Facing and embracing the future





LOOKING AHEAD—Above right, Jill Levy of Calabasas stands with classmates during the Viewpoint’s graduation ceremony on June 11. At right, Zachary Oshin of Westlake delivers the salutatorian speech.

LOOKING AHEAD—Above right, Jill Levy of Calabasas stands with classmates during the Viewpoint’s graduation ceremony on June 11. At right, Zachary Oshin of Westlake delivers the salutatorian speech.

Just like their campus, which made it through the June 4 Old Fire in Calabasas unscathed, the graduates of Viewpoint School have been tested and are ready to start anew.

Preparedness, resiliency and new beginnings were dominant themes at the 2016 Viewpoint School commencement ceremony June 11.

The celebration took place exactly one week after a 500-acre brush fire encircled the private school’s campus in rural Calabasas, charring the landscape but leaving the school intact.

Families, teachers and Viewpoint leaders gathered under a large tent in the Patriot football stadium on a drizzly Saturday morning to recognize the achievements of 123 graduating students who are ready to share their gifts with the world. The day was gloomy, but the mood was merry.

“The fire taught us many lessons (about) preparation, teamwork and collaboration,” said Mark McKee, who just completed his first year as Viewpoint’s Head of School. “Through this event, we’ve emerged stronger, smarter and wiser.

“Today, students have also been through trials and threatening challenges and they have emerged educated, thoughtful and confident, and grateful,” said McKee, whose daughter, Emily, was among the graduates.

As a group, the graduating seniors were accepted in 67 colleges and universities throughout America and abroad.

Besides doing well in the classroom and winning numerous honors for academic performance, Viewpoint’s class of 2016 excelled in the arts, athletics and other extracurricular activities.

Students were entrepreneurial, creative and supportive of each other.

They also contributed to the well-being of their school and community, all the while demonstrating values of honor, integrity and character, school leaders said.

Former headmaster Robert Dworkoski shared with students some words of advice and encouragement.

“Remember victories and defeats. Use what you’ve learned here for your future success,” said Dworkoski, who is retiring from his post as president of the Viewpoint educational foundation after 30 years of service to the school.

“To feel the community, the joy, the love that is in this room . . . the excitement for all that we’re going to accomplish, this moment will last forever,” said 2016 class salutatorian Zach Oschin as he reflected on the journey and milestones that he and his peers experienced together at Viewpoint.

Zach dedicated his speech to his grandmother, Francine Oschin, who was in the hospital and unable to attend the commencement ceremony.

“ We don’t know what’s going to happen, but all we can do is hold on to these memories and treasure them. I want you all to remember this moment,” said Zach, a Viewpoint “lifer” who already has work experience with an aerospace company and who will attend Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service this fall.

Class valedictorian Caitlin Hogan, who will study nanotechnology at Stanford University, referenced the Old Fire in her speech. She said fire can destroy everything in its path, and it is unpredictable. But the blackened hills also give way to rebirth.

“Sometimes it’s not what you do that matters, but rather who you are while you are doing it,” said Caitlin, a falconer and accomplished athlete and scholar who has attended Viewpoint since kindergarten.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned at Viewpoint, it’s that though there will be things you can’t predict, things you can’t control (and) things that choke you and make you terribly afraid, you will endure,” she said. “I have every confidence that the resiliency of everyone in this community is unstoppable.”

The commencement ceremony included several musical performances by students and an invocation by English teacher Amanda Clarke- Nowakowski. Senior Darla Howell received the 2016 Upper School Student Award for her dedication to her studies and school community. Darla was on the student council and a sports editor of the Patriot student publication. She also studied Chinese and Spanish, tutored students at the Calabasas Library and was a member of several student clubs, including the Black Student Union. She will attend Occidental.

The Arthur B. O’Leary Award went to Brenden Rodriquez, who will attend Harvard University. Brenden is an accomplished scholar, athlete and respected leader. He was captain of Viewpoint’s varsity football team, a National Merit Commended Scholar and a member of the French and Music societies, among others. He also served on the student council.


 

 

WORDS OF WISDOM—Dick Robertson, founder of Lorimar Productions, gives the commencement address at Viewpoint School’s graduation ceremony June 11 in Calabasas.

WORDS OF WISDOM—Dick Robertson, founder of Lorimar Productions, gives the commencement address at Viewpoint School’s graduation ceremony June 11 in Calabasas.

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