Inspired by Viewpoint’s culture of innovation in its curriculum, and on its campus, the Kelly Day Foundation, together with the Carlisi Family P’29 ’31, showed its remarkable support with a major gift to name the school’s Innovation Space. 

For the past decade, the Innovation Space has provided all Primary and Lower School students with countless opportunities for collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. In this playful and empowering environment, students explore their ideas, interests, and passions through the use of various materials, tools, and the latest technology. Our teachers promote design thinking, learning by doing, and both do-it-yourself and do-it-together projects.  

“The Innovation Space was our Board’s first and highly successful investment in innovation, when the Primary School was designed and built a decade ago. Ten years later, nearly a thousand students have experienced a hands-on curriculum, learning to code, to build, to design—essentially, to dream, and then to bring those dreams into reality. This investment drove further investments in robotics, engineering, computer science, and design, placing Viewpoint at the forefront of educational innovation,” shared Mark McKee, Head of School. 

This major gift from the Kelly Day Foundation nurtures future innovators at Viewpoint, celebrates the incredible contributions our faculty leaders in this space, Lisa Kessler and Travis Shojinaga, and honors Mark’s McKee’s vision for a school defined by tradition and innovation as he celebrates his 10th year as Head of School. 

“We have always believed that a child’s school should complement and build on the values that are instilled in the home. Viewpoint strives to provide that type of environment. Viewpoint’s innovation curriculum combines creativity, critical thinking and collaboration that nurtures the skills needed in today’s modern world,” shared Kelly Kikugawa Carlisi and Don Carlisi, Viewpoint parents and trustees of the Foundation. “We are especially excited about the Innovation Space because it focuses on areas such as entrepreneurialism, character growth, wellness, arts and real-life experiences that are critical to the challenges that children today face.”   

 “Children are not only learning through textbooks but by hands-on and do-it-yourself projects. They are developing their individualism but also learning to work as a team,” added Kelly Day, Viewpoint grandparent and President of The Kelly Day Foundation. “The Kelly Day Foundation has always been forward thinking and focused on a legacy for future generations. By funding innovative educational programs like Viewpoint, we are investing in the success of our future leaders and decision makers.”

We often refer to our Viewpoint Community as “family” and receiving a gift with a multigenerational connection is so heartwarming. 

Designed by lead Innovation Teacher Lisa Kessler, the Innovation Space opened in 2015 and its impact sparked further investments in innovation across Viewpoint, including the creation of a Robotics Lab in Upper School and a dedicated robotics space in Middle School. Today, the Innovation Space serves as a nexus for art, science, technology, and imagination and has created a vibrant pipeline of students who are excited about expanding their horizons in STEAM education during Middle and Upper School. 

“The school has been incredibly supportive from the start, providing tools and equipment that many don’t encounter until the professional world or grad school,” shared Kessler. “It’s now so rewarding to see families recognize the value of the Innovation Space and witness the positive impact it’s had on their children’s creativity and passions. This gift truly validates the students’ hard work and underscores the importance of innovation in education.”

“We started with a desire to bring the ‘maker movement’ to Viewpoint, to ensure that all students learn to code, and to de-mystify the rapidly accelerating technological change impacting students’ lives. In short, we wanted to position all students to be leaders in this changing world, no matter their academic interests or strengths,” added McKee. “Ten years later, we have seen a true explosion of interest in engineering, robotics, and design; we have seen a growing confidence in students’ abilities in computer science and innovation, and we have experienced the growth of a culture of innovation that suffuses the Viewpoint experience of not only every student, but every teacher as well.”

The Kelly Day Innovation Space will be formally unveiled during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony in February 2025, aligning perfectly with Makerfest, Viewpoint’s premier event that highlights innovation and creativity in this beloved space. 

We are incredibly grateful to the Kelly Day Foundation and the Carlisi family for their remarkable support, which only reinforces our vision of a school where tradition connects us and innovation propels us.

The Kelly Day Foundation is a private foundation in Los Angeles that focuses on grants in the fields of medicine, education, and human services. Founded in 2004 by late businessman and philanthropist Robert Addison Day, it is currently spearheaded by president and Viewpoint grandparent Kelly Day. Viewpoint parent Don Carlisi serves as its Vice President, playing a key leadership role in maintaining the foundation’s impact and ensuring continuity in its philanthropic efforts.