A graphic showing what constitutes emotional intelligence. It includes Self-Awareness, Motivation, Empathy, Social Skills, and Self-Regulation.
 

Thanks to all of our parent volunteers at Landels, our students have learned valuable life-skills that they can use in the classroom, on the playground, and at home. Creating a common language and a “tool belt” of strategies for identifying, naming and resolving issues has empowered students to resolve more of their own issues and has made it easier for teachers to address issues when they do come up.

The theme for the 2023-2024 school year is Empathy. Read on for more information on the program and how to get involved.

What is Project Cornerstone?

Project Cornerstone’s literature-based program for kids (Asset Building Champions (ABC)) addresses important issues like respect, tolerance, honesty, peaceful conflict resolution, taking a stand against bullying behaviors, and refusing to participate in gossip. Volunteers are trained in the developmental assets model for positive youth development, and prepared to read a specially selected children’s book and lead related activities and discussions that help teach valuable lessons related to these issues each month.

Project Cornerstone ABC Goals:

  • Create a common language and vocabulary to use when discussing student respect and behavior expectations.

  • Help students develop the social-emotional skills needed to build strong friendships, deal with bullying, solve problems, be UPstanders, work through their emotions, include others, show empathy, have a growth mindset, develop a sense of self-efficacy and believe in themselves.   

  • Increase the number of caring adults on campus so that all students feel that there is at least one adult they can turn to if they have a problem.

  • Contribute to a positive school climate where every student feels valued and supported in order to achieve and thrive.

Learn The Project Cornerstone Lingo

Have you been stumped when your kids say, “he dipped into my bucket”?  Or, “don’t take the hook”? These expressions are straight from the ABC stories.

Parents are encouraged to learn more about the program, the lessons, and the lingo by:

Three Years of Books

The Project Cornerstone ABC program is a cumulative curriculum spanning 3 years, with 7-8 books per year. Multiple copies of all the books are available in the library thanks to funding from the PTA. For a list of this year’s books, please see this year’s ABC link of our Cornerstone Books.

A summary of each lesson will be shared monthly by readers in each classroom.

Get Involved – Become a Volunteer Reader!

Spending an hour in your child's class can make a world of difference!  It's a great opportunity for moms, dads, grandparents, nannies and family friends to support children in a meaningful way.  Training, books, discussion topics, and classroom activities are provided. In a normal year, volunteer commitment is approximately 3 hours/month for the eight months. Normally you would expect:

One Time:

NEW volunteers must:

  • attend a one-time Assets 101 training session online (120 minutes)

  • complete a Project Cornerstone/YMCA volunteer application (3 minutes, online)

ALL volunteers must:

Every Month: 

ALL volunteers must:

  • attend a book training for Landels’ readers 

  • prepare for the lessons they will teach (45 - 60 minutes)

  • read book, discuss topic, and lead activity in classroom (45 - 60 minutes)

Volunteer sign-ups are for the whole school year. The program is designed to have one or two readers per room, and readers are expected to be present each month. To become a volunteer or for more information, contact Landels’ Project Cornerstone lead(s) at: projectcornerstone@landelspta.org