IvyNotes - Oct. 20, 2019

October 20, 2019

Director's Note

What a rewarding week it was at Ivymount, watching as dozens of our community partners gathered for a special breakfast on Friday in their honor. This event, held in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month , is one way we recognize our community partners for the important support they give our students in the workplace. These partnerships provide meaningful opportunities and are invaluable in our efforts to prepare students for a successful transition from school to adult life with meaningful work and community inclusion.

Thanks to all who have helped us form a large variety of partnerships. Please continue to share with us connections to new businesses. We need your ongoing support to have varied and rich job placements for our students.

As October comes to a close and we begin to celebrate Fall and family, there are several ways to do so while also supporting Ivymount. Check out the PTA and Ivymount fundraisers below. This is the last week to order from Boon Designs (similar to mixed bags). Don't miss the excellent options and an opportunity to support the PTA.

Wishing you an excellent week ahead.

Susan Holt,

School Director

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 30 to Monday, November 4

Picture Days

(See below for more info)

Saturday, November 9

Music for Autism

Wednesday, November 27

to Friday, November 29

No School for students & staff

Thanksgiving holiday

PTA Upcoming Events

Monday, October 21

Deadline to send in Box Tops

Friday, October 25

Last day of the Boon Designs fundraiser

Saturday, March 7

St. Patrick's Day Dance

6 pm - 8 pm

Ivymount Hosts Employer Recognition Breakfast

A crowd of almost 80 people gathered in the All Purpose Room last Friday to recognize Ivymount's community partners during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Students in the Multiple Learning Needs Program, School to Work Post High School and Autism Program acquire and utilize work and life skills at more than 30 community jobsites in the region, including at small businesses, county government, retail and restaurant chains, international organizations, and national institutions. Many of the employers were in attendance as Ivymount recognized their efforts and presented awards to two partners.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) received the Business Partner of the Year award, and Dataprise was given the New Business Partner award. County Executive Mark Elrich delivered remarks, relating a personal story of his own son's experience with finding and maintaining employment with a disability. Noting that there is still much work to do, Elrich described the formation of a new working group to tackle the issue locally.

Chuck Short, a former special assistant to Elrich and a former Ivymount parent, addressed the room with his son Charlie. Short emphasized the 2019 NDEAM motto "RightTalentRightNow," describing the many skills and talents that his son has brought to the workforce. He encouraged employers of all sizes to embrace inclusion as a hiring goal.

PAHO Honored for 5-Year Partnership

When parent Maristela Monteiro saw a flyer about Ivymount School needing businesses to host students for work experience, she thought, “Why not my workplace?” That was the beginning of a project that has turned into a five-year partnership between Ivymount and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Monteiro, whose son was an Ivymount student, recognizes the barriers that persons with disabilities face in finding and maintaining employment: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an adult with a disability is twice as likely to be unemployed as a person without a disability. Working at an organization focused on public health and human rights, she saw an opportunity to embody PAHO’s mission by advancing inclusion. “I think the Ivymount students bring a new perspective on the need for tolerance and flexibility - that everybody has a talent and that we should value and build on what they can do,” says Monteiro.

Since Monteiro first asked how PAHO could get involved, 16 Ivymount students have earned valuable, real-world work experience at the international public health agency, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). The partnership began with three students from the Autism and School to Work Post High School programs working in two departments, two days a week, and has evolved to four full-year placements in departments across both PAHO locations.

Read the full article on PAHO

Watch the "Working Together - PAHO & Ivymount Video

New Partner Award to Dataprise

Dataprise received the New Business Partner of the Year Award. A leading IT managed services provider, Dataprise has been a committed partner and dedicated corporate sponsor of Ivymount events. In early 2019, Dataprise also became a community jobsite, starting with one student interning in its PC Depot and adding a second student to its marketing department.

Dataprise was honored for going above and beyond in its first year as a business partner by recognizing and accommodating students' different abilities while providing a meaningful work experience which will impact each student’s future.

See next Sunday's IvyNotes for an interview with Kimberly Fox and Matthew Hall of Dataprise.

MLN Learns About Photography

While many younger people may think that photos are something you take only on a smart phone, two MLN reading comprehension classes learned about the history of photography by reading a book called “Taking Photographs”.

They also learned about the process of developing film, looked at different types of cameras, and compared their experiences taking photographs today with the way it was when people first started using cameras.

After finishing the book, the groups visited "Mr. T" in the library, where they were each given a digital camera to practice taking photos!

Picture Day Next Week

Speaking of photography, remember that Ivymount Student Picture Day is coming up in a week. Student photos will be taken from Monday, October 28 through Monday, November 4. There will be no student portraits taken on Halloween - Thursday, October 31.

Teachers will send home information this week with the date of student pictures for each class. Look for it in your student's backpack.

Attman's Fundraiser Next Sunday

A family outing for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner on Sunday, October 27 could help support the purchase of a new accessibility van.

Attman's Potomac Deli is donating a portion of the proceeds of an entire day's sales to Ivymount next Sunday. Consider eating at Attman's Potomac!

We Need Your Help

Less than a week left to support the PTA's Biggest Fundraiser!

Runs Until Friday, October 25th

Check out reusable and stylish lunch containers and bags, make your own emoji pancakes. Pack up in style with high quality and fashionable totes.

Multiply Your Impact

Share the Boon Supply Fundraiser Link

Help us spread the word about the fundraiser by sharing a link for the Ivymount PTA's Boon Supply fundraiser. Send a group email, post on your neighborhood list serves and Facebook, or tweet! Grandparents, family, friends, co-workers and neighbors – anyone can purchase.

Using this link, 40% of the profits go to the Ivymount PTA.

boonsupply.com/ 68316

This is the same company as Mixed Bags Designs,

with a new name

Order on your phone, tablet or computer. Use the button below to Shop Now

SHOP NOW!

If you would prefer, you can also fill out an order form found in the catalog sent via backpack and pay by check. Be sure to collect $1.00/item for shipping and $1.00/item for admin fees (new this year) Make Checks payable to Ivymount School PTA.

If half of the class orders, your student's teacher gets a $100 gift card and if 75% order, the teacher receives a $150 gift card!!!!

See a display of products in the Ivymount lobby. Contact Monique Wintz with any questions at tomandmonique@msn.com

Turn in Box Tops by Tomorrow!

Box Tops are transitioning from clippable to scannable Box Tops, but there are still paper Box Tops on some products in stores. Even if you only have a couple of Box Tops, please send them in. They all add up!

You can also scan Box Tops by downloading the Box Tops for Education app on your phone, purchasing items with the “scannable” Box Top logo and then scanning your receipt. All money collected goes to the Ivymount PTA to use towards family events. The class that collects the most Box Tops wins a $25 gift card for their teacher to buy something for their class. Email Karrin Lukacs at karrin.lukacs@gmail.com