April 11, 2025
Dear Saxe MS Family,
Well, here we are at another important date on the school calendar – Spring Break! Similar to previous breaks, it is my hope that you are able to relax and spend some quality time with those you care most about. I plan to catch up on some items that have fallen on my “to do” list while I mix in spending some time with my family in CT, PA, and NY. Hopefully, some of this “unseasonal” weather will decide to make way for some more springlike weather for all of us who are staying fairly local to enjoy!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at Shark Tank, The Saxe “Final Four”, NCHS Captains at Saxe, Art, Spring Spirt Wear, “Saxe Serves” PTC event, NC CARES event on vaping, an NCPS Spotlight, Saxe in the News, Walk, Ride, Roll to School Day, some items from NASA, a sneak peek at Earth Day, AP appreciation, a rocket launch, motivational quotes, Library, scenes around Saxe, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful Spring Break!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
4/14-18 April Break – Enjoy!
4/21 Welcome back!
Weekly Words of Inspiration:
“Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.”— Oscar Wilde
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” —John Wooden
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” –Zig Ziglar
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” —Beverly Stills
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Gail Devers
This Week’s Saxe Smile – Lightening the Mood, One Joke at a Time
What did the alpaca say when he wanted to go on a picnic? Alpaca lunch
When does a car stop being a car? When it turns into the driveway
What do you call a cow that fell into a hole? A holey cow!
When do you go at red and stop at green? When you’re eating a watermelon!
Why did two 4’s skip dinner? Because they already 8!
From all of us at Saxe MS, we wish you a Happy Spring Break!
Shark Tank at the BOE
Congratulations to Logan Scherr, Sophia Coppola, Quinn Monohan, and Charlie Maguire for an outstanding Shark Tank presentation to the Board of Education this week. You “pitched” your products with confidence and style and the Board was impressed with the process of bringing your ideas to life! Thank you for doing such a wonderful job of representing Saxe Middle School.
Celebrating Saxe MS
Recently, we asked Saxe MS students & staff what makes our school community special & the results are in! Each “vote” came directly from student responses (all great) & not surprisingly, our students, staff, great education, (& recess) reached the “Final 4”! We are “Saxe proud”!
Note each of the responses on the right are directly from students who replied to the original Google form asking what they liked most or thought made Saxe special! These are just 16 of the top 30+ responses…
Added bonus, we got to share specific responses with staff members to show them the huge difference they make!
NCHS Captains visit Saxe
The NCHS spring athletic captains visited 7th-grade classrooms at Saxe Middle School this week as a part of our ongoing anti-bullying/ kindness initiatives. They shared their knowledge about the importance of using social media responsibly with the Saxe students. Thank you to all of the Captains who did a fantastic job! Thank you to Jay Egan, Athletic Director, and Sandra Warkentin, NCHS School Psychologist, for organizing the effort- as well as to all of the 7th grade teachers and counselors for their help with this lesson.
Art
7th graders are getting their hands quite sticky this week as they began paper-macheing their Pop Art Sculptures! Armatures this year range from a shark to the Golden Gate bridge to jelly-cats!
One group made the wheels to their Range Rover in the Fab Lab so it can actually drive!
Shark Tank Workshop
In an exciting collaboration, a group of high school students visited our 7th grade Shark Tank workshop to share their expertise in marketing and advertising techniques. The high schoolers, who had recently participated in their own entrepreneurial projects, engaged the younger students by demonstrating effective strategies to enhance their product presentations. They covered essential topics such as identifying target audiences, crafting compelling pitches, and utilizing visual media to capture attention. This interactive session not only inspired the 7th graders to think creatively about their projects but also equipped them with valuable skills to make their presentations stand out to potential investors. The exchange fostered a sense of mentorship and encouraged collaboration between different grade levels.
Spring Spirit Wear
Fresh for Spring: Pre-Order the New Saxe Collection
The Saxe Spring 2025 Spirit Wear Collection is here—fresh looks, bold colors, and something for everyone (yes, adults too!). The Spirit Wear Store is officially open for pre-orders, so now’s your chance to stock up on gear that shows your Saxe pride.
Order Deadline: Wednesday, April 16th at midnight
“Saxe Serves” PTC Event
Before you head off for a well-deserved spring break, be sure to mark your calendar for our first-ever Saxe Serves event on Thursday, April 24 at 9:30 AM at Saxe.
