Ox Ridge School
May 2, 2021
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Monday, May 3rd - Friday, May 7th
Monday, May 3rd
- Last day to register for 14-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Educational Challenge (details below)
Wednesday, May 5th
- Last day to register for Adopt-A-DHS-Senior (details below)
Thursday, May 6th
- Students wear their new Ox Ridge appreciation t-shirt to school
- Last day for students to bring in their appreciation “fan mail” (details below)
May 10th - 23rd
- Spring Book Fair (virtual, details below)
Sunday, May 16th
- 5th Grade Make Modern Mask-Making Event for Mask Drive
Tuesday, May 25th
- Parent Social: Yoga & Stretching w/ Casey McBride
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Hi All,
Thank you all for the “Ox Ridge Appreciation” week to come! Your kindness and support of our faculty and staff is valued!
It’s our absolute pleasure to be with and educate your children, but we do always appreciate a cup of coffee and your caring sentiment!
Looking forward to continued beautiful spring days together ahead.
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
The weeks are flying by! It’s hard to believe that there are only 6 full weeks left in this incredible school year so we’re going to do our very best to make the most if it.
We’re starting the month with a busy and fun week celebrating our amazing Ox Ridge staff. Please read full details below and pay special attention to any communication coming from your room parents this week.
We wanted to highlight the great work Calla Tabaka, our Library Media Specialist, has done this year, teaching our students about coding, and also acknowledge that it wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. The PTO supported these efforts by funding our school's Code Monkey subscription this year —THANK YOU. The kids loved it too! Check out these quick videos from a few of our students. https://flipgrid.com/+md1ppbrb
Have a great week!
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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STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK - NEXT WEEK May 3rd - 7th
We are excited to have the opportunity to collectively come together to express all our gratitude towards the entire Ox Ridge Staff as we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week! Check out the flyer and the PTO website to see the full plan to deliver a little love every day!!
We are asking each student to participate directly in 2 different ways:
1) Complete the Fan Mail and bring in on THURSDAY, May 6th
2) Wear the new Ox Ridge T-Shirt on THURSDAY, May 6th
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SPRING BOOK FAIR (VIRTUAL, May 10th - 23rd)
We are working hard to keep kids reading and raise critical funds for Ox Ridge with our Scholastic Online-Only Book Fair from May 10-23, 2021. The Fair will connect your kids to notable books and inspiring characters, helping them become lifelong readers. Scholastic’s virtual platform has been improved since the fall, and you can now shop much more easily for Book Fair exclusives by flipping through an interactive virtual book list (see virtual flyer here). There is also a new option to create an eWallet for your child(ren) that can be shared with family and friends so they can contribute funds for your child(ren) to use to purchase books. Plus, enjoy these special online shopping features:
⦁Over 6,000 products
⦁All orders ship direct to home
⦁Free shipping on book-only orders over $25
⦁All purchases support Ox Ridge and earn 25% in rewards
Visit the Ox Ridge Book Fair homepage here to learn more and to get started creating an eWallet for your child(ren).
Stay tuned for an email from your Room Parents with a link to your teacher’s eWallet. With this link, you will be able to donate money to your individual teacher’s eWallet so that he/she can purchase books for the classroom.
To coincide with Book Fair week, Ox Ridge Outfitters will also be offering items over $20 for purchase tax-free, including sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, and blankets! Get in the spirit this week and get them while you can! Orders are being hand-delivered to local addresses.
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DARIEN FOOD SCRAP RECYCLING PROGRAM
Ox Ridge 5th Graders have been learning about composting and participating in Darien's Food Scrap Recycling Program. Students watched a video from Carolyn Bayne of the Advisory Committee on Sustainability. Each class continues to collect food scraps from their lunches everyday, which will be taken to the Town's Recycling Center and commercially recycled. Keeping food scraps out of our garbage, makes our waste disposal more efficient and turns food scraps back into beneficial organic matter. To start recycling food scraps at home, sign up to purchase a starter composting kit from the Town here. For more information about the program, please see this easy, one page guide. We hope many Ox Ridge families will join our 5th Graders as they lead us in this important environmental change for the better!
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14-DAY RACIAL EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE
Ox Ridge (along with the other Darien schools) is excited to announce the opportunity for members of our school community to participate in the YWCA 14-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Educational Challenge beginning Tuesday, May 4th! The 14-Day Challenge is a program in which participants receive daily emails. The emails are succinct and invite the participant to reflect on various topics such as race and how it is covered in the media, equity versus equality, stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. Participants are then invited to delve deeper for optional 5, 10, or 20-minute follow-on activities.
We encourage you to invite others in our school community to join in this journey by forwarding them the registration link. Although this is a personal exercise, you can read through the daily emails with members of your family, or establish your own groups with friends or colleagues to share your experience and explore together.
Registration for the Challenge will close on Monday, May 3rd. Please click here for additional information and to register. Many thanks to Byrne Pozzi, Jenn Sherman, and the YWCA for leading this project!
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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 recent NYTimes article, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, the director of contemplative practices and well-being at the Fish Interfaith Center in California, explains that happiness is more of a daily practice than anything else. He suggests specific strategies to help boost families’ sense of wellbeing in difficult times. One suggestion? Be grateful and kind. Brainstorm with your children who they know who might appreciate an act of kindness right now. Whether it’s surprising a neighbor with cookies or flowers or even paying for the car behind you at Starbucks- practice a family act of kindness this week and talk about what you learned or experienced along the way.
