KIDS CARE CLUB FOOD DRIVE

For November, the Kids Care Club is having a food drive starting Monday, November 14! The food items will be donated to The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. This food drive serves many needy families and individuals in the area. The collection box will be located in the front lobby of Ox Ridge. 

We are collecting non-perishable food. Some suggestions are: 

• Breakfast Cereals
• Instant Oatmeal
• Pasta
• Jarred Pasta Sauce
• Apple Sauce
• Juices (Bottles & Boxes)
• Shelf Stable Milk
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly (Grape & Strawberry)
• Progresso Soup
• Campbell's Chunky Soup
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Dried Beans (1 lb Bag)
• Fruit Cups
• Rice - White or Brown (1 lb Bag)
• Canned Protein (Tuna & Chicken)

We would love to help stock the shelves in time for Thanksgiving. We appreciate your time and excitement in teaching our kids how important it is to help others. Please reach out to Alexis Starzynski or Kerry Goldberg with any questions.

MOM'S NIGHT OUT

Join the Ox Ridge PTO for Holiday Wreath-Making at Nielsen's Florist on Tuesday, November 29th from 6:30-9pm. Sip wine, gather with friends & get into the Holiday spirit. You'll go home with a gorgeous Holiday wreath from Nielsen's for your front door! Tickets are $100. Nielsen's is limiting headcount to 60 people with less than 15 tickets remaining. Reach out to Nicole Sweeney with questions. Click here to buy tickets.

NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY

National Special Education Day is a recognized awareness day to commemorate the 1975 signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. On December 2nd (observed on 12/1 this year), we will celebrate the accomplishments of teachers, providers, paras, admins and staff who not only impact the lives of students with disabilities and learning differences but ALL of our children who benefit every day from being in an inclusive and neurodiverse learning environment and school community.

Across the Darien school district, the Special Education community is planning a show of appreciation for our Special Education staff and would very much appreciate your support! In particular, we are asking Ox students to create 'thank you' cards for their teachers and service providers. You will receive an email from your room parents with a card template which your child can decorate and sign, or feel free to create your own card! Please have your child deposit their card(s) in the designated box in the front office by Wednesday, November 30th.

Thank you for helping us to celebrate this important day. If you have any questions, please contact your Ox Ridge Special Education Reps: Dayna Checketts, Kira Saunders, and Anne Cotton. 

OX RIDGE HOLIDAY PARTY

Kick off the holiday season with us at the 314 Beer Garden on Thursday, December 8th from 7-10PM. The $65/per person ticket will include spiked seltzers, wines, a wide variety of craft beers, and some delicious pizza to snack on! Join us for a fun, festive night with your fellow Ox Ridge parents! Be on the lookout for tickets to go on sale next week!

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. 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, December 9th 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.marengo1@gmail.com for any questions.

LAST CALL FOR HOOTIE ARTWORK

The deadline to submit your Hootie drawing for the yearbook has been extended! Each 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 extended due date is Tuesday, November 15th.

BLACK FRIDAY BOYS LACROSSE YOUTH CLINIC

The Darien High School Varsity Lacrosse Coaching Staff and Players are offering a fun Friday morning of lacrosse the day after Thanksgiving!

Where: Oval Turf at Darien High School

When: November, 25th 9am - 12:30pm

Cost: $100

Get those kids out of the house and running around! Fun games and prizes. Click here for more details and to sign-up! All proceeds will support DHS Boys Lacrosse Program and CITYLAX.