March 28, 2024
Dear Saxe Family,
This week may not have been a five-day week, but there was a lot to share! We appreciate you taking a moment to scroll through the Saxe Weekly to catch just a glimpse of the wonderful learning experiences that take place each week within our learning community. This week, we take a look at the latest 1-Second Everyday, a cell phone reminder, NC CARES presentation, National AP Week, Paraprofessional Day, Staff Spotlight, Science, Social Studies, Colonial Day, PE, Sustainability, SRO Safety Tip of the Week, New Age Film Festival, World Autism Day, Chess Club, tons of Kindness, some awesome Art, Wellness, Shark Tank, Bye-Bye Birdie, Staff PL, a “variegation” over Saxe, Pets of Saxe, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful long weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
3/29 Good Friday (no school, have a great long weekend!)
3/31 For those who celebrate, Happy Easter!
4/1-5 National Assistant Principals Week
4/2 World Autism Day
4/3 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
4/3 Grade 6 Trip to Chelsea Piers (Green and Purple Teams)
4/4 Grade 6 Trip to Chelsea Piers (Blue and Red Teams)
4/4 NC Cares event – Max Stossel, Social Awakening
4/5 Walk to School Day (1 of 2 this Spring; May 3rd is next…)
4/5 Colonial Day – Grade 5
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well.” — John D. Rockefeller
“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” —Tony Robbins
“Day by day, what you think and what you do is who you become.”-Heraclitus
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” —Chris Grosser
Jokes that brought a smile to our faces this week:
“What is a seal’s favorite subject? Art, Art, Art!”
“Why do hummingbirds hum? Because they don’t know the words!”
“What are the 10 things teachers can always count on? Their fingers!”
“Why did the kid cross the playground? To get to the other slide!”
One Second Everyday
Back again this week – the latest Saxe Middle School 1-Second Everyday! “Life is made of seconds.” 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 2023-24 school year. Enjoy! (pro tip: to enjoy the video at a slower pace, change your viewing option to .75 speed).
Saxe Cell Phone Reminder
As we look forward to the opportunity of hearing from Max Stossel, a professional in the field of technology and social media, next week we would like to remind our school community that we are a cell phone-free campus. Below is the language that is shared, and reviewed, with students as stated in our Saxe Student handbook:
Student cell phones are prohibited from being used during school hours (UD: 8-2:30, LD: 9:15-3:45). If a student chooses to bring his/her cell phone to school, the phone should either be powered off or put on silent mode. The cell phone should be kept in the student’s backpack and/or stored in their locker at all times during school hours. Student smartwatches may be worn during school hours, but they should be disconnected from cell phones (i.e., not used as a communication tool). Student cell phones may be used for academic-related activities at the discretion of the teacher. In this case, the teacher will provide clear instructions for how and when the cell phone should be used. Violation of this policy will result in the confiscation of the cell phone.
- First offense: The teacher will issue a reminder of the cell phone usage policy.
- Second offense: The teacher will take the student’s cell phone and the student may retrieve their phone from the LD or UD office at the end of the school day. Parents/guardians will be notified by the teacher.
- Third offense: The cell phone will be turned into the office. A parent or guardian will be notified to collect the phone from the LD or UD office after hours.
We can all benefit from more “tech-free time”, but we will need to work together. Family engagement in supporting this message is just as important as us reinforcing the rules here at school. Often times when students are found on their phones, they are responding to a parent text. This may be necessary for planning pickup, arrangements, etc. after school, but please reinforce with your child that no response is necessary or that you will connect after school. If you really need to get a message to your child in “real-time”, you are always welcome to call their Division Office, or the Main Office, and it will be delivered to them right away. These phones are always available for students to call out as well.
Lower Division: 203.594.4515
Upper Division: 203.594.4538
Main Office: 203.594.4500
Yes, the above is simply one example, and there is much work to be done, but we recognize that it will be a team effort and we are committed to working together!
NC Cares Presentation
Now, more about the Max Stossel presentation:
Social Media and your Kids! New Canaan CARES Spring Community Program…
REGISTER HERE
April 4th, 7:00 PM in the Saxe Middle School Auditorium. Learn how social media is designed to be addictive, and gain parenting tools to limit its negative impact on your children. This program is intended for all community members – including parents, grandparents, teachers, and administrators! To learn more about Max, visit socialawakening.org or follow him on YouTube – @maxstossel
National Assistant Principals Week
We are so grateful at Saxe to have an amazing team of Assistant Principals. They are an integral part of our school community and the systems that we operate in. Their commitment to students, staff, and parents is shown every day through their kindness, caring, and understanding. Thank you Ms. Granite, Mr. Bedard, and Dr. Ferreira!
