Viewpoint Magazine: Fall 2022

FRIENDS

GRADUATES

VIEWPOINT’S GRADUATING

CLASS OF 2022: may our energy and determination be our greatest blessing. Let us not be satisfied with mediocre and constantly strive for more. May we take on our personal and professional endeavors with the same gusto and grit that we applied to them during our time in high school. May we take on our daily challenges big and small with an open mind and heart. And lastly and most importantly, may we go forth today and take on the world as conscientious, righteous adults who look to make the world a better place with our merits and maybe even a touch of humor.”

BENJAMIN

Viewpoint on the

THE VIEWPOINT MAGAZINE

Editor: Monica Case ’90

Chief Marketing Officer: Christy Salcido

Assistant Head of School for External Affairs: Maureen M. Nash

Creative Director and Photography: Bill Youngblood

Art Direction and Design: Dog Ear Design

Additional Photography: Louis Felix, A.J. Hernandez ’04

Head of School: Mark McKee

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022-23

Jill Schecter, Board Chair

Michelle Bradway, Board Vice  Chair, Co-Chair,Advancement

Kafi Blumenfield, Board Vice Chair

Michael Murphy, Secretary

Lisa Austin, Vice Chair,Committee

on Trustees

Judy Gawlik Brown, Vice Chair,  Finance

Myra Chen

Mary Conlin, Chair, Committee

on Trustees

Carolyn DeFanti*

Tim Fish, Chair, Strategic Futures Robert Flachs

Dirk Gates

Ron Gillyard, Chair, Diversity,  Equity, Inclusion Task Force

Will Go, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair,  Strategic Futures

John Heubusch, Chair, Finance Tran Ho, M.D.* Peggy Jones, Chair, Building  and Grounds

Andy Kieffer* Jon Merriman* John Nadolenco Pam Shriver

Sarah Spano ’05, Co-Chair,  Advancement Brian Wynn ’85 David ZeBrack, Vice Chair,  Building and Grounds

* New Trustee

The Viewpoint Magazine is published by the Viewpoint Educational Foundation. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our apologies and notify us.

Viewpoint School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, its admission policies, scholarships, and athletic or other School-administered programs.

Viewpoint School 23620 Mulholland Highway Calabasas, CA 91302-2060 www.viewpoint.org

Viewpoint magazine received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Circle of Excellence Grand Gold CASE Winner in 2019, the CASE District VII Grand Gold Winner in 2019, and the CASE District VII Gold Award in 2017 and 2018.

Gratitude.

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 11, I watched as my daughter and 114 of her fellow classmates in the Class of 2022 graduated from Viewpoint. Madeleine began at the School in Kindergarten, so I have known many of these students for thirteen years. I have loved watching them learn and grow and become extraordinary young people who are so ready and eager to meet the world outside of our beautiful canyon.

As we were mingling with the crowd of families, friends, and faculty after the ceremony, my daughter was greeted by two of her Kindergarten teachers with hugs and encouraging words, “We have been watching you all of these years, and are so proud of you.” Both of them also had sent cards. This meant the world to her. Just knowing that she had been thought of so many years later by these two wonderful educators was symbolic of her entire experience at Viewpoint. She was always seen, known, and cared for. To have my daughter educated in such an environment, secure within the warm embrace of this community, has been a gift for which I will always be grateful.

I know this feeling was shared by many of my fellow parents on that very hot, but joyful Saturday. Even braving the sunshine in compliance with COVID best practices we were all thrilled to be together to celebrate the graduates and their many accomplishments. All of the speakers that day referenced the challenges of the last few years and spoke of resilience. And it is true that these times have demanded a lot of everyone. In his remarks to the seniors, Head of School Mark McKee also spoke of the profound sense of gratitude he had seen expressed by these students. They were grateful to be together each day in the classroom and at sporting events and couldn’t wait to cheer each other on. They embraced every senior school tradition and wore their pink the color for the Class of 2022 with pride. Not a moment of their senior year was taken for granted. Viewpoint was their home and they were savoring their time at school together.

In addition to celebrating our seniors, in this issue, we also are recognizing the 15 faculty and staff members who have worked at Viewpoint for 30 years or more, including Cathy Adelman, Head of Primary School, who just completed her 45th school year. When asked what made them stay all of the years, they all said it was the people. At Viewpoint, each of them had made lifelong friendships that enriched their lives, and their commitment to the School was an expression of their gratitude for this community that had become their family.

During the pandemic, one of the biggest losses was the opportunity to hear live music. For me, one of the best parts of returning to school was hearing the jazz students rehearsing in the ECOLET outside my office window each morning before school. As I started my day to Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,” during those 45-degree mornings I couldn’t help but be impressed by the dedication that got them out of a warm bed to play in their cold outdoor classroom. You can read more about these committed young musicians in the article “Morning Music,” but once again it is easy to see their early morning practices as an expression of gratitude for the creative outlet, for the break from academic work, for the pure joy of playing together.

As we conclude our celebration of the School’s 60th anniversary year and our 60 years of enduring values love, honor, excellence, imagination, optimism let us all be grateful to be a part of this extraordinary community, where the love of learning and our love for one another bind us together in a shared purpose to create exceptional graduates who are ready for their exciting futures beyond Viewpoint.

Mission, Vision, Values

OUR MISSION

To create exceptional readiness for extraordinary futures by cultivating the critical skill set, courageous mindset, and resilient identity of each individual Viewpoint student.

OUR VISION

A school where tradition connects us and innovation propels us

A community where families value unity in diversity

A world where education changes lives

Monica Case ’90

Rooted

and Transformed.

DEAR VIEWPOINT COMMUNITY,

PRIDE AND JOY. These words so often associated with the arrival of a new life on the planet also capture the intense emotions of our annual Commencement. These opening pages capture the unbounded pride and whole-hearted joy that characterized the graduation of the Class of 2022 in June. This senior class whose Ninth-Grade year was interrupted by the Woolsey Fire, sending three-fourths of our community into evacuation, whose Tenth and Eleventh Grade years were marred by pandemic shutdowns navigated their senior year with appreciation and gratitude. And our first full-scale Commencement in three years was an experience of the pride and joy we feel in their journey, their achievements, and their readiness for the future.

This school year we also celebrated our Diamond Jubilee, celebrating the educational mission, vision, values, and community that have characterized Viewpoint since our founding in 1961. The world has changed, and changed again, since the first meetings of those visionary parents who founded Viewpoint so that they might have the best education for their children. But throughout including now there is a thread of values, connection, and purpose that can still be seen and felt in our canyon. Our wise and visionary Board of Trustees adopted a vision statement in 2020 of “a school where tradition connects us and innovation propels us,” and that vision can be seen in our programs and in these pages. Looking back at the past school year from the vantage point of summer, this vision came true in 2022, truer than ever.

Returning to a full year in-person who ever would have imagined that was a milestone? our Viewpoint community cherished the return to familiar traditions. Convocation was done in hybrid form, but it kicked off a year that brought back Homecoming, spirit days, Primary and Lower School assemblies, the Arts Festival, and live music and theatre, and cheering for our teams on the sidelines and in a packed gym as our Girls Basketball team won their first CIF championship, their first year in Division I. Our Third Grade even squeezed in their Fifty State Song on Blaney Patio on the last day of school, lest we neglect that old favorite.

As we were united by traditions, though, we also were relentlessly innovating to capture the best insights we learned though the pandemic, as a whole school and in each classroom. The tragedy of the global pandemic was also a massive experience of learning of an opportunity to learn and just as we “learned our way through” to keep our

community safe, we also “learned our way out” to ensure that like our graduates, Viewpoint would be better, ready for the future.

Innovation expert Michael B. Horn, whose work on disruptive innovation in K-12 and higher education inspires me, has written a book From Reopen to Reinvent that challenges schools not to go “back to normal” but, as Viewpoint has done, to find a “blueprint to reinvent the current education system.” In an interview about the book, he said, “the game of schooling is distracting from the real purpose, which is to prepare our students to be living in such a complex world as adults when they graduate. And for that, we need a positive-sum system that escapes this zero-sum mindset and allows people to really figure out who they are and develop their specific mix of passionate potential.”

His words echo our world-ready promise, which extends in the words of our mission “to each individual Viewpoint student.”

So Happy 60th Birthday, Viewpoint! (Or happy 61st, now.) The best way we celebrate six decades of Viewpoint tradition is by ensuring that we are both rooted and transformed. Rooted in the values and traditions that give us a distinctive identity, mission, and purpose, and transformed for the world into which our children are growing and assuming roles of leadership.

A favored leadership theory of mine goes that leadership provides both safety and challenge, as both security and risk are necessary for learning. Learning requires both comfort, connection, and family; and adventure, optimism, and imagination. Tradition and innovation.

As our faculty and staff returned from summer, I shared with them a quote, “A Ship in Harbor is Safe, but that is not what Ships are Built For.” As we look back on the year and the 60 years that were, we set out boldly on a new journey each September, with pride and joy.

Go Patriots!

Mark J. McKee Head of School

MARK MCKEE Head of School

“I have just finished my 45th school year at Viewpoint, and I would say that I knew when I was 12 or 13 years old that I wanted to be a teacher.”

CATHY ADELMAN

a conversation

WHERE EDUCATION CHANGES LIVES

By Monica Case ’90 Director of Content Strategy

ON JUNE 11, THE DAY OF THE EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION and the day before Graduation, Mark McKee, Head of School; Bob Bryan, Associate Head of School; Alan Howie, Head of Upper School; Steve Chan, Head of Middle School; Claudia Antoine, Head of Lower School; and Cathy Adelman, Head of Primary School, gathered together on Zoom for their first-ever recorded group conversation. Below is an excerpt of that conversation. What drew you to become educators, and in the case of the Division Heads, why this particular age group? Also, can you tell us how long you have been at Viewpoint?

Claudia Antoine: I am just completing my 31st school year at Viewpoint. I always loved working with children, but I actually set out to be a child psychologist. Then I realized I could spend a lot more time with the children being an educator than I could just seeing them an hour a week, and could make more of a difference. As for why Lower School? I love this age group, it’s the latency period of childhood and they are old enough to be independent but

young enough to still want to please you, and they’re very funny and they really try hard. It’s a delightful age group to work with.

Cathy Adelman: I have just finished my 45th school year at Viewpoint, and I would say that I knew when I was 12 or 13 years old that I wanted to be a teacher. I taught Sunday School, I did a lot of babysitting, I worked at camps, and so my life has pretty much been being with young children, and it’s something that I love and continue to love. They bring me joy, and just to watch them grow and believe that I’m a part of all of that is very fulfilling to me.

Steve Chan: I have just finished my fourth year at Viewpoint. I fell into teaching Middle School by accident. I had applied for a job on a whim, really, and I was assigned to teach seventh and eighth grades, having no experience with kids previously. I found out that I absolutely loved the age group, that it was perfect for me to work with students with the spirit and the rambunctiousness of Middle School students.

Alan Howie: I have just completed my 20th school year at Viewpoint. I always wanted to be a teacher as long as I can remember, and

BOB BRYAN Associate Head of School

STEVE CHAN Head of Middle School

CLAUDIA ANTOINE Head of Lower School

CATHY ADELMAN Head of Primary School

ALAN HOWIE Head of Upper School

teachers are well respected in this country, but in Scotland teachers are respected so much. Even though my qualification is for K–12, I love being in Upper School. What is better than having the opportunity to reap the benefits of the incredible education that they’ve had from Cathy, Claudia, and Steve? And then to experience days like tomorrow’s Graduation, where we send them off to the next stage of their life and then we get to hear back from them, and see how far they’ve gone, and really hear from them exactly what a Viewpoint education did for them.

Bob Bryan: This is the conclusion of my seventh year at the School. I didn’t really set out to be an educator. I was always engaged with philosophy and ideas and it seems that I had certain instinct in terms of explaining complicated things, so I just kind of fell into education. I was a product of public schools and didn’t grow up in an independent school world, but the first teaching opportunity for me was in independent schools. And so, I have always, except for the one year that I taught at the college level in China, been teaching and administering in independent schools and almost always at the Upper School level, where it seemed like the most natural fit. Although when I moved to California, I became a middle school head.

Mark McKee: This is the end of my seventh year at Viewpoint. I also fell into teaching. I didn’t intend for it to become a career. I started teaching Upper School English and the humanities, mostly because I was studying literature, so I could do things most similar to what I’d been studying in college. I’ve discovered over the course of my career the magic of every age group, and I was fortunate enough to land early

in my career in a Pre-K–12 school. And so being in a school that has that full range of ages and stages has always greatly appealed to me. Why Viewpoint, and for some of you, why Viewpoint for so long?

Bob: I would say for me, “why Viewpoint?” has a lot to do with opportunity. There are many special things about Viewpoint School, but I think the relationships between the students and teachers and the professional staff are quite unique. Also, the opportunities that students and adults have for creative expression and problem solving sets the School apart. And even as an administrator, I’ve never been one to really focus on just keeping the train on the track. To me, it’s more interesting to really look at what we’re doing and try to find creative opportunities to make things better, to create more opportunities for student engagement. And with Mark coming into the School, bringing me on board it seemed to me like an opportunity to see how we might bring a more researchinformed lens on teaching and learning to the School. It’s been a very engaging seven years.

Cathy: After I got my credential, I came to Viewpoint as a teaching assistant halfway through the school year. I didn’t really know anything about independent schools and had thought that I would be a public school teacher, but I took the assistant position. Then the Kindergarten teacher decided to retire, so I was given the Kindergarten position. I thought I would teach Kindergarten for the rest of my life, I loved it. Then the School needed me to move to First Grade. Bringing my Kindergarteners into First Grade was

probably my favorite class, just to see what happens in two years instead of one. I was never planning to be an administrator, but Bob Dworkoski, our former Headmaster, saw something in me, so when he came in, I became the Head of the Lower School, which was K-5. And so that’s how I got into the administrative piece.

