January 25th: Jerry Pallotta Author Visit Grades K, 1, 3 
 
January 26th: Jerry Pallotta Author Visit Grades 2, 4, 5

January 26th: Staff Encouragement, Sponsored by the 2nd Grade 
 

January 31st: Darien Summer School & Enrichment Registration Begins 
 
February 14th-17th: Kindness Week
 
February 18th: NO SCHOOL - Professional Development 
 
February 21st-25th: NO SCHOOL - February Recess 
BOARD OF EDUCATION'S BUDGET CALENDAR
 
Monday, January 24th at 7pm – Special Board of Ed Meeting
  • Discuss Open Choice and 1:1 Technology (Bring Your Own Device "BYOD") 

Tuesday, January 25th at 7:30pm - Regular Board of Ed Meeting
  • Unfinished Business on 2022-2023 Proposed Budget
  • Board of Ed Discussion of Budget Modifications under Consideration
 
Tuesday, February 1st at 7pm - Special Board of Ed Meeting 
  • Public Hearing on 2022-2023 Proposed Budget
  • Final Budget Review as needed
 
Tuesday, February 8th at 7:30pm - Regular Board of Ed Meeting
  • Approval of 2022-2023 Board of Education Budget
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Hi All,
 
In addition to the partnership with Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence as we study RULER practices at Ox Ridge, our two school psychologists have been learning about DBT practices to help a smaller number of students in school.

DBT – Dialectical Behavior Therapy, is a district-wide approach to support students develop better emotional regulation skills. 

The district is sponsoring a series of talks. Please see this flyer if you’d like to join and learn more! The presentation material from the first session is also available via this link if you’d like to get an overview of DBT practices and how our school psychologists use them in school.
 
Fingers crossed for the weather to cooperate to get some solid days of consistent teaching and learning these next few weeks together!
 
Thanks,
Luke
FROM THE PTO
Dear Ox Ridge Parents,

We are excited to welcome the well-loved author of the “Who Would Win?” series, Jerry Pallotta, to Ox Ridge this week! Remind your child to bring in a Jerry Pallotta book during the author visit so that they can receive a personalized autograph.  
 
Budget season continues…Feel free to check out all the info HERE. Please consider tuning in tomorrow, 1/24 for a special meeting that will focus on 1:1 Technology and Open Choice – Agenda and detailed materials, including presentations on both programs can be found HERE. Stay tuned for details regarding an Ox Ridge community-wide meeting with Dr. Addley who will explain pertinent changes proposed (and how they will affect our school) and answer any questions and/or concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out - we would love to hear from you!
 
XO OX,
 
PTO Co-Chairs
OX RIDGE NEWS
PALLOTTA
SCHOOL-WIDE ENRICHMENT
On January 25 & 26, author Jerry Pallotta will visit Ox Ridge. Mr. Pallotta is author of the popular Who Would Win series and has written more than 60 books. During his visit, Mr. Pallotta will share from his books and speak with students about the writing process. Click here to learn more about the author and to order books click here. Mr. Pallotta is happy to sign books for students during his visit. He will meet with students in kindergarten, 1st grade and 3rd grade on January 25 and with students in 2nd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade on January 26.
Direct Appeal
DIRECT APPEAL: LET'S GET TO 100%
The OX Ridge PTO is excited to have brought back in-school enrichment opportunities, such as performer Soro Bindi and author Jerry Pallotta, as well as started some new initiatives to support students, families and faculty. To continue the PTO's important work, we need your support! If you have not donated, please consider donating to Ox Ridge’s 2021/2022 Direct Appeal, our main fundraiser of the year. While we are suggesting a donation of $75 per student, our goal is 100% participation from Ox Ridge families. Any amount counts! To help increase total participation, we are having a competition. The top two grades with the highest participation rate will earn extra recess. Currently, the 2nd grade is in the lead with 57% participation. Overall, 53% of students have contributed to the direct appeal. Let's get to 100%. To donate, please send in checks made out to Ox Ridge PTO with your students, or donate online (select PTO Fundraising Donation). If you are unsure whether you donated, please feel free to reach out to Eleanor Davidson or Megan Malone. Thank you for supporting Ox Ridge PTO!
2022-2023 DARIEN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET PROCESS
As you know, the 2022-2023 Budget Process is well underway. Please mark your calendar for two important upcoming meetings:
  • Jan 24th @ 7pm - Special Board of Education meeting to discuss Open Choice and Bring Your Own Device (“BYOD”). Agenda (including Zoom / YouTube access links) and detailed materials on both programs can be found HERE
  • Jan 25th @ 7.30pm - Regular Board of Education meeting to continue discussions on the entire budget. Board members will have the opportunity to propose adds / cuts to the budget at this meeting. Agenda (including Zoom / YouTube access links) can be found HERE  

All budget materials can be found HERE. Please reach out to your PTO Chairs, Mary Elizabeth Garvey & Libby Cook or Kristen Smith, Ox Ridge CDSP rep – We would love to hear from you!
graphic design
CALLING ALL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: NEW OX LOGO
Ox Ridge is in need of a new logo to go along with the new building! If you have graphic design experience (or dabble in it on the side), we would love your help. Please contact Libby Cook or Mary Elizabeth Garvey for additional details or if interested.
CAN I GET A HOOT, HOOT?
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Kim Huang & Liz Ezbiansky (5th Grade Book Club) for organizing and leading discussions on the book, “The War that Saved My Life” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley!
Suzanne Anderson & Annie McAnly (4th Grade Book Club) for organizing and leading discussions on the book, “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mrs. Zorida Butler (Cafeteria) on January 27
Mrs. Pamela Tesserelli (Paraprofessional) on January 29
Ms. Sarah Sproch (Teacher) on January 30
KINDNESS IN YOUR NEST
Integrity means acting in a way you know to be right and kind in all situations. How can we build integrity in our homes? One way to explain this concept to children is the idea of doing kind things without being asked, and even when no one is watching. Use this link for discussion starters and journal prompts on how to bring integrity into your family. 
COMMUNITY NEWS
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA AT MMS!
Musical performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella will be performed at MMS on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, January 27th, 28th, and 29th. Get your tickets HERE!
NEW PROGRAMS AT THE DARIEN ARTS CENTER
PIC DARIEN, the Darien Arts Center's Smartphone Photography Contest, is accepting submissions at darienarts.org. The contest is open to all. There are no age restrictions and contestants are not required to live in Darien. 

Darien Arts Center spring classes begin January 24. Sign up at darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall. 

EDITORS NOTE:
Sara Osberg - Sept, Dec, Mar, June
Tory Bolton - Oct, Jan, Apr
Baye Larsen - Nov, Feb, May

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 [email protected] 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. 

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