Ox Ridge Elementary School
October 24, 2021
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October 28th: Parent Social @ CCD, 7PM
November 2nd: NO SCHOOL
November 3rd: Dr. Traci Baxley: Social Justice Parenting Conversation @ OXR, 7PM
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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,
Thanks to our fantastic book fair committee for an awesome experience for kids and families this week! I appreciate all of our family engagement in literacy and want to reiterate just how powerful setting up a “reading life” is for your child!
This week, I’d also like to bring your attention to a notice from our friends in the Darien Police Department. Ox Ridge has had a long standing partnership with our great officers through a “school liaison” program over the years. The officers regularly assist our school in reviewing safety and security needs, pitch in for a variety of school events and have been invaluable as we’ve navigated school construction. This week, our liaison officer Dan Skoumbros asked for our help in getting the word out to Darien families to lock your cars each evening! Please take a moment to check out the brief attached notice to learn more and keep our community safe.
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
As we mentioned last week, the Ox Ridge PTO is committed to promoting inclusion and acceptance within our community. It is a focus for us this year, next year and for years to come. As such, we are thrilled to sponsor two upcoming events. First, our first School Wide Enrichment assembly, Soro Bindi, which is a high-energy, interactive performance that educates students on African (Ghanaian) culture. And second, a live viewing of the Social Justice Parenting virtual conversation, with a moderated conversation to follow - to be held at Ox Ridge. We hope you will join us.
Finally, we believe that teaching our young children to act with kindness is the building block for acceptance and inclusion. As such, our DEI Team at Ox Ridge is delighted to announce the following initiatives to celebrate and promote kindness in our school community:
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We are delivering “Kindness Book Bundles” to each classroom. The DEI and Special Education teams have selected several books for each grade level that teach kindness and celebrate all our differences and abilities.
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We are creating a “Kindness Begins with ME" banner to hang in our school. This banner will feature the students’ handprints (more on that below) and will serve as an important reminder that kindness is a responsibility of every one of us.
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We are including a “Kindness in your Nest” section in the Hoot. Each week, we will share content from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation that suggests how you can focus on kindness at home. Look below for the first feature!
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We are celebrating "National Kindness Week" in February. If you'd like to help us plan activities and events during the week of February 14th, please sign up here.
And much more to come! Thank you for all your support.
XO OX,
Mary Elizabeth Garvey, Libby Cook, Page Berger, and Erin Noonan
PTO Co-Chairs and Co-Vice Chairs
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LIVE VIEWING AT OX RIDGE - DR. TRACI BAXLEY: SOCIAL JUSTICE PARENTING
Opportunity to watch the virtual event together @ OXR and have a facilitated conversation afterwards
Barrett Bookstore, the Council of Darien School Parents, Darien Library, Ragetime CT and the YWCA of Darien and Norwalk are thrilled to welcome Dr. Traci Baxley on Wednesday, November 3rd, 7-8pm for a virtual conversation as she celebrates the release of her new book: Social Justice Parenting, How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World.
Please join us in the OXR library to watch the virtual interview together, followed by a facilitated discussion afterwards. All parents, teachers and staff are welcome to attend. Please register HERE.
If you prefer to watch at home, you may register HERE. Participants will automatically be emailed the link to the Zoom webinar. Click HERE for additional info.
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“KINDNESS BEGINS WITH ME” BANNER
We are creating a banner to hang in our school. The words "Kindness Begins With Me" will be printed in the middle, and it will be surrounded by students' handprints. Please print out the handprint found here and ask your student to color/decorate it. Once they are done with their masterpiece, snap a photo and upload it to this shared folder. Our goal is for every student to participate! Contact Minnie Liu with any questions.
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THANKS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BOOK FAIR!
Thank you to all who made the Ox Ridge Carnival Book Fair a success! It was wonderful to see all the happy faces shopping for books. If you were unable to visit the fair, couldn’t find the book you were looking for, or have some leftover money in your eWallet, don’t worry you still have time to shop the online book fair here until October 31st. Orders over $25 will ship for free!