And the reason I’ve been here so long is because I feel like Viewpoint has been my family. My children went here, I met my husband through a parent at Viewpoint. It’s been a journey, a journey from about 200 students on seven and a half acres to now 1,200 students on 47 acres, and to be a part of that growth and the planning of all the different phases of the School has really been very stimulating. It’s been challenging at times, but I believe that I have really grown through all of these years and I’m so proud of where we are today, and just being a part of that journey and knowing how we got here is a real gift in life.

Claudia: I was working with a student at Viewpoint and I had plans to open my own school. After getting to know Cathy for a while, I went to talk to her about my plans. That was the day she offered me a job. She was clearly the more persuasive of the two of us. Once I was here, I found my home, I found my people and it felt right from the moment I stepped on this campus.

Alan: I’ve worked at two other independent schools in the area, and Viewpoint’s reputation was pretty special. So, when I saw in the early months of 2002 that there was an Assistant Head of Upper School job available, that seemed like a must-have, and I was very excited about being here. And since then it’s felt like the School has been in a constant state of growth and change, and then of course when Mark and Bob came on board, there was a different kind of change. I’ve learned an incredible amount about leadership in these last seven years with Mark and Bob and that’s what’s keeping me here.

Steve: For me, coming to Viewpoint was really targeted. A few years ago, I was going for a Sunday drive with my partner and we happened to be going down Mulholland Highway. And he said, "Oh, what’s that?" And I said, "That’s Viewpoint School." And a couple of years later, I met Mark when he came up to the school where I was working. He was the head of our visiting accreditation team. And after Mark left, I kept an eye on Viewpoint to see when this job would open up, and when it did, I applied for it. It was actually the only job I applied for, so it was Viewpoint or nothing.

“To me, it’s more interesting to really look at what we’re doing and try to find creative opportunities to make things better, to create more opportunities for student engagement.”

BOB BRYAN

Marley Blumel ’26, Juice Childers '26

Ashwin Nanda ’23, Audrey Kim ’23

Mark: I studied classics and then taught medieval English and Shakespeare, and I’ve always had a rootedness in traditions, and schools with an understanding of tradition have always appealed to me. I also worked, before working in school leadership, as a technology director, so I’ve always had a passion for progress and innovation in schooling and been impatient with stasis and complacency. And so why Viewpoint? Viewpoint spoke to me as a school that really embodied that vision we have of “tradition connects us and innovation propels us,” that and specifically the high connectedness of the community that I found here very much appealed to me. It also was just a phenomenal opportunity to work with such great people.

In this 60th Anniversary year, we have talked a lot about our enduring values – love, honor, excellence, imagination, and optimism. Which of these resonate most with you and why?

Bob: I would say all of those values really ring true about this community, so it’s hard to pick one. But I’m going to choose imagination, because I think imagination is the antithesis of complacency. And I think that one thing that’s so exciting, that makes it so wonderful to be here, is that there’s an open-minded creative inquiry about our work and about how we can serve students in the best possible way. I really love the imagination that is embodied in the work that we do together at Viewpoint.

Alan: I would say optimism, working in Upper School with students who are asked constantly to question the value of life and their part in it as they consider the next steps towards world readiness. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can love, honor, excellence, or imagination exist? And I think as an educator in the Upper School, you have to live with optimism and you have to live with belief, so that everything else can fall in place.

Claudia: I agree with everything said, all of the values, love, honor, excellence, imagination and optimism, they’re all why we’re here. But for me, what resonates most is love and I am one of those lucky people that love what they do. No two days are the same. I’ve never been bored.

Cathy: It’s hard to choose because I think in every single one of these words we can find examples of why all of these things are true. I tend to move towards the love value just because I see love in every

child’s face. I see the love that they have for their teachers, the love of learning as they are beginning to acquire skills and have fun and lots of giggles with it. But for some it’s a little harder than others, they work and they’re working hard. I think we see every single child at Viewpoint School and we’re all here, teachers, administrators, everyone to help them to be the best they can be. And in doing so, how can you help but love these children and carry them with you in your heart all the time. And the other thing I would just say is the excellence that we strive for is really palpable here.

Steve: I think one of the things about all of these values is that they do connect with each other really easily and really well. If I start with one of the things that I appreciate about our students, it is that they try hard, they give their very best. I think that that’s all we can ask of them, and I hope that they’re proud of their work. And that’s not to say that they’ll always succeed, but that’s where the optimism comes in. I’m always hopeful that one stumble can lead to a triumph.

Mark: All of the above. “Love of Learning” was so important to the School culture, they put it on a wall, and honor really distinguishes the School’s commitment to character education from its inception. And excellence and imagination really are that sense of tradition and innovation. And then optimism, today we’ve just come from the Eighth Grade Promotion, and I know I used the word optimism in my remarks about the Eighth Graders and then heard it threaded throughout each of the advisor’s comments about their advisees. And I think that’s distinctive.

Why is being a TK-12 school important?

Bob: I’m sure there are many people who’ll address different aspects of this, but what comes to my mind is how reinforcing each division is for the larger purposes of education. So, for example, in the Middle and Upper Schools, especially the Upper School, where the focus tends to be on content a little bit more or a lot more, being at a TK-12 school reminds us the importance of a social-emotional learning, of relationships, of wellness, and things like that that are maybe less about just content coverage and more about the larger personal development of the student. And I think that by the same token in the lower grades where the emphasis is on relationships and social development, maybe the Middle and Upper Schools can be a reminder that academic preparation also is really an important piece. So, I think

“I also worked, before working in school leadership, as a technology director, so I’ve always had a passion for progress and innovation in schooling and been impatient with stasis and complacency.”

MARK MCKEE

STEVE CHAN

“If I start with one of the things that I appreciate about our students, it is that they try hard, they give their very best.”

Sammy Reed ’32, Kane Dougherty ’32

ALAN HOWIE

that a TK-12 environment really reminds all of us, regardless of where we are in the School, about the whole educational experience of the child and not to leave one aspect behind in the pursuit of another.

Alan: I was thinking about tomorrow’s Graduation and that this class is a particularly special class to me, because I got to meet many of them as they were Kindergarteners, and I’m thinking about looking over at them tomorrow and imagining their Kindergarten selves and then comparing that to where they are now, and where they’re about to be and where they’re about to go. And the ability to do that as a school, to be able to bring students in as Kindergarteners (and now TK) and see the growth that they experience through Primary School, Lower School, or Middle School, up until the very end where they sit there at Graduation and they come on stage and get their diploma, it’s just an incredibly special experience for everyone involved. It’s almost hard to put into words exactly what that means, because I think it’s as much a feeling as it is something that is quantifiable.

Claudia: For me, I would say what’s important about a TK-12 school is that it is a full community. This is where we get to see life take hold, and the little ones look up to the high schoolers as if they’re celebrities. And the high schoolers, who might tend to think of themselves a lot, when they are around younger children, they notice them and they are a little more careful and a little more respectful in how they speak, so it brings an awareness of all the developmental ranges that we have here and it truly creates a community. And I think it’s an extremely important part of our education, because out in the world it’s a little different today than it used to be and now the school becomes your community.

Steve: This is my second TK-12 school to work at, and in both of them it’s really made a difference because even though not everybody is a lifer and you have kids that join the School at all of these different points, the fact that you do have the lifers in the grades makes a real

difference, because it sort of embodies the spirit of the place and it sets the tone for everybody who’s going to join it, and I think that that’s all a really beautiful thing.

Cathy: I’m also thinking about the opportunities, especially for the younger children to get to see what else is happening in the School when they get to see the plays and other school events. We’ve had dancers from Middle and Upper School come down and perform for the younger children, and many of them have brothers or sisters that are in sports competitions. So, I think there is that aspect of having all of these things for younger children to look forward to, even in the swimming pool, if they are on the swim team, they’re with the coaches and they’re with older children there. I just think it gives the little ones pure enjoyment seeing the broader picture of how wonderful their future at Viewpoint will be.

Mark: I’ve long believed that the presence of Kindergarten makes the Upper School experience more valuable, even if they never interact, because it grounds the school culture in childhood and therefore in our common humanity. And certainly, the presence of an Upper School gives the elementary years a sense of destination and purpose. And now bringing back the TK really grounds us in that very special year before Kindergarten. Having 14 years of education on one campus is very special.

What does World Readiness mean to you – and for the Division Heads, how does your specific division help to prepare our students to be World Ready?

Claudia: I work with the younger children, but we are the beginning seeds, the early seeds of innovation and collaboration, the community service and the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work and that’s how we’re starting to get the children ready, along with discipline and academics and study skills, and the other skill sets that are starting to prepare them to go into the world.

2022 Chinese National Honor Society New Inductees

From left to right Carter Ross ’24, Alivia Alva ’24, Morgan Omordia ’24, Sarah Norman ’23, Grant Humphrey ’23, Sophia Alva ’24, Ming Hodgson, Julian Mohn ’24, and Darya Podeh ’24

“I was thinking about tomorrow’s Graduation and that this class is a particularly special class to me, because I got to meet many of them as they were Kindergarteners, and I’m thinking about looking over at them tomorrow and imagining their Kindergarten selves and then comparing that to where they are now, and where they’re about to be and where they’re about to go.”

Lucas Malvar ’28

Zola Carey ’33

Front from left to right: Max Heubusch ’22, Dr. Eric Steiger, Eliot Mars Back counterclockwise from: Barry Yao ’22 (hat), Elie Netzah ’25 (left), Riley Herbert ’22 (back), Sam Shore ’22

Cathy: I would agree with all of those things that Claudia mentioned for the children in my division as well, and just want to add that I think the way we’re teaching now is with the creativity and the flexibility and the idea that something can be solved in many different ways. I think all of these wonderful adaptations that we are making to our curriculum are going to help them to look beyond where we used to be.

Steve: I used to be a geography teacher. And so, when I think of world readiness I actually think about literally the world and I really do want the students in the Middle School to have an appreciation of the world and everything that’s out there, and to really think about what it is that they can contribute to the world and see themselves as part of the world. And part of that has to do with DEI, like Claudia mentioned, and the inclusion aspect of DEI work, but it’s also that I want to foster a sense of wonder about the world, that people want to know more and to find their passion and to discover new things.

Alan: It’s interesting Steve, that you talk about the world specifically. At the Alumni Day we hosted last week, I spoke to a student who graduated in 2006. Due to studying the Chinese language and Chinese culture with Ming Hodgson at Viewpoint, she had gone and lived in China and had just returned to the United States. So, our students are world ready, they have the skills that they need to thrive, they have everything that will allow them to be successful as they move forward, and quite literally embrace and explore the world.

Bob: I’m going to build on a couple of themes that have emerged, Steve talked about wonder, and Mark has talked about the love of learning. I think that when we get down to world readiness it sounds like a very big concept, and I think a lot of people associate it with technology and those kinds of skills to be ready for the future. Certainly, the diversity piece of that and knowing how to work in diverse creative problem-solving teams is a big part of that philosophy, but I would also say that I think world readiness is very personal in a way as well. The only way that you can gain the self-awareness to know who you are in the world, what your strengths are and what your challenges are, the only way you can develop that self-awareness is through experience. And the only way you can develop selfconfidence is through experience and through trying different things and being part of new experiences and gaining the courage and the confidence to be able to embrace more.

So, I think that even though we tend to think of world readiness as a very big concept, I think the fact that we have a breadth of programming that is so broad, that allows our students to find that joy of discovery, that wonder that gets them really engaged,

because we know that without that engagement that they get from their love of learning, they’re really not going to learn in a deep way, in an ethical way. And so, to me, that very personal aspect of student engagement is in some ways the most important element in creating world readiness.

Mark: I would just add that our mission defines world readiness as both a critical skillset and a courageous mindset, and that speaks to the fact that in the future the most predictable thing is that there will be an accelerating pace of change meaning that one absolutely needs skills more than any specific body of knowledge. It’s useful to know things, it’s even more useful to know how to do things with that knowledge. And it’s a mindset, a confidence, a courage and a grounding in character and human skills that really sum up leadership. With that skillset and mindset students will be prepared for whatever the future may bring and will actually be well situated to shape that future. When you look ahead to the future of Viewpoint, what are your hopes and dreams for the School and for our students?

Bob: I think to answer this last question, I would like to talk about the mission, vision, and values. When I look at the future of Viewpoint, this past year when we rolled out the new visual identity and the new mission, vision, and values (see page 3), I think it put into a very concise format who we are and who we continue to seek to become, I think it was a real stroke of genius. I think the fact that it was based on so much participation from every constituency within the school, I think it all rings very true about who we are and also who we want to be. So, I guess my hopes and dreams for the School and for our students too, for all of us, is that we will continue to view that mission, vision, and values as a living document that we have to help make come true every time, every year. You can say the same thing about the Constitution perhaps, it’s a living document that evolves over time.

And I think that this mission, vision, and values embodies so much of what is valuable and unique and special about Viewpoint School, but it’s only going to be that way if we continue to make it come true. And so, my dream for the School is that we continue to look at it as a dynamic, living expression of who we seek to become.

Mark: And if we consider the mission, vision, and values, Bob, as the foundation of our school, how do those apply within this moment? During the pandemic we found ourselves in a very different moment. Next year’s school, I hope we’ll find ourselves in yet another different moment. How do the mission, vision, and values apply to that particular moment and how do we embrace them?

Alan: I’ll jump in to say my hopes and dreams for the school are that it’s known both as a magnet for talent for both students and independent school teachers and professionals and known for that because of the values we’ve discussed in this conversation, because of the spirit of tradition and innovation, because of our identity as an organization where everyone’s learning and facing the future with courage and skill.

Claudia: My hope and dream for our students is that they will lead in the world with love and respect and empathy for each other and a drive for excellence, so that this world becomes the place we hope it will be, and I hope Viewpoint is here for hundreds of years and churning out leaders for many hundreds of years to come.

Cathy: I agree with that, with everybody, with what you’ve all said. And I just feel like it’s been such a privilege to have been a part of Viewpoint and to know that it’s moving in such a great direction, and we have people here that are thinking forward and everything is about what’s best for the students. It’s just such a special place, and to be working with all of you is really, really wonderful, and I just thank all of you for being such great colleagues.

“My hope and dream for our students is that they will lead in the world with love and respect and empathy for each other and a drive for excellence, so that this world becomes the place we hope it will be.”

CLAUDIA ANTOINE

Liza Sitnikova ’27, Isabella Malinger ’27, Nicole Voronova ’27

Jude Kramer ’27, Dylan Kravitz ’27, Eden Katz ’27

DOWN

BRINGING OUR CAMPUS TO LIFE, ONE EVENT AT A TIME

By Bill Youngblood, Creative Director

Get to know Lara Conklin a 19-year Viewpoint veteran who leads the extraordinary Support Services department. Lara and her team make all things operations and events possible. Their ability to pivot during the pandemic and then pivot back to in-person campus life was awe-inspiring. Once the curtain closed on the 2021-22 school year, we took a moment to download with this fearless leader.

How long have you been at Viewpoint? I started at Viewpoint in October of 2003 taking a temporary position in the Operations and Construction Office. Six months later, my position became permanent and has evolved through the years. My current position is Director of Support Services.

You’re an east coast transplant, what brought you west? Tim and I were married in New Hampshire in August, 2003. Our honeymoon was a three-week road trip across the country. We camped, hiked, and visited several National Parks including Yellowstone and Bryce Canyon. We loaded the car with what we needed and headed west. Eventually, we ended up in LA to be closer to my brother, his family, and especially my young niece.

You are everywhere. In a thumbnail, what’s your job? I oversee all aspects of daily campus life outside of the classroom. Normally, we facilitate over 1,000 campus performances, activities, and events. My office also keeps the School’s Master Calendar, which is a dynamic document scheduling school life outside the classroom. With 14 grade levels, Athletics, Admissions, Advancement, and general community events, it takes a lot to make the calendar work.

Name your guilty pleasure snack? Everyone on my team knows that I need to have an ice cold Coca-Cola to keep me going through the day.

Best part of your job? The kids. Seeing the students’ success makes all the hard work worth it. The theater team strives to make every student shine. When I see tears of joy after a show closes on a Sunday, I am happy knowing they just experienced something that truly and deeply affected them.

Highlight of the Viewpoint year? I love Great Pumpkin Day with all the students in their costumes, it always makes me smile. Promotion and Commencement are my highlights, while I love hearing the senior speeches and how Viewpoint has affected their outlook on life.

Three songs on your playlist? Johnny Cash’s “I Hung My Head,” Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah,” Nirvana’s “Plateau.”

Fun way to spend a Saturday? Hike with my dog in the morning, some gaming time in the afternoon, a yummy meal and evening with my husband. I enjoy reading sci-fi fantasy and mysteries of any type.

Favorite color? Blue, Blue, anything Blue.

Cats or dogs? Dogs definitely dogs. My dog is like my child, she comes with me wherever she can.

As a philosophy major, Plato or Aristotle? Plato don’t ask me why, but Plato. That could be a whole article in itself.

Without Viewpoint, what would your life be missing? I enjoy Viewpoint because of its location, purpose, and people. I have many friends at Viewpoint who have become like family. I like the large campus with the trees, the creek, and its isolation from the city life. If I wasn’t at Viewpoint, I would move to the mountains of Virginia or North Carolina.

COMMEMORATE. EDUCATE. CELEBRATE.

By Patricia Jackson, Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Life

THESE THREE POWERFUL WORDS help to guide our ever-evolving journey in Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Life at Viewpoint. We realize that it is important to Commemorate important events and historical milestones (both past and present), and that we must Educate in order to better understand each other’s point of view so that, as appropriate, we can Celebrate! We strive to embrace differences as we navigate the complexities of our ever changing world. We find joy in working collaboratively toward the fulfillment of the values of Viewpoint School: Love, Honor, Imagination, Optimism, and Excellence.

During the spring, we built upon our tradition of enjoying foods from other cultures by learning through educational experiences, student-led events, and cultural celebrations. We also continue to honor the importance of community through outreach and service.

2022 Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Life Events at Viewpoint

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

The 2022 Women's History theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history. Students, faculty and staff wore Break the Bias buttons on International Women’s Day and throughout Women’s History Month in support of raising awareness about stereotypes and discrimination and to support women’s equality.

DAY OF SILENCE

Our Middle and Upper School students, faculty and staff took a stand to fight the silencing and marginalization of LGBTQIA+ people in schools. Many took vows of silence for part or all of the day, or led activities to help people of all genders and orientations in our community feel safe, visible, and welcome.

During Ramadan, observant Muslims – who are of age and able –abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset each day. Many Muslims traditionally break their fast each day at sundown with a piece of fruit, often a date. As a community-wide celebration of Ramadan, Viewpoint sent home a wrapped date with each student so that we could all symbolically “break the fast” together at sundown. It was themed Save the Date until 7:28 p.m. – which was the time of sundown that evening.

ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) HERITAGE MONTH

On May 19, our students commemorated the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. We are grateful to our student panelists and our special guest speakers, producer and writer Sharon Lee Watson and film director Jon Chu.

RAMADAN

COMMUNITY LIFE GIVING, SERVING In April, our Viewpoint community helped distribute food, books, and toys in the City of Los Angeles.

ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) HERITAGE MONTH

Our Primary and Lower School students enjoyed a special performance of a traditional Philippine folk dance known as Tinikling. The celebration also included cultural food tastings and games.

Ryker Miller ’32 and Maverick Semler ’32

Clockwise from top left Lina Saley ’25, Emma Lake ’25, Cedar Cummins ’25 Allie Abemayor ’22, Skylar Helfer ’26, Angelina Wang ’25, Liv Ben Ami Nash ’25

Sharon Lee Watson

From left to right Ava Eklove ’28, Tyler Wu ’28, Fiona Pan ’27, Rachel Huang ’26, Avi Shah ’26

From left to right Sharon Lee Watson, Jon Chu

Patricia Jackson and a pre-school student from Venice

On May 26, these 15 educators gathered on Blaney Patio, the original home of theater and assemblies at Viewpoint, in front of the set for Peter Rabbit for the first-ever photo of our 30-years+ staff. It was impossible not to feel the warmth of the moment and the love they have for the School and one another.

Back from left to right Julie Robbins, Frank Pontello, Claudia Antoine, Patti Miler, Cathy Adelman, Patrick Moyal, M.J. Dority, Asif Azhar, Vicki Schulhof, Michele Shumow

Front seated from left too right: Jacki Dresher, Odile McNally, Cherie Boss, Marian Williams, Lynne Knebel

ENDURING COMMITMENT

RECOGNIZING LONGTIME FACULTY AND STAFF

EACH OF THESE EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATORS have dedicated themselves to the students at Viewpoint School for 30 years or more. We asked them what year they came to Viewpoint, what was their first position, and why they have stayed so long.

CATHY ADELMAN, Head of Primary School

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, 1975

Viewpoint has been my second family for 45 years. The school has challenged me to grow in many ways during that time. Our goal was always best practices for children with an eye always on preparation for the future. Love of Learning, Strong Academics, Character Development, Responsive Classroom, Creativity, Resilience, Flexibility, and Community are now hallmarks of the education we provide at Viewpoint. In addition, the friendships I have made throughout my years at Viewpoint and my admiration for the outstanding teachers that I have worked with have been a gift in my life. And most of all the children! I have a heart for young children as they begin their journey in an academic environment. They bring me joy and when I am able to make a difference in a child or family’s life, my heart is full!

On a personal note my husband and I were very fortunate to have our daughters attend Viewpoint School. During this time, we were members of the community and developed lifelong friendships with wonderful families.

CLAUDIA ANTOINE, Head of Lower School

Assistant to the Head of Lower School (Cathy Adelman), 1991

I have stayed at Viewpoint for several reasons. It felt right from the moment I stepped on campus. I am happy to say that my ideas were accepted and implemented, and I met the most wonderful people who have become lifelong friends at Viewpoint.

ASIF AZHAR, Upper School Math, Physics, and Humanities Teacher, Faculty Advisor for Cum Laude Society, GenderSexuality Alliance, Indian Student Union, Persian Student Union, Table-Top Games Club

Middle and Upper School Math Teacher, 1986

Easily the biggest factor in staying here all this time: the incredible students our school has always had! Our students have always possessed great intellects and great personalities. The students have always made teaching so much fun.

JACKI DRESHER, Administrative Assistant to the Head of Middle School (Although my job title is still the same, my responsibilities have vastly grown), 1991

Viewpoint is home, and my colleagues are my family and friends that I get to work with every day. As the years go by, Viewpoint continues to impress me more and more. The School’s philosophy aligns with my own. I love working in education, knowing we are preparing the students I see every day to become our future leaders of tomorrow!

M.J. DORITY, Chair of Social Studies and Upper School Social Studies Teacher, 1990

Helping to build a learning community keeps me at Viewpoint. Having colleagues who value the joy of learning makes me a better teacher. Engaging students in questions about purpose and meaning brings a richness to my professional life.

LYNNE KNEBEL, Middle and Upper School Librarian

Part-time assistant to Viewpoint School's founding librarian, Mrs. Catherine Bitticks, 1982

What made me stay all these years is due in part to the gratitude and loyalty our family owes to the School for the excellent education our two children received through the Eighth Grade. More personally, it's been a rewarding privilege over the years to serve students who are eager to learn, a collegial faculty, and a supportive and generous administration and staff.

ODILE MCNALLY, Primary School French Teacher

French Teacher, K-8, 1982

Interacting with young children fills me with joy, love, hope, and optimism. Working at Viewpoint for so many years has allowed me to see the children grow up and witness the impact I had. I am also grateful for all the help the School has provided to me.

PATTI MILER, Director of Events Planning Assistant to the Business Manager, 1991

After my first year here, I brought my daughter here for school. I stayed for her. She spent 11 years here. After she left, I stayed because Viewpoint had become a second home and family. I liked what my job had become and the creativity it allowed me. I will retire from here in a couple of years.

PATRICK MOYAL, Athletic Director

Athletic Director, Head Coach of Boys Basketball, 1990

I stayed to be a part of the growth of the program and see it evolve. It has been a great source of pride and fulfillment to see how far we have come in terms of breadth of programs and overall success while staying true to the School’s values.

FRANK PONTELLO, Primary and Lower School Physical Education Teacher, Lower School Coach

Established Baseball Program, Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach, 1989

There were many reasons to stay at Viewpoint. I was given total freedom in my coaching duties and the expectation was truly just a healthy and happy experience. Later, my son Blake ’10 started in Junior Kindergarten and was followed by my daughter Alexa ’13 three years later. A great education for my children and the School was much smaller which led to many close relationships with my colleagues. I’ve enjoyed the growth of the School and I never tire of the beautiful surroundings of the School. GO PATRIOTS!

JULIE ROBBINS, Second Grade Teacher

Junior Kindergarten Camp Counselor for Camp Roadrunner, 1987

Working at Viewpoint started out as just a job, but I began working with amazing people who generously guided and taught me each day. Eventually, my son started at Viewpoint, and I stayed for him because he loved Viewpoint. Then Viewpoint became my career. I especially appreciated Viewpoint because they valued professional development, which allowed me several opportunities to strengthen my skills as a teacher and continue the love of learning in my classroom.

VICKI SCHULHOF, Kindergarten Teacher

First Grade Assistant, 1992

Immediately, it became apparent what a unique educational environment existed at Viewpoint School. Teachers are given all of the tools needed to provide outstanding education. Students receive a broad education in music, arts, and athletics. As a young parent, I wanted my own children to have this unique experience and education. My children, Brandon ’14 and Hannah ’18, each attended Viewpoint Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. My family has grown within the Viewpoint community and has built lifelong friendships here. The support of administrators and the community is what has kept me at Viewpoint all these years.

MICHELE SHUMOW, Primary and Lower School Librarian

Part-time Librarian, 1989

I attribute my career length to a fortunate synthesis of wonderful children and amazing co-workers. My love of literature and the sense of community Viewpoint creates are also positive reinforcements that keep me returning each year!

MARIAN WILLIAMS, Lower School Science Teacher, Director of Summer Programs

Kindergarten Teaching Assistant, 1989; Lower School Science Teacher, 1990

I love working with children and seeing their uninhibited enthusiasm for all thing science! My children all attended Viewpoint. My last child graduated in 2021. This was my first year at Viewpoint without being a parent!

RETIRING

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAURIE MONTGOMERY, who retired in June after 24 years at Viewpoint as a music teacher in the Primary School. In her role, Laurie was the maker of cherished memories as each year she led the Kindergarten students to perform in Little Engine the First Graders in Little Fir Tree and Peter Rabbit, the Second Graders in Once Upon a Time and this year, for the first time, the TK children in The Little Red Hen, as well as the annual holiday program and countless assemblies. Through her talent and her commitment to our youngest students, Laurie brought so much joy to the Viewpoint community, and we wish her well in her new life in Maryland.

Cathy Adelman Lynne Knebel

YEARS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION TO OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS

YEARS OF SERVICE

By Claudia Antoine Head of Lower School By Sarah Davis Director of Libraries

CATHY ADELMAN JUST CELEBRATED the completion of her 45th outstanding year at Viewpoint School. During those years, she has educated thousands of children and has given support and guidance to thousands of educators and parents.

