Ox Ridge School
March 21, 2021
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Friday, March 26th
- Moms’ Night Out at Dance on the DL 7:30pm (see details below!)
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Friday, April 2nd
Tuesday, April 6th
- Ox Appreciation Drop (coffee bar)
Monday, April 12th - Friday, April 16th
- Spring Recess (no school)
Thursday, April 15th
- Ox Ridge Building Committee Meeting 10am (Zoom)
Monday, April 19th - Friday, April 23rd
- Earth Week (schedule of events TBA)
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Hi All,
Our registration process for the 2021 – 22 school year is rolling along nicely! Please see the opportunity below if you have any friends / family who are interested in learning more about kindergarten:
In partnership with the Darien Public Schools, the Darien Library and the CT Center for Developmental Pediatrics, the YWCA is hosting a parent awareness session about what to expect in Kindergarten. Register at www.ywcadn.org/kindergarten.
This first session is designed for families who are looking to get some initial insight into a “day in the life” of a kindergarten student and was recently produced with my colleagues across the other elementary schools in town for this YWCA event. We’ll provide more information about our annual Ox Ridge kindergarten orientation a bit later this spring.
As we look forward to warmer days to come; we’ll resume outdoor dining for students! Thanks to the support of our Ox Ridge PTO for additional picnic tables and blankets for students, we are excited for a little extra fresh air and sunshine to come! Please stay tuned for additional notice as we get into the spring.
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
Last week, our teachers and staff enjoyed a Michael Joseph’s catered lunch as a conference week (and St. Patrick’s Day) treat. Thank you again to all of our Ox families who contributed to our teacher and staff encouragement fund, which made this lunch (and monthly coffee drops and other treats for our teachers and staff) possible. Thank you to our Appreciation coordinators, Kate Johnson and Liz Riva, for organizing these events to show Ox teachers and staff our gratitude.
This Friday at 7:30pm, we are looking forward to getting “together” (yet six feet apart) with Ox moms at Dance on the DL for BYO drinks and a dance class. Bring your own beverage, mask, and athleisure for some serious amusement! See blurb and registration link below.
Wishing everyone a happy spring!
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!
March 21st
Madeleine Vivian (Psychologist)
March 27th
Barbara Kisken (Learning Center Teacher)
Annie Farson (Psychologist)
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GRADES 3-8 STANDARDIZED TESTING INFORMATION SESSION
Please join us on March 25th at 1:00 p.m. for a testing information session regarding spring standardized assessments for students in grades 3-8. This session provides an overview of Smarter Balanced Assessments and the Next Generation Science Standards Assessment. Immediately following the general session, information regarding testing for fully remote learners will be shared. The session will be recorded and available on the District website.
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JOIN THE OX RIDGE PTO
Ox Ridge PTO is looking for volunteers for the 2021-2022 slate and we need your support! There are many great opportunities for you to get involved and give back to your school. This is a wonderful way to meet new parents and better our school. Please see the following open positions:
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Back-to-School Supplies: Order and coordinate delivery of back-to-school kits for 1st-5th graders
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Book Fair Committee: Work with a team of volunteers to organize, oversee and operate a successful Book Fair twice a year
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Music for Youth: This is a district-wide enrichment program funded by DPS parents and coordinated by the Music Department. Responsible for collecting checks when contributions are requested and helping the artist(s) who come to school for programs.
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Photography Coordinator: Organize family photo shoot fundraiser in the fall: secure dates and location for photo sessions, advertise to school, organize volunteers and collect payments.
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Website: Update PTO website weekly and as needed. Knowledge of WordPress or ability to learn it is a plus.
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Yearbook Committee: All aspects of creating annual Hootie's Nest yearbook, including getting photographs, communicating with class parents, overseeing ordering and distribution. Work can be done at home or school. Looking for co-chair and committee members.
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YEARBOOK ORDERS
Not sure if you ordered a yearbook? Check this list. If your name is on it, your kid(s) will receive a yearbook at the end of the school year! If your name is not on the list, you have not placed an order yet. You can place an order by clicking this link. 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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DANCE ON THE DL WITH OX MOMS!
Feeling isolated and looking for a night out with other Ox Ridge moms? Please join us for cocktails and dancing THIS FRIDAY, March 26th, at 7:30pm at the Dance on the DL studio!! The event is BYOB, so feel free to pack a little liquid courage, and we will do a little sipping and socializing before hitting the dance floor. $25 per person. Space is limited due to social distancing. Let's do a toast to surviving a pandemic and shake our tail feathers together for some socially-distanced, mask-wearing, pop-locking fun! Register here. Click the "SIGN UP" button and follow the prompts. If you would like information about the air-purifying/filtration systems at the studio or capacity details, please email Samantha Bohlen. We want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy a night out together!
