Ox Ridge School
December 6, 2020
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Friday, December 11th
- Kahoot! Trivia Night (5pm for grades K-2, 6pm for grades 3-5)
- Gingerbread House Kit Pick Up
- Deadline for Pajama Drive Donations
Monday, December 14th
- School Photo Retakes with Lifetouch
Tuesday, December 15th
- Ox Appreciation (Coffee & Treat Delivery for Staff & Teachers)
Thursday, December 17th
- Last Day for Toys4Tots Donations
Friday, December 18th
- Deadline to Submit Gingerbread House Pictures
Wednesday, December 23rd
December 24 - 31
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Hi All,
With December officially upon us, I want to remind you all of our practice for outdoor recess in the colder weather. It is so important for kids to get outdoors to play and get some fresh air, so if the “real feel” is 20 degrees or higher, we do hold outdoor recess. It is imperative that students have appropriate attire; e.g. jackets, gloves, long pants for these days. Please help us make sure kids have what they need to have a safe and fun recess experience by equipping your child before he/she arrives to school.
Similarly, we are still setting up opportunities for students to enjoy lunch outdoors. Students will be eating more regularly indoors as we progress into the winter, but know we are monitoring temperatures and conditions (e.g. muddy ground, dampness etc.) and making decisions to ensure kids have a comfortable spot for lunch daily while trying to maximize the time they can get outside!
As a “winter gear” reminder, please know that we still have our “Lost and Found” table in the common room. We are reminding students during the day to check Lost and Found and collect their items. Please encourage your child to take a look for any belongings before the holiday break – we plan to donate remaining articles at that time.
Finally, on behalf of all teachers – thanks for your engagement during conference week! Your questions and interest in your child’s progress is a vital part of maintaining productive, student centered partnerships!
Thank you,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
Cheers to all of our students in the the Ox Ridge Kids Care Club who helped make holiday cards for the foster children at the Norwalk Family & Children’s Agency. The homemade cards and Amazon gift cards will certainly help spread some joy this holiday season.
Our popular Virtual Trivia Night that debuted in the spring is back! Be sure to mark your calendars and join us this Friday, December 11th for some family fun.
If you didn’t have a chance to see the wonderful display of appreciation for all of our teachers & staff a few weeks ago, we created a video to showcase how the Ox community “Showed the Love." Many thanks to our producer, Libby Cook. Click here to enjoy the show!
This is always a busy time of year, even in a remarkably different year. Hoping everyone finds some time to relax and enjoy the holiday season.
Kindly,
Ashley & Beth
PTO Co-Chairs
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Ashley Hinchman
(804) 405-4750
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Beth Morgan
(917) 679-9018
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Happy Birthday to the following Ox Ridge Staff!
December 12th - John Latona (5th Grade Teacher)
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: OX RIDGE KAHOOT TRIVIA NIGHT
Ox Ridge KAHOOT Trivia night
Friday December 11th
Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grades @ 5pm
3rd, 4th & 5th grades @ 6pm
Join your Ox Ridge friends, Dr. Forshaw and Ms. Ulreich for an evening of trivia testing your knowledge of Ox Ridge, your hometown of Darien and a few random topics thrown in for fun. To register, please email Samantha Bohlen at samanthawbohlen@gmail.com with the name and grade of each student who'd like to participate. Log in information and game details will be sent via the room mom email on Wednesday, December 9th.
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PICK UP YOUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE!
We’re excited to be offering Gingerbread Houses again this year as TAKE HOME KITS instead of an after school activity. Please post a photo to social media while decorating and tag @oxridgepto and #oxridgegingerbread so that our kids can “see” each other and experience this "together!"
PICKUP: Gingerbread kits will be available for pickup on Friday, December 11 from 49 Stanton Road anytime between 9:30am-12pm.
OPTIONAL CONTEST: Decorate your house by Friday, December 18th and submit pictures to OxRidgeGingerbread@gmail.com - a winner will be chosen by Monday, December 21st. We will choose winners based on creativity and each winner will receive a festive prize. Extra points for anyone who wants to celebrate Darien by re-creating a landmark in town (Ox Ridge, Library, Town Hall, Darien Sport Shop, etc). Please include Name and Grade Level for submission, or family name and grade levels, we will be choosing one winner per grade level.