This unique event is designed to help families:
Connect with amazing community organizations
Over a dozen groups will be on hand to share how your child can give back—and how your family can be supported.
No RSVP needed—just come by after break and explore how we serve (and strengthen!) our community together. Enjoy your break, and we hope to see you on April 24!
Community Event
Later this month, Saxe will be hosting NC CARES as they discuss this relevant and timely topic. You are welcome to learn more or register on their website.
Parents: Let’s Talk About Vaping, Nicotine & Cannabis! Join CARES for “Protect Your Health: A Family Conversation About Vaping, Nicotine & Cannabis” – an educational session on the science behind vaping, its effects on the body, and how to recognize common products like vapes, nicotine pouches, and cannabis devices.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
7:00 PM at Saxe Middle School
A conversation and Q&A with:
- Tricia Dahl – Senior Research Assistant, Yale School of Medicine, Yale’s Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
- Our very own – Officer Matt Blank – NCPD, School Resource Officer, Saxe Middle School
Register now at www.newcanaancares.org
Help us build a healthier and stronger New Canaan together!
Registration Link: HERE
NCPS Spotlight
We’re excited to share a new NCPS video spotlighting the people and passion behind our schools! Hear from our amazing staff as they share their stories and what makes us the #1 Best School District in CT. Watch it now on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube (@ncpsct) and give it a like, share, and comment to help us reach more talented educators!
Saxe in the News
Grayson and Ainsley Petraska recently returned from a huge snowboard competition in Colorado and came home as 2025 National Champions! Grayson earned the coveted title of National Champion in Boardercross, and Ainsley is now the National Champion in Giant Slalom and Boardercross. To top it off, they were both awarded the prestigious Overall Champion title — a reflection of their dedication, perseverance, and passion for the sport. Congratulations to the Petraska family!
Save the Date
The Spring Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day is scheduled for the first Friday in May (5/2). We look forward to seeing as many students, parents, and dogs as possible as we start the day together in the best way possible – with a little fresh air, exercise, and socialization!
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Today, Saxe Science teacher Mr. Tomasiewicz casually mentioned, “hey, check out this cool astronaut ‘glove’ I just got from NASA. It goes with these other items they’ve sent”. Every so often, Mr. T applies & they send amazing items which enrich his teaching. Talk about finding ways to inspire your students – VERY cool! 🧑🚀
Sneak peek alert! 🚨 👀… Our Saxe MS Leadership Team has been busy preparing for Earth Day 2025 (4/22) by creating a fun, informative video! Stay tuned upon our return from April break & thanks to all involved! 🌎
Thank you to the NCHS spring sports captains (Go Rams!) who took the time to come back to Saxe MS
to speak with our students! They shared valuable perspectives/lessons they have learned & connected with our students in a truly meaningful way!
Thank you to the Saxe Hospitality crew for the latest “TGIF Breakfast”! It’s a great way to start the day & round out a week (especially before April break)!
Happy National Assistant Principals Week! We are fortunate to have one of the best in the biz with Dr. Ferreira at Saxe MS… Thanks for all that you do for our entire school community – you are appreciated!
T-10 & clear for take-off! 29* at Saxe MS is not holding back this group of “Rocketeers” (Watch the rocket by clicking the links)! Thank you to our 7th-grader, Danny, for providing this experience for some of the younger students involved!
The Saxe “Believe Wall” continues to expand & is a great visual representation of the power of being committed to a project… This began with 1 sticky note in the 1st quarter, and now fills the length of one our longer hallways in our school with each note holding a message of inspiration for all to see!
8Red with some great reminders on how to “Bee” one’s best self! Thank you for sharing these with our Saxe MS community!
The Saxe MS “Sustainability Tree” continues to grow! Thanks to all who have contributed!
Some great messages outside the Saxe Library as Saxe MS celebrates both School Library Month & Poetry Month… Thank you to our staff who continue to inspire our students, each & every day!
Art
This is what something “going viral” in the physical realm (or, as the kids say – “irl”) looks like… It all began with one pic in Ms. Grainsky’s Art class & quickly turned into an entire bulletin board display!
Some of the latest Saxe Art creations are ready to go on display!
Scenes Around Saxe
This week may have been mostly cloudy, but the “scenes around SaxeMS” continue to look more & more springlike!
Dogs of Saxe
Hank makes our day every time he visits for SaxMS arrival! Dogs Of Saxe
Have a great week, see you on the other end of the Spring Break!
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
