June 16, 2023
Dear Saxe Family,
Well, that’s a wrap on the 2022-23 school year! On behalf of the Saxe community, we would like to thank each and every one of you on a terrific year. Congratulations go out to every member of our learning community for the growth and successes that made this year the special one that it was. We wish our 8th-graders the best as they move on to their next chapter in their educational journey and we look forward to welcoming everyone else back for the 2023-24 school year. Until then, I hope you are able to rest, relax, and spend time doing whatever it is that you enjoy most, with those you care the most about!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest 1 Second Everyday, the final Saxe News episode, the Saxe Class of 2023, Shark Tank finale, Mandarin, Science, Dogs of Saxe, Saxe alum in the news, NCHS interns, Latin, STEM, field trips & class celebrations, healthy snacks, the NCHS Grad Walk, yearbooks, Art, the last day of school, and so much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful SUMMER!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
6/18 Happy Father’s Day!
Enjoy your summer break!
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You.” -Kate Spade
“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – Les Brown
“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”–Brian Herbert
“Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and be who you are.” – Brene Brown
“Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness.”-Ayn Rand
Hello Summer – enjoy!
For all of the Dads out there in the Saxe Community, enjoy your day on Sunday – Happy Father’s Day!
One Second Everyday
Back again for this week – the final Saxe Middle School 1-Second Everyday! “Life is made of seconds.” Showcasing so much of what makes Saxe Middle School great! Full version that includes every single day of the 2022-23 school year. Enjoy! (pro tip: to enjoy the video at a slower pace, change your viewing option to .75 speed). Enjoy!
Saxe Class of 2023
Congratulations to the SaxeMS Class of 2023! We are so proud of each and every one of you & all that you have accomplished. We wish you nothing but the best in the future!
Thank you to our #SaxeOrchestra, #SaxeChorus, & SaxePTC for helping make the Grade 8 Promotion ceremony a special one! Congrats to the SaxeMS Class of 2023!
Please feel free to enjoy the Saxe Grade 8 Promotion Video that was shown during the Promotion ceremony!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h1OuGXvRLA9o6-99EsRBdmy_no48m5j3/view?usp=sharing
Couldn’t make it to the 8th-grade Promotion & want to tune in to celebrate our Saxe MS Class of 2023? Check it out using the link below:
2023 New Canaan Middle School 8th Grade Promotion – June 16th 2023
Saxe News
Here is the end of the year video for your viewing pleasure. Students discuss summer plans and reflect on the past year and look ahead to next year. Enjoy!
Shark Tank Finale
The two finalists were The Lonely Hooper and The Super Select Sneaker. Both were great, but the Super Select Sneaker product ultimately won. Thanks to our “Sharks”, Ms. Meyer, Mr. Ekstrom, and our very own NCPS BOE members, Ms. Erica Schwedel and Ms. Penny Rashin. It was an honor to have you join the panel!
Mandarin
Grade 8 Mandarin students practicing Chinese juggling prop 扯铃 （chělíng, known as “Diabolo”).
Science
Students on 8 Red “escaped” Science class this week. Classes worked together in order to solve a series of clues hidden throughout the room. Some classes escaped just in time, but one class (pictured below showing off their trophy) escaped in record time!
Paws for a Cause
The 6 Blue team invited Paws for a Cause to Saxe for a presentation of how assistance dogs can be used to help people with disabilities. This began as an ELA assignment and was a wonderful example of a student project coming to life!
Fun in PE
Mr. Thompson’s Class – Grade 7
Saxe Alum in the News
18 current and former Saxe students competed in the Youth National Rowing championships last weekend. The team won two golds and a bronze.
Rowers from NCHS are Logan Hickey, Fredrik Asker, Gustav Neubohn, Logan Thom, Henry Brauweiler, Quinn Whitman, Erik Johnson, Matthew Peloso, Miraclyn John Yesudian, Maddie Norton, Isabella DeVito, Jacqueline Mulle, and Reagan Thom
Rowers from Saxe are Audrey Pittaro, Theodore Tonkovich, and Brooke LeBaron
Gustav Neubohn won gold in the men’s quadruple sculls. He is currently trying out for the national team and will be attending the Naval Academy.
Also rowing were Ethan Xia (St Luke’s) and Finn Broder (Deerfield Academy)
Both will be attending University of Pennsylvania next year.
To learn more about rowing,and our summer camps go to https://www.newcanaancrew.com
Welcome to Saxe
It may be the last Saxe Weekly of the 2022-23 school year, but we are still warmly welcoming new staff members. Below, please enjoy learning a little more about our new Main Office Administrative Assistant.
Name: Melissa Giorno
Position: Administrative Assistant
College(s) attended: Sacred Heart University and Southern New Hampshire University
Hometown: Stamford, CT
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and anywhere there is SUN!
Favorite Sports Team: Miami Dolphins and Boston Red Sox
Favorite Quote: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
Favorite Genre of Music: All kinds
Welcome aboard and welcome to the Saxe Family, Ms. Giorno!
