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October 5 : No School - Yom Kippur
October 7 : Family Photo Day (Ox Fundraiser)
October 13 : PTO Speaker Series
October 15 : Family Photo Day (Ox Fundraiser)
October 16 : Family Photo Day (Ox Fundraiser)
October 17-19 : Ox Ridge Book Fair
October 18 : SE Social
Useful Links:
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK | |
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Hi All,
On October 13th, I am excited to join you all for our first PTO “Speaker Series”! Each year, I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to connect with families to provide insights into our continuous efforts to enhance Ox Ridge.
This year, I plan to provide an overview of how we are building on existing practices to better support student Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). A few years back, we began working as a faculty and with families to understand the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence’s framework for teaching emotional intelligence, RULER. You might have joined or heard of a book club centered on Dr. Marc Bracket’s “Permission to Feel”, or joined PTO meetings last year to understand how the RULER framework is being implemented with faculty and staff at Ox Ridge.
Join me and friends from the Ox Ridge PTO on the 13th to continue to deepen your personal understanding of how to support the development of your child’s emotional intelligence and to better understand our approach at Ox Ridge in this critical work. We will also discuss the upcoming “Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-Mini” (DESSA) being deployed across the district and how we plan to use this tool to better individualize opportunities for student SEL growth over the year!
Looking forward,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
Fall is in full swing and we are keeping busy with many fun events happening in October—Speaker Series followed by Parents Cocktails, Book Fair with an Ox Outfitters Sale, Family Photo Days, Before and After School Enrichment Programs, and a SE Social. Thank you to all our PTO volunteers who have been hard at work planning these wonderful events!
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15th-October 15th. Did you see the beautiful display of books at the Ox Ridge Library?
For those who celebrated Rosh Hashanah on September 26th—Shanah Tovah! And for those celebrating Yom Kippur on October 5th have an easy fast!
XO OX
Christina & Meghan
Christina Kreuz & Meghan Thornton
PTO Co-Chairs
oxridgepto@gmail
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BOE UPDATE
During the September 27th Darien Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Addley proposed the installation of School Security Officers (SSOs) at each of the District’s five elementary schools.
SSOs are armed, retired law enforcement officers. The proposal includes hiring six SSOs (one additional to cover in case of illness or other absence) as well as a Director of Security, all of whom would be employees of the District.
Currently MMS and DHS each have School Resource Officers (SROs). SROs are armed, active police officers who report directly to the Darien Chief of Police and are full time employees of the Police Department.
Here is a link to a replay of the Board of Education meeting. Discussion regarding the proposal begins at 52:40. All materials related to the proposal can be found here starting on page 12.
Proposed SSO duties include but are not limited to providing security for the building and grounds, patrolling and monitoring school property for unauthorized persons, reporting and investigating vandalism, enforcing policies and procedures, and responding to incidents, fights or other issues. Additionally, the SSO would assist with student traffic in hallways, arrival and dismissal of students and lunch supervision.
These seven full time employee positions would be funded during the current fiscal year by a special appropriation from the Town of Darien. Going forward, the approximate $500,000 annual cost of these positions would be integrated into the BoE operating budget. The BoE will vote whether to move forward with the proposal at the next meeting on October 11th. After the BoE approves the positions and appropriation, the proposal moves to the Board of Finance and then the RTM.
All parents/guardians are encouraged to voice their opinions on the proposal to their school PTO Chairs.
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PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The PTO is looking for parent volunteers to join two new Ox Ridge committees as a parent representative. More information is below; they need one parent representative per committee If interested please email oxridgepto@gmail.com.
1. Parent Representative for the Safe School Climate Committee. Need to attend two meetings per year. Committee is chaired by Christina Ulreich and members are all Ox Ridge Staff. Would be providing parent’s perspective on school culture.
2. Parent Representative for the School Safety Committee. Need to attend two meetings per year. Committee is chaired by Luke Forshaw. Would be providing parental input on school safety procedures.
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KIDS CARE CLUB
The Kids Care Club is the community service arm of the PTO. We work with kids in all grades to teach them about community outreach and volunteering. The meetings will be held in person one Friday each month, from 8:15-9:00 AM. Please note, this will be a drop-off meeting, and kids will be separated by grade level. This year KCC will be focused on many hands-on community service projects with local organizations such as the Norwalk Family and Children's Agency, Person to Person, STAR, At Home in Darien, and the Darien Land Trust.
