Ox Ridge Elementary School
March 27, 2022
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March 28th : 3rd Grade Field Trip to Darien Historical Society
March 28 – 30th : Spring Book Fair @ OXR
April 1st : Kids Care Club
April 6th : PTO "Volunteer Fair" @ OXR (9:30 - 10:30 am)
April 7th : Final Day for Yearbook Orders
April 11th-15th : NO SCHOOL - April Break
April 19th : Maritime Aquarium coming to ELP
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
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Hi All,
What an afternoon of fun and laughs! Earlier today, the Harlem Wizards basketball team took on Darien's administrators and teachers. Mrs. Battersby, Rongoe, Mittelstadt, Sulzycki, Hoffer, Kisken and Schneider joined me with friends from Tokeneke Elementary, Darien High School, and Dr. Addley for a great game to benefit the Blue Wave Booster club in support of Darien Athletics. Thank you to my fellow Ox Ridge teammates, and to all of you who came to cheer us on!
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
Drum roll please…we are proud to introduce our new Hootie logo (above) to go along with our new school! Thanks to all of the students and families for casting your vote. This is the beginning of many exciting changes to come with our new school.
We rescheduled our PTO volunteer fair to Wednesday, April 6th at 9:30 am in the Ox Ridge Common Room. Any and all parents are welcome! We hope you will swing by, have a hot brew, and maybe sign up for a job (or two)!
Finally, we hope you will BLAST OFF to our Spring Book Fair at Ox Ridge this week. You are invited to attend “Family Nights” on Monday and Tuesday from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Special early opening both evenings at 4:30 pm for families needing a quieter, less stimulating experience.
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
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BOOK FAIR & OX RIDGE OUTFITTERS
The Ox Ridge Spring Book Fair “To The Book Fair and Beyond” runs this week Monday-Wednesday! Family Nights are Monday (28th) & Tuesday (29th) from 5-7 pm (those needing a quieter shopping experience may enter at 4:30). Payments accepted include cash, check and eWallet (an alternative to cash, the Book Fair eWallet can be used to fund your students' purchases at the Fair). It's not too late to set up an eWallet for your child(ren) and/or an eWallet for your classroom teachers. Click here for full Fair details and please contact Lauren van de Kamp and Kelly Andricopoulos with any questions.
To coincide with the book fair dates, Ox Ridge Outfitters will be offering spirit wear items over $20 for purchase tax-free. Get your sweatshirts, pajama pants, hats, and blankets while you can! Orders will be delivered to local addresses.
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NEW DATE - PTO VOLUNTEER FAIR APRIL 6
Please join us at the PTO Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, April 6th at 9:30 am in the common room at Ox Ridge to learn about the PTO, mingle and sign up to volunteer. We will have coffee and refreshments. The Ox Ridge Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) offers more than 150 volunteer roles each year! There are plenty of opportunities for working parents and those with limited availability during school hours. We also encourage dads to volunteer! If you have any questions or are unable to attend, reach out to our recruitment chairs, Christina Kreuz and Jamie Rose at [email protected].
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UPDATE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION 2022-23 BUDGET PROCESS
The Board of Finance will hold a work session pertaining to the proposed Board of Education budget on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:30 pm in Town Hall Room 206. This is an in-person meeting. The Board of Finance vote on the proposed budget is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at 7:30 pm in Town Hall Room 206. Please direct any comments, questions or concerns to [email protected] or the Board of Finance.
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S.O.S COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR HELP!
The S.O.S committee is looking for more volunteers! S.O.S is here to provide confidential and compassionate help for members of our school community. Whether it’s providing meals or driving around kids we are here to help. When a need arises, Ox Ridge families (including parents, teachers and staff) are encouraged to contact Dr. Luke Forshaw, or our S.O.S. committee chair Kaili Dilts or our PTO Chairs, Mary Elizabeth Garvey and Libby Cook. A friend may make contact on behalf of the family in need with the family’s permission. Please email Kaili Dilts if you would be willing to help as a volunteer when needs arise. We would greatly appreciate more helping hands!
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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 child's name, grade, and homeroom teacher who should receive the yearbook at the end of the school year. Please get in touch with Lesley Ryan or Natalie Gould with any questions.
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CHECK THE LOST & FOUND
Please encourage your children to check the lost and found items located between the gym and the common room. All unclaimed items will be donated on April 8th.
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Meghan Thornton, Dayne Checketts & Anne Cotton (Special Education Reps) for bringing “Rock Your Socks” to Ox Ridge for World Down Syndrome Day!
Julie Brown (Grade Level Enrichment Rep) for coordinating the Mad Science program for the 2nd Grade to “Mix it Up” doing science experiments, including making Slime!
Ox Ridge Teachers and Staff for taking on the Harlem Wizards in Sunday's entertaining basketball game!
Jasmine Hodgson (Parent Awareness) for coordinating and sharing great programs offered by the YWCA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mr. Nicholas Lemekha (Building Sub) on March 29
Mrs. Cathy Watson (Teacher) on April 2
Mrs. Meghan Coyne (Math Specialist) on April 2
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Responsibility and self discipline are an important part of gaining independence, and weekly chores are a great way to put this practice into action. This week, meet as a family to create a chore chart using this link. If each family member's responsibilities are clear, the household can run smoothly.
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CHASING CHILDHOOD: A DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING & COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Please join the Thriving Youth Task Force and YWCA Parent Awareness for a community conversation about reimagining a healthier, happier way forward for our kids! The film screening is available anytime from March 30 - April 4; watch at your convenience at home and join the Zoom discussion on April 4th at 7 pm with Dr. Michael Hynes and Genevieve Eason (formerly of Wilton, CT), both featured in the film. This program is made possible with support from TYTF, YWCA Parent Awareness, the Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, Darien Youth Commission, the Darien Depot Youth Center, the Middlesex Parent Association and Silver Hill Hospital. Registration for the screening and/or event is required at www.communityfunddarien.org/tytf-programs-and-events.
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GLOBAL ARTS SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE PALACE THEATRE IN STAMFORD
The Palace Theatre will be hosting a global arts program that will include music, dance and art from around the world. This program is free of charge and specifically designed for rising 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The 5-day program will take place at The Palace Theatre located in Stamford. Dates are yet to be confirmed and contingent upon interest - spots are limited. If you would like to sign up or have questions please contact Carol Bryan at [email protected]. Click here for more information and to register.
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YOUTH COMMISSION AND P2P DRIVE-THROUGH FOOD DRIVE
Because of how generous the folks in Darien are, the drive-through food drives that we have sponsored over the past year and a half, in partnership with P2P have been remarkably successful! But as prices for all things continue to climb, we desperately need to do it again! The unprecedented hunger and food insecurity challenging our friends and neighbors continue to be a reality. And our food banks and pantries continue with the struggle to meet these needs. Taking place on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the West Avenue train Station Parking Lot (Koons Lot, across from Tilley Pond Park), volunteers will remove donations from donors’ cars. Visit the DYC website for additional details and a list of most needed items: www.darienct.gov/yc.
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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 [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.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR DECLINE ALL SUBMISSIONS.
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