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GIVE BACK TO OX RIDGE AND THE COMMUNITY!
Ox Ridge Outfitters (through 12/7)
For the holiday season, we have added new items on the Ox Ridge Outfitters website. Pom pom hats, blankets, and pajama pants, as well as existing spirit gear. Check it out here and support Ox Ridge.
Pajama Drive (extended through 12/11)
We are partnering with the Community Fund of Darien to hold a pajama drive for Inspirica. Inspirica is one of the largest service providers for the homeless in Connecticut. We are collecting NEW pajamas of any size and will have a box for students to donate in the front vestibule.
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PICTURE RETAKE DAY IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 14TH
Students who are having their photo retaken should bring their proof packet with them on retake day. If your child has not had a picture taken please head to www.mylifetouch.com and register for your photo session using the Picture day ID of EVTBGZ9K4. We will have after school time made available for our remote learning families.
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PLEASE SUPPORT TOYS FOR TOTS
The Ox Ridge School community, along with the local U.S. Marine Corps, is sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive November 20th through December 17th. If you wish to contribute, please bring in a new, unwrapped toy for ages preschool to teen. Students may place their donations in a box at the entry of school. Thank you for spreading joy to some children in need, and thank you for your generosity!
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YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE
All yearbook sales will be online this year. Just click this link to place an order. The cost is $22 per yearbook. 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 at the end of the school year.
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HOLIDAY CARDS - HELP US EARN EXTRA DOLLARS FOR OX RIDGE!
Order your holiday cards through Minted and you save 20% and Minted will give 15% of sales to Ox Ridge PTO. Please use promo code FUNDRAISEOXRIDGE which is valid through December 31, 2020. For any questions, please email the fundraising chairs, Ellie Davidson and Megan Malone.
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INFORMATION FROM ALICIA CASUCCI, DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES
IMPORTANT LINKS
If you receive positive COVID test results after school hours, please call 203.656.7440 to speak with a nurse.
Should I let my children go to a birthday party? What about holiday parties?
This is a difficult question, especially for the COVID weary! Any time we gather with those from outside our home, we are increasing our risk of being exposed to COVID-19 Unfortunately, many traditional birthday celebration and holiday parties can be high-risk for spreading viruses. As you make decisions about what activities you and your children can enjoy, remain vigilant about the mitigation strategies put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as:
- Performing frequent hand hygiene
- Wear a mask whenever you are outside your home, especially when you are with people who you do not live with
- Maximize your distance from people who you do not live with, indoors or outdoors, 6 feet as feasible, especially when not wearing a mask
- Avoid high risk activities such as travel, large crowds, gatherings, parties, carpools
- Stay home if you are feeling ill, especially with a new onset cough, loss of taste or smell, fever, severe sore throat or headache
- Stay home if you have been exposed to anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Alicia V. Casucci, APRN, CPNP, NCSN
Director of Nursing Services
Darien Public Schools
203.655.3981 ext. 2304
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THRIVING YOUTH TIP OF THE WEEK |
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With the holidays around the corner and many plans being reimagined due to the pandemic, families have an opportunity to come together and make the best of an uncertain and ever-changing situation. The Community Fund is hosting Mission Positive, a shared community resource to gather residents’ favorite ideas for fun, relaxation and family time. The resource includes a list of pandemic-safe and entertaining family activities, holiday celebration and craft inspiration, book and playlist recommendations and much more! Please check out the ideas on the Mission Positive page and submit your own! Mission: Positive! hopes to help inspire our community to create new traditions and memories that will last a lifetime.
Talk early, talk often. The Community Fund of Darien/Thriving Youth
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SCENES FROM THE NUTCRACKER
Watch this favorite Darien holiday show performed by the Darien Art Center’s dance companies, and geared for younger audiences, from the comfort of your own home! Scenes from the Nutcracker is available this year through links to performances live streamed by DAF MEDIA. Gather loved ones and tune in on December 12 at 2:00 and 5:30pm. Links are available for $25 and an electronic version is available for an additional $15 at darienarts.org
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SPOT THE ELF!
