Back-to-school means back-to-wellness as Viewpoint’s faculty and staff prepare its curriculum for the new 2024-25 academic year.

Inspired by Head of School Mark McKee’s dedication to a wellness curriculum, the Schuman Family Foundation demonstrated its support with a major multi-year gift to further bolster the School’s program. With a close eye on this country’s wellness crisis among young people, and the need to more proactively address the mental health and well-being of its students, Viewpoint developed a comprehensive TK-12 program in 2021. Its pioneering approach in the independent school community has attracted the attention of private and family foundations, including the Edward E. Ford Foundation and now the Schuman Family Foundation.

“At Viewpoint, we focus on the whole child and by fostering a culture of wellness, we ensure they can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially while they’re on our campus, and when they graduate,” said Mark McKee, President and Head of School at Viewpoint. “I am overjoyed that forward-thinking foundations have prioritized student wellness in their philanthropy and have chosen to invest in Viewpoint’s successful approach.”

Led by Rebecca Heller, Director of Student Wellness, the programming includes daily emotional check-ins for lower grades, called Responsive Classroom; human development discussion groups in the Upper School covering topics such as body positivity, active listening, resilience, and more; access to caring counselors; the implementation of the Authentic Connections Student Survey; and the creation of a highly successful Student Wellness Ambassador Group in the Upper School.

"Our curriculum was informed by concerning data showing increased levels of anxiety and depression among young people during and after the pandemic,” said Heller. “We're so happy to see these numbers have dropped for our students over the past two years.”

With this major gift from the Schuman Family Foundation, the program will receive significant funds for the next three years to underwrite its essential components and expand its reach and impact.

“We believe that taking care of the world around us means inspiring people, by nurturing what inspires them,” said Laura Schuman, President, Schuman Family Foundation. “Investing in programs that embody this cycle of hope and well-being has the potential to make a positive impact on every generation. Since a mindful approach to student success is a core part of the culture at Viewpoint, their Wellness initiative is essential to support.”

The Schuman Family Foundation’s vision is to engage humanity in creating a collective harmonious future. Their work spans several key philanthropic pillars that range from the natural world to human connection. The foundation’s support of Viewpoint’s program, alongside UCLA’s Semel Institute of Neuroscience & Human Behavior, is part of their ongoing commitment to promote wellness by amplifying the importance of mental health. When people understand themselves and each other, they also believe in and seek out possibilities. The natural and promising result is a school community that grows and thrives.

"We're incredibly grateful for the generous support from the Schuman Family Foundation. This commitment will allow us to build upon the success of our wellness program, which was initially kick-started by a grant we received in 2021 from the Edward E. Ford Foundation,” shared Heller. “With this new funding, we'll be able to continue our initiatives, reach more students, and make an even greater impact on their mental health and overall wellness."

We are deeply appreciative of the Foundation's commitment to advancing student well-being, bringing us one step closer to our vision of Viewpoint becoming a national leader in TK-12 student wellness.

Tune in Now to “On Point: Words of Wellness”

In the latest episode of “On Point,” sponsored by the Schuman Family Foundation, Head of School Mark McKee and Director of Student Wellness Rebecca Heller talk one-on-one about why wellness programs in schools matter. Hear about how educators are addressing the mental health and well-being of their students, and why it’s capturing the attention of private and family foundations. Mark and Rebecca reflect on the evolution of Viewpoint’s comprehensive TK-12 wellness program, and share trends they’re seeing in this space, especially among students in high-achieving schools. You don’t want to miss their “words of wellness” and vision for the future of student wellness at Viewpoint, thanks to the generous support from the Schuman Family Foundation.

You also can find the On Point podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the Viewpoint School channel on YouTube, and at viewpoint.org/onpoint.