Principal’s PenUnityA farmer noticed a highway department truck pulling over on to the shoulder of the road. A man got out and dug a hole, then got back into the truck. Then the other occupant got out, filled up the hole and got back in the truck. Every fifty metres this amazing process was repeated. ’What are you doing?’ the farmer asked. The driver replied, ’We’re on a highway beautification project, and the guy who plants the trees is home sick today.’What’s the morale? No unity, no productivity!

God blesses those who work together in unity. In the past few newsletters, I have talked about the need for trust in our society and school (Issue 2) and how we can learn a lesson in cooperation and collaboration from fire ants (Issue 4).

Here at Cornerstone, we believe that we are in a three-way partnership with teachers, parents and their children. The older (more mature) generations (that’s us parents and teachers) working together in shaping the younger generations is what education is all about. Our teachers work very hard at educating and nurturing the students in their charge, and this happens best with the cooperation and support of their parents. No school is perfect, just like no person is perfect, so issues will arise in any school. Misunderstandings and misconceptions occur, and children will behave inappropriately at times.

In that way school and home are as one. Galatians 6:2 tells us to “carry each other’s burdens”. This can happen only when there is open and honest, two-way communication between home and school.

Problems and misunderstandings cannot be solved through car park or social media chatter. Nine times out of ten this only makes mountains out of molehills – and nothing is solved. We can become like the tree planting team when we don’t manage our concerns wisely.

There is an old adage that goes something like this: “If you like what we do, tell your friends; if you don’t like what we do, tell us”.

I believe that there is much wisdom in that saying.

this issueBook Fair

Pedal Pr ixParking

PO Box 775Grace CourtBusselton WA 6280p: (08) 9754 1144f: (08) 9754 1142e: admin@cornerstone.wa.edu.auw: www.cornerstone.wa.edu.au

www.cornerstone.wa.edu.au

DATES to REMEMBER

May 22Primary Parent Assembly Year 3/4

May 26Book Fair commencesYear 9 & 10 Information Night for Years 11 & 127pm, Auditorium

June 3-6Exams Year 9 & 10

June 3-10Exams Year 11 & 12

June 5Primary Parent Assembly Year 3

June 9-20In term Swimming LessonsYear 1-6

June 23Secondary Showcase9:45am Church Auditorium

Term 2 DatesTuesday 29 April - Friday 4 July

Bruce

7I S S U E

2 0 t h M a y 2 0 1 4

NEWSLETTER

A M i n i s t r y o f

C o r n e r s t o n e C h u r c h

o f C h r i s t I n c

w w w . c o r n e r s t o n e b u s s e l t o n . c o m

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Around the College

Cleaver’s ClangersWhat do you call a fake noodle? An Impasta

What do you call an alligator in a vest?An Investigator

Swimming Forms and PaymentWould parents of Primary students please return the yellow swimming forms from within your family pack and the $20 fee by Friday May 23rd. Swimming lessons are scheduled for June 9 to 20 for students in Years 1 to Year 6.

Parking IslandThe congestion in the front car park due to work on Waratah Court has been a challenge, but with staff moving their vehicles elsewhere, has been manageable. Of concern has been parents parking in the island in the centre of Grace Court, as well as at the top of Grace Court. Some near misses with students and buses/cars have occurred, and concerns are so great, that the City of Busselton is likely to install No Standing signs in these areas. We realise that we are experiencing short term parking issues, but ask for your continued patience for a short time longer. The City has advised that once the footpath is poured and line marking to car bays completed that Waratah Court will be re-opened to parents to access.At this stage, we are hoping that by the end of this week that normal access will return.

Driving onto the bypassA parent or two have been witnessed driving onto the bypass from the top of the cul-de-sac of Grace Court. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. It is not a legal entry point onto the bypass and extremely dangerous.

Student Management SystemThe updated Student Management System is now fully in place and operational. A parent guide is available on the College website under the student tab, and a link can also be found at ht tp: / /www.cornerstone.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Parents-Brochure-May-2014.pdf

Book FairThe College book fair ‘Reading Oasis’ is the theme for the 2014 Scholastic Book Fair, which commences on Monday May 26th and runs for the entire week.All students will be send home with a schedule of class visit times and purchasing time allocations. Parents and friends are welcome to come into the Library anytime from 8:30am to 4:00pm during this week. We want this to be a fun time for all students and there is no obligation for families to purchase items. However, for every dollar spent at the Book Fair, the College is able to spend an extra 30 cents on books for the library. See you there!

