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November 7: No School - Election Day
November 9: Picture Retake Day
November 9: Veteran’s Day Program
November 9: Town Hall with Dr. Addley and Board of Education at 6:30 followed by Parent Social at Riko’s
November 16: Special Education Parents Social
November 17: Kids Care Club
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
Useful Links:
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK | |
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Dear Families,
Thank you to all of our PTO Room Parents for making Halloween a special event at Ox Ridge. Teachers have shared how creative the activities were and how much the students enjoyed them. Our kindergarteners wowed us at the end of the day with a spooky parade in a variety of colorful customs. Thanks to the parents for watching and cheering the parade outside!
Thanks also to the PTO for providing faculty and staff with treats the next morning. What a wonderful way to start the day after a long night of giving out treats to trick or treaters! We are fortunate to have such a thoughtful parent community at Ox Ridge.
We will be honoring 10 veterans with a small and meaningful ceremony on Thursday. We will also help to rehabilitate disabled veterans by distributing “Buddy Poppies” to all students. Please consider sending in $1 with your child by Nov. 9 to support veterans in need right here in Connecticut. The Ox Ridge community will wear these poppies with pride on the day of the ceremony to show veterans that we care, and to teach our children to respect and honor the defenders of our nation.
We are looking forward to the week ahead!
Warmly,
Melissa Kay
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Dear Ox Ridge Community,
We have a busy week ahead with no school on Tuesday for Election Day and picture retakes on November 9th. We are also so excited for the return of our in-person Veteran’s Day program on Thursday, November 9th. Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue to school.
You should have received an email from our superintendent Dr. Addley who will be holding a Town Hall Meeting for the Ox Ridge Elementary School community to discuss succession planning for a new Ox Ridge Elementary School Interim Principal. The Town Hall Meeting will take place on Thursday, November 9 at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium at Ox Ridge Elementary School. Central Services administration will be present and members of the Board of Education will be present.
Have a great week!
Vanessa Donatello & Kate Kaufman
PTO Co-Chairs
oxridgepto@gmail.com
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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.
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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
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BREAKFAST FOR OUR VETERANS
To honor our veterans during our breakfast celebration at our annual Veterans Day ceremony, please consider donating baked goods for the morning of November 9th! Sign up here
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DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL
We will be offering classes during conference days 11/28 - 12/1. When registering, 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 @Darien After School *late fees may apply. 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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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!
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Jyotsna Bean and Lindsey Kaiser for planning our in-person Veteran’s Day event
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Claudia Torti (Paraprofessional) on November 6
Heather Power (SLP) on November 7
Melonie Gregory (1st gradeTeacher) on November 10
Ariel Delgado (Custodian) on November 11
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ELECTION DAY BASKETBALL CLINIC TO SUPPORT DHS BOYS BASKETBALL
Programs. Tuesday, November 7 at Darien High School 3rd – 5th grade 9:00 – 10:30am and 6-8th grade 11:00 – 12:30pm. Space is limited, sign up now! Your sons will be coached by DHS jv and varsity players. It’s a great way to work on dribbling, passing and shooting to get ready for the upcoming house and travel seasons. Please RSVP name, grade and emergency contact to Marty Hendrickson and bring $45.00 cash or check made out to DHS with Election Day Clinic in memo. Please have your child bring their own labeled water bottle. We will have drinks & snacks to purchase along with Wave Basketball Wristbands and a raffle to help our program meet our fundraising goal.
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MUSEUM OF DARIEN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Did you know that all 3rd and 5th graders at Darien Public Schools have history tours with the Museum of Darien? We rely on parent volunteers to keep the program running, and would love your help! Come see what we are all about at an open house on Election Day, Nov. 7 at 9:30-11am at the Museum of Darien, 45 Old Kings Highway North. It's the little red house right between Goodwives Shopping Center and the YWCA. We will have coffee and give tours of the 1736 Bates-Scofield house - the same tour the 3rd graders get! There's no school on Election Day so bring your children along. All ages welcome. Can't make it, but would like to learn more? Text or call Michele Mengwall 203-559-8679 or Sarah Das 917-880-7528.
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YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD
Attorney Jennifer Laviano and special education advocate Julie Swanson will demystify the federal laws that govern the rights of children with disabilities and give you the information you need to help your child succeed in school and beyond. Topics to include: Child Find and having your child evaluated at any age – from preschool to high school…independent evaluations…securing the appropriate supports…deciphering IEP language. Co-sponsored by Darien SEPAC and Darien Library. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m, Darien Library Community Room, RSVP to dariensepac@gmail.com
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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! 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!
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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!
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DARIEN YOUTH LACROSSE
Registration opens on November 9th for the 2024 Spring Season!! Darien Youth Lacrosse, Inc. (DYL) promotes lacrosse among youth residing in Darien, CT, through grade-level programs open to all interested participants. The developmental program focuses on teaching fundamentals of the game and promoting good sportsmanship, respect for all participants and teamwork, and by cooperating with the Darien High School lacrosse programs. Registration is open for all interested players in grades 1-8 from November 9th until January 10th at a discounted rate (full rates apply starting January 11th). Our season starts in March! For questions or additional information, please email - dylaxregistrar@gmail.com
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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
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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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