On Wednesday, December 17, Viewpoint’s Middle and Upper School gathered for a Celebration of December Holidays. With festive music playing throughout the campus, students gathered to learn, connect, and celebrate together during an event organized by members of the Office of Belonging and Community Life team, with a tremendous amount of support from Viewpoint Operations.

The Upper School celebration took place on the plaza and featured a series of interactive and educational booths highlighting Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Student affinity groups played a central role in bringing the event to life, with the Jewish Student Union, Christian Student Union, and Black Student Union each hosting booths connected to the respective cultures and traditions. Students also had the opportunity to visit a Girls in STEM booth, where members led a hands-on snow-making demonstration.

Faculty and staff volunteers were present throughout the event and at a pop-up hot chocolate bar, where they made and distributed the delicious drink (cookies, marshmallows, and candy canes, too!), creating a warm and festive atmosphere as students gathered, learned, and connected with one another.

In the Middle School, the celebration featured a wide range of holiday-themed activities. Students participated in cookie decorating, snowflake designing, and snowman making. There was also an ugly sweater contest. A game of musical chairs, featuring holiday tunes and lots of participants, created quite a bit of attention and excitement.  

A campus-wide raffle added an element of friendly competition, challenging students to search for winter-themed penguins hidden throughout the Middle School campus. In addition to the activities, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa displays (supported by wonderful middle school parents) highlighted each holiday’s traditions and featured treats including cookies, candies and latkes for all to enjoy.

“During each school year, we offer opportunities for our community members to learn more about the many cultures and traditions that help to create our beautiful and vibrant Viewpoint family. These activities and events are designed to be inclusive, fostering kindness, respect, and very often, community service,” shared Patricia Jackson, Chief Belonging and Community Officer. “This is one of the ways we help to support education that leads to our World Ready Promise. The Celebration of December Holidays also serves as a nice segway into our winter break.”

From our Viewpoint Family to yours, we wish you health, peace, and joy during this time, and always.

On Wednesday, October 15, the Viewpoint community came together to Build for Love, a hands-on community service project led by Middle School students with support from their Upper School peers. Organized by Patricia Jackson, Chief Belonging and Community Officer, in partnership with the LEGO® Group, the event benefited WeGotThis.org, a nonprofit that operates the first-ever gift registry for cancer patients, helping provide comfort and support to those navigating treatment.

Now in its second year, the initiative brought students together to build LEGO Botanicals for cancer patients as part of a coast-to-coast effort connecting schools and hospitals in California and Massachusetts in a shared mission of creativity, compassion, and service.

“I met Tze Hung of LEGO International 10 years ago while leading a community service reading initiative for children in South LA. Along the way, I served as a preceptor for the building of a TK-12 mental wellness program through Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health. Research for that award winning program includes studies led by LEGO Prize recipient Dr. Jack Shonkoff, who centered the connection between play and healthy child development,” shared Jackson. “It has been inspiring to combine that research and the relationship with the LEGO Group here at Viewpoint, where students and adults alike embraced the power of play for their own wellbeing while working to bring joy to others.”

Throughout the day, students gathered in Litow Plaza, Webster Family Plaza, and Fletcher Family Library to assemble LEGO flower sets donated by the LEGO Group. Among them was Morgan Taylor ’30, who appreciated the chance to contribute to something impactful.

“We’re building flowers for cancer patients who are currently in the hospital,” she said. “A lot of times people don’t have the opportunity to give, and I wanted to give to the cancer patients and make them happy. If they’re happy, I’m happy.”

Representatives from WeGotThis.org, founded by Elissa Kalver, who is living with metastatic breast cancer, joined students on campus for the event. 

“Sometimes people want to give you flowers, but when you’re going through treatment, live flowers can be difficult. You might be immunocompromised, or watching them fade can be hard,” said Jess Isomoto, a breast cancer survivor and volunteer. “LEGO flowers are different. They’re built with love, they last, and they bring happiness to patients.”

“It’s special to see young people giving back in this way,” added Danita Menchel, also a breast cancer survivor. “As survivors, it means a lot to know that this project supports all types of cancer. Everyone is touched by cancer somehow.”

Tze Hung U from the LEGO Group shared that Build for Love is part of the company’s Local Community Engagement Program (LCE), which connects LEGO employees to local communities through meaningful service projects.

“We’re grateful to have the opportunity to serve,” he said. “Service is one of the highest callings, and this partnership allows us to give back and think beyond ourselves. Through our LCE program, we strive to create a positive impact by serving underserved kids and families in need, and Build for Love reflects our mission to unleash the power of play so children can thrive and build a better world.”

As the partnership between Viewpoint and the LEGO Group continues to grow, so does its impact. This year, even more students and adults alike joined the effort to bring joy and creativity to others through the act of play. Through this initiative, the Viewpoint community continues to show how even small acts of kindness can blossom into something meaningful and long lasting.

On Wednesday, October 15, Viewpoint held its annual Celebration of World Cultures, featuring the legendary Parent Partners Potluck. Hosted by the Office of Belonging and Community Life in collaboration with our Parent Partners, the event brought families together to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that shape the Viewpoint community through food, art, music, and connection.

“Events like this allow people to step outside their daily routine and really see what the school is made of,” shared Nicole Langston, Co-Chair of Parent Partners. “It’s a chance for families to see the world through their kids’ eyes and experience the great diversity of our community.”

Families arrived with an incredible assortment of home-cooked dishes, from savory to sweet and everything in between, offering something for everyone to enjoy. The potluck remains one of the most beloved and anticipated community traditions at Viewpoint, bringing families together to share their heritage, stories, and flavors from around the world.

“Because of Viewpoint’s array of cultures, my children are getting an education that probably wouldn’t be afforded to them elsewhere, not just academically but socially,” added Angel Tanksley, Co-Chair of Parent Partners. “It makes them better human beings to understand other cultures and have empathy for everyone of every walk of life.”

In addition to the potluck, the celebration featured displays and activities highlighting world languages, Upper School art and dance, and community spaces clubs, all showcasing the creativity and cultural pride of our students and faculty. Voices Now, our Upper School singing ensemble, delighted guests with a performance of Tim Dom Dom, adding a lively and joyful energy to the evening.

We are grateful to all who made the Celebration of World Cultures and Parent Partners Potluck such a success.