Ox Ridge Elementary School
May 1, 2022
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May 3rd : Students Wear Black and Yellow to School and deliver “Fan Mail”
May 5th : Ox Music Department “Spring Concert” @ DHS Auditorium (7:00pm)
May 6th : Kids Care Club
May 9th and 12th : Kindergarten Field Trip to Darien Nature Center
May 11th & 13th : 2nd Grade Field Trip to Selleck Woods
May 13th : 3rd Grade Field Trip to Stamford Museum & Nature Center
May 16th and 17th : Mad Science coming to 2nd Grade
May 17th : Flower arranging PTO social event (more details to come)
May 19th : DEI Meeting @ Ox Ridge Library
June 17th : Last Day of School (early dismissal @ 1:20pm)
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
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Hi All,
We’ve done some “spring cleaning” to our Ox Ridge School website in the recent days. Thanks for the feedback – I’m always open to ideas to enhance the space to make it increasingly accessible and useful to our school community.
One page that is still “under construction” is a dedicated space for information about the new school. We are still on track for a summer move to the new school, which means we’ll all be back together for the start of the 2022 – 23 school year in the “academic wing” (sections A, B and C) of the building! We’ll still have another year of construction as we build out the “assembly wing” (section D). Please see an outline of the building below for a reminder of the construction phasing.
As we move into sections A, B and C next year; that means that functions of our D wing need a temporary space for the 2022 – 23 school year. So, our A wing will house a temporary music, instrumental music, library, gym and common room. At the end of the 2022 – 23 school year, A wing will be converted to its final form as a permanent home for the ELP program.
I’ll be sure to keep you all updated via our Hoot in the coming weeks!
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
It’s Staff Appreciation week! Many PTO volunteers have planned an incredible “Bee Themed” Week to show our teachers, staff and administrators how BEE-loved they are! Remember to have your child(ren) wear BLACK AND YELLOW on Tuesday and deliver a “sweet-as-honey” note HERE to express their appreciation. See below to see more on what’s planned for the staff this week!
A huge thank you to our Speaker Series presenters - Dr. Joan McGettigan, Ok-2-Delay reps, and panel of Ox Ridge alums - for their informative presentation on technology usage as it relates to our young children. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! As promised, here is the slide deck and handouts from Dr. McGettigan, as well as the Ok-2-Delay slide.
Finally, the end-of-school calendar has changed due to snow days…please note that the NEW last day of school will be Friday, June 17th and the 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony will be on Thursday, June 16th.
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
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COME WATCH OUR OX RIDGE MUSICIANS IN CONCERT
The Ox Ridge Spring Concert is on Thursday May 5th at 7pm at Darien High School. The concert will feature the 3rd Grade Strings, 4th and 5h Grade Orchestra, 5th Grade Band, and 4th and 5th Grade Chorus. Come cheer on your friends and our amazing music department staff!
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UPDATE YOUR CALENDARS: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IS NOW FRIDAY, JUNE 17
Thanks to several snow days, our NEW last day of school will be Friday, June 17th. This is an early dismissal day - students will be released at 1:20pm. The 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 16th.
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STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IS THIS WEEK
The PTO Appreciation Committee has been hard at work planning lots of special things to show our teachers, staff, and administrators how BEE-loved THEY are, and how appreciative WE are for everything they do for our children. To see a sneak peek of what we have planned click HERE and read below for the two things we’re asking the kids to do to show their love!
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WEAR BLACK AND YELLOW THIS TUESDAY
As a symbol of their appreciation, we are asking students to wear black and yellow on Tuesday 5/3. Set yourself a reminder!
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DELIVER A SWEET-AS-HONEY NOTE TO EXPRESS YOUR APPRECIATION THIS TUESDAY
Write a note on the template you can find here. On this Tuesday 5/3, students are invited to deliver their notes to their classroom teachers, specials teachers, staff, and administration. We would love to have 100% participation! If you do not have a printer, please email shain.meghan@gmail.com to get a paper copy. Let’s show all our teachers, staff, and administrators that we think they are the Bee’s Knees!
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Vanessa Donatello & Lia Stewart (School Wide Enrichment) and Jennifer Brauman (Grade Level Enrichment) for bringing Mad Science to the Kindergarten classes!
Jennifer Brauman (Grade Level Enrichment) for coordinating the 1st Grade Field Trip to the Darien Nature Center!
Libby Cook (PTO Chair) along with Dr. Forshaw, Dr. McGettigan and the OK-2-Delay team for organizing the PTO Speaker Series on “Parenting in the Digital Age!”
Samantha Bohlen & Nicole Sweeney (Social) for organizing the fun and well-attended Parent Social @ Louie’s!
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Last week we discussed courage as being brave when faced with difficult situations. In order to empower ourselves and our children we must understand that courage is also about being vulnerable and humble. Allowing someone to see us for who we truly are can feel risky and scary. Use this link for a discussion guide with your family to focus on ways we can be open and honest, allowing us to fully be ourselves.
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GETTING REAL ABOUT DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY PLAGUING OUR KIDS
The Darien Depot, in partnership with the Darien Library, will host a mental health discussion for parents and kids on Monday, May 16th at 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. The objective is to help de-stigmatize the topics of depression, anxiety and suicide. Renowned local psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Krasner will moderate a panel discussion between Dr. Yann Poncin, MD, a child and adolescent psychologist and Yale faculty member; Cheryl Bundy, the Chaplain and Spiritual Counselor of Silver Hill Hospital; and Jim Kuczo, the local father who started Kevin’s Afterglow to honor his son, who took his own life after a battle with depression. For more information, visit dariendepot.com.
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OH, IT'S HAPPENING!
Hindley PTO is thrilled to announce that the Hindley Happening is on Saturday, May 7th from 10am to 4pm! The 2022 carnival is the talk of the town and not to be missed!
There is something for everyone, at every age. Kids love the thrilling rides and carnival games. Food offerings include Fjord, Darien Butcher Shop, Heights Pizza, Worlds Best Sundae, Kona Ice, and carnival favorites like cotton candy, and more. We offer a games area where you can win tickets for additional prizes. Join our community at this special carnival event!
The Hindley Happening 2022 Carnival is at Hindley Elementary School at 10 Nearwater Lane. Please walk if possible, or limited parking is available at St. John’s Catholic Church or Noroton Presbyterian Church until 3 pm.
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FIELD HOCKEY REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Darien Junior Field Hockey (DJFH) is now open for registration for our third season. DJFH is a not-for-profit organization led by a dedicated group of community volunteers, along with support from DHS coaches Mo Minicus and Kari Johns, who all collectively want to share their love of the sport with Darien youth athletes. At DJFH, we hope to inspire the love of the game by creating an atmosphere of positivity, inclusivity, skill development, and, most importantly, FUN!
Our Fall season runs from early September through early November, registration is now open to athletes in grades 1-8. For more information, please visit www.djfh.org.
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FOOD SCRAP RECYCLING IN DARIEN
Residents can bring all food scraps to the drop-off site at the Darien Recycling Center, including those not appropriate for backyard composting! It's EASY and FREE for residents with a current Darien Recycling Center permit (sticker). Click HERE to learn more. Questions? Email recycle@darienct.gov.
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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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