In a Primary School classroom, First and Second Grade students count in Mandarin, practice greetings, play games, sing songs and learn about Chinese traditions. During a recent lesson celebrating the Moon Festival, students spent several class periods creating their own light-up lanterns, picking up new vocabulary along the way.

For Upper School Mandarin Chinese Teacher Ming Hodgson, the lessons represent a milestone more than two decades in the making.

“I’ve been wanting to bring Chinese to our younger students for more than 20 years,” Hodgson said. “We finally made it happen.”

For the first time this year, Viewpoint is offering Chinese to students in First and Second Grade through a new pilot program led by Hodgson, who has spent more than two decades helping build the School’s Chinese program.

Hodgson was originally hired to create Viewpoint’s Chinese program, beginning with Chinese 1A for Seventh Grade students and Chinese 1 for Upper School students. From there, she added new levels as students progressed, eventually building a program that today spans Sixth Grade through AP Chinese, with 72 students studying Chinese across Viewpoint.

As the program grew, Hodgson said she wanted to give students the opportunity to begin much earlier.

“The earlier, the easier,” she said. “You acquire language more naturally at a younger age.”

That philosophy is shaping the new Primary School classes, where 13 students are learning Chinese through an approach designed specifically for younger learners.

Rather than focusing immediately on reading and writing, Hodgson introduces students to speaking, listening and Chinese culture. And while her Upper School classes run for 70 minutes, the Primary School classes are 30 minutes, requiring her to rethink how she structures each lesson.

“The key for me is to change activities,” Hodgson said. “The activities are different, but what we’re learning is the same. We’re just repeating it in different ways.”

Throughout a class period, students might practice greetings and counting before moving into a game, song, short video or hands-on activity. Hodgson also incorporates coloring, drawing, movement, stories, food and traditional games, giving students multiple ways to engage with the language and culture.

The classes also bring together students with varying levels of familiarity with Chinese. Some speak or hear the language at home, while others are encountering it for the first time.

“I’m going at their pace,” Hodgson said. “I’m learning what they enjoy and finding activities that keep them engaged.”

While the Primary School program is still in its first weeks, Hodgson is already thinking about what could come next. Her hope is to gradually expand Chinese into additional grade levels, creating a pathway that could eventually allow students to study the language continuously from Viewpoint’s earliest grades through Upper School.

“The most exciting thing would be to have Chinese from Transitional Kindergarten all the way through Twelfth Grade,” Hodgson said. “That’s my goal.”

LOVE was in the air at Viewpoint’s Twelfth Annual Convocation where the President and Head of School Mark McKee officially opened the 65th academic year, surrounded by the entire student body, faculty, and staff.

Among the most memorable moments was the senior class forming a tunnel for Kindergarten students to walk through as they entered the Paul Family Athletic Center (PFAC). This beloved tradition reflects the unity of Viewpoint’s student body and underscores the role of older students as mentors and leaders for the youngest members of the community.

McKee welcomed the seniors in the Class of 2027, the Kindergarten Class of 2039, and 172 new students. He reflected on the meaning of love, drawing inspiration from Viewpoint’s founders.

“This year we are lifting up our core value of Love and reflecting on what it means and on how we can put into practice to make our community and our world a better place,” said McKee. “Viewpoint’s founding Latin motto, Fide et Amore, means ‘by faith and love,’ and the founders of this school understood that the best learning happens in a connected community, united by love and by faith, giving us optimism and belief in the future.”

McKee also delivered a heartwarming tribute to Head of Primary School Cathy Adelman who joined Viewpoint fifty years ago as an assistant Kindergarten teacher.

“It is so rare to work with a leader who has devoted an entire career to educating children in one school,” said McKee. “Generations of students, teachers, and parents have benefited from her wisdom, her knowledge, and her gentle and firm commitment to all of us being kind and caring.”

Next, Student Council Executive Board President Samson Harrington ’27 set the tone with remarks on this year’s theme of Love, before Associate Head of School Anneke Emerson invited student representatives from every division to share their own perspectives. Second Grade students Ava Taylor and Jude Klemack; Fifth Grade students Golden Lewis and Braden Sevell; Eighth Grade students Ruby Wagner and Prince Pierce; and seniors Jamey Tsugawa and Parker Forte reflected on the many ways Love is lived and experienced across campus.

