THE HOOT

Ox Ridge Elementary School

December 18, 2022


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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

December 21: Staff appreciation


December 19-23: Ox Spirit Week!

Monday 12/19 - Ox spirit gear 
Tuesday 12/20 - Crazy hair day
Wednesday 12/21 - Wacky Wednesday
Thursday 12/22 - Inside out day
Friday 12/23 - pajama day

December 23: Early Dismissal

                        ELP - 11am

                        K-5th- 1:15


December 24- January 2: Holiday Recess


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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Hi All,

 

This week I want to provide some updates about the on-going construction efforts for “phase 2” of Ox Ridge. As we all enjoy our amazing academic wing, know that the “assembly wing”, which will house the school’s cafeteria, gym, library, music suite along with new playground and parking continues to be on schedule for completion next year.

 

We are fortunate to see much of the steel framing of the new assembly wing up and in place, prior to the ground freezing this winter! The structure will be roofed out in the coming days which will allow the construction team the canopy necessary to begin interior efforts. Over the break, our construction team will also be working diligently on the “punch list” of repairs and final touches for this academic wing!


Among the items completed over the break, we will install our custom wrap-around mural for the main stairwell. Below is a flattened render of the image which will turn into a wrapped wall-covering for all to enjoy!


I continue to encourage you to check out our livestream / time-lapse camera that has tracked the project over the years here.


Thanks,

Luke



FROM THE PTO

Dear Ox Ridge Parents,


As we head into the last week of 2022, we want to remind everyone about our “Ox Spirit Week”. Please be sure to mark your calendars with each days theme. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all teachers and administrators for all that they do for our school, our children and our community  This has been a wonderful start to our first year in a new building. 


We hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday and a restful recess. Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2023! 


XO OX


Christina & Meghan


Christina Kreuz & Meghan Thornton 

PTO Co-Chairs

oxridgepto@gmail

OX RIDGE NEWS

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL - WINTER SESSION REGISTRATION

Registration for Winter Session (running from January 3rd through April 6th) is open thru the session. The After School program includes sports, arts, STEM and more available Monday thru Friday. Schedule, program details and registration available here.


For the first time ever, Darien After School is partnering with Project Buddy Up for a Homework Club. In this weekly class your child will work with a teacher and an older volunteer buddy/mentor on any schoolwork from Math to Reading. What better way to get some school work done! Class will run Mondays from 3:30 - 4:30pm.  


Reach out with questions: info@darienafterschool.com  / 888.212.3837

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING FUNDRAISER

Planning is underway for our spring fundraiser in March 2023 (more details to come)! We are so excited for our first in-person fundraiser since 2019! We are still in need of volunteers to serve on the event committee. We are looking for 6-8 volunteers to help with silent auction, communications, decorations, and photography. Please see the link for more information and to sign up! Thank you so much for your help in advance on 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

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!

CAN I GET A HOOT, HOOT?

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS


Annie Horn and Beth Marengo (Hope Chest) for organizing another successful gift drive and bringing holiday cheer to 152 foster children!


Kerry Goldberg and Alexis Starzynski (Kids Care Club) for the beautiful table centerpieces and room decorations created by KCC students and providing the catering for the FCA annual holiday party for foster families!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF


Ms. Nicolette Oczkowski - ELP Paraprofessional - December 3

Ms. Maureen Genna on December 4

Ms. Stacy Johnson on December 6

Mr. John Latona - Teacher - December 12

Ms. Andrea Aaron - IDEA Teacher - December 15

Ms. Jessica Santos - ELP Paraprofessional - December 28

COMMUNITY NEWS

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. 

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.

OX RIDGE HOOT | HOOT EMAIL | PTO WEBSITE


EDITORS NOTE:

Meghan Egan Nov, Jan, May, June 19 

Danielle Kohlberger - Oct, Feb, Apr, June 12

Baye Larsen - Sept, Dec, Mar, June 5


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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