NCHS Service Leauge of Boys
Attention 8th Grade boys and parents moving on to NCHS! Please consider joining SLOBS — New Canaan High School’s Service League of Boys. This is a very welcoming and rewarding school club. To learn more about SLOBs and to register for membership, please visit our website at https://www.newcanaanslobs.org. Opportunities begin this summer.
Tweets of the Week
Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe middle school Twitter page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Our interns from NCHSCT were terrific this year! Here is one of the projects that was produced – a Minecraft version of SaxeMS. Very cool!
Our interns from NCHSCT have been amazing! Here, they are placing the repurposed plexiglass greenhouse in one of our SaxeMS courtyards. Can’t wait to see classes/clubs out this to use! #SaxeOutdoors
Congrats to Tatum, Jayke, & Nicholas for achieving a perfect score on the National Latin Exam! You make SaxeMS proud!
Congrats to Ms. Birdsall & her #SaxeSTEM students for creating this amazing, fully functional vehicle(Click the link to watch!) It was a proud moment seeing it take a “victory lap” around the SaxeMS front circle… And, thanks to our #SaxeSRO for the traffic control!
Feeling the last day of school vibes at SaxeMS this morning!
SaxeMS 8th-graders had cooperative weather for the annual picnic. This is one of several events to celebrate this special group of students in their last week as #SaxeHawks. Thanks to all parents & staff who make it possible! #Saxe2023
Couldn’t have asked for a nicer day for SaxeMS 8th grade trip to Brownstone (Click the link to watch!
It’s a beautiful day to have a good day!! 7th Grade Field Trip!! #AlmostSummer SaxeMS
SaxeMS 7th-graders are set up for a beautiful day for their trip to Camp Kiwi!
And the fun continues! Saxe Class of 2024!
Thanks to our BeWellNCPS team for coordinating these delicious, healthy treats for our SaxeMS staff!
Thank you to the Devito brothers for donning the SaxeMS Hawks & NCHSCT Rams mascot suits for the Grad (Click the link to watch!) Walk – Great job leading the way!
LOT of energy through the halls of SaxeMS for the annual NCHSCT Grad Walk… What an amazing experience for all! Congrats (Click the link to watch!)to the NCHS Class of 2023!
Classy move to request our SaxeMS retirees be present to kickoff the NCHSCT Grad Walk… Congrats again, Patty & Viv!
And, Mr. Gusitsch got to catch up with one special grad (daughter, Ellie)!
Following their visit to SaxeMS yesterday, we wish the NCHSCT Class of 2023 the BEST on their graduation today!
It was a beautiful afternoon to celebrate one of SaxeMS(&, NCPSCT)’s finest! Thank you for EVERYTHING & congrats on your retirement, Ms.Birdsall!
Thank you to our SaxeMS yearbook crew for their work on capturing (&, distributing) this year’s “annual time capsule”!
The SaxeMS 8th-grade Bash was a great scene to celebrate – thanks to all involved! #Saxe2023
What a way to start the day at SaxeMS! Our spirited SaxePTC wanted to make sure I remembered we are celebrating this week!
From the 8th-grade bash, to my office, to the main lobby, these balloons are “bringing the spirit” around SaxeMS! Thanks to our fabulous SaxePTC!
And, a special birthday at SaxeMS this week! Hope it was the best day ever! #SaxeBdays
Love seeing the classes taking advantage of our outdoor learning spaces around SaxeMS! #SaxeOutdoors
Quality learning right up to the end of the school year at SaxeMS! Here are some students making triangles with poly strips in #SaxeMath classes
Ms. Granite held a “Closing House” today with our 5th grade class. 6th grade students presented on similarities and differences between the grades and answered rising 6th graders’ questions. We also celebrated all students who exemplified the charter this year!
Today was our first ever fifth grade “Closing House!” We celebrated all of our successes, thanked our student leaders and applauded our certificate of recognition recipients! What a great way to end the last full day of school! SaxeMS #fifthgraderocks
Congratulations again to the Saxe Class of 2023!
Hank loves wishing his humans a great day at SaxeMS each morning! #DogsOfSaxe
Thanks to Ms. Orlando for sharing this pic of Layla on her walk from SaxeMS to South School! #DogsOfSaxe
Cabot is a Dogs of Saxe regular at drop off (and, nice photo bomb!) 🙂
Good morning, SaxeMS! Welcome to the last day of the 2022-23 school year! We will be operating on a 1/2 day schedule. Congrats & best wishes to our Class of #Saxe2023!
“One Last Goodbye” – one of the best annual traditions at SaxeMS! Congrats on a terrific year & have a great summer, All! #Summer2023
This SaxeArt project may be one of my favs – cardboard SaxeMS!
1st/Last day pic of the SaxeMS 8th-grade morning activity crew! Of the 182 days, they were out on the courts for about 170 of them hooping it up or passing the pigskin. No better way to start the day!
Have a great summer, see you next school year!
Thank you to all of our Saxe Weekly contributors! Each weekly edition is an example of collaboration in action.
Saxe Resources (live links)
Website: https://www.ncps-k12.org/saxe
Saxe Middle School
Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment
