September 8, 2023
Dear Saxe Family,
The “heat was turned up” around Saxe this week… Not only were the record-breaking temps warm outside, the learning and experiences were just as hot inside! In all seriousness, we are fortunate and grateful to have the first-class facilities that we do in the New Canaan Public Schools, along with the trained, committed professionals who manage all of our systems. This combination ensures that we are able to comfortably continue our learning, without disruption. Thank you to everyone who makes up our terrific team at Saxe. Our students benefit from your work and dedication!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest One Second Everyday, Saxe Spirit, School Counselors, School Safety, Art, Math, organization, Science, Photo Day, parent volunteers, Saxe in the News, STEM & Innovation, Music, PTC Coffees, celebrating a 40-year veteran at Saxe, leadership in art, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
9/11 –
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” -Aristotle
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” -Henry David Thoreau
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” -Walt Disney
One Second Everyday
Back again for this year – the latest Saxe Middle School 1-Second Everyday! “Life is made of seconds.” Showcasing so much of what makes Saxe Middle School great! This will be a recurring, bi-weekly feature. At the end of the year, we will have a full version that includes every single day of the 2023-24 school year. Enjoy! (pro tip: to enjoy the video at a slower pace, change your viewing option to .75 speed).
Fridays are now Red & Black Days!
“Saxe has spirit, yes we do, Saxe has spirit how bout you?
We’re all Hawks, let’s take it back – Every Friday, wear red and black!”
If you choose to participate, you are welcome to wear anything with our school colors, school logo/mascot, or anything NC-related. We look forward to seeing students and staff united as the spirit fills our halls every Friday – Go Hawks!
School Counseling Department
Today, our counselors visited all 7th-grade students to introduce themselves and present how they help students and families best navigate middle school. Our counselors play a crucial role in our school and provide valuable guidance to students, teachers, and parents. They are indispensable in fostering in the development of students by addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs. Their work contributes to creating a nurturing and inclusive educational environment that empowers students to thrive in a well-rounded manner in all domains. Thank you to our School Counselors!
School Safety
I’m delighted to share that today’s evacuation drill was a great success, thanks to our amazing staff and students! They acted swiftly, stayed calm, and followed safety procedures flawlessly. We are proud of their responsible behavior – nice work!
Art Department
The Art Department featured artwork done in the Spring of 2023 in the Main Lobby and hallway to brighten up the first days of school! Here are some great examples.
Math
Students in Mrs. Brown’s 8th Grade Pre-Algebra and Algebra classes started the year completing thinking tasks with their peers. These tasks required students to work collaboratively while solving puzzles and looking for patterns. Students were able to spend time getting to know each other and came up with their own list of what productive group work looks like. We’re looking forward to a great year of math learning ahead!
Getting Organized
5th graders exploring the behavior matrix and executive functioning lesson on organization before getting lockers.
Science
The 6 Blue Team continues to get to know each other this week. As a team, students created posters to represent the “Blue Team Stats” collected via a team survey.
Photo Day
Saxe Photo Day is around the corner! Grade 5/6 will have their photo day on Wednesday, September 27th, and Grade 7/8 on Thursday, the 28th. Please see the order form below. As a reminder, if you order your package before photo day, it will be shipped to the school and given to your child to bring home. If you do not like the photo package, you can return it to the photographer on retake day and they will automatically ship a replacement package to the school. Any ordering after photo day will have to be shipped to your home. You can find more information at www.shop.legacystudios.com and enter the code 3588F24.
Grade 5 Parent Volunteers Needed
We are looking for 5th-grade room parent volunteers! If you are interested, please visit HERE.
Saxe in the News
The New Canaanite included an article on the “Principal’s Opening of School” reports from the September 5th Board of Education Meeting. If you missed it, you are welcome to check it out, here!
Bedford & New Canaan Magazine
A few of our Saxe students were recently highlighted in the “18 under 18” article in this local magazine. Congratulations to all!
Twitter/X
Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Working on some “Name Art” in Saxe Art class – can’t wait to see the progress & products!
Engaging in some problem-solving in Saxe STEM & Innovation – organizing the robots!
Some exciting images from professional learning with our Saxe Science Teachers at the NC Nature Centerin preparation for the start of the 2023-24 school year! Staff explored the thermal imaging capabilities & had fun along the way!
Day 1 of ensemble was a success! Way to go 5th graders!
Amazing turnout for our Saxe Grade 5 Parent Coffee! Thank you to our PTC for all of your support! #fifthgraderocks
Today, we hosted our inaugural event in our newly updated Saxe “Hawks Valley” outdoor learning space. Thank you to our amazing Saxe PTC, and to all who came out to join for the 5th-Grade Parent Coffee! #SaxeOutdoors
In addition to our Saxe Grade 5 Parent Coffee on Tuesday, we also held our “New to New Canaan” Parent Coffee in our newly renovated Hawks Valley outdoor learning center on Thursday. Even with the hot temps, there was enough shade to enjoy being outside in this beautiful space!
40 years on the job! This week, we celebrate our favorite “friend to all”, Bobby P. Thanks for your contributions to our Saxe community, Bobby – we appreciate you!
Thanks to Ms. Granite for representing Saxe & NCPS as a panelist for new administrators!
Showing off our artistic abilities in SS where we’re focusing on what makes a leader. I LOVE the responses…listening to people, helpful, kind, a good listener, standing up for yourself, and much more! The future is bright at Saxe. #fifthgraderocks
Our Saxe Library staff do an excellent job keeping their boards updated, relevant, & inspiring – nice work & thank you!
#DogsOfSaxe bring smiles to many at Saxe!
Have a great week, see you next Friday!
Thank you to all of our Saxe Weekly contributors! Each weekly edition is an example of collaboration in action. A special thanks to Melissa DeMeglio for the continuous stream of positive, optimistic quotes!
Saxe Resources (live links)
Website: https://www.ncps-k12.org/saxe
Saxe Middle School
Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment
