Dear Ivymount Families
We were very glad to welcome back a small group of students to campus as we began our phased return. Students and staff did a great job with the virus mitigation strategies and the new schedule. See a few photos below from the first day. We're looking forward to continuing to see more students in the coming weeks. Let's work together to stay healthy!
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Also keep scrolling to see the ways that we're highlighting the importance of reading in March and shining a spotlight on the accomplishments of women. Tomorrow is International Women's Day. Ivymount School is lucky to have so many highly accomplished and educated women on our staff. We salute you!
Remember to join the PTA for its parent/caregiver hangout tomorrow night and check out the Wednesday virtual information session about Project SEARCH this Wednesday. Have a great evening.
Sincerely,
Susan Holt
Executive Director
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Upcoming Events
Monday, March 8
PTA Parent/Caregiver Hangout
Wednesday, March 10
Project SEARCH Info Session
Wednesday, March 17
Mental Health Presentation
March 29 - April 5
Spring Break
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The Ivymount School calendar is available for next school year. Professional days are subject to change. Click to see the 2021-22 student calendar. |
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As staff returned to campus to begin preparations, they were greeted with some materials to help make the transition - including aprons, PPE, and hand sanitizer. They also received hand-made photo buttons to wear so that students can still see a smile when staff are wearing masks.
Staff also received a customized chocolate treat provided by the PTA. Thank you to student Sully for hand-wrapping all that chocolate!
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Ivymount Celebrates
Read Across America
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Each year, Ivymount celebrates the joy of reading by organizing lessons and activities in honor of Read Across America, which was created by the National Education Association to encourage students of all ages to read more. Last year, the theme was travels across America. This year, we're highlighting diversity with a wide range of authors and topics. Staff will be recording videos on FlipGrid of themselves reading, and classrooms are studying a variety of titles.
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"So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away. And in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall."
— Roald Dahl
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“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
— Neil Gaiman
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“The dog-earred copy of ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ is every bit as precious as the velveteen rabbit.”
— Edward Tamulevich
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Students Discover Women in History
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March is also an opportunity to increase the visibility and understanding of women's achievements by recognizing International Women's Day on March 8 and Women's History Month. Programs are learning about women in science, the arts, athletics and more.
In the Autism program, students worked on art projects and Arts and Culture Group discussions about Nellie Bly, one of the foremost female journalists of the century. Students in Room 170 learned about the barriers Ruth Bader Ginsberg overcame as a Jewish woman to become a Supreme Court Justice.
This week in MLN HS Cert Science, students will watch a short video about Women's History Month and then study two great women who worked in scientific fields - Katharine Johnson (mathematician for NASA) and Rachel Carson (environmental activist).
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Project SEARCH Info Session |
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Learn About Job Training with Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH provides employment readiness training for
people aged 18 to 30 with intellectual and developmental disabilities through intensive internships and classroom instruction.
Parents, professionals, and potential students who are interested in applying to the Project SEARCH programs should make plans to attend this week's virtual information session held by SEEC and Ivymount.
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Best Buddies Love Their Pets |
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The Ivymount Best Buddies chapter had two virtual events in February. During these events the buddies did a show and tell with their pets- we got to see a lot of dogs which made everyone very happy! See proud pooch owner Ms. Carley's family's dogs in a photo she shared.
The buddies also played Sporcle, an online trivia game which involved working together to answer questions quickly to beat the clock. Everyone had fun and we are looking forward to our next event!
Best Buddies was started by Anthony Shriver 32 years ago at Georgetown University and now spans 56 countries and six continents. Every March, the organization holds Friendship Walks and other events to highlight inclusion and promote one-to-one friendships. Learn more at bestbuddies.org.
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Mental Health Presentation |
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Save the Date!
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.
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Parent/Caregiver Hangout Tomorrow |
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Join us for our March Parent and Caregiver Hangout on Monday, March 8 7-8 pm. It's a great opportunity to have informal discussions and share resources with other Ivymount parents and caregivers. |
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 861 9327 1958
Passcode: 794979
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Show Your School Spirit
Order Ivymount Spirit Wear
As we get ready for in-person instruction, let's show our school spirit by wearing Ivymount spirit wear. Check out Cafe Press and choose from a large assortment of Ivymount gear while supporting the PTA, including logo'd face masks, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, pajamas and more.
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Ivymount
School & Programs
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