Project Cornerstone

Read a book, Change lives! Project Cornerstone 2025-2026 

Welcome to Cherry Chase Project Cornerstone page. Your involvement enriches our children’s education and helps make Cherry Chase a great place for our students. Each year in the ABC (Asset Building Champions) program under Project Cornerstone, parent volunteers will read, lead discussions and conduct activities for the children in their child’s classroom each month. The books, materials and suggested lesson plans are provided at the monthly training sessions held virtually.

The ABC Program runs on a 3 year cycle. Each year has a pre-selected theme and a corresponding set of books and lessons that are read schoolwide by volunteers. Included in each lesson are letters to guardians and staff, schoolwide extensions, and additional resources.

1. Increase relationships and developmental assets for all children and adults. 
2. Increase the number of caring adults that students interact with at school to enable them to feel increased levels of support and value. 
3. Create a common language and vocabulary about respect in each school community. 
4. Use children’s literature to share concepts of caring, interpersonal competence, personal power, resiliency, empathy, integrity, equality and social justice, honesty, and responsibility. 
5. Increase student life skills in decision making, planning, goal setting, building friendships, identification of feelings, taking care of health (physical and emotional), responding to bully behaviors, and peaceful conflict resolution. 
6. Increase student achievement and learning engagement by creating a more caring, positive school climate where all students belong and feel safe.

ABC volunteers :

• Love working with children in a classroom setting. 
• Enjoy reading books out loud to students. 
• Be comfortable leading age-appropriate discussions and activities with students.
• Communicate well with adults and children. 

Time and Length of Commitment:

• September/October to May of the current school year. About 2 hours per month.

Volunteer roles:

• In-class readers: TB-cleared volunteers read and discuss books with students, coordinating with co-readers and teachers. Each class can have 1+ volunteers.
• Volunteering lead(s): Help verify volunteer clearances remotely, mostly between August and October. No TB clearance needed unless also reading in class.
• Administrative lead/program co-chair: Help manage the program, including emails, training setups, book inventory, and organizing materials.

Please sign up using this link (fill one form per child). PTA Volunteering requirements are applicable based on the specific role.

1. Project Cornerstone ABC schools will be reading books for the Building year. The focusof these books is “Inclusion means Everyone.” Inclusion is the full engagement andparticipation of all community members in environments where all feel welcomed,

   respected, and supported. Classroom discussions and activities will enable students to

   practice and internalize these inclusion tools.

   The books we will read this year are:

   • The Grand Hotel of Feelings by Lidia Brankovic (2023)
   • Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (2001)
   • René has Two Last Names by René Colato Laínez (2009)
   • The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (2018)
   • Long Shot by Chris Paul (2009)
   • Enemy Pie by Derek Munson (2000)
   • Fail-a-bration by Brad and Kristi Montague (2024)

Questions? Please contact the Project Cornerstone ABC Leads at projcornerstone@cherrychasepta.org