Cathy started as a Kindergarten teacher, then moved to First Grade with one of her beloved Kindergarten classes. Recognizing her potential as a leader as well as a teacher, 35 years ago Headmaster Bob Dworkoski asked Cathy to lead the youngest division of the School and she became the Head of Lower School, which was then Kindergarten-Fifth Grade. After Viewpoint purchased Meadow Oaks, Cathy was made Head of Primary School, which is now TK Second Grade.

Many of the programs that are loved and honored traditions here at Viewpoint began years ago with her and the early leaders of the School. Today, Cathy continues to be a highly respected, compassionate, and creative educator, who has a kind word and open door for everyone. As new research results become available, new ideas take root. Cathy carefully listens, collaborates with and unites colleagues, and then propels Viewpoint programs forward in a careful and thoughtful manner.

Most importantly, Cathy is a child-centered, humble leader who loves children. Her strong convictions and love of learning endures, and she now enjoys working at Viewpoint with some of her former students as colleagues, and supporting former students as they bring their children back to the School they love. It brings Cathy great joy to see her students thriving.

Love, honor, excellence, imagination, and optimism are the values Cathy Adelman embodies. She continues to pass on these values to our future world leaders! Luckily for all of us, Cathy Adelman is fiercely loyal to the Viewpoint community.

ON MANY OCCASIONS we are reminded to “stop and smell the roses.” However, if you have the good fortune to work with Viewpoint’s Middle and Upper School librarian Lynne Knebel, you have the unique opportunity to literally smell the roses as you walk in to our beautiful space.

Lynne, who recently completed her 40th year as a librarian at Viewpoint School, has many interests and talents. Along with a passion for tennis, reading, and history, are her incredible gardening skills and her love for growing flowers. It is not unusual to walk in to the library and see a small display of her handiwork in a sweet vase, greeting you as you pass our front counter.

It’s not just that the flowers look pretty, it’s knowing that Lynne has quietly thought to bring a bit of nature, and of herself, to our busy space. This is typical of Lynne, who for 40 years has dedicated her time and energy to Viewpoint by helping students grow into the independent and responsible graduates that represent the best of our community.

Lynne came to Viewpoint with a background in teaching, and successfully translated this experience into managing Viewpoint’s Prinn Library, and for the last thirteen years, assisting with the opening and development of library services for Viewpoint’s Fletcher Family Library.

Lynne’s passion for serving students and faculty at Viewpoint School for four decades has demonstrated that libraries are indeed classrooms without walls. She goes above and beyond to provide reference services to our library patrons, maintains the highest standard of ethics and values in her professional work, and she possesses and shares a wealth of institutional knowledge about the background and history of our school.

Television host Willard Scott said that “librarians have always been among the most thoughtful and helpful people. They are teachers without a classroom.“ Lynne has taught thousands of students to blossom and grow into readers, thinkers, and lifelong learners.  How lucky are we all to learn so much from our time with her.

TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL READINESS FOR EXTRAORDINARY FUTURES. The opening line of Viewpoint School’s refreshed mission statement is spot-on for what happens every day at Viewpoint. This “World Ready” promise is evident in college counseling and manifested by our seniors’ post-secondary plans. In preparation for their extraordinary futures, exceptional readiness means something different for every student!

WORLD READY

MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERY STUDENT

By Rhody Davis Director of College Counseling

An exciting statistic for the Class of 2022 is that students are pursuing more unique opportunities than any other graduating class in recent years. Attending 78 different institutions, our graduates embark on paths that reflect their individuality. A combination of factors like major, environment, and cost are unique to every student and guide decision-making. Consider some of the qualities influencing the decisions of the Class of 2022:

Some students are looking for specific institutional sizes and educational styles:

Spirited, flagship publics CU Boulder, UVA, Indiana, U of Washington, U of Wisconsin-Madison, U of Oregon

Private research universities NYU, Willamette, Tulane, Case Western Reserve, George Washington, Boston, Drake, High Point, American

Academic powerhouses Duke, Yale, Columbia, Northwestern, Rice, Stanford, U of Pennsylvania

Liberal arts colleges Sarah Lawrence, Scripps, Vassar, Colorado, Gettysburg, Grinnell, Bowdoin, Emerson, Bryn Mawr

California’s unparalleled in-state systems are attractive options for their programs, locations, global reputation, and affordability. Viewpoint’s 2022 graduates will attend:

University of California Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego (every campus except Merced)

California State University Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly, Pomona; Northridge, Sacramento, San Diego

California Community Colleges Pierce, Santa Monica

World ready for students means pursuing majors that are personally meaningful:

Pre-professional programs engineering at Stanford and Worcester Polytechnic, sport administration at U of Miami, sports media at Butler, data analytics at U of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, aeronautics at Embry-Riddle, biomedical engineering at UC Berkeley, School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, direct admission to the Ross School of Business at U of Michigan and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana

Applied arts programs game design and development at Clark, music production at USC, design at Carnegie Mellon, illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design, architecture at Pratt Institute, acting at Pace, communications design at Syracuse

Film programs School of Film & Television at LMU, School of Cinematic Arts at USC, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman, Film & Media at UC Berkeley

Students are landing at institutions with other distinguishing qualities:

Religiously-affiliated universities California Lutheran, Loyola Chicago, Texas Christian, Villanova, Notre Dame

International first-year experiences partnerships between USC and American University of Paris, Northeastern and New College of the Humanities in London

NCAA Division I-III athletics football at Claremont McKenna, cross-country at Bucknell, baseball at Hamilton and Brandeis, basketball at Portland and Nicholls State, swimming at Chapman, club lacrosse at UCLA

Integral to an extraordinary future is making smart financial decisions. Graduates are using significant scholarships at these institutions: Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, Indiana University, University of Oregon, Pratt Institute, University of Southern California, Texas Christian University, University of Colorado Boulder, Loyola Marymount University, University of Washington

“World Ready” may also mean delaying college. Students might choose a gap year to take a breather from academics and fine-tune college goals as they grow and change through senior year. Some students plan to go straight to a career, as with the aspiring actor in the class! One student is also attending a boarding school for a postgraduate year.

In short, individual priorities and needs vary. As students embrace their unique goals and interests, it’s important to celebrate everyone’s next step toward their extraordinary future!

SO WHAT ABOUT BEING ROOMMATE-READY?

HARLAN COHEN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of The Naked Roommate series, visited campus to “get real” with our seniors about post-Viewpoint life.

In an energetic and interactive session, he talked about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, and three roommate rules you need in college:

Find a way to get along.

Give each other permission to just be roommates. Friendship is a bonus.

Share what makes you uncomfortable within 24-48 hours.

Harlan urged the group to embrace the universal rejection truth not everyone and everything will always respond to you the way you want.

“It takes a good year to find your people, find your places, and get where you want to go,” he said.

“When you get frustrated, be patient, embrace the experience, and know that you are supported.”

As part of his One of Your People Projects, Harlan produced a series of videos capturing moderated conversations with seven Viewpoint alums about their post-high school experiences, including their perseverance amid a pandemic. Scan here to check them out:

One could argue that like trees and electricity, the arts are essential to human existence today. To create whatever the medium is both an expression and affirmation of our humanity. At Viewpoint, our students are encouraged to explore and to stretch to help them reach the full extension of their creativity, and to discover the joy that comes with that effort.

Upper School Photo of the Year by Ade Egberongbe ’22 Assignment: Natural versus Manufactured

“For my Natural versus Manufactured project, I took a picture of a tree and a light bulb. Substituting the filaments inside of the light bulb for the branches of a tree, took on a similar visual association. The unifying factor between both of these elements is that they are very essential to living today. Certainly, without trees, humans would not exist because trees produce oxygen. Without electricity we could still exist albeit in much discomfort.”

–Ade Egberongbe ’22

From left to right, Top left: Music teacher Bill Brendle

Top right: Yellow jacket: Sadie Kieffer ’26, Ambrielle Harris ’26, Yiping Zheng ’27

Bottom left: Rachel Huang ’26

Bottom right: Audrey Kim ’23, Annabelle Grandy ’23

Morning Music

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR , in the early morning hour of “0” block, music can be heard reverberating through the canyon. In addition to the regular chorus of frogs in the creek and the song of the birds in the trees, our student musicians, who meet in the ECOLET’s outdoor classroom, also are signaling the start of the day. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, it is the Upper School Jazz Ensemble and on Tuesday and Thursday, it is the Middle School Jazz Lab. While their musical abilities may be different, their enthusiasm for playing together, whatever the temperature, is the same.

These intrepid musicians are led by music teacher Greg Zilboorg, who has nothing but praise for his students, “Fifty-five degrees is truly cold I had to buy a new jacket – but each morning the students show up smiling and ready to work. The vibe in both of the Jazz groups all throughout this year was so consistently positive and fun, and it's saying a lot when you have twelve to eighteen years olds and you're asking them to get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. or so, to come sit in the cold and damp. Yet, there they are cracking jokes and just glad to be around each other. The other thing that I love about being in the

ECOLET is that we are woven into the texture of life on campus and that is what it is all about.”

While the Upper School vocal group, Voices Now, does not meet outside, they do have to climb up the hill to the “Pink House” on Dry Canyon Cold Creek Road each morning, where they meet to rehearse during “0” block. For Bill Brendle, teacher of Voices Now, it is great for the students to have the opportunity to start the day singing. He says, “It gets them energized and I try to make it a good morning class. I really encourage student-driven activities, and then I also give them fun, unexpected activities that keeps them engaged. We always start every morning off with some yoga stretching, a little bit of exercise. Then I give them a little bit of social time because it's the first part of the day, so we just talk about what's going on. And then we get into the musical activities, whether it is learning new songs or doing group warm ups or activities that can get them singing together and resonating on a vocal leveI. I think it is really good. It helps them to be positive for the rest of the day and I'm sure it's the same with Greg’s students.”

By Monica Case ’90, Director of Content Strategy

Spotlight on a Student Musician

ASTA Orchestra Director of the Year Award

Grayson Pollard ’22

During Grayson Pollard’s 13 years at Viewpoint, he distinguished himself as a skilled musician with a deep commitment to supporting his fellow musicians. This fall, Grayson is attending the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music, where he will study Music Production in the Popular Music program.

As he prepared to embark on the next step in his musical journey, Band teacher Kim Gonzalez said this: “Grayson has participated in nearly all facets of Viewpoint’s Music Department and is a very gifted, diversified, and naturally talented musician. He performs at a level far above most Upper School musicians, skillfully playing numerous instruments, including piano, guitar, bass, and drums. He is always willing to help others learn their part for band and does so with incredible humility. As a member of Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, Jazz Ensembles, and Voices Now, he is an inspiration to his fellow musicians and is a true team player.

I look forward to seeing what he will do with his music. His two new original songs ‘Cool Kicks’ and ‘Old Days’ are now available on Spotify and iTunes, and no doubt whatever path he takes he is someone who I know will make our world a more positive place.”

Kristin Herkstroeter

For 21 years, Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter, Viewpoint School’s Music Department Chair and Middle and Upper School Strings Teacher, has been a valued member of the teaching faculty. Among her many accomplishments, she founded the Suzuki strings program in the lower grades, developed the Middle and Upper School Orchestras, greatly expanded the CAIS Honors Music Festival hosted on Viewpoint's campus, and pioneered the Annual Viewpoint Arts Fest. Her ensembles consistently receive superior ratings and first place awards at adjudicated festivals and competitions.

As a result, the Upper School Orchestra has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Chicago, and Davies Hall in San Francisco.

This spring, Dr. Herkstroeter was awarded Outstanding School Teacher of the Year by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). This award is presented to a teacher with at least 10 years’ experience and a member of ASTA, who has made a significant contribution to a school orchestra or a university program, epitomizing every facet of excellence in string teaching. Her colleagues across campus were delighted to learn of this welldeserved recognition. Photography teacher Charlie Sitzer shared his thoughts, “It is a great honor to be recognized by your peers for the dedication and inspiration you put into your love of teaching, which is so clear to all of us. Congratulations, Kristin!”

The Return of Arts Fest

VIEWPOINT WAS PLEASED TO WELCOME the community on Saturday, April 30, for Arts Fest 2022, a celebration of Middle and Upper School Arts. All ages enjoyed an afternoon of music in the canyon; visual art in our galleries; scenes from this year’s musical and theatre productions; screenings of award-winning student films; and a showcase of our Dance program.

Head of School Mark McKee said, “Bringing back live performance and arts programming reminds us how much our community – how much we as people – NEED the arts, to remind us of our common humanity, help us make sense of the world, and show us what is possible.”

Top left: Upper School Orchestra Top right: Music teacher Kim Gonzalez Bottom left from left to right: Daniyar Ali ’24, Avrick Altmann ’24, Ashwin Nanda ’23 Bottom right in back: Grace Zhu ’24 and Thomas Xiao ’25 Bottom right in front: Emily Lawson ’23 and A.J. Williams ’23

Top: Upper School Choir led by music teacher Carrie Dietsch Bottom left, visible on right: Cedar Cummins ’25 Bottom right: Kade Hood ’26

Live Theater is Back!

THE MAGIC RETURNED to the Carlson Family Theater with the Conservatory of Theatre’s live production of Cinderella .

With the wave of the Fairy Godmother’s wand and months of hard work, the magic of live theater cast its spell on the actors and the audience on April 22-24, for three performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella After a two-year hiatus from live productions, parents, faculty, students, friends and family, filled the theater to enjoy a heartwarming, humorous, and contemporary spin on this classic tale.

Middle School Disney’s Descendants Cast had a Wicked Performance at Three Sold-Out Shows

ON MAY 13-15 , THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE GRATEFUL AND EXCITED to grace the stage once again with live musical theatre for the first time since the fall of 2019. Based on the Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney’s Descendants explores what it means to choose your own path no matter where you come from.

The show had it all: high-energy production numbers, complex characters that have heart, and a timely message that resonates with all of us. At its core, Descendants is a musical about empathy, tolerance, and acceptance. It takes place in two fantastical worlds filled with classic stories and characters we all know and love, seen through a fresh, new lens.

