APRIL
Friday, April 2nd
  • Good Friday (no school)

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 (see schedule of events below)
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Hi All,
 
This week , please carefully review the district “Spring COVID-19” updates. As always if you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach to Mrs. Yvonne Dempsey, our head school nurse or me.

Thanks,
Luke
FROM THE PTO
Dear Ox Ridge Parents,

Happy Passover to all those who celebrate! Reminder that we have a short week coming up - no school this Friday in observance of Good Friday.

Many thanks to Sam Bohlen for organizing our first social event of the year - Moms' Night Out at Dance on the DL this past Friday! We had a great group this weekend and are optimistic about the opportunity to socialize some more this spring.

Kindly,
Ashley & Beth
PTO Co-Chairs
Ashley Hinchman
(804) 405-4750
Beth Morgan
(917) 679-9018
OX RIDGE STAFF BIRTHDAYS
Happy Birthday to the following Ox Ridge Staff!

April 2nd
Cathy Watson (5th Grade Teacher)
Meghan Coyne (Math Specialist)
OX RIDGE NEWS
EARTH WEEK 2021: RESTORE OUR EARTH
Earth Week runs from Monday, April 19th to Friday, April 23rd with Earth Day being celebrated on Thursday, April 22nd. The theme for Earth Day 2021 is “Restore Our Earth”. We have many exciting things planned including daily environment topics, environmental videos, classroom books, and a Restore Our Earth Challenge. Students are encouraged to wear green on April 22nd for Earth Day. There will be a Weed Beach Clean Up for 5th grade students on Saturday, April 24th from 8am-10am and 10am-12pm. A parent for each volunteer will be required to stay at Weed Beach during the clean up (not a drop off event). Please contact your room parent if your 5th grader would like to participate. For questions or more information please contact Christina Kreuz.
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:
  • Back-to-School Supplies: Order and coordinate delivery of back-to-school kits for 1st-5th graders
  • Book Fair Committee: Work with a team of volunteers to organize, oversee and operate a successful Book Fair twice a year
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Website: Update PTO website weekly and as needed. Knowledge of WordPress or ability to learn it is a plus.
  • 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.

For more detailed PTO slate descriptions, please see the Ox Ridge PTO website or reach out to the Nominating Chairs, Beth Hesse or Erica Van Wyck to discuss any open positions.
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.
SPRING COVID-19 UPDATES
You can find a copy of the Spring Newsletter HERE as well as a link to the published web page with updated health information.
THRIVING YOUTH TIP
In a recent NYTimes article, psychology professor Dr. Rhea Owens offers insights about how to boost our mental and emotional wellness this Spring. One key word? Savor. Find joy in ordinary moments. Dr. Owens recommends simply taking a beat whenever something good happens — no matter how small — to really acknowledge it. Whether it’s a beautiful flower, the warmth of the sun or watching a youth sports event. Model “savoring” moments for your children and see if they can find a moment to savor this week. 

Talk early, talk often. Thriving Youth/The Community Fund of Darien
COMMUNITY NEWS
WHAT IS READY FOR KINDGERGARTEN?
YWCA Parent Awareness is partnering with Darien Public Schools, The Darien Library and Dr. Carol Weitzman from the CT Center for Developmental Pediatrics to provide parents insight into what Kindergarten Readiness looks like in children. This offering will be available in video format to registered participants. The video will be available to view through a protected link from April 5th through April 27th. To register: www.ywcadn.org/kindergarten
DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL: OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
New spring virtual classes: Minecraft game development, Singing, Chess, Art, Dinosaurs, Physics and more! Full schedule and registration here. Printable schedule here. Session starts 4/19. Sign up and save your spot today!
DARIEN JUNIOR CHEERLEADING REGISTRATION OPENING!
We all could use some cheer!!! Become part of one of Darien’s great fall traditions! Football & Cheerleading! In its 7th year, the Darien Junior Cheerleading League offers those in grades 2-8 an opportunity to learn fun cheerleading skills including sideline cheering, stunting, halftime routines and teamwork. Our cheerleaders cheer at the exciting Darien Junior Football games (and sometimes as guests at DHS games). If you like being part of a team oriented program, dance or gymnastics while enjoying the fall weather and making new friends then consider joining Darien Junior Cheerleading. No experience necessary to join in the fun. Middle Schoolers - this your chance to prepare for the high school team tryouts! Note - This program works hard to coordinate schedules with soccer, field hockey, dance, etc., so you can join cheer and participate in other activities. For more information visit Cheer at www.DJfl.org. Registration opens April 1st! Questions? Contact [email protected]
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.
DARIEN SCOUTS SEEKING DONATIONS FOR ONLINE MEGA-AUCTION!
The annual Darien Scouts tag sale is going online and we need your donations! Seeking new or gently-used, clean, "auction-ready" items including indoor and outdoor furniture, bicycles, sporting goods, artwork, jewelry, vintage and antique collectibles, toys, lawn and garden items, tools, lawnmowers, snowblowers, electronics, and musical instruments, cars, boats, and motorcycles too! Items can be dropped off at the Scout Cabin at 140 West Avenue on Wednesday 4/7 from 10am-1pm, Saturday-Sunday, 4/10-11 from 9am-3pm, and Tuesday-Wednesday, 4/13-14 from 10am-1pm. There is also limited pickup availability for larger items. To arrange for a pick up of larger items or vehicles, please call 203-309-3719.  If you have any questions about the acceptability of your items, email a photo to [email protected].  The Darien Scouts Online Mega-Auction will run from April 22- May 6 at https://www.auctionninja.com/scouts-of-darien-ct/ Thank you for supporting Darien Scouts!
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.

EDITORS NOTE:
 Tory Bolton - Sept, Dec, Mar, June
 Sara Osberg - Oct, Jan, Apr
 Marisa Chadda - 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. 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR DECLINE ALL SUBMISSIONS.

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