2019.11.15 – Saxe Weekly – The Saxe weekly

November 15, 2019

Dear Saxe Family,

It was an eventful week at Saxe that will be culminating with a “sure to be exciting!” fall production of “Frozen Junior”. This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at Social Studies, Science, World Language, ELA, Connections, Veterans Day, Saxe cafeteria, the latest One-Second Everyday, and more…

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Dave Gusitsch

Principal, Saxe Middle School

Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:

11/15: Frozen Junior!

11/16: Frozen Junior!

11/18: Board of Education meeting

11/19: Saxe Book Fair

11/20: Saxe Book Fair

11/21: Saxe Book Fair

Want to check out the “Saxe Weekly” from last week? You’re one click away, here.

*Quotes that resonated with us this week:

“For the Veteran. Thank you for bravely doing what you’re called to do so we can safely do what we’re FREE to do.”

“Failure is nothing more than a chance to revise your strategy.”

“Kindness is free; let’s pass it on.”

“Be the reason someone smiles today”

“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.”

Back again for this week – the latest, updated Saxe Middle School 1-Second Everyday! “Life is made of seconds.” Check out a few seconds from each day of 2019 (so far), showcasing so much of what makes Saxe Middle School great. This is a recurring, bi-weekly feature. At the end of the year, we will have a full version that includes every single day of the 2019-20 school year. Enjoy!

Pro tip: want to enjoy it more? Set your youtube playback setting to play at .75 speed

Social Studies

Grade 7: How do we wrap up a unit? Towards the end of a unit, students synthesize their understanding, skills, and content. At the end of their Resources and Power unit, grade 7 students were invited to share their learning in multiple ways.

Grade 7 Social Studies: How do we launch a unit to make it engaging for our students? Students immerse themselves in books, videos, websites, news articles and photos of the region and people they are to study. From this experience, they not only start to build context but also generate individual and class questions that will add to their shared unit inquiry.

Grade 5 Social Studies

What are these students doing? They are using VR technology to learn about the United States! This year, our fifth graders will each have a chance to learn more about our country as well as practice safe and respectful communication with other students through PenPal Schools.

Science

Mr. Chard’s, 8th-grade science students, are participating in a genetic plant lab. This is a two-generation cross that will exhibit a classic monohybrid cross of alleles. Students are currently pollinating the flowers using dead bees on sticks as the plants cannot self pollinate. This is a great way to show inheritance in action using real plants and proper lab techniques.

Connections

Students and staff discussed their “best self” during Connections this week. Another great conversation around tools to be successful in any facet of life. It was a moving experience to hear students discuss the many ways they are able to maintain a positive perspective at any given time.

World Language

7th-Grade: Students were practicing ¿Adónde vas? – to talk about where they go on the weekend and to shop for food.

8th-grade: Map projects – students created towns with original themes, and wrote and recorded directions on QR codes, in the Design Lab. Classmates then listened to each others’ directions, to try and find locations on the maps.

English Language Arts (ELA)

Eighth grade is in a unit exploring themes around power, and they are looking across texts to identify author’s craft techniques that (may) exist in many different books. In the pictures below, you see students working together to analyze structures and techniques across texts. To consider ways that authentic book discussions take place, students are reflecting on their own speaking and listening skills by watching videos of their group discussions. One group is using legos to represent their ideas building off of one another. Another group of students has analyzed song lyrics connected to the texts to look for these themes. All the students in eighth grade are analyzing texts and discussing these texts with peers. Ask your children what they are reading and how their thinking about “power” is growing in this engaging unit of study!

Veterans Day

Saxe held its 12th Annual Veterans Appreciation Day Celebration. Throughout the day our students had the opportunity to hear from Veterans from multiple generations. Thank you to all those who have served, and those who continue to serve, our great country!

Cooper Cothup did a great job playing “Taps” at a special ceremony at the New Canaan Inn.

November: A Month of Causes at Saxe

In the spirit of living our “Cs”, Saxe staff are participating in a “Month of Awareness” for causes that important to members of our Saxe community. Please feel free to check out more about it, here, and stay tuned for updates as we go through No Shave/”Mo”vember.

Saxe Ugly Beard Contest and Fundraiser!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pennies for Patients program is working with thousands of schools across the country to raise funds for blood cancer research and patient support services. Saxe has partnered with LLS to take on the mission of ending cancer once and for all.

YOU can help our School make a huge impact in the fight against cancer by making a contribution to our fundraising efforts!

The Saxe faculty is competing in an “ugly beard contest.” You can “support” a teacher by contributing a donation in their name. Every cent counts as one vote. Students can bring in cash donation boxes will be in the cafeteria every day during the month of “No-shave” November. You can also make an online contribution by going to the Saxe LLS site linked here and clicking on the faculty member’s name below the staff pictures. We will update their progress every week.

World Kindness Day at Saxe

Here is a couple of pictures of our tremendous staff supporting, and bringing awareness to, those living with diabetes on World Diabetes Day. The show of support was amazing. Saxe is a true community of caring!

Our Saxe “Wall of Honor” allows students and staff to post a cause that is meaningful to them and who it is dedicated to. A truly moving tribute!

Upcoming Events

Saxe Book Fair

The Saxe Book Fair is coming soon! November 19-21, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm, in the Saxe Auxiliary Gym.

Click here for the classroom visit schedule (subject to change).

Parents are invited to purchase book fair gift certificates for their children’s teachers by clicking here. Online sales will end at 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 17.

We need your help! To volunteer, click here.

There’s a new way to pay for books with eWallet…click here for more information!

Please contact Kristie Breed with any questions (khedayati@hotmail.com).

Saxe Cafeteria

Showcasing some more of our terrific dining options, Ms. Santelli and her crew have put out some amazing Thanksgiving themed offerings. We are truly fortunate to offer our students (and staff) so many great, healthy options.