IvyNotes

October 9, 2022

A Note from the Director

Good evening. A reminder that tomorrow is a Professional Day so there is no school for students. This coming week, look for a rapid COVID test kit in your student's backpack, provided by the state of Maryland, for you to have on hand at home.

In case you missed it at back to school night, our mental health department has some resources below for families who are thinking about their student's online activities. A reminder that additional resources for families from back to school night are available on Operoo.

Also this week, there's an opportunity for online shoppers to contribute to the Ivymount mission during an Amazon Prime sale on Tuesday and Wednesday. Scroll down for instructions on shopping through AmazonSmile. We're grateful for contributions that help make possible the evidence-based education and therapies provided across all our programs and services.

Remember to register for the Best Buddies program and the PTA's family event, both in October. Find registration links below. Have a great evening and we'll see your students on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Susan Holt

NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW!

Ivymount School

Dates to Remember

Monday, Oct 10

Professional Day

Saturday, Oct 29

PTA Family Movement and Movie event

Please review the full 2022-23 calendar .

Resources from the Mental Health Team

We live in a time of unprecedented access to the world's information and technologies like game consoles, the internet, and cellphones open up endless possibilities to meet people from places across the globe. However, even though online spaces can be positive and safe, students with special needs require additional support and guidance to navigate an online world where safeguards and boundaries can be challenging to implement on a consistent basis.

Ivymount's Mental Health Team has provided resources that can help parents and guardians have open, honest, and meaningful conversations about online security to help meet the needs of their own individual family.

Click Here for Resources

COVID Test Kits to be Sent Home

Ivymount has received another shipment of rapid over-the-counter (OTC) COVID test kits as part of the Maryland Department of Health’s testing program. These tests are intended to be used at home as needed by Ivymount families and staff for testing:

when an individual is experiencing symptoms
3-5 days after a close contact
testing to return to campus day 6-10 after a positive case
screening testing after breaks

We will be sending a test kit containing two tests home with each student next week so every family has at least one on hand to use as needed. If additional tests are needed, please email us at studentcovidreport@ivymount.org. Another rounds of tests will be sent home prior to Thanksgiving break and winter break to use for testing prior to returning to campus.

MAP Students Create Layered Artwork

Students in the Lower Middle School MAP class learned about the artist Justin Favela in Social Justice in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Favela is a Guatemala-Mexican-American artist known for his artwork using strips of paper to create scenes and sculptures, also known as “piñata style.”

Students learned about Favela and the history of piñatas and then created their own class mural in the same style. Students worked hard to create layers and work together to find colors and styles that matched.

Shop This Week and Support Ivymount!

If you shop online through Amazon, you may already know that Amazon Prime is having a Prime Early Access Day sale on October 11 and 12! But did you know you can take full advantage of the sale and support Ivymount at the same time?

Go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-1832991, select "Ivymount School Foundation," and when you shop, Amazon will donate to Ivymount at no cost to you. Try it out and share the link with your network!

Shop with AmazonSmile

Brand New Transportation for Community Programming

Ivymount's School to Work PHS students enjoyed the arrival of a new van this week. Our new van and another one coming soon are made possible by generous donations to our Productive Futures Fund and a partnership with Pohanka Automotive Group for an at-cost purchase. The vans will replace much older models and will be used to transport students to and from our job sites and community outings.

Interested in Joining Best Buddies?

The first Best Buddies event is (tentatively) planned for Sunday October 23!

Best Buddies is an international program dedicated to providing social connections and the opportunity for friendship between individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability and their non-disabled peers. Ivymount students who are 13 years of age or older can join and participate in events with high school students from The Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and Georgetown Preparatory School.

PTA NEWS AND UPDATES

Movement and Movie Night

Rescheduled for Saturday, Oct 29

All Ivymount families are welcome to attend the PTA’s Movement and Movie event. It's free for all Ivymount families. First, take part in a high-energy session of ZamDance, full of movement and music. Then, enjoy some snacks and get out your lawn chair and blanket to enjoy an outdoor movie: "The Rise of Gru."

Dress up in a costume if you like and bring the whole family!

Click on the link below to RSVP and to volunteer with set up, clean and pass out snacks, if you’re able to do so.

PTA Dues Drive Underway

The Ivymount PTA Annual Dues Drive is now underway and we hope you will consider making a contribution.

As the parent or guardian of an Ivymount student, you are automatically a member of our PTA. While there are no required PTA dues, we rely primarily on voluntary donations by our families during the Annual Dues Drive to fund a significant portion of our family activities and staff appreciation events. Contributions of any amount are welcome.

Donations to the PTA Annual Dues Drive can be made via check or online at my.cheddarup.com/c/pta-fall-dues-drive.

Or, click the button below to contribute.

The PTA truly appreciates contributions of any amount.

Donate to the PTA Annual Dues Drive