2025.12.12 – SAXE WEEKLY (#306)

December 12, 2025

Dear Saxe MS Family,

As we inch closer to the close of 2025 (still does not seem possible), we continue to make the most of each and every day here at Saxe Middle School. We are grateful for all that we are able to provide, and accomplish, within our school community. We appreciate you taking a moment to read, scan, or scroll through just a snapshot of what makes our school unique, special, and extraordinary, and we are proud to share it with you each week!

After about a month of troubleshooting some technical difficulties with our newsletter host site, WordPress, we are back to our original, user-friendly format. A special thanks to Ms. Jarosik for her research and commitment to getting us back on track!

This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest Saxe MS Podcast, a “Phone Free Schools” reminder, Science, Band, STEM, Saxe Leadership, Spring Musical, NCHS Dome, South Sing-Along, Recess, Art, Social Studies, Saxe SRO, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Be Well,

Dave Gusitsch

Principal, Saxe Middle School

Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:

12/16 7:00 pm NCHS/Saxe 7/8th Grade Band Concert

12/18 7:00pm 7/8 Winter Choir Concert

12/19 10:30 Poetry in Motion – Grade 7 Workshop Presentation

*Quotes that resonated with us this week:

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”-Benjamin Franklin

“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” – Dalai Lama

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”–Napoleon Hill

“Don’t strive to be well known, strive to be worth knowing.”-Unknown

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn …and change.”-Carl Rogers

Saxes Jokes of the week:

What do you call a jacket that goes up in flames? A blazer!

I don’t want to brag but I finished a puzzle in one week. The box said 2-4 years!

Why was the snowman looking in the bag of carrots? He was picking his nose!

I’m working on a bunch of jokes about wind. They’re currently saved as drafts.

My friend Jack claims he can communicate with vegetables. Jack and the beans talk!

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” in our school community while you are “on the go”, with the Saxe MS Podcast! We invite you to give it a listen… Enjoy!

Note: We have been using Notebook LM to create our podcast for the past couple of months, and recently, noticed the “create an image – infographic” option. It’s a pretty neat representation of the latest Saxe Weekly and may become part of our weekly update – enjoy!

Phone Free Schools

Just a reminder that our practice of “Phone Free Schools” is part of our goal to create healthy habits, including those around “digital wellness”. We will continue to monitor the use of Yondr pouches during the school day, but please double-check to ensure your child(ren)s pouch is still in good working condition. Should you need a new pouch for any reason (damaged, lost, etc.), we are happy to assist (info below)!

Science

8 Green spent the week exploring the structure of DNA by analyzing and creating models. Students worked with both digital and physical representations, including a full-class human “DNA chain” in which each student acted as a nucleotide. This hands-on approach helped build a clearer understanding of DNA’s structure as we prepare to investigate its function.

This week, 7th-graders in Ms. Smith’s Science class started their new unit about Matter and the bath bomb phenomenon! During this unit, students will explore and show their learning with sketchnoting. Sketchnoting is a visual note-taking method that combines drawing and handwriting to capture ideas. Sketch noting can lead to improved memory and retention, enhances comprehension, increases focus, and, FUN! Students really took this to the next level during the phenomenon!

Band

This week, the annual Holiday Sing-a-Long took place at the high school with the NCHS band, choir, and orchestra. Ms. Frazier joined with a small group of 7th and 8th-graders to play a few carols. They had the best time, and the students did such a wonderful job! Nice work, and we are so proud of you!

STEM Workshop

In our 8th-grade STEM Workshop, students continued building their understanding of artificial intelligence while reinforcing key computer science standards. After exploring major current events topics such as AI slop and misinformation, AI in the workplace, and AI’s environmental impact, students created artifacts to represent their thinking and learning for each theme.

We wrapped up with a gallery walk where students reviewed one another’s work, compared perspectives, and posed new or lingering questions about each topic. Their reflections showed thoughtful analysis and a growing understanding of how AI shapes and is shaped by our world.

Leadership Team

The Leadership Team members shared their presentations on proposals for the next initiatives they will be working on at Saxe! They shared their ideas, the process, and how it would positively contribute to the school climate. After a vote, the initiatives chosen were an Interactive Bulletin Board and a Bark Basket pet donation drive for a local shelter. Be on the lookout for both! Great job to the students!

Spring Musical

Curious about this year’s Saxe Middle School musical? Any 7th or 8th grader interested in joining the cast, crew, or orchestra is invited to our Show Announcement & Info Meeting on Wednesday, 12/17, right after school in the auditorium! Parents of interested 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend a Parent Information Meeting on 12/17 at 5:30 PM. Come find out what exciting production we have in store this year!

NCHS Dome

Join us for The Dome’s final event of the year as we explore the comets, asteroids, and mysterious visitors that travel through our solar system. The evening features Edge of Darkness, a breathtaking 25-minute film followed by a live presentation that brings these celestial objects to life. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase on The Dome’s Eventbrite or via the QR code, with proceeds supporting ongoing student programming.

Schools Supporting Schools

South 75th Anniversary Sing-a-Long – South School Turns 75! Join the Celebration! South Elementary School is proudly celebrating 75 years of learning, laughter, and community since opening its doors in 1950. For generations, South has been a place where students grow, families connect, and New Canaan comes together—and this milestone year will honor all of it!

Kickoff Event: Community Holiday Sing-Along
Friday, December 19th • 5:00–6:00 p.m. • Gower Road Parking Lot
We’re inviting all of our South School community—and especially South School alumni, former staff and parents—to join us for a festive evening of music, hot cocoa, cookies and memories.

Please RSVP by Friday, December 12 so we can plan accordingly:

South School 75th Anniversary Sing-A-Long RSVP

Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!

Was it cold this week at Saxe MS? Yes! Did hundreds of students still take advantage of getting outside for some fresh air, activity, socialization, & fun during Saxe Recess? Absolutely!

This crew found a spot that blocked the strong northerly breeze & enjoyed some time outside together during Saxe Recess!

Members of our Saxe Band made their way over to NCHS, with their instruments in tow, to join the high school band. What a great opportunity/experience for all!

There is some new Saxe Art on display outside Ms. Gianetta’s room to liven up the hallways around Saxe MS… Some amazing creativity & talent of our students on display!

Students in Mr. DiGregorio’s Social Studies class used a mix of resources to dive more deeply into the topic of economic & environmental impacts around the globe…

Students used songs they may be familiar with to look more deeply into messages that relate to impacts on society, economy, & the environment they are learning about in Ms. Campbell’s Social Studies class… Students were engaged & able to make some strong connections!

Love to see connections/throughlines from previous lessons, too!

Students in Ms. Korman’s Social Studies class participated in work, questioning, & discussion as it relates to the “Pros & Cons of Deforestation” & why some responses may be more compelling than others. Rich discussion, all around!

There are some great visual displays to support the learning, too!

Our Saxe SRO is more than just “an officer on campus”… Here he is speaking with a group of 8th-grade Social Studies students on legal rights, 1st Amendment, online safety, security, & many other life skills that will help keep our Saxe MS students safe, now & in the future… Thanks for all that you do for our school community, Officer Blank!

It’s always nice to have a warm greeting, & great reminder, as we drive along East Ave. into New Canaan! “Believe in the Magic of the Season”

Dogs Of Saxe

We were happy to catch a few Dogs Of Saxe during morning arrival throughout this chilly 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)