November 10, 2024

A Note from the Director

Dear Families,

A reminder that tomorrow is a professional day, so there is no school for students. On Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who have served in the military. We encourage our students to express gratitude to veterans in their community and to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served.

We have a packed schedule for November. Numerous fantastic opportunities for community engagement and learning are available. I hope you'll RSVP for them now!

Make sure to check out how you can support the PTA's efforts on behalf of all families. Keep scrolling to read about the next PTA meeting, the St. Patrick's dance and the sneaker fundraiser.

Finally, November and December are traditional months of giving and are the season when we kick off Ivymount's Annual Fund campaign. During this time, we reach out to families and our entire community to share how financial support bridges the gap between state-funded tuition and the actual cost of our programs. Your contributions, whether a recurring or one-time gift, an employer match, or a sponsorship, directly fund the comprehensive programming and therapies that drive successful outcomes for our students. Scroll down to learn more about the annual fund, give online, and share our link with your network: ivymount.org/support-us. Thank you for your partnership and support.

Have a great evening.

Susan

News you Need!

Dates to Remember

November 11

Professional Day

No School for Students

November 16

Music for Autism Concert

November 20

Sibling Night

November 20

Project SEARCH Info Session

November 21

Trauma-Informed Care Webinar

November 27 - 29

Thanksgiving Holiday

No School for Students

PTA News

December 11

PTA Meeting via Zoom

7 pm

The PTA invites all Ivymount School families to participate in the next PTA meeting, which will be held online in December. Do you have ideas for events or other initiatives that you would like the PTA to look into?

These meetings are a great place to add your ideas or simply to meet other parents and caregivers. Mark your calendar for December 11 and we'll share the Zoom link in early December.

Students Fill "Kindness Buckets" During IvyCares

The IvyCares initiative is going strong this November! Students and staff are finding creative ways to spread kindness and contribute positively to our community in honor of the month. Several Aspire students filled up their own "Kindness Buckets" this week, brainstorming ways to show care for fellow classmates, friends and family members. Some ideas included holding the door for someone, helping parents with chores, making new friends, donating toys, and making gifts for a teacher.

Aspire Gardeners Enjoy the Fruits

(and Veggies) of Their Labor

Students in Room 236 and 234 planted a garden in the Spring! They have been tending to it, with weeding and harvesting their plants. This week, students went out for one of the last times before winter hits. They harvested tomatoes, green peppers, arugula, lettuce, small carrots, and rosemary! They can't wait to see what else they can get before it gets too cold!

Post High School Students Step Up

In Their First Election

We are proud to highlight just a few of our Post High School to Work program students who exercised their right to vote in this week's presidential election. It was great to see students using their voices and contributing to their community.

Register Now for November Events

Music for Autism Piano Quintet

Saturday, November 16

1 pm at Ivymount

Ivymount Outreach is happy to partner with Music For Autism to present the Linden Piano Quintet! This acclaimed ensemble has performed throughout DC/MD/VA and is excited to share some of the greatest piano quintets in the literature.

With a program featuring Dvorak, Brahms, and Shostakovich, the quintet can’t wait to share the artistry of this fun, engaging and inspiring music.

RSVP for Music for Autism Concert

Sibling Night Offers Program for Siblings and Parents

Wednesday, November 20

5:30 - 7:15 pm at Ivymount

The previously announced sibling night is now planned for Wednesday, November 20. The mental health department invites siblings of Ivymount School students aged 6 and older to participate alongside their parents.

Participants will engage in group discussions designed for their developmental age, focusing on their experiences as children with a sibling who has unique learning needs or a disability. Additionally, there will be a separate group for parents to share ideas on how to cultivate healthy relationships with all their children and promote positive interactions between siblings. Pre-registration is required to ensure a meaningful experience for the siblings, with at least three participants in each age group: early elementary, late elementary/middle school, and high school.

RSVP for Sibling Night

Learn About Project SEARCH

Wednesday, November 20

4:30 - 5:30 pm

at Ivymount or online

Ivymount School and SEEC will host a series of information sessions about Project SEARCH this fall and winter. Parents of high school age and older students are welcome to join the hybrid sessions.

Project SEARCH provides employment readiness training for young adults aged 18 to 30 with intellectual and developmental disabilities through intensive internships and classroom instruction.

The early acceptance application deadline for the 2025-26 program year is January 10, 2025, with a further acceptance deadline of March 28, 2025.

Email psrecruitment@seeconline.org if you would like to attend online or in person.

Webinar on Trauma-Informed Care

Thursday, November 21

online 1 - 2 pm

For IvyCares month, the Ivymount Professional Collaborative is pleased to offer a learning opportunity about trauma-informed care presented bv Ivymount Mental Health professionals Bari Turkheimer and Micheal Stromberg. This online session is tailored for professionals but caregivers are also invited to join: An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

The growing recognition of the impact of trauma on health and behavior has led to increasing attention on “trauma-informed care,” an overarching term used to indicate practices that recognize and consider the experiences of traumatic events in individuals and families in all aspects of service delivery.

RSVP for Webinar

PTA NEWS AND UPDATES

Sneakers for the Win!

The PTA's GotSneakers initiative is a great ongoing fundraiser and also a way to keep sneakers out of landfills and put shoes on the feet of less fortunate people across the world. Your old sneakers can make a difference BUT ONLY IF WE STICK TO SNEAKERS. We have two requests to keep the program successful:

Please donate only sneakers. Here are the GotSneakers Guidelines: “We do not accept non-athletic footwear of any kind, including but not limited to dress shoes, heels, sandals, wedges, water socks, rain boots, crocs, and other non-athletic styles. If you have non-athletic footwear that you would like to recycle, we recommend finding a local charity.”
If you have 10 or more pairs of sneakers, easily ship them directly. Contact parent Trish Stone, who will provide a pre-paid and labeled shipping bag that you can drop directly in the mail. Otherwise, donate anytime by sending pairs to school with your student labeled "PTA Sneaker Drive" or dropping them off in the bin in the front lobby.

Help Plan the Next St. Pat's Dance

The St. Patrick's Day School Dance in the spring will be a celebration for all programs and ages across the entire school. We're excited to once again bring together our incredible community for an evening filled with music, laughter, and fantastic vibes.

We need a couple of volunteers now to help the PTA's VP of Events with the early organizing. The plan is ready but needs a few hands to get the arrangements underway. We will ask for night of volunteers later in our planning.

If you enjoyed last year's dance and can help make this a shamrockin' good time, contact Gillian Economou.

Share Your "I Can" Story

We're gathering stories of how Ivymount students, families, and staff embody the "I Can!" spirit. By sharing, we hope to inspire our community to recognize all they can achieve. We invite you to take a moment and share a sentence or two about a success that your student or family have felt through the programs and events of Ivymount School or Ivymount Outreach. SHARE YOUR STORY

Give the Gift of Successful Outcomes

Every student "CAN" achieve their goals. Your tax-deductible donation to Ivymount provides vital programs and services that enhance the strengths of those we serve. And it enables our staff to excel and develop innovative programs and practices that we share with the community.

As we launch our Annual Fund during this season of giving, we hope that you will consider a monthly donation at any amount. Thank you!

Support Ivymount