September 5, 2025
Dear Saxe MS Family,
Week two of the 2025-26 school year is in the books, and we have had an opportunity to experience so much already! It has been a terrific start and our staff continues to state how impressed, and proud, they (we) are of this group of students. Our 7th and 8th-graders have established themselves as leaders and positive role models as students, and we are excited to work closely with them this year! Thanks for scrolling through the Saxe Weekly to see just a sliver of what makes Saxe Middle School such a special place to be, every single day!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at a podcast version of the Weekly, the Celebrate Saxe “postcard contest”, Math, ELA, grade-level assemblies, Science, an attendance reminder, Photo Day, SRO Safety Tips of the Week (and, a special SRO PSA/celebrity sighting!), recess, “displays of positivity”, “moving in Math”, School Counselors, the morning “activity crew”, morning announcements, welcoming new staff, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
9/16: 10:30 am Saxe PTC Welcome Back Coffee @ Waveny
9/23: Rosh Hashanah – Building Closed…
9/24: 6:00 pm Open House Grade 7/8 (schedules will be shared out in advance)
9/26: 8:00am Grade 7 & 8 Photo Day
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“A little progress each day adds up to big results” — Satya Nani
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”-Benjamin Franklin
“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” –Thomas Jefferson
“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching”-Unknown
Saxe Jokes of the week:
Why are spiders great web developers? They like finding bugs.
What is a history teacher’s favorite fruit? Dates!
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Wooden shoe. Wooden shoe who? Wooden shoe like to hear another joke?
Who’s the superhero in computer class? The Screen Saver!
Saxe Weekly: The Podcast
Interested in getting an overview of the latest Saxe Weekly in podcast form? Using Google’s Notebook LM, we are able to offer an option to listen to all of the great “goings on” around Saxe while you are “on the go”! We invite you to give it a listen, here. Enjoy! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z9hFaKQonWwZxw94NT-0hCzHhJPhQA-K/view?usp=sharing
Celebrate Saxe Postcard Contest
Calling all student artists! Celebrate Saxe – Saxe’s annual PTC fundraiser is looking for postcard artwork to be used in our mailing that will go to every Saxe family this fall. This year’s theme is Unlock Your Magic! Using this Magic theme, please create an original postcard calling on our Saxe community to Unlock their Magic this school year! Submissions should be 8.5×11 on white paper and in landscape format/orientation. Submissions must include your name and grade on the back. Please drop your submission to the Main Office by Monday, 9/15, at the end of the school day. We can’t wait to see your creativity and Saxe spirit! Any questions? Please contact Karen Willet at klwillett@gmail.com.
(note: below are the winners from the past 4 years – feel free to include our 1-word from this year, “Inspire”)
Math
Ms. Martin’s 8th-grade Geometry students worked in pairs to complete a virtual escape room while reviewing their prerequisite Algebra skills. They completed problems, solved puzzles and deciphered codes in order to escape the room!
English Language Arts
This week, ELA teachers continued building classroom communities as readers, writers, and critical thinkers by sharing and recommending books, getting to know one another, setting goals, and reflecting on what stories reveal about themselves and others. Eighth graders are celebrating their summer reading selections, while seventh graders are creating book banners/slides and sharing meaningful symbols from their lives. We’re looking forward to a year filled with outstanding books, purposeful writing, and thoughtful critical thinking!
Grade Level Assemblies
This week, we held our Grade-Level assemblies to remind our students how to be their best selves & be successful at Saxe MS! To personalize it, we shared what it means to show “Character”, using the NCHS CT Rams championship football team “winning with dignity” in a close game!
If you would like to see the slides that were shared during the assembly, please feel free to do so, below. And, be sure to ask your children about the presentation, too!
Dr. Ferreira addresses our Saxe MS Class of ‘26 during the GL Assemblies this week. Personal connections & sharing “Moments that Matter” help model what it means to “be kind” or “be a good person” (like someone driving a suitcase from Danbury to Newark before an international flight!).
Science
Model It, Guess It – In 7th-grade Science, students took on the challenge of drawing a model of an everyday task or process using only pictures — no words. After sharing their models with classmates, groups tried to guess what each one represented. Students then reflected on what made certain models clear and easy to understand, while others were harder to interpret. This activity introduces the idea that scientific models are powerful tools for communicating and explaining ideas, and it sets the stage for developing modeling skills as part of the scientific and engineering practices we’ll focus on throughout the year. Such great creativity on display!
Grade 7/8 Attendance Reminder
Please note that the Middle School does not use the Dismissal Manager service. Instead, please email
Ms. Benware @ Lin.Benware@ncps-k12.org for any absences, tardies, early dismissals, messages, etc. Thank you!
MS Photo Day
Friday, September 26th, is 7th & 8th Grade Photo day! You should be receiving an email from Legacy with ordering information, but in the meantime, you can feel free to use the QR code below to get the process started. There are also hard copies of the order form in the Main Office. We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s picture in the Saxe Yearbook this year!
Saxe SRO Safety Tip of the Week
It is so wonderful to have the halls here at Saxe abuzz again with the life you all bring to our school each day. Some important information to keep everyone safe as we come and go from our school.
Some Walking Safety Tips:
- Follow the rules of the roads, including all signs and signals.
