Every December, the joyful sounds of storytelling and laughter fill the Benjamin Franklin Library (BFL) at Viewpoint School, marking a treasured annual tradition: the Head of School Holiday Readings. These events, led by Head of School Mr. Mark McKee and his wife, Ms. Cathy Shelburne, bring the spirit of the season to life for students and teachers alike.

Primary and Lower School students gather for a series of seven reading sessions, each featuring a mix of cherished classics and new literary selections. Curated by librarians Sue Jean Woodmansee and Beverly Schwarz, these stories reflect values that resonate deeply with the Viewpoint community, including kindness, gratitude, cultural understanding, and the joy of giving.

Celebrating their 10th year leading this tradition, Mark and Cathy select age-appropriate stories that encompass winter holidays while exploring themes of friendship, family connection, responsibility, and humor.

Dressed in festive holiday-themed accessories, they take turns reading page by page, projecting illustrations onto the screen and bringing each story to life with animated voices and expressive gestures. This year, students enjoyed stories like The Christmas Mitzvah and Jackie’s Gift, which highlighted lessons on bridging cultures, embracing generosity, and sharing blessings with others.

“The children look forward to this yearly holiday event in our beautiful library. In this smaller, more intimate setting, they appreciate the special time with our Head of School. Mr. and Mrs. McKee radiate love and joy for our youngest students,” said Vanessa Harrington, Assistant Head of Primary School.

Interactive and engaging, the Head of School Holiday Readings are a highlight of the winter season, setting the tone for a meaningful and joyous winter break.

Inspired by their vision to create a brighter future for their daughter and generations to come, Viewpoint parents and donors Dr. Niniek Purnomo and Klaus Woizik demonstrated their generous support with a major gift to rename Viewpoint’s Patriot Store to the Purnomo-Woizik Family Patriot Store.

After relocating from Indonesia to California to provide their daughter, Alaya Purnomo ’32, with exceptional educational opportunities, the Purnomo-Woizik Family has become a source of inspiration for the Viewpoint community through their courage, commitment, and generosity.

"We are grateful to continue our family legacy in education, from Indonesia to the United States, at Viewpoint School, where we believe our daughter is receiving an exceptional education," shared Dr. Niniek Purnomo and Klaus Woizik.

"Our schools thrive because of families like the Purnomo-Woizik Family, whose dedication to education helps build a stronger community," said Mark McKee, Head of School at Viewpoint. "Their remarkable story is a powerful reminder of the impact families have in shaping the future of our students and our school."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 21 officially unveiled the new name of the Patriot Store. School leaders, including Head of School Mark McKee, Associate Head of School Bob Bryan, Lower School Head Claudia Antoine, and Middle School Head Steve Chan, delivered heartfelt remarks celebrating the Purnomo-Woizik Family’s generosity and the lasting impact their philanthropy will have on generations of students.

A beloved part of campus life, the Patriot Store provides students with opportunities to connect with peers, build community, and develop essential life skills. From thoughtful decision-making to money mindfulness, it plays a meaningful role in fostering responsibility and personal growth.

“The Patriot Store is more than just a store. It is a classroom where we teach independence, critical thinking, and the values of community and connection,” added McKee. “Naming it in honor of the Purnomo-Woizik Family deeply aligns with our vision of fostering a community where families value unity in diversity.”

"The Purnomo-Woizik Family’s story of courage and determination inspires all of us at Viewpoint," said Bryan. "Their generosity will strengthen our community and provide opportunities for future generations of students to grow, learn, and thrive."

"It has been a privilege to witness Alaya’s journey at Viewpoint, from a quiet third grader to a confident young student who contributes so much to our community," shared Antoine. "Her family’s generosity reflects a deep commitment to education and will impact not only her generation but countless students in the years to come. We are truly grateful for their trust and support."

Viewpoint extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Purnomo-Woizik Family for their transformative gift and their enduring impact on the school community.

On Friday, December 6, the joyful sounds of children’s voices filled the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Kavli Theater, as Viewpoint’s Primary and Lower School students presented their holiday program, “We Are Lights.”  

With enthusiastic and heartfelt performances from each of the classes, as well as the Primary and Lower School Choruses and Dancers, and the Advanced Fifth Grade Strings, the audience delighted in the spirit of the season. In addition to music and dance performances, narrators from the Fifth Grade class shared holiday traditions practiced by cultures around the world and delivered holiday sentiments in eight different languages - Russian, Japanese, Hebrew, Persian, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Viewpoint’s dance teacher Gabrielle Brown, a former soloist with American Ballet Theater, choreographed excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, performed by the Primary and Lower School Dancers, led by Jordan Aaronson ’26, Chloe Brendle ’26, Charlotte Hariton ’26, Isabella Wang ’28, Finn Harrington ’29, Callie Roskowinski ’31, and Keira Pescherine ’31.

“As I celebrate my tenth year as Head of School, I realize just how much I’ve come to love this annual celebration,” shared Mark McKee. “For me, perhaps for you, it kicks off the holiday season, as we hear and sing music together, learn about one another’s families and stories and traditions, and celebrate our students and our connections with one another.” 

During the program, the school celebrated Claudia Antoine, Head of Lower School, who was honored for her 34 years of service and her final Holiday Program before retirement. Recognized for her love of students and the holidays, as well as her ability to uplift those around her, Claudia was thanked and congratulated for her dedication to the Viewpoint community.

The holiday program concluded with Viewpoint’s Giving of the Greens prepared by the VSSA. This annual tradition, in which each child receives a beautiful spray of greens, represents the School’s abiding belief in the continual growth of each student and the warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season.

Viewpoint School recognizes Bradley Gail, Timothy and Christina Gaspar, and Dr. Niniek Purnomo and Klaus A. Woizik for their leadership support in the Viewpoint Fund and their symbolic sponsorship of this event as donors in our Chair's and Head of School Circles.

On Saturday, November 16, Viewpoint's Primary and Lower School students, and their families, showed up ready to serve and make a difference in our community at the School’s 10th annual Hour of Giving event held on campus.

Preparation for the event began earlier in the week with the All-School Drive, where students helped collect diapers and baby wipes across campus. First and Fourth Graders then teamed up to unpack and organize the donations. 

On Saturday morning, families packed 75 gift bags for the Good+Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty by supporting low-income parents and caregivers.

“The Hour of Giving provides a powerful opportunity for our students to live out the principles of our Character Education program,” said Vanessa Harrington, Assistant Head of Primary School. “When students help others, they experience a magical transformation: they realize that by filling someone else’s bucket, they are also filling their own. The more we give back, the happier we feel inside.”

The Hour of Giving has grown from a small event into a cherished tradition, welcoming families year after year. Funds raised through the Pennies for a Purpose program, where students contribute spare change throughout the year to a canister in the Primary School Office, helped purchase supplies for the event.

Viewpoint is hosting its next Hour of Giving in the Spring which will benefit School on Wheels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to tutoring children experiencing homelessness in California.