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SORO BINDI PERFORMANCES SPONSORED BY THE PTO
On Monday, 10/25 and Tuesday, 10/26, Ox Ridge will welcome artist Iddi Saaka, an award-winning dancer and teacher from Ghana for our first school-wide enrichment assembly this year. Through dance, song, instruments, and stories, children will learn about Ghanaian culture. Soro-Bindi helps foster an appreciation among students of different cultures through its exploration of West Africa and its art forms. Click HERE for more information about this artist and take a look at this video! Here is a study guide for those interested incontinuing the conversation at home.
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SUPPORT OUR VETERANS
Ox Ridge will be honoring our veterans during our annual ceremony on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11th. We will also help to rehabilitate disabled veterans by distributing “Buddy Poppies” to all students. Please consider sending in $1 with your child by Nov. 11th to support veterans in need right here in Connecticut. The Ox Ridge community will wear these poppies on Veterans Day with pride to show veterans that we care, and to teach our children to respect and honor the defenders of our nation. Thank you for participating!
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VETERANS' DAY UPDATE
Families, we need your help! If you have a veteran in your life, PLEASE ask them if they would participate in this year's production via video! Click HERE to sign them up to answer a question (or a few questions) - just like the live Q&A we usually do in-person ... and have your veteran record and send their replies straight from their phones. Videos are due by November 3rd.
If you have a veteran or active duty service member in your family, or if you know a veteran who you would like to honor, please complete the digital Veterans Day form HERE by Thursday, October 29th. Our goal is to continue to develop appreciation among students for our country and the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our safety and freedoms. Any Questions? Please contact Taylor Carter and Nancy Liddel.
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PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
All Ox Ridge Parents are invited to join us on Thursday, October 28th at 7pm at the Country Club of Darien! Ticket price of $45 includes wine, beer and light bites. Deadline to purchase your tickets is Oct. 25! If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Bohlen.
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OX RIDGE YEARBOOK
Hootie artwork for the Yearbook!
We include students' drawings of Hootie in the yearbook every year, and feature one drawing from a 5th grade artist on the cover. Please fill out this form and upload your artwork to be included! The due date is Sunday, October 31st.
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LET'S BOO THE SCHOOL
Instead of sending Boo Grams to individuals this year, we are encouraging a collective effort to “Boo the School!” Click here for the Boo Gram "Ghosts" which will fill the halls spreading Halloween Spirit while raising money for our neighbors via Darien Human Services. Students can place completed Boo Grams along with the requested $1 donation per Boo Gram in an envelope and drop it in the collection bin located in the vestibule between the front doors of Ox Ridge. Final day to submit is this coming WEDNESDAY, October 27th. Please click HERE for more info or contact Jenn Moller and Jen Hite with questions.
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Lauren van de Kamp & Kelly Andricopoulos (Book Fair Chairs) along with Meghan Curcuruto, Cecilia Davies, Nicole DiOrio, Vanessa Danatello, Theresa Driggs & Diana Turowski (Book Fair Committee) for the awesome carnival-themed Book Fair that was a huge success and lots of fun for all!
All the Book Fair parent volunteers for helping out last week to support the committee and our children!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Miss Savana Calarco (Intern) on October 25th
Mrs. Heather Reyes (Paraprofessional) on October 26th
Mrs. Lindsay Sulzycki (Assistant Principal) on October 30th
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For the next several weeks we are going to focus on RESPECT: treating people, places, and things with kindness. First up, how to encourage more respect in our families. Click here for ideas and conversation starters from the Random Act of Kindness Foundation that are centered around "respect" at home.
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LGBTQIA+ PARENT COMMUNITY
Wednesday, October 27th, 7:30pm
An LGBTQIA+ Parent Group was formed last spring by parents of DHS students who identify as part of this community. This year, we are expanding our group to include all parents with children in this community, regardless of age. For parents of children who identify (or think they may identify) as part of the LGBTQIA+ community: Please join us for our next gathering on Wednesday, October 27th at 7:30pm at a local home. We are so pleased to have a representative from the Triangle Community Center coming to offer some education and resources to our parent community. We are strict in upholding the privacy of all who attend our gatherings. Please RSVP to Julie Punishill for the address. jpunishill@mac.com
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TWEEN POP-UP GROUP SERIES
Thursday, October 28th, 3:30-5, Bodega Taco Bar
Join us for culture, food, and fun! This month the Tween Pop-Up Group series will meet in three popular restaurants in town and experience some of the food, music, rituals and traditions from each culture. Tweens will learn about how different folks show up in the world and ask questions in a safe environment. The Tween Pop-Up Group series was created by Dr. Amanda Craig of MMFT to offer a place in the community for children ages 9-12 to discuss difficult issues, learn about themselves and grow in their understanding of the world around them. FREE! Open to 10 Tweens between 9 and 12 years old. Sign up at https://forms.gle/s2xzaQWLF4AqGcRB6 OR call (917) 510-6422.