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You can find a copy of the Spring Newsletter HERE as well as a link to the published web page with updated health information.
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In a NY Times Parenting article titled, “Why Your Brain Feels Broken,” author Jessica Grose explains that pandemic stress and multitasking can affect memory and mental processing in a real way. Grose shares that spending time in nature can improve cognitive functioning for parents and children alike. A recent study found that a 50 minute outdoor walk can improve memory and decrease anxiety, no matter what the weather is. While a 50 minute walk may feel out of reach, what is one way to spend time outdoors as a family this week?
Talk early, talk often. Thriving Youth/The Community Fund of Darien
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DARIEN JUNIOR FIELD HOCKEY: OPEN FOR REGISTRATION ON 3/23
After a highly successful inaugural year, Darien Junior Field Hockey (DJFH) is open for registration for our second season. DJFH is run by former Darien High School Freshman coach Wynne Lennon, along with the support of many enthusiastic and dedicated Darien volunteers. Drawing upon Coach Lennon's expertise and passion for the game, the DJFH curriculum is focused on age-appropriate skill development while fostering a culture of positivity, inclusivity, encouragement, and camaraderie to promote an overall love of the game. DJFH is supported by Darien High School Varsity Coach, Mo Minicus and Junior Varsity Coach, Kari Johns. Registration for the Fall season, which runs from September through early November, will open on 3/23 for athletes in grades 1 - 8. For more information, please visit www.djfh.org.
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GREAT GIFT FOR MOTHER'S DAY!
Personalized lawn signs for moms may be ordered through the Darien Arts Center at darienarts.org until April 25th, and will be hand-delivered on Saturday, May 8th - just in time for Mother’s Day. The Darien Arts Center is pleased to announce its spring fundraiser, “Sign of My Love,” which celebrates loved ones by gifting them with a customized lawn sign & message. The lawn signs (Delivery to Darien addresses only) are a perfect & unique way to show your love for Mother’s Day, or recognize a special person, while supporting the Darien Arts Center. Signs are $30 each & there are 3 designs from which to choose. Signs may also be picked up at the Darien Arts Center office (2 Renshaw Road, Darien) on Thursday, May 6th & Friday, May 7th, between 10AM-3PM. For questions, call the DAC at (203) 655-8683.
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EGGS-TRAORDINARY EGG HUNT!
Looking for a fun, family-friendly spring activity? The Darien Youth Commission invites you to participate in its “EGGS-TRAORDINARY EGG HUNT!” Starting Monday, 3/22 through Saturday, 4/3, there will be a “scavenger hunt” with 13 clues posted on the DYC website (www.darienct.gov/yc). The answer to each clue will lead you to a place in town where a picture of an egg is posted. (Leaving the egg there for others to find is a MUST!) Take a photo of each egg and send to asillars@darienct.gov. Each egg has a letter attached to it spelling a special message. The first group to send photos of all 13 eggs and solve the mystery message is the winner! Scavenger Hunt will be posted on Monday, 3/22/21 @ 9:00 a.m.
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YOUTH COMMISSION PARTNERS WITH P2P ON DRIVE-THROUGH FOOD DRIVE
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Our drive-through food drive that we sponsored in December was remarkably successful. But we need to do it again! The unprecedented hunger and food-insecurity challenging our friends and neighbors continues to be a reality. And our food banks and pantries continue with the struggle to meet these needs. We desperately need your help! The DYC is partnering once again with Person-2-Person (P2P) by sponsoring another Drive-Through Food-Drive. Taking place on Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the West Ave. train Station Parking Lot (Koons Lot, across from Tilley Pond Park), screened and masked volunteers will remove donations from donors’ cars. (Donors will be asked to remain in their cars.) Visit the DYC website for additional details and list of most needed items.
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DJFL FALL 2021 REGISTRATION!
Welcome to the Darien Junior Football League’s (DJFL) 2021 season. We are looking forward to another fun, exciting and safe year. The DJFL program runs in the Fall and consists of tackle football (grades 4-8), modified travel flag football (grades 3-4) and flag football (grades 1-3). DJFL registration period opens on April 1 and will remain open through July 31st. Register before May 15th and save $100. Go to DJFL.org to register on April 1st and learn more about our youth football programs!
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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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