MAY
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

Wed, May 26th, 7:30pm
  • Ox Ridge Building Construction Update via Zoom (click here for Zoom link)

June 16th
  • Last Day of School (Early Dismissal)
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Hi All,

Thank you once again for a truly magnificent “Teacher Appreciation Week”! We most certainly felt the love and thank you and your children all for the kindness.
 
We are planning an Ox Ridge Construction update this spring! Please hold the date and time of Wednesday, May 26th at 7:30 PM. We will hold the event via Zoom: https://darienps.zoom.us/my/lforshaw
 
Our construction team will provide a community update of building progress and will talk through the exciting next steps in the work. Please plan to join to learn more as we continue the progress towards our new Ox Ridge School!
 
Thanks,
Luke
FROM THE PTO
Dear Ox Ridge Parents,

Appreciation Week was a great success, thanks to the hard work of our Vice-Chairs Libby Cook and Mary Elizabeth Garvey. We would also like to thank all of the parents for their financial contributions to the PTO that helped fund the treats and swag gifted to our teachers and staff. Thank you also for ensuring that your children wore their Ox appreciation t-shirts to school on Thursday. Seeing the entire Ox Ridge population (teachers, staff, and students) wearing these shirts emblazoned with the names of all of our teachers and staff in the shape of a heart was an inspiring show of gratitude and solidarity. It really meant a lot to our teachers and staff! See note of gratitude to our teachers and staff here and check us out on Instagram (@oxridgepto) and/or Facebook for photos of everyone in their matching shirts!

Next we move on to Spring Book Fair, which runs from May 10th to 23rd. The event will again be virtual (hoping to resume in-person book fairs in 2021-2022). Please see below for more info and be on the lookout for an email from your Room Parents with a link to your teacher’s eWallet, where you can donate money to your teacher’s classroom library (unfortunately, Scholastic’s virtual model does not include Teacher Wishlists at this time).

Finally, a reminder that our Fifth Graders, in collaboration with Darien's Food Scrap Recycling Program, are encouraging everyone in our community to purchase a starter compost kit (details and link to purchase below). We are proud of our Fifth Graders for using what they recently learned during Earth Week to raise awareness as to how simple it can be to recycle food scraps and make waste disposal more efficient! 

Hope everyone has a great week!

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!

May 12 Kelsey Stockton (2nd Grade Teacher)
May 13 Laura Straiton (ELP Director)
May 14 Kim Egan (1st Grade Teacher)
May 15 Amy Beazley (BCABA)
OX RIDGE NEWS
OX MOM's MORNING OUT: YOGA & STRETCHING WITH CASEY MCBRIDE
Join us on Tuesday, May 25th for a Mom's morning of Yoga and Stretching with Casey McBride at 52 Dorchester Rd.  Class will begin at 10am but feel free to arrive anytime after 9:30 to set up your mat, grab a coffee and chat with friends. ALL levels welcome. 
To RSVP please Venmo $15 to @Samantha-Bohlen
with the memo "OX Mom Event." Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, samanthawbohlen@gmail.com
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.
MMS SUPPLIES FOR 5th GRADERS: PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY

Order online now for next year until June 23rd. *A portion of the proceeds benefits MMS.* More information in the attached FLYER.

To order: 
USERNAME: Middle
PASSWORD: mms2021 (case sensitive)
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
Did you know: 1 in 5 children will suffer from a mental health disorder before the age of 18?
 
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As a parent, you play a critical role in starting the conversation with your child about mental health and wellness. If you notice your child feeling hopeless, overly worried or losing interest in things they used to enjoy- talk with them about what you're observing. Listen without judgment and ask what you can do to help.
 
Talk early, talk often. Thriving Youth/The Community Fund of Darien
COMMUNITY NEWS
POST 53 MEMORIAL DAY FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT DARIEN EMS
Darien EMS-Post 53 has made the difficult decision not to host its largest fundraiser - the annual Memorial Day Food Fair - due to continued concerns about large gatherings. In connection with Palmer’s Market, we invite you to support Post 53 by purchasing a Food Fair to Go grill pack including the fan favorites from the Food Fair. As an all-volunteer organization, we depend entirely on the support of our community to purchase life-saving equipment and supplies for patient care. Food Fair to Go will be packaged in a tote bag and available for pickup at Palmer’s Market on Sunday May 30th from 10-1pm. A large and small Food Fair to Go package ($200 and $100 respectively) will be available for purchase on our website https://post53.org and sold by our young adult Post 53 members at various locations May 15, 16, 21, and 22.  
Come see us after the Memorial Day parade at Tilley Pond Park for ambulance tours, Hands Only CPR and Stop the Bleed training, all with proper disinfection procedures. 
Contact: Dawn Edgar/Kate O’Brien
203 554 8273/ 914-772-0832 
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.
LEARN ABOUT THE DEPOT YOUTH CENTER
The Depot Youth Center is holding an Open House for all rising 6th, 7th & 8th graders and parents to learn about Depot middle school programs and opportunities in the 2021-2022 school year. Drop-in after school on Friday, May 21st , from 12:30-2:30pm. Mr. Softee will be on-site handing out free ice cream and the concession will be open selling snacks.

The Depot is located at 25 Heights Road in Darien!

Rain or shine! Please wear a mask and register here.  
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.
OPUS SUMMER SOIREE - BUY YOUR DINNER & BID ON AMAZING ITEMS

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 & Friday, May 21st, OPUS for Person-to-Person is offering dinner and drinks for two delivered to your doorstep. Each night has a unique menu from South End, Uncorked and The Back End. Buy tickets now, before the May 13th deadline. 
 
Plus, set a reminder for our silent auction, which will run from 9 AM on Thursday, May 13 to 9 PM on Saturday, May 22. Please bid on these amazing prizes to help support local families in need! Package highlights include: 
·  Boozy cooking class with Darien Butcher Shop and Sipsters
·  Summer BBQ party from Palmers
·  Kid's fire truck birthday party 
·  Golf + lunch for 3 at The Country Club of Fairfield

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 Lower Fairfield County via Person-to-Person.  
REGISTER NOW FOR DARIEN ARTS CENTER SUMMER CAMPS

The DAC is offering several summer camps, classes & workshops for ages 3 & up. Find out more and register at darienarts.org. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Rd, behind the Town Hall. For questions, call (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 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:
@oxridgepto