October 29, 2023

A Note from the Director

Dear Families,

November is one of my favorite months at Ivymount as we celebrate our IvyCares Initiative. We invite you to join us as we focus on our culture of caring by creating opportunities for students, families and staff to:

Practice gratitude and kindness to others and ourselves.
Value our relationships with each other and invest in these friendships and partnerships.
Embrace diversity by appreciating qualities and experiences that are different from our own and celebrating our differences.
Reflect on the positive impact our actions can have on others.
Expand our circle of care by making positive changes in our community.

See below for a glimpse at some of our jobsite partners - the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dogfish Head, and Locust Grove Nature Center - as we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). We appreciate the many businesses and organizations that partner with us to provide job training opportunities that allow our students to learn and shine. Reach out to learn how your workplace could get involved.

We hope you'll mark your calendars for various upcoming events, including PTA hangouts and meetings, a Music for Autism event, and our continuing series of Project SEARCH information sessions. Community, the Arts, and Information - a great way to enhance your fall.

Sincerely,

Susan Holt

NEWS YOU NEED!

Dates to Remember

November 10

No School for Students

November 11

Music for Autism- 1 p.m.

November 15

Project SEARCH Info Session

November 22-24

Thanksgiving Holiday

November 28

Giving Tuesday

December 11-16

Spirit Week

December 18 -29

Winter Break

Project SEARCH Student Wins NIH Award

Project SEARCH student Kyle works in the Building 10 Cafeteria at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where they honor an employee every month who stands out for doing a great job. They recently chose to award Kyle for being an exemplary employee. He is also working hard at mentoring and training another intern in the current class at NIH! Kyle is making the Project SEARCH and Ivymount School community proud. Congratulations to Kyle on his NIH award!

Ivymount Students Practice Vocational Skills

On the Ivymount campus and beyond, students are working hard to develop critical vocational skills at job sites to support their transition into adulthood. Jobsites like Dogfish Head and Locust Grove Nature Center embody the spirit of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which recognizes the contributions of America's workers with disabilities and showcases supportive, including employment policies and practices that benefit all.

Students who intern at Dogfish Head in Gaithersburg help get the dining room ready for customers. They clean tables and chairs, disinfect menus, set tables, refill sugar caddies, and help set up for events. We are lucky to partner with supportive supervisors like Payton, who help set our students up for success by teaching them what it takes to work in a restaurant environment.

At Locust Grove Nature Center, Post High School students like Ben, pictured below, practice job skills while feeding the turtles and maintaining the grounds. Locust Grove is a longstanding supporter of Ivymount and was one of the first jobsites we began working with again after pandemic restrictions were lifted.

“Ivymount's work experiences program has been an integral part of Ben’s education and is critical in his journey toward adulthood/transition. It not only gives Ben the opportunity for a productive and fulfilling future, but it also gives employers a chance to see how neurodiversity can benefit the workplace and enhance the team.”

-Jen Berzok

Aspire Program: Post High School Parent

Aspire Students Celebrate Family Diversity

Aspire Social 4th graders took some time to discuss the diversity of families. They read a poem about family differences and then identified the message the story was trying to give. After this, they created their own “family trees” but not in tree form! We got family seeds, family birds, and family cakes! This was a fun way of showing students that not all families are the same, or trees, but they come in all shapes and sizes!

Spirit Wear Orders Distributed

Fall spirit wear orders have arrived! Spirit wear was sent home with students on Thursday, October 26, so please be sure to check your student's backpack for your order. It was wonderful to see so many families order items and we look forward to seeing students, staff and families rocking their Ivymount School looks!

Winter Spirit Week is December 11-15 and Spring Spirit Week is March 18-22.

We will host another sale in the late winter/early spring. If you have any questions about this order or future plans, contact Carolyn Woodham, Outreach Administrative Director cwoodham@ivymount.org.

Save the Date - Music for Autism

Saturday, November 11

1 pm at Ivymount School

Join Ivymount Community Outreach for a classical Argentinian tango channeled by a quintet of top-notch female chamber musicians and their crackerjack bandoneon player! This is tango like you’ve never imagined it: classical chops, jazz harmonies, and intimate arrangements written for the group by outstanding composers in Buenos Aires.

RSVP HERE or by visiting www.musicforautism.org and clicking on the Concerts tab.

Please share this event with other families!

Mark Your Calendar - Project SEARCH Info Session

Wednesday, November 15

4:30 pm at Ivymount School and Online

Learn more about how the Project SEARCH program helps young adults make successful transitions from school to productive post-school life.

Parents, professionals, and applicants who are interested in applying to the Project SEARCH programs can attend this hybrid session in person or remotely.

PTA NEWS AND UPDATES

Get Involved in Our Upcoming PTA Events

Parent/Caregiver Hangouts - Corner Bakery Bethesda

Wednesday, November 8 - 9:15 to 10:30 am

Wednesday, December 6 - 1:30 to 2:30 pm

Winter PTA Meeting via Zoom

Tuesday, January 9 - 7 to 8 pm

Spring PTA Meeting - In Person at Ivymount School

Friday, April 12 - 9:30 to 10:30 am

Sneaker Drive Raises Funds and Helps the Environment

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the PTA's ongoing Sneaker Drive with GotSneakers. Things to know:

Sneakers (and cleats) can be in any condition (with or without laces/insoles).
Pairs only.
No crocs, sandals, dress shoes, or other types of shoes.
Send shoes to school with your student or drop them off inside the main entrance of the school.
If you have 12 pairs or more, contact trish.stone@yahoo.com for a collection bag.

Read Ivymount's Six Decades Stories

From the early 60's when there were no laws and few special services for people with disabilities, to today’s array of laws and services, Ivymount has provided innovative programs that have filled unmet needs. Read how the history of Ivymount has paralleled the history of special education and disability law.

Foundation Gala Recap

If you were not able to attend the Ivymount Foundation's Memories and Momentum Gala, we encourage you to watch our video recap of photos from the evening, plus our video describing the six decades of Ivymount and how our Investing in Excellence initiative contributes to staff, student and family success. Click Here to see images and videos: https://conta.cc/403mx2y