Opposite Page, Left: A.J. Williams ’23 and Emily Lawson ’23 Right column top Payton Schetter ’23 and Violet Kaltman ’24 Right column center: Fighting over the prince in Cinderella Right column bottom: Xander Blumel ’22 This Page, Top right, from left to right: Daphne Huffman ’26, Chloe Gitenay ’26

Bottom: Cast of The Descendants

ON MAY 6, AS THE STUDENTS in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) walked across the Blaney Patio stage for their first performance of  The Little Red Hen an audible “aww” could be heard rippling through the audience. Dressed as cats, pigs, ducks, chicks, and one Red Hen, Viewpoint’s youngest students confidently took their turns at the microphone to tell the classic story of The Little Red Hen and her unhelpful farmyard friends.

There is a strong tradition of young children performing at Viewpoint, beginning with the  Little Fir Tree  in 1964 and  Peter Rabbit  in 1967, both of which continue to be presented

each year to the delight of their families. And with the performance of The Little Red Hen, a new tradition has been established. Under the direction of Primary School music teacher Laurie Montgomery, who has been leading children in song at Viewpoint for 24 years, the TK students showed what they could do. Each child had the opportunity to speak and they did a beautiful job singing in unison. It was easy to see that they will be more than ready for their Kindergarten production of Little Engine next spring, and for the many Viewpoint performances to follow.

Congratulations to the outstanding fine artists and writers who won 8 Gold, 12 Silver, and 10 Honorable Mention Regional awards in The 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

Established in 1923, The Scholastic Art & Writing competition is the most prestigious recognition program in writing and the visual arts for students in Seventh through Twelfth Grades in the United States. Young artists and writers are granted over $1,000,000 in scholarships and prizes. Nationally, more than 300,000 works of art and writing in 29 categories were submitted for review in 2022. Past winners include artists Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and John Baldessari; writers Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and Joyce Carol Oates; photographer Richard Avedon; actors Robert Redford, Alan Arkin, Lena Dunham, and John Lithgow; fashion designer Zac Posen; and filmmakers Ken Burns and Richard Linklater.

Viewpoint is proud of our 2022 Scholastic Award Winners:

PHOTOGRAPHY

Allie Abemayor ’22, Honorable Mention Ashlee Ardalan ’23, Silver Key

Zach Benjamin ’24, Silver Key

Mia Brown ’23, Honorable Mention Jonathan Cao ’22, Silver Key Henry Didden ’22, Gold Key

Jordan Garrison ’23, Gold Key

Sarah Koesema ’22, Silver Key, Gold Key Lucy Landsbaum ’23, Silver Key, Honorable Mention Zach Marella ’23, Honorable Mention

Edith Mendez ’23, Gold Key

Randy Rubin ’23, Silver Key, Honorable Mention

Maximo Rusmeepongskul '23, Gold Key

CERAMICS

Emma Lindgren ’23, Silver Key

Julia Iwahori ’22, Silver Key

PAINTING, DRAWING, AND ILLUSTRATION

Erin Beazley ’23, Gold Key for Ink Drawing

Maya Frank ’22, Gold Key for Ink Drawing

Alice Yurkov ’22, Gold Key for Digital Image

WRITING

Allie Abemayor ‘22, Silver Key for Poetry

Madeleine Case ‘22, Silver Key for Dramatic Script

William Cortez-Moore ‘22, Silver Key and Honorable Mention for Science Fiction and Fantasy, Honorable Mention for Poetry

Auggie Humphrey ’25, Honorable Mention for Humor Lucy Landsbaum ’23, Honorable Mention for Poetry

Josefine Mar ’22, Silver Key for Short Story

Marissa Shurgot ’26, Honorable Mention for Poetry

TK Performs The Little Red Hen and a New Viewpoint Tradition Begins

UPPER SCHOOL Picture of the Year Erin Beazley ’23

Left column from front to back: Austin Keefe ’35, Ethan Kravis ’35, Milly Redleaf ’35 Right column top from left to right, Back row: Bullet Semler ’35, Jack Saitman ’35, Caleb Larson ’35 Front row: Naomi Judelson ’35, Ariana Torab ’35, Dillon O’Neill ’35, Hero Semler ’35, with TK teacher Lacey Thompson

Right column bottom from left to right, Back row: Valentina Marella ’35, Shaya Danavar ’35, Benny Rouse ’35, Noah Katz ’35 Front row: Naomi Judelson ’35, Ariana Torab ’35, Dillon O’Neill ’35, Hero Semler ’35

Leilani Ogren, Fourth Grade

Artwork of the year

Tallulah Gandee ’27

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Photograph of the Year

LOWER SCHOOL Picture of the Year

UPPER SCHOOL Sculpture of the Year Ella Kramer ’22

The faculty votes on Picture of the Year for each of the School’s divisions, and Ceramic Piece of the Year, Sculpture of the Year, and Photograph of the Year in the Middle and Upper Schools.

UPPER SCHOOL Photograph of the Year Ade Egberongbe ’22

Artwork of the year

PRIMARY SCHOOL Picture of the Year Joey Lin, Second Grade

MIDDLE SCHOOL Picture of the Year Roux Sanders ’28

MIDDLE SCHOOL Ceramic Piece of the Year Jack Whigham ’26

UPPER SCHOOL Ceramic Piece of the Year Sophia DiDio ’22

Film Festival Acceptances & Accolades 2019-2022

2021-22 School Year

Hardcore by Film IV

Madeleine Case ’22, YoungArts, Miami, FL, Finalist for script

Madeleine Case ’22, U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts Recipient

Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, Providence, RI

Calabasas Film Festival

Naples International Film Festival, Naples, FL

Topanga Film Festival, Topanga Canyon

The Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase, Hollywood, CA

Sole Searching by Film IV

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ

Leave A Voicemail by Film III

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ

Calabasas Film Festival

Morning by Film III

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ Tallgrass, Wichita, KS

Lovesick by Film III

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ Calabasas Film Festival

2020-21 School Year

Laephlexa by Film III

Calabasas Film Festival, Winner Achievement in Best Film

LA Independent Women Film Awards, Los Angeles, CA

Topanga Film Festival, Topanga, CA, Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking

LA Film Awards Best Sci-Fi Film

Standalone

Youth Diversity

Best Shorts, CA, Award of Merit Special Mention

Wolverine Con and the San Bernardino Valley

Best Student Short

Dances with Films, CA

Los Angeles Film Awards (SLAFA), Semi-Finalist

Bergen International Film Festival, Bergen, NJ

BLASTOFF, Los Angeles

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ Open Mind, Honorable Mention

Lemonade by Film III

Calabasas Film Festival, CA

Topanga Film Festival, Topanga, CA

Hang on to your Short, Asbury, NJ

Best Shorts, CA Award of Merit

Wolverine Con and the San Bernardino Valley College International Student Film Festival, San Bernardino, CA

Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN

Los Angeles Film Awards (SLAFA). Semi-Finalist

BLASTOFF, Los Angeles

All American High School Film Festival, NYC

LA Shorts International Film Festival

Bergen International Film Festival, Bergen, NJ

Tallgrass Film Festival, Wichita, KS

Leaving Home by Film IV

Hang on to your Short, Asbury, NJ

Wolverine Con and the San Bernardino Valley College International Student Film Festival, San Bernardino, CA

Los Angeles Film Awards (SLAFA), Semi-Finalist

All American High School Film Festival

Student World Impact Film Festival, NJ

Therapy by Film III

Charlotte Sedaka ’21, YoungArts, Miami, FL, Finalist for script

Charlotte Sedaka ’21, U.S Presidential Scholar in the Arts Recipient

To My Youth by Film IV

Calabasas Film Festival

Wolverine Con and the San Bernardino Valley College International Student Film Festival, San Bernardino, CA

Escape

Calabasas Film Festival

Tallgrass Film Festival, Wichita, KS 2019-20 School Year

Go Fish by Film IV

Ilia Wayans ’20, YoungArts Oct. 2019 Honorable Mention for script

Best Shorts Dec. 2020 online Award of Merit

Youth Diversity Film Festival Jan. 2021 Providence Children’s Film Festival Jan. 2021

Sistas Are Doin’ It For Themselves Film Festival March 27, 2021

San Bernardino Valley College International Film Festival March 29 Nominee

Blastoff, Los Angeles April 2021, Best Student Film, Best Lead Performances

LA Shorts, Los Angeles, July 1 July 10

Bergen International Film Festival of NJ

Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival 2021

San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival

Dances with Kidz, Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 5, 2021

All American High School Film Festival, NY, NY

Austin Student Film Festival, Austin, TX

American Student Film Festival, Tempe, Arizona

Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival

Los Angeles, CA, April 1, 2022

Topanga Film Festival, Topanga, CA

Hang on to Your Short, Asbury Park, NJ

International Children’s Media Center

IN MAY, MADELEINE CASE ’22 was one of just 20 students in the United States to be named a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. The winners are nominated for this honor by National YoungArts Foundation. The U.S. Presidential Scholars award is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership qualities, and community service. Madeleine was recognized for her submission in the Writing category for her screenplay, Hardcore.

Lauren Snelling, artistic director of YoungArts, said, “The 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts demonstrate both a dedication to academic achievement and a commitment to creativity in mediums spanning the visual, literary, and performing arts. YoungArts is incredibly proud to celebrate these young artists today and to amplify their innovative perspectives as they grow to become the arbiters of our nation’s cultural compass tomorrow.”

“Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America, and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Today, join President Biden to celebrate a class of scholars whose pursuit of knowledge, generosity of spirit, and exceptional talents bring our nation tremendous pride. Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation’s history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America’s future is bright.”

Madeleine is the second Viewpoint film student to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in two years. Charlotte Sedaka ’21 was recognized

in 2021 for her screenplay, Therapy. According to Catherine Dunn, Film Department Chair, the School’s first U.S. Presidential Scholar was Kenny Roy ’01, honored as a filmmaker in 2001.

Madeleine’s Film Teacher Monica Hoenig was delighted by this recognition and said, “I am so pleased to congratulate and celebrate Madeleine on this honor of a lifetime. The prestigious Presidential Scholar Award celebrates her talent and capabilities developed during her time at Viewpoint with the support of her family and classmates.”

She continued, “With her script, Hardcore, Madeleine fuses a complicated story structure with a profound subject matter to create an emotional impact and start a conversation with her audience. It is no surprise that Madeleine is a U.S. Presidential Scholar Award recipient, she is a well-rounded person who excelled in the arts for years exhibiting maturity and talent.”

Madeleine said, “I would not have been able to even dream of receiving this kind of award without the support and many hours of help from Ms. Hoenig, Ms. Dunn, and my film class. I am so honored and grateful. What a wonderful way to end my Viewpoint journey.”

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

Madeleine Case ’22 is named one of 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Arts for 2022

Spring Athletics

Our

This

Top

Bottom

Opposite

Bottom

PROFILE OF Coach Brendan Smith

By Patrick Moyal Athletic Director

Coach Smith has just finished his eleventh year of service at Viewpoint, where he started out as Defensive Coordinator for our Football Team. He impacted our team immediately in many ways drawing from his vast experience in the sport. His impressive career includes a long list of accolades: New Hampshire Gatorade Football Player of the Year, New England Class A Prep School Football Player of the Year, 1st team All-State in Lacrosse (Massachusetts) and Honorable Mention All-American as a high school sophomore, starting safety as a true Freshman at Northwestern University (NU), Sporting News Freshman All-American at NU, two-time All-Big Ten Conference, and two-year captain at NU.

I knew we had somebody special back in 2011 when our football coach Chris Adamson brought Brendan over to become one of our assistants, but it wasn’t until I saw some YouTube footage of his Northwestern highlights that I realized how special. Brendan’s passion and grit on the football field were remarkable, in fact palpable. Once his playing days were over, Coach Smith started to make a name for himself in coaching. He quickly went from Lacrosse camps to Oklahoma State University, where he was an Assistant Football Coach until he started at Viewpoint.

Coach Smith quickly showed his versatility extended to more than football. He spent some time assisting Viewpoint’s Baseball Team until Lacrosse started to occupy more and more of his curiosity and interest. Eventually, he relinquished all other Upper School coaching responsibilities at Viewpoint and has been our Head Lacrosse Coach since 2017. In that time, he has added some much-needed stability and cohesion to a program which is now enjoying a great wave of success and momentum fresh from our first ever playoff appearance last April, a victory vs Santa Barbara High School.

Passion, dedication, and perseverance are all qualities that have contributed to Coach Smith’s success, but what has been most impactful is his ability to connect with his student-athletes. It takes a little bit of a Pied Piper to get your students to 6:30 a.m. practices on a frost-covered field when you can see your breath.

We recognize Coach Smith for the heart and will he brings to his craft and the love and devotion he brings to his players.

Jack Conlin transferred to Viewpoint in the second semester of 2019 and immediately impacted our Boys Volleyball program. Coming to us as a fierce competitor with some valuable club experience, it became clear very quickly that he would leave his mark in a very positive way for the next four years. Coach Joshua Marbach describes Jack as having a constant pursuit to play perfect volleyball, which made him a fun athlete to coach and one who was constantly pushing him as a coach and his peers as competitors on the court. Jack always worked tirelessly to improve his skills and push his teammates to get better. He strives for greatness on the court, the only way he knows how, through hard work and determination.

The team Captain, the heart, and the fire, Jack led by example. He would follow his workout in the gym with the team, with another workout later and a club practice as well. Jack has an innate ability to make all his teammates around him better. No better example of that exists than in the improbable playoff appearance in 2021. He literally willed a team short on experience to battle for a coveted playoff spot and although we lost in the second round, the journey was indicative of the galvanizing force and infectious spirit that Jack was able to instill in his teammates.

