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.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR IS COMING TO OX RIDGE

Newbery Award Winning Author, Matt de la Pena is coming to Ox on Wednesday, January 25th and Friday, January 27th!

Three books will be available for purchase that Matt will sign the day of his visit: Last Stop on Market Street, Love and Carmela Full of Wishes.

Order books online by Wednesday, January 11th! To purchase book(s), please go here. Once you have created an account, click on the link for Matt de la Pena Autographed Books. Please complete the information, including the first name of the person the book is to be autographed for. Questions? Please contact Amanda Elgert.

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 any questions, please reach out to Danielle Paccione and Heather deBie.

2023-2024 DARIEN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE

During a brief Special Meeting on Thursday, January 5th, Dr. Addley presented his proposed 2023-2024 budget to the Board of Education and the community.

Highlights included:

• 2023-2024 proposed budget of $116,068,266 (4.94% increase above the 2022-2023 budget of $110,607,016)
• Some key drivers for the increase include (but are not limited to):
• Contractual increase (2.63%)
• Health insurance (.88%)
• Security initiatives (.44%)
• Substitutes (.37%)
• Enrollment (.37%)
• Mental Health initiatives (.25%)
• Retirement benefits (.22%)
• Key elements tying to the District’s Strategic Plan as follows:
• Strategic Plan Goal 1: Enhancing Teaching and Learning
• Addressing teacher and substitute shortages
• Special Education needs including specialized instructional programs
• New courses and club offerings
• Supporting class size / enrollment
• Enhancing programming for Fitch students
• Strategic Plan Goal 2: Fostering a Culture that Promotes Wellness, Diversity and Inclusion
• Support for mental health programming
• Strategic Plan Goal 4: Expanding Professional Capacity of Staff
• New teacher contract
• Strategic Plan Goal 5: Developing and Enhancing Systems to Promote Effective Communication
• Initial planning for potential new student information management system
• Strategic Plan Goal 6: Improving School Facilities for Student Safety and Access Learning
• Implementation of School Security Officers and Director of Security
• Additional support for facilities (Ox Ridge Custodial)
• Expanded space for Fitch
• Strategic Plan Goal 7: Improving Technology to Support Teaching and Learning
• Replacement cycle for technology devices

During an all-day meeting on Saturday, January 7th, the Board of Education discussed the proposed budget line-by-line. The meeting materials (including Zoom access link and YouTube replay link) can be found here. On Tuesday, January 10th, the Board of Education will hold a regular meeting which will serve as an opportunity for further discussion. All meetings are open to the public. 

As always, please follow the Chain of Command and direct any questions / comments to your PTO Chairs or Building Principal, or feel free to speak directly during Public Comment at the Board of Education meetings. All budget materials can be found here.

DARIEN GIRLS BLUE WAVE BASKETBALL CLINIC

The Darien Blue Wave Girls Basketball MLK day clinic is back this year! Come join the Darien High School Girls basketball team and coaches for a fun basketball clinic on Monday, January 16th (MLK Day) from 9am-11am at the Darien High School gym. This clinic promises to be a fun two hour session for girls in 3rd - 8th grade to tune up their basketball skills and develop some new moves! 

The cost is $50 per player and checks are to be made out to Darien High School with “Girls Basketball” in the memo. All proceeds will go to support the Darien Girls’ High School program.

To register for the clinic, please email jennifer.erdlen@gmail.com with your child’s name, grade, parent contact/phone number and parent email address. On the morning of the clinic, please send in a check with your child. We will collect the checks at the entrance of the gym beginning at 8:50am.

COTILLION CLASS FOR FIFTH GRADE BOYS & GIRLS

Manners make the difference! Your 5th grader is invited to participate in cotillion classes beginning in January 2023. These classes will be taught by Robin and Ed Poska, directors of The Cotillion of Fairfield County. Robin and Ed have been teaching young people the skills needed to help them put their best foot forward for the past 30 years. In these fun and interactive classes, not only will your children learn what good manners are, but they will also learn the endless ways in which the continued practice of those manners and skills will reward them now and throughout their lives.

The curriculum will include first impressions, greetings, introductions, conversation skills, listening skills, tips for overcoming shyness, table manners, visiting manners, “Netiquette”, safe and appropriate use of technology, and thank you notes. Instruction in Social Dances, including The Waltz, Swing, Cha Cha, and other popular party dances, will also be offered.

Class Dates: January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, and February 15 (dinner dance)

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Location: Darien Community Association, 274 Middlesex Road

Dinner Dance Date, Location & Time: February 15 at the Country Club of Darien, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Fee: $525 per child. Fee includes all classes and dinner at CCD on February 15. Parents are encouraged to attend the final dinner dance. Appetizers and drinks will be offered to parents at the final event.

Registration: Please register here

Questions: Please email Cotillion Parent Organizer Sara Osberg

NEW WINTER + SPRING OFFERINGS AT DARIEN ARTS CENTER

Winter and Spring registration is open for Visual Arts, Dance, Martial Arts and Music classes for all ages at darienarts.org. Classes begin in January. Art classes for kids include drawing/painting, cartooning, digital illustration and caregiver & me for pre-schoolers.

New Visual Arts Classes include:

Creations!, Grades 3-5 | Thursday, 3:30-5pm, Jan.19 - Feb. 16 | $200. Taught by local artist Lisa Thoren. Students will learn about and be inspired by famous artists from different time periods, while experimenting with various techniques and colors.