Project Cornerstone

Be a part of Project Cornerstone at Eaton!

Project Cornerstone’s Asset Building Champions (ABC) program, a YMCA of Silicon Valley Initiative, fosters the development of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for elementary school youth. It is composed of a kindergarten and elementary school strand, with more than 2,900 adults reading to 38,000+ kids in 127 schools.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 in classrooms each month.

The program’s goal is to help school communities achieve the following:

  • Create a common language and vocabulary about student respect and behavior expectations among all members of the school community — students, parents and caregivers, teachers and staff.

  • Help students develop skills to handle physical, verbal, relational and digital bullying and to STAND UP if they see someone else being bullied. 

  • 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 to achieve and thrive. 

Becoming a Project Cornerstone ABC reader involves:

  • Attend an hour-long meeting, once a month during school hours*, to learn about the book, discussion points, and planned activities.

  • Preparation and reading the book in a classroom**, leading the discussion, and delivering the activity.

You’ll also need to:

  • Attend two additional one-time trainings 1) Assets 101 for new readers only and 2) Classroom Management training offered by the Project Cornerstone Coordinator.

  • Meet the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) volunteer requirements. All Eaton volunteers must have their fingerprints and a current negative tuberculous (TB) test on file with CUSD. Please visit the CUSD Volunteering page for more information on how to become eligible to volunteer within CUSD.

*Monthly training dates and time to be determined during school hours.

** You may be offered the option to read to a classroom besides your child’s.