In terms of skill level, anyone who came to a volleyball match, would instantly see Jack affect the game with his tremendous ability. A force to be reckoned with for sure. More often used as a defensive specialist or libero in Club, Jack was forced into service as an outside hitter for Viewpoint. That versatility helped make the jobs of his teammates as easy as possible.

While his passion and energy will be greatly missed in the Paul Family Athletic Center, a place he has called home for the last four years, Jack away from volleyball is also a special person. Poised, mature, and quick with a laugh and a smile, I always enjoyed running into him on campus and sharing a few minutes about the previous match. I also was really impressed with his genuine appreciation of Viewpoint’s proud history of Boys Volleyball.

Jack is an incredible athlete, who is just as incredible outside of the gym. He is a great teammate, role model and friend who has continued to raise the standard of Viewpoint’s Volleyball program. He will be missed by all and we wish nothing but success in his future endeavors.

PROFILE OF Jack Conlin ’22

By Patrick Moyal Athletic Director

Athletes

Congratulations to our College Bound Athletes

By Christy Salcido Chief Marketing Officer

NINE VIEWPOINT CLASS OF ‘22 ATHLETES ARE STILL IN THE GAME AND READY FOR COLLEGE SPORTS

A world where academics meets athletics is what these new alumni are ready for this fall. As part of a beloved and annual tradition at Viewpoint, nine athletes were recognized for their peak performance and path to college sports at a ceremony in late May.

Our community gathered to applaud their extraordinary athletic achievements while at Viewpoint, and their commitment to continue playing sports in college. Our college-bound athletes were joined by students, faculty, coaches, and their families at the Love of Learning Wall, as they received awards and ceremoniously “signed” to their respective schools. Mark McKee, Head of School, Patrick Moyal, Director of Athletics, and Rhody Davis, Director of College Counseling, each delivered congratulatory remarks and words of wisdom for these seniors:

Fox Ashwood UCLA, Lacrosse

Peter Boehm Claremont McKenna, Football

Henry Didden Bucknell, Cross Country, and Track & Field

Lucas Herman Hamilton, Baseball

Dylan Hoyt New Hampton School, Basketball

Kayla Keshmeshian Nicholls State, Basketball

Grace Rynerson Chapman, Swim

Vincenzo Terraciano Brandeis, Baseball

Andrew Younan Portland, Basketball

“This day represents the culmination of perseverance and hard work on a journey that can only happen with the tremendous support of parents and coaches,” said Patrick Moyal, Director of Athletics.

Grace Rynerson ’22 reflected upon her years as a student athlete, “Setting a record in the 200m freestyle in my senior year was an exciting and emotional moment for me that validated all the hours I’ve put into the sport. Swimming has taught me about intentionally managing my time, and I discovered I’m happiest with a more structured day, which includes dedicated athletic time.”

We admire these world ready graduates for their passion and perseverance, and wish them all the best in their college athletic journey.

Spring TRACK AND FIELD

CIF-Southern Section Division 4 Champion in the 1600M –JiaLian Mackey ’23

BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING

Gold Coast League Champions (17 years in a row for the Boys Team and 15 years in a row for the Girls Team)

BOYS TENNIS

Gold Coast League Champions

SOFTBALL

CIF-Southern Section Division 6 Semi Finalist

BASEBALL

CIF-Southern Section Division 5 Quarterfinals

SOFTBALL

Gold Coast All League for the Spring Season

1st Team – Peyton Rohr ’23, Jules Mazzolini ’22, Carly Nelson ’25

2nd Team – Edith Mendez ’23, Brooke Schwartz ’22, Josie Mar ’22

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

1st Team – Jack Conlin ’22

2nd Team – Billy Garland ’22

BOYS TENNIS

1sr Team Singles – Jack McGary ’24

1st Team Double – Liam Frankel ’22, Phillip Hu ’23

BASEBALL

1st Team – Lucas Herman ’22, Vinny Terraciano ’22

2nd Team – Brandon Warner ’24, Austin Basch ’24, Izzy Parsky ’25

LACROSSE

1st Team – Logan Tom ’22, Fox Ashwood ’22

2nd Team – Zach Marella ’23, Tim Hill ’22

TRACK AND FIELD

League Champions

Runner MVP – Henry Didden ’22

– JiaLian Mackey ’23

and 1600 – Henry Didden ’22

– Olai Egberongbe ’23

hurdles – Jude Holling ’24

4x400 – Olai Egberongbe ’23, Maximo Rusmeepongskul ’23,

He ’25, Jude Holling ’24

SWIMMING

League Finals Champions

GIRLS

free and 100 free – Grace Rynerson ’22

– Eileen Portillo ’24

free and 100 back – Sam Albrecht ’23

breast – Sophia Younger ’23

free and 100 free – Pierce Downs ’23

and 100 breast – Allen Xia ’23

From left to right: Mark McKee, Lucas Herman ’22, Henry Didden ’22, Vincenzo Terraciano ’22, Peter Boehm ’22, Kayla Keshmeshian ’22, Grace Rynerson ’22, Andrew Younan ’22, Fox Ashwood ’22, Patrick Moyal

Top: Amit Klier ’22 Bottom: Eric He ’25, Eli Mohn ’24

CLASS OF 2022 GRADUATES

On, Saturday, June 11, Viewpoint celebrated the graduation of the 115 members of the Class of 2022. Family, friends, faculty, and students gathered on Ring Family Field for a joyful commencement ceremony, which included performances by the Upper School Concert Choir, Upper School Wind Ensemble, and the Upper School String Quartet.

Head of School Mark McKee welcomed the students and their families and thanked the faculty and staff, “who embody a love of learning and dedication to our students,” for all of their hard work during the challenges of the last few years. He then invited the seniors, who he praised for the gratitude they expressed throughout the year for every opportunity to connect and support one another, and who personify exceptional readiness for extraordinary futures, “to make a memory and take your moment.”

In his role of Salutatorian, Benjamin Meppen, who is off to New York University to study Film in the fall, shared his “17-year-old wisdom” with eloquence and humor and directed his remarks to his fellow classmates:

“To Viewpoint’s graduating class of 2022, may our energy and determination be our greatest blessing. Let us not be satisfied with mediocre and constantly strive for more. May we take on our personal and professional endeavors with the same gusto and grit that we applied to them during our time in high school. May we take on our daily challenges big and small with an open mind and heart. And lastly and most importantly, may we go forth today and take on the world as conscientious, righteous adults who look to make the world a better place with our merits and maybe even a touch of humor.”

This year’s Commencement Speaker, Seth Casden ’91, Viewpoint alumnus, tech entrepreneur, CEO of Hologenix, and godfather of  Valentino Devoto ’22 , also referenced the difficulties of the last few years and the importance of resilience. He said that “life will bring challenges, and we learn from the things that challenge us … Circumstances are facts that we can’t change, but how we react to them is a skill that we can develop.” He encouraged the students to “take ownership for your happiness and do not give it away freely, hold it precious and dear.”

The theme of rethinking our relationship to life’s challenges continued with remarks by Valedictorian Clare Williams. The soon-to-be Global Health major at Duke University used the metaphor of evolution, and its necessary mutations to survive and thrive through adversity, as a way to encourage her classmates to accept that “errors are what allow us to be here today in a continuous and dynamic pattern of growth.” She continued, “Collectively, our mistakes enable us to become stronger, resilient, and more knowledgeable by learning from perceived unfavorable experiences … We will never be able to predict the uncertainties of our future. But, it is how we evolve within this uncertainty that allows us to emerge more resilient than before.”

While themes of the remarks were a bit heavy, befitting this moment in time, the hearts of all in attendance were light. Everyone was thrilled to celebrate this wonderful group of young people together in the sunshine. We congratulate the Class of 2022 and wish them every success in the exciting years to come!

Top: Salutatorian Benjamin Meppen ’22 Center: Valedictorian Clare Williams ’22 Bottom: Rachel Luner ’22, recipient of the Arthur B. O’Leary Award, Alan Howie, Head of Upper School

From left to right, Left column top: Sophia Hernandez ’22, Lennox White ’22, Reagan Allen ’22 Left column center: Jonathan Cao ’22, Allan Huang ’22, Kishant Mohan ’22, Will Kanny ’22, James Koide ’22, Michael Morales ’22 Left column bottom: Head of School Mark McKee, Assistant Head of Upper School Dr. Eric Steiger, Clara Campbell ’22

Right column: Barry Yao ’22, Upper School Classperson of the Year

2022 Upper School Awards

Arthur B. O’Leary Award

Rachel Luner ’22

The School’s most significant award recognizes a senior who demonstrates high academic achievement, character, and a positive spirit, qualities Viewpoint strives to develop. The faculty selects the recipient. Mr. O’Leary was the School’s first Headmaster, appointed in 1979.

Thelma B. Sitton Award

A.J. Williams ’23

The faculty selects the recipient of this award recognizing outstanding qualities of character and service to others. Mrs. Thelma Sitton was Viewpoint’s first Director, appointed in 1963.

Valedictorian

Clare Williams ’22

Chosen by the faculty, the Valedictorian is the outstanding scholar of the graduating class.

Upper School Student of the Year

Barry Yao ’22

Chosen by the Student Council, the winner of this award is a senior who exhibits concern for others, school spirit, and interest in improving student life.

Cooper Scholar-Athlete Awards

Kayla Keshmeshian ’22

The faculty selects the recipients of this award based on the students’ achievements in academics, athletics, and service to others. The award was established in 1970 by Viewpoint’s teacher Rayna Cooper in honor of her sons, who excelled in athletics and academics.

Mary Carpenter Award for the Arts

Riley Herbert ’22

The faculty selects a student who upheld the standards of the School and achieved unusual growth in the arts. Established in 1986, the award is named in honor of Mary Carpenter, one of the School’s founders and its first Director of Admission.

Meryl Staley ’06 Award for the Performing Arts

Laurel Eith ’24

This award in memory of Meryl Staley ’06 is presented to a sophomore or junior who, through his or her generous spirit, quiet determination, and positive attitude, exemplifies the character critical

to success in the performing arts. The winner of this honor receives a grant for off-campus programs in the performing arts.

Upper School Community Service Award

Kate Ungar ’23

The faculty recognizes the student who best demonstrates the spirit of generosity to others.

Typically, the recipient volunteered time and effort on a significant, long-term basis, working to better the lives of those in need.

Salutatorian

Benjamin Meppen ’22

The Senior Class selects the Salutatorian who introduces the graduating class to the audience at Commencement.

VSSA Service Award

Zachary Samuel ’22

The Viewpoint School Service Association (VSSA) annually recognizes a student remarkable for service to the School, often as an ambassador to the community. The faculty recommends the recipients, and the VSSA makes the final choice.

VSSA Social Justice and Leadership Award

Marissa Borochoff ’22

This honor goes to an activist-minded junior or senior student who is committed to using ethics, leadership, and innovation for raising awareness and eliminating systemic and organizational inequities in our school and larger community.

Calabasas Chamber of Commerce Award

Dylan Perlstein ’22

This award is presented to a senior who performed outstanding community service and is likely to study business in college.

National Merit

Of the top 50,000 high scorers of the 1.6 million juniors who entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 PSAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, about 15,000 became Finalists and about 34,000 students became Commended Students.

Class of 2022 National Merit Finalists

William Cortez-Moore Henry (H.H.) Landau

Zachary Samuel (Winner) Zhuoxian (Erica) Yi Andrew Zhang (Winner)

National Merit Commended Students

Noah Boock

Marissa Borochoff

Jack Conlin Rachel Luner

Kishant Mohan

2022 Upper School Departmental Awards

FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Barbara Exum Art Award Alice Yurkov ’22 and Luna Santiago ’22

Dance

Aspen Aragon ’23 and Kaylyn Robertson ’24 Theater

Payton Schetter ’23 and Clement Xiang ’23

Zaki Gordon ’94 Film Award

Wyatt Thompson ’23 Film Department Award

Madeleine Case ’22

ART AWARDS

Photograph of the Year

Ade Egberongbe ’22

Ceramic Piece of the Year Sophia DiDio ’22

Picture of the Year

Erin Beazley ’23 Sculpture of the Year Ella Kramer ’22

ENGLISH AWARDS

Erin Beazley ’23 Samantha Sagerman ’23 Mansi Jain ’23

Faith Spalding ’23

MATHEMATICS AWARDS

AP Calculus Award Julia Iwahori ’22

AP Statistics Award Andrew Zhang ’22

Advanced Math Awards

Michael Barin ’22 and Rachel Luner ’22

MUSIC AWARDS

Music: Grayson Pollard ’22

Concert Choir: Chris Ordoñez ’22

Wind Ensemble: Andrew Zhang ’22

SCIENCE AWARDS

Biology

Natalie Campos ’22

Chemistry

JiaLian Mackey ’23 Physics

Noah Omordia ’22 Environmental Jesse Hutchinson ’23 Computer Science Benjamin Friedman ’22 Design Sarah Koesema ’22 and Lily Gortner ’22 Social Studies Lena Schulze ’23

Handley Award for American Studies JiaLian Mackey ’23

WORLD LANGUAGES AWARDS

Chinese Clement Xiang ’23  French Erin Beazley ’23 Latin Mia Allison ’23 Spanish JiaLian Mackey ’23

ATHLETICS

JiaLian Mackey ’23

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS

President H.H. Landau ’22 Vice President Barry Yao ’22 Secretary Naomi Engle ’24 Treasurer Jack Fasching ’24

Induction of the Cum Laude Society 2022

Viewpoint School's chapter of the prestigious Cum Laude Society welcomed 12 new members. The faculty members of the Society select students for membership who have demonstrated scholastic excellence (Arete), justice (Dike), and honor (Time).

The Cum Laude Society, modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the academic honor society for college graduates, recognizes superior scholarship in selected high schools in the United States and abroad. A member since 1992, Viewpoint is one of only 31 schools in California to have earned the distinction of having a Cum Laude chapter.