Primary AssemblyThis Thursday, the Year 3/4 students will be hosting the Primary Parent Assembly. 2:00pm at the Church Auditorium. A reminder that parents will NOT be able to take their children home immediately

following the assembly, but will need to wait until the conclusion of the school day. Tea and Coffee will be served to help you fill in those last few minutes of the school day.

Hosting French StudentsOpportunities currently exist to host a French student. Host families will be visited prior to the arrival by the organiser to explain the programme. Please contact Martine Floyd, email : aupairoz@iinet.net.au, mob : 0403 019 609.

Winter UniformA reminder to parents that winter uniform is to be worn, and to clarify a few points.Firstly, for the girls, leggings are not part of the uniform and cannot be worn, If additional warmth is sought, black tights or stockings may be worn by girls without socks.Hair ornaments are not acceptable, except for very simple, single colour (school colours red, black or white) clips or bands. The same applies for scarves - school colours only, and not multi- coloured.Thanks for your assistance in this area.

Parent Participation SoughtOne of Cornerstone’s Graduates, Deearna Serafino, is a Curtin University honours student, who is seeking our help in a study on parental attitudes towards the use of technology.If you would like to participate, please follow the link to follow to access her letter of introduction and the subsequent survey.A great way to continue the support of former students undertaking new challenges.The link is at:http://issuu.com/scrobins/docs/parent_survey_deearna_serafino

As you do not know the path

of the wind, or how the body is

formed in a mother’s womb, so

you cannot understand the work

of God, the Maker of all things.

—Ecclesiastes 11:5

OFFICE HOURSThe Administration Office is

open from 8:15am to 4:30pm,

Monday to Friday.

Please note that if you call

the office before 8:15am it is

likely to go to message bank.

Additionally, coming into the

office prior to 8:15am will find it

unattended.

Staff are in meetings prior to

this time.

CANTEENThe College canteen is open

for business on Wednesday,

Thursday and Friday of each

week.

We prefer that orders be placed

via the online canteen.

Visit

www.ouronlinecanteen.com.au

The menu is also available for

viewing online at the College

website.

Orders must be placed by

9:30am.

UNIFORM SHOPThe uniform shop will be open

each Monday 8:30am - 9:30am

and Wednesday 3:00pm-4:00pm

You can also view the order form

on the College website at

www.cornerstone.wa.edu.au, or

complete an order form out of

your family information pack and

return it to school with your child.

YOUTH GROUPSCORE Youth - Years 7 to 9Friday night 7-9pm at Cornerstone0418 833 994 Julian/Karlien

Xtol Youth Group - Year 10 +Friday nights 7-9pm$4 entryBusso Bretho campsite0417 937 238 Margie0418 216 087 Graeme

Study Tips from Miss Needham’s DeskSTUDY SKILLS TIP FOR MAY – THINKING AHEADAre you riding a rollercoaster at school? Rollercoaster study is where you stay up late doing last minute assignments, then you take it easy for a while and do very little, then panic again when something is due and have to spend huge amounts of time at the end completing the work. If you plan ahead and are prepared, you will find school much less stressful and more rewarding. Here are the top tips for thinking ahead:1. STUDY NOTES: If you know that you have a test at the end of each topic or examinations approaching, then on the nights you do not have much homework start working on your study notes and summaries. File them in folders at home so they are ready to go when you need them.2. ASSIGNMENTS: Always start the assignment the day it is given to you, even if it is just a little bit. Make sure you understand the requirements and if you don’t ask your teacher straight away the next day. Brainstorm the steps the first night and do a rough plan of when you will do each step.3. ASK FOR HELP EARLY: There is nothing more frustrating than a student who says ‘I haven’t understood anything we did in the

last 3 weeks’. Ask for help as soon as you have a problem. Keep a list of questions for your teacher on a post-it in your textbook or sticky notes on your computer or a list in your phone. Don’t let problems or issues build up, ask for help early and often.4. THINK ABOUT WHO YOU SIT NEXT TO: Choose wisely who you will sit with in class. This can make a world of difference to your results. If you sit with someone where it is a productive relationship, you encourage and help each other and stay on task in the classroom you will understand your work better and have less to do at home.5. CONSIDER YOUR WEEK: Plan ahead for busy times. If you know you have nights where you can’t do much work or a busy weekend, plan ahead and get things done early. Always look ahead for possible times where you could be caught short of time and make plans to

avoid problems.Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.

