SESS CONTINUUM OF SERVICES INFO SESSION

Please join Principal Luke Forshaw and Assistant Principal Lindsay Sulzycki on April 4th at 10 AM in the main office conference room to discuss the Continuum of Services available to all students. Topics will include:

1. Regular Education: Differentiation and DI Block
2. Section 504
3.  SRBI: Tier I, II and III
4. Special Education
5. Specialized Learning Programs: DLC 

Coffee, hot chocolate and light bites will be served. No RSVP required, but if you plan to attend please email your Special Education Representatives to assist with planning: Anne Cotton, Kira Saunders, and Dayna Checketts. 

DPS BUDGET UPDATE

On March 30th, the BOF will hold a budget review and discussion with BOE and on April 6th, the BOF will vote on the BOE budget. The BOE budget then goes to RTM for vote and approval on May 8th.

SPRING BOOK FAIR

The Ox Ridge Spring Book Fair “Enchanted Book Fair” runs March 27-29th.  Family Nights are Monday (27th) & Tuesday (28th) from 5-7pm (those needing a quieter shopping experience may enter at 4:30). Payments accepted include cash, check and eWallet (can be used to fund your students' purchases at the Fair). Set up your eWallet  here & click here for full Fair details. Parents may shop with their child during their classroom visit (see schedule here) - and please consider helping set up by volunteering!  We look forward to seeing you!

LAST CALL TO BUY OX ROCKS TIX AND T-SHIRTS ONLINE TODAY! 

Come out and support the 4th and 5th graders in the Ox Rocks Talent Show Thursday, March 30^th @ 7 PM at Darien High School Auditorium! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here! You will also be able to purchase tickets at the door (Cash Only). Ox Rocks t-shirts are also on sale online HERE. Any remaining t-shirts can be purchased at Ox Rocks for $15 (Cash Only). DHS will be busy, so please plan for traffic. We recommend entering via Nutmeg Lane and parking near tennis courts. Give yourself extra time as the show will begin promptly at 7pm. Also, please note that the program is almost 2 hours long and we don’t want to have audience members leaving early. Not only does this disrupt those around you, but it also distracts the performers who have worked so hard on their acts. Thank you in advance for your understanding. 

The Ox Rocks talent show is your chance to see the wide range of talent we have at Ox Ridge -- from dancers, to gymnasts, to instrumentalists, and singers. The 5th graders will also be singing a finale song, something we hope to make a tradition for years to come. The Ox Rocks Committee wants to ensure all children are able to enjoy the talent show. We have arranged to stream the show in the chorus room at DHS for anyone who would prefer a calmer experience.  We hope you can join us - it is going to be an awesome celebration of the Ox Ridge students! Come cheer on your peers at Ox Rocks! For more information, visit the Ox Rocks webpage or email us!

5TH GRADE SERVICE PROJECT - BAKE SALE!

For the 5th grade service project, we will be having a Bake Sale at the Ox Rocks Talent Show next Thursday, March 30th at Darien High School. The bake sale begins at 6pm, the show is at 7pm (cash or venmo accepted). 

All money raised will be donated to the Love More Than Ever Scholarship fund, organized by local street artist, Five Fingaz. The scholarships are awarded based on "kindness, love and leadership." They are given out to students who are active in their community in a positive way, spread positivity, and exhibit the character of the Love More Than Ever movement. The 5th graders will be working with Five this spring to create a truly amazing, custom piece of art which will be their graduation gift to Ox Ridge School.

DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL REGISTRATION

Spring options for Darien After School @OxRidge are now live to preview HERE! Spring Session runs 4/17- 6/2; registration opens 3/26 @ 8PM.

Winter Session will run through 4/6 . There is always time to join!! Rolling registration open throughout the session. Late registration accepted, fee applies; please, no same day registrations. Questions? Email or call 888.212.3837

DAEG IS RECRUITING FOR THE 23/24 SLATE 

The DAEG Board is in the planning stages for 2023/2024. We expect to have a few open board positions, as well as building representative posts. We have different roles, and the time commitments vary, so there is likely a good opportunity for you! We would love to hear from any parent of an Idea student who is interested in getting involved. We can’t do it without you! Questions? Interested? Email Carol Kennedy 

YEARBOOKS NOW ON SALE!

Yearbooks for the 2022 - 2023 school year are on sale unti Friday 4/7! Click this link to place an order. Each yearbook is $24 with options to personalize. If you are ordering multiple yearbooks for each of your children, please fill out their names, grade and homeroom teacher individually, adding each yearbook to the cart one at a time. If you are ordering one yearbook for your children to share, please enter the name, grade and homeroom teacher of the child who should receive the yearbook. Yearbooks will be distributed to students during the last week of school. Questions? Contact Natalie Gould. Please contact Dr. Luke Forshaw for more information about financial assistance.

SUPPORTING LEARNING DISABILITIES AND EARLY INTERVENTION By Taina Coleman 

On Thursday, March 30, 11 am - Noon, Taina Coleman, MA, MEd, Educational Specialist from the Child Mind Institute will present Supporting Learning Disabilities and Early Intervention in Darien Library Community Room. This workshop will provide advice and resources to learn more about a child's learning profile, which change as a child grows, and strategies for developing a strength-based approach to managing symptoms and building skills. Hosted by Darien SEPAC and Darien Library.  For more information and to RSVP, please click here. 

