May has been a month filled with some very extraordinary events.
Cornerstone Students Honored with the Visit of Dr. William Freund, Holocaust Survivor
In keeping with NJ State Code18A:35-28 which requires K-12 instruction on the Holocaust and genocide, our students were honored with a visit from Dr. Freund and his daughter Ms. Nancy Freund-Heller. Dr. Freund is a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor from Germany.
During the Holocaust, people were forced to make moral choices and decisions that impacted individuals, towns, regions, and history itself. Making choices during the Holocaust were matters of life and death for oneself and others and involved not only the physical life of the body, but also a matter of the life of the heart (spirit) and the mind (conscience). While visiting with our students, Dr. Freund shared his family’s journey and the decisions they were forced to make during the Holocaust; as one might imagine, this was a very frightening and uncertain time in their lives. Dr. Freund shared how his family came to America for a chance at a new life, free of religious persecution. Dr. Freund did not squander the opportunities afforded him in America. He started as a shoeshine boy, studied hard, attended Columbia University, and worked his way to be the chief economist at the New York Stock Exchange and professor of Finance at Pace University.
Our students were captivated by the hour-long presentation and by the resiliency and spirit of Dr. Freund. There were many questions, hugs, handshakes, and even some tears.
We are grateful for Dr. Freund’s visit and willingness to share what were surely horrific memories. Thank you, Dr. Freund, and Ms. Nancy Freund-Heller, for your visit.
Cornerstone students and staff wishing you a happy upcoming 98th Birthday!
The Arts and CDS
On Thursday May 23, 2024, CDS showcased the many talents of our students in a variety of venues, singing, poetry, dance, and artwork. Under the direction of Ms. Tobi Engstrom, CDS music teacher the students (and some staff) sang a variety of songs ranging from showtunes, to rock and country ballads including Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” “Burn” from the show Hamilton and “I Love You” by Billie Eilish. In addition, there was a clown act and juggling act with devil sticks. Overall, there were fifteen acts that kept the gymnatorium rocking!
The art show was under the direction of Ms. Costas, the CDS art teacher. Student art displayed included a variety of mediums such as acrylic painting, printmaking/origami, ceramics, pastels, pencil, and Lego art. There were twenty-two artists represented.
Congratulations to all the talented students of Cornerstone. They work hard every day on their therapeutic work, academic skill and they look to the arts for an outlet for expressing a whole host of emotions. The arts are a critical part of our student life here and we celebrate the artist in each one of us.
