From February 3-5, Viewpoint School welcomed TK-5 students and their families to its eighth annual Makerfest, a beloved three-day celebration of creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning held in the Kelly Day Innovation Space and Benjamin Franklin Library.

New this year, Makerfest featured an ocean-inspired theme that introduced a wave of immersive, interactive activities alongside returning favorites. Families explored a wide range of uniquely themed booths designed for specific age groups, encouraging collaboration, imagination, and creative problem-solving. Highlights included a large-scale interactive cardboard ship for imaginative play, a returning Rocket Build and Launch booth focused on basic engineering and motion, an ocean hologram experience blending creativity with technology, and custom pocket mirror design stations that offered students a personalized keepsake.

Makerfest 2026 welcomed special guest maker Paul Thompson, a professional makeup artist, animatronics builder and educator with more than 35 years of experience. Thompson debuted his Build-a-Bot: LEGO Robotics booth, where students constructed LEGO minifigure robots and explored the fundamentals of robotics, engineering and creative problem-solving. He also showcased several animatronic builds and connected with Viewpoint’s Upper School Engineering III and Robotics students, sharing insights from his work in film, television and theme parks, including projects featured in “The Mandalorian.”

“Paul’s passion for animatronics and robotics inspired our entire community,” said Lisa Kessler, Kelly Day Innovation Space Teacher. “From families creating together at hands-on booths to Upper School engineering students connecting their work to real-world applications, Makerfest sparked curiosity and discovery at every level.”

When Kessler asked her class what they enjoyed most about Makerfest, Isla Esfarjani ’38 offered a response that captured the spirit of the event: “Just seeing my parents be happy.”

Makerfest was led by Kelly Day Innovation Space teacher Lisa Kessler, along with Primary and Lower School Technology Integration Specialist Alison Steelberg Corneau ’97. Faculty, staff and Upper School students staffed the booths throughout the three-day festival, supporting hands-on experiences for TK-5 students and their families.

Viewpoint School recognizes Cami Curtis-Bregman & Aaron Bregman, Kelly & Don Carlisi, The Carlson Family, Myra Chen, the Kelly Day Foundation, and Haley & Scott Taylor for their leadership support in the Viewpoint Fund and their symbolic sponsorship of this event as donors in our Chair's Circle and Head of School Circle.