Cornerstone Christian School

Academics

TAPPS News

For the first year ever, Cornerstone Christian School competed in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) league. In our first year, we had great success.

In academics, we had a successful showing.

     • Science overall: Students placed 4th and 5th.
     • Science, Biology: Students placed 2nd and 6th.
     • Science, Chemistry: Students placed 4th and 6th.
     • Science, Physics: A student placed 2nd.
     • Current Events: A student placed 4th.
     • Social Studies: A student placed 6th.
     • Math: A student placed 6th.

Elementary Education:

K4:

K4 develops many social skills for students, as well as fine motor skills. Students will be learning letters and sounds and how to write the letters. They learn, write, and count numbers up to 20. The goal by the end of K4 is for all students to be reading. The curriculum also contains readers for the teacher to use during reading groups. K4 also has Spanish class once a week. Each day begins with Bible; and through-out the year, the students will memorize Bible verses.

K5:

Students will review their letter sounds and begin to learn blends the 1st half of the year. At the start of the second half, students begin reading at the most basic level, starting with words, moving on to groups of words, and then progressing to sentences. The goal at the end of K5 is for students to be able to fluently read small sentences. Students also participate in Spanish, P.E., and library once a week.

First Grade:

Students will memorize character traits and bible verses each week. The Language Arts curriculum includes phonics, grammar, spelling and reading. The reading curriculum covers ten (10) reading books. Cursive handwriting is introduced in penmanship. In addition to the subjects shown above, a first grade student will participate in Physical Education, Spanish, Music, and Art.

Second Grade:

In Second Grade students are taught God's Word through Bible memorization. In Language Arts they finish reviewing phonics sounds and concentrate on creative writing. In math, students learn to borrow when subtracting and start learning their multiplication tables. Also, a big project they participate in is the "Live Museum" where they get the opportunity to portray a character of great faith.

Third Grade:

Third grade at Cornerstone Christian School focuses on personal student growth through academics. Students are challenged in the area of mathematics and social studies, specifically. The groundwork for long division and multiplication is laid, as well as studies in pre-geometry and pre-algebra. Students also take part in a CCS tradition: Live Museum, in which they research a historical figure, then dress as that person and give a speech about them. In addition to the Live Museum, third-graders memorize the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 throughout the course of the year, and recite it for the school in May. These two events are excellent venues of learning to speak in public.

Students receive a well-rounded education in all subjects, and are prepared to enter fourth grade at Cornerstone Christian School.

Fourth Grade:

In fourth grade, we begin by studying Native Americans, Texas History, and the Scientific Method. Each student will write a report on a Texas tribe, and we memorize a poem by Longfellow about "Hiawatha's Childhood." At the end of our study, we present a short skit using the poem. Each student will bring a food that his tribe would have eaten, and we enjoy a "feast."

To aid in our study of Texas History, we take a field trip to Austin. There we visit the Capitol building and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. It is a fun and educational day--we leave CCS at 5:00 A.M. and return about 9:00 P.M.

We learn the Scientific Method so we can present our Science Explorations for our first Cornerstone Christian School Science Fair. We all enjoy learning about our chosen explorations. We are also learning geometry, grammar, and penmanship in fourth grade. It is a fun and exciting year!

Fifth Grade:

Fifth Grade is full of excitement in learning! Bible covers the entire Old Testament, while camping out at the Tabernacle for a while and gleaning wisdom from King Solomon. Mathematics solidifies the basic parts of number sense, including an understanding of place value; practice of estimation; practice of multiplication and division; adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions; identifying decimal usage and computation; recognizing geometrical shapes & measurement; analyze problem solving data, ratios, proportions, percents. Language Arts involves and builds the foundation of the 8 parts of speech; examines the writing process, including creative writing and book reports; relating word roots from Latin and Greek to our language; constructing sentence diagrams; recognizing complements; practicing proper word usage; and evaluating and inspecting elaborate literature to broaden reading comprehension. History consists of a narrative of American History from the development of the automobile in the late 1800's through the inauguration of President Obama in 2009. Topics are presented from a biblical perspective and include the invention and influence of the automobile and airplane, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War, struggles over civil rights, the war on terror, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, and immigration decisions. Science shows how humans use God's creation and design through the study of earth science, space, life science, physical science, study of the human body. Students will learn about minerals and rocks, fossils, matter and heat, sound and light, weather, biomes, ecosystems, and the respiratory and circulatory systems. We're always learning and growing in fifth grade, preparing for the transition to middle school!

