Viewpoint School 1961-2011

Inside Viewpoint

Viewpoint School

1961-62

Viewpoint is founded in Encino. Founders include Mr. Clyde and Mrs. Margaret Hennell, Mrs. Mary Carpenter, Mr. Richard Leonard, and Mrs. Betty Yarnell.

Opening enrollment is 24 students in Grades Kindergarten through Six.

1965-66

The Philip and Tecla Virtue Building is completed in the summer of 1966.

Seventh and Eighth Grades open on the Calabasas campus.

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Viewpoint now has 1,200 students in Grades Kindergarten though Twelve.

The name Viewpoint arose from a suggestion of a friend of the School that the founders had a particular “point of view.”

1962-63

Miss Mae Carden visits Viewpoint for the first time, and the Carden Curriculum is introduced.

Trustees announce the lease of approximately 7.5 acres of land in Calabasas for the construction of a new campus.

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After acquiring the neighboring property belonging to Meadow Oaks School in 1999, Viewpoint’s campus is now 25 acres.

The Encino campus closes; Kindergarten through Sixth Grade move to Calabasas. Ninth Grade is added.

Cotillion is offered to Upper School students.

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Little Fir Tree is performed for the first time.

The First Annual Giving of the Greens occurs at the Holiday Program.

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For the past 46 years, Viewpoint has celebrated the holiday season with performances of Little Fir Tree and the annual Giving of the Greens at the Holiday Programs. We thank the Boething Family, and Boething Treeland Farms, for providing the greens; and honor the memory of Mrs. Sue Boething, who dedicated so many years to serving the School.

Cotillion is still part of the Sixth Grade spring experience, which culminates in a formal dance.

Teacher Ruth Hynds draws the School’s bell, which later became Viewpoint’s logo.

Camp Roadrunner begins.

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Seventh Grade is added.

1964-65

In 2010 -11, there are 328 students in Middle School.

1966-67

1963-64

Mrs. Thelma Sitton becomes the School’s first Principal.

With great devotion to our fledgling School, Mrs. Sitton brought excellence to the School’s curriculum and hired a strong faculty.

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Viewpoint’s Camp Roadrunner continues to be a special place for 300 campers in Kindergarten through Sixth Grades each summer. The campers’ days are filled with both fun and academic enrichment. In addition to the special activities planned for each day, campers in First through Six Grades may also participate in an academic program offered to review language arts and mathematics.

Teacher Dorothy Crighton writes the School’s Alma Mater.

1967-68

Viewpoint holds the First Annual Great Pumpkin Day celebration, inspired by Mrs. Sitton’s favorite “Peanuts” comic strip characters.

Viewpoint launches interscholastic basketball and swim teams.

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Viewpoint’s Upper School now fields 34 teams in 19 sports, including football, volleyball, swimming, soccer, basketball, tennis, cross country, and lacrosse.

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1971-72

The Viewpoint School Parents Association begins.

The name is later changed to the Viewpoint School Service Association (VSSA).

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The VSSA now has 840 members on 22 committees supporting the School each day.

1979-80

A bequest from the estate of Lottie V. Behrens enables the School to start its first permanent endowment and a building fund for a new Upper School building, which became known as The Lottie V. Behrens Building.

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In 2011-12, the Behrens Building will be the home of the Lower School. At that time, three of the four divisions will have called this building home.

Viewpoint applies for admission to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

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Viewpoint’s athletic teams have now won 14 CIF championships.

Arthur B. O’Leary becomes the first Headmaster of Viewpoint.

1980-81 Field Day, 1968

1975-76

Judy Anderson ’75 becomes Viewpoint’s first “lifer,” the first student to enroll in Kindergarten and stay through Ninth Grade.

1976-77

Mrs. Cathy (McNally) Adelman starts at Viewpoint as a Kindergarten teacher.

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Mrs. Cathy Adelman became the Head of Primary School in 1986. After 35 years at Viewpoint, she is the longest serving educator on campus.

1977-78

Millicent McKnight ’78 becomes the first Viewpoint student to graduate from the Twelfth Grade.

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The Lower School receives accreditation from The California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

1981-82

Students place a time capsule in the Breezeway of the Behrens Building.

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On June 15, 2010, the time capsule was recovered.

Their letters to future students and teachers are addressed, “To Viewpoint School in 2007.”

1982-83

The Prinn Library opens with a collection of more than 2,000 volumes.

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With the opening of the Fletcher Family Library in 2009 for the Middle and Upper Schools, the Prinn Library became the library for the Primary and Lower Schools with a collection of more than 10,000 volumes and a computer lab for students.

