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September 25: No School - Yom Kippur
October 7: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Assembly Wing
October 8: Sunday Funday Welcome Back Event from 3-5, soft opening at 2:30
October 9-11: Coffee with Principals and PTO at 9:30
October 13-15: Family Photo Fall Fundraiser with Karen Morneau Photography
October 20: Kids Care Club
October 23-25: Fall Scholastic Book Fair
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 hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and spending as much time out of doors as possible. Our routines both in classrooms and throughout the building are solidifying and I am witnessing meaningful learning communities grow.
TRAFFIC
We have good news to share regarding traffic at dismissal time! Through the inspiration of John O’Connor, SSO, we are redirecting regular pick up cars to weave through the lower lot thus freeing cars from Mansfield. We tried this last week and found it successful. Last week was the first full week of implementation. Oftentimes, faculty leaves the building at 3:30 to pick up their own children. Please look to see if a faculty member needs to exit and give them the space to do so. We have appreciated your support, kindness, and most importantly patience while we finessed this process. Thanks to everyone for their input and attention to safety!
VISITORS
We welcomed members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Gosselin of Region 12 on Monday to tour the school, ask questions about the recent building project, and meet with members of our staff to learn how the learning environment has been enhanced through our new spaces. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of phase 2 on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:00am. We are working with the PTO to secure student tour guides for this celebration.
Enjoy the coming week!
Melissa Kay
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Dear Ox Ridge Community,
As Principal Kay advised above, we have implemented a new traffic pattern for the parent pick-up line during school dismissal with great success. For those who choose to pick-up students after school, please pay attention to the new car line-up route which now heads straight back to the bus lane and loops through the middle aisle of the teacher parking lot. This has allowed for a decrease in traffic on Mansfield and the buses are able to enter the parking lot directly upon arrival. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this challenge!
The first day of our Family Photo Fundraiser took place on Friday at Weed Beach. Thank you to all families who participated. We can't wait to see the results!
Finally, a reminder that there is No School Tomorrow - September, 25, 2023, for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. For those who are observant, we wish you an easy fast. School is back in session on Tuesday, September 26.
PTO Co-Chairs
oxridgepto@gmail.com
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OX RIDGE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Saturday, October 7 at 10am is the ribbon cutting ceremony for the assembly wing. We would love to see some students at the school in their Ox Ridge spirit wear. We are also asking 5th graders to give tours of the school to anyone who may be interested. Sign up here to attend.
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PTO COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPALS
On October 9-11, we will be hosting Coffee with Principals and the PTO. All parents/guardians are invited to attend. There are 3 sessions:
- Monday, October 9 at 9:30 - Kindergarten and 1st grade families
- Tuesday, October 10 at 9:30 - 2nd and 3rd grade families
- Wednesday, October 11 at 9:30 - 4th and 5th grade families
More information will be coming for ELP parents - stay tuned! Each session will be similar. If you have children in different grades, you can come on the day that is most convenient for you.
We are also planning our first Speaker Series for an evening in October, which is another opportunity to hear from the PTO.
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PTO FUNDRAISER - MABEL'S LABELS
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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OX RIDGE DIRECTORY
The Ox Ridge directory is LIVE!
Please click here to access our online school directory and update your family’s information if needed. You do not need to pay to be listed or to access the directory. You may also download the “Membership Toolkit app” for your mobile phone.
Please note the following instructions when first accessing the Directory:
1) Click “Register/Login” (NOTE: If you already have a Membership Toolkit Account, you can use the same email and password from last year to login. You’re ready to go).
If you are new, create a “New User” account:
- Click on “Create Account“
- Create your family’s account and click “verify my email“
2) You’ve got mail!
- Check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
3) Finish your registration/Review
- Review and validate the details listed for your family and child – you may suppress and edit the visibility of any personal information.
- Elect to Opt-in or Opt-out in the “Directory Publish Preferences.” The default is to Opt-In (note, this is not linked to your preferences in Aspen).
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Carolyn Elmi.
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Cailtin and Liz (Outfitters) for selling at Open House and also setting up our first webstore.
Cathy Bailey (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) for setting up the Hispanic Heritage Month display in the trophy cases and working with Ms. Constantine to select books to encourage learning about this rich heritage.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Sharon Amato (Paraprofessional) on September 26
Michelle Schaller (ELP SLP) on September 27
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NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY
The Darien Board of Education is looking to fill one opening on the Board of Education, which results from the resignation of former Board member Tara Wurm, a Republican. Our procedures require that the Board fill the vacancy with a person from the same political party as the departing Board member. If you are interested in being interviewed by the Darien Board of Education and are a registered Republican, please reach out to Board Chair Duke Dineen, ddineen@darienps.org or Vice Chair Jill McCammon at jmcammon@darienps.org to express interest. This opening is to complete a term that ends November 5, 2024.
