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November 28: Board of Education meeting
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 12: Board of Education meeting
December 22: 2 Hour Early Dismissal
December 23-January 1: Winter Recess
Useful Links:
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK | |
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Dear Ox Ridge Families,
I wanted to share how much I have appreciated the warm welcome I received this year and the continued support I have had from families as we opened for the 2023-24 school year. I have spent several days onboarding with Harry Laub and helping him acclimate to the Ox Ridge community. He has shared how impressed he has been with the school and is excited to support the community for the remainder of the year.
On Thursday, November 16, I met with members of the Student Leadership League, Ms. Watson and Mr. O’Connor (teacher facilitators of the group), and two members of the building committee, Mr. Shriner and
Mr. Graikoski, to “bury” the time capsule in the side of the building. Students shared the reasons for each piece being placed in the time capsule and were excited about “burying” the capsule.
I wish you all a joyful holiday season and all the best for the future!
Warmly,
Melissa Kay
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Dear Ox Ridge Community,
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!
Welcome Dr. Laub to Ox Ridge! We are so happy to have you as our interim principal for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you to those who came to his meet and greet session last Monday. We also spent some time with Dr. Laub last Wednesday. We will hold a coffee session with Dr. Laub in the near future, aiming for mid-December - stay tuned!
This is a busy week with parent-teacher conferences and after school activities including gingerbread houses. We are also excited to celebrate Special Education Day this Thursday, November 30 - please have your children drop off any 'thank you' cards for their teachers and service providers by this Wednesday.
We’re also looking forward to our parents night out for wreath making at Nielsen’s Florist on December 7 - there are still spots left if you’d like to join.
Have a great week!
Vanessa Donatello & Kate Kaufman
PTO Co-Chairs
oxridgepto@gmail.com
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WREATH MAKING AT NIELSEN'S
Join the Ox Ridge PTO for Holiday Wreath Making at Nielsen's Florist on Thursday, December 7th at 6:30pm! Gather with friends, enjoy light bites and drinks, and get into the Holiday spirit. You'll go home with a gorgeous Holiday wreath from Nielsen's for your front door! Tickets are $105 and can be purchased here: https://www.pay4schoolstuff.com/activityitem?id=31852&school_id=090105000170. Nielsen's is limiting headcount to 60 people, so buy your ticket quickly. Reach out to Alison Muench with questions.
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BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS
Save the Date February 10th: Family Night at the Bridgeport Islanders
The PTO’s have partner once again with the Bridgeport Islanders! The elementary schools choir will be performing at the Bridgeport Islanders on February 10th. Please mark on your calendars. More details to follow. Any question, please email Paola Sordoni or Courtney Concoran at: oxridgepto.fundraising@gmail.com
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MABEL'S LABELS
Would you like some customize labels for the holidays?
Our school is fundraising with Mabel’s Labels! If you’re not familiar with Mabel’s Labels, they are personalized, durable, waterproof labels. They are great for everything from shoes, clothing tags, water bottles and backpacks. You can customize them with your name and a design, and they are dishwasher, laundry and microwave safe. Mabel’s Labels also offers clothing stamps and silicone bands for water bottles! This is a great way to ensure your items don’t end up in the lost & found or mixed up. To support our fundraiser visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Ox Ridge (Darien). You can pick out whatever labels or products you want, and it will ship for free directly to your house! Thank you for supporting us!
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MINTED HOLIDAY CARDS
'Tis the season for holiday cards and Ox Ridge is Fundraising with Minted! Get 20% off your Minted card and gift purchases, including custom photo gifts, tote bags, stationery, children’s art and more. For every order placed, Minted will donate 15% back to the Ox Ridge PTO!
Step 1: Visit minted.com and start shopping!
Step 2: Apply code FUNDRAISEOXRIDGE at checkout to claim your 20% discount. The code can be used year-round!
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SEEKING NEW DEI CHAIR
The Ox Ridge PTO is currently looking for a new DEI Chair. The DEI Chair is a member of the Ox Ridge PTO executive board and also works with the CDSP (Council of Darien School Parents) DEI Committee. Together with the Ox Ridge DEI Committee, the DEI Chair promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ox Ridge through monthly heritage and events such as our upcoming Passport Night in the winter. Please email oxptorecruiting@gmail.com if you are interested in the role.
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DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL
brings you enrichment where students find a new favorite, be anything they want to be and make new friends! BLAST through the Fall with Sports, Music, Art, Science, Theater and MORE...
Registration is NOW OPEN!
Conference Day Program 11/28 – 12/1 & Winter Session 1/2 – 3/12
Schedule, Program Details & Registration @ https://www.darienafterschool.com/OxRidge.html
Questions: Reach out to us anytime! info@darienafterschool.com / 888.212.3837
Follow us on social media and see you after school….
