February 28, 2025
Dear Saxe MS Family,
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is already March and we were just on February break last week but I hope your week went as well as ours did at Saxe Middle School! This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at Middle Level Education Month (MLEM), our very first “Saxe MS Live”, some birthday spirit, digital wellness, special education, 8th-9th Orientation, the latest Saxe MS Staff Spotlight: Social Workers, a plant sale, NCPS summer enrichment, NC Color Drop, Saxe in the News, Black History Month, tons of “kindness”, “Believin’”, Chess Club, professional learning, Art, Music, scenes around Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
3/1 Happy March!
3/2-8 School Social Work Week
3/4 NCHS Freshman Orientation Night @ NCHS (6:30 pm)
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood”-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Maya Angelou
“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.”–Henry Ford
“The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.” – Henry Boye
“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”-Lou Holtz
Saxe jokes to “keep it light” and get a laugh each day:
What do you get when you cross a snail with a porcupine? A slowpoke!
What do you call a train carrying bubble gum? A chew-chew train!
What did one wall say to the other? I’ll meet you at the corner!
What kind of socks do grizzlies wear? None, they have bear feet!
What time is it when a lion walks into a room? Time to leave!
Middle Level Education Month
“We know that young adolescents are special. And that’s why the month of March is devoted to celebrating the wonderful things that happen each and every day in middle level education” (amle.org).
From the time our students enter school as early as pre-kindergarten, all the way through college or beyond, middle school is the most transformational period in the lives of our children. They are experiencing rapid, significant changes as they develop physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. They also discover new vistas, form relationships with peers and adults, and explore their developing identity. As educators and parents, we have the tremendous opportunity to help support them as they form the attitudes, values, and dispositions that will form who they become as adults. The research tells us that young adolescents thrive when they are provided with learning environments that are:
As we enter the month of March, we continue to focus on our most important asset, our students. The Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) has teamed up with several other organizations to declare March the official month to celebrate middle level education. The key messages to celebrate “Middle Level Education Month” are:
- The importance of parents being knowledgeable about young adolescents and being actively involved in their lives;
- The understanding that healthy bodies plus healthy minds equal healthy young adolescents;
- The realization that the education young adolescents experience during this formative period of life will, in large measure, determine the future for all citizens; and
- The knowledge that every young adolescent should have the opportunity to pursue his or her dreams and aspirations, and post-secondary education should be a possibility for all.
New Canaan exemplifies what it means to provide the best education possible and Saxe Middle School is proud to be able to play a critical role in the overall educational journey that our students make. Thank you for your continued support! Feel free to check out #MLEM and more information/resources at: http://www.amle.org/ or Nat’l Assoc of Elem School Principals
To help kick off Middle Level Education Month, we held our first “Saxe MS live” morning announcement broadcast (we also identified some room for improvement for future episodes, so it was a good thing we had a “back up video” view with just the speakers 🙂 ). In addition to a few visuals/slides that were shared, our students did a terrific job, and to show some good middle school spirit, we were able to showcase some of our staff members who were vulnerable enough to share their own “Middle School Era” pictures! Stay tuned for more middle school celebrations throughout the course of March…
Thanks again to Abby and Sophia for joining and for doing such a great job!
Birthday Spirit
We know we have many special students at Saxe Middle School who are caring and talented. This week, we got to see a couple of them who applied their skills in “cake artistry” to share with 8th-grade Science teacher, Ms. Dunn, as she celebrated her birthday this week. Amazing work, Liv and Zoe, and, Happy Birthday, Ms. Dunn!
“Cake Artists” – Liv Takach and Zoe Skrelunas
Digital Wellness
In the spirit of focusing on what is best for our students “in the middle”, the following article was shared this week and fits nicely with our focus on “Middle Level Education Month”. Below are a few snippets, followed by a link the entire article, posted in Harvard Magazine. It is an interesting read as well as a good reminder (for all of us) on the importance of, and some tips to, maintaining a positive relationship with our technology.
