Ox Ridge Elementary School
October 31, 2021
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November 2nd: NO SCHOOL
November 11th: School Picture RETAKE Day
November 18th: Ox Ridge Spirit Day
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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,
Wishing you all a very happy and safe Halloween!
Check out some of our amazing “Storybook Pumpkins” from our library! Thanks to Mrs. Tabaka for her leadership of this fun event. Thank you also to two entrepreneurial 4th grade students, Neveah Hu and Mila Chadda for publishing this wonderful collage in their first edition of the “Ox Ridge Times” student newspaper.
Thanks,
Luke
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Dear Ox Ridge Parents,
We hope you and your families have a safe and fun Halloween tonight. Good luck getting all those witches and goblins to bed!! A huge thank you to all the students who participated in Boo Grams this year. With over 800 "Ghosts" hung around school, we were able to really "Boo the School" just in time for the Friday Halloween parade. Best of all, we exceeded our goal and raised $1,181 for Darien Human Services. Way to go Ox Ridge!
Looking ahead, we encourage you all to join us this Wednesday, November 3rd, in the OXR Library for the live viewing of the Social Justice Parenting virtual conversation with Dr. Traci Baxley, with a facilitated conversation to follow. Dr. Baxley (a diversity and inclusion educator with over 30 years of experience) will be in conversation with journalist Reena Ninan to discuss her new book, which focuses on raising anti-racist, compassionate, and socially conscious children. All parents and staff are welcome. Please register HERE. We look forward to seeing you!
XO OX,
PTO Co-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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JOIN OX RIDGE MATH OLYMPIAD TEAMS!
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 11/3 through 3/30, 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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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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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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HOLIDAY CARDS - HELP US EARN EXTRA DOLLARS FOR OX RIDGE!
Order your holiday cards through Minted and 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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“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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SORO BINDI PERFORMANCES SPONSORED BY THE PTO
On October 25 & 26, students were treated to a performance by Iddi Saaka, an award-winning West African performer and assistant professor of dance at Wesleyan University. Mr. Saaka spoke to students about life in Ghana and introduced them to traditional Ghanaian instruments and dances. We hope you had the opportunity to speak with your child about the performance. Click here for a study guide to reinforce some of the concepts discussed during the performance. To watch videos of the show, please click here.
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THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PTO VOLUNTEERS
Lia Stewart & Vanessa Donatello (School Wide Enrichment) for organizing the incredible “Soro Bindi” assemblies, which provided energetic, interactive, enriching and educational performances for the students!
Jenn Moller and Jennifer Hite (Boo Grams) for coordinating the Boo Grams fundraiser, collecting $1,181 for Darien Human Services!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING OX RIDGE STAFF
Mrs. Yvonne Dempsey (Nurse) on November 4th
Mrs. Claudia Torti (Paraprofessional) on November 6th
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Continuing on the topic of RESPECT, this week, we focus on respect for OURSELVES, including self care. In this link, you’ll find a family game and journals for varying ages, centered around self love and care. When we respect ourselves, we have an easier time showing respect and kindness to others.
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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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AUDITION FOR DL STUDIO'S PROJECT FIRE!
Saturday November 6th, 2-4pm.
Project Fire is a performance based dance training program that will center around preparation, rehearsal and execution of several local, live performances and concept videos. Project Fire will provide dancers the opportunity to take their talent to the next level. Auditions are open to the public. You do NOT need to dance with Dance on the DL to be eligible to audition. Open to Boys and Girls Ages 8 and up. Dance experience is not mandatory, but encouraged. Results will be delivered by Monday, November 8th and all that make the team will become official 2400 CREW Team Members. For more information including time commitment and how to sign up for the audition, head to: https://danceonthedl.com/project-fire/
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DARIEN YOUTH SQUASH WINTER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Kids in grades K-5 interested in learning and competing in squash are welcome to be part of our Darien Squash program this winter. All coaching and training during this 13 week program will take place at the brand new MSquash Sono. The program begins November 30th. To register or for more information, including a detailed description of what our players will be learning each week, please visit www.msquash.com/Darien. Come join the fun!
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NEW HOLIDAY PROGRAMS AT DARIEN ARTS CENTER
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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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