IvyNotes

November 13, 2022

A Note from the Director

Dear families,

Happy World Kindness Day! We're mid-way through our November IvyCares initiative, with students, staff and families all participating in a range of activities to show kindness and caring to each other and ourselves. Thank you to the PTA for organizing a staff breakfast last week. It was a nice way for staff to start their day. Scroll to the PTA section for some photos.

We begin this week with more exciting news in our Six Decades of Ivymount celebration - we're proud to launch brand new websites for Ivymount School and for the Ivymount Organization. We hope you will find them easy to navigate and full of useful information across the school year. See below for more explanation and the links.

It was great to see a number of parents at our Ivymount Foundation Gala kickoff planning meeting. We appreciate you helping to plan this important fundraiser in October 2023. You can still sign up if you would like to get involved. This month, we will also launch the Ivymount Foundation Annual Fund campaign and a November 29 Giving Tuesday donation match by board members. All of these fundraising efforts sustain the curricula, technology, and more that help your students succeed at Ivymount School and beyond. Please consider Ivymount as you plan your year-end giving.

Finally, it's fall and that brings the potential for respiratory illnesses such as the flu and COVID. Please see below for a reminder of ways to keep our community healthy. We appreciate everyone working together!

Sincerely,

Susan Holt

NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW!

Ivymount School

Dates to Remember

November 23- 25

Thanksgiving Holiday

November 29

Giving Tuesday

December 19

Winter Break

Check Out Ivymount's New Websites

We’re thrilled to announce the latest milestone in our updated Ivymount look and our ongoing Six Decades of Ivymount initiatives. We invite you to check out our brand-new websites for Ivymount School and the Ivymount Organization!

What You Will Experience

A modern, fresh look with engaging photos and bright colors
User-friendly layout and streamlined information that make it easier to find what you need, such as the school calendar, program descriptions, and Admission links
Responsive design for all your devices
Accessibility tools to make the websites inclusive for users of all abilities (check out the blue stick figure on each page)

When viewed on a mobile device, you will see a Main Menu and Utility Menu. Here are some highlights to check out:

ivymountschool.org

Main Menu: includes Home page and About Us information, an Ivymount School drop-down menu with each school program description and Admissions, Resources for Families such as the calendar and policies, ways to Support Us, and a Careers page.

Utility Menu: includes links to the Ivymount Organization and to the Endeavors Outreach, Community Outreach & Services, Professional Collaborative, and Tools, Products & Training noted above.

ivymount.org

Main Menu: includes Home page and About Us information, as well as details about our Services, a new Our Stories page with the latest news, ways to Support Us, and a Careers page.

Utility Menu: includes links to our School Programs, Endeavors Outreach behavior and professional services, Community Outreach recreational and educational programs, our Professional Collaborative, and Ivymount-developed Tools, Products & Training for the entire community.

COVID Health Screening Reminder

We have observed a small uptick in COVID-19 cases in the Ivymount School and Maddux School community over the past week. There has also been an increase in staff and students displaying cold and flu-like symptoms without a confirmed diagnosis. While COVID community levels remain in the low range for Montgomery County, we want to encourage families to remain vigilant and continue to take preventative measures to keep our staff and students as healthy as possible.

These measures include washing hands frequently, wearing masks when in crowded places, staying up to date on vaccinations, and staying home when sick. Anyone experiencing symptoms should complete two rapid tests in succession and then test daily until symptoms resolve or another diagnosis is confirmed. If tests are negative, they may return to campus and should mask until symptoms resolve. Extra at-home rapid tests are available to students and their families by emailing studentcovidreport@ivymount.org.

To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.

The Ivymount Organization's COVID policy can be found at the bottom of the Home pages of ivymountschool.org and ivymount.org.

Ivymount Celebrates IvyCares

Cooperative Games in PE

For IvyCares month, Ivymount students are participating in the cooperative games and activities unit while in physical education. So far, students have worked in pairs, small groups, and as a whole class to complete various tasks that require cooperation and teamwork in order to be successful. Students are learning about cooperative strategies like how to use specific and clear communication, how to demonstrate active listening, and how to compromise when needed.

During this unit, we have also stressed the importance that you don't need to be "best friends" with someone in order to work well with them, and that the ability to cooperate extends far beyond PE, sports, and school. Cooperation is a skill needed to be successful in life.

Happy World Kindness Day!

Today is World Kindness Day! Our students are setting a great example by being the "I" in Kind. Since IvyCares month is all about practicing care and kindness for ourselves and others, staff and students are taking time to take photos in front of our "Kind" wall and post them along with encouraging messages. Let's all spread some kindness today!

Student Activity Books

Ever get bored or fidgety during holiday breaks? Do you look for things to do when you need a break from your family?

Students in the Aspire Academic & Social Learning Program are making Activity Books for students to take home! Books include mazes, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and mindfulness activities. Each book includes activities for all ages! Feel free to order one for siblings, as well (up to 5) by Friday, November 18!

Click Here for an Order Form

PTA NEWS AND UPDATES

Ivymount School Families Recognize Staff

To celebrate #IvyCares month, the Ivymount School PTA hosted breakfast on the Professional Day last Tuesday. This is part of the PTA's ongoing goal to show staff how much families appreciate the work they do with students every day.

Staff were treated to a wide variety of breakfast bagels, pastries, muffins and coffee. There was plenty for everyone and even leftovers for the next day. Thank you to families who have contributed PTA dues that are used for these staff recognition events.

The PTA Needs You!

Are you looking for a way to connect with other Ivymount families? Or are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that helps students and staff? The Ivymount School PTA needs you!

We are looking for parents/guardians who can help us with fundraisers and planning our next free family event. We use the funds we raise to support events open to all Ivymount families and the teacher appreciation events that we host for our dedicated, hard-working staff.

There are four volunteer opportunities currently available:

Annual Online Boon Supply Fundraiser Coordinator

The Boon Supply fundraiser is one of the PTA’s biggest sources of funds. Boon Supply sells an array of eco-friendly everyday products, from which the PTA receives 40 percent of all sales. We need a volunteer who can draft social media messages and occasionally email the regional Boon Supply coordinator. The online sale runs from early November through mid-December, so this is only a 6-week commitment.

Online Spirit Wear Coordinator

We are looking for a volunteer who can coordinate with a vendor to promote, open and close the sale of Ivymount Spirit Wear with the refreshed Ivymount logo. The sale will open for about a month, 2-3 times during the school year.

Restaurant Fundraiser Coordinator

We need a volunteer or two who can coordinate with local restaurants for two “Ivymount Nights” from which a percentage of the sales go to the PTA. This involves only a few hours' commitment over the course of a month in advance of each “Ivymount Night.” There is scheduling flexibility if there is a time of the year that works best for you.

PTA Family Event Chair or Co-Chairs

We are in the planning stages of the next PTA family event. We are looking for volunteers interested in helping to organize a fun event.

ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS CAN HELP:

No prior experience needed
Perfect opportunity for parents/guardians whose children recently started at Ivymount to meet other Ivymount families
Great way for long-time Ivymount parents and guardians to get involved too
Minimal time requirement
Can be done in the evening or at a time that is convenient for you
Most of the work can be done from home

If you are looking for a way to get involved, or have questions about any of these opportunities, email PTA President Cindy Gottfried at ckgottfried@gmail.com.

Thank you!