IvyNotes - March 14, 2021

March 14, 2021

Director's Note

Dear Ivymount Families

Tomorrow we will begin Phase 2 of our return to campus plan by welcoming additional students from the Autism Program as well as Elementary/Middle School students from MAP and MLN. We continue to be so impressed with the way that students are acclimating to the changes in their environment and to the virus mitigation strategies. Keep up the great work!

With so many changes, it's good to step back and ask ourselves how we can continue to take care of each other. We hope you'll join our mental health team for a presentation this Wednesday on strategies to cope with the transitions involved in distance learning and on-campus instruction. Scroll down for information. Also check out some of the artwork produced by students recently and where to find staff read-aloud videos for our Read Across America theme.

On March 12, we sent an updated travel policy, which is reprinted below for those who missed it. With Spring Break on the horizon, it's important for all families and staff to read the update. Have an excellent evening.

Sincerely,

Susan Holt

Executive Director

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, March 17

Mental Health Presentation

March 29 - April 5

Spring Break

April 6 - April 9

Classes Resume - Distance Learning

April 26

Professional Day

No School for Students

2121-22 Student Calendar

The Ivymount School calendar is available for next school year. Professional days are subject to change. Click to see the 2021-22 student calendar.

Travel Policy Updated

The Ivymount School and Programs travel policy encompasses the current Maryland Governor’s travel advisory and MD School Reopening Guidance. As of March 12 at 5 pm, the current MD travel advisory lifts the previous quarantine requirements but still encourages Marylanders to get tested upon return from their out of state travel.

Based on the current COVID-19 cases across the US and internationally, Maryland continues to encourage all individuals to avoid non-essential travel, especially if you are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 or if you will be visiting someone at higher risk of serious COVID-19. This recommendation applies to everyone, even if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have fully recovered from COVID-19.

Our travel policy requires staff and families to notify the Ivymount Health Screening Team if they plan to travel out of state domestically or internationally and to remain home and get a PCR test upon return. Travel to VA, DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia is exempt from this policy, in alignment with MD’s policy. We will work with staff and families to establish an appropriate timeframe for remote participation in work or school before returning to campus.

Staff should send an email before they travel to staffcovidreport@ivymount.org.
Families should send an email before they travel to studentcovidreport@ivymount.org. Families receiving Outreach services in the home must notify the Health Screening Team if any household member plans to travel, even if the student does not travel.

Staff and students who travel domestically to non-exempt states or internationally (in their own vehicle or via public transportation) should get a PCR test upon return home and remain home until test results are received. If negative tests results are not submitted, you must remain home for 10 days after travel.

Staff and students who live with a household member who traveled should maintain social distancing and masking in the home until their negative test results are received. Overnight guests should be treated like household members, and it is recommended they get tested upon arrival to the area if visiting from another country or state and maintain social distancing and masking until negative test results are received.

For families that receive Outreach services in the home, negative PCR test results will need to be provided for all household member(s) who traveled and for out of state overnight guests before staff can enter the family's home, or services will be paused for 10 days.

Ivymount Celebrates

Read Across America

Several Ivymount staff have recorded read-along videos for this month's Read Across America theme. You can find the videos on the FlipGrid application, which programs have been using for many lessons.

Here's just one example - ABA Instructor Sarah T. from Room 172 in the Autism program reads "Ada Twist - Scientist" by Andrea Beaty.

Click Here to Watch

Students Discover Diverse Artists

Ivymount students continue to produce beautiful art in the style of a diverse range of artists. The lessons include background on the artists' lives, their influences, and their impact. Here are just a few examples of the wonderful creations by Ivymount students. Above: Arianna and William created abstract art inspired by Abstract Expressionist Helen Frankenthaler. Below: Nicole, Greydon, and Sara painted flower vases based on African American Artist William Johnson.

Mental Health Presentation

Join Us this Wednesday

March 17

7 - 8 pm

The Return to School &

Distance Learning Balance

Strategies to Manage Your Student's Anxiety

Ivymount is extremely excited for students to begin to return to campus for in-person learning in our hybrid model. With this excitement, however, is the understanding that returning amidst a pandemic can be anxiety-provoking for students as well as their families. This is on top of the ongoing stress that continues due to distance learning and other pandemic restrictions.

Join us Wednesday, March 17 for our next virtual monthly parenting series. Ivymount's Mental Health Lead, Michael Stromberg, LCSW-C, will highlight practical strategies to help your student manage their anxiety while also promoting self-care principles to increase your own tolerance and adaptation to challenging situations. Following the presentation, audience Q and A is encouraged.

Anxiety is a vexing problem for many students with special needs and their families. Let's tackle it together.

Giant Bags Raise Funds

for Ivymount

In February, Ivymount was the selected non-profit to receive funds raised through the Community Bag program at the Giant Food Store in the Cabin John Village shopping center. Ivymount received $41 through donations that were not designated by the bag purchaser to another non-profit. Thank you Giant! We are grateful for your support.

Giving Tag Program Makes Support Even Easier

We're excited to let you know that Ivymount can benefit from the Giant Food Giving Tag Program, which is designed to make it easy for Giant Food store customers throughout the region to support their favorite non-profits and the environment.

When you purchase a $2.50 Community Bag at ANY Giant Food store, you can select Ivymount School and Programs as the recipient of a $1 donation by following the instructions on the Giving Tag attached to the bag. This opportunity is available 365 days a year.

Purchase one or more Community Bags. They can be found on the designated reusable bag rack and at various registers.
Follow the instructions on the back of the Giving Tag
Visit giantfoodcause.com within 7 days of your purchase. (If the donation is not directed within 7 days of purchase, the donation will be sent to the Community Bag Program beneficiary - the monthly featured non-profit selected by store leadership at the store where you purchased the bag.)
Remove the scratch-off layer on the Giving Tag to reveal the unique identifier.
Submit the identifier and select Ivymount School and Programs to receive a $1 donation. Easy!

This is a great way to support the environment and fundraise for Ivymount. If everyone in our Ivymount School Community purchased just ONE bag and directed the $1 donation to us, we would receive close to $500. To learn more about this program, please visit giantfood.bags4mycause.com. We thank you!

Ivymount PTA News

Staff Raffle Winners Receive Gift Cards

Congratulations to the winners of the PTA gift card raffle for February and March. We know how hard staff has worked to keep students engaged during what are very challenging circumstances.

The PTA continues to appreciate all you do for our students!

Our winners are:

Carly Alvarado
Rachael Appold
Katherine Beall
Chelsea Cook
Lynn Danzi
Julia Donovan
Fatemeh Faraji
Jessica Meyler
Alicia Romero
Tisam Yusuf

Helpful Links

2020-2021 School Calendar

Ivymount Website

Ivymount Outreach

Ivymount Family Portal

Join the PTA Listserv

Ivymount Foundation

Ivymount Spirit Wear

Ivymount Marketplace

Ivymount

School & Programs

301-469-0223

www.ivymount.org