DARIEN JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGISTRATION

Darien Junior Football League registrations for Flag/Tackle/Cheer opens April 1st! Please visit the website, djfl.org for all important information.

IN TOWN FOR SPRING BREAK? JOIN DHS BOYS LAX SPRING BREAK CLINIC

The Darien High Schools Boys Lacrosse team and Coaches will be hosting an April Break Youth Lacrosse Clinic for boys in grades 1st-8th. The clinic will take place at the Darien High School center oval turf field, Monday, April 10th - Thursday, April 13th from 8:30am - 11am. You can do one day or all four days! Register HERE for all four days ($275), or email Pam Pokorny for more info on drop ins ($75 per day).

SPRING BREAK SOCCER CAMP

The Darien Parks and Recreation Department and DHS Boys Soccer Coach Jon Bradley have joined forces to bring this fun-filled Spring Break soccer camp. Register for all five days from 9 AM – Noon for $200 or individual days for $50. The week will include fun drills and games for children in grades K-6 on the Darien Town Hall front fields (rain location at Town Hall gymnasiums). Campers should bring a water bottle and nut-free snack each day. Cleats and shin guards are not required but can be worn if you have them. For more information or to register, please visit April Vacation Camp. Questions? Email or 203-656-7325.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING BREAK CLINIC – APRIL 11th

The DHS Varsity Baseball team and Coaches will be hosting a Spring Break youth clinic for players in grades 1-6 on Tuesday, April 11 from 12:00-2:00pm. (Rain date will be Wednesday, April 12). Don’t miss this great opportunity to kick off the baseball season and get to play with the high school players. 

Cost is $50 and is a fundraiser for the DHS Baseball program. Come out for some great baseball and support the program! The clinic will take place at the Varsity Baseball field at DHS.  

Registration required by Noon on April 10. Please venmo $50 per player to Natalie Alini @Natalie-Alini and include your name, your child’s name/grade, and the best contact number to reach you if needed in the memo area. 

YOUTH COMMISSION AND P2P DRIVE-THROUGH FOOD DRIVE

The Darien Youth Commission and P2P are proud to partner on another Drive-through Food Drive (this is our 6th in just over two years!). Hunger and food insecurity continue to be a reality for many local families. At the April 2022 food drive, P2P received over 3000 pounds of food in 3 hours! We hope that we can count on you again. Taking place on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Darien Train Station Parking Lot (Koons Lot, across West Ave. from Tilley Pond Park), volunteers will remove donations directly from donors’ cars. Visit the DYC website for additional details and a list of most needed items: www.darienct.gov/yc.

"DON'T WAIT" AT HOME SCREENING LINK AND RESOURCES

If you missed the March 22 “Don’t Wait” film screening and discussion from the Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF)/The Depot Youth Center/Silver Hill Hospital/YWCA Parent Awareness, you can still view the 52-minute film on the TYTF website for a limited time and download free resources from the nonprofit organization Addiction is Real about how to talk to your children about drugs and alcohol in an age-appropriate way at different stages of their lives – starting in pre-school through high school.

THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF TEENAGERS - SAVE THE DATE

On May 10th @ 7PM in DHS Auditorium, the Middlesex Parent Association (MPA), along with Darien High School Parent Association (DHSPA) and Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF), are pleased to host an interactive discussion with New York Times Bestselling Author and Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lisa Damour, Ph.D, featuring "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents". Lisa will be joined by Reena Ninan, television journalist and Middlesex Middle School mom, who will moderate the discussion. Registration is required and can be done HERE. Purchase Lisa's new book via Barrett Bookstore HERE. Questions? Email Patty Deery or Lorraine Collins.

NOROTON YACHT CLUB SUMMER SAILING PROGRAM

Noroton Yacht Club Summer Junior Sailing Program is one of the longest running and strongest sailing programs that teaches your children skills that will last them a lifetime! It offers all levels of sailing, from beginners to advanced racing and recreational sailing for non-racers. Boats include the Optimist, C420, ILCA, Feva and Open BIC. Sign up for 4 or 8 weeks session. Register at www.norotonyc.org

DARIEN JUNIOR SAILING SUMMER SAILING PROGRAM  

DJST offers programs from novice to advanced level junior sailors at Weed Beach, including instruction in Optimist sailboats for sailors 8-15 years of age and in Club 420s and Lasers for those 13+..No boat needed, rental fee included in the cost of the session. Morning and afternoon programs available. All levels of experience welcome.  For online registration and more information visit: http://www.dariensailing.org. Questions? Contact dariensailing@gmail.com. DJST is run by parent volunteers. Let us know if you would like to get involved. New parent volunteers always welcome!! DJST is a 501 (c ) (3) non-profit organization.

DARIEN ARTS CENTER SUMMER REGISTRATION

Register at darienarts.org. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Rd, behind Town Hall. For questions, call (203) 655-8683. Summer Camps and Classes include Dance, Visual Arts and Martial Arts.

DARIEN YOUNG COMPOSERS & SONGWRITERS CONCERT

The Music Department of the Darien Public Schools will be sponsoring the 22nd annual concert on Wednesday, March 29th at 6:30pm in the Darien High School Auditorium. This program is open to all students currently enrolled in the Darien Public Schools. It is a great opportunity for students to compose their own original music and share it with an audience.