Ivybrook Academy - Mt. Pleasant, SC

Woodwork is a powerful medium for building self-esteem. Children feel empowered and valued by being trusted to work with real tools. They show satisfaction in their mastery of new skills and take immense pride in their creations. This sense of empowerment and achievement provides a visible boost to their self-confidence. Stay tuned for more of our PM Three’s pumpkin Reggio Project work 🍂🍁

Preschool-age children are learning to talk about their feelings and the feelings of others. Social-emotional development, however, involves more than just expressing emotions. It involves taking turns, becoming independent in following routines, interacting more with peers, engaging in meaningful relationships with others, controlling emotions, and developing a positive self-image. These skills are crucial for children’s successful participation in school and home experiences and for their overall growth. We are here to help our students navigate these goals!

Picture Days begin tomorrow📸 Please see class newsletters and StudentHub posts for details on which day your child has photos.

We keep our class sizes small to ensure individualized attention for each child, helping them to feel valued as an important part of our school community. Our teacher-to-student ratio ranges from 1:4 to 1:10.

See the class sizes: ivybrookacademy.com/the-ivybrook-way/frequently-asked-questions/

Our TK class spent the past few weeks Learning all about SPIDERS! They did research on their body parts, what they do, how they spin webs and so much more. They acted as little scientists, as they researched in their choice of topic, conducted experiments. We have loved watching their confidence grow.

A very busy day in the life of Ivybrook! Morning Provocations- Small Group Learning- Collaborative Learning- Enrichment Art Expression- Reggio Project Work- Social Development- Emotional Development - Developing Friendships- Cognitive Thinking- Executive Functioning Skills- FUN

We encourage children to explore the world around them with activities that pique curiosity and stimulate learning.

Ivybrook appreciates your support of our PTA! Half of all sales will go directly to the PTA to fund upcoming events and programs. Download the Double Good App and follow the steps. Shout out to friends and family and let’s see which class can raise the most!🏆

We incorporate play and learning with LOOSE PARTS everyday!

You might be surprised to learn what some of those benefits are and how beneficial playing with random materials can be for young children. Some of the benefits include:

⭐️Developing a sense of independence as children have the freedom to explore different materials autonomously.
🔤Encouraging language development as children communicate their ideas and knowledge with their peers, educators, parents and carers.
🤔Building creative thinking, problem-solving, curiosity and abstract thinking skills as children explore the materials and discover new ways of playing with them.
✋Enhancing fine motor skills as children pick up, hold and manipulate materials in multiple ways.
👯‍♀️Facilitating collaboration, sharing and belonging as children interact with others around them engaged in the play.
💪🏻Increasing physical play and activity along with gross motor skills as children move and transfer their creations and use them in further imaginative play.

We are excited to announce our PTA Virtual Popcorn Fundraiser will start on Monday, Sept 25 and end Sept 29th. Half of all sales will go directly to the PTA to fund upcoming school events and programs. Download the Double Good App and follow the steps on the setup details attached to create your storefront so you are ready to start selling to friends and family on Monday Sept 25th!

We offer a hybrid approach of Montessori and Reggio Emilia-inspired activities. Reggio allows children to take an active role in their learning, by choosing what they want to explore and discover. With a focus on relationship building and community, these activities can benefit children by:

🤝supporting social skills
🏙️allowing engagement with the community
📚getting more enjoyment from learning
👏🏻facilitating self-expression and building confidence
💭supporting problem-solving skills
🕶️exposing children to new experiences.

Thank You for giving our students your time today🚒 Career Week started off 🔥 Thank you for serving our community!

Our approach to early childhood learning is cultivating each student's unique potential.

Ivybrook believes that children’s voices must be heard, and that when their ideas are honored, they will take a more active role in their learning. The best way to achieve this is through a discovery-based, multi-sensory approach as we work alongside our students while they explore their interests, learn how to ask questions, find answers, and share their discoveries with their peers.

Discover how bright futures begin at our private preschools: ivybrookacademy.com/the-ivybrook-way/

For National Coloring Day, let's explore how coloring helps toddlers with their development.

🖍️ Improves motor skills & hand-eye coordination: coloring uses children's fingers, hands, and wrists, helping to strengthen and develop them.
🖍️ Focuses their attention & stimulates creativity: coloring can help children learn to decide and plan ahead as pick out which color they will use and for what.
🖍️ Coloring can aid children in learning different shapes, sizes, forms and patterns
🖍️ It can be therapeutic, helping children to express their emotions.

Our Discovery Program is an impactful piece of our day. 📚🎨🎶.

The enrichment programs provide classes in music and movement, foreign language, creative expression, and the library. The Discovery teacher works with each classroom to explore all forms of creative expression in the mini-art studios or our large, central art studio.

What is a provocation?

At Ivybrook Academy, daily provocations, or invitations, are used to provoke thoughts, ideas, and actions that can help students expand on curiosity or interest. This concept is rooted in the Reggio – Emilia approach to early childhood education, which is a pivotal part of our school’s unique curriculum.

☀️Did you know that when you let kids read, write and learn outside, it still *counts*? We love to incorporate outside learning in our daily activities. The possibilities are endless!

No classes today. Soak up the last bit of summer!

We are closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. Have a safe and fun day! See you back on Tuesday.

For National Franchise Appreciation Day, we'd like to introduce you to our founders, Drew and Jennifer McWilliams.

Ivybrook Academy was first developed in 2005 by then-first-grade teacher, Jennifer McWilliams, who recognized the absence of multidimensional learning opportunities for her students and made it her mission to create the optimal learning environment that recognizes the strength of each child.

