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January 1: No School - New Year’s Day
January 6: Board of Education Meeting
January 9: Board of Education Meeting at 7:30pm
January 12: No School - Professional Development Day
January 15: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 17: DPS Communications Focus Groups at 10am
January 18: DPS Communications Focus Groups at 6pm
January 18: Special Education Parents Social at 7pm at Molto Ristorante
January 19: Kids Care Club at 8:15am
January 19: Winter Concert at 9:45am
January 23: Board of Education Meeting at 7:30pm
January 30: Dance China Enrichment Event
Useful Links:
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK | |
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Welcome back!
I hope everyone had the happiest of holidays and Happy New Year! Hopefully everyone is refreshed and ready for the second half of the school year.
New Bus Dismissal Plan
Beginning on January 2nd, we will be implementing a new dismissal plan for the children who ride the bus. Children who are picked up will continue with the same process that we have been using all year long.
Our dismissal procedures start at 3:15 with an announcement having the children being picked up coming to the lobby. At the same time, we will have all K to 2 children who take the bus escorted to the gym, where they will be lined up by bus. A few minutes after that (when hallways are cleared), the grades 3 to 5 children will be escorted to the gym and join the bus lines. We expect that this will make loading the buses more efficient and faster.
Riding the Bus
When I was in elementary school I would take the bus from a corner, about two blocks away from my house and ride to PS 81. For years, our bus driver was Louie. We all loved Louie, he greeted us with a nice smile each day and was always pleasant. But every once in a while he would pull the bus over, stand up and yell at us. As a child, I did not understand the big deal–so what if the bus was a little noisy. But now I truly understand how important it is for our drivers not to be distracted. I recently viewed a video tape of a bus ride where children were standing, yelling and just totally distracting the driver. He did pull over and calm everyone down.
Parents, please, talk to your children about staying seated and not yelling on the bus!
Best Regards,
Dr. Laub
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Dear Ox Ridge Community,
Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a restful break. We’re excited for 2024 and the PTO events to come. This Saturday, January 6 kicks off the budget planning season for the 2024-2025 school year. We will continue to communicate important updates, and you can always go to the Board of Education website for the latest agendas, meeting minutes, and recordings.
Have a good week!
Vanessa Donatello & Kate Kaufman
PTO Co-Chairs
[email protected]
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WINTER CONCERT
The Winter Concert will take place on Friday, January 19th, at 9:45 am in the gym at Ox Ridge. This will include Chorus as well as the 5th grade Band and the 4th and 5th grade Orchestra.
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COMMUNICATIONS FOCUS GROUPS
The Board of Education Communications Committee is in the process of reviewing District communications to support the development of a District Communications Plan. As a follow-up to the Communications Survey administered last spring, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) will be facilitating a series of focus groups with parents, staff, and the community.
Focus groups for elementary, middle, and high school parents are scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, 2024. An evening opportunity is scheduled for Thursday, January 18th, and is open to parents from all of the schools. All sessions will be held at Central Services located at 35 Leroy Avenue. Times for the focus groups are noted below:
January 17th: High School Parents: 8:15 - 9:45 AM
January 17th: Elementary Parents: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
January 17th: Middle School Parents: 11:45 - 1:15 PM
January 18th: Parents from any age group: 6:00 - 7:30 P
In order to facilitate productive sessions, each focus group will include 15 - 20 (max) parents from each school level (elementary, middle, and high school) for each session. The 15 - 20 parents from the elementary level will include 3 - 4 parents from each of the five schools. Click here to fill out the form.
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OX RIDGE SCHOOL NIGHT WITH THE ISLANDERS
Enjoy a night of hockey with Ox Ridge Elementary School! Listen to the Ox Ridge choir perform "God Bless America" with the Darien elementary schools followed by a National Anthem performance by Middlesex Middle School! Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm game!
Ticket Delivery: You will receive an email from Fevo following your purchase with instructions on how to digitally access your ticket(s) on your Total Mortgage Arena account.
Cashless Venue: Total Mortgage Arena is now a cashless venue and will utilize a cashless experience for all box office, concessions, and retail purchases. Credit and Debit Cards will be accepted.
Parking: The City of Bridgeport parking is $18 CASH ONLY in the parking garage and CARD preferred in the dirt lot.
Bag Policy: Total Mortgage Arena has updated their bag policies as of January 2023. Please review these here before entering the arena. Click here to purchase tickets.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT SOCIAL
We hope that you will join us on January 18 at 7pm, at Molto Ristorante for an evening of cocktails and conversation. This evening is an opportunity for parents of children with IEPs, 504s, or those who are interested in Special Education resources, to connect in a casual and fun setting.
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OX ROCKS 2024 - SAVE THE DATE
Our 2nd ANNUAL TALENT SHOW
Ox Rocks is a chance for the school and community to come together in an inclusive, empowering and fun environment to celebrate the talent and creativity of our students! We are so excited to celebrate and showcase the diverse talents and interests of the Ox Ridge Students!
