August 25, 2025
Dear Saxe Middle School Students and Parents,
We have been busy preparing Saxe Middle School for the opening of the 2025-26 school year and enthusiastically await the arrival of our approximately 600 7th & 8th-grade students tomorrow morning! Whether this is your first time arriving on campus, or you have been through this with some of your older children, we would also like to welcome our parents to the 2025-26 school year! Every member of our learning community plays an important role in making Saxe Middle School the special place that it is. Below are some important details, live links, and helpful resources as we prepare for our first day…
The School Day
- Saxe Middle School (Grades 7, 8) starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:30 pm
- After-school extracurricular activities will begin in September (more info will be shared soon)
*It is always helpful for your child to bring a printed copy of their schedule on the first day. Because there are some situations that require some last-minute finetuning, please print a fresh copy on Monday evening (or, Tuesday morning). You may find the link to PowerSchool, here, and if necessary, instructions to access your child’s schedule, here.
As students arrive at school on Tuesday, they should report as follows:
- Grade 8 Students – Report to their Period 1, “A” Day World Language or Special Area class
- Grade 7 Students – Report to their Period 1, “A” Day Core class
Students can rest easy knowing that we will have staff around the building to point them in the right direction in the event they need a little guidance in our first few days :). On the occasion of an absence on any given day, please email Ms. Benware in the Saxe Middle School Office:
- lin.benware@ncps-k12.org or call 594-4500
Phone Free Schools & Digital Wellness
As we have seen, our move to Phone Free Schools last year, and a general emphasis on digital wellness, was hugely beneficial to students (and, adults) in the way we operate within our building during school hours. We will continue to build upon this, and students are reminded to bring their Yondr pouches on day 1 (there will be pouches available for students who are new to Saxe, or in need of one). As a reminder, cell phones, smart watches, wireless earphones, or any digital communication devices will not be permitted during the school day and should remain powered down & in their pouch. While we will still be using school-approved technology as part of the learning process, where/when appropriate, we look forward to helping students disconnect from unnecessary distractions to connect with those around them during our time together! If you have any questions, please contact your School Counselor, or if you need to get a message to your child(ren), Ms. Benware will be more than happy to assist!
Arrival and Departure
Thanks for following these simple rules to keep our students safe. Dropping off or picking up students on the street is unsafe. The passing of a school bus with its stop sign extended/lights flashing, is illegal & will be reported by the bus driver. Please review the arrival/departure locations and procedures here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have been compiling a list of FAQs as we lead up to the opening of the school year. These include topics from backpacks to what to bring on Day 1, electronic devices, lockers to lunches, and everything in between. You are welcome to view these questions and the accompanying responses, here.
General Reminders
- There is no better way to start the day than with a hearty, healthy breakfast. Please remember to prepare each day by eating well in the morning
- To maintain the cleanest, and most respectful, environment possible, chewing gum and hats are not permitted in our classrooms or offices
- Guidance for appropriate school attire, along with other important student information, is available in our handbook, here. All students and parents are encouraged to access and review this useful information
- Our administrative assistants, school counselors, teachers, and administrators are always happy to answer any additional/specific questions that you may have. Please feel free to reach out!
Saxe PTC
Finally, we invite all parents to be active members of our school community. As a member of the Saxe Parent Teacher Council (PTC), you may participate in a variety of efforts that are all designed to have a positive impact on the entire educational experience for your child. We are so grateful for our amazing PTC and the wonderful partnership that exists with our school! Please visit the Saxe PTC site, here.
Parting Thoughts
In our recent Saxe “Welcome Back Letter”, we offered an opportunity for students and parents to reflect on our “1-word: Inspire” and what it means to our school community as we head into the 2025-26 school year. I encourage you to have a conversation with your child(ren) around this topic, discuss the number of trusted adults that are here at Saxe MS to advocate for your child, and invite you to share any thoughts, suggestions, or questions through this quick Google form (thanks to all who already replied!).
In addition to the above information, we will continue celebrating our Saxe students, staff, activities, and community through our weekly newsletter (saxems.com), our continuously updated website, and our X (Twitter) handle, @SaxeMS. I look forward to connecting, or reconnecting, with each of you soon!
Wishing everyone a great evening and a restful night’s sleep on the eve of our new school year. We look forward to seeing our entire 2025-26 Saxe Middle School community come together for the first time tomorrow!
Be well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Our Facilities are looking good and ready to welcome back our students for the 2025-26 school year – thanks to all involved!
