Our Traditions
Traditions play a large role in life at Cornerstone. They are the unique and special experiences that students and staff look forward to year after year and serve as the glue that binds generations of Cornerstone students and alumni together.
All School Traditions
Students of all ages enjoy letting loose through daily spirit dress themes. The week is capped off by the presentation of the Homecoming Court, the crowning of the Homecoming Queen, and, for high school students, the Homecoming Dance.
These elementary and secondary gatherings are the highlight of the Christmas season at Cornerstone. Our elementary students put on a special presentation for their families complete with carols, skits, and musical performances. Secondary students express their holiday cheer with a tacky Christmas sweater day and fun-filled Christmas gathering in the Den.
Who says you have to go to Broadway to enjoy top-notch musical theatre performances? Our middle school and high school students work tirelessly each semester to produce highly entertaining shows for our entire Cornerstone community to enjoy.
The Cornerstone family gathers on the field twice each year to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. The Fall Festival includes games, inflatables, and more, while the Spring Fling features a variety of performances by both elementary and secondary students. During the annual Family Campout, s'mores, hotdogs, games, and a night under the stars are enjoyed by Cornerstone families of all ages.
Families and friends are invited to experience an evening enjoying the creativity and talent of our K-12 visual art and photography students during our annual art show. Ribbons are awarded for outstanding work, and attendees.
Cornerstone families are invited to gather together as the body of Christ for an evening of praise and worship, led by our secondary Worship Ministry Team.
Elementary Traditions
At Cornerstone, we strive to instill a love of reading into our elementary students. Some of the ways we do this are by inviting children's book authors to speak during chapels and dressing up as our favorite book characters on Read Across America Day!
Families are at the heart of Cornerstone's mission. Special annual events throughout the year encourage these relationships to blossom through fun bonding experiences such as Mother/Son Game Day, Daddy/Daughter Date Night, and Grandparent's Day.
Transitioning from elementary school to middle school is a big deal and one that we at Cornerstone celebrate with joy! Families are invited to watch their children "move up" to 7th grade and hear what their teachers and friends think make them unique.
During this annual service day, elementary students and families walk beside those in our community to lend a helping hand and offer the tangible love of Jesus. As we reach out to those who have needs that we can meet in some way, our prayer is they will see the light of Jesus and give Him the glory.
There's nothing like ending the school year with fun in the sun and a little friendly competition. Elementary students enjoy games on the fields, inflatable water slides, and frozen treats to kick off their summer vacation.
One of the perks of being the oldest students in the elementary school is going off-campus on a field trip. While the destinations vary from year to year, the excitement about this annual spring day trip remains the same!
Secondary Traditions
We welcome ninth-graders into high school during Legacy Night, the first step toward the culmination of the Senior Legacy Project. During this ceremony, students are challenged to think about the legacy they want to leave during the next four years as they receive a commemorative baton.
Many fun traditions await our oldest high-schoolers as they embark upon their final year at Cornerstone: personalizing their parking spot, completing their Senior Legacy Project, being honored during Athletic Senior Nights, processing through the halls to the cheers of our elementary students during the Senior Honor Walk, laying their senior bricks in the alumni garden, and imparting worthwhile advice to underclassmen during Senior Legacy Chapel.
For most high-schoolers, the highlight of the year is the annual IMPACT trip held each spring. This week-long leading, learning, and serving opportunity takes our high school students outside of the classroom walls to explore the world around them and serve others at the same time.
All of our high school students are inducted into a House at the beginning of their freshman year. Our eight Houses, led by school staff and high school seniors, are designed to foster fellowship among students and staff through small groups and mentorship.
Secondary students are invited to spend an evening together worshiping the Lord. Our prayer is that students will be renewed in their walk with Christ, challenge one another to pray without ceasing, dig deep into God's Word, and commit/recommit their lives to Christ.
Middle school and high school students look forward to a special day set aside to get to know one another outside of the classroom and receive spiritual refreshing through group worship. Middle school students enjoy a day retreat, while high school students have an overnight retreat.
It's the day that every senior dreams about and is the culmination of years of hard work. We love celebrating with our graduates and their families during this special ceremony.
Seventh-graders learn to "walk a mile" in the shoes of someone like themselves but living in the two-thirds world during their trip to SIFAT in Alabama. They leave with a better understanding of the world around them and how they can help bring about important change. Eighth-graders see history come alive during their bus trip to colonial Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area.
Juniors and seniors dress up in their finest attire to attend Prom in the spring. Students enjoy a formal dinner at an off-campus venue followed by dancing and lots of selfies!