WHEN: Thursday, March 28th @ 7pm
WHERE: Darien High School Auditorium
WHO: All 4th and 5th Graders are Eligible
Auditions are mandatory and will take place on March 6th and/or March 7th after school at Ox Ridge. Dress rehearsal is also mandatory and will be held the afternoon of the show at DHS. Much more info to come after the holiday break. Questions? Email Ox Rocks.
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DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL
Darien After School wishes you Happy Holidays! Winter classes will start after the school break on 1/2, through 3/12. Rolling Registration is open throughout the session (late fees may apply).
Schedule, Program Details & Registration
Questions: Reach out to us anytime! [email protected] / 888.212.3837
Follow us on social media and see you after school!
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Christina Kreuz and Mary Elizabeth Garvey for providing Ox Appreciation lunch.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Yanique Bennett (ELP OT) January 2
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER
Registration is open for winter/spring classes for all ages in dance, visual arts and music. Winter/spring classes begin in January. To register for classes, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
DANCE:
The DAC Dance Program offers classes for ages 3 through adults that include Ballet Technique, Dance Beginnings, Pre Ballet, Kinderballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Broadway, Lyrical Jazz and Partnering. New this year for the more serious dancer are Apprentice and Trainee classes, which prepare students for DAC’s Pre-professional Company.
MUSIC:
The DAC music program includes private lessons for both adults and children in songwriting, music theory, harp, piano, voice, guitar, violin, viola, bass, flute and percussion. Look for beginning group harp classes coming this winter. Email Music Director, Juanita Bosee for private lessons and questions about the music program at [email protected].
VISUAL ARTS:
Art Explorations: Grades 1-3
NEW Adventures in Art: Grades 3-5
Cartooning: Grades 1-3
Cartooning 2: Grades 4-7
Drawing, Painting & More: Ages 9-12
Drawing, Painting & More: Ages 12-16
Drawing & Painting: Ages 8-10
NEW Expressive Art: Grades 6-8 | Drop-in
Little Artist & You: Pre School | Drop-in
Kids Create Art & Eat Naya Workshops*: Pre School-Grade 3
Adults:
NEW Creating the Still Life – Your Way!
Acrylic Pours Sip & Pour Workshop
NEW Art & Sound Meditation Retreat
MARTIAL ARTS:
The Martial Arts Program offers classes that are divided by age and designed to hone fine motor skills and improve focus. Enhanced awareness and better self-discipline are achieved while having fun.
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DARIEN GIRLS BLUE WAVE BASKETBALL CLINIC
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024 MLK DAY
3RD GRADE - 8TH GRADE GIRLS - 9:00AM - 11:00AM @ DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL GYM
The Darien Blue Wave Girls Basketball MLK day clinic is back again this year!
Come join the Darien High School Girls basketball team and coaches for a fun basketball clinic on Monday, January 15th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) from 9:00am-11:00am at the Darien High School gym. This clinic promises to be a fun two hour session for girls in 3rd - 8th grade to tune up their basketball skills and develop some new moves!
The cost is $50 per player and checks are to be made out to Darien High School with “Girls Basketball” in the memo. All proceeds will go to support the Darien Girls’ High School program.
To register for the clinic, please email [email protected] with your child’s name, grade, parent contact/phone number and parent email address.
On the morning of the clinic, please send in a check with your child. We will collect the checks at the entrance of the gym beginning at 8:50am.
Get ready for some fun! LET’S GO BLUE WAVE BASKETBALL
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DARIEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Cotillion at the DCA
Attention parents of 4th-6th graders! The Darien Community Association is honored to offer Cotillion classes with Robin and Ed Poska, Directors of the Cotillion of Fairfield County. Kids will learn everything from making a good first impression to table manners to digital etiquette! Classes start January 10. Sign up at dariendca.org.
Parenting Workshop
Handling big emotions is a challenge - not just for ourselves but also for our children. Join Jacqueline Telgheder, certified parent coach and Darien mom, for this 3-session workshop to learn fresh insights on enhancing emotional intelligence for both you and your child. For parents of children under 10. Register at dariendca.org.
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OX RIDGE HOOT | HOOT EMAIL | PTO WEBSITE
EDITORS NOTE:
Danielle Kohlberger - September, December, March, June 2
Jennifer Marty - October, January, April, June 9
Roberta Brodis - November, February, May, June 16
OX RIDGE HOOT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
The Ox Ridge Hoot is emailed every Sunday during the school year. The deadline for submission is Thursday at noon. Please send your submission to [email protected] with the text of your e-mail, single spaced and left adjusted (NO FORMATTING!), with "Ox Ridge Hoot Submission" in the subject line.
"Community News" information/events will run for a maximum of two consecutive Hoot editions. Please time your submissions accordingly.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR DECLINE ALL SUBMISSIONS.
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