This Friday, our 1st grade class students enjoyed a fantastic learning adventure at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, where they participated in a wonderful class called Phase Changes. The lesson tied in beautifully with our current exploration of the three states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases. Through hands-on, engaging experiments, the children discovered how water can change between all three states under certain conditions, especially when temperature changes. The

On January 19, 2026, Cornerstone School warmly welcomed 13 students from our sister school in Taiwan, Tzu Chi, as part of their biennial visit. Hosted here at Cornerstone, this marked our second time welcoming students from Taiwan for this special cultural exchange. The program has proven to be a deeply meaningful opportunity for both schools; students gained firsthand insight into each other’s cultures, while teachers exchanged rich and valuable pedagogical experiences. Duri

This past Sunday, January 25, the Palo Alto Community Center was filled with festive energy as our 2nd through 5th-grade full-day students returned to the stage for the community’s Chinese New Year celebration. It was a proud moment for our school as our young performers shared their talents and cultural heritage with the local Palo Alto community. Starting at 3 p.m., our students took the stage to dazzle the audience with energetic dance performances and clever magic shows.

On January 23rd, the 4th Grade Koi Class visited Angel Island as part of an educational field trip focused on California history. During the visit, students examined the island’s role as a former immigration station and its significance during key periods in the state’s development. The experience provided students with the opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real historical site, offering firsthand insight into the people and events that shaped California’s cultural

On January 23rd, 2026, the Kindergarten Hippo Class had an incredible opportunity to visit the Palo Alto Police Station, Fire Department, and City Hall—all in one day! This special outing was carefully planned as part of their social science theme on community and good citizenship, giving students a chance to see firsthand what it takes to be real-life community leaders. It was a wonderful experience for the students to learn about the importance of collaboration and open com

We are thrilled to announce that our talented Grade 2-5 students have launched the second issue of  The Student Chronicle ! This special edition is packed with creativity to lift your holiday spirits and showcase the incredible hard work of our young writers and artists. Please click the  link  to enjoy.

On December 19, the magic of learning came to life at our Louis Campus as students from Grades 2 to 5 hosted an unforgettable Winter Production. The event began with an open classroom session, where students invited their parents to review their academic progress and share the milestones of their learning journey. Our second graders turned scientific concepts into an interactive experience. Through creative skits and engaging games, they demonstrated the principles of sound a

On December 18, our Manuela Campus was transformed into a space filled with laughter, pride, and the unmistakable joy of learning. We concluded the first semester with a heartwarming Winter Fair hosted by our Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, followed by a series of delightful Winter Performances featuring our Pre-3, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st-grade classes. The fair was a brilliant showcase of our students’ academic growth and hands-on discovery: Kindergarten "Seed" Speci

Our recent Open Houses on November 8 and December 6 were about more than just showcasing our Preschool–G5 bilingual immersion program—they were a vibrant celebration of our community in action. We took immense pride in watching our students put their leadership, communication, and public speaking skills into practice. Whether they were managing the Book Fair, mentoring younger peers through arts and crafts, or confidently presenting our curriculum to guests, our students prov

Cornerstone students were back at it again! We were honored to be invited by the Palo Alto Children's Library  to help transform their space into a winter wonderland. ❄️ Our students took the lead on designing and setting up winter-themed photo booths. From brainstorming placements to the final touches, they worked independently and collaboratively to bring the holiday spirit to life. The library staff were blown away by their creativity, initiative, and teamwork! To wrap up

On November 17 and December 8, our young artists participated in a special pottery art event that sparked excitement throughout the school. Throughout the sessions, the children eagerly explored a variety of colors, experimenting with bright, vibrant hues as they painted their pottery pieces. Their creativity flowed freely as they designed unique patterns, characters, and shapes, each piece reflecting their individual imagination and artistic style. By the end of the event, e

We are thrilled to announce the birth of The Student Chronicle (建基学生报)!  This is our very first volume, dated Friday, November 21, 2025 . The Chronicle is a student-led, bilingual newspaper and a public forum for campus news and events , aiming to be a home for personal expression and creative writing beyond the classrooms. We want to acknowledge that all articles, poems, and riddles were composed by students who voluntarily spent their own time to submit their entries.   We

On November 20th, our Kindergarten and first-grade students enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea party at the Manuela Campus. In the days leading up to the event, they worked together enthusiastically—designing and crafting invitation cards for all the teachers, preparing a variety of snacks, and decorating their classroom to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. On the day of the celebration, students paired up to personally deliver their handmade invitations and kindly invite

On November 7th, students enjoyed another engaging and educational visit to the Palo Alto Junior Museum. This time, they explored the fascinating world of microcosms by learning how to use microscopes and observing various species of plankton. Students were thrilled to prepare their own slides and examine microorganisms commonly found in the Baylands, including nematodes, flatworms, and diatoms. The hands-on experience sparked curiosity and excitement as students discovered t

On November 7th, the kindergarteners enjoyed perfect weather for their field trip to Rancho San Antonio County Park. During their visit, students spotted wild turkeys and deer, collected a variety of seeds, and classified them by size, shape, and other characteristics. Despite the long walk, the children’s spirits remained high—hands were held, songs were sung, and encouragement was shared every step of the way, showcasing their cooperation and resilience. Back in the classro

On September 12, the 2nd Grade Grizzly Bear Class visited the Palo Alto Junior Museum to deepen their understanding of magnets and magnetism. During the trip, second graders explored the science behind maglev trains and applied their new knowledge to design and build their own miniature versions. Students demonstrated curiosity, creativity, and teamwork as they tackled the challenges of the engineering process. Their enthusiasm for learning was evident throughout the day. Con

On Friday, October 24, the third graders in the Hawk Class embarked on an educational field trip to the Foothill Nature Preserve to explore an intriguing question: Could you survive as an Ohlone? Throughout the day, students learned about the daily lives of the Ohlone Native Americans, studying traditional tools and identifying native plants that were once essential for food, medicine, and shelter. The hands-on activities offered students a deeper understanding of how the Ohl

On October 31st, 2025, our 2nd through 5th graders culminated a month of dedication and creativity in a spectacular event! For this special celebration, the students teamed up into eight mixed-grade groups to bring their original, student-created stories to life. The event fostered cross-grade collaboration, where students demonstrated remarkable maturity by teaming up across grade levels. Showing great initiative, the groups were entirely self-organized, using their break ti

The Kindergarten End-of-Theme Learning Presentation, held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, was an outstanding success! The event provided a dynamic platform for our young learners to showcase their deep understanding of various subjects and demonstrate exceptional confidence and presentation skills. Parents, teachers, and students all shared in a memorable and engaging afternoon. The primary goal—to encourage student-led instruction and public speaking—was achieved with flying

The Flying Dragon Class took a field trip on October 24th at the Palo Alto Junior Museum , to explore the water sewage process in relation to their current social science theme about environmental conservation. During the trip, the students learned about the different steps of the water filtration process, including aeration, coagulation and sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, and reflected on the importance of preventing pollution. The trip provided students the op