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October 23-25: Fall Scholastic Book Fair
November 7: No School - Election Day
November 9: Picture Retake Day
November 9: Veteran’s Day Program
November 9: Speaker Series with Dr. Alycia Dadd (DSP Director of Mental Health) at 6pm and Parent Social at Riko’s
November 16: Special Education Parents Social
November 17: Kids Care Club
November 22: Two Hour Early Dismissal
November 23-24: Thanksgiving Recess
Useful Links:
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK | |
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Dear Families,
We wish you all a wonderful week ahead! It will be a busy few weeks, for sure. Please note parent presentations, Scholastic Book Fair dates and Halloween reminders.
We are thrilled to have our annual Scholastic Book Fair this coming week. A huge thanks goes out to our PTO Parent Volunteers who have decorated the school with the theme of The Wizard of Oz and who have worked tirelessly to set up a spectacular space to pursue books and shop. Parents are invited to shop with their child’s class and/or in the evening. During the day, please be sure to only attend when your class is scheduled to visit the Book Fair. Parking is limited and we ask parents to take caution in our parking areas and not to park in the fire lane.
Sincerely,
Melissa Kay
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Dear Ox Ridge Community,
The fall foliage is beautiful to see around town, and this time of year also means our annual Fall Book Fair is taking place this week. Please see below for more details, all of which can be found on the Ox Ridge PTO website. We are so excited that parents will be able to come to the gym to shop with their children again during their designated class time! Given limited parking, please be sure to come only for your child’s classroom time (unless you are volunteering at another time). Evening shopping hours will also take place on Monday and Tuesday.
This is also a great time of year to go through your closets and donate any coats your family has outgrown to our Kids Care Club coat drive to benefit Person2Person.
Have a great week!
Vanessa Donatello & Kate Kaufman
PTO Co-Chairs
oxridgepto@gmail.com
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OX RIDGE BOOK FAIR
The Ox Ridge Fall Book Fair “There’s No Place Like Home” runs October 23-25th. Family Nights are Monday (23rd) & Tuesday (24th) from 5-7pm (those needing a quieter shopping experience may enter at 4:30).
Payments accepted include cash, check and eWallet (an alternative to cash, the Book Fair eWallet can be used to fund your students' purchases at the Fair).
Set up your eWallet here & click here for full Fair details. Parents may shop with their child during their classroom visit (see schedule here) - and please consider helping set up by volunteering! We look forward to seeing you!
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KIDS CARE CLUB - COAT DRIVE
Join the Kids Care Club in warming hearts and bodies this winter! Our annual Coat Drive is in full swing, and we're teaming up with Person to Person to collect new and gently used coats, new hats, gloves, mittens, and socks for those in need. We welcome donations of all sizes and for all genders. You can find our collection box in the main lobby of the school from 10/23 to 11/6. Let's make this winter a little warmer for our community.
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NURTURING YOUNG READERS: EXPLORING THE DARIEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM
Please open the attached invitation from Julie Droller, Director of Elementary School Education, DPS Literacy Team & Elementary Administrators to be held on Tuesday, October 24 @ 9:30 at the Darien Public Library Community Room. Parent Learning Session Invitation - DPS Early Literacy Program
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HALLOWEEN
We will have a spirit day on October 31, 2023 for all students. Our annual kindergarten parade will be held (2:00pm with details to come from our kindergarten teachers) and our ELP students will be partaking in the festivities (information to be shared via our ELP teachers).
As this is one of the most anticipated holidays for kids, students in grades K – 5 may wear a Halloween costume with parent permission. “Weapons”, scary or gory costumes, excessively large or cumbersome outfits/accessories are not permitted. As an alternative, students can celebrate the day by wearing pajamas, orange and black, or Darien school colors of blue and white. Teachers may ask students to remove a part of their costumes if it becomes overly distracting or disruptive to the learning process.
While trick or treating, we remind families of the importance of safety. Please look to Safe Kids Worldwide (https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips). We encourage you to learn more about the inclusive awareness building work led by FARE”s “Teal Pumpkin” campaign (https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project). As you see these teal pumpkins in the neighborhoods, I hope you can appreciate the sensitivity and awareness our community has regarding food allergies on Halloween and every day.
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HOOTIE ARTWORK FOR THE YEARBOOK
Every 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 due date is Friday, November 3rd.
