IvyNotes: March 24th
  Director's Note  
I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Our Read Across America month will wrap up this week and I would like to thank the SMART team for their efforts to expand these activities this year. Tomorrow is the last day to register for Sibling Night; we hope to see many of you there.

A few important housekeeping items that we need your help with. Please remember that all visitors must use the front lobby entrance and need to ring the bell for access. Once buzzed into the building, report to the front office to sign in and obtain a visitor badge. When leaving the building, all visitors must also sign out.

Student arrival and dismissal is a busy time in our parking lot and the surrounding streets. Please drive slowly in the parking lot. Left turns onto Seven Locks Road are not permitted from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Posted signs and orange cones are used to help everyone remember these times. Finally, please be considerate of our neighbors and refrain from turning around in their driveways. Some neighbors have reached out to request our help.

Thank you for your support in these areas to ensure that we provide a safe environment for our students, staff and visitors and are good neighbors to the community.
Susan Holt, Executive Director
Last Chance to Register for
Sibling Night

Sibling Night is scheduled for  Wednesday, March 27th  from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration deadline is Monday, March 25th. Siblings of Ivymount students will have an opportunity to learn more about what school is like at Ivymount for their brother or sister and talk with other siblings who share common experiences and challenges. 

We are excited to host Walter Suskind as the guest speaker for our Parent Group. Walter is the founder of SibStrong and a sibling of Owen Suskind, who is on the Autism Spectrum. Walter, Owen and his parents were featured in the book and documentary movie entitled   Life Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism .
Read Across America Highlights

We are wrapping up Read Across America month with a shared reading of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham! Students and staff are adding their favorite books to the Ivymount Reads bookshelf display, and final votes are being cast for favorite Dr. Seuss book! Results will be shared next week. Our MAP students featured the month long event and the background behind Read Across America in the newest edition of The Vine.
Ivymount Spirit Week

Ivymount Spirit week is scheduled for the first week in April: Monday, April 1st through Friday, April 5th. Here are the daily themes for that week:
Monday
Sports Day


Wear a jersey or other sports gear
Tuesday Dress Up Day


Wear your most stylish outfit
Wednesday Costume Day


Wear a costume for the day
Thursday Wacky Tacky Day

Wear something silly
Friday
Spirit Day


Wear green & white to celebrate Ivymount
Get ready to show your Ivymount School spirit with some Ivymount Spirit Wear! Check out our Spirit Wear display in the front office; there are some great items like t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts for sale. Items are available on Cafe Press and a portion of Cafe Press orders goes to the Ivymount School PTA. If you have any questions about spirit wear, please email Cindy Gottfried at   ckgottfried@gmail.com.
Music for Autism Concert

Join us on Saturday, April 6th at 1:30 p.m. for another great concert from Music for Autism. This concert will feature Justine Miller and Friends.

PTA Updates

Save the Date! On Monday, April 29th, the Ivymount PTA Speakers Series welcomes Whitney Ellenby, author of Autism Uncensored: Pulling Back the Curtain and founder of Autism Ambassadors. This event is scheduled from 7 - 8:30 p.m. and will be held in the Ivymount All Purpose Room. This is a free event. More information coming soon.

Teacher Appreciation Week Preview

This year, the PTA is sponsoring five school-wide events during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, to honor all 275 of our Ivymount staff members. We need the support of Ivymount families to make these events a success! Sign up to help HERE.
 
Monday, May 6: SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION DAY
Students will wear green, the official Ivymount School color, as a sign of how much they and their families appreciate their Ivymount educators.

Tuesday, May 7: SNACK AND DESSERT BAR
Families will send in nut-free home-baked or store-bought snacks and desserts which will be used to create a snack and dessert bar for all staff.

Wednesday, May 8: STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON 
This annual event provides a festive catered luncheon and raffle for all staff. If you would like to contribute to the Staff Appreciation Luncheon, please send your donation of any amount via backpack in an envelope marked “Ivymount PTA.”

Thursday, May 9: THANK YOU NOTE DAY
Students will bring in thank you notes, cards, artwork and photos for Ivymount staff.

Friday, May 10: STAFF BREAKFAST
Thanks to generous donations from local businesses, all staff will be treated to a grab and go breakfast.
Outreach After School Programs

The spring session of our After School Programs kicked off last week, but it is not too late for your child to join the fun!

Arts and Athletics
CHOOSE GOLF or ART or BOTH
Tuesdays and Thursdays
3:30 - 5 p.m.
March 21st - June 6th
UPCOMING DATES & EVENTS
Wednesday, March 27th
Sibling Night
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3rd
PTA Fundraiser
California Tortilla at Cabin John Village
from 4 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 6th
Music for Autism Concert
from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Monday, April 15th through
Monday, April 22nd
Ivymount School Closed for Spring Break
Classes Resume on Tuesday, April 23rd
ivymount leaf logo
Monday, April 29th
Ivymount PTA Speaker Series at Ivymount
from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
featuring Whitney Ellenby
HELPFUL LINKS
Weekly Breakfast & Lunch Options
Monday through Friday 
from 9:05 to 9:30 a.m. 
 
Monday through Friday 
10 to 10:30 a.m.
 
Tuesday 
lunch delivery service

Thursday
12 to 12:30 p.m.

Friday 
lunch delivery service

Ivymount School & Programs


301-469-0223