On Tuesday, February 17, Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) brought a sense of celebration to campus, as students across all four divisions participated in activities that highlighted culture, community, and tradition.

Primary and Lower School students marked the occasion through a variety of activities, including classroom acknowledgments and special take-home gifts provided by parent volunteers. The Benjamin Franklin Library (BFL) also featured festive displays, including curated literature, traditional materials, and decorative window decals.

Middle and Upper School students celebrated with two Lunar New Year events held in the Paul Family Athletic Center (PFAC). Activities included drawing Chinese characters symbolizing luck and fortune, practicing calligraphy, and trying on traditional attire worn for the New Year. Students also received red envelopes, a tradition in Chinese households around the world, with the chance to win special prizes. They also participated in a dragon dance, taking turns holding the dragon head and guiding the dragon around the space.

The Lunar New Year officially began on Tuesday, February 17, and will culminate with the Lantern Festival on March 3, marking the celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse. The horse symbolizes energy, strength, and independence, often associated with movement and determination. The fire element represents passion, vitality, and transformation, bringing a dynamic and spirited energy to the year.

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè! (Translation: Happy New Year in Mandarin)

On February 10, the Viewpoint School Service Association (VSSA) hosted its Annual Book Fair at Barnes & Noble in Calabasas, bringing together TK-12 students, families, faculty, and friends for a full day celebrating reading and community.

Throughout the day, shoppers supported VSSA initiatives benefiting students and faculty while also helping grant teachers’ classroom wish lists. For every $20 spent on books, families earned one raffle ticket, with six tickets awarded for every $100 spent, adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening’s festivities.

The afternoon began with guest author appearances and book signings in the children’s section. Families had the opportunity to hear short readings and meet acclaimed authors Kelly Yang (Finally Heard, Little Bird Laila and books from the Front Desk series), Morgan Matson (Promchanted, Gradchanted, Firefly Summer, Since You’ve Been Gone) and Benson Shum (Anzu the Great Kaiju, Anzu the Great Listener).

Student performances followed, showcasing the depth of talent across divisions. Colin Brun ’26 and Ellen Su ’28 opened the entertainment with a flute duet, followed by performances from Suzuki Strings and Primo Orchestra. The cheerleaders energized the crowd, and the evening concluded with solo and duet performances by Mollyrose Dassa ’32, Anya Emerson ’28, Ella Haim ’27, Olivia Lakhani ’26, Gabriella and Matthew Scher ’30 and Siena Siderman ’32.

The event concluded with a raffle drawing, capping off a lively day that once again united the Viewpoint community around a shared love of books, creativity and connection.

Families who were unable to attend can still participate by shopping online through February 19 using code 12938023. A portion of proceeds from each purchase will benefit the VSSA in support of student and faculty activities.

From February 3-5, Viewpoint School welcomed TK-5 students and their families to its eighth annual Makerfest, a beloved three-day celebration of creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning held in the Kelly Day Innovation Space and Benjamin Franklin Library.

New this year, Makerfest featured an ocean-inspired theme that introduced a wave of immersive, interactive activities alongside returning favorites. Families explored a wide range of uniquely themed booths designed for specific age groups, encouraging collaboration, imagination, and creative problem-solving. Highlights included a large-scale interactive cardboard ship for imaginative play, a returning Rocket Build and Launch booth focused on basic engineering and motion, an ocean hologram experience blending creativity with technology, and custom pocket mirror design stations that offered students a personalized keepsake.

Makerfest 2026 welcomed special guest maker Paul Thompson, a professional makeup artist, animatronics builder and educator with more than 35 years of experience. Thompson debuted his Build-a-Bot: LEGO Robotics booth, where students constructed LEGO minifigure robots and explored the fundamentals of robotics, engineering and creative problem-solving. He also showcased several animatronic builds and connected with Viewpoint’s Upper School Engineering III and Robotics students, sharing insights from his work in film, television and theme parks, including projects featured in “The Mandalorian.”

“Paul’s passion for animatronics and robotics inspired our entire community,” said Lisa Kessler, Kelly Day Innovation Space Teacher. “From families creating together at hands-on booths to Upper School engineering students connecting their work to real-world applications, Makerfest sparked curiosity and discovery at every level.”

When Kessler asked her class what they enjoyed most about Makerfest, Isla Esfarjani ’38 offered a response that captured the spirit of the event: “Just seeing my parents be happy.”

Makerfest was led by Kelly Day Innovation Space teacher Lisa Kessler, along with Primary and Lower School Technology Integration Specialist Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97. Faculty, staff and Upper School students staffed the booths throughout the three-day festival, supporting hands-on experiences for TK-5 students and their families.

Viewpoint School recognizes Cami Curtis-Bregman & Aaron Bregman, Kelly & Don Carlisi, The Carlson Family, Myra Chen, the Kelly Day Foundation, and Haley & Scott Taylor for their leadership support in the Viewpoint Fund and their symbolic sponsorship of this event as donors in our Chair's Circle and Head of School Circle.