Secondary Education:

English:

At Cornerstone Christian School, the English program is designed to enhance skills in language through the use of the grammar and composition series of A Beka. The lessons are designed to provide techniques and strengthen skills which are necessary for effective written expression. For our literature study, we use the BJU Press series. Students read various written works to become familiar with writers, to learn to evaluate types of literature, and to continue to strengthen reading skills. Our objective is to help students develop an understanding of the English language through reading, writing, researching, listening, and speaking all while they are in an atmosphere that promotes faith and inspiration by God and His word.

History:

At Cornerstone Christian School, we strengthen the student's knowledge of God and encourange their Christian growth through a balanced overview of World and American Histories.

• 6th grade: Students study the part of world nations various cultures, economics, governments and geographies. Students will also be able to evaluate and reject false philosophies and religions through biblical truths.

• 7th and 8th grade: Students will study continuity and change in the six spheres of human activity: politics, economics, religion, society, science, and arts. Students will also study about God's supervision of American church history as God's people have interacted with secular society as well as major events, dates, and individuals in each era.

• 9th and 10th grade: Students will study the past of world nations continuity and change in the six spheres of human activity: politics, economics, religion, society, philosophies and religions from biblical truth.

Math:

At Cornerstone Christian School, we offer a dual track math program starting in 7th grade. This gives the opportunity for some students to reach Calculus their senior year. By splitting into two tracks, we have created smaller math classes giving the students more one-on-one time with the teacher. One of the focuses of the department, besides mathematics, is building their critical reasoning skills by working with stated problems and logic puzzles. The curriculum we use is BJU press for 6th grade math, Fundamentals of Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus. For Geometry, we use Holt McDougal Larson Geometry. In Calculus, we are using Calculus Early Transcendentals by Briggs and Cochran through My Math Lab. My Math Lab has the Calculus text book and homework online.

Science:

At Cornerstone Christian School, all science is supported biblically and encourages students to worship God in the midst of studying His greatness so evident in creation. All secondary students have the opportunity to compete in Science Fair, from the school level up to the Internationals. Some of our graduates have received scholarships for their work in this area.

• 6th grade: Students cover a great variety of topics. Content ranges from volcanoes and earthquakes to electricity and magnetism, from basic chemistry to astronomy.

• 7th grade: Students go into detail about the foundational principles of Life Science. Some topics include genetics and gene replication, animal classification, basic vertebrate anatomy, and human physiology.

• 8th grade: Students study complex subjects within the realm of Earth Science. A few of those subjects consist of plate tectonics, ocean exploration, weather systems, rock formation, Earth's anatomy, and matter beyond Earth.

• 9th grade: Biology students investigate life. The main units include botany, zoology, ecology, and introduction to human anatomy and physiology. A great number of labs involve microscopy. Dissection of various preserved specimens will occur throughout the course.

• 10th grade: Chemistry students study the composition and reaction of matter. Topics include measurement, atomic structure, elements, chemical bonding, calculations, phases, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids/bases, oxidation-reduction, and introduction to organic chemistry.

• 11th grade: Anatomy and Physiology students explore the structure and function of these human body systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive. During the course, there are labs that involve mammalian dissections.

• 12th grade: Physics students will explore the science of motion and forces. Some topics include: mechanics, Newton's laws, special relativity, properties of matter, heat, sound and light, electricity and magnetism, and atomic/nuclear physics.

Cornerstone Christian School

1502 N. Jefferson Street
San Angelo, TX 76901
325-655-3439

info@ccs-sanangelo.com

Affiliations

ACSI

TAAPS

TAPPS

Our Mission

The mission of Cornerstone Christian School is to provide a Christ-centered, accredited education for students in an environment where God and education come together. Cornerstone graduates will be prepared both spiritually and academically to serve God faithfully and be a light unto the world as they proceed in life.