – and also to the staff whose organisation resulted in such a sensational outing.   

Survivor Tribal Camp is over for another year, but the Cornerstone Christian College Red Cross Cadets have learnt skills that will be evident for much longer.

Eight teams of cadets headed to Augusta for a three day event which was based upon the ‘Survivor’ shows that test team-work, skill and speed.

Each team was presented with an egg upon arrival, and the objective was to complete the three day event with their egg still intact.  The eggs were guarded valiantly, but even so, many were victims of the activities.

Students had to travel by canoe, mountain bike ride, participate in low rope activities, perform challenges and work together with their team-mates, whilst protecting their egg from damage.  Points were awarded for the best times, skill shown and teamwork.  These were accumulated over the course of camp and resulted in an over-all winner.

Many teams became attached to their elliptical friends, with names being given and special privileges provided. 

Unfortunately all did not survive. 

One particular egg was named ‘Steve’.   According to Hannah Blennerhassett, who was in charge of his safety, he contributed to the cohesion of the team.  When asked how he died, Hannah said;  ‘Cause of death was unknown.’  It was during a canoe trip that his passing was noted.

Other oval shaped victims were buried on the riverbank and eulogies were given for both the egg, as well as their team’s chance of winning the event.

The winning team of Jayde, Tom, Gabrielle, Conor, Rhidian, Shanae, Rhys & Tom displayed the best over-all performance.    Their egg has returned home with them and is still in great shape.

Tribal camp is an annual event on the calendar for the Red Cross Cadets.

The Annual pilgrimage of Year 12 students to our region is well know.  ”Leavers” come in their thousands to Busselton and Dunsborough to celebrate the end of their Secondary Education.

An unfortunate side-effect of this event is the high level of drugs and alcohol that the schoolies consume during their stay.

For the first time, Cornerstone Church of Christ, in conjunction with Cornerstone Christian College have provided an alternative leavers event for its students and other interested graduates during this period.  The idea was initiated by a number of students who wanted the chance to relax after the stresses of TEE, but weren’t interested in the traditional event.  As a result, a group of Year 12′s, with a parent in attendance, headed South for the week and camped at Parry Beach.  This alcohol-free event provided the students with all the fun and celebration without the un-necessary risks and associated behaviours.

According to Mr Greg Spencer, the event was a great success.  He was there at the request of students - yet other than providing a form of supervision, was not responsible for the behaviour of the Year 12′s.  They set the guidelines for desired behaviour before they left and monitored one another to ensure these were maintained.  As they moved through the region, the exemplary behaviour and manner of the students caught the eye of many locals and tourists and positive comments were left in the wake of the leavers. 

Due to the success of the event there are plans to increase the profile of this event in coming years.  This initiative is likely to become available to a wider part of the community and hopes to offer a viable alternative to the traditional Leaver’s week. 

Year 12 students from Cornerstone in 2010 have a good deal to look forward to.

The state winners of the Cows Create Careers competition elected to put their winning money into further enhancing their education.

The Year 7 class, under the guidance of Mrs Jill Wright, Mr Geoff Howes and student teacher, Mr Graham Dixon recently participated in a two day Forest Discovery Camp.

The students camped overnight at the Wharncliffe Mill Site and were treated to two excursions with the Department of Environment and Conservation.  The Year 7′s were given expert insight into matters relating to plants with Mr Dixon sharing his knowledge of Forestry.

According to Mrs Wright the experience was a terrific one for the students and teachers.  ”The first day we were involved in an Eco Education excursion where we learnt about endangered animals in the South West of WA. The program is called ‘Back from the Brink.” We had the opportunity to set traps and learn how animals are tagged and the records kept to establish if the animals are increasing in numbers. We learnt about the damage foxes do and the 1080 program that helps to reduce their numbers.”

Mrs Wright was particularly impressed by one event.  ”After a wonderful barbecue tea we went out with torches to search the forest and then experienced a walk along a roped path – blindfolded!  This was quite challenging but great fun!”

On the final day of the event, the students participated in yet another walk through the majestic Boranup Forest and tested their identification skills on plant matter they found.  A stop at Chapman’s Pool on the Blackwood River was another opportunity to explore.

The event, whilst finding the participants very wet at times, was a success for the enthusiastic Year 7′s.

Senior Students from Cornerstone Christian College have participated in some strenuous activities over the past week. 

The Year 11/12 Outdoor Ed students have put their leadership skills to the test by organising and running a hike for the College’s Year 10 Red Cross Cadets.  As part of their course, the students were responsible for organising all elements of the trek.  After a cold wet overnight camp and many kilometres under their belt they were met by other Red Cross Cadets from the College for a High Ropes course.

According to one of the supervising teachers, Miss Jo Needham, the organising students did a remarkable job. 

”The Outdoor Ed students did an absolutely fantastic job and the hike was an enormous success”.

The High Ropes experience at the end of the hike was part of the Red Cross Cadets planned activities for this term, and enabled students to put their roping skills into practice.

The participants were able to experience the challenge of walking across tight ropes, logs, tyres and other obstacles whilst suspended in the air.  The students were divided into groups of three, which provided an opportunity for team work and support.  One student would be suspended up on the course and the other two team members would remain on the ground, acting as anchors (otherwise known as belays).  The suspended student would then negotiate a series of elements that were 10 to 12 metres above the ground.  The objective of this activitiy was to develop trust between the participants who rely heavily on each other for their safety. 

Jo Needham said; ”Students were incredibly supportive of one another, particularly the students who were not confident being so far off the ground.”

The Red Cross Cadets group at Cornerstone is the only one that operates within a school curriculum and a number of other exciting activities remain on the calendar in the coming months.  Senior cadets will obtain their Marine Skippers Licence, perform community service activities and complete the year with an adventure race at Meelup.