Introducing Fresh Electives and Concentrations for 2025-26
Tuesday, January 28, 2025, marked the time again for our annual State of the School address. We were so grateful to see so many of our families in attendance at this yearly event. This kicks off our re-enrollment period for the 2025-26 school year and is an opportunity for the Cornerstone Board of Directors and the administration team to showcase the current state of the school, our future academic plans, and our commitment to a Biblical worldview as we partner and grow in grace together.
In an emotional farewell, our beloved Head of School, Marsha Robbins, reflected on the impact of this incredible community and reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to keeping Christ at the center of all we do.
After opening with a powerful worship moment led by faculty and staff, attendees had the opportunity to hear from a few graduates who have called Cornerstone home and shared how the firm foundation and Christian discipleship received during their time here have equipped them for life post-graduation.
- Emily Bergquist Johnstone (2015), Elementary Teacher at Sanders Elementary School
- JT Snyder (2019), Financial Advisor for Thrivent
- Michelle Castro Souza J.D. (2019), Prosecutor
- Joshua Greene (2020), Youth Pastor at Mount Paran North Church
After Mr. Nolan's interview with graduates, he unveiled Cornerstone’s Portrait of a Graduate—a vision for equipping students spiritually, academically, and personally.
In alignment with Cornerstone’s pursuit of academic excellence, we are launching new concentration areas for our high school students, carefully crafted to cultivate their talents and interests. These programs are more than just classes—they’re opportunities for exploration, designed to ignite curiosity and empower every student to achieve their greatest potential. Your encouragement and insights have been instrumental in shaping these initiatives, and we’re deeply thankful to partner with you in this journey. Together, we’re building a learning community filled with purpose, hope, and limitless opportunities.
Below, you’ll find more detailed information, and as always, we are honored to partner with you as we look forward to a new school year.
New Concentration Areas
Cornerstone Prep’s concentration areas are designed to provide students with a personalized and immersive educational experience, allowing them to explore their passions and develop expertise in key academic fields. By expanding elective opportunities, these concentrations not only deepen students’ knowledge but also enrich their overall academic journey, ensuring they graduate with a well-rounded and robust portfolio that reflects their unique interests and strengths.
- STEM Concentration (5 Units)
- Humanities Concentration (5 Units)
- Classical Concentration (5 Units)
- Foreign Language Concentration (5 Units)
- Fine Arts Concentration (5 Units)
New Secondary Electives
Middle School:
Art of Chemistry
The Art of Chemistry offers middle school students an exciting and creative introduction to the practical applications of chemistry. By making tangible products and exploring the science behind them, students will gain confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and cultivate a lasting interest in STEM.
Etiquette
In this course, students will explore the fundamentals of etiquette, encompassing manners, communication skills, and respectful behavior in various social settings. Through interactive activities, practical activities, and discussions on topics such as dining etiquette, digital communication, and conversation skills, students will gain confidence in navigating both formal and informal situations.
High School:
Analytical Geometry Honors
This course is designed for advanced students who are capable of a more rigorous course at an accelerated pace. Students will be introduced to a balanced study of analytical geometry, theorems, and real-life geometry. Area, volume, congruence, similarity, space, transformations, constructions, and trigonometry are included, as well as some proofs. Students will examine Geometry from a scriptural viewpoint. Students in this course are automatically enrolled in Math Lab. Students will need a TI30 calculator.
Astronomy
In this course, students will be introduced to the universe beyond our planet. The course will explore the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the broader cosmos, emphasizing observational techniques, the laws of physics that govern celestial bodies, and humanity’s place in the universe. This will include discussion of the Big Bang Theory and the Creation Narrative with a focus on apologetics.
Botany: Plant Science
In this course, students will explore God's creation through botany. Students will analyze plant anatomical structures, functions and processes. They will study plant divisions based on current taxonomic principles. Students will describe Georgia's physiographic ecoregions, their representative natural plant communities and their conservation. We will analyze the diversity of plant adaptations and the impact of plant diseases and pests on plant defense systems and agriculture.
