DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - ROLLING REGISTRATION

BLAST through the cold with sports, music, art, science, theater and more... After School Winter Enrichment Programs right here at your school! Winter classes are offered through April 6th. Rolling registration open throughout the session (*late fees may apply).

Schedule, program details & registration online here. Questions: Reach out to us anytime! info@darienafterschool.com  / 888.212.3837

PTO VOLUNTEER FAIR

Interested in joining the Ox Ridge PTO for the 2023-2024 school year? Please come to our PTO Volunteer Fair being held before our PTO Speaker Series on Thursday, January 26th at 7pm in the Ox Ridge cafeteria. Come and learn more about our various PTO roles! Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there! 

PTO SPEAKER SERIES - SCIENCE OF READING

Please join Ox Ridge literacy specialists, Amanda Roesing & Jacky Kennelly alongside Christina Ulreich and Luke Forshaw on Thursday, January 26th at 7:30pm in the Ox Ridge cafeteria to learn how our school community supports all students in becoming skilled, engaged literacy learners!

This has been a particularly exciting year in the world of literacy education as schools across the country worked to integrate elements from the "Science of Reading" into teaching. We'll plan for a lively discussion of schools' continuum of literacy instruction and discuss how our recent study of "Shifting the Balance" help us consider all of the vital elements that go into developing skilled readers.

FIRST ANNUAL TALENT SHOW LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Exciting News! On Thursday, March 30th at 7pm, Ox Ridge will host its first annual Talent Show - OX ROCKS - at Darien High School. OX ROCKS is a chance for the school and community to celebrate all talent and creativity while coming together in an inclusive, empowering and fun environment. All 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be eligible to participate. We will send out more information about details and entry in the coming weeks. Please mark your calendars now!

In the meantime, we are looking for volunteers to help with graphic design (branding and logo), a photographer to help with pictures on the day of auditions in early March (everyone makes it!) and show day March 30. We're also looking for anyone in production with experience in technology and/or backstage work. To volunteer, please email Ann Gallagher.

OX RIDGE PARENTS NIGHT OUT

Staring down a long winter? Break it up by joining us for an Ox Ridge Parents Night Out at 314 Beer Garden. We’ll beat the monotony of the cold with a Groundhog Day Party on Thursday, February 2 from 7-10pm. Drinks, light bites and lots of fun included! We’ll have an enclosed, heated area. $65 per person. Register here by 1/26!

SAVE THE DATE: HOOTIE HOEDOWN FUNDRAISER! 

We are excited to announce that our Ox Ridge fundraising event "The Hootie Hoedown” will take place on Saturday, March 11th from 7-11pm at the Wee Burn Country Club! This will be our first in-person fundraiser since 2019! Planning is underway and more details are coming soon! Grab your cowboy hats and boots for what will be a fun evening for our Ox community! For more information or questions, please email Danielle Paccione and Heather deBie.

2023 - 2024 DARIEN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE

Discussions regarding the Superintendent’s Proposed 2023-2024 Budget continued during a Special Board of Education meeting on January 17th. A video recording can be viewed here. On January 24th at 7:30pm, members of the Board of Education will have an opportunity to propose additions / deletions of particular line items in the proposed budget. The agenda, including Zoom / YouTube access links, will be posted here. All parents / guardians are encouraged to voice their opinions regarding topics of interest to PTO Chairs / Building Principal OR by speaking directly during the Public Comment portion of Board of Education meetings. All budget materials can be found here.

YWCA PARENT WORKSHOPS

The Thriving Youth Task Force & YWCA Parent Awareness are presenting a “Creating a Bully-Free Culture: Modeling Kindness & Inclusivity for our Children” workshop on Thursday, January 26th at 7pm

at the Darien Community Association (274 Middlesex Road). Led by executive coach & corporate trainer Melissa Schulz, about how bullying is a cultural issue and what we can all do to become “upstanders” - instead of bystanders - and create a culture/community that is more inclusive. This event is ideal for parents, guardians, caretakers, grandparents, educators, and anyone else that interacts with young people! Registration is required here.

“Understanding Executive Functioning: The Grit and Get Moving Skills All Kids Need” will be held on Thursday, February 2nd at 7:30pm at Darien Library Community Room where Kit Savage, MBA and Certified Executive Functioning Coach to learn about the Executive Functioning skills our children need to thrive, and how needs shift from middle school to high school to college. Understand the neuroscience behind EF and learn realistic parenting tools to help your child overcome deficits and build stamina with grit, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Great for Parents grades 4-12 as well as teens. Sponsored by YWCA Parent Awareness and Darien Library, register at www.ywcadn.org 

DARIEN MUSIC FOR YOUTH

The Darien Music for Youth and DPS Music Department 2023 Poster Contest is here! Create, have fun, and win a chance to have your artwork displayed and be recognized from the stage at the district-wide Electrify Your Symphony concert on Tuesday, April 4th at 7pm at DHS! Instructions and entry form here.