Ox Ridge Elementary School
November 21, 2021
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November 24th : Early Dismissal (1:25pm)
November 25th & 26th : No School – Thanksgiving
November 30th – December 3rd : Early Dismissal (1:25pm); Conference Week Camps & Gingerbread
December 2nd : National Special Education Day
December 9th : PTO Speaker Series - RULER / Social Emotional Learning
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Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Hi All,
If you’d like to learn more about the SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment) and didn’t have an opportunity to join our Director of Elementary Education, Julie Droller and me a few days back to discuss, you can check out this recording of the meeting.
It was a great way to end a week with our Ox Ridge spirit day! A big thanks to Hootie for flying “home” and exciting our kids!
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
Please meet the wonderful PTO Special Education Representatives for the 2021-2022 school year: Anne Cotton, Meghan Thornton and Dayna Checketts. They have been working diligently behind the scenes to support our school's Special Education community, including the upcoming National Special Education Day. They would like to encourage you to read "Permission to Feel" by Dr. Marc Brackett, a professor at Yale University and creator of the RULER approach to teaching emotional intelligence to children and adults. This book connects with the PTO's upcoming speaker series on December 9 where the OXR RULER implementation team will discuss why "emotions matter" and how to give ourselves and ultimately our children "permission to feel." See below for more details.
This week is a short one with early dismissal on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The week after Thanksgiving, Ox Ridge will be dismissing early Wednesday through Friday to host parent-teacher conferences. The PTO has lined up conference day camps and Gingerbread House crafting. See below for registration details.
Happy Thanksgiving!
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
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OXR EXHIBITS @ UCBC ART SHOW
Congratulations to the following students whose artwork will be on exhibit at the UCBC Annual Art Show through January 2022:
K-G Milly Gould
K-T Addie Egan
1-E Griffin Muench
2-J Nick Rongoe
2-F Adelaide Menzies
3-S Angelina Kohlberger
3-R Harper Driggs
4-M Myles Marengo
5-L Seren Samy
5-W Isabel Bissmeyer
I hope you will have a chance to look at the, district wide, art show held at Upper Crust Bagel Company in Darien.
Have a creative day!
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MEET YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES!
As the Ox Ridge Special Education representatives for the 2021-22 school year, we are working behind the scenes to support our school's Special Education community and we have some great events in the works.
First, here's some recommended reading for the month of November - "Permission to Feel" by Dr. Marc Brackett. Dr. Brackett is a professor at Yale University and has created the RULER approach to teaching emotional intelligence to children and adults. This book will connect with the PTO's upcoming speaker series in December. See below for more details!
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SAVE THE DATE - PTO SPEAKER SERIES: RULER / SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Please save the date for our second PTO Speaker Series on Thursday, December 9 from 7:30-8:30pm. Join the Ox Ridge RULER implementation team to learn more about why "emotions matter" and how to give ourselves and ultimately our children "permission to feel." In this parent education session, you'll learn more about Ox Ridge's partnership with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and our development of the RULER approach to social and emotional learning for all.
The implementation team includes: Luke Forshaw (principal), Christina Ulreich and Lindsay Sulzycki (assistant principals), Madeleine Bavelsky and Annie Farson (school psychologists), and Mary Beth Giannattasio (Kindergarten teacher).
Doors will open at 7:00pm for those who would like to tour the school prior to the meeting. Event registration and more details to come.
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JOIN OX RIDGE MATH OLYMPIAD TEAMS!
**NOTE TIME CHANGE**
Test your math skills, support and learn with your peers, and stretch your math mind to the next level - Math Olympiad is here! Join the 4th Grade Team or the 5th Grade Team. The full session runs Monday Nov 15 through March 30, from 7:45-8:45am. Register HERE. Questions? Contact Darien After School directly at info@darienafterschool.com or 888.212.3837
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GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING - CONFERENCE WEEK!