Viewpoint’s Lower School is a vibrant and thriving community where students develop confidence in their learning, a strong sense of self and community, and growing independence as they explore their interests and discover their passions. Elementary education is often described as a progression from learning to read to reading to learn; as students enter Viewpoint’s Lower School, they are prepared to read to learn, and academic expectations deepen each year. While Third Grade remains a self-contained classroom for core academic subjects, beginning in Fourth Grade students benefit from subject-specific instruction delivered by teachers who are experts in their disciplines. Our teachers’ enthusiasm and mastery inspire curiosity and a love of learning in their students.

Another defining strength of the Lower School is the depth and breadth of the educational experience. Committed to educating the whole child, students engage in a rich curriculum that includes core academics alongside physical education, science, music, library, art, technology, Spanish or French, innovation and makerspace, and a comprehensive character program. Within this supportive and nurturing environment, students are encouraged to explore their passions, take intellectual risks, and grow into confident, well-rounded learners and leaders.

Our Future

The world our students are preparing to enter is unknown and constantly evolving. That’s why we teach in a way that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, real-world problem solving, and the appreciation of diverse perspectives alongside a strong foundation in core academics. These skills equip our students with the resilient identity and courageous mindset to thrive in any future. Our students are not only world ready, they are future ready.    

Our Priorities

In Lower School, educating the whole child is at the heart of everything we do. With a new school counselor joining our seasoned learning specialist, and a leadership team bringing expertise as a Math Specialist and accomplished writer, we collaborate weekly in professional learning communities with classroom and enrichment teachers. Together, we design dynamic, integrated learning experiences, support students’ social and emotional growth, and continually implement innovative best practices. Our goal is simple: for every child to find joy in learning, embrace challenges, and celebrate growth every step of the way.

Our Uniqueness

The Lower School intentionally cultivates independence and confidence in students from Third through Fifth Grade. Our vision, where tradition connects us and innovation propels us, is beautifully reflected as students in all grades participate in assemblies in our theater, honing public speaking skills in front of hundreds of peers and families. Third graders navigate a larger campus with expanded opportunities and rising expectations. By Fourth Grade, students transition between classes for all core academic subjects, learning from teachers who are masters in their fields, while taking on leadership roles through the Student Action Committee and spearheading meaningful service-learning projects. In Fifth Grade, students expand their experiences even further by learning an instrument, completing a business project, and hosting both the holiday program and the final assembly, reflecting on past experiences while celebrating achievements and growth.

Our Academics 

Math

Our Mathematics curriculum is anchored in the Singapore Mathematics program and thoughtfully enhanced with expertly curated lessons, projects, and instructional practices drawn from a variety of sources. Students develop strong mastery of foundational skills within a collaborative and flexible learning environment known as the Thinking Classroom. In this setting, students are challenged not only to learn mathematics, but to think like mathematicians.

Through critical thinking and exploration, students seek patterns, examine why methods work, and often discover algorithms on their own. This approach transforms math from a set of memorized procedures into a dynamic process of inquiry and understanding. By engaging in authentic mathematical thinking, students build essential skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and perseverance. These are skills that extend far beyond the math classroom and prepare them for success across disciplines and in the world beyond school.

Reading and Language Arts 

Our Reading and Language Arts program is grounded in the readers’ and writers’ workshop model, an approach that places students at the center of authentic experiences. Through daily mini-lessons, independent practice, small group instruction, and teacher conferencing, students develop strong comprehension skills such as identifying themes, analyzing characters, making inferences, and citing textual evidence. In writing, students learn to generate ideas, plan and organize their work, draft with purpose, revise for clarity and voice, and edit for conventions, while growing across multiple genres, including creative storytelling and narrative, informational, and opinion writing. In both reading and writing, the workshop model builds fluency, vocabulary development, grammar and syntax skills, and stamina, while fostering independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of reading and writing.  

Social Studies

Our Social Studies curriculum immerses students in California and U.S. history through engaging simulations, art, debates, and perspective-taking exercises. Students read and research from primary sources, textbooks, and scholarly articles, developing the skills to interpret historical events thoughtfully and critically. They go beyond the surface to analyze multiple viewpoints, consider whose perspectives may be missing, and explore why these voices are absent. The goal is not only for students to learn history but to understand its interpretive nature, fostering critical thinking and curiosity. By bringing the past to life, our curriculum inspires students to connect with history in meaningful and enduring ways.

Our Athletics 

Lower School Athletics spark a love of movement and the excitement of team play. In Third Grade, students build strong foundational skills through engaging Physical Education units that prepare them for success in team sports. In Fourth and Fifth Grade, students can dive into a variety of interscholastic sports teams during PE, with three seasons each year offering the chance to try something new or deepen their skills in a favorite sport. Practices happen during PE, culminating in games after school against opposing schools. In this supportive and encouraging environment, students are inspired to explore new sports, uncover hidden talents, and build teamwork, perseverance, and confidence which will empower their success in school, in sports, and beyond.

Our Team

Ninety percent of our Lower School teachers have been at Viewpoint for fifteen years or more, and all faculty with children have chosen Viewpoint for their own families. Our teachers are deeply committed to the transformative power of a Viewpoint education and strive to bring its promise to life every day. We value strong collaboration, not only among staff but also with families, ensuring that each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth remains at the center of every decision. Together, faculty and families continue to learn and grow, imagining an even greater future for our students as we uphold our school’s core values of love, honor, excellence, imagination, and optimism.