Paraprofessional Day – April 3rd
A special thanks to all of our paraprofessionals! They make our Saxe community a wonderful place to be with their caring, patience, and understanding. Our students’ lives are made better every day by their presence.
Saxe Spotlight
Last week, we began highlighting some “behind the scene” staff members that we could not function without… This week, our Spotlight is on our custodians. Your dedication and hard work are the unsung heroes of our school community. Every day, you go above and beyond to ensure that our hallways are clean, our classrooms are organized, and our environment is safe for learning. Keep shining bright, custodians! Your hard work makes a world of difference. We salute you!
Science
Students in 8th-grade Science classes are investigating the variables that affect friction and how forces impact an object’s motion. Students planned and carried out experiments in order to test the effect of surface texture, surface area, and mass on the amount of static friction.
Social Studies
The students in Ms. Nelson’s 6th grade Social Studies class have been researching cultural hearths throughout history and the innovations or legacies that those cultures have produced that have helped to develop our world as we know it today. After looking at the innovations throughout history in legacy topics such as fashion, agriculture, building, timekeeping, and more, students were tasked with predicting or developing the next iteration of their legacy. Students used the design thinking process beginning with reaching out to stakeholders within each of their chosen legacies to help identify current issues in those fields today. After reading through expert answers, students used that information to determine what current users within that topic need to solve real problems within that field. They then brainstormed and prototyped solutions that were tested by their peers for feedback. Next students will reflect on how their solutions fit into the timeline of innovations within their legacy and how past innovators may have used the design thinking process to come up with the solutions we still use today.
Check out the student’s projects and listen to their reflections on the experience:
Learning in Hawk’s Valley
Mr. Gillan brought some previous learning to life in the Hawk’s Valley courtyard this week. Classes made connections to prior learning and how it related to the space they were visiting. This was done through Q&A, having students share what they knew about ancient Greek amphitheaters, and reflecting on previous lessons where they viewed some through VR… We look forward to warmer days and more opportunities to take advantage of our beautiful outdoor learning spaces!
Grade 5 Colonial Day
Hear Ye….Hear Ye
Colonial Day at Saxe Middle School: NEXT FRIDAY!
Friday, April 5th, the Fifth Connecticut Regiment and other local volunteers are coming to Saxe Middle School! During this exciting day, fifth-graders will have the opportunity to live the life of a colonist in early America. Each student will be able to immerse themselves in colonial trades, colonial politics, and a reenactment of a musket demonstration. Parents are welcome to join us for the Musket demonstration!
When: Friday, April 5, 2024
Where: Saxe Middle School (indoor- 5th grade hallway; outdoor – Connor Field)
Time: 9:15 – 3:45 pm
Who: 5th Grade Students and Staff
(Parents are invited to join the musket demonstration from 3:15 – 3:45)
Students should bring?:
1. A healthy snack (nut free please)
2. Reusable water bottle
3. Sun-block\hat (if outdoors)
4. Sit-upon or towel (if outdoors – no chairs please)
5. Drawstring bag (no backpacks needed)
Grade 6 Chelsea Piers Trip
Trip Details:
Date(s): Wednesday, April 3rd – Green / Purple Team
Thursday, April 4th – Blue / Red Team
Departure: 9:30 AM
Return: 1:20 PM
Location: Chelsea Piers, Stamford, CT
What to Bring:
Please ensure that your child is adequately prepared for the field trip. Here is a list of items they should bring:
Comfortable, active clothing and closed-toe sneakers
A labeled water bottle & labeled nut-free snack
(suggestion: labeled gallon-size zip lock bag to keep items together)
Any required medications (please give to the nurse at Saxe ahead of time)
Please make sure that you have filled out a waiver for Chelsea Piers that is required for all participants:
Wednesday (Green Purple Team): https://forms.chelseapiersct.com/youth-participation-waiver/SaxeMiddleSchool1-20240403
Thursday (Blue/Red Team):
https://forms.chelseapiersct.com/youth-participation-waiver/SaxeMiddleSchool2-20240404
We look forward to a day of fun, learning, and physical activity at Chelsea Piers. Thank you for your continued support, and we appreciate your partnership in providing enriching experiences for our 6th graders!