“Like it or not, children and teenagers today are live participants in an unprecedented experiment,” says Erin O’Donnell in Harvard Magazine. Ubiquitous cellphones and hyper-engagement in social media have coincided over the last 15 years with a sharp increase in teen anxiety and depression. Researchers from Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving surveyed 1,545 U.S. teenagers in the fall of 2023 and followed up with focus group interviews. What emerged was a vivid description of the “grind culture” dominating kids’ lives – “this sense of always needing to be productive, to be striving in all these different areas, even at the expense of your health,” said Center co-director Emily Weinstein. Some specific findings:
– 56 percent felt “game plan” pressure – to have their future path clear and set;
– 53 percent felt pressure to earn impressive grades or excel in sports;
– 51 percent to look their best;
– 44 percent to have a robust social life;
– 41 percent to be available to support friends;
– 32 percent to stay informed and do good for their community.
Where do all these pressures come from? Parents, teachers, teens themselves – and social media. About one in five of those surveyed said they were “almost constantly” on social media, messaging apps, and YouTube. Using Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat intensified the pressures teens felt.
On the positive side, playing online games with friends acted as a release valve, distracting kids from the grind. And social media sometimes reduced pressures, says Weinstein: “It can provide meaningful validation, the sense of being seen or not being alone.”
The researchers were struck by the fact that 19 percent of those surveyed said they were
not feeling pressure in any of the six areas listed above. Several practices and patterns were
common among these outliers:
– They got more sleep;
– Were more likely to spend time outdoors;
– Had more open schedules;
– Watched less television;
– Spent less time on social media and the Internet.
The more self-care practices teens engaged in – including seven or more hours of sleep, regular exercise, time in nature, hanging out with a friend, engaging in creative projects – the less likely they were to feel burned out.
“Teen Grind Culture” by Erin O’Donnell in Harvard Magazine, March-April 2025 (Vol. 127,
#4, pp. 8-10)
Special Education
As part of “Start with Hello” week, our student leadership team (supported by general and special education staff) designated themes for each day. The “Be the I in Kind” mural was one initiative and students and staff continue to be featured as the “I” in Kind.
NCHS Freshman Orientation Night
Our terrific School Counseling team of Ms. Beltran, Mr. Lepisto, and Ms. Nettleton have been working with our 8th-grade students to educate and prepare them for next steps beyond middle school. On Tuesday, March 4th, they will have an opportunity to see much of what they have been learning about firsthand as NCHS will be holding an Orientation night for 8th graders!
This week, Principal Egan sent a letter home to families with further information. Throughout the evening, students will have the opportunity to tour different parts of the school, meet faculty and students, and learn more about the many programs and opportunities available to them. For more information, please feel free to review the “Transition Letter from Principal Egan”. We look forward to seeing you over at NCHS next week!
Saxe MS Staff Spotlight: Social Workers – Ms. Pesce and Ms. Perretti
School Social Work Week 2025 celebrates the collective power and passion of school social workers who unite communities to ignite positive change in the lives of students, families, and schools. This year’s theme, “Unite to Ignite: Celebrating our Impact,” highlights the vital role school social workers play in fostering connections, advocating for equity, and driving social and emotional growth. We acknowledge the vital role our Social Workers play in supporting the well-being of our students and fostering a positive school environment. Thank you to Ms. Pesce and Ms. Perretti for all you do for our Saxe community!
Saxe Social Workers: Ms. Pesce & Ms. Perretti
Sustainability Club Plant Sale
Get ready for our Saxe Middle School Cactus Plant Sale! These unique, easy-to-care-for plants have been propagated and nurtured by students in the Sustainability Club and will soon be ready for their new homes.
Cactus plants make great gifts and are perfect for brightening up any space! All proceeds will go toward supporting our club. Come pick out your favorite plant and enjoy watching it grow!
Don’t miss out on this chance to support sustainability and bring a little greenery into your life!
NCPS Summer Enrichment
New Canaan Summer Enrichment is pleased to announce that our 2025 Summer Program is about to launch. Once again we are excited to offer a variety of in-person, fun-filled experiences for children of all ages. There are several returning camps, as well as some exciting new camps this year. To see what we have planned for this summer, check out our website at https://www.ncps-k12.org/o/ncps/page/ncps-summer-enrichment-home. Complete camp descriptions, times, locations, and prices are posted on our website. We will begin accepting registrations on Monday, March 3rd at 12:00 noon. You can register and pay online on our website. Summer fun is now just a few clicks away!
Brett Gillan, Darren Bruce – New Canaan Summer Enrichment Co-directors summer.enrichment@ncps-k12.org
Saxe MS Supporting NCHS
GOLF BALLS ON SALE NOW!!
GIVE YOUR VALENTINE A CHANCE AT
WINNING, BUY A BALL!
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 @ 10:00am
WAVENY PARK MARCH 22nd:
The helicopter will release 2,000 golf balls over a target at Waveny Park. Each ball will be numbered individually and the participants whose golf ball(s) land closest to the target will win one of the grand prizes below! 100% of proceeds will be donated to need-based college scholarships for NCHS graduates. Spectators are welcome. Click to learn more about:
NC Color Drop
NCHS Scholarship Foundation
Saxe in the News
Congratulations to 8th grader, Payce deMarco, who auditioned for and was accepted into the Honors Performance Series Middle School Band, for Clarinet, a global audition that performs at Carnegie Hall in NYC in June. The Honors Performance Series assembles some of the world’s rising young musicians to perform under the baton of master conductors at several of the world’s most celebrated concert halls. The Middle School Series showcases the most talented international middle school performers at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Congrats and good luck, Payce – we know you will continue to make Saxe MS proud!
Black History Month
Throughout the month of February, we recognize important African American members of our community at large. This week, we celebrate the lives and work of Garrett Morgan, W.E.B. DuBois, Ruby Bridges, Thurgood Marshall, and George Washington Carver – our lives, and society in general, would not be the same without their contributions!
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
A little taste of some “structural engineering” in Science Workshop this week!
Ms. Nettleton, Ms. Ryan, and Ms. Perretti were back in action filling in the “i” in “Kind” with our most important assets – our students!
And, I dare to say our students had some fun along the way!
The latest look at the ever growing “Believe” wall at Saxe and another round of inspirational additions!
Visualization, calculation, tactics, evaluation/analysis, strategy, and more… You could almost feel the positive mental energy as you walked by the Saxe Chess Club this week!
An absolutely perfect day to be outside on Friday… We are so grateful for this amazing space for our students to get some sunshine, fresh air, activity, and social interaction during recess!
Thanks to Ms. DiMeglio for capturing a few “behind the scenes” snaps as we prepared to launch our first ever “Saxe MS Live” a.m. announcement broadcast!
We started the week in spectacular fashion as we celebrated Ms. Jarosik’s birthday upon our return from break!
A look at some Professional Learning activity prior to the February break (and, more)…
Some great Professional Learning at SaxeMS! Our ELA teachers met as a group in the morning & then broke out into grade-level teams later in the day. Great brainstorming conversations that will surely benefit our students for the remainder of the school year!
Thank you to our Tech Integrators for running several meaningful AI sessions, for each department… There were great brainstorming conversations on how it can be applied to planning & instruction throughout the rest of the day!
Thank you to our Saxe PTC for helping make our Saxe MS staff feel appreciated & cared for during our February PL Day! Nothing says “thank you” like not 1, but 2, “New Haven Pizza Trucks” & some great seasonal decorations to enjoy during the lunch break!
Thank you to our Saxe Custodians for having the gym set up for our Saxe MS staff members to enjoy a little social time with colleagues, music, & some cornhole during our PL lunch break!
The latest Saxe Art projects are on display! Thanks to our teachers, & of course students, for keeping our school community looking great!
Another fresh coat of paint at Saxe MS! It may not seem like much, but the “little things” make a big difference! Thanks to our custodial & maintenance teams who keep Saxe looking great, inside & out!
The “Challenge Series” for Saxe Band students continues to expand!
Good morning & welcome back, Saxe MS! Today is Monday & it is an “E-Day”… We hope everyone had a great February break & look forward to seeing all of our students & staff back in the building today! Have a great day, All!
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
