Ox Ridge Elementary School
November 28, 2021
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November 30th – December 3rd : Early Dismissal (1:25pm) for Parent-Teacher Conferences
December 2nd : National Special Education Day
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Missed last week's Hoot? Click here
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with stuffed bellies and full hearts. Tomorrow (Monday) will be a regular school day, followed by early dismissal on Tuesday through Friday for parent-teacher conferences. The PTO has lined up Conference Week Camps and Gingerbread House Decorating during early dismissal days – there are a few spots remaining!
The Ox Ridge PTO will also be showering our incredible staff with lots of appreciation and love this week, including the annual conference week lunch on 12/1 hosted by the Ox Appreciation Team and a breakfast buffet and homemade cards on 12/2 in recognition of National Special Education Day hosted by the Special Education Team.
XO OX,
PTO Co-Chairs
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PTO SPEAKER SERIES: RULER / SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
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. Please register HERE.
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NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY IS DEC 2!
Thank You Cards for Staff!
In conjunction with the PTOs and CDSP, we are planning a show of appreciation for our Special Education teachers and staff!
In honor of this important day, the PTO will deliver breakfast to our wonderful teachers on December 2nd. We hope that students will also write 'thank you' cards for their teachers and service providers. A dropbox for cards will be at the front entrance of the school after December 1st.
The PTO will also gift the book "Different: A Great Thing To Be!" by Heather Avis to each classroom along with a packet of activities developed by the author. We are excited to celebrate acceptance and inclusion within the Ox Ridge community!
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CONFERENCE WEEK CAMPS - A FEW SPOTS LEFT!
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? [email protected] / 888.212.3837
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MINTED HOLIDAY CARDS – HELP US EARN EXTRA DOLLARS FOR OX RIDGE!
Order your holiday cards through Minted! You save 20% and Minted will give 15% of sales to Ox Ridge PTO. Please use promo code FUNDRAISEOXRIDGE. For any questions, please email the fundraising chairs, Ellie Davidson and Megan Malone.
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NOMINATE AN ALL-STAR EDUCATOR
The Bridgeport Islanders All-Star Educator program recognizes outstanding educators in Connecticut for their contribution to their students, school, and community. During the 2021 – 2022 AHL season, the Bridgeport Islanders will select exceptional educators to be honored at their schools and by Islanders fans at a game!! Please submit a nomination HERE for Ox Ridge colleagues, staff, or administrators to honor them for their dedication to our school and community.
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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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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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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
1st grade Room Parents and families - for sponsoring a special treat for the staff for the month of November. Each staff member received 2 mini pies (apple & pumpkin) on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mrs. Erin Barba (Paraprofessional) on November 30th
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In order to care for others, we must first care for ourselves. What type of self care are you practicing at home? With the link provided, play a game of Self-Care Pictionary with your family and discuss ways to make time for yourself, including allowing time for hobbies and personal hygiene.
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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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YWCA DAZZLING DECEMBER HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT AT EVERYTHING IS ROSEY
On December 9, 6-9 pm, join us in supporting YWCA Parent Awareness while getting your holiday shopping done early. Everything is Rosey is donating 20% of the evening proceeds to fund free parent programming for our community. Browse from a wide array of accessories, jewelry and clothes while enjoying nibbles and complimentary wine tastings by Scout & Cellar rep. Sally Betz. Raffle giveaways at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. Raffle tickets on sale at www.ywcadn.org.
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Spring registration is open at darienart.org! Classes in DANCE, ART, MUSIC & MARTIAL ARTS for all ages begin in January. Sign up for: Ballet, Hip Hop, Broadway, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical & Contemporary Dance; Piano, Flute, Percussion, String Instruments, Singing/Songwriting; Cartooning, Digital Illustration, Iphone Photography, Drawing, Painting, Collage & more.
Come see Scenes from the Nutcracker, a show performed by the Darien Art Center’s dance companies and geared for younger audiences is taking place at the DAC Weatherstone Studio on December 11, 12, 18 and 19 at noon and 3 p.m. Tickets are $20. Purchase tickets early at darienart.org, as shows sell out quickly for this popular annual tradition.
Questions? Call (203) 655-8683.
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NOROTON FIRE DEPT'S ANNUAL TOYS 4 TOTS COLLECTION
Noroton Fire Department is an official partner and drop off location for the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys 4 Tots Foundation. With the community’s help we collected over 1,500 toys last year. Join us again in our goal of collecting 2,000 new, unwrapped toys for Toys 4 Tots. Donation box is in Noroton FD's back parking lot at 1873 Post Road. Or better yet, start your own collection and the firefighters will come to your neighborhood/office/organization with a fire truck to pick up your donations! Pick-up times are available from December 1st through December 19th.
Please contact Alan Hyatt at 203.943.8649 to schedule a pick up for your neighborhood or organization.
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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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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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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 [email protected] 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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