Viewpoint School

Viewpoint School is a private, nondenominational, nonprofit day school, located in Calabasas, California. The school is coeducational, with students enrolled from kindergarten through 12th grade. Enrollment in the 2014-15 school year was 1,200,^[2] making it the fourth largest institution in the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

History

In Viewpoint School's first year, 1961, it occupied leased facilities in Encino, California and enrolled 24 students. Mrs. Thelma Sitton was the school's first principal. The school's enrollment and recognition grew. Portions of the campus moved west and for several years shared space with a church on Platt Avenue in Woodland Hills. For the 1965-66 school year, Viewpoint moved grades 6, 7, and 8 to its current location in Calabasas, constructing its first building (3 trailers) there. A permanent lower school building followed on shortly thereafter.

As enrollment increased in the 1960s and 1970s, Viewpoint included additional grades to meet demand and Viewpoint graduated its first senior class in 1982. In this year, construction was also begun on Viewpoint's second academic building. Art O'Leary served as headmaster of Viewpoint from 1980-86. Dr. Robert J. Dworkoski began his term on O'Leary's retirement in 1986. In June 2014, after 28 years as Headmaster, Dr. Dworkoski moved into the role of President of the Viewpoint Educational Foundation. During the 2014-15 school year, Paul Rosenbaum served as Interim Head of School. As of June 2015, Mark McKee is Head of School.

In 2005, Viewpoint opened a third building in the first phase of the School's Master Plan. A new athletic field was completed in 2007, a library in 2009, and a new 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m²) arts and athletics facility was completed fall 2011. It includes state-of-the-art classrooms, science labs and art studios. The Paul Family Athletic Center features a 900-seat gymnasium for volleyball and basketball, as well as additional space for a fitness center, locker rooms and coaches' offices.^[3] In February 2015, the School opened the 4,100 square-foot Balaban-Webster Team Center to further enhance the School's athletic facilities.

Master Plan

Timeline for completion of Viewpoint School’s Master Plan for the improvement of the campus: September 2003—City Council of Calabasas approves Master Plan, June 2004—Construction of The Cornerstone Project begins, September 2005—Gates Academic Center for the Middle School, February 2006—Carlson Family Theater, March 2007—Ring Family Field, September 2009—Academic Hall and the Fletcher Family Library, September 2011—Dworkoski Family Hall, Paul Family Athletic Center^[4]

In June 2014, the school did a groundbreaking on its Learning Center and Enrichment Classrooms for its Primary and Lower School students as part of the West Campus Initiative.

Curriculum

As of 1988 the school offers French instruction from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12, and Viewpoint required secondary students in grades 7-12 to have at least three years of foreign language instruction in French, Spanish, Latin or Mandarin. Foreign language instruction was 4 days per week for grades 9-12 and 5 days per week for grades 7 and 8.^[5]

Athletics

Viewpoint School fields 22 Varsity athletic teams in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section. Teams also compete at the Junior Varsity and middle school levels. The Patriots have won 18 CIF Southern Section Championships in the past eight years. Since 2008, Viewpoint’s Upper School Athletic teams have won 57 team and individual league titles, and nine CIF Southern Section Titles. Viewpoint was awarded the Commissioner’s Cup, which recognizes “comprehensive excellence in interscholastic competition” for its boys athletic program in 2006-07. Seven of Viewpoint’s teams were recognized as CIF All-Academic in the last 12 years.^[6]

Accreditation and membership

Viewpoint School is accredited by and/or affiliated with the following organizations:

• The Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• The National Association of Independent Schools
• The California Association of Independent Schools
• The Cum Laude Society
• National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls^[7]
• National Association of Secondary School Principals^[8]
• A Better Chance^[9]
• Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools^[10]
• National Association of College Admission Counseling^[11]
• Western Association of College Admission Counseling^[12]

Notable alumni

• Tiffany Trump (class of 2012)^[13]

References

External links

• Official website