THE HOOT

Ox Ridge Elementary School

November 13, 2022


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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November 14: Kids Care Club Food Drive Begins


November 17 & 18: School Wide Enrichment--Surcari performances at Ox Ridge


November 23: New Date for Kids Care Club Meeting - 8:15 AM


November 23: Early Dismissal - 1:25 PM


November 24-25: Thanksgiving Recess (No School) 


November 29: Mom's Night Out at Nielsen's


November 29 - December 2: Early Dismissal (Conference Week) Darien After School and Gingerbread Houses will be available


December 1 - National Special Education Day


December 8 - Ox Ridge Holiday Party


December 9 - Holiday Hope Chest Donations Due


Useful Links:


Missed last week's Hoot? Click here

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Hi All,

 

Thanks to our PTO Veterans Day committee (Lead by Jyotsna Bean, Lindsey Kaiser and Rachel Bausch), our music teachers Mr. Allen and Mrs. Turkosz and Mr. Jeff DeMaio for his video wizardry. I’m proud to once again share our Veterans Day 2022 video.

 

Students had time to view and appreciate our Veterans this week at school! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to view the program and talk with your child about the importance of this day.

Thanks again to our PTO for beautiful patriotic decoration throughout the school along with expertly organized biographies of Veterans connected to our Ox Ridge community prominently displayed throughout the school. 


Thanks,

Luke

FROM THE PTO

Dear Ox Ridge Parents,


Thank you to all who participated in our wonderful Veteran’s Day program this year by submitting your veteran’s information and/or participating in our Veteran’s Day video. We are proud and honored to pay tribute to all the veterans in our families and community. We hope the students gained a deeper appreciation for those who sacrifice so much for our country, safety and freedom. It was great seeing the kids wearing their red, white and blue!


We are looking forward to our first school wide enrichment program happening on November 17th and 18th. Surcari will be performing a multicultural show featuring traditional instruments from Spanish-speaking countries in South & Central America, the Caribbean, Spain & Mexico. We hope the students enjoy the performance!


Our next mom’s night out is a holiday wreath making event being held at Nielsen’s on Tuesday, November 29th. More information is below. There are only a few tickets left so purchase your ticket soon!


Have a wonderful week!


XO OX


Christina & Meghan


Christina Kreuz & Meghan Thornton 

PTO Co-Chairs

oxridgepto@gmail

OX RIDGE NEWS

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 [email protected] 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.

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help with Gingerbread Houses! We still need several volunteers for Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1 - please consider volunteering at this fun, festive event! Please click here to volunteer! Questions? Contact Barbara May or Erin Morphy

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - CONFERENCE WEEK

Spots have filled up quickly, but there is still some availability on Friday, December 2nd to participate in fun art and sports activities after school during Conference Week. Visit Darien After School to learn more! [email protected] / 888.212.3837

CAN I GET A HOOT, HOOT?

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS


Jyotsna Bean, Lindsey Kaiser and Rachel Rand (Veteran’s Day)  for all their efforts in overseeing our amazing virtual Veteran’s Day Program!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF


Ms. Wendy Flamand on November 14

Dr. Jennifer Trifiatis on November 15

Mr. Benjamin Bartol on November 18

COMMUNITY NEWS

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.

OX RIDGE HOOT | HOOT EMAIL | PTO WEBSITE


EDITORS NOTE:

Meghan Egan Nov, Jan, May, June 19 

Danielle Kohlberger - Oct, Feb, Apr, June 12

Baye Larsen - Sept, Dec, Mar, June 5


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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