November 12, 2023

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November 17: Kids Care Club at 8:15

November 22: 2 Hour Early Dismissal

November 23-24: Thanksgiving Recess

November 28-December 1: Conference Week, 2 Hour Early Dismissal

November 28-December 1: Gingerbread Houses

November 30: Special Education Awareness Day

December 7: Social Event - Wreath Making at Nielsen’s Florist

December 22: 2 Hour Early Dismissal

December 23-January 1: Winter Recess

Note, the Special Education Parents Social on November 16 has been postponed. Stay tuned for a new date.

Useful Links:

Missed last week's Hoot? Click here

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Dear Families,

On Thursday, November 9, we honored 14 veterans who are related to several of our Ox Ridge students. During the ceremony, fifth grade students asked poignant questions regarding their experiences serving the United States, Our veterans provided thoughtful and heartfelt responses. A special thanks to PTO volunteers, Lindsey Kaiser and Jyotsna Bean who worked tirelessly to organize the breakfast and support our assembly. Most importantly, a sincere thank you goes out to the Ox Ridge veterans who bravely served our country and honored us with their presence this past week.

SPANISH TEACHER

I am pleased to share that we have secured a highly qualified Spanish teacher who will start on January 2, 2024. Ada Cordoliani worked in the Fairfield Public Schools as a Spanish teacher and is currently working in Florida as a World Language teacher. We are searching for a short term substitute teacher from now until January 2. Until the candidate’s start date, Hindley Elementary School’s Spanish teacher is organizing and sending us detailed lesson plans to be used by our building substitute teacher/paraprofessionals who are covering the class until the new year or until we secure a short term substitute teacher

PLEASE WELCOME TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE OX RIDGE FAMILY:

Welcome to the world Whitney Rae. Congratulations to Christina Ulreich and her family!

Welcome to the world Layla Faye. Congratulations to Madeleine Bavelsky and her family!

HONORED OX RIDGE VETERANS:

Sharad Samy, Army Operation Enduring Freedom

Jonathan Bowman, Air Force War on Terror, Afghanistan

Jason Ebert, Army War on Terror

Louis Spezzano, Army Vietnam

Andrzej Koplewski, Army

Wes Going, Navy War on Terror

Ray Griswold, Navy Vietnam, Person Gulf

Michael Tangney, Navy Cold War, Vietnam

Anthony Arguelles, Marines War on Terror

Richard Sloat, Army Vietnam War

Larry Evans, Army, Military Policemen

J.P. Pearlman, Marines Active Duty

Richard Kohlberger, Army Vietnam War

Mitch Beller, US Coast Guard

Sincerely,

Melissa Kay

Dear Ox Ridge Community,

It was great to see the huge turnout for the town hall with Dr. Addley last week. Please continue to reach out to us, and we’ll do our best to address questions.

This Friday, November 17 is our second Kids Care Club meeting. Thanks to everyone who participated in last month’s coat drive to support Person2Person.

Registration for the Darien After School conference week programs begins on Tuesday, November 14 at 8pm. Spots always fill up quickly, don’t wait to register!

Have a great week!

Vanessa Donatello & Kate Kaufman

PTO Co-Chairs

oxridgepto@gmail.com

HOLIDAY HOPE CHEST

Ox Ridge is marking its 22nd year of supporting the Family & Children’s Agency through their Hope Chest program, which sponsors foster children in Fairfield County during the holidays. If your family would like to contribute to this great cause, please assign your name to a foster child listed on the Sign-Up Genius and purchase one of the child’s desired gifts/gift cards from any convenient location. 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 November 30 so that all donations can be hand delivered to FCA in time for their holiday party, when the foster children will receive their gifts. Please visit the FCA webpage to learn more about the work of this vital organization and contact Beth Marengo and Suzanne Anderson with any questions about the Hope Chest Program.

BOOK CLUB SIGN UPS ARE LIVE - 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS

The Ox Ridge 4th and 5th Grade Book Clubs are open for registration! If you have a 4th or 5th grade child who loves to read — this is the club for them! Each club will read a book over the December break and meet twice in January during their lunch/recess time to share and discuss. The books will be decided upon with the help of Mrs. Constantine and we will notify you of the selection by December so the students have plenty of time to read the books before we meet in January. We will read a second book over April break and will meet twice after that break, as well. The deadline for registration is Friday, November 24th. Please sign-up via the links below. Please note that space is limited.

4TH GRADE BOOK CLUB SIGN-UP

5TH GRADE BOOK CLUB SIGN-UP

QUESTIONS? Please contact Jennifer Antoszewski at jenniferanto2@gmail.com or Julie Brown at juliembrown1@gmail.com

HOOTIE ARTWORK FOR THE YEARBOOK DUE EXTENDED TO 11/17

Every year we include students' drawings of Hootie in the yearbook, and feature one drawing from a 5th grade artist on the cover. Please fill out this form and upload your child's artwork to be included! The due date has been extended to Friday, November 17th.

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL

We will be offering classes during conference days 11/28 - 12/1

When registering for Conference Day Program please select the CONFERENCE DAY PROGRAM option in the Dismissal Manager.