Aria Assil

Michael Barin

H.H. Landau

Rachel Luner

Kishant Mohan Dylan Perlstein Chloe Pfefferman Colette Samek

Zachary Samuel Clare Williams Andrew Zhang

William Cortez-Moore

Benjamin Friedman Timothy Hill Julia Iwahori

Sarah Koesema

Bianca Richmond Brooke Schwartz Ethan Schwartz Sacha Toberoff Lennox White Eric Wolfsdorf Taylor Young

Valentino Devoto ’22

Brooke Schwartz ’22, Mark McKeeMarissa Borochoff ’22, Arthur Kingdom ’22

From left to right, Back: Barry Yao ’22, John Yang ’22, Johnson Wu ’22, Eric Wolfsdorf '22 Front: Ming Hodgson

Class of 2022 Inducted in Junior Year Inducted in Senior Year

BEYOND VIEWPOINT

A list of Colleges & Universities Admitting Viewpoint’s Graduates from 2018-2022

Institutions in blue type indicate one or more matriculates from the Class of 2022.

American University

Amherst College

Arizona State University Austin College

Barnard College

Belmont Abbey College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College

Brandeis University Brigham Young University, Idaho Brown University Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University Butler University California Institute of Technology California Lutheran University Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly, Pomona California State University, East Bay California State University, Northridge California State University, Sacramento Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Clark University Colby College

Colgate University College of the Canyons Colorado College Colorado School of Mines Columbia College, Chicago Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Denison University Dickinson College

Drake University Duke University Durham University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emerson College Emory University Endicott College Fordham University Fullerton College George Washington University Georgetown University Gettysburg College Grinnell College Hamilton College Harvard University Harvey Mudd College High Point University Indiana University Bloomington Ithaca College John Cabot University Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lewis & Clark College Los Angeles Pierce College Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Marist College Middlebury College Moorpark College Mount Saint Mary's University New York University Nicholls State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College Pace University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Pomona College Pratt Institute Princeton University

Purdue University Randolph-Macon College Reed College Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Richmond The American International College in London Ringling College of Art and Design San Diego State University San Francisco State University Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College School of Visual Arts Scripps College Shepherd University Smith College Southern Methodist University Spelman College Stanford University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Tennessee State University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University

The American University of Paris

The New School

The University of Edinburgh The University of Tampa

The University of Texas at Austin Tufts University

Tulane University University College Cork University of Arizona University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Riverside

University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder University of Delaware University of Georgia University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Nebraska, Lincoln University of Notre Dame

University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Portland University of Redlands University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of the Pacific University of Toronto University of Utah University of Victoria University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin-Madison

Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis

Wesleyan University Whitman College

Willamette University Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University

EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION

On June 10, family, friends, and faculty joined Viewpoint’s Eighth Grade students on Ring Family Field for a Promotion Ceremony to celebrate their three-year journey, their many accomplishments, and the completion of Middle School.

Sadie Kieffer ’26, Student Council President, began the ceremony by leading attendees in the pledge of allegiance, followed by inspiring welcome remarks from Head of School Mark McKee Mark reminded the Viewpoint Class of 2026 of our mission to create exceptional readiness for extraordinary futures, and their path to world ready as they embark on their Upper School journey.

As Stephen Chan, Head of Middle School, introduced Daphne Huffman to deliver the Eighth Grade address, he elaborated on the students’ journey to this moment, navigating a global pandemic and demonstrating resilience.

During her speech, Daphne reflected metaphorically through a kaleidoscope on her and her fellow classmates’ experiences in a golden light, despite all of the trying times during their Middle School years. She recalled the many instances her class sang “I Want it That Way,” by the Backstreet Boys and commented: “Looking back, I don’t think I’d want it any other way. Thank you to my friends, teachers, parents, and to Viewpoint. I’m so lucky to be here.”

The ceremony also featured great performances by the Eighth Grade Band, Strings, and Choir. The Class Historians delivered a powerful timeline of memories and moments of their Middle School experience, from academics and athletics to the arts and student life. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates by the advisors who described stories and personalities of each student as they received their certificates.

2022 Middle School Awards

Student of the Year

Sadie Kieffer ’26

The Middle School faculty selects an Eighth Grader who best exemplifies academic diligence, unquestionable character, a positive attitude, and respect for the School’s community.

Academic Achievement Award

Avi Shah ’26

The faculty selects the Eighth Grade’s outstanding scholar to receive this award.

Classperson of the Year

Joseph Abdou ’26

Selected by fellow Eighth Graders, the Classperson of the Year exhibits unusual qualities of leadership, dependability, a positive spirit, and respect for the School and classmates.

Service Learning Award

Colin Brun ’26

This award recognizes the Eighth Graders who best exemplify the spirit of giving.

Eighth Grade Speaker

Daphne Huffman ’26

The faculty of the Middle School chooses the Speaker based upon a student’s demonstrated academic excellence, outstanding character as represented through his or her actions, and the extent to which he or she represents the learning expectations of the School.

Class Historians

Anniston Aragon ’26, Isabella Fillipakis ’26, Ambrielle Harris ’26, Kade Hood ’26, Derek Kessler ’26, Sadie Kieffer ’26, Conner Perry ’26, and Tanner Tyminski ’26

The faculty of the Middle School chooses the Class Historians.

Top: Fifth Grade teacher Daynin Blake giving the invocation Center front: Jonathan Louria '26 with family Bottom: Class Historians

Opposite Page from front to back: Kapri Garnett ’26, Ambrielle Harris ’26, Skylar Helfer ’26

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE JUBILEE

A Conversation with the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Auction Co-Chairs

By Monica Case ’90 Director of Content Strategy

ON MAY 18TH, THE TEAM BEHIND THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY DIAMOND JUBILEE AUCTION, Maryam Torab P’33, ’35, Krystal DryMurphy ’03, P’34, Jerriann Fleming P’24, ’28, Michal Rouse P’35, Major Gift Officer Trudy Baylock P’23, ’28, and Assistant Head of School for External Affairs Maureen M. Nash, sat down together to talk about the fun they had, what inspired them to get involved, and how they hope to assemble an even bigger group of volunteers for the 2023 Benefit.

Maureen: First, I would like to thank you all for your tremendous leadership and work on the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee and auction. You were able to secure so many special items including a flight in the Goodyear Blimp, travel by private jet, and an afternoon meeting with director Jon Chu on-set in London, which made for such an exciting night. Through your efforts, the School raised over $1.3 million for the 60th Anniversary Wellness Campaign and Peak Performance Center.

Trudy: Not only was the auction an amazing success, it was a great night for the community to come together and have a lot of fun.

Maureen: We are excited to introduce the four of you to our community and to let our readers know how they can get involved in the auction for the 40th Annual Benefit on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Michal, let’s start with you. What prompted you to volunteer to work on the auction?

Michal: I decided to take on the role of co-chair because I felt like it was an area where I could contribute something that would help the School, but I also thought that it would be fun at the same time. There is an amazing feeling of satisfaction with the auction, because there is a grand finale and you get to see what you helped to achieve for the School. I thought it was a lot of fun, and I definitely learned a lot to bring to future auctions.

Trudy: How about you, Krystal? Even though you are busy working and have four young children, what made you decide to get involved?

Krystal: As a parent and as an alum, I really wanted to find a way to participate. And being in business, I just thought about my rolodex of who I know, or places I have relationships with, who might be willing to donate. And then I discovered that I love asking. I love getting gifts. I love reaching out to places that I don't know. Tying the community together is so important, teaching people about how the funds raised help the School, and promoting the value of their participation. I also love bringing my friends in and saying, "Hey guys, we have some really cool auction items. I know you're going to want to go here or do this and you are supporting the School.”

Jerriann: I think it's a lot easier to ask when it's something you really believe in. And I think helping with the Jubilee really aligned with some of our parents’ and donors’ interests in volunteering.

Maryam: And you know that you will benefit from creating a successful Benefit. Maybe not you personally, but your kids and the children of people you know. Plus, the bidders are getting great things that might not otherwise be available to buy at any price.

Michal: I agree. For everyone who participated or even considered bidding, there were some really good auction items this year. There was a great range of prices of items to choose from, it was affordable for some, but then it was aspirational for others and that kept things interesting for everyone.

Maryam: Trudy, what do you love most about the auction?

Trudy:  What I love the most is how organically it came together with people like our auction co-chairs, who weren’t really sure what to expect when they volunteered, but just rose to the occasion and then started to enjoy the process, gave donations, or solicited great gifts.

Jerriann: Trudy, what did you think when we secured a ride on the Goodyear Blimp?

Trudy: I thought it was a fantastic out-of-the-box item that we had never had before, and the results from it were great. The highest bidder was a trustee emeritus and alum, and it was very exciting. Since it was unique, it brought great energy to the auction and encouraged people to get into the spirit of the event and start bidding on other things. I hope that we will be able to offer other things like this in the future.

Maureen: To our co-chairs, what would you say to the members of our community who might be interested in getting involved in the auction for 2023?

Krystal: I would remind everyone that our Benefit is the largest fundraising event that Viewpoint puts on, and also super inclusive. We want everyone on whatever level to participate and just come together and have a big festive event. It is a great opportunity for all of us to get together and support the School in whatever way we can. In fact, over 50 families bought and donated extra tickets and tables so that every single staff member was given complimentary tickets.

Michal: I also would like to remind everyone that the planning meetings are a lot of fun. It is a great way to meet your fellow parents over a glass of wine and to get to know one another, while coming up with creative ways to make the auction better than ever.

TRUDY BAYLOCK PROMOTED TO MAJOR GIFT OFFICER

WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE that Trudy Baylock has been named Viewpoint’s new Major Gift Officer. She has been a dedicated member of the Advancement Office since 2017, and had distinguished herself as a leader in advancement and as a leader in the community in her role as the Advancement Liaison for PPDI (Parent Partnership for Diversity and Inclusion). In addition to working with a portfolio of donors, Trudy will continue to lead the auction for the Benefit, as she did with much success at the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee.

Maureen Nash, Assistant Head for External Affairs, had warm words of praise for Trudy, “She is an exceptional colleague and was invaluable managing the auction this year. Whatever the project, she enjoys working collaboratively and engaging with other parents to ensure a positive outcome. Trudy’s children, Amir ’23 and Aven ’28, are Viewpoint students, so she also understands the life of the School from the perspective of a parent, and she is deeply connected to the community. I am excited for her to assume a greater leadership role and to help our families make their own connections to the School’s philanthropic goals.”

From left to right Auction Co-Chairs Jerriann Fleming, Maryam Torab, Krystal Dry-Murphy ’03, and Major Gift Officer Trudy Baylock (Not Pictured: Michal Rouse, Co-Chair) Photographed in front of President Ronald Reagan’s personal desk.

Viewpoint Made History at Our 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee

On May 7, the Viewpoint community gathered together at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for the School’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of achievement by our students, alumni, teachers, administrators, parents, and volunteers. Guests also were treated to a live acoustic performance by GRAMMY-award-winning band Train. Our 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee netted $1 million, the most in the School’s history, for athletic and wellness initiatives including the Peak Performance Center. The community’s extraordinary philanthropy is a signal to the bright future and infinite possibilities of Viewpoint School. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee leadership, all of our supporters and volunteers, and our entire community for helping us make history. All views and opinions expressed by Viewpoint School are not necessarily shared by The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation.

Top: Jubilee beneath Air Force One Bottom left: Mark McKee at the podium to welcome guests. Bottom center: Pam Shriver P’24, Trustee and Auctioneer Bottom right: Marcella Navarria and John Heubusch P’22, ’25, Executive Director of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

From left to right, Top Row: A toast to a great night at the Jubilee; Ken Jeong P’25, ’25, Jon Chu Middle Row: Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train; Michelle and Robert Bradway P’28, ’28 Bottom Row: Mary and John Conlin P’21, ’22; Ramona Smart P’33, Krystal Dry-Murphy ’03, P’34, Kyle Murphy P’34, Wade Smart P ’33; Victor Alston P’31,’35, Mark McKee, Maxine Hurt P’31,’35

Shooting the Breeze(way) with Two Alums About Life at Viewpoint, Then & Now

By Christy Salcido Chief Marketing Officer

IN JUNE, I sat down for a conversation with two of our very own alums Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97, P ’23, ’25, Primary and Lower School Technology Integration Specialist, and A.J. Hernandez ’04, Director of Digital Marketing & Communications to walk down memory lane and hear about their Viewpoint journeys. Sitting at the lunch tables in the Breezeway where time has mostly stood still (aside from the missing pay phone!) brought them right back to their Upper School years on campus.

Christy Salcido: Let’s start by going back in time. What’s significant about sitting here in the Breezeway?

Alison Steelberg Corneau: This was where all the high schoolers hung out, so when you were a little kid and walked past this area, you always looked in this direction to catch a glimpse of the really cool big kids. At the time, the Breezeway emptied right out on the field where all the action was happening with the football players and cheerleaders. There was a giant set of steps, so if you were in Eighth or Ninth Grade you would hang out sitting on the steps until you worked your way up to the Breezeway itself.

A.J. Hernandez: Yes, there were little sections of students congregating in and around the Breezeway every day freshman and sophomores in one area, and juniors and seniors claiming their own spots. I started as a freshman so I only ever hung out here whenever I wasn’t in class or riding my skateboard around. All of my classes were in this Behrens building it wasn’t the massive campus it is now.

Christy: Tell me what lunchtime was like back in the day at Viewpoint.

A.J.: Three words: Sam’s Food Truck. Remember, this was before food trucks were a thing and were still being referred to as Roach Coaches. But, the food was and still is killer. Lunch time was a little chaotic, and then Sam would pull up his truck where this gate is by the Breezeway and everyone would head over there.