Finance
This introductory course exposes students to the basic principles of finance - learning about capital, financial statements, the time value of money, stocks and bonds, and dividends in today’s business environment. Other topics covered in this course include taxes, cash flow, risk and return, options and corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.
Intro to Adobe Creative Suite
This one-semester course will provide students with an immersive, hands-on experience designed to equip students with essential skills in the Adobe Creative Suite, including industry-standard applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.
Sports Analytics - Statistics
This course will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how data helps drive some of the greatest success stories in sports. The course will explore how the data process (collection, organization, analyzation, and visualization) can help athletes maximize their performance and teams win more games. Students will dive into the statistics of their own chosen sport, taking the passion for sports and merge it with statistical analysis to build an unbiased view on performance on the field and court. Learn to use Python to analyze team performance in sports while discovering a variety of techniques. Students will be challenged and empowered to explore their own ideas about sports team performances, test them out using the data, and become producers of sports analytics.
Criminology
Rooted in a firm Biblical foundation, this course is designed to examine theories regarding the nature and cause of criminal behavior and society’s response. It approaches crime from a philosophical, psychological, and sociological perspective. Most importantly, this course strives to integrate a biblical perspective to our understanding of both crime and correction.
Human Growth & Development
Rooted in a firm Biblical foundation, this course is a study of the concepts, theories, and research in developmental psychology. The study of human growth and development encompasses the physical, psychological, and social changes as they occur throughout the lifespan, and this course will focus on the psychological aspects of that change. Life stages from prenatal development through adulthood including perspectives on aging and death will be covered.
The History of Warfare
This course will survey the evolution of warfare from antiquity to the present. Issues presented include changing human cultures and societies, the impact of evolving political norms, technological advances, and the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by believers in regard to warfare. There will be a careful examination of great military leaders and their unique styles of leadership beginning with examples from scripture such as Abraham, David, and others, and progressing through recorded human history to the modern age. This course will integrate critical thinking skills and biblical worldview in an examination of causes, justifications, and consequences of warfare throughout history.
Rhetoric
This course delves into the timeless principles of rhetoric as outlined in Aristotle’s Rhetoric. It explores the essential components of persuasion, including the three appeals, the three types of speech, and the five canons of rhetoric. Students will analyze and discuss classic texts such as Pericles’s “Funeral Oration” and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” They will be equipped with the tools to speak and write with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Intro to Graphic Design
This course provides a foundational understanding of visual communication principles. The creative process in developing effective visual solutions for various media including logos, posters, and website graphics is highlighted in the course while exploring key design elements like color theory, typography and layout. This elective course may be taken once during high school.
We are thrilled that you continue to call Cornerstone home. Please make sure to share your Cornerstone story with friends and families as we build our school together! Our next Information Meeting will be tomorrow, January 30 at 9 a.m. in the Den.
Did you know Cornerstone offers a referral reward? When you are speaking to friends about Cornerstone, ask them to put your name down on their application as the person who referred them. Once the student is registered for classes, you will receive an email from Mrs. Freiler notifying you of a $500 referral credit on your family billing. It's that simple!
In Other News
They may be small, but their impact Is HUGE. From creative fundraising ideas to thoughtful acts of generosity, these students are proving that even the smallest effort can lead to BIG change. You won't want to miss all the ways our students are leading the charge!
Congratulations to our spellers.
This season was nothing short of incredible! The Cornerstone swim team set new records, state qualifiers, and a top-8 finish, the best in four years! Competing against 285 swimmers from 17 schools, Cornerstone athletes proved they’re a force to be reckoned with. Click below to find out how this season was one for the books, and how the future looks even brighter!
Go, Cougars!
At last night’s State of the School, attendees were inspired by alumni testimonies, presented with our Portrait of a Graduate vision, and heard about our exciting new electives as well as game-changing high school concentration areas. Don’t miss out—click below for all the incredible highlights revealed last night.