Student Life at Vistamar

Students at Vistamar actively build relationships and connections with their peers, teachers, and in the communities to which they belong. We encourage you from day one to get involved in the life of the school and proudly affirm our unofficial motto, "no spectators." We want you to engage fully in the broader school life through building meaningful relationships and taking part in your own combination of activities: athletics, arts, clubs, services, leadership activities, and school-wide events. Vistamar makes time for you to do you.

The most valuable aspect of the Vistamar experience was feeling comfortable enough in the community to grow into the person I'm proud to say I've become.

Vistamar Alumnus

Student Leadership

There are so many ways to be a leader on campus. Vistamar provides opportunities for students to lead clubs, lead affinity groups, captain athletic teams and lead among your grade. Honor Council, VistaCrew, VALT, and SEA are all more formal roles that students can apply for.

Honor Council

The Honor Council is responsible for upholding our community norms of Civility, Integrity, and Initiative. When there are major violations of any of these norms, students are required to appear before their peers and explain the circumstances that led to the violation.

The perspective of Honor Council members, the insight they provide into student life, and the recommendations that the Honor Council makes are an integral and valuable part of the disciplinary process. The Dean of Students and Head of School rely upon the Council's recommendation to gain a full perspective of each situation.

VistaCrew

Founding members of VistaCrew set as their mission to promote inter- and intra-grade relationships. While members are most visible at new student orientation and are involved with welcoming 9th graders, VistaCrew members serve as mentors, leaders, and role models for students newer to the school. VistaCrew members help plan, create, and implement various community events throughout the year. Above all, members exemplify our community norms of Civility, Integrity, and Initiative.

We look for students who are proud of our community and want to be actively involved in building and strengthening relationships among all students at Vistamar School. We look for a variety of students that are representative of all aspects of life at Vistamar—students who believe that student leadership is a powerful way to teach and mentor.

Vistamar Ambassador Leadership Team

As a student ambassador leader, you will play an integral role in the Admissions process. You will be trained to serve as tour guides, hosts for Vista-Visitors, and panelists or program speakers at Open Houses. Student Ambassadors may also travel with the Admissions team to feeder schools to speak on panels. With varied opportunities to be involved, VALT members will grow as public speakers, build connections with incoming students and display a strong sense of Viking Pride! VALT members support the Vistamar community through sharing their experience and fostering connections with prospective students and families throughout the admissions season. Members will promote Vistamar in the community at admissions events, lead tours and present at open house events, and mentor rising student ambassadors. Above all, VALT members will exemplify our community norms of Civility, Integrity and Initiative.

Student Events & Activities Council (S.E.A.)

Peer Council

Clubs and Activities

Vistamar offers over 30 Clubs and Activities

Vistamar makes room in the day—before school, during lunch, and after school—for students to initiate work that is important to them. Most of the extra-curricular clubs and activities at Vistamar School have been initiated, organized, and established by students.

Here are some of the current clubs and activities. More student clubs and activities will continue to be added as student interest evolves.

Affinity and Alliance: Feminist Club, GSA, Black Student Union, United Asian Association, Latino Students Association, Mixed Kidz Club, Jewish Culture Club, Feminist Club.

Journalism, Writing, and Broadcast: Yearbook, VSN, Vistamar View Newspaper, Literary Magazine, Satire Club.

Science: Robotics, Eco Club, Pre-Med Club, Topics in Astronomy and Science.

Academics: French Club, Book Club, Math Team.

Arts: Theatre Board, Quotable Movie Club.

Government and Society: Junior Statesmen of America, Mock Trial, Entertainment Club, Investment Club.

Service and Community: Interact Club, Girl Up.

Puzzles and Games: League of Legends Club, Chess Club.

Student Events: Club Fair, Fall Dance, Winter Semi-Formal, Jr./Sr. Prom, Spirit Week, Morning Meeting, VPA Night, Winter Concert, Soulful Celebration.

Advisory

Vistamar teachers value their students as individuals and build trust through careful listening, facilitating collaboration, and supporting students. In weekly advisory meetings, teachers engage with small groups of students across grade levels in a non academic setting to mentor and guide them. Formal and informal discussions and a slate of activities help you make connections as you develop a sense of community. Students stay in the same grade-level advisory groups for all four years. This approach allows advisors to work with students on grade-level appropriate topics and develop strong relationships within the group.

I feel like I enter a space where I can be myself.

Vistamar Student

Lunch at the Viking Commons

The Viking Commons provides all of us with a healthful, nutritious, and delicious lunch daily as part of coming to school. Community is important at Vistamar, and the Viking Commons provides a way for the whole school community to eat together each day. Our block academic schedule allows everyone to have lunch at the same time daily, making it easy for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy each other’s company and meet informally over a great meal.

Living a healthy and balanced life is one of Vistamar’s core values, and the Viking Commons supports this value. Healthful, nutritious, and delicious lunches are prepared from scratch daily onsite. Our food service partner takes a “wellness - first" approach, providing custom menus that are flavorful, provide variety, and also support local and sustainable agricultural practices. Hot entrees, a sandwich bar, and salad and soup bar are available daily. Allergens are noted on the daily menus and options for those with allergy sensitivities or special diets are offered each day, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.

Off-Campus Exploration

The Vistamar experience encompasses a variety of off-campus opportunities over each student’s four years of high school. From grade level retreats, spring and summer travel possibilities, to senior projects, all Vikings participate in experiential academic and recreational adventures. At Vistamar, we believe that being outside the classroom in new environments strengthens community, grows cultural awareness, and expands individual horizons. These opportunities are key parts of the total Viking experience.

Civic Engagement

Grade Level Retreats

Students in each grade take part in one grade level retreat each year. Getting off campus for these trips allows students the opportunity to get to know each other better, recharge their batteries, get outside their comfort zones, and be challenged.

Ninth graders get to know each other during their retreats, which take place at two times during the year. They take part in group activities that challenge them to work together as a team. They also challenge themselves independently through creative activities that broaden their experience.

For tenth graders, emphasis is on reconnecting and refocusing. They work with each other through team building activities and a variety of outdoor experiences.

Eleventh graders take time to reflect on their past two years and begin to begin to focus more on their leadership roles. It also is a great time to reconnect with friends, share tales, and plan for their future.

Twelfth grade students take a whitewater rafting trip together at the end of their school year, creating lasting memories and bonds and stretching themselves in anticipation of their future.

Senior Projects

During the last three weeks of the school year, Vistamar seniors work in Los Angeles, across the U.S. and abroad on their capstone experience. Students work with off-campus mentors exploring a vast array of personal interests, possible career paths, or something entirely new that they would like to explore. We are focused on providing every senior with similar learning opportunities. Senior Project is a graduation requirement, and is graded as Pass/No Pass.

Spring Travel

Most years, Vistamar offers trips over spring and summer breaks. The trips have a service learning component integrated. The actual service depends on the location and community needs. In the past, students have worked in schools, done carpentry, spent time with seniors, dug irrigation ditches, poured concrete foundations, and much more. Cultural immersion is also an important part of each trip. Students get to know local people, eat local food, and learn about different ways of life.

Locations vary from year to year, and include domestic as well as international locations. Students on these life-changing trips have journeyed to Peru, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, China, Montana, Mississippi, Baja, Puerto Rico, and the Southwestern US. Trips are open to all grade levels, and some supplemental needs funding is available.

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