Please note that with a shift to the new building, there is a limited capacity of 75 students per meeting. To ensure that we fall within this threshold, there is a sign-up sheet. You can also find the full year schedule on the website.
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DARIEN SPORT SHOP FALL CHARITY DAYS: FUNDRAISING IN STYLE
Ox Ridge is so happy to partner with the Darien Sports Shop for a fall charity shopping benefit! Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Ox Ridge PTO. Purchase a ticket for $10 from the Ox Ridge PTO and receive a 15% discount on all Darien Sport Shop purchases during their charity shopping days, Tuesday, October 4th, through Thursday, October 6th. (tickets will be emailed prior to October 4th). This is a great time to purchase outfits for your family photo day and the holidays! Please reach out to Danielle Paccione or Heather deBie with any questions. Happy Shopping!
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HOOTIE ARTWORK FOR THE YEARBOOK
We include students' drawings of Hootie in the yearbook every year, 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 due date is Friday, November 4th.
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FALL BOOK FAIR - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Ox Ridge Fall Book Fair “Fall Into Reading” runs October 17-19th. Family Nights are Monday (17th) & Tuesday (18th) from 5-7pm. Those needing a quieter shopping experience may enter at 4:30.
Click here to set up your child's eWallet.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Click here to help out! Slots are open for classroom visits (during the school day) plus set up and breakdown. The teacher visit schedule is included in the sign-up sheet if you’d like to coordinate with your child’s class. We need your help to make this event a success!
Full Book Fair details.
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OxFITTERS AT THE BOOK FAIR - WITH DUDLEY STEPHENS
Back by popular demand, Ox Ridge Outfitters will be selling at Book Fair night on 10/17. We are excited to offer the Dudley Stephens collaboration for both children AND adults! Don't miss new adult T shirts and your chance to grab new OX gear as we head into fall. You can shop ONLINE starting at 8AM and in person at the book fair! Don't miss your chance to support our school and Dudley Stephens, co-founded by an OX parent - and do it in style!
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SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT SOCIAL
Please join us on Tuesday, October 18th at 7:30 PM at Louie's Italian Restaurant (10 Center Street) for an evening of cocktails and conversation. This event, hosted by the Ox Ridge Special Education Committee, is an opportunity for parents of children with IEPs or 504s, or who are interested in our resources, to connect in a casual and fun setting. We will gather on the patio and appetizers will be provided (drinks purchased separately). No sign up is required, but if you plan to attend or have questions, please contact your Special Education Representatives: Anne Cotton, Dayna Checketts, and Kira Saunders.
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DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION
In an effort to promote diversity, equality and inclusion this year, we will focus on celebrating differences. Differences can be as simple as wearing glasses to a rich cultural heritage, DEI will commemorate various cultural events throughout the year.
This month (Sept 15 to Oct 15) is Hispanic Heritage Month and we will be celebrating with book selections at Ox Ridge library to encourage learning about this rich heritage.
We invite you to learn more with the following websites: Hispanic Heritage Month, National Park Service, National Museum of American Latino
Happy reading!
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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PHOTOS NEEDED
The Ox Ridge yearbook committee is requesting 1st day of school photos. Please email your pix directly to us! We would love photos with more than one child if possible. Thank you so much for helping us out!
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DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL
Students are enjoying our Fall Enrichment with Darien After School @ Ox Ridge - where students can be anything they want to be and make new friends! Fall classes are offered thru 12/22 with a rolling registration throughout the session (late fees may apply). Classes include Sports, Music, Art, Science, Theater and MORE...
Schedule and Program Details
Kindergarteners and new families are always welcome. Please Click HERE for information on how our
program works, or reach out anytime!