The 121 graduates in the Class of 2010 now attend 65 colleges in 22 states and Canada.

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Inside Viewpoint

Viewpoint School

1983-84

The First Annual Benefit Auction and Dinner Dance are held at the Bel Air Hotel.

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This year’s 28th Benefit, the 50th Jubilee, will be held on May 14, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. Over the years, Viewpoint’s Benefits have raised almost $6 million for the School.

1984-85

The First Annual Homecoming — also known as Spirit Week — is celebrated.

1985-86

The School celebrates Viewpoint’s 25th Anniversary.

Headmaster Arthur O’Leary retires; a national search for a new Head begins.

1986-87

Dr. Robert J. Dworkoski becomes Headmaster on July 1, 1986.

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In 2010-11, Dr. Dworkoski celebrates his 25th year of service during the School’s 50th Anniversary. Associate Headmaster Paul Rosenbaum and Kris Dworkoski, Director of Financial Aid and teacher of psychology, are also celebrating 25 years at Viewpoint.

The Rasmussen Family Pavilion is dedicated.

1987-88

The Class of 1988 is the first to complete a community service requirement for graduation.

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In order to graduate from today's Viewpoint, students must complete 45 hours of community service. For the students in the School’s Community Service Honor Society (CORE), many complete hundreds of hours more than the 200 required to enter the society as a junior by volunteering with organizations throughout the Los Angeles area.

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1988-89

The first alumni reunion is held.

1989-90

Viewpoint’s first foreign exchange trip occurs. Ten Soviet high school students visit in January 1990. Dr. Dworkoski chaperones 10 Viewpoint students to Moscow and Leningrad to complete the exchange.

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Each year Viewpoint offers Upper School students several opportunities to travel abroad. Recent trips include Argentina, Belize, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and Spain.

1992-93

Viewpoint earns membership into the Cum Laude Society, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society for high school students.

1993-94

The Upper School’s Film Program is launched.

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Viewpoint now offers Introduction to Filmmaking in the Eighth Grade through Film IV for seniors.

Five students from the Class of 2010 are now studying film at USC, New York University, Emerson College, and Chapman University. Several of Viewpoint’s film students now work as producers, directors, screenwriters, and directors of photography on award-winning films, including Oscar-winning Juno and the Oscar-nominated Up in the Air.

The Lower School Student Action Committee forms for community service projects.

1995-96

Viewpoint’s Alumni Association forms.

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1996-97

2006-07

The ECOLET, with the support of the Santa Maria Trails and Parks Association, is dedicated on May 27.

Students use this outdoor facility for the study of biology and nature.

Prince Edward of England visits Viewpoint to present the School’s first medals in the Duke of Edinburgh Award program. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger attends the event with Prince Edward.

1998-99

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Viewpoint purchases the 17.5 acres of Meadow Oaks School.

2000-01

The School’s community developed the Master Plan for the campus, and the Capital Campaign Committee launched a fund raising effort to provide permanent state-of-the-art facilities on campus.

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One decade later, the major components of Viewpoint’s Master Plan will be completed at the conclusion of the School’s 50th Anniversary year. The new Upper School complex will be dedicated in September 2011.

2004-05

The Ahmanson Foundation provides a sizable grant for The Ahmanson Foundation Black Box Theater.

Viewpoint wins the BRAVO Award from the Los Angeles County Music Center recognizing its outstanding programs in the performing and fine arts.

2005-06

The Gates Academic Center opens as the new home of the Upper School.

The Carlson Family Theater opens.

2007-08

The Ring Family Field opens.

Dr. William Turner Levy, beloved teacher and Viewpoint’s Provost, dies in January. Viewpoint holds a memorial service to honor his contributions to the School and his lifetime of achievements.

Mrs. Thelma Sitton, Viewpoint’s first Director, passes away in March 2008.

2008-09

Mrs. Mary Carpenter, Viewpoint co-founder, administrator, and teacher, passes away in June 2009.

2009-10

The Academic Hall and the Fletcher Family Library open.

121 students matriculate to college — the largest graduating class in Viewpoint’s history.

2010-11 VP Now

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In 2010, Viewpoint awarded 17 Upper School students with Gold Medals, 46 students with Silver Medals, and 43 students with Bronze Medals in the Duke of Edinburgh Award program. The program encourages students to challenge themselves outside the classroom and to make a difference in the world by completing personal goals in four different areas.

Viewpoint celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

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