Viewpoint students visit Germany

INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT- Twenty-eight students from Viewpoint School in Calabasas visit with the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, during a trip to Germany over spring break.

During their spring break, 28 students of Viewpoint School in Calabasas and their chaperones toured Germany. The highlight of the trip, according to headmaster Robert Dworkoski, one of the chaperones, was a visit with the Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel, in her office in Berlin.

"This was a remarkable and memorable experience for all of us," Dworkoski said. "Chancellor Merkel was warm and gracious. She patiently answered our questions and asked our students about our trip."

The previous days were busy for Merkel as she and the city of Berlin hosted the 27 leaders of the European Union at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the EU.

"The Chancellor discussed her role in the German government and the EU, and she gave us a great understanding of both of those topics," said ninth-grader Azizull Dhadwal of Agoura Hills. "It was an honor to meet her."

In addition to visiting Berlin, the group visited Weimar, the home of German writer Goethe, and Bamberg. They concluded the trip with several days in Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria. They also attended the Echo Awards, Germany's equivalent of the Grammys.

Other Viewpoint students participated in schoolsponsored trips to Italy, New York, the annual voyage of discovery to Williamsburg, the East Coast college trip, Washington, D.C. and the baseball team's trip to Arizona.

Viewpoint School in Calabasas is a nondenominational, coeducational K to 12 school. For more information, visit www.viewpoint.org.