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MUSIC FOR YOUTH: DHS HALLOWEEN ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Thursday, October 28th, 7pm
Click here to view an invitation for current and future elementary musicians to a fabulous Darien High School Halloween Orchestra concert. You and your families are invited to the DHS Orchestra concert: "A Swashbuckler's Saga" on Thursday, October 28th at 7pm in the Darien High School auditorium, with a special guest performance by the Middlesex Middle School 8th grade orchestra. Come see what all the fun is about and hear the awesome music. Costumes welcome.
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MOM'S MORNING IN ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARADE
Friday, October 29th, 10am
It’s back! Our parade is a colorful tradition! Dress up your little ones and bring a bag for trick-or-treating at the doors of local Darien merchants along the Post Road. Meet at the parking lot next to the Darien Fire Station opposite Post Corner Pizza. As a safety precaution because of the number of participants and proximity on the sidewalk, we are encouraging masking. And we have decided not to host the gathering in Tilley Pond Park for the Amazing Andy magic show after the parade (hopefully next year!).
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YOUTH COMMISSION PARTNERS WITH P2P ON DRIVE-THROUGH FOOD-DRIVE
Saturday, October 30th, 9-12pm
As we enter the holiday season, please remember our friends and neighbors who continue to be challenged with hunger and food-insecurity. And our food banks and pantries continue to struggle to meet these needs. The Darien Youth Commission is proud to again be partnering with Person-2-Person (P2P) in sponsoring a Drive-Through Food-Drive. Taking place in the West Ave. Train Station Parking Lot (Koons Lot, across from Tilley Pond Park), masked volunteers will remove donations from donors’ cars. Visit the DYC website for additional details and list of most needed items: www.darienct.gov/yc.
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ELECTION DAY ACTIVITY: CRAFTS THAT CARE
Tuesday, November 2nd, 1-2pm, DL Studio in Darien
Grades PreK & Kindergarten (4 and up); $20 includes admission, crafts and snacks. Join the DL Staff in making your very own “Gobble till you Wobble” Thanksgiving inspired canvas. This fun art piece is guaranteed to bring smiles to the Thanksgiving table. Proceeds will benefit the Open Door Homeless Shelter to help support their mission to make a direct impact in the greater Norwalk area by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness towards housing and stability. Space is limited. Register HERE.
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ELECTION DAY BASKETBALL CLINIC
Tuesday, November 2nd, at MMS (small and large gyms)
Support the Girls and Boys DHS Basketball Programs! 3rd-5th grade 9:00-10:30 and 6th-8th grade 11:00-12:30. Space is limited, sign up now! Your sons and daughters will be coached by current Varsity DHS Basketball Coaches, Melba Chamberlin, Charoy Bentley (2017 FCIAC Coach of the Year) and Sam Wilson along with jv and varsity players. It’s a great way to work on dribbling, passing and shooting to get ready for the upcoming house and travel seasons. Please RSVP name, grade and emergency contact to Missy Fiorita for boys (mpfiorita@optonline.net), RSVP to Lori Darby for girls (darbyloriz@gmail.com) and bring $40.00 cash or check made out to DHS with Election Day Clinic in the memo. Please have your child bring their own labeled water bottle and mask. We will have mini BlueWave basketballs and baked goods for purchase along with some fun silent auction experiences to bid on to help our programs meet our fundraising goals.
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YWCA USA NATIONAL WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE
Check out the unique opportunities offered through the YWCA Darien/Norwalk to focus on domestic violence awareness and prevention: Krav Maga Self Defense Introductory Class and Community Yin Yoga & Meditation Event. Details at https://ywcadn.org.
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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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