NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY

Darien Public Schools will observe this important milestone on December 1st to include our ELP staff. This day commemorates the anniversary of our nation’s first federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed by President Ford on December 2, 1975. The Darien Public School District’s parent community is proud to show our appreciation of all of our teachers and staff.

As part of our celebrations, we are asking Ox students to create 'thank you' cards for their teachers and service providers. Your child may decorate and sign the attached card templates here and here, 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.

Questions? Contact your Ox Ridge Special Education Reps: Dayna Checketts, Kira Saunders, and Anne Cotton. 

GINGERBREAD HOUSES - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The sold out Gingerbread Events are this week and we still need parent volunteers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! We need your help to make these sold-out events a success! Please click here to volunteer. 

Also, if your child is already signed up, don’t forget to update School Dismissal Manager. Questions? Contact Barbara May or Erin Morphy. 

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - CONFERENCE WEEK & WINTER SESSION

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! info@darienafterschool.com / 888.212.3837

Registration for Winter Session (running from January 3rd through April 6th) opens on 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: info@darienafterschool.com  / 888.212.3837

OX RIDGE HOLIDAY PARTY

Kick off the holiday season with us at the 314 Beer Garden on December 8th from 7-10pm. The $65/per person ticket includes open bar, refreshments and some delicious pizza to snack on! Join us for a fun, festive night with your fellow Ox Ridge parents! Buy your tickets here.

314 Beer Garden is located at 314 Wilson Avenue in Norwalk. 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 beth.marengo1@gmail.com 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!

CDSP MEETING UPDATE

CDSP Info Series #3: Who attends CDSP meetings, and how can I learn about topics discussed?

“CDSP” stands for Council of Darien School Parents. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which is the umbrella organization for all Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) for Darien Public Schools. Officers are volunteers, not elected officials, and each school has three voting members: PTO Chairs and CDSP Reps (also volunteers). Voting members attend monthly meetings to exchange ideas and identify synergies across schools. These monthly meetings are also open to all parents with students in the Darien Public School system. Follow @CDSPDarien or visit cdspdarien.org for more information (including meeting schedule and meeting minutes)!

OPUS FOR PERSON-to-PERSON'S TOY DRIVE

The OPUS for Person-to-Person's toy drive benefiting P2P's "Holiday Toy Store" program is running from Monday, November 4 through Sunday, December 4. This annual event ensures our low-income neighbors have gifts for their children during this special time of year. 

OPUS for Person-to-Person will be collecting new, unwrapped gifts for kids of all ages through the toy drive. There is a collection box located in the Ox Ridge lobby. Please consider donating a gift! There will also be a QR code on the box linking to P2P's Amazon toy wishlist. Thank you for your generosity! 

MUSEUM OF DARIEN - HOLIDAY EVENTS

Outrageous Holiday Party and Art Reception - Friday, December 2 at 7pm. Enjoy catering by Carolyn's Absolutely Fabulous Events and view this new abstract art show inspired by MoD's historic quilt collection from the Concepts Group. Wear your most 'uncommon' clothes-you may win a prize! Reservations ($30 members/$40 nonmembers) suggested but walk-ins welcome.

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.

HINDLEY HOLIDAY MARKET

Mark your calendars for the Hindley Holiday Market on Saturday, December 3rd from 2pm - 4 pm. This family friendly event has a variety of activities for a fun-filled afternoon! Kids can enjoy cocoa, cookie decorating and crafts as well the opportunity to do some of their holiday shopping at the kids gift village! Parents can sip a complimentary custom coffee and shop over 15 local vendors offering jewelry, bags, ornaments, children's clothing, homemade food items, hot chocolate bombs, craft kits, curated books from Barrett's and more!

The DHS choir will add to the festivities by singing a collection of holiday songs and you can also expect a special performance from Dance on the DL's 2400 crew! Kick-off the holiday season and make this year's market better than ever! Tickets are $10 per person for all ages 4+ and are available at the door.

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 OPPORTUNITY

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

DARIEN ARTS CENTER

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS - December 2 & 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 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.