ANNUAL SPECIAL ED AND STUDENT SERVICES OVERVIEW

This year's SESS program overview for 2022/23 will be presented on 12/13 at 7:30pm at the Board of Education. Please tune in! Materials for the meeting will be provided on 12/12 and can be accessed here. 

We invite parents to email their Special Education Representatives with any concerns, questions, or feedback about Ox Ridge's Special Education program. Your comments will be kept anonymous unless you specify otherwise. You can include your feedback with Ox Ridge's public comment or it can be emailed directly to the BOE. And of course, you are welcome to directly present your feedback as public comment at the BOE meeting. 

 Please contact your SE reps with any and all feedback: Anne Cotton, Kira Saunders, and Dayna Checketts. 

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - WINTER SESSION REGISTRATION

Registration for Winter Session (running from January 3rd through April 6th) opens tonight - December 4th - at 8pm. The After School program includes sports, arts, STEM and more available Monday thru Friday. Schedule, program details and registration available here. Reach out with questions: [email protected]  / 888.212.3837

ELP OPEN HOUSE

The Early Learning Program Open House will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 7 PM- 8 PM at Ox Ridge Elementary School (snow date: Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 7 PM- 8 PM). ELP applications for 2023-24 are due Friday, January 6, 2023, for children who will be turning 3 and 4 during the 2023-24 school year. At this time, ELP does not have options for children who are age 5 by January 1, 2024.

Please complete the free online application: The Early Learning Program

Click ELP for more info. Questions? Contact Laura Straiton, Program Director.

SUPPORT THE OX RIDGE PTO WITH DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FROM MINTED, AMAZONSMILE, AND MABEL’S LABELS!

The holiday season is here and we wanted to remind our Ox Ridge community of some quick and easy ways to raise money to support our PTO throughout the year and while taking care of some holiday shopping! Please take a look at our partnerships with AmazonSmile, Minted and Mabel's Labels here (link to holiday fundraising PDF) and share with friends and family! Thank you for supporting the Ox Ridge PTO!

PERFORMANCE OF "CLARA'S DREAM"

"Clara’s Dream,” an abbreviated, family-friendly version of the Nutcracker, will be performed 2pm Sunday, December 18th at Darien High School. Dancers from 4 up to teens will perform in this ever popular holiday classic with a cast of more than 70 dancers. Local families don’t have to make the trek into the city to enjoy cultural enrichment. Children love to see other children perform and they will be dazzled by the beautiful sets and costumes. Parents will be happy that the 55 minute performance is a perfect introduction to the ballet for young audiences. Before the performance audience members will have the chance for a free photo opportunity with a Snow Flake Ballerina. A holiday boutique will be available with fun holiday gifts. Tickets ($20) will be available December 1st and can be purchased at the YWCA anytime classes are being held, or email [email protected] or call 203-912-4804. Tickets also will be available at the door day of performance for $25. 

CDSP MEETING UPDATE

CDSP Info Series #4: What are the benefits of CDSP?

The Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which is the umbrella organization for all Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) for Darien Public Schools. CDSP meetings offer a forum for discussing best practices, exchanging and sharing ideas and identifying synergies for PTO-sponsored events, etc. A recent example is coordination of all PTOs to fund the return of Marc Brackett, the developer of RULER, to Darien on December 6th. All parents are invited to participate. Follow @CDSPDarien or visit cdspdarien.org for more information (including meeting schedule and meeting minutes)!

BRING A SMILE TO A CHILD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Person to Person will be holding its annual toy store in person for the first time again this year and donations are needed. Please click here to visit the P2P Amazon Wish List and easily purchase a toy that will be delivered directly to the Person to Person toy store. You can also drop off new, unwrapped toys at Person to Person’s Darien site located at 1864 Post Road. Requested items include blow-dryers, makeup sets, watches, drones, teen purses, soccer balls, fragrance sets, wireless speakers, sports jerseys and robes/slippers. 

MUSEUM OF DARIEN - HOLIDAY EVENTS

Kids' Holiday CraftLab - December 14th at 4pm for ages 6-12 and includes ornament making and holiday refreshments. Fee is $35.

DARIEN HUMAN SERVICES CHARITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

Would you consider spreading some kindness to a family or senior citizen in need? Darien Human Services has an Amazon wish list of gift cards and items for those who are struggling financially. If you are in a position to give, we invite you to purchase a gift card or two using this link. If you would like to include your children in the process there is a giving tree in the lobby of Darien Town Hall. Stop by and have your children chose a gingerbread man off the tree and fulfill the gift card request on the back. 

Questions? Call Darien Human Services: 203-656-7328 or email.

DARIEN ARTS CENTER

NEW CREATIVE WRITING CLASS - Grades 6-8 | Thursdays, Jan. 19-Mar. 2, 3:30-4:30pm | $200. Middle School students will learn to express themselves through the written word. Classes will cover where to begin putting together a story, and how to share an experience or feeling with creative writing exercises. Different writing styles will be discussed and explained with examples of notable literature. (Find this class under the Visual Arts tab or on Home Page).

NEW GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP - Preschool-1st Grade | Monday, Dec. 19, 3-4pm | $65. Come to our studio with your little one this holiday season and decorate a pre-built gingerbread house to take home! There will be hot chocolate for all, and a colorful variety of candies to choose from to make your house one-of-a-kind! Enjoy a festive and creative afternoon and leave the mess to us!

NEW Digital Camera Photography - For Adults | Saturday, January 21, 10am-1pm | $125. Become familiar and comfortable with your digital camera and use it beyond the automatic settings. Students will learn about all basic controls of the digital camera and photography terms such as aperture, depth of field, ISO, resolution and more. Improve your photos with composition techniques and a fresh perspective. No experience necessary.

Winter/Spring Visual Arts Classes include Creations! - Grades 3-5 | Thursday, 3:30-5pm, Jan. 19-Feb. 16 | $200. Students will learn about and be inspired by famous artists from different time periods, while creating and experimenting with various techniques and colors.

Winter/Spring registration is open for visual arts, dance and music classes for all ages at darienarts.org. Call (203) 655-8683 for more information.

SPRING 2023 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REGISTRATION

Registration for Spring 2023 House Baseball and Softball now open! To register, visit www.dybs.org and click the Registration tab on the left. All players must be Darien residents, in K to 7th grade during the 2022-2023 school year and may not be older than 12 on September 1, 2023. Regular registration until Dec 31, 2021, after which late fee will apply. It is the policy of Darien Little League that all children have the opportunity to play regardless of ability to pay. To request scholarship, email John Butler. Scholarship requests and grants are handled discreetly and confidentially. If you have any questions regarding registration, contact Akshay Das.