Project Cornerstone at Mistral

What is Project Cornerstone?

Project Cornerstone is a Social Emotional Learning Curriculum and Program run by a non-profit group within the YMCA. Over 300 schools in 3 counties partner with Project Cornerstone to support volunteers reading in the classroom. The core of the program is volunteer readings, discussions and activities in the class. Lessons are centered around subjects of self-esteem, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, relationship skills, positive communication, personal values and community values. 

The program is a 3-year curriculum of pre-selected books. The books are chosen by the YMCA Project Cornerstone. Mistral parent leadership takes the books, lessons and activities and adapts them for our specific community. Each year, parent and community volunteers are placed in reading teams, trained on books and lessons and read to classes, approximately once a month. 

To make this program accessible to our whole community, Mistral parents worked to make the books, trainings and curriculum all available in both Spanish and English. Mistral is one of the only schools that conducts the program bilingually. We’ve run this successful program at Mistral for over ten years. The books and lessons are secondary to the connections and relationships each volunteer (aka ‘caring adults’) make with students – therefore, it is essential that we conduct the program bilingually.

The time commitment is essentially one hour of training a month. Plus, 45 minutes in the classroom. (Unless a volunteer reads in more than one class, which is a great return on the training time invested and very appreciated.) Many parents prefer to read in their own child’s class and that is supported. But, many parents have found that being a ‘caring adult’ for other students is a very rewarding opportunity. The Project Cornerstone slogan “Read a book; change a life” reflects not just the student benefit. Over the years we’ve heard time and time again, the growth and lessons our ‘caring adult’ volunteers have gained from Project Cornterstone.

For each PC book the central message is shared out with parents, teachers and staff in the month the book is read by a letter home and Quetzal newsletter article. 

If you would like more information about Project Cornerstone the program or volunteering, please contact:

Fernanda Huerta, fernanda.huerta86@gmail.com

Cendikia Utama, cendikiadewi@gmail.com