DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - WINTER SESSION REGISTRATION

Registration for Winter Session (running from January 3rd through April 6th) opens tonight - December 4th - at 8pm. The After School program includes sports, arts, STEM and more available Monday thru Friday. Schedule, program details and registration available here. Reach out with questions: [email protected]  / 888.212.3837

ELP OPEN HOUSE

The Early Learning Program Open House will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 7 PM- 8 PM at Ox Ridge Elementary School (snow date: Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 7 PM- 8 PM). ELP applications are currently being accepted for the 2023-2024 school year through Friday, January 6, 2023, for children who will be turning 3 and 4 years of age during the 2023-2024 school year. At this time, ELP does not have options for children who are Kindergarten age eligible, (age 5 by January 1, 2024).

Please complete the Free online application: The Early Learning Program

Please click on the link to learn more about ELP. Questions? Contact Laura Straiton, Program Director of Early Childhood

OX RIDGE HOLIDAY PARTY

The Ox Ridge 314 Beer Garden event is being postponed to 2023. Stay tuned for updated information and registration! Reach out to Nicole Sweeney or Meghan Shain with any questions.

HOLIDAY HOPE CHEST

Ox Ridge is marking its 21st anniversary this year of supporting the Family & Children’s Agency through their Hope Chest program, which sponsors foster children in Fairfield County during the holidays. Thank you to all the families who have volunteered to fulfill these children's holiday wishes -- each child on the list has been sponsored.

For all those who volunteered, please refer to the Sign Up Genius for details on what your sponsored child would like for Christmas. Please wrap your gifts and label them with the child’s name. Wrapped gifts should be dropped off at 66 Holly Lane (box on the side porch) by Friday, December 9th so that all donations can be hand delivered to the FCA holiday party, when the foster children will receive their gifts. Please visit the FCA webpage to learn more, and contact [email protected] for any questions.

SUPPORT THE OX RIDGE PTO WITH DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FROM MINTED, AMAZONSMILE, AND MABEL’S LABELS!

The holiday season is here and we wanted to remind our Ox Ridge community of some quick and easy ways to raise money to support our PTO throughout the year and while taking care of some holiday shopping! Please take a look at our partnerships with AmazonSmile, Minted and Mabel's Labels here (link to holiday fundraising PDF) and share with friends and family! Thank you for supporting the Ox Ridge PTO!

KCC SEEKING DONATIONS FOR NORWALK FCA HOLIDAY PARTY 

The Ox Ridge community in conjunction with the Kids Care Club (KCC) has been supporting the Family & Children's Agency (FCA) during the holiday season, this time by providing the catering and decorations for their annual holiday party for foster families. Our KCC kids have been hard at work on table centerpieces and room decorations, but due to rising food costs we are asking families to help us this year by making a donation that will go towards the catering for the party. If your family would like to contribute to this great event, please sign up here and please send your contribution to the Venmo noted in the link. We will be accepting donations up until the day of the event, Tuesday 12/13.

Please visit the FCA webpage to learn more about the work of this vital organization. THe KCC appreciates your help in making this holiday party one that the kids and parents will never forget!

AN OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAY! 

The Darien Parks & Recreation Department invites you to “An Old Fashioned Holiday,” an outdoor celebration happening in Tilley Pond Park on Saturday, December 10, 2-4pm (rain date: Sunday, 12/11). The festivities include: crafts for the kids, holiday snacks & treats for purchase; a Santa letter writing station; holiday music performances; a roaring fire; & even visits from Frosty and one of Santa’s reindeer. This event is FREE to attend. Free parking is available at all adjacent commuter parking lots. Advanced registration is not required however does help us get a targeted headcount. (Registration link is here; when signing up, please register each attendee.) 

CDSP MEETING UPDATE

CDSP Info Series #4: What are the benefits of CDSP?

The Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which is the umbrella organization for all Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) for Darien Public Schools. CDSP meetings offer a forum for discussing best practices, exchanging and sharing ideas and identifying synergies for PTO-sponsored events, etc. A recent example is coordination of all PTOs to fund the return of Marc Brackett, the developer of RULER, to Darien on December 6th.  All parents are invited to attend. Follow @CDSPDarien or visit cdspdarien.org for more information (including meeting schedule and meeting minutes)!

BRING A SMILE TO A CHILD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Person to Person will be holding its annual toy store in person for the first time again this year and donations are needed. Please click here to visit the P2P Amazon Wish List and easily purchase a toy that will be delivered directly to the Person to Person toy store. You can also drop off new, unwrapped toys at Person to Person’s Darien site located at 1864 Post Road. Requested items include blow-dryers, makeup sets, watches, drones, teen purses, soccer balls, fragrance sets, wireless speakers, sports jerseys and robes/slippers. 

MUSEUM OF DARIEN - HOLIDAY EVENTS

Boxwood Tree Trimming Workshop - Wednesday, December 7 at 7pm. For adults. Participants decorate their own tabletop centerpiece using contemporary and vintage trimmings. Fee is $65.