com.au - our school’s access details are:

Username: cornerstonePassword: 157results

BUZ RangersAs part of making the College playgrounds a safe and positive environment, a new initiative has been introduced by Col lege Chaplain, Debbie Robinson. She, in partnership with the teaching team, are commencing a new Playground Leadership program during break times in the Primary school.Students from years 5 & 6 have been selected to be on duty as BUZ Rangers. The aims of the program is to have the older students take on a mentoring and leadership role in the playground by:• Being a good role model in the playground• Helping children to play positively

• Being a friend to all kids in the playground• Helping younger children with friendship issues

and resolving conflict• Helping to make the playground a positive

inclusive place• Being a friendly face that kids can go to for helpA great new initiative that is positive and other-centred.

www.cornerstone.wa.edu.au

The cows are back in town!After many years of successful participation in the Cows Create Careers program, our two calves have arrived at the College, and students are ready to take on the challenge and learning opportunities they will bring.We have been State winners for most of the 5 years we have participated in this Dairy Australia initiative......let’s see if we can do it again!

HPV Racing at Cornerstone

Looking for a creative way to contribute to the education of students at Cornerstone? This may be for you!On the 16th and 17th August a PedalPrix

will be held at the foreshore of Busselton on

the Criterium Race Circuit. This is a 6 hour

endurance event.

Cornerstone Christian College has entered the

event and a team is being put together from the

Year 10 Students.

Sponsorship through the RAC will provide a

recumbentTriketothefirst20schoolstoenter.

We should receive one of these. We then must

design and build a race compliant fairing / shell

to protect the rider and provide aerodynamic

assistance. The Trikes are currently still being

built and some schools have decided to

purchase their own Trikes to start the building

and design process early and to avoid the

problem of late delivery.

What We NeedRacers – We need enthusiastic Students willing to give

up time to train and prepare for Battle against

other Busselton and WA schools and then give

their all on Race Day. We can have as many as

14 in a team.

Builders –

We need students and talented parents to

assist in the design and construction of the

Trike fairing.

Sponsorship –

We need Funding.

The Race entry fee was $300 (already paid),

but there is a need to have further financial

support.

Getting Ahead of The Competition -We would love to be able to get ahead of the

game and purchase our own Trike to start

Design and Construction. We can purchase one

of these machines for just under $2000. That

would mean next year we can enter 2 teams or

even possibly make a second late entry.

Fairing Materials –

Donations to help here are needed, either

monetary or hard materials. Possible materials

are Corflute and PETG plastics which are

relatively cheap.

Want more information or to be involved?Secondary College teacher, Mr Peter Taylor is

the man behind the project, and he would love

to hear from anyone interested in contributing

(sponsorship or knowledgeable practical

assistance).

Contact him via the College Administration on

9754 1144.

Board ShortsThe College takes pleasure in continuing with the introduction of some of our Board Directors. This week we turn the spotlight onto Greg Holland.Greg has had over 25 years leadership experience in executive and management roles and has built a unique set of adaptable skills in the areas of strategy, financial, information communication and technology (ICT), business systems and processes, risk, organisational change and people engagement across all levels and types of business in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Greg has also held several Board positions in the not-for-profit and corporate sectors including Chairman roles.Greg was born in Western Australia and after 15 months in Busselton as the CEO for Capecare (Ray Village), he is now back living in Perth with his wife Liz and five children and his current role is Business Manager for the Baptist Churches of WA.Greg believes Christian based education, done well, makes a key contribution in our communities as it enables our children to learn, grow and develop in an environment that is supportive and encouraging. Equipping our kids in a balanced way both academically and spiritually.

Staff Blog Addresseshttp://cornerstonehighschool.wordpress.com/http://amudala.weebly.com/http://mrtullyshistorypages.weebly.com/http://christopherpoole.weebly.com/ http://missatcornerstone.wordpress.com/http://careersatcornerstone.weebly.comhttp://will-meyer.squarespace.com/