This spring, Viewpoint School received the highest award from the American Association of Teachers of French: Exemplary French Program with Distinction. Viewpoint is one of just four schools in the country to be newly recognized this year, and we are so proud both of and for our students who, through years of dedication to the study of the French language and Francophone cultures, have become active participants in their learning and have inspired so many others to do the same.

A TK-12 adventure

Did you know that Viewpoint students start learning French in Transitional Kindergarten (TK)? And that Viewpoint offers not just one, but multiple post-AP options to continue and deepen one’s knowledge of the language and foster authentic connections to the Francophone world? No matter when a student joins, they have the chance to shine, learn, and maybe, like so many before them, become fluent in French.

Our program goes beyond divisions, as students have opportunities to connect through joint projects, cultural celebrations, and classroom visits where they learn and create together. This past year, Upper School students taught Lower School students how to play mancala, while Middle and Upper School students competed in a Francophone holiday baking competition, and others played pétanque. Some Upper School groups introduced the tradition of la galette to Lower School students through presentations, discussions, and, of course, food. Other Upper School students came to sing songs and read stories to Primary School students, while others were the first to clap after hearing Lower School students perform a beautiful Caribbean song in the World Language Assembly; the Viewpoint Francophone community is always connected.

Results and passion

As students inspire one another through their work and passion, it shows in their results. Each year, students in Fifth through Twelfth Grade participate in Le Grand Concours (the National French Contest), bringing home numerous medals and results they can be proud of. Students also have the chance to enter a variety of local and national contests based on their interests.

In the past few years, Viewpoint students not only attended the student film screening at The American French Film Festival, but also participated as members of the jury for the American Student Award and in the subsequent film critique competition. There have been many winners.

Additionally, the Middle School has a very active French Club and offers students the opportunity to join les Jeunes Amis du Français, the Middle School French Honor Society, which coordinates activities with the Upper School’s Société Honoraire de Français and provides unique opportunities. In the past three years, there have been multiple National French Essay Contest winners, and a Middle School student was recently awarded first place nationally in the JAF poetry recitation contest.

Many other students also took part in a creative arts contest in French, creating films, music, ceramics, paintings and short stories that showcase their creativity, artistic vision and skills, as well as their knowledge of and passion for French. 

Beyond the classroom

Most importantly, learning how to better understand and communicate with others anywhere in the world is what it means to be truly world-ready and a global citizen. That is why students at all levels are given the chance to connect authentically with the cultures of the Francophone world. From traveling abroad to exploring culture in the classroom, students are continually invited to experience the diversity of Francophone cultures.

Upper School students travel to France, while Middle and Upper School students exchange letters and video messages with a partner school in Senegal. Canadian slam poets have led workshops in Upper School classes, and students across all divisions have enjoyed dancing and singing to West African music. Not to mention the many authentic foods students get to try—and even learn to cook themselves.

In their final years at Viewpoint, students create their own Francophone path. They speak with native speakers from around the world to hear unique perspectives, and they decide how to make French a meaningful part of their lives and an asset for their extraordinary futures.

Springtime at Viewpoint brings with it a cherished tradition of Primary School performances in the Carlson Family Theater and on Blaney Patio. From March through May, students took the stage in delightful productions of Little Engine, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Rabbit and The Little Red Hen.

The festivities began in March with all three Kindergarten classes presenting Little Engine in the Carlson Family Theater. Adapted from Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could, the production has been a Viewpoint tradition for more than 20 years, teaching students the value of optimism and perseverance as the determined Little Blue Train saves the day.

Second Grade students brought The Wizard of Oz to life, celebrating friendship and resilience. The Carlson Family Theater transformed into the Land of Oz, complete with Munchkin Land, the Emerald City and Dorothy’s Kansas, as students delighted audiences with songs of hope and joy. 

In April, Blaney Patio became a magical English garden for First Grade’s Peter Rabbit. A Viewpoint tradition since 1967, the performance charmed an audience of families as students confidently brought Beatrix Potter’s beloved story to life.

The season concluded with Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students taking the stage on Blaney Patio for The Little Red Hen. Dressed as cats, pigs, ducks, cows, chicks and one Red Hen, Viewpoint’s youngest performers confidently shared the classic story, earning laughter and delighted reactions from the audience.

From the determined Little Blue Train to the magical Land of Oz, our youngest students showcased their talents while learning valuable lessons in perseverance, teamwork and creativity.

On March 3-4, the Primary School sandbox became an excavation site during Viewpoint’s annual Paleontologist Day, as First Grade students carefully dug in search of fossils and prehistoric discoveries.

The hands-on event serves as the culmination of the First Grade dinosaur unit, where students spend months learning about fossils, prehistoric life and the work of paleontologists before stepping into the role themselves.

“Since January, my students have fully immersed themselves in the world of paleontology, and Paleontologist Day is the moment where all of that learning comes to life,” said Jackie Sanchez, Primary School science teacher. “What begins as vocabulary, including trace fossils, body fossils, mold and cast fossils, and true form fossils, transforms into real understanding through hands-on experiences.”

Throughout the unit, students created their own mold and cast fossils, preserved organisms in “amber,” and even dissected coprolites to study dinosaur diets. In the days leading up to the dig, they also explored the tools paleontologists use in the field so they could apply those techniques during their own excavation.

“When students enter the sandbox with spoons, sifters and brushes, along with their vests and credentials, they aren’t just playing. They are scientists applying months of learning,” Sanchez said. “Watching six- and seven-year-olds carefully brush away sand, collaborate with peers and confidently classify their discoveries using scientific vocabulary is incredibly powerful.”

Several large fossils also were displayed throughout the event for students to observe, generously donated by the Oschin family (Zachary Oschin ’16).

For Sanchez, the experience represents more than a themed activity.

“Paleontologist Day allows students to step into the role of investigators and truly see themselves as capable, curious scientists,” she said.

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)