Family Holiday Event - Saturday, December 10th from 11am-5pm.

Silhouettes - Call Sarah at (203) 984-1798 for an in person appointment or order online here. Cost is $30 per sitting and framing is additional.

Photos with Santa - at the Museum’s colonial hearth from 11:45am-12:45pm. Donations are suggested and no appointment is necessary.

Dollhouse Display - beautiful dollhouses that have been donated to the Museum, including the Museum’s own custom designed saltbox dollhouse. Ordering saltbox dollhouses will begin on Dec 10th for pick up before Christmas.

Kids' Holiday CraftLab - December 14th at 4pm for ages 6-12 and includes ornament making and holiday refreshments. Fee is $35.

YWCA PARENT WORKSHOP

Parent Workshop Monday, December 5th at 9am: Join YWCA Parent Awareness at New Canaan Country School for "Keep Calm and Parent On", a presentation and Q&A featuring Nancy Close, PhD, Associate Director of the Yale Program in Early Childhood Education. Dr. Close will talk about the difference between supporting and pushing, and the importance of parent-child attachments and how to establish them, for parents and guardians who want research-based insights and practical advice for raising happy, healthy children. Register here. Event address: New Canaan Country School, 635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan.

DR. MARC BRACKETT PARENT WORKSHOP

The Council of Darien School Parents, on behalf of the PTO, is excited to invite you to attend Dr. Marc Brackett’s parent workshop on December 6th at 7pm in the DHS Auditorium.

Dr. Brackett is the founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and co-creator of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning. After a year of professional development, teachers are implementing RULER in every classroom in the district. Have you heard about the ‘mood meter’ or the ‘class charter’? That’s RULER! Dr. Brackett is also the author of “Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive.” The workshop will be an interactive discussion with parents that focuses on wellness, mental health and social-emotional learning. If you would like to read “Permission to Feel,” copies are available at a 10% discount at Barrett Bookstore, or at the Darien Public Library.

DARIEN HUMAN SERVICES CHARITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

Consider bringing joy to a struggling family or Senior. Adopt a family on your own or with friends, book clubs or church groups. Families range in size from 2-6 people. Or adopt a Darien Senior. We are asking for donations of gift cards (you will received suggestions and stores where the family/senior likes to shop to make things easier and more personal). Drop off the gift cards to Darien Human Services and we will get them to the “adopted” family or senior. Please reach out ASAP as donor matches will commence after Thanksgiving through Monday, December 5th.

Would you consider spreading some kindness to a family or senior citizen in need? Darien Human Services has an Amazon wish list of gift cards and items for those who are struggling financially. If you are in a position to give, we invite you to purchase a gift card or two using this link. If you would like to include your children in the process there is a giving tree in the lobby of Darien Town Hall. Stop by and have your children chose a gingerbread man off the tree and fulfill the gift card request on the back. 

Questions? Call Darien Human Services: 203-656-7328 or email.

DARIEN ARTS CENTER

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS - December 9 | 7-9pm 

This festive wreath-making workshop returns for more holiday fun and a relaxing adult night out with friends. Wreaths and all materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring extra decorations to give their wreaths a more personalized look. Usher in the holiday season with this classic craft! BYO wine and refreshments. Workshop fee is $75.

NEW GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP - Preschool-1st Grade | Monday, Dec. 19, 3-4pm | $65. Come to our studio with your little one this holiday season and decorate a pre-built gingerbread house to take home! There will be hot chocolate for all, and a colorful variety of candies to choose from to make your house one-of-a-kind! Enjoy a festive and creative afternoon and leave the mess to us!

NEW Digital Camera Photography - For Adults | Saturday, January 21, 10am-1pm | $125. Become familiar and comfortable with your digital camera and use it beyond the automatic settings. Students will learn about all basic controls of the digital camera and photography terms such as aperture, depth of field, ISO, resolution and more. Improve your photos with composition techniques and a fresh perspective. No experience necessary.

Winter/Spring Visual Arts Classes include Creations! - Grades 3-5 | Thursday, 3:30-5pm, Jan. 19-Feb. 16 | $200. Students will learn about and be inspired by famous artists from different time periods, while creating and experimenting with various techniques and colors.

Winter/Spring registration is open for visual arts, dance and music classes for all ages at darienarts.org. Call (203) 655-8683 for more information.

SPRING 2023 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REGISTRATION

Registration for Spring 2023 House Baseball and Softball now open! To register, visit www.dybs.org and click the Registration tab on the left. All players must be Darien residents, in K to 7th grade during the 2022-2023 school year and may not be older than 12 on September 1, 2023. Regular registration until Dec 31, 2021, after which late fee will apply. It is the policy of Darien Little League that all children have the opportunity to play regardless of ability to pay. To request scholarship, email John Butler. Scholarship requests and grants are handled discreetly and confidentially. If you have any questions regarding registration, contact Akshay Das.