Alison: Yep, you always saw students coming back to the Breezeway with their food truck trays and there also were two vending machines in here. One for drinks and one for snacks. But, the School would not sell soda! I remember Funyuns were a popular choice, but to this day, I’ve never tried one.

Christy: Ok, one more trip down memory lane. What existed then, but doesn’t now?

Alison: The pay phone. Kids today have no idea what it’s like to find a quarter to make a call. I had to figure out a ride home every day and oftentimes I’d make a collect call. I got really good at making collect calls.

A.J.: I didn’t use the pay phone because I had a cell phone, but it was a flip phone. But, I do remember that all high school students were allowed to leave campus during lunch even Ninth Graders. But, there wasn’t much around lots of open land and Sagebrush Cantina. A lot of kids would have their cars souped up and sit in the parking lot at lunch. Open trunks with subwoofers, playing video games.

Christy: What do you think has changed the most about Viewpoint since you were both Upper School students?

Alison: Size and scope. The campus itself is so much bigger and the curriculum and choices have expanded. But, I will say that we had a

lot of choices back then too from ceramics to yearbook and language and economics. Despite how big the School’s become, Viewpoint has always offered amazing opportunities and individualized attention to its students, and the School does its best to accommodate all of the students’ wants and needs. You can be into theater and robotics, and also play a sport.

A.J.: The physical space is what’s changed the most since I attended Viewpoint. Overall, it feels like a completely different school, but then there’s pockets of familiarity like the Breezeway, the Pavilion, the pool, and some of the same teachers I had are still here.

Christy: Tell me about your journey from student to alum to employee, and for Alison, to parent.

A.J. I’m really passionate about what I do career-wise as a digital marketer and content creator. I saw a significant opportunity for me in this role at Viewpoint. That’s why I’m here, but the School’s so different, it doesn’t feel like I’m working at my old high school. I’m also a family guy now and being closer to home and working in a school vs. corporate environment is important to me.

Alison: I grew up at Viewpoint, so for me it was an easy decision to return because this is literally my home. Even my own kids spend more time at school than they do with us. In terms of a career path,

I originally wanted to be a trauma nurse, but then teaching found me and led me back to Viewpoint. I’m working in my Upper School history teacher’s classroom. As a parent, I’m grateful that our girls have so many choices at their fingertips. Viewpoint provides a great foundation so no matter what you choose to do for the rest of your life, you’ve been exposed to foreign language, technology, Shakespeare, amazing history, and the list goes on. Everything’s intentional. Everything’s thoughtful. Everything’s innovative, and it keeps changing.

Christy: One last flashback. I believe music is what feelings sound like. If you walk by my office in Founders’ Hall, you’ll usually hear 80s music which is the backdrop of my high school years in Chatsworth. What song or artist brings you back to high school?

A.J.: Weezer’s Green Album.

Alison: YES! I had Weezer’s single “The Sweater Song.”

And there we have it a music connection between a ’97 and ’04 Viewpoint alum.

As her daughters (Anabelle Corneau ’23 and Madeleine Corneau ’25) begin their senior and sophomore years, Alison is expanding her role at Viewpoint as Alumni Relations Coordinator. Please reach out to her with your ideas to make the alumni program better. We want all of you to rediscover Viewpoint School.

A.J. Hernandez began his role as Director of Digital Marketing and Communications in September 2021 and has made a significant impact on the quality of content being produced at Viewpoint. He and his wife Sarah are the proud parents of four-year-old Gavin and one-year-old Olivia.

ON JULY 23, The Los Angeles Times named Anjack Thai in Sherman Oaks, the family restaurant of Justin Pichetrungsi ’04, “The Times 2022 Restaurant of the Year.” We could not be more proud or happier for Justin! To read more scan the QR code below:

Our Alumni Are Cookin’

Above: Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97, P’23, ’25 with A.J. Hernandez ’04

New York Alumni Night

On March 27, more than 25 alumni gathered at the Castell Rooftop Lounge for the New York Alumni Event. This was the first time the New York alumni were able to get together since 2016

had

These notes were received between March 30-April 13.

If you would like to submit a class note or share any news, please email Monica Case, Director of Content Strategy, at monica.case@viewpoint.org.

1979

David Lyons writes, “I retired in March and am now living in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico. I just built ‘Casa Laureles’ to be operated as an Airbnb. I welcome all alumni to this growing beach resort with excellent surfing!”

2003

Jessica Dyer writes, “After earning a PhD in math at UIC in Chicago and then teaching at Tufts in Boston for a few years, I moved back out here with my husband and we are now living in Calabasas with our one-year-old daughter!”

1988

Asha Sethi writes, “I have been living in Northern California where I teach Sixth Grade, inspired by Mrs. Ellen Bresnick, my Seventh and Eighth Grade English teacher at Viewpoint. I have been married for 25 years, and my son and daughter are off to college. My son is a sophomore studying Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona, and my daughter is a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Public Health. I cherish the friends I made at Viewpoint, especially my 40-year friendship with Bianca Moura ’88 seen here enjoying a day together at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.”

2004

Ashley Mellinger writes, “Traveling as a family to see a total of 16 National Parks has been the highlight for the last few years and most definitely got us through COVID! Daughter Brynley (13) sons Xander (12) and Landon (5) have made our now 14-year marriage all the more fun and exciting.”

From left to right, Top row Daniel Cashdan ’19, Mark McKee; Alex Granaroli ’18, Mohammed Yusufali ’20, Jake Levin ’17, Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97, Lizzie Scott ’20, Carson Gilford ’19 Middle row Persia Fardad-Finn ’18, Max Bern ’18, Alex Granaroli '18; guest, Katherine Cutler ’16, Gregory Schare ’19, guest, Samanta Salo ’16, Emily McKee ’16 Bottom row Greg Murray, Mark McKee, Beth Westerman ’08, Kate Dworkoski Scudese ’98, Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97; Lizzie Scott ’20, Mohammed Yusufali ’20, Jake Levin ’20

2005

David Sheftell just finished shooting a movie in Los Angeles opposite Isla Fisher and Greg Kinnear called The Present, as well as a Guest Starring role on the Disney + show Doogie Kamealohoa, M.D.

Nazbanoo Pahlavi writes, “After changing careers and graduating from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, I now practice small animal medicine locally at The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks.”

Rosalyn Porter ’82, Courtney Philbrook Chapman ’83, Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97

2008

Matt Kurzweil was hired by Learfield as Senior Manager, Business Development overseeing UCLA & Rose Bowl Stadium partnerships.

2018

Elijah Lindgren graduated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Environmental Management and Protection. He also graduated CAL FIRE cadet training, serving as an on-call firefighter, and earned his Emergency Medical Technician Certificate and Commercial Driver's License in addition to college degree. "Learn by doing" is more than a motto at Cal Poly!

2014

Olumide Fajolu will attend the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Olumide has been working at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for the past two years. Here is a photo with his parents and his brother, Olugbolahan Fajolu ’16, at his White Coat Ceremony on July 29, 2022.

2016

Jonathan Star graduated with his Master’s degree from UC Irvine in Entrepreneurship and was able to play D1 tennis for the university while in graduate school. He currently holds a position as a Financial Analyst for the Irvine Company and resides in Newport Beach. Jonathan continues to help with the family non-profit: The Pete Brown Jr. Tennis Program for underserved minority youth. Viewpoint Upper School volunteers have been very helpful as well with community service work for the program over the past few years.

Ryan Singsank recently graduated from The George Washington University with a BA in History and International Affairs. In the fall, Ryan will begin to pursue graduate studies in history as part of the dual master’s program in International and World History at Columbia University and the London School of Economics. Before he begins at Columbia, Ryan will be spending part of his summer in England and France participating in a staff ride retracing the Normandy Campaign of World War II.

Trey Spellman graduated cum laude from USC in May ’22 with a BS from Marshall Business School and an emphasis in Cinematic Arts.

Parent Welcome Speech

by Bianca Richmond ’22

HELLO! MY NAME IS Bianca Richmond and I am a senior this year. I have been at Viewpoint since Kindergarten and have grown up immersed in a school that is passionate, driven, and encouraging. I want you all to know that you made an excellent choice of having your children become a part of Viewpoint. This school has engaging and top-tier education, cutting-edge technology, and a diverse student body from over 75 countries. Students have opportunities to pursue various artforms and athletics in all four school divisions. For the past 13 years, I have been genuinely excited to wake up and come to Viewpoint to see my friends and teachers, and learn more about the world around me. But in my opinion, the most important piece to my Viewpoint story is the community that has supported every single student. The staff, teachers, and students that your children will be surrounded by will care and uplift them to make sure their voice is heard. Truly, the community that Viewpoint creates will be able to lift you up to your highest highs and be there to pick you up at your lowest lows. Let me share how Viewpoint uplifted me during my lowest low my mom’s passing when I was in Eighth Grade.

When we first got the news that she had breast cancer, we were stunned. “Stage 1” we were told. Even though I was young, I knew that had to be good. She received chemotherapy, radiation, and two surgeries. However, her triple-negative form of cancer made it impossible for the doctors to discern the strand and implement the proper chemotherapy treatment; she passed away within a matter of weeks.

Other than home with my family, I felt most supported on Viewpoint’s campus. I came back to school a couple days after her passing because I knew I would feel loved and appreciated on campus like I did in my own home. I had my own close circle of support best friends I had made in Kindergarten, Sixth Grade, and Seventh Grade, as well as teachers that I had throughout my first nine years at Viewpoint.

Needless to say, my healing process is far from over, and the journey to grow up without a mom has always continued. With time, I navigated through some of the most important lessons I learned from her while she was with us: change your circumstances to change your opportunities, and be vulnerable to be courageous.

My healing process began with poetry. As I wrote, my thoughts were left on the page, leaving my mind unfogged. I tried to turn something so terrible into something I could call beautiful. I showed my favorite poem to my Eighth Grade English teacher as I felt proud and accomplished for the piece. He prompted me to submit my piece to the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. I submitted it, and won a Gold Key the most prestigious award for

our regional area. Viewpoint helped me slowly but steadily start to find my voice.

I keep my mom alive by envisioning the many cherished memories I have of her. I can picture her holding my hand as I walked into my first ballet class. I have never stopped dancing. I began dancing with Ms. Brown, my ballet teacher at Viewpoint, when I was in First Grade. She helped me discover my love for dance and find the art form that helps me express myself best. After my mom’s passing, I realized that dance was a powerful way to work through my grief. I was able to focus on one of my biggest passions and have the support, both in ballet and my personal life, that I needed. Ms. Brown has become my inspiration and the person on campus I can go to when I need anything at all. After being on the Viewpoint Dance Company throughout high school, this year I led the Company as Captain, where I was able to share and inspire others to pursue their goals. My Company Coach, Mrs. Bahnuik, gave me the opportunity to dedicate a dance performance to my mom; she helped turn the sadness of loss into a dedication of love. Being surrounded by a community at Viewpoint of staff and friends with a shared passion of dance had the ability to lift me out of the lowest moments. Ms. Brown and Mrs. Bahnuik helped me realize that dance is so much more than a hobby to me, it has become a part of my own identity.

My mom was the strongest woman I know she taught me to be confident and fight for what I believe in. This year in my Environmental Science class, I was able to work on a year-long project focused on a topic of my choice. I researched information about poor water equity and sanitation in Malawi. I learned about this issue using primary sources provided by the librarians and contacted a non-profit organization in Los Angeles that works hand-in-hand with communities in Malawi to build wells that provide clean, safe water. At the Environmental Science Fair, I shared information with my peers about the issue and provided the contact to the non-profit to help make positive change. Viewpoint has given me the platform to express what matters to me and share topics that need to be discussed in the community. Using the resources around me at Viewpoint, I was able to use my voice to create an impact on a community 10,200 miles away.

This fall, I will be attending UCLA to study communication and digital humanities. Viewpoint’s contributions, combined with the remembrance of my mother, has helped me find my voice. I am so excited to see where my passions take me in the future, and I am planning on continuing to write, dance, and expand my activism on the UCLA campus. I truly believe that Viewpoint is the foundation of all of my next steps in college and beyond. I have so much gratitude and appreciation for this school as it has provided me with constant support, best friends, and true role models. There is no way that I could be as strong, secure, and confident about myself if Viewpoint hadn't been there for me over the past 13 years, especially during some of the hardest years of my life. Thank you.

Remarks made to new incoming families on May 18, 2022

HELP US REACH OUR $2.8 MILLION GOAL

Contributions to the Viewpoint Fund bolster the arts, athletics, financial aid, faculty development and recognition, and STEM programs. Patron Circle gifts range from $1,500-$10,000 while the Head of School Circle begins with gifts of $25,000.

Head of School Circle $25,000+

All of the Leaders’ Circle Benefits plus Invitation for two to the Annual Trustee Visiting Day Thursday, February 2, 2023

PATRON CIRCLES

Leaders’ Circle $10,000+

All of the Patriots’ Circle Benefits plus Invitation for two to the Annual Leaders’ Circle Dinner Hosted at the home of Ziba and Mark Nassab Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Patriots’ Circle $5,000+

All of the Friends’ Circle Benefits plus Invitation for two to the Annual Holiday Cheer Cocktail Party Hosted by Michelle and Bob Bradway at The Sherwood Country Club Friday, December 2, 2022

Friends’ Circle $1,500+

Invitation for two to the Annual Leadership Celebration Thursday, September 21, 2023

Save the Date: 40th Annual Benefit Saturday, May 13, 2023 Skirball Cultural Center

From left to right: Noah Boock ’22, Dylan Perlstein ’22

23620 Mulholland Highway Calabasas, CA 91302-2060

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Is this your preferred address?

If you did not receive this magazine at your current address (or parents of alumni, if your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent residence at your home), please notify Monica Case, Director of Content Strategy (Monica.Case @ viewpoint.org).