Conference Day Program 11/28 – 12/1 & Winter Session 1/2 – 3/12

Registration opens 11/14 @ 8PM

Schedule, Program Details & Registration @https://www.darienafterschool.com/OxRidge.html *late fees may apply

Questions: Reach out to us anytime! info@darienafterschool.com / 888.212.3837

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Gingerbread Houses are back! Let's get into the holiday spirit with one of our favorite Ox Ridge traditions. The PTO is excited to be hosting the events in the new cafeteria! Each child will get their own freshly baked gingerbread house from Di Mare's to decorate from start to finish with icing and candy!

The events will be held Tuesday through Friday of Parent Teacher Conference Week (November 28th- December 1st) from 1:30-2:30 in the cafeteria. The cost is $35 per child and space is limited.

Registration begins on November 14th at 8pm, click HERE and select "Gingerbread House Building" for your selected day- registration will close on November 20th. Please consider your date selection carefully as we cannot accommodate signup changes.

The PTO is looking for 10 parent volunteers for each day, please sign up Here to help out!

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS

Roberta Brodis for working on the November Hoot newsletter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF

Lauri Wigglesworth (ELP Teacher) November 11

Wendy Flamand (Paraprofessional) November 14

Lucie Ventker (ELP Para) November 14

Jennifer Trifiatis (Teacher-Grade K) November 15

Benjamin Bartol (Teacher Gym) November 18

NOROTON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL TOYS 4 TOTS COLLECTION

Noroton Fire Department is an official drop off location for the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Foundation. With the community’s help we donated over 1,600 toys in 2023, and we’re hoping you’ll join us again this year as we collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys For Tots. Please stop by Noroton FD anytime and leave a donation in the Toys for Tots bin in the back parking lot. We’re located at 1873 Post Road across the street from St. Luke’s Church. Or better yet, get together with your friends and neighbors and start your own collection. Then give us a call and we’ll come to your neighborhood with a fire truck to pick up your donations. We’re available on weekends (and can make most weekdays work too!) from December 2nd to December 17th. This is a great cause and giving back is what the holiday season is all about so please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy to a local child in need.

We have also had the pleasure of working with Scout Troops, Kids Care Clubs and sports teams. We would love to partner with you again this year and either come to your meeting with a fire truck or offer a tour of the fire house.

Please contact Alan Hyatt at 203.943.8649 or hyatt1996@yahoo.com to schedule a pick up for your neighborhood or organization.

SURVIVOR'S DAY

November 18th is International Survivors Day of Suicide Loss, where survivors gather together to find comfort and understanding as they share stories of healing and hope. The Town of Darien Mental Health Task Force is joining with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to host a local Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 18th, 10am to 1pm at Noroton Presbyterian Church. All survivors welcome.

For questions contact Ali Ramsteck, Human Services Director, aramsteck@darienct.gov

WIN TWO TICKETS TO THE TURKEY BOWL

A Thanksgiving tradition since 1994, Darien and New Canaan’s football teams play in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC)’s most celebrated rivalry game, “The Turkey Bowl”.

This is an opportunity to win two tickets to this iconic event!

Prize Info:

What: Two Tickets to the 2023 Turkey Bowl at Dunning Stadium!

When: November 23rd at 10am (Thanksgiving Day!)

How: Enter to win HERE! One ticket for $25, five for $100

Raffle closes November 16th at 11:59pm.

Winner will be drawn on November 17th at 12pm and notified by email. Good luck!

Tickets courtesy of Darien Athletic Department. All proceeds benefit the DHSPA.

MUSIC FOR YOUTH

Mark your calendars for a new concert event called Tenor and Bass Showcase on Thursday, November 30th at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. The purpose of the showcase is to celebrate the music of Tenor and Bass ensembles and to encourage more Tenors and Basses to get involved with chorus in the Darien Public Schools. The concert will feature the DHS chorus tenors and basses with special guest performers the Yale Spizzwinks! Boys in grades 4-12 and students of any gender who want to sing tenor or bass are invited to perform a final song with the featured performers if they attend the rehearsal and free pizza dinner on Wednesday, 11/29. Click here for details. Sign up to participate by Monday, 11/15!

SNOWPLOW NAMING CONTEST

The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced a new “Snowplow Naming Contest." According to the official release: Schools across Connecticut will be able to submit their best and most creative names for four snowplows, which represent the four CTDOT maintenance districts in Connecticut. Winning schools will have their snowplow names featured on the side of a CTDOT tandem axle Tow Plow that operates on our state roads clearing the ice and snow during inclement weather.

Connecticut K-12 schools have until December 15, 2023, to submit their most creative snowplow name. In January, CTDOT will reveal the winning names. Connecticut schools can submit an original and creative snowplow name here: Snowplow Naming Contest. All names from schools must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on December 15, 2023. The complete set of Rules and Regulations can be found here: Snowplow Naming Contest Rules (ct.gov). Good luck!

DARIEN DEPOT OVERSTUFFED TURKEY TROT ON FRIDAY, NOV 24TH

After Turkey Day, come out to burn it off with a family friendly 5K or 1 Mile Walk/Run on the gorgeous Darien High School running trail. Under 5 years old, free; 6-12 $25 and 12+ $40pp. 1 Mile fun run- 9:30-10am; 5K - 10:00-11:30am; Snacks and fun after the races. All finishers will receive a medal. Sign up here

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 oxridgehoot@gmail.com 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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