Five Viewpoint employees were honored with annual endowed awards recognizing their dedication to the school community. This year’s Spirit of Viewpoint Award was presented to Jennifer Townes, who has given 23 years of service to the school, and is considered a guiding light and invaluable source of institutional knowledge. Her colleagues describe Jennifer as a ray of sunshine, loyal, and steadfast in her work directing the Viewpoint Fund.

Two Excellence in Teaching Awards also were presented. The first went to Primary School Music Teacher, Hannah Lande, recognized for bringing joy and fun to her music classes, and building every young child’s confidence on stage through her thoughtful, innovative teaching and performance choices. The second award honored beloved Lower School Math Teacher, Daynin Blake who is known for bringing heart, dedication, and intention to his work every day.deeply student-focused teacher who has a wonderful ability to make Fifth Grade students genuinely love math.

The Handley Chair of American Studies was awarded to teacher Tom Moore for promoting intellectual inquiry and love of learning in the history, literature, and culture of the United States. It honors Joseph and Elizabeth Handley, who wanted students to share their love of our nation’s values and traditions. From his departmental work with both literature and creative writing, to his intensive work to make all students feel safer and more at home on campus, Tom’s efforts embody the deeply held values of Viewpoint.

Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter was presented with the William Turner Levy Chair for Inspired Teaching award, for consistently creating classroom experiences that inspire intellectual curiosity and love of learning. The award honors Dr. Levy, Viewpoint teacher and Provost from 1978 to 2008. Applauded for her unwavering commitment to teaching and promoting music at Viewpoint, Kristin has built an impressive program that brings in gold medals in music competitions year after year. Her students, across every division, grow and develop from novice to accomplished musicians playing in chamber groups and full orchestras.

The Convocation showcased the talents of the Upper School Concert Choir, under the direction of Middle and Upper School Choral Teacher Carrie Dietsch, with Collaborative Pianist Kyle deTarnowsky. The choir opened with the National Anthem, followed by an uplifting performance of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” arranged by Jack Funk. They closed the program with a heartfelt rendition of the school’s alma mater, leaving the audience with a strong sense of unity and inspiration.

As the school year begins, the spirit of love will continue to guide students, teachers, and staff, driving them to achieve new heights and make a positive impact on their community and the world.

From music and theater performances to visual art exhibitions, film screenings, and hands-on creative experiences, Viewpoint’s annual Arts Fest transformed campus into a vibrant celebration of artistic expression on Saturday, May 30.

Students, families, alumni, and community members gathered throughout the Middle and Upper School campus to experience the incredible range of artistic talent on display across all divisions. Held in conjunction with Alumni Day, this year’s Arts Fest welcomed a strong turnout of alumni, many of whom returned to reconnect with former classmates, teachers, and the arts programs that helped shape their Viewpoint experience.

One of the day’s most memorable moments took place during the Voices Now performance in the Ecolet. In a surprise tribute to the program’s legacy, current members of the ensemble invited “Voices Then” alumni in attendance to join them onstage for a heartfelt rendition of “Smile.”

Another beloved Arts Fest tradition took center stage in the Carlson Family Theater, where Viewpoint’s Primary and Lower School choirs joined Upper School choir students for a collaborative performance before a packed audience.

Throughout the day, visitors explored artwork created by students across all grade levels, attended screenings of student films and documentaries, enjoyed theater and dance performances, and participated in interactive experiences designed to inspire creativity. New additions this year included a collaborative all-school art installation at the Love of Learning Wall, custom button-making activities, and a live mural painting experience led by Middle School students.

“I am so excited about this year’s Arts Fest,” said Kristin Herkstroeter, Chair of the Music Department and organizer of the event. “The Arts continue to thrive at Viewpoint, and Arts Fest is a wonderful opportunity for our community to experience the breadth and vibrancy of our Arts Programs. It is a true celebration of our incredibly creative, talented, and hard-working students.”

By bringing together current students, alumni, families, and community members, Arts Fest 2026 showcased the lasting impact of the arts within the Viewpoint community.

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.