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Barbara May and Erin Morphy for organizing the Gingerbread House activity.
Lia Stewart (Enrichment Chair) and Jennifer Falk (Before/After School) for working with Darien After School to arrange Conference Week programming.
Laura Costello, Kira Saunders, and Kristin Saltzman (Special Education Reps) for planning our Ox Ridge Special Education Awareness Day.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Dana Falcioni (Paraprofessional) November 28
Erin McIntosh (Paraprofessional) November 30
Nikki Oczkowski (ELP Para) December 3
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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.
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GIVE BACK WITH PERSON TO PERSON HOLIDAY INITIATIVES
Holiday Toy Store: Each year, Person to Person (P2P) hosts its Annual Holiday Toy Store, a heartwarming event that helps ensure 2,000 children from lower-income families experience the joy of the holiday season. Help P2P collect toys, books and board games by visiting our Amazon Wish List or by making a donation online. For online donations: Virtual Toy Drive 2023 - Campaign (p2phelps.org). Amazon Wish List: Amazon.com.
Volunteers are also needed during the toy drive - sign up to volunteer.
Virtual Food Drive: P2P's mission centers around making sure everyone in our community has access to healthy, nutritious food. The need for food in our community is increasing, and costs are rising. For online virtual food donations: www.p2phelps.org/fooddrive
About Person to Person
Person to Person (P2P) is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing individuals and families with essential resources to help them overcome daily challenges and put them on a path toward economic stability. P2P serves 28,000 residents in Fairfield County with the following programs: three food pantries, clothing center, caseworker assistance, Financial Opportunity Center™, emergency financial assistance, college scholarships and summer camperships. Learn more at p2pHelps.org.
Established in 1968, P2P has sites in Stamford, Norwalk and Darien and serves the communities of Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. For more information visit our website at p2pHelps.org
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HELP HUMAN SERVICES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Adopt a Family.
Celebrate the holidays by bringing joy to a struggling family. Adopt a family on your own or with friends, book clubs, or church groups. Families range in size from 2-6 people. We are asking for donations of gift cards, family-specific guidance will be provided by Human Services.
Adopt a Senior The Human Services Department will choose a Darien senior who could use a little extra cheer this holiday season, you will receive gift ideas to make things easier and more personal. Thank you for helping to make a neighbor’s holiday a little brighter!
Please contact the Human Services office at 203-656-7328 to participate or with any question or email aramsteck@darienct.gov.
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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, including recent graduate John Raskopf! DPS elementary and middle school student performers will be featured in the final song. Tickets to Tenor and Bass Showcase are $10 per person, or a maximum of $20 per family. Proceeds will benefit Darien Music for Youth, who provide music enrichment opportunities and scholarships to DPS students. The concert is FREE for performers and all DPS students and staff. Tickets can be purchased at darienmusicforyouth.ludus.com.
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MATHER HOMESTEAD HOLIDAY CONCERT
Please come and join us at the Mather Homestead for a holiday concert featuring acoustic duo Dan Zlotnick and Al Hemberger on December 3rd at 4:30 pm. The family-friendly concert will include a visit from Santa as well as sing-a-long caroling. Tickets are available at matherhomestead.org and range from $15 to $25. Mather Homestead is located at 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien.
More information can be found here: https://www.matherhomestead.org/event-details/holiday-songs-sing-a-long-and-santa
The Mather Homestead, built in 1778, was famously raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War and later the home of Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service. After passing through six generations of Mathers the home became a museum in 2017 and has quickly become a destination for learning and fun. The Mather Homestead is Darien’s only registered national historic landmark.
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DARIEN SQUASH
The 2023-2024 Middle & Elementary School Season Starts Soon.
Registration is now open to players in grades 3-8. Registration for the team enables you to participate in team matches, round robins, intramurals, FairWest Squash Jamborees (grades 6-8 only), US Squash Nationals (MMS students only) and all team events.
We will play home matches, intramurals, and round robins at Ox Ridge Riding and Racquet Club in Darien (512 Middlesex Road).
To learn more, visit: dariensquash.com
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DARIEN YOUTH LACROSSE
DYLAX 2024 Spring registration is open! Check us out at www.dylax.com to register and to find all the information you need for the season. Early registration is open now until January at a discounted rate (no code needed).
Darien Youth Lacrosse is a developmental program for boys and girls in grades 1-8.We welcome all players at all levels looking to learn the game, focus on fundamentals, embrace sportsmanship and to have fun! This year we've expanded our Boys Blue Wave Buddies (Grades 1&2) program - it will mirror what we do in the House Leagues with weekly clinics and parent coaches supporting the 8th grade leaders.
Please contact DYLAX Registrar with questions or for additional information dylaxregistrar@gmail.com
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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 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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