On Thursday, June 18, IVDU Long Island’s School for Special Education celebrated the end of a unique and successful school year. From September to mid-March, IVDU students and teachers benefited from the plentiful materials and resources available in our school building. When we transitioned to remote learning, teachers and therapists continued to provide the signature individualized IVDU education on Zoom. Parents received hands-on materials, lesson plans, and activities. Teachers provided individual live sessions tailored to each student, and offered at-home activities, as well. Therapists continued to service students through live sessions and at-home activities.
To promote school spirit and spread joy at this challenging time, IVDU staff invited students for a drive-thru Lag BaOmer celebration! Students joyfully greeted their masked and gloved teachers and excitedly received a package with a DIY smores kit, complete with easy-to-follow visual instructions. Treats and car decorating completed the festive atmosphere. Although social distancing was firmly in place, the positive energy and love between the staff and students was felt by all.
In honor of Shavuos, our school secretary traveled to Far Rockaway, the Five Towns, and Central Queens to personally deliver a themed flower cookie-decorating kit to every IVDU student! In addition, families received a floral centerpiece in gratitude for their partnership and support of their children’s learning.
In celebration of the culmination of our school year, students gathered with their teachers on Zoom to share end-of-year goodbyes and watch a beautiful slideshow of memories of activities and events held throughout the year. At 1 p.m., excitement began to build as cars pulled into the IVDU driveway! Staff greeted students and handed a custom IVDU backpack filled with summer-themed treats to each child. Students received individualized Summer Homework packets carefully prepared by their teachers. Each packet included plenty of prizes and incentives to encourage important summer review of learning. To add to the fun, students and their siblings were treated to ices. Goodbye wishes were exchanged with fervent hopes to meet in September in our beloved school building once more!
For IVDU staff, the day continued. Staff gathered for a delicious individually wrapped staff appreciation lunch. Teachers and therapists held a planning meeting to share reflections of the school year and plan exciting activities for the upcoming year. At IVDU, the dedicated staff continues to work on behalf of the students, even when school is not in session. The success of this past school year is truly due to the incredibly devoted team of teachers and therapists at IVDU who went above and beyond to create a sense of stability throughout these trying times. Together with the incredibly devoted IVDU parents who partnered in their child’s education, this year ended off on a high! IVDU has staff opportunities available for teacher’s assistants and paraprofessionals for the 2020-2021 school year. Join a thriving, growing special education school right here in the Five Towns! To apply, please contact Dr. Sara Seplowitz, Principal, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
