February 2020 Newsletter
A Message from the President
Greetings Friends of PHILLIPS!
I am pleased to share our 2019 Annual Report which can be viewed on our website by clicking here. Last year we saw progress in our effort to explore employment opportunities for young adults transitioning from high school. You will read in the report about grants and recognitions that were awarded PHILLIPS for this innovative effort.
Last week Career Partners Director, Lindsay Harris presented on the impact of our hydroponic vertical farm career and technical education program at the Essl Foundation’s Zero Project conference. There were 54 countries from around the globe presenting at this invitation only event. We were selected through a peer review process. The conference was hosted at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. To learn more about this international conference and our presentation click here.
This presentation is timely as it highlights the mission critical work we are engaged in and what is the purpose behind our current fundraising efforts. To that end, we are now in full swing producing our 25th Annual Gala which will honor three partners: KaBOOM!, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and Marriott International as we continue to raise funds for the New Horizons Fund to support our workforce development initiatives.
An important deadline is approaching. Please partner with us to ensure the future of our promising young adults by sponsoring today. Your logo and name will be included on our invitation if we receive your pledge or gift by March 2. Register here.
Sincerely,
PHILLIPS Programs presented a paper titled, “Beyond the Standard Curriculum:
An Indoor Hydroponic Vertical Farm” at a conference last week hosted by The Zero Project. An initiative of the Essl Foundation, it focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally. The Project, “provides a platform where the most innovative and effective solutions to problems that persons with disabilities face, are shared. Its sole objective is to assist in creating a world without barriers, based on the Articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
According to its website, “The Zero Project takes a solutions-based approach for its work. Together with the continuously growing network of over 4,000 disability in over 120 countries, with and without disabilities, the Zero Project seek to identify the most innovative and effective Policies and Practices that improve the lives of persons with disabilities. And the Zero Project tells the world about those polices and practices.”
Follow this link to read the PHILLIPS presentation by Director of Career Partners, Lindsay Harris.
PHILLIPS Development Director, Debi Alexander contributes to America's Charities guide to volunteerism in the workplace
Whether your program started ten months or ten years ago, periodically stepping back to take stock of your corporate volunteer program is important to ensure you are aligning with your corporate vision and offering opportunities – to your employees and nonprofit partners – that make your volunteerism program truly meaningful. Read the about the guide: https://impact.ac/3bdIh1IClick here for the guide.
PHILLIPS Programs 25th Annual Gala
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
Thank you to our 2020 Sponsors to date!
We have received exciting new items for our Live Auction!
We have new and unique auction items this year including:
Win the opportunity to have your caricature painted on the wall at The Palm at Tysons!
A fabulous bourbon tour in Kentucky
This year's theme is P.O.P. The Power of Play! It will be a whimsical event, featuring delectable food, our signature baskets, entertaining activities, and fabulous auctions.
Take advantage of early-bird pricing and purchase your tickets today!
Looking for a unique way to promote your business and products/services?
We welcome local businesses and individuals to participate in our 25th Annual Gala by donating in-kind items or services to be a part of our silent or live auctions. We are seeking dining, travel, art, beauty/pampering, sporting event and special entertainment items for our auctions.If you are interested in making an in-kind tax-deductible gift, please visit our Gala website here.
Fisher earns "Intermediate Trick Dog" title.
Fisher is a 2-year-old Australian Labradoodle who is owned by Laura Heyer, a certified trainer, and Supervisor at PHILLIPS School ~ Annandale. Over the summer, they came in and worked with an Extended School Year (ESY) class. Laura showed the class how to teach positive reinforcement. The students taught Fisher well enough for him to earn his Novice Trick Dog title from Do More with your Dog.
Following on the success of the ESY experience, the team returned to the same classroom and the students began training Fisher for his Intermediate Trick title. One of the highlights of the experience was Fisher learning to honk the bike horn. A trainer from WOOFS Arlington County certified his successful mastery of the tricks and the entire class erupted in cheers!
The hands-on tasks involved with teaching Fisher is a springboard for writing activities.
PHILLIPS Programs FY2019 Annual Report
PHILLIPS Programs Annual Report showcases our work to explore employment opportunity models for young adults; capital plant additions made at two campuses; awards and grants that expand our impact and ability to provide our youth with the resources they need to thrive in the communities we serve. Learn more by reading the full report on the website. Click here.
The Sibley Legacy Fund is Making an Impact!
The “Sally Sibley” fund, as staff refers to it, was established to honor and support the dedicated and incomparable PHILLIPS Programs staff members who are the heart of the mission and the success of PHILLIPS on behalf of the children and families.
The purpose of the find is to provide support for the academic, social, behavioral or mental health benefit of students and clients as well as training or support of staff in the same areas.
At the beginning of the school year applications were made available to staff and this month four different projects were approved:
PHILLIPS School ~ Fairfax purchased the Smarts Executive Functioning program for all classrooms. The goal of this program is to actively teach executive functioning skills to increase self-regulation. Improvements in organizational skills, prioritization, and focus are also the goals of the program.
The Garden Club at PHILLIPS School ~Annandale received materials, teaching curriculum, and Green Springs Garden classes. The goal of this program is to improve receptive and expressive communication as well as pragmatic and social thinking skills. Increase knowledge and application of science skills.
The Occupational Therapy Program obtained 3 WatchMinder watches and an iPad. The need for this equipment is to assist students in becoming more independent during OT sessions. Watches will help remind students to stay on task and the iPad will help students move successfully through sessions with visual schedules.
The Upper and Lower School Behavior Department purchased a variety of calming, comfort, sensory and guided support items for support rooms (body sock, bean bag chair, chalk wall, weighted blanket, music/headphones). The purpose of this equipment is to provide spaces for students that help them to self-soothe, relax through sensory input, stabilize through and staff-guided interventions.
"During my decades at PHILLIPS, I was most impressed with the dedication and persistence of the staff on the front lines working with the students. Budgets can not always support all the inventive ideas brought forth. When I left, I wanted to support these staff members with a separate fund, not part of the operating budget. Thus, the Sibley Legacy Fund was born with the donated resources available to support only the ideas of line staff. It’s been a pleasure seeing the creative ideas as they come forth. Feel free to join me in donating to this fund.” -Dr. Sally A. Sibley
PHILLIPS Programs offers Autism diagnostic assessments
Click here to learn more!
PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families is a private, non-profit organization serving the complex needs of children and youth living with cognitive, emotional and/or behavioral challenges in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Through excellence in specialized education, community programs and individualized support services, we provide our children and families every advantage to ensure they develop to achieve their greatest individual success. Their potential is our commitment.