Ox Ridge Elementary School
February 27, 2022
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March 11th : Ox Ridge Construction Expo (Schoolwide Enrichment)
March 16-18th : Parent/Teacher Conferences; EARLY Dismissal @ 1:20pm
March 28 – 30th : Book Fair @ OXR
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UPDATE ON THE 2022-2023 DPS BUDGET PROCESS
During the DPS Board of Education meeting on February 8th (replay here), the Board approved a 2022-2023 budget of $110,607,016, a 3.74% increase over 2021-2022. This is a reduction in $225,553 from the Superintendent’s original proposed 2022-2023 budget.
Next steps:
March 1st : The Board of Education presents its budget to the Board of Finance
March 8th : The Board of Finance will hold a Public Hearing
April 5th : The Board of Finance votes on the budget
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Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
We hope you had a wonderful February Break! There are several upcoming events in March so make sure to keep checking the weekly Hoot for all the Ox Ridge News. The PTO is excited to be starting the recruiting process for next year’s slate – please reach out to our recruiting team so that you can get involved!
We would like to give a special shout out to Teka Wade who has been a member of the Ox Ridge community since 2012, as each of her 4 children have attended school here. Teka has been helping us refresh the school logo and has put together many great options for everyone to vote on – see below for voting info. This was a special way for the Wade family to leave a meaningful mark on OXR and we are very appreciative of Teka’s willingness to volunteer her time on this special project!
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
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A NEW LOGO FOR THE NEW SCHOOL – CAST YOUR VOTE
As part of the new school, Ox Ridge is creating a new logo and we need your help choosing which one to adopt! Cast your vote for one of two finalists - the logo with the most votes will become the new official Ox Ridge logo! Students & staff will vote in their classrooms. The rest of the Ox Ridge community (that’s you!) may cast your votes HERE. Voting ends Friday, March 11. Special thanks to Teka Wade (OXR mom since 2012) for volunteering her time on this project - we are very appreciative!
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YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW!
All yearbook sales will be online this year. Just click this link to place an order. The cost is $20 per yearbook with options to personalize. Yearbooks provide long lasting memories. Kids love to look back at the school year to remember friends, activities and events. 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. Please contact Lesley Ryan or Natalie Gould with any questions.
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CONFERENCE WEEK CAMPS AT OX RIDGE
Want your child to continue an enriching activity at Ox Ridge on early dismissal days during conference week?? Join Darien After School for programs held at Ox Ridge on March 16th, 17th and 18th from 1:30-3pm. Sports & Art, and workshops too! Class schedule and registration @ www.DarienAfterSchool.com. REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY 2/28 at 8pm. Questions? info@darienafterschool.com 888.212.3837
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PREPARING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES & 504 ACCOMODATIONS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
Please join us on Thursday March 3 at 9 - 10am for an informative panel discussion and explanation of the middle school transition process for elementary students with IEPs and 504 accommodations. See our flyer for more information.
Register HERE by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. You will receive a link to the meeting the day before the meeting.
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DARIEN NIGHT AT THE BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS
Come join Ox Ridge Elementary School for a fun night out at the Bridgeport Islanders hockey on Saturday March 19th at 7pm when they face the Syracuse Crunch (AHL Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning). Come early to support the Darien Elementary Schools as they sing God Bless America and Middlesex Middle School as they perform the National Anthem. Discounted Tickets are $25 through this offer & includes an Islanders hat for each member of your group! Proceeds from the night will benefit the Ox Ridge PTO. Click HERE to purchase tickets. This offer is available only through this exclusive link. Offer not available at the box office & must be purchased in advance.
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OX RIDGE PTO FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE!
To help increase the PTO fundraising participation, we are having a competition. The top two grades with the highest participation rate will earn extra recess. 2nd grade remains in the lead with 71% participation, and Kindergarten is in 2nd place with 66%! Overall, 62% of students have now contributed to the direct appeal. Let's keep going and get to 100%!
Did you know that the PTO spends $110 per student from ELP to 5th? This includes everything from field trips and author visits to "STEM" programming and events. Help us enrich your child's education by reaching our goal of 100% participation from Ox Ridge Families. While we are suggesting a donation of $75 per student, any amount counts! Your contribution makes AMAZING things happen! Thank you!
To donate, please send in checks made out to Ox Ridge PTO with your students, or donate online (select PTO Fundraising Donation). The last day to donate is March 9th, 2022. If you are unsure whether you donated, please feel free to reach out to Eleanor Davidson or Megan Malone.
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JOIN THE 2022-2023 PTO! GET INVOLVED, HAVE FUN & MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT OX RIDGE!
Ox Ridge is a special place and much more than just a school for our children! We are a community that cares for all its students, parents, teachers and staff. The Ox Ridge Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a nonprofit organization whose focus is on the enrichment of our students, teacher and staff appreciation, parent volunteerism and community involvement.