The Darien Board of Education will be interviewing persons who wish to be considered at a Board of Education Special meeting on Tuesday September 26, 2023 starting at 5:30 p.m., in Executive Session at the District Offices, 35 Leroy Avenue. The Board will then appoint a person to fill the Board vacancy at the regular Board of Education meeting that same day, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in the District Board of Education meeting room, 35 Leroy Avenue, starting at 7:30 p.m..
The Board thanks former Board member Tara Wurm for her volunteer service to the Darien Board of Education.
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MOVIE NIGHT AT HIGHLAND FARM: THE SUPER MARIO BROTHERS
The Darien Youth Commission and the Darien Parks & Recreation Department invite families to enjoy the showing of this fun, family-friendly movie under the stars at Highland Farm on Friday, October 6th. The film will begin at approximately 6:30 PM. Pack a picnic dinner, grab some friends, a few chairs and blankets, and come with the family for a relaxing evening outdoors. And, to round out the fun, Mister Softee will be selling his ice cream treats until the movie begins. (Please note: attendees are encouraged to remove their own trash at the end of the event.)
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER - UPCOMING EVENTS
Kids from 5-8 years old can join the DAC at Naya in Darien for the first workshop in the 'Kids Create Art & Eat NAYA Experiences' series. Sign up at darienarts.org for the Birdhouse Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 4:30-5:45pm, where kids will decorate their own wooden birdhouse with paint pens, markers, and found objects to make their birdhouse unique and beautiful! After the creations are complete, children will enjoy their own delicious NAYA Kids Meal with their classmates. (Each child must be accompanied by an adult.) $35 per child.
SkyHunters in Flight!
The Darien Community Association is thrilled to present Skyhunters in Flight: Birds of Prey Demonstration on Sunday, October 1st at 12:00pm. Grab your ticket (tickets are sold per car for entry), your lawn chairs or a blanket, and come and learn all about these magnificent creatures up close and personal! Brian Bradley is a master falconer with over 30 years experience training and flying various raptors. Last year Brian and his wife Teddy brought a variety of owls, hawks, and falcons from around the world to the DCA. The audience was captivated and many asked for a return visit. This event will take place at the Darien Community Association, 274 Middlesex Road, Darien. Tickets can be purchased on the website.
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DARIEN SQUASH
The 2023-2024 Middle & Elementary School Season Starts Soon.
Register Your Player Today!
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.
Players may practice/train wherever, whenever and with whomever they like. Please see the “Resources” tab on our website or below for information on local venues that offer coaching and training.
Registering for the team is $150 for the entire school year and gives you access to all matches as outlined above. Additional match fees will apply and are typically $20 per FairWest, intramural and round robins, $35 for Jamborees and $135 for Nationals.
Team uniform shirts are required. If players have a uniform shirt from prior seasons (it must be white and have their last name on the sleeve), they may use those shirts. We will provide a link to order new shirts for those players that don't have a uniform or need to order a new one (estimated cost is $35 per shirt).
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 HALLOWEEN COSTUME EXCHANGE
Costumes needed! Please join in the first ever Darien Halloween Costume Exchange, hosted by the YWCA and the DHS Youth Empowerment Committee on Sunday, 10/8. Please donate your gently used children's costumes through 10/3 at the home of Julia Sheaffer (741 Hollow Tree Ridge Rd) or Kim Huang (8 Revere Road) or at the YWCA (49 Old Kings Highway North). Then, come down to the YW on Sunday 10/8 to pick out costumes for your children! YW Members can "shop" early from 10AM-noon and YW and Non-YW members can shop 12-2PM ($25 tax-deductible donation per family suggested). Any remaining costumes will be donated to families at Open Doors. For more information, please contact the YWCA at (203) 655-2535 or visit www.ywcdn.org.
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4TH GRADE GIRL SCOUTS AT OX RIDGE
Do you have a 4th grader interested in Girl Scouts? We are starting a new troop at Ox Ridge this Fall! Girl Scouts is a wonderful way for girls to build character and confidence, learn new skills, and make an impact on the community -- all while having fun with friends! The Troop will meet once every 4-6 weeks during the school year. To learn more, please join us at the first meeting on Friday, October 6 from 3:30-4:30pm in the Ox Ridge cafeteria. If you cannot make the meeting, please add your contact information to this form and someone will reach out to you. We hope you will consider joining us!
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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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