Ox Ridge Elementary School
May 22, 2022
|
|
May 23rd & 24th : 5th Grade Field Trip to Darien Historical Society
May 24th : Parent Social Event - Yoga & Wellness (9:00 am)
May 25th and 26th : Mad Science coming to 3rd Grade
May 30th : NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
June 1st & 2nd : 4th Grade Field Trip to Sound Waters
June 2nd : 5th Grade Field Trip to Fairfield Museum
June 3rd : Kids Care Club
June 17th : Last Day of School (early dismissal @ 1:20pm)
Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
|
|
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
|
Hi All,
Thanks to Mrs. Cathy Watson and our Ox Ridge PTO DEI team for a terrific conversation this week about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Darien Public Schools and at Ox Ridge. Linked are the slides from the meeting. If you weren’t able to join, but would like to know more, share your perspectives or simply connect on this important topic don’t hesitate to reach out!
With thank to our friends in the DHS audio visual team, please enjoy this recording of our excellent spring concert! The video link is set so that you can share widely if you’d like to send to family who couldn’t join.
Thanks,
Luke
|
|
Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
We are excited to report that you voted to approve the 2022-2023 slate and budget. Many thanks to everyone who voted. We are also incredibly thankful for all of the PTO volunteers that have agreed to help out next year!
Don't forget to join us for Tuesday's Yoga and Wellness parent social event at Middlesex Farm. Coffee, smoothies, health tips and yoga…what a great way to kick off your week! See more info below. Hope you can join in the fun.
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
|
|
YOGA & WELLNESS AT MIDDLESEX FARM
Join us for Yoga & Wellness at the Middlesex Farm Association (7 Shields Road) on Tuesday, May 24th @ 9am. We'll start with coffee (courtesy of Ox Mom, Kristina Schuster of Smile Coffee Werks) and fresh smoothies along with tips and tricks to feel more energized (courtesy of Holistic Health Coach and Ox Mom, Jackie Blair). An amazing yoga class with Casey McBride will begin at 9:30am. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased HERE. All parents are welcome. Please visit the PTO website for bios! Questions? Email Samantha Bohlen.
|
|
OX RIDGE BUILDING SEND-OFF - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
At the end of June, Phase 2 of the construction will begin and the existing Ox Ridge building will be demolished. But before it’s turned to rubble, we plan to send it off in style! On Saturday, June 18th, students, staff and families can come celebrate the end of the school year and say FAREWELL to the old Ox Ridge by “decorating” the building with pictures and messages of love! If you’re interested in helping plan our Building Send-Off event, please click HERE. Any questions, contact Libby Cook and Mary Elizabeth Garvey.
|
|
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Danielle Craig (Treasurer) & Marisa Chadda (Assistant Treasurer) for leading the budget process and formulating the 2022-2023 Budget!
Christina Kreuz & Jamie Rose (Recruiting Co-Chairs) for curating an amazing PTO slate for 2022-2023 and overseeing the recruiting process!
Julie Brown (Grade Level Enrichment Rep) for coordinating the Mad Science STEM activity for the 2ndGrade!
Sam Bohlen (Social Chair) and Sonia Johnson, Heather Lucas, Barbara May, Alison Muench & Nicole Sweeney (Social Committee) for organizing a wonderful floral arranging social event, featuring “Sweet Peas and Poppies!”
DEI Committee along with Dr. Forshaw, Mrs. Watson & Jennifer Sherman for leading an informative meeting on the DEI initiatives for the district!
|
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Miss Lizzie Hayes (Teacher) on May 24
Mr. Derek Amato (Teacher) on May 26
Mrs. Tori-Ann Rongoe (Teacher) on May 26
|
|
DARIEN SUMMER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Registration for Darien Summer School and Enrichment programming is currently open. Elementary school courses include Leap Ahead Writing, Readers’ and Writers’ Masterpiece Theater, Marvelous Math, Foundations of Middle School Math, Summer Strings Orchestra, Let’s Play Sports camp, and more. For more information and registration details, see our website.
|
|
DARIEN LIBRARY CELEBRATES 1894 DAY
Darien Library is celebrating its 128th anniversary and Fourth Annual Day of Giving on 1894 Day, Wednesday, May 25th. Festivities will take place in the Library courtyard throughout the day, including crafts, a selfie photo booth, balloon art from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., and an ice cream truck from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.! The kids can also check out the newly carpeted Children's section - it looks fabulous and it's a great time for them to explore some new books for summer reading. Please join the celebration on May 25th!
|
|
DARIEN EMS-POST 53 WELCOMES BACK MEMORIAL DAY FOOD FAIR
Post 53, Darien’s emergency medical service, is excited to announce the return of its annual Memorial Day Food Fair at Tilly Pond. Sponsored by William Raveis, this year’s event, filled with food, live entertainment, games, ambulance tours, and a silent auction, will take place on Monday, May 30th, from 11am - 2pm. Please visit our website for times and locations to purchase tickets. This annual town tradition is Post 53’s signature fundraising event to support expenses related to patient care, continuous training, and community training events such as Hands Only CPR and Stop the Bleed classes. Post 53’s annual operating budget is 100% funded by donations. It depends on the generous contributions of friends and neighbors to maintain the highest quality of pre-hospital care for the people of Darien.
|
|
PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: KIDS' TECHNOLOGY USAGE IN A POST-COVID WORLD
How can we help our children develop appropriate habits when using technology? Can we unwind the uptick in screen time resulting from the pandemic? Can my child navigate middle school without a smartphone? The Tokeneke PTO is hosting a panel discussion to address these questions and more and is inviting elementary school parents and children in fourth and fifth grade from across the district to attend on Thursday, June 2 at 7:00pm in the Tokeneke Common Room. Dr. Joan McGettigan, DPS Director of Instructional Technology, will discuss technology best practices and potential concerns, as well as parental controls on devices. In addition, OK-2-Delay's Marty Hendrickson and Jacqueline Telgheder will present the parent perspective on smartphones and social media, along with Caroline Hendrickson (8th grader), Ava Telgheder (8th grader), and Cole Kim (7th grader) who will speak about their experience in middle school with respect to smartphones. Please RSVP here if you would like to attend. Questions? Katherine.watts@gmail.com
|
|
BLOOMS FOR CAMPERS
Blooms for Campers is our beloved annual fundraiser to help send children from financially fragile families to summer camp. Please consider donating to Blooms for Campers to provide a safe and carefree summer to these children and support working parents. To donate visit our website. On Saturday, June 4th (the last day of the fundraiser), OPUS volunteers and their children will tie red burlap ribbons on donors’ mailboxes and storefronts throughout town. All donors will also receive wildflower seed packets, as a symbol of gratitude for supporting the Person-to-Person Campership Program.
To volunteer on June 4th sign-up HERE. This kid friendly volunteer opportunity will begin at 10am. Help us to make the future bloom for the children of the P2P Campership Program!
|
|
DARIEN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENT SERVICES PRESENTATION
Please join us on Zoom for a District-Wide Parent Coffee Series on CT-SEDs and the New CT IEP on Wednesday June 8 at 10-11am. This session will be recorded and the presentation will also be shared on the Special Education section of the District’s website. Presenters will include Ms. Shirley Klein, Dr. Scott McCarthy, Ms. Kristin O'Reilly, and Ms. Laura Straiton.
|
|
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:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