Contact: info@darienafterschool.com / 888.212.3837
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Cathy Bailey—DEI Chair—for the wonderful display of Hispanic Heritage books in the Ox Ridge Library
Danielle Paccione and Heather DeBie—Fundraising Chairs—for organizing our Darien Sports Shop Fundraiser.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Ms. Lisa Baghirathy (PT) on October 3
Ms. Jennifer Sutherland-Padgett on October 3
Ms. Diane Carr (SPED) on October 6
Ms. Cindi Imp (SPED) on October 7
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TOKENEKE PUMPKIN CARNIVAL
The 2022 Tokeneke School Pumpkin Carnival returns on Saturday, October 15th from 10am to 4pm. Join us as Tokeneke Elementary School is transformed into an amusement park! There are mechanical rides and boardwalk games as well as a variety of lawn games, art activities, face painting, and bounce houses. There will be something for children of all ages. For those seeking a thrill, make sure to try the Cliffhanger and Zero Gravity rides. Preschoolers are sure to love the Spinning Cars and the Happy Swing ride. Play the lawn games and win prizes! Test your stamina on the Nola Physical Therapy + Performance Obstacle Course! Enjoy performances by students of the School of Rock and Dance on the DL. Nosh on delicious food from local Darien restaurants and food trucks. The Tokeneke Parent and Teacher Organization is once again partnering with Darien Human Services to offer the event free of charge to families who would otherwise not be able to attend. Advance discounted tickets and punch cards for lawn games can be purchased online (no refunds!). Advanced purchase tickets can be picked up at the WILL CALL table on the day of the event.
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DARIEN MUSIC FOR YOUTH
Darien Music For Youth is a 501(c)(3) that has been supporting music education in Darien for over 50 years, relying on donations to make this happen. All donations go straight into programs in the schools. Building on the huge success of last year’s Band festival and Dallas Brass event, we are geared up for a Strings festival for 2022-2023 with a culminating concert by Electrify your Strings! Music for Youth will continue their poster and graphic design contests, scholarships and offer bonus events for Choral and Band students. Your continued support is needed! See flyer for more details. Donate here.
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DARIEN EMS - POST 53 HAUNTED HOUSE SUNDAY OCT 30 FROM 2-4 PM
The Post 53 Haunted House is back! Come join us as we return to providing three different levels of fright on Sunday October 30th from 2-4pm at our headquarters 0 Ledge Road, Darien. Get your Halloween costumes ready and join us for a fun filled afternoon with exciting events and fun games for kids of all ages. There will be ambulance tours, pumpkin decorating, face painting, and many more games and treats! CPR/AED training will be offered to any adults or children interested. Suggested donation is $10 per child and all donations will support Darien EMS-Post 53, Darien’s Volunteer Emergency Medical Service staffed with state certified Emergency Medical Technicians, who are Darien High School Students and their Adult Advisors.
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER
Sip & Paint: Still Life Workshop, For Adults, Friday, Oct. 14, 7-9pm. Bring a friend and refreshments of choice for a great night out! Our fabulous instructor Stephanie Lush-Mastriano will lead the group in creating beautiful still life paintings while everyone enjoys a relaxing evening. Fee: $55
Silhouettes, East Coast Contemporary Ballet Performance, Oct. 22, 7:30pm & Oct. 23, 2pm. An all-new mixed repertory program set to music that ranges from classical to contemporary. Join this fresh and innovative company in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Tickets $35. DAC Dance students: $20.
Autumn Leaves Creative Workshop - For Kindergarten through Grade 3, Friday, Nov. 4, 4-5:30pm.
Students create a colorful decoupage autumn leaf lantern to bring home for the holidays and vibrant leaf print paintings to take home and feature in a November Student Art Exhibit in the downtown CVS window! Fee: $75.
REGISTRATION IS ONGOING at darienarts.org for classes for ages 3 through adult for various programs.
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CONNECTING WITH YOUR TWEEN
Middlesex Parent Association and YWCA Parent Awareness present Connecting with your Tween While They are Still Listening on Wednesday, October 12th at 7:30pm. Event will feature Darien's own, Dr. Amanda Craig, Marriage and Family Therapist who is the author of "Who Are You & What Have You Done With My Kid?"
Join us for an interactive and engaging workshop where you learn about the unique tween age group and gain tips and tricks to stay connected with your child while also starting to learn to let go. Click here for more information.
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OUTDOOR EXPLORERS AT THE DARIEN NATURE CENTER
Head to the Darien Nature Center for an afternoon exploring the great outdoors! This is a 3-part series full of educational fun. Our October theme is Birds! Through hikes, games, exploration, science experiments, and more, students will learn all about birds through bird watching, identification of common birds in CT, and learning about bird migration! Registration, age requirements, dates and times HERE.
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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 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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