- ALWAYS walk on sidewalks if possible.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and distance yourself from the traffic as much as possible.
- When crossing streets, use crosswalks if possible. Look for cars in all directions before crossing. Look left, right, then left again before crossing as well.
- Make eye contact with drivers as they approach before crossing.
Some Bike and Scooter Safety Tips:
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bike and/or scooter. Not only is it smart, it is the law.
- Obey traffic laws
- Make eye contact with drivers as you approach each other
- Obey all E-bike laws, new laws in effect October 2025:
Parents:
- Please only drop your children off at designated drop-off locations (Lower entrance during drop off, Main entrance during the school day)
- Never drop your children off on South Ave or Farm Ave, and let them cross in front of, or behind, your vehicle
- Please do review the above rules of the road and safety tips with your children
Thank you for helping keep all of our Saxe family members safe!
Channel 3 SRO PSA
Our very own School Resource Officer, Matt Blank, was asked to do a PSA for Channel 3 about School Safety for the opening of school. This video will be played throughout the state of Connecticut! You can watch it here:
Nice job, Officer Blank!
One of the most important things we do each summer is onboard new staff. We are excited to have our new Special Education teacher, Mr. Stacom, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Peter!
We are excited to have our new Campus Monitor, Mr. Rich, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Joe!
We are excited to have our new Special Education TA, Mr. Preston, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Amir!
We are excited to have Special Ed. teacher, Ms. Potts, officially return to the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome back, Patty – we are lucky to have you with us again!
We are excited to have our French teacher, Mr. Norton, officially return to the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome back, Clinton!
We are excited to have our new Custodian, Mr. Martinelli, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Dan!
We are excited to have our new French teacher, Ms. Martin, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Ouaria!
We are excited to have long-term Special Ed sub, Mr. Hawthorne, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Dave!
We are excited to have our new Special Ed TA, Ms. Grecco, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Isabella!
We are excited to have our Art teacher, Ms. Giannetta, officially return to the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome back, Jessy!
We are excited to have Mr. Fiorillo, join the Saxe MS 7th-grade Math team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Mike!
We are excited to have our new School Psychologist, Ms. Dower, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Lara!
We are excited to have our building sub, Mr. Dolan, officially return to the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome back, Mike!
We are excited to have our Special Ed TA, Mr. Christinat, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Joe!
We are excited to have our long term sub, Mr. Christel, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Sam!
We are excited to have a new Special Education teacher, Ms. Carlson, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Anne Marie!
We are excited to have our new intern, Ms. Aufiero, join the Saxe MS team as we kick off the 2025-26 school year! Welcome aboard, Tori!
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Celebrate Saxe
Would you like your talent & creativity to be on display as the next “feature postcard” for the upcoming Celebrate Saxe ‘25 campaign?! Check out details & the previous 4 years winners, below… Feel free to weave in our Saxe MS 1-word, “Inspire”, too! Good luck & thanks for participating!
Great reminders to help make the school year (&, life) the best it can be! Thank you for sharing, ZBauermaster & PrincipalProj!
Another glorious day that our @SaxeMS students got to appreciate & enjoy during #SaxeRecess… I’m not sure I can remember another stretch of weather this nice to start a school year – it’s been GREAT!
How do we answer questions or solve problems at @SaxeMS? We “work them out”! Ms. DiMeglio & SRO Blank were asked how far it was from one entrance to the steps of the other, so they lunge walked it, to pace it out! How far, you ask? It’s FAR – over 110 yards!
8Green students share some of their “favorites”, dreams, talents, & more… What an amazing display to represent @SaxeMS!
8Purple shares what makes the individuals on their team unique & what a variety of amazing pieces that make up this terrific @SaxeMS puzzle!
It’s always a treat going into our #SaxeMath classes & seeing students having choice in how they’d like to tackle a problem… Sit, stand, whiteboard, pencil/paper, collaborate, solo – ALL options! Thank you to our Saxe MS teachers for creating such an engaging environment!
Mr. Santoro’s Math students were up & around the classroom as they collaborated on solving a “Same, But Different” problem. Great way to start class (&, the day) at Saxe MS!
Ms. Nettleton was in visiting our newest students, Saxe MS 7th-graders, this week. In addition to getting to know her students & them getting to know each other, they covered some valuable lessons, skills, & resources to be successful this year! We are grateful for our School Counselors and the role they play in our school community – thank you!
Mr. Lepisto, did the same!.
So did, Ms. Beltran!
There’s a new Saxe MS “Morning Crew” in the house! We love seeing students take advantage of the facilities before heading into school for the day, & this group has made it a habit of starting their day off right… Nice job & keep up the great work!
Morning announcements are BACK at Saxe MS! Thanks to our student volunteers who do such a terrific job sharing relevant info, upcoming events, jokes, quotes, & so much more – it’s a great way to start the day!
Forget which day of the rotation it is? 8Blue has you covered! They’re bringing their bulletin board A-Game to kick off the year at Saxe MS!
Dogs of Saxe
Benji & Rusty were also here to put smiles on our faces at morning drop-off at Saxe MS this week!
Owl, Cooper, & Cody were out to brighten our day at Saxe MS this week!
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