Saxe PE
Students in Miss Goodman’s PE classes just finished up their net unit. Grades 5/6 practice and play pickleball, while grades 7/8 practice and play badminton. We spent 4 lessons learning new skills, working with different partners, and students had the opportunity to pick their own partners and play in a round-robin tournament. Fun and stress reduction was had by all and we are now on to wiffleball.
Sustainability Passion Projects
Earlier this quarter, 8th graders in Science Workshop researched some of the sustainability initiatives that the New Canaan Library and the New Canaan Nature Center have in place. Afterward, they identified issues at Saxe surrounding sustainability and began brainstorming solutions to these problems. Over the past few weeks, these students have been busy working on their projects in the Design Lab and beyond, iterating on their ideas as necessary.
Sustainability Club
The Sustainability Club has been busy these past two weeks. Upper Division has been working on sprouting various fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse and hope to have a harvest soon. They also have planned a raised garden bed project and are looking into school safe ways to compost soil for it including worms and sticks collected from Waveny by our Lower Division members. We also met with NCHS representatives from Planet New Canaan to discuss their efforts at the high school and ways to make Saxe more sustainable. Finally, Lower Division replanted some lettuce in the tower garden to replace some plants lost from over-pruning. As the weather improves, check back to see what’s growing!
Science Workshop
This week, students in Science Workshop participated in the spaghetti tower challenge – using 20 pieces of spaghetti, one yard of string and a yard of tape, groups competed to construct the tallest possible structure that can support the weight of a marshmallow in just 18 minutes. The winning tower was 19 inches tall. Think you can do better? Try it for yourself at home! Watch this video to find out who usually performs the best on this challenge – you may be surprised!
Saxe Safety Tip of the Week from Officer Blank
Did you know that bike helmets reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85% and the risk of serious head injuries by 69%? The very simple act of buckling that helmet can be one of the most important things you do all day! Take a second and ensure you’re safe before you ride!
New Age Film Festival Open to Middle School Students
The high school shared the following information about submissions for the New Age Film Festival. Middle School students are also invited to create a video and the information is below for anyone who would like to enter!
New Age Film Festival Submission
Deadline to Submit – Friday, April 26th
Festival Awards Night – Wednesday, May 22nd 5:30-8pm
About the New Age Film Festival:
New Canaan High School is excited to announce a call for entries for the 2024 New Age Film Festival. Schools across Fairfield County are invited to submit their creative films and video productions in and of the following categories:
- Narratives
- Documentaries
- Music Videos
- Animations
- Public Service Announcements/Commercials
- “Open Entry” for for TV Productions, News Broadcasts, Promo Videos and Experimental Films
As a district, we are excited about this truly unique opportunity for supporters of film throughout the community to convene and celebrate the hard work of young filmmakers. All students, including middle school students and group projects, are invited to submit up to ONE entry. Group projects are encouraged. Please see New Age Film Festival website, where submission guidelines, information, rules, dates, and entry forms are posted. A panel of professional jurors will screen and judge all submissions on the night of the festival awards, with winners receiving awards and recognition from their peers. Please contact jennifer.sinksi@ncps-k12.org for any questions.
This year, Autism Speaks encourages everyone to pledge to support and advocate for the autism community. They pledge to Act Fearlessly For Change to create a world where autistic people are recognized and have the opportunities they deserve. Please join us in wearing BLUE on Tuesday, April 2nd to celebrate, and raise awareness and acceptance of Autism in our community!
Saxe in the News
Mr. Bedard would like to congratulate Saxe 7th-grade students Liam Regan, Mac Gaumer, Tommy Frawley, and Ben Marich. This past weekend their premier lacrosse team qualified for the World Series of Lacrosse via their tournament win. Good luck in the tourney!
Chess Club
Saxe students have a chance to test their mental mettle against each other in this 1,500+ year old game!
