September 20, 2024
Dear Saxe MS Family,
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at our PTC Welcome Back Coffee, a Phone Free Schools update, grade-level meetings, an Open House reminder, Art, Music, Social Studies, Club & Extracurricular activity information, picture day, recess, scenes around Saxe, 8Green “team spirit”, Dogs of Saxe, and more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend…
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
9/24 – Grade 7 Open House (6:00 pm)
9/25 – Grade 8 Open House (6:00 pm)
9/26 – Grade 7/8 Photo Day
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” —B.B. King
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”― Albert Einstein
“Every day is a chance to learn something new.” – Unknown
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” –Jim Ryun
“The more that you read, the more things you know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”-Dr. Suess
Saxe Jokes:
What is the world’s tallest building? The Library because it has the most stories!
Why can’t you do a math test in the jungle? There are too many cheetahs
What did the lunch box say to the refrigerator? Don’t hate me because I’m a little cooler.
What time of year do people get hurt the most? In the FALL!
Why did the watch go on vacation? To unwind
Saxe Welcome Back Coffee
Thank you to Dr. Luizzi and our Saxe PTC Co-Presidents, Jess Huetter & Emily Cerone, for helping make the Saxe “Welcome Back Coffee” such a tremendous event! (Thanks to all who pitched in to prepare, setup, & help, as well!). There was a great turnout and we appreciate every parent who came out to join!
Phone Free Schools
Students, staff, and teachers in grades 7 and 8 had the opportunity to have their voices and thinking heard as Saxe Middle School prepares for the next phase of the Phone Free Schools initiative. Ms. Meyer, Ms. Nicholas, and Mr. Salvestrini had the innovative thinking to realize that this initiative was the perfect opportunity to apply the Design Thinking process our district has engaged in over the last two years.
Thanks to their innovation, a collaborative effort was seen this week as students and staff gathered to be the first Saxe “testers” of the pouches and magnets that will hold student’s personal technology. Mr. Ekstrom, Mr. Petrakopoulos, and Ms. Smith also offered their expertise, working alongside Ms. Kleis, and students, to put the New Canaan Design Thinking process into action: Explore, Focus, Ideate, Prototype, and Reflect. Thank you to all involved!
Progress is being made and we are moving closer to launching the next phase of our “Phone Free Schools”… Thanks to the team (Ms. Jarosik and crew who are helping make the rollout neat & efficient!)
In case you want to review our current practices from our previous communications, here you go:
As a reminder for students and families, the expectation is that phones and digital communication devices (smartwatches, wireless headphones, etc.) need to be “off and away” during the entire school day. This is not a change to our past practices, just a reminder to our students and staff. Please continue to power these devices down and put them “away for the day” before walking into the building (if it is easier, please feel free to leave them home) :). While we will still be using school-approved technology as part of the learning process, we look forward to helping students disconnect from unnecessary distractions, to connect with those around them during our time together! Lockable pouches for students will be rolling out in the next few weeks and we will continue to communicate information to support our Phone Free Schools.
Grade-Level Meetings
Our Saxe Middle School students gathered by grade level this week to review the ways we maintain a positive climate & culture within our school community by following the clear rules and expectations, as stated in our handbook. Thanks to our staff & students for taking this important messaging so seriously. We are proud of our students and grateful for the role that everyone plays in making our school the best we can be here at Saxe!
If you would like to review the “Our School Culture of Dignity, Respect, & Responsibility” slideshow in its entirety, we invite you to do so by clicking the link. If you would like to review our Student Handbook, it is also available via the link on our website.
Saxe MS Open House
Just a reminder that our Saxe MS Open Houses will take place on Tuesday (grade 7) and Wednesday (grade 8). More specific information regarding parking, student schedules, and order of events will be sent out early next week. We look forward to seeing you all here next week!
NCHS Dome
For anyone interested in checking out “The Dome at NCHS”, you are invited to stop by prior to your child’s open house at Saxe. If you haven’t seen this innovative space yet, you may want to take advantage of this opportunity!
Visual and Performing Arts
The Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA) is well underway in fostering student creativity and learning centered on our artistic processes! The Artistic Processes– Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting- is the framework that all art forms, music, dance, theater, and visual arts, focus on in order to provide a well-rounded experience in the Arts. These processes allow for students to demonstrate how they interact with materials, creating using their learning, and connect to the world around them. All of these areas allow for students to connect to the work and promote personalized learning in order to meet students where their specific skill levels are.
Here are a few examples of work from students in Grade 7 creating their name and identifying objects that represent them. This not only includes a personal choice for students, but students are also using The Elements of Art, such as Line and Color, to create and refine their product and demonstrate an understanding of these two elements. Students will continue to learn and demonstrate through their artwork, an understanding of The Elements and Principles of Art. Keep an eye out for displays throughout the building and more in the Saxe Weekly as students create using these building blocks of artmaking!
Here are a few more examples… Our students are off to a great start!
Music
Ensembles are Underway in the Music Department! The Performing Arts Department is making some amazing sounds in their respective ensembles this past week! Our ensembles- Choir, Orchestra, and Band– are set and students are being immersed in music making! Students are reviewing the important routines and procedures in their ensemble to ensure that we are all building a respectful music community of learners. Fostering a community where students are contributing and reflecting on their individual performance allows for them to build on skills that are needed to create successful partnerships in all areas of their lives! Making mistakes are bound to happen, but how we recover from those mistakes and persevere through them will positively impact the ensemble performance. Such a great life skill!
Your child’s success in the Arts is a partnership with you and our amazing art and music educators. Encourage your child to create at home using new and exciting materials. Something like baking cupcakes or even plating food at the dinner table is an art where they can tap into their design talents and creativity. Engage them in a drawing challenge where they depict their day through an illustration! Students who are playing an instrument and using their voice- support them by providing a designated practice area, or better yet, encourage them to teach YOU what they have learned in class this week. This is a great way for them to demonstrate their learning, think through strategies that were used in class, and engage in fun with you!
Social Studies
As a part of our first unit of study and as a launch to the year, students play the game of Catan. This is an engaging way to not only learn key vocabulary and concepts but to use them in strategic ways while working with others. In these pictures, Ms. Campbell’s class is considering the concepts of interdependence and diplomacy.
STEM Club Supply Request
STEM Clubs are just getting underway and are looking to expand our supply of building materials for student use. If you have any of these materials lying around, please drop them off in the Intermediate School Office at the back of the school! We would love to use them to create, design, and innovate. Contact Alicia Collins with any questions.
Legos
Old CDs
Cardboard
Clean plastic containers
Paper towel tubes
Craft sticks
Wrapping paper tubes
*Small & Large Boxes
Egg Cartons
Fabric
Felt
1 Liter Soda Bottles
Container Tops
Empty Oatmeal Canisters
Empty Tape Rolls
Paper/Plastic Cups
Paper Shopping Bags
Pipe Cleaners
Sturdy Paper Bowls
Sturdy Paper Plates
Toilet Paper Tubes
Water Bottles
Buttons
Straws
Styrofoam
Cotton balls
Coffee filters
String/Yarn
Bubble wrap
*Empty Boxes (copy paper, cereal, snack, oatmeal, coffee, tissue, shoe, jewelry, etc)
Club & Extracurricular Information
The Fall Session of Saxe After School Clubs for Grades 7 & 8 is now open for sign ups!
They will begin on Monday, September 23rd and will run through Friday, January 17th, 2025. Below is a link to our brochure with clubs listed by day and their descriptions as well as a link to sign up for clubs. Please make sure to leave your email so that if a club is canceled for any reason, the advisor can let you know ahead of time. This information can also be found on the Saxe Website.
Most clubs run after school from 2:40 – 3:40 pm. A late bus is available at 4:00 pm and students will not be able to ride the Grade 5/6 buses home.
Students may sign up for one club or multiple clubs. If a club is offered on multiple days, please make sure to sign up for each day.
Saxe After School Club Information
Grade 7/8 Club Sign Up Form
Please contact Lisa.Jarosik@ncps-k12.org if you have any questions.
Saxe Middle School Photo Day!
Next Thursday is Saxe MS Photo Day! You should have received an email from Legacy on ordering photos online. Please note that any pre-ordered photos will be sent to the school with no shipping charges. Orders after will be mailed home. Below is a copy of the order form should you prefer to send in a check. Please stop by the Main Office if you would like a copy!
NC Cares Presents Dr. Aliza Pressman
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Good morning from SaxeMS! It seems early to be seeing the leaves change, but the scenery around campus is stunning… Have a great day, All!
A little rest & relaxation during #SaxeRecess… The final days of summer before we switch to fall have been amazing!
Love that our 8th-graders are still able to enjoy (&, benefit from) the chunk of time that is built into their schedule for #SaxeRecess… Great weather days like the past week, also help!
This group of SaxeMS8th-graders enjoyed reflecting on their own time as 5th-graders today as they watched students file out to the fields. They were also eagerly waiting to see siblings or younger acquaintances to say “hello!” 👋
Mr. Chard’s working with his #SaxeScience students on a little natural selection… What a great way to learn about dominant & recessive genes & DNA!
8Green has been busy “building community” on their team! It’s neat to learn more about our SaxeMS students & see some “like interests” (I.e., go Steelers!)…
And, some of the amazing thought & talent that went into these pieces was pretty impressive! Nice work, 8Green!
Thank you to all of our parents who came out for the SaxePTC Welcome Back Coffee this week! The venue (Waveny House) was amazing, as always, & we had perfect weather!
Saxe Clubs are about to begin again & we are excited to offer these opportunities for our Saxe MS students to connect with our learning community beyond the school day. So many great offerings! A special thanks to Ms. Jarosik & all of our Club advisors for making this possible!
Dogs of Saxe
Nothing like a little “Westie” to start the day at Saxe MS!#DogsOfSaxe
Jerry & Janis were on the SaxeMS campus this morning – 2 of our favorite #DogsOfSaxe!
Is there a better way to start the day than with a ride to SaxeMS with your head out the sunroof to drop off your human for their day at school? Not sure there is… #DogsOfSaxe
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