Gingerbread House's are back! Each child will get their own gingerbread house from DiMare’s to decorate from start to finish with icing and candy! Sign up on Pay4SchoolStuff by Nov 29th for a slot during Parent-Teacher Conference week (Dec 1-3) from 1:30-2:30pm in the Ox Ridge Common Room. Select the student's name, then “Gingerbread Decorating” to see the signup options, including an alternate option for a take home kit (quantities are limited, pickup details to come). Cost is $30 per child.
Due to health and safety precautions, space is limited. The children will be grouped by grade and asked to wear their masks. We’re looking for 8 parent volunteers for each day, please volunteer HERE.
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CONFERENCE WEEK CAMP - REGISTER NOW!
On early dismissal days during Conference Week (Nov 30 - Dec 3), Darien After School (DAS) will offer Sports & Art, Chess, LEGOs with Play-Well, Darien Nature Center and Spark Academy from 1:30-3pm! Class schedule and registration info can be found HERE. Questions? info@darienafterschool.com / 888.212.3837
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DARIEN AFTER SCHOOL WINTER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Students will find a new favorite activity, be anything they want to be and make new friends! BLAST through the COLD with Sports, Enrichment, Art, Science and MORE
Winter Session: 1/10-4/8, after school until 4:30pm
Registration Opens Online Monday 12/6 at 8pm
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Hootie (Ox Ridge Mascot) for “flying home” to greet the students and spread cheer during our first Spirit Day of the year!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mrs. Mariana Begonja (Secretary) on November 25th
Mrs. Kelly Miller (SRBI Specialist) on November 27th
Mrs. Dana Falcioni (Paraprofessional) on November 28th
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Caring is feeling and showing concern for others, but it is also important to show care for ourselves. How can we create a caring environment at home? Use this link for ideas, including volunteering or writing a letter to a friend or family member that lives far away.
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HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED - DARIEN HUMAN SERVICES HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING PROGRAM
Adopt a Family or Adopt a Senior Citizen
Celebrate the holidays by bringing joy to a struggling family or senior. Families range in size from 2 to 6 people. Due to Covid, we are asking for donations of gift cards (you will receive suggestions to make things more personalized). Drop off the gift cards in our office and your “adopted” family or senior will pick them up from us. We welcome local clubs and organizations to take part in this charitable opportunity.
Or donate gift cards to Darien Human Services to be used throughout the year to help struggling clients. DHS gratefully accepts gift card donations from grocery stores, gas,Target and Walmart.
Questions? Call Darien Human Services at 203-656-7328.
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CDSP: DID YOU KNOW?
Have you heard of “CDSP” but aren’t sure what it is? The Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP) is the umbrella organization for the Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) of all Darien Public Schools. PTO Chairs and CDSP Reps from all five elementary schools, MMS and DHS attend CDSP meetings to share school-specific information. Attendees also learn about district-wide PTO information and activities (like last year's #showingdpsstaffthelove campaign) from the CDSP Executive Board. The PTOs then share all relevant district-wide and school-specific information with parents through PTO meetings and newsletters. Please visit cdspdarien.org for more information and follow us on Facebook @DarienCDSP / Instagram @CDSP_Darien.
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MENORAH LIGHTING
All Darienites are invited to a community menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate Hanukkah on Wednesday, December 1 at 6:00pm in Grove Street Plaza. A 6-foot tall menorah will be on display and lit each night by various Darien families, from November 28 to December 6. Darien residents are invited to attend any of the lightings, however the larger celebration will be held on December 1. The community lighting is hosted in partnership with Baywater Properties and Temple Shalom in Norwalk. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Open Door Shelter.
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NEW HOLIDAY PROGRAMS AT DARIEN ARTS CENTER
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REGISTER FOR DARIEN YOUTH LACROSSE
DYLax promotes lacrosse among Darien youth by teaching fundamentals of the game and promoting good sportsmanship, respect, and teamwork, in cooperation with the DHS lacrosse programs. Registration is open HERE for grades 1-8 from November 8th until January 11th (late fees apply after January 11th). Our season starts in March! Any questions, please email dylaxregistrar@gmail.com
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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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