Twitter/X
Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Today, Saxe kicks off our Kindness Celebration for the next couple of weeks… Look forward to seeing the “joy” being spread around our school community in many fun, meaningful ways! This is a great way to round out Middle Level Education Month! #BeKind
If you’d like to participate by submitting your idea for a prize, please use the link below:
Middle Schoolers, let your voices be heard this Middle Level Education Month by joining our Student Sound Off contest! It’s a fantastic opportunity for 10-15-year-olds worldwide to express their views on middle school life today. https://okt.to/OJKSnV
Kindness week is off to a fantastic start! Fifth graders making links in our Saxe kindness chain!
Kindness Week at Saxe also includes some door decorating… This group of hard working 5th-graders took a break for a quick photo & some of the doors in 6th-grade are off to a great start!
The Kindness Chain in the 5th-grade hallway at Saxe is filled with terrific, positive messages!
One of our student postcards to thank our trusted adults at Saxe! What a beautiful message…
Even our “most senior” Saxe staff members are getting into the Kindness Spirit this week! Thanks to our #SaxeWellness committee for spreading some joy this week – nice work!
Lunch waves were filled with Saxe students spreading kindness & sharing their experiences as middle school students as we recognize & celebrate Middle Level Education Month. Thanks to all who have participated! #MLEM #BeKind
Fascinating look at a recent “stop motion” project (click the link to watch!) in one of our #SaxeArt classes – excellent job!
Thanks to our Saxe Wellness committee for spreading some joy this week – nice work!
The latest round of Saxe Shark Tank was an impressive display of creativity, design thinking, trial/error/redo, collaboration, & fun! Congrats to all participants and finalists!
What an amazing round of #SaxeSharkTank this quarter! The projects were thoughtful, & the design thinking process was on full display. We even had former Shark Tank students return to join the panel! Congrats to all involved! #SaxeScience #SaxeSTEM
At the end of each Shark Tank, our teachers ask for feedback to help improve the process for future rounds. I was blown away by the feedback that was given by the students! They were so thoughtful & eager to help future classes, that they ran out of time. Nice work, by all!
Ms. Nelson’s SS students were testing their vocab knowledge (&, reflexes) with a standing review activity!
Sometimes a well-placed reminder is all 6th-graders need to make sure they are prepared for Mr. Gillan’s class!
Love seeing this tradition at Saxe continuing every year. Ms. Orlando & Mr. Hautau have 5th graders write on an orange sticky note something that makes them happy every day before class. It is then posted in the hallway for everyone to see. Spreading of happiness all around!
During our PL meeting at Saxe this week, staff were reminded how important it is to take care of themselves (so true, for ALL of us)! Thanks to our Saxe EL team for your dedication & suggestions…
And, thanks to Ms. Hendry some staff were able to experience some time out of their own “comfort zones” participating in some activities that our students participated in! Here, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Hoefer, and Mr. Gusitsch are belayed by Ms. Hendry and Mr. Bedard (note: that ledge is much higher than the pics lead you to believe!) 🙂
Bye-Bye Birdie
It’s showtime at Saxe! Best wishes to the Cast & Crew of “Bye-Bye Birdie” – break a leg!
What an amazing show! Congrats to the Cast, Crew, Pit & everyone involved with the Bye-Bye Birdie production – it was absolutely tremendous!
“Variegation” over Saxe
One of our Saxe parents, Mrs. Casey, captured a wonderful moment last night over Saxe. Amazing!
And, another great shot over Saxe! Thanks & photo credit to Ms. K. Small!
Some amazing pics of the “visual gift” over SaxeMS on Thursday afternoon! Thanks to Ms. C. Crabill for the photos!
Pets of Saxe (staff)
A few weeks ago, we began featuring the pets who reside at the homes of some of our staff members. Thanks to Mr. Gillan who coordinated this effort to provide this opportunity to get to know each other a little better and further unite our school community! Thanks to all who have contributed as well… If you are a staff member and would still like to participate, you are welcome to access the slideshow and enter your pets. Enjoy!
Ms. Hammell – Grade 6 ELA
Ms. Devine – Grade 5 ELA
Ms. Pabon – Grade 8 ELA
Mr. Lepisto – School Counselor
Dogs of Saxe
Tucker’s not worried about a little rain at Saxe’s arrival! Thanks for saying hello!
Roxy may be one of our most “senior” Dogs of Saxe – 13.5 & still “enjoying the ride”, rain or shine!
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 DiMeglio 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
The Saxe weekly 