Dear Ivymount Families
Happy snowy Sunday. See our inclement weather policy below. Remote instruction will continue during weather events such as the one forecast for our region through Tuesday.
February is an important month for all of us as we celebrate Black History Month. This is a time for us to continue to promote the consciousness and societal value of individuals of the African Diaspora as part of the BLM movement. This month we celebrate Black History's richness and influence. Throughout February, we will share examples of how our programs are recognizing Black History Month and our February IvyCares Initiative. See below for a first IvyCares story.
Ivymount is committed to ensuring a culture of kindness through our IvyCares Initiative. Through IvyCares we celebrate caring as a priority by creating opportunities for our students, staff, and our community to:
- Reflect on the positive impact our actions can have on others
- Practice daily concern and kindness to others
- Show care and kindness for ourselves
- Value our relationships with each other and invest in these friendships/partnerships
- Embrace diversity by appreciating qualities and experiences that are different from our own and celebrating our individual differences
- Expand our circle of care by taking steps to make positive changes in our community
Also in February - Outreach Recreational Programs begin this week. See below to register now. Ivymount and SEEC hold a Project SEARCH information session this Wednesday. And the PTA's Parent/Caregiver Hangout is next Thursday, Feb 11.
Please see below for imporant information on the Family On-Site Participation Form due next Friday.
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Finally, a big shout out to our Ivymount community and our PE department for making our January IvyMoves month such a success. Keep scrolling to see how we did in our 1,000-hour community movement goal. #Let'sKeepMoving!
Sincerely,
Susan Holt
Executive Director
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Upcoming Events
Week of February 1
Outreach Recreational Programs Begin
Wednesday, February 3
Project SEARCH
Information Session
Thursday, February 11
Ivymount PTA
Parent/Caregiver Hangout
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Inclement Weather Reminder
In the event of inclement weather, virtual learning, including Related Services, will continue as scheduled. We plan to follow our schedule independent of decisions made by Local School Systems.
Should weather conditions impact your ability to participate, due to power or connectivity challenges, please notify your Program Director when you are able, or call 301-469-0223 and leave a voicemail.
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COVID -19 VACCINATIONS
Ivymount will continue to gather information from our families and staff in order to plan for the safe return of students to campus. Vaccines will be one variable in our layered mitigation strategy. To date, more than 90 Ivymount, Maddux, and Outreach staff have received their first dose of the vaccine.
Pre-registration for the COVID-19 vaccine is now open to Montgomery County residents in Priority Groups 1B and 1C, which includes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and people aged 65+.
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FAMILY SURVEY
As we get closer to our return to campus planning we need more concrete information from you.
Please complete a short survey indicating if they would like your child to remain remote or to be considered for a return to on-site programs on March 1, March 15, or April 19th. We can not guarantee that you will be invited for the dates you indicate but this information will help us develop a plan to gradually return all students to campus.
We understand that your choice may change and ask that you complete this by next Friday, February 5.
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Thank you so much for participating in our January Family Survey. We were pleased to have 171 responses proportionate with enrollment by jurisdiction, grade, and program size. Please see results here - January Family Survey Results.
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Ivymount students logged a strong final week during January's movement month, to more than reach our 1,000 hours of fitness goal. Last week, participants recorded 411 hours of community movement for a four-week total of 1,051 hours. Way to move!
Physical activity increases heart rate, sending higher levels of oxygen to the brain, for improved mental clarity and increased ability to retain information. Ivymount is committed to helping students get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.
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Community Event
Gets Hearts Pumping
It was high-energy fun as Ivymount wrapped up Movement Month with a virtual community event for families.
Forty guests put a fire in their step during a ZamDance session that combined fitness moves such as jumping jacks, squats, and kicks with dance moves, all set to music.
ZamDance, created by former Ivymount employee Jackie Zamora, brings fitness opportunities to children, youth and adults with disabilities throughout the region.
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IvyCares - Thoughts on Leadership |
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As IvyCares month kicks off, students in the Friday social groups for girls led by the SLP team had a chance to weigh in on what makes a good leader and a good friend. Students in MLN elementary/middle and high school created their own "word clouds." The words they chose truly embody the spirit of #IvyCares.
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Outreach After-School Clubs Begin |
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Last chance to register for Ivymount Outreach Spring After-School Clubs. Recreational Programs will run for 8 weeks after school, starting this week to March 26. They include:
- Games group
- Cooking Club
- IvyMoves Club
All Outreach programs are led by Ivymount's expert teachers and therapists. They have been adjusted as needed to respond to the virtual environment of the pandemic.
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Learn About Project SEARCH |
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Project SEARCH provides employment readiness training for people aged 18 to 30 with intellectual and developmental disabilities through intensive internships and classroom instruction. Join the Ivymount/SEEC information session.
Wednesday, Feb 3
6-7 pm
Meeting ID: 894 090 4816
Passcode: 436383
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Contribute to the MAP Food Drive |
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Thank you for supporting Ivymount's school-wide food drive for Manna Food Center. We're accepting items until Feb 12. Use the contact-less donation box located in the Ivymount vestibule from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Please wear a mask when entering the vestibule.
Most needed items are: Instant Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Pasta, Canned Vegetable & Fruit, Fruit cups, Tuna, Salmon, & Chicken in water, Dry or Canned Beans, Natural Nut Butters, Shelf Stable Individual Milk boxes, Cooking Oil & Spices, and Infant Formula & Baby Foods. Manna will not accept soda, cakes, cookies, or candy.
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Thank you to the many parents, guardians and staff who joined us for our PTA meeting last week! We know that everyone is juggling a lot these days and appreciate that you took the time to be a part of the PTA discussion. All Ivymount parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend PTA meetings. The next PTA meeting will be in April.
In the meantime, join us for our next Parent and Caregiver Hangout.
Thursday, February 11, 7-8 pm
This is a great opportunity to hangout and have casual conversation with other parents who "get it." Zoom link coming soon.
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PTA Staff Raffle Winners Announced
The PTA has been conducting monthly staff raffles as a small way to thank staff for all they do. Staff whose names are drawn receive e-gift cards. Staff have received Amazon and Panera Bread e-gift cards as a way to show our appreciation for their dedication to our students. This month's raffle winners are:
Olivia Nowlin, Maya Lewis, Kristin Wienecke, Molly Fischer, Danielle Evans
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Are You on the PTA Listserv?
Join the PTA listserv and stay in the know about upcoming community and Ivymount events as well as resources in the Ivymount community. If you are interested in joining the listserv, email Melissa Porter at rancorswife@yahoo.com. You will receive an invite to join which you will then need to accept prior to joining. Be sure to check your spam folder for the invite.
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Ivymount
School & Programs
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