About Us

Why Cornerstone?

Mission and Vision Statement

Our mission at cornerstone as caregivers and teachers is to value the individuality of each child. We vow to care with patience, respect, and integrity. It is essential to strengthen the self-esteem and help them to feel important.

The Vision at Cornerstone Academy is first to value and empower our teachers while they are at Cornerstone. We understand the importance of having cared for teachers so that they in return can care and teach with passion. When students graduate or leave Cornerstone our students will have developed a love for learning. Our goal is that they become self-efficient when they have to solve a problem.

Educational Philosophy

We believe in nurturing the whole child-heart, mind, body, and spirit-through a loving, Christ-centered environment that celebrates each child's unique identity and encourages a lifelong love of learning.

We honor freedom to be who they love, creating a space where children feel safe, accepted, and free to express themselves as they grow in confidence and compassion.

Our approach to education is holistic, blending academic foundations with emotional, social, and spiritual growth. Children explore the world through curiosity and play, while also developing meaningful connections with their peers, teachers, and faith.

We believe deeply in the power of partnership with parents. A child's best learning happens when home and school walk hand in hand. We strive for 100% collaboration, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared responsibility in every child's journey.

Our preschool is rooted in Christian values, encouraging a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We integrate Bible stories and scripture memory into our daily rhythm, helping children understand God's love and truth in ways that speak to their hearts.

Above all, we aim to plant seeds of kindness, curiosity, and faith that will flourish for a lifetime.

Curriculum

We have embraced the Reggio Emilia emergent curriculum. Emergent curriculum focuses on the skills, interests, and needs of the children. Our teachers pay close attention and document the interests, skills, and/or needs of the children. Our lesson plans are then geared toward the skills, interests, and/or needs of the students.

Cornerstone Academy Northwest Arkansas is also a play-based learning school. We believe children learn best when they are having fun. Our goal is that when children graduate from Cornerstone Academy they are ready for kindergarten and have developed a love for learning

The preschool classroom has an added curriculum. The curriculum is for the older preschool students in the preschool classroom who will be starting Kindergarten the following school year.

Core Components

1. Math (Singapore Math)

Focus on number sense, counting, addition/subtraction within 10, patterns, and basic geometry.

• Use concrete-pictorial-abstract approach (manipulatives → pictures → numbers).

2. Literacy (Heggerty)

• Daily phonemic awareness activities: rhyming, blending, segmenting, initial/final sounds.

• Letter recognition and sound correspondence.