Church Blog

Joy and Hope

Cornerstone is a thriving Christ-centered K–12th-grade school situated in Southeast Washington, D.C. The school’s recent high school math and reading test scores show that 78 percent of students are performing above grade level, a stark contrast to the 18 percent scoring above grade level at the local public high school. Cornerstone also expanded college support services this past school year, resulting in seniors applying to 48 schools and 100 percent of the graduating class enrolling in college!

Several members of the Mission DMV committee have been privileged to visit this highly successful school and meet with a number of teachers, students, and staff. The atmosphere is one of love, respect, academic excellence, and focus on the life and gospel message of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to hear the stories of joy and hope found on the Cornerstone School website.

Supporting the Mission

Fourth Fellows are committed to tutor and mentor students at Cornerstone most every week during the school year, a caring and encouraging ministry which both the Fellows and the students love. There are a variety of ways others in the Fourth Church community can volunteer to help promote Cornerstone’s remarkably successful Christian mission.

We hope and pray that a broad spectrum of the Fourth Church community will be interested in supporting the Christ-centered mission of Cornerstone Schools. Here are some of the ways to get involved; you can always visit the school’s website to see all the volunteer options:

• At-Home Library Project: Purchase a specific set of books from a Cornerstone-curated list to help students build their own libraries at home. Interested volunteers are also able to assist with book distribution to students.
• College and Career Connections: Share your college and career experiences with high school students, and potentially mentor an individual student or provide site visits or internships at your place of employment.
• Fall Backpack Drive: Individuals or small groups can “adopt” a K–6 classroom and provide backpacks and all required school supplies for a whole class.
• Partner Program: Cornerstone’s Partner Program allows 2nd–6th-grade students to build meaningful relationships with their Partners during several events throughout the school year. Partners encourage, pray for, and walk closely with their student. Learn more about the Cornerstone Partner Program.
• Prayer Team: Members of the Prayer Team will receive regular prayer updates from Cornerstone, as well as urgent prayer requests via email. Prayer is a vital part of Cornerstone’s ministry to its students, parents, staff, and volunteers. We have full confidence that the Lord hears us as we bring our requests before him (1 John 5:14).
• Tutoring: Individuals with specific skill sets or expertise in our core curriculum subjects offer additional instruction to students needing extra support. Tutors are supported by our Academic Dean to work with students individually and in small groups on a consistent basis, requiring a weekly commitment of two hours.
• Snack Pantry: Churches and volunteers adopt a week to fill the snack pantry with items selected by school staff.
• Other: Share other skills or interests that might benefit Cornerstone.

A Place of Refuge

This past spring, Cornerstone hosted its 25th Anniversary dinner, which also helped fund the school’s scholarship program. It was a joyous evening of fellowship and celebration, hearing from students and key figures in Cornerstone’s history. A highlight of the evening was listening to Cornerstone senior, Grace, reflect on her time at the school:

“Cornerstone to me is a family and a place of refuge every day. The teachers and staff never fail to uplift and encourage me as a woman, as a Christian, and as an African American. I am so blessed to be able to go here.”