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OX RIDGE PARENT PRESENTATION
Please join Alycia Dadds, Director of Mental Health, on November 9, 2023, 6-7pm at Ox Ridge.
BUILDING YOUR TOOLKIT FOR PARENTING IN THE 21ST CENTURY:
Strategies for Having Challenging Conversations with Your Child (Session 1 in a series of 4)
In the first of a series of four workshops, Dr. Alycia Dadd, Director of Mental Health, will provide parents with strategies to increase effective communication with their children. The primary focus of this workshop is to equip you with techniques to create an environment that promotes productive conversations. These conversations may encompass a variety of topics, such as setting boundaries around technology use, addressing sensitive news topics, or helping your child navigate their peer relationships. A prerequisite to successful family conversations includes being able to regulate our own emotions in challenging situations. Annie Farson, Ox Ridge School Psychologist, will provide an overview of how the RULER Meta-moment, which is currently being taught to students, is a tool relevant for parents as well.
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POPPIES FOR VETERANS
Ox Ridge will be honoring our veterans during our annual Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, November 9th. 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. 9th 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. Thank you for participating!
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SUNDAY FUNDAY PHOTOS NEEDED
The Ox Ridge yearbook committee is requesting photos from Sunday Funday for use in the yearbook. Please send your pictures to OxRYearbook@gmail.com. Thank you so much for helping us out!
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Kelly Andricopoulos and Lauren van de Kamp (Book Fair Co-Chairs) and Meghan Curcuruto, Ceci Davies, Nicole DiOrio, Theresa Driggs, Melissa Kelley, Meghan Shain, Sally Merwin, Marianna Beck, and Caroline Verone (Book Fair Committee)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Kristen Turkosz (Teacher-Music) on October 23
Austin Rooney (Para) on October 24
Christina Acocella (ELP Para) on October 24
Seth Von Schmidt (Para) on October 26
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DHS STUDENT GOVERNMENT TRUNK OR TREAT
We are excited to be holding our 3rd annual "Trunk or Treat" for students in grade 5 and below. See attached flyer for the event.
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NEW TO TOWN? WELCOME TO DARIEN!
Welcome to Darien! A get-together for those new to town hosted by The Community Fund of Darien. Please join us for a fun and informative gathering and discover what makes Darien so special. Hear from current residents, who will share their favorite spots and stories, and mingle with those who are new to town. Wednesday, November 8th 6:00-8:00pm at the Museum of Darien- 45 Old Kings Highway N, Darien RSVP by October 25th
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER
Try a Martial Arts Class for Free - Pop in to any DAC Martial Arts classes for a free trial: Open Martial Arts For Grades 3-Adult:
Tues. 6-7pm, Youth Martial Arts For Kindergarten-Grade 7: Thurs. 5:30-6:30pm, Teen/Adult Martial Arts For Grade 9-Adult: Thurs. 6:30-7:30pm. Martial Arts classes take place in the DAC studio across from the baseball field in back of Town Hall.
Pumpkin Decorating Workshop at NAYA - Thurs. Oct. 26, 4:30-5:45pm. Kids 5-8 years old join us at Naya to embellish their own one-of-a-kind pumpkin with stickers, gems, paint pens and more, just in time for Halloween! After creations are complete, kids enjoy their own Kids Meal with classmates. (Each child must be accompanied by an adult.) At NAYA: 146 Heights Road in Darien Commons. $35.
NEW! Drop-in classes are available for Little Artist and You, Middle School Expressive Art, Teen/Adult Martial Arts and Adult Ballet.
Registration is ongoing for Darien Arts Center classes for all ages in DANCE, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS and MARTIAL ARTS. To register, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
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DARIEN'S OWN TURKEY TROT ON FRIDAY, NOV 24TH
Are you looking for something fun to do with your family over Thanksgiving weekend that doesn't conflict with the Turkey Bowl? Or looking to ditch the in-laws for a few hours? The Depot Youth Center will be hosting our inaugural Overstuffed Turkey Trot, a 5k and 1-mile fun run & walk along the scenic cross-country trail at DHS on Friday, November 24th. Early "Turkey" registration is $40 until Nov 1, and registration is $45 after that. Register today at https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Darien/DarienDepotOverstuffed. We hope to see you there!
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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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