The first Ivybrook Academy opened in Weddington, NC in 2007. After its initial and continued success, Drew and Jennifer saw the opportunity to expand to more locations.

Drew decided to leave his career in real estate to help his wife grow the Ivybrook community. The McWilliams duo knew they needed to bring their progressive preschool to children throughout the country. They meticulously developed a company growth plan that allowed them to expand the Ivybrook brand and provide students throughout the country with this valuable opportunity.

Today, Ivybrook has more than 70 franchises nationally and continues to expand each year.

We can’t wait to see your smiles back at school tomorrow! ☀️

No School tomorrow, Thursday, August 31st due to inclement weather. We’ll see you back On Friday!

LONG TERM PROJECTS in early childhood offer several benefits compared to rapidly switching themes.

Projects promote sustained engagement, allowing children to delve deeper into a subject and develop a stronger understanding. Such projects teach patience and delayed gratification, valuable life skills. They foster a sense of accomplishment and pride as children witness progress of knowledge over time.

Our Transitional Kindergarten began a Reggio Emilia project on SPIDERS! Their class pet is a live tarantula, Ocho, and they are diving deep into understanding spiders. Be on the look out as the Exhibit progresses. Each class will take a Field Trip to TK soon 🕷️🕸️

All of our classes participate in Morning Provocation/Circle Time. 

What is Circle Time? It's a time to meet as a group, respect each other's voices and work on following instructions. It's when we enjoy each other's company and talk about our day and new topics. Most of all, it's a time for each child to feel and know that they're an  important and valued member of our classroom community!
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Want to learn more about our school? Contact us today 8435941465

We couldn’t make Ivybrook what it is without wonderful families. Here is a Family Spotlight of a very special family: “I have no words to express my gratitude towards Ivybrook. My son started to go there when he was 2 years old and he was always so excited to go to school. He would even mention that he wanted to go to Ivybrook during the weekends! All the teachers are so loving and always keep me posted about my son’s development. I love Ivybrook and we feel so lucky to have found this place. We recommend Ivybrook to all our friends!!” - The C Family.

The First Day of 2023-2024 was so great!! Thank you to our amazing educators and families 💚 Heather and Sarah

Tomorrow is our first day of school! We can’t wait to see all of your smiling faces! 🍏

📢Don’t forget: We have a NEW Walk-up procedure- watch for the signs!
👣ALL walk-up students go to the outside lobby doors. Grab a name tag. Take some fun first day photos with our signs. Stand in your class line and wait for your teachers to take students to their rooms. Doors open at 8:13a.

🚙Car lane procedure remains the same, we will begin to open car doors at 8:15a.

Pick-Up will be conducted as stated above, beginning at 12p.

💚Safety is our top priority, so please be patient as we check IDs, give extra hugs to parents and transition our littles on this very BIG and EXCITING day!

Our Educators started off today’s training with a 5minute breathing technique for mindfulness. Then we got busy discussing

We can’t wait to see our students and families this Friday, August 18th, at Meet the Teacher 🍏

Your Team is hard at work preparing for the 2023-2024 school year. We are completing professional development trainings, classrooms preparations and all things “preschool ready”! We are ready for our students and hope they are excited for US!

As Week 6 Summer Camp ends, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to our Ivybrook staff, families and students 💚 We are so grateful for our community and the support. It is a privilege to care for your children. We had so much fun this summer and look forward to beginning our 2023-2024 school year. Don’t forget - Meet the Teacher is on August 18th and the first day of school is August 23rd. Please check your emails for other specific details. 💚- Ms. Heather and Ms. Sarah

We look forward to seeing our 2023-2024 students on August 18th for Meet the Teacher🍏 Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 23rd. See you all soon!

Ivybrook Academy believes that the broader the experiences of the child, the greater the potential to learn. This is why we offer enrichment activities for all of our students. The Discovery Program at Ivybrook Academy offers classes in Spanish, music and movement, creative expression, and library.

Schedule a tour to see our beautiful Discovery classroom and meet our Discovery teacher, Ms. Ryn!

What the hand does, the mind remembers - Maria Montessori Ivybrook Academy Administrative Team working hard as we collaborate Professional Development Trainings for 2023-2024. What did we discuss? Provocations, Collaborative Learning Lessons, Green Folders, Portfolios, Montessori Tools, Reggio Emilia Projects, Classroom Aesthetics, Teaching Teams, Safety Drills and SO MUCH MORE! We can’t wait to see our staff grow this year!

Wish you were here xoxo 🦈💦🦀🐚🦪🪼🪸🐠🐳

We explored the world this week, making : pyramids, boomerangs, maracas, drums, landmarks and rain sticks! Learning about our world while while having fun is the BEST!🌎🗽🪇🪘🐪🪃

Did you know that Ivybrook Academy offers afternoon sessions? It is a great option for families who prefer a later start & afternoon full of learning! Call us today to set up a tour and learn more about our afternoon sessions!

This week: 🌎Hop aboard our private jet and take a trip around the world. Our itinerary will take us to the Egyptian pyra- mids, Australian Outback, and African Plains. While visiting we will experience local cultures through art and music. We will be sure to send you a postcard about our amazing adventures. Some of the activities we will participate in are:
• Can I create a unique passport for my travels around the world?
• What food can I prepare for my lunch in Japan?
• Can I decode hieroglyphics for clues to win the great mummy match up?

Through an extensive interview process and a detailed background and reference check, we are confident in our team's abilities to care for, challenge, and teach your children — inside and outside of the classroom! 🍎

The educators at Ivybrook Academy are a committed group of skilled professionals who strive to deliver excellent early childhood education to your little one. Reach out to our team today to begin your family's journey with Ivybrook.

https://www.ivybrookacademy.com/contact-us/