Who DOESN’T love Elf-on-a-shelf?!?! Well, the Darien Youth Commission invites you to participate in a fun, family activity: SPOT THE ELF! Starting Monday, 12/14 through Sunday, 12/20, there will be a “scavenger hunt” with 12 clues posted on the DYC website (www.darienct.gov/yc). Each clue’s answer will lead you to a place in town where a picture of an elf is posted. (Leaving the elf there for others to find is a MUST!) Take photo of each elf and send to darienyouthcommission@darienct.gov. Each elf has a letter attached to it spelling a special message. The first group to send photos of all 12 elves and solve the mystery message is the winner! Details will be on the DYC website next week. Scavenger Hunt will be posted on Monday, 12/14 @ 9:00 a.m.
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HELP SPREAD THE HOLIDAY CHEER: SUPPORT OPUS FOR PERSON 2 PERSON
The holiday season is upon us and that means it's time to prepare for the Person-to-Person (P2P) Toy Store. Each year, the P2P Toy Store brings joy to more than 2,000 children by ensuring that low-income families in our community have gifts for their children to open. With COVID-19, the P2P Toy Store is more important than ever before to put smiles on children's faces. This year, in lieu of a wrapped toy, we are collecting funds to purchase gift cards for families now through December 10th. All qualified families will receive one $20 gift card and an age-appropriate book for each child, as well as a family board game. We are committed to spreading holiday cheer by giving gifts to as many families as possible, but we need your help! Please consider a donation to the OPUS Holiday Toy Drive now through December 10th. Visit opus4p2p.org to donate.
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COOKIES FOR A CAUSE
December 20th, 3-3:45 PM: Join YWCA Parent Awareness for a virtual family-friendly cookie decorating event with Kathleen McCallister a.k.a. “Katie McPastry” Executive Pastry Chef at Winged Foot Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit Parent Awareness programming, with a portion of the contribution to be used to donate kits to families housed in the Domestic Violence Crisis Center of Connecticut shelters. Cookie Kits are available for purchase for $25.00 at ywcadn.org/cookies through December 14th. Kits are designed for two family members and include: 6 freshly baked cookies, 3 colors of icing, sprinkles, and step-by-step decorating instructions for those who choose not to participate virtually.
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SPRING 2021 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL: REGISTRATION 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 2020-2021 school year and may not be older than 12 on September 1, 2021. Regular registration for all players:
- 2nd-7th: regular registration until Dec 31, 2020, after which late fee will apply.
- K and 1st: regular registration until Jan 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 Shawn Ryan at shawn.g.ryan1@gmail.com. Scholarship requests and grants are handled discreetly and confidentially. If you have any questions regarding registration, contact Akshay Das at thedases+DLL@gmail.com.
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THE IDEA PROGRAM: 9th GRADE ACHIEVERS CLASS SEEKING MENTORS
The Idea program is seeking mentors for the 9th-grade Achievers program, which is the wonderful culmination of the Idea program in our district. As part of their year-long study, 9th graders seek the help of a mentor to guide them along their project. It is a meaningful and impactful way to inspire these students without a huge time commitment. Following is the description of what the role entails:
The role of the mentor is to provide professional guidance in the subject area of the student’s project. Students will reach out to schedule meetings with their mentors about once every six weeks, with a goal of meeting for 30-45 minutes each time. Meetings will take place virtually and will be student-driven, meaning the student will come to the mentor with a direction and purpose for each meeting. The mentor does not need to prepare anything in advance, nor will he/she be asked to devote time outside of these meetings to the student’s project.
This year in particular we are seeking help in these specific areas:
- Engineering
- Nonfiction writing (particularly in biographies, but any nonfiction writer would be wonderful!)
- Coding : Java focus
- Coding: C++ focus
- Sewing (specifically clothing)
- Chemistry
- Anyone with a background involving gender identity/gender norms
If you would be interested in becoming a mentor, or know someone with expertise in these areas who may be interested, please email DAEGinquiries@gmail.com. We are looking to connect students with mentors ASAP since their projects are already underway this year. Thank you!
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EDITORS NOTE:
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.
See what's happening on our social media sites:
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