Talk early, talk often. Thriving Youth/The Community Fund of Darien
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ROLE OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Role of Social Emotional Learning in Special Education by Michael Gilberg, Attorney at Law and Meghan Cave, BCBA and CEO of the Hangout Spot
Thursday, May 20, 2021, 10-11am, Webinar
Board Certified Behavioral Analyst, Meghan Cave, and Attorney-at-Law, Michael Gilberg, will discuss the benefit of social emotional learning experiences in the classroom and the requirement to provide a social emotional curriculum in public schools. Their presentation will focus on prioritizing skills for instruction, the use of evidenced-based programming, progress monitoring and the legal perspective of COVID-19 compensatory services.
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REGISTER NOW: MAY OUTDOOR EXPLORERS AT THE DARIEN NATURE CENTER
The Darien Nature Center is accepting registrations for the May session of its after-school program, Outdoor Explorers. The monthly theme will be Water: Ponds and Streams! Each age group will meet three times during the month. A great opportunity to get your children outside in nature as the seasons change. Please come dressed for outdoor and water play!
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DHS ADOPT-A-SENIOR AND SPREAD SOME LOVE FOR THE CLASS OF 2021
Looking for a fun, creative and caring activity that your family can do together? The Darien High School Parent Association (DHSPA) invites you to participate in their Adopt-a-Darien High School Senior program and brighten a graduate’s day!
The program offers an opportunity for our younger Darien school students and families to show support for members of the DHS Class of 2021. Families who wish to participate are asked to drop off a homemade card or sign, a flower from their yard, or a small token at the senior’s home anytime during the week of Monday, May 24 through Friday, May 28.
To participate, please click on the following Google form: Adopt-a-DHS Senior - Family Form by Wednesday, May 5th. You will be notified via email the week of May 10th with your student’s name, address for delivery and interests/plans for next year to help you create a personal card or message.
Please note that this project is based on a first-come, first-served basis and families and DHS seniors will be randomly matched. To ensure fairness among all participants and to make certain that every DHS senior is adopted, we cannot grant requests for specific seniors.
For student privacy reasons, Adopt-a-DHS-Senior is only open to families with children in the Darien school system; please do not share or repost the form or program details to social media accounts (Moms of Darien, local sports teams, etc.) or to individuals outside the Darien school system.
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YWCA DARIEN/NORWALK
The YWCA Darien/Norwalk is launching an Essay + Poster Art + Poetry Youth Contest with monetary prizes as an element of the 15th Annual YWCA National STAND AGAINST RACISM campaign. The contest will provide Darien and Norwalk students in grades 6 - 12 an outlet to explore the prompt #How I Take A Stand Against Racism. Students should reflect on what they are seeing in the world around them, within the context of local and national events, and demonstrate through their creativity how they can take action and have an impact. Prizes will be awarded in each category: Essay |Poster Art |Poetry. Submissions are due May 15, 2021. For contest rules and more information, visit www.ywcadn.org/youthcontest.
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SAVE THE DATE: TICKET SALES FOR OPUS'S VIRTUAL SUMMER SOIREE 2021
Don’t miss your chance to take part in the party that you so very much deserve, without the risk associated with an in-person gathering.
On Thursday, May 20th - Saturday, May 22nd, we will be offering dinner and drinks for two delivered to your doorstep. Each night will have a unique menu from a different partner - South End, Uncorked/The Back End, and Lisa Clarke of Soirée CT, a private catering company that specializes in healthy and wholesome home cooking.
Net proceeds will support OPUS's "Baby Basics" program (in which layettes are given to new moms in need referred to Person-to-Person by hospital social workers) and provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in need in Lower Fairfield County via Person-to-Person.
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YWCA PARENT AWARENESS PRESENTS: WHAT EVERY GUY NEEDS TO KNOW
Monday, May 3rd, 6:30 - 8:00 PM Zoom YWCA Parent Awareness Presents: WHAT EVERY GUY NEEDS TO KNOW with Todd Palker, M.D. of New England Pediatrics. A straightforward presentation about the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Dr. Palker will help teach your son what to expect in the future. This is NOT a sex talk - it is a starting point for future discussions about your son’s changing body. The program is intended for 5th and 6th graders to attend with their father or caregiver. Registration is required.
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DARIEN JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE (DJFL) REGISTRATION IS OPEN
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 opened on April 1 and will remain open through July 31st. Register before May 15th and save $100. Go to DJFL.org to register now and learn more about our youth football programs!
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DARIEN SCOUTS SEEKING DONATIONS FOR ONLINE MEGA-AUCTION!
The Darien Scouts tag sale is now online at www.auctionninja.com/darien-scouts/ ! The Darien Scouts Online Mega-Auction consists of multiple auctions featuring furniture, art, decor, antiques, toys, rugs, lamps, lawn & garden items, electronics, and more! Visit often, new items are added regularly and bidding starts at $1! The Darien Scouts Mega-Auction will run through May 6 and all proceeds go to support the Darien Scouting program, building young leaders and serving the local community. Thank you for your support!
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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.
See what's happening on our social media sites:
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