The PTO offers more than 150 volunteer roles each year! If you are interested in getting involved with your childrens' school, looking to connect with other parents, and help bring incredible school programs to our children - let us know! Please check out the various volunteer roles on our PTO website and reach out to our recruitment chairs, Christina Kreuz and Jamie Rose at oxptorecruiting@gmail.com to learn more.
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Marisa Chadda & Ashley Hinchman (Ox Appreciation) for overseeing the staff appreciation efforts and coming up with creative ideas to shower the staff with love on a monthly basis!
3rd Grade Families for sponsoring the Valentine’s Day bagels and cream cheese, coffee, orange juice and seltzers for the staff!
Christine Auh & Danielle Paccione (Ox Outfitters) for procuring Ox winter apparel for the staff!
Diane Sedlock & Cindy Pages (Beautification) for continuing to spruce up the front entrance of the school with seasonal decorations and providing balloons to add excitement for Kindness Week!
“Hootie” (Beloved Ox Mascot) for joining us on Kindness Week to greet the students upon arrival to school. Hootie received lots of love & kindness, including high fives and big hugs!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mrs. Amanda Roesing (SRBI Specialist) on March 1
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It's time to take what we've learned about integrity and put it to work. Remember, in order to have integrity, our values and behavior should align. Use this link to create a rating scale with your family, ranking common behaviors (eg. white lies, dishonesty, etc) based on level of integrity (or lack thereof).
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LEARN TO SAIL with DJST!
DJST is offering 2 or 3 week sailing camps for ages 8-15 on LI Sound from June 20th to August 12th. Use of DJST Optimist or 420 included in registration fee. Options for morning and afternoon programs. All levels of experience welcome. Online registration will open Monday, February 28th at 9:00am. Registration will be on the left column of the DJST homepage. If you have questions or need further assistance contact dariensailing@gmail.com.
DJST is a 501 (c ) (3) organization run by parent volunteers, new volunteers welcome!!
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DARIEN LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION
To be eligible to play Darien Little League Baseball, players must be a Darien resident, must be Kindergarten to 7th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, and may not be older than 12 years old on September 1, 2021. Visit us at http://www.dybs.org for more information - and click the Registration tab to signup! We hope to see you play ball with us this Spring 2022!!
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THE POSITIVE SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
YWCA Parent Awareness is hosting an in-person round table discussion about how teens can use social media for good. The discussion is for parents of 5th through 8th graders and will be at the Darien Depot on March 9 6:30-7:30pm. Parent Awareness has invited 3 DHS teens who have made a positive impact on our community through their social media use. We will learn from them how and why they made their decisions, and how their social media decisions differs now as High School students versus when they were in middle school. The discussion will be moderated by psychologist Tara Levinson, PhD, NCSP. Registration will be capped at 30 participants. To register: www.ywcadn.org
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DARIEN PARKS AND RECREATION SPRING AND SUMMER REGISTRATION
The Darien Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that registration for 2022 spring & summer programs, as well as the sale of 2022 beach permits, will begin on Wednesday, March 2nd online at www.darienct.gov/parkrec, in-person in Room 110 of the Darien Town Hall or through the mail. Program offerings are currently available to view online. The 2022 spring and summer brochure, which includes the beach permit application, will be mailed out to all Darien residents the week of February 21st.
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DARIEN'S THRIVING YOUTH TASK FORCE PRESENTS "CREATING A FAMILY FRAME: SETTING THE BOUNDARIES YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO THRIVE"
Children are eager to explore their world and test limits, but they also need parents to set boundaries to keep them physically and emotionally safe. Learn how to navigate challenging conversations & situations around independence, helping you build a strong & healthy relationship with your children, at this free Zoom workshop on Wednesday March 9 at 7pm. Presented by Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force and experts Georgette Harrison, LPC from the Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, and Tracey Masella, LCSW in affiliation with Silver Hill Hospital. Registration required here.
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THE BIGGEST DARIEN ARTS CENTER EVENT OF THE YEAR
THE SAMPLES are bringing their blend of reggae-influenced rock to the historic Wall Street Theater in Norwalk on March 25 to benefit the Darien Arts Center. A band formed in Colorado in 1987, The Samples has shared the stage with big names such as The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, and Phish. Local favorite, Waller, opens the show at 8pm. General admission and limited special event tickets are available ($35-$150).
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER PRESENTS SO WE THINK WE CAN DANCE - This completely student-run production, featuring the DAC Junior and Senior Companies is consistently a sell-out. Purchase tickets soon for performances on Saturday, March 5, 7pm and Sunday March 6, 2pm. ($15)
DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Rd, behind the Town Hall. Visit our website for more info or for questions, call (203) 655-8683.
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NEW PROGRAMMING AT THE DARIEN ARTS CENTER
Summer programs: registration is now open for Darien Arts Center Summer Camps and Classes. Sign up now at darienarts.org. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For questions, please call (203) 655-8683.
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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.
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