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Cornerstone Program 2010-2011

Cornerstone Family School is a parent participation program of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. Open to students in grades K through 5, Cornerstone is part of the Ygnacio Valley Elementary School campus in Concord, California.

Philosophy
Parent participation is at the heart of the Cornerstone philosophy. With a solid bridge of communication in place, parents and teachers work together for the benefit of the students.Parents know what happens at school and what is expected of the student. Parents learn effective ways of helping children achieve their goals.

Students benefit from a learning environment which is enhanced by the presence of parents. Hands-on, thematic and developmentally appropriate learning activities are presented by the teacher in a multi-grade setting.

Curriculum
The curriculum includes many opportunities for students to learn from each other in small groups facilitated by a teacher or parent. Adult to pupil ratios are lowered during various instructional times. Individual and small group instruction is made possible through the support of trained parents.

Students are encouraged to apply critical thinking and problem solving in all curricular areas. The curriculum content follows state and additional district guidelines, and includes opportunities for enrichment. The Cornerstone program revolves around a yearly theme. Themes are all-encompassing and integrate social studies, science and language arts. Students go on several field trips throughout the year. Lifeskills and respect for diversity are a vital part of the curriculum.

Each Cornerstone classroom includes a two-grade span: K/1, 2/3 and 4/5. The teachers provide instruction to the class as a whole, while personalizing instruction to meet the developmental and academic needs of each student in the classroom. The three teachers in the Cornerstone Family School Program also team teach and coordinate activities involving all grades.
Program History
The Cornerstone program originated when several parents from the Concord area met for the first time at a workshop on parent-participation elementary schools in San Jose. The workshop offered information about a large body of research indicating that the single most important factor in determining a child’s success in school is parent involvement. Participants of the workshop could also see how their direct involvement in the classroom could provide an enriched learning environment for their children and allow the teacher more opportunity to provide direct instruction to the children. The parents left the workshop convinced that there was a need for a parent-participation elementary program in our district. The program was approved on June 20, 1995 by the Mt. Diablo Board of Education as a pilot project for the 1995-1996 school year located at the Shadelands campus. It began as a one-room schoolhouse with students ranging from Kindergarten to fifth grade. The program started with one devoted teacher, 30 eager students and many committed and caring families. In 1997, the Cornerstone Family School Program was approved as an alternative program and now is a part of the community at Ygnacio Valley Elementary School (YVE). There are now three classrooms: K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. The program continues to grow and develop each year with a stronger commitment to the children and their education. In March 2000, the Cornerstone Family School Program was recognized by the Contra Costa Board of Education as a "Program of Excellence." This is a significant achievement. All Cornerstone Family School Program students and families belong to the community at YVE. Cornerstone students have access to all YVE special programs, as appropriate. YVE special programs include D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), gifted and talented, special education, library and music enrichment and vocal and instrumental music. YVE has a very active Parent/Teacher Association, which supports the work of the teachers, as well as raising funds to benefit the entire YVE school community. Some examples of PTA-funded programs and purchases include technology, instructional materials, outdoor education, and focus on literacy and music/playground equipment. All parents are encouraged to attend YVE PTA meetings and to participate in school functions.
   

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