February 13, 2026
* (please note: due to formatting issues, this post was originally sent out to our school community on 2/13/26, as a Google Doc. This is the same post, in WordPress format…).
** The Header image was created using Google Gemini’s Nano Banana’s image creator…
Dear Saxe MS Family,
Winter Break is upon us, and I hope your first day has been a great one! While students finished yesterday, staff had a terrific day of professional learning today, and are now on their way to entering “break mode”, too. Whether you are traveling afar or staying right here near home, it is my hope that you are able to rest, relax, explore, or do whatever makes you happy with whoever you want to spend the most time with (even if it is a non-human companion, i.e., pet(s)!). 🙂
We appreciate you taking the opportunity to peruse the latest “goings on” from this past week at Saxe MS. Each edition is a snapshot of what makes our school stand out, and we are proud to be involved in such a special community. This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest Saxe Weekly Podcast, Art, 7Purple Olympics, Spanish, our TEDx Speaker assembly (&, great reminders on “digital wellness”), SRO Appreciation Day, Squash, Black History Month, a local hero in the Puppy Bowl at the Super Bowl (!), Clubs, Hawks Gazette, Science, Math, ELA, Social Studies, seasonal positive messages, STEM, Student Leadership, School Counseling, staff Professional Learning, a Pizza Truck (yes!), a shout out to our custodians, scenes around Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful Winter Break!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
2/15 – SRO Day
2/16 – 2/20 – Happy February Break!
2/23 – Welcome Back to Saxe!
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Today a reader. Tomorrow a leader.” –Anonymous
“The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.”– John F. Kennedy
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”-Shakespeare
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle…”-Unknown
Saxe Jokes of the week:
Which season is the most successful? WIN-ter!
What happened when the man opened up his flower shop? Business was blooming.
How do you keep a jewelry store safe on Valentine’s Day? You locket.
What do you call a chicken that is staring at a lettuce? Chicken sees a salad!
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!
Art
In process work by our 8th graders. Exploring personality and voice while working on multimedia collages. Inspired by the people that inspire them the most, our 8th graders are truly exhibiting their talents in portraiture and personal voice.
7Purple Olympics
Mrs. Smith’s Purple Team wrapped up the week with our annual “Cup Olympics,” a fun and collaborative way to celebrate before break! Students worked in teams to compete in a series of creative challenges —testing their communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. From speed stacking to strategic tower-building, the energy was high and the sportsmanship was even higher. It was a great opportunity for students to strengthen collaboration skills while enjoying a well-earned, engaging last day together!
Spanish
The 8th-grade students have reached the end of their vacation, Las vacaciones unit. The students have learned to discuss travel experiences in both the present and past tenses. As a culminating activity, the students all chose countries and/or regions in the Spanish-speaking world, and delivered extensive presentations about these destinations orally to their classmates. They did a fabulous job, and hopefully the presentations sparked ideas for future family travel plans!
TEDx Speaker Assembly
This week, we had the good fortune of welcoming in motivational speaker & TEDx presenter, Tanner Clark. Thanks to our PTC & the NCHS PFAfor supporting this opportunity to reinforce some important messaging as it relates to our students!
It was great to see the Auditorium PACKED with our entire student body! Not only did our students revisit important information they have learned over the years, the messages were also reinforced with positive quotes & reminders about being in control of your own choices…
Teen facts… And, strategies to break away from the averages… It takes a conscious decision & these are reminders we can all benefit from!
Not only did our students revisit important information they have learned over the years, the messages were also reinforced with positive quotes, reminders about being in control of your own choices, & even a bit of neuroscience mixed in!
We were also reminded that there is nothing more important than actual human connection! A hug, a fist-bump, a high five, or even a positive comment, help us make the most of every day… And, you never know when a simple, kind gesture can make someone’s day!
Below are a few resources, and a video message from Tanner reminding students what we covered in the assembly!
- This is the video… It’s a good way to re-ground the kids in some of the key principles in case they’ve “fallen in the pool”
- Also, here are some parent resources that were shared at the evening parent event and a digital copy of the below summary sheet.
SRO Appreciation Day
We want to thank our School Resource Officer, Matt Blank, for his dedication, care, and protection he brings to our school community each and every day. His presence provides not only safety, but also guidance, mentorship, and reassurance to our students and staff. We are grateful for the relationships he builds and the positive difference he makes in our school every day. Happy SRO Day!
Thanks to our generous & thoughtful Saxe PTCfor recognizing “SRO Appreciation Week” by dropping off a tray of treats for our SRO & our safety & security team!
Saxe Student Spotlight – Squash
Two teams of 7th and 8th-graders from Saxe recently attended the Squash Middle School Nationals, facing off against players from around the country during an exciting and fun weekend of competition in Philadelphia – congrats to all invovled!
Black History Month
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we honor the legacy and impact of Black leaders who helped shape our world. This week, we acknowledge Rosa Parks, Ralph Johnson Bunche, Katherine Johnson ,and Regina Marcia Benjamin. Their stories remind us that courage, intelligence, and perseverance can create lasting change.
A Saxe Puppy in the Puppy Bowl!
Roly (now Wesley), who was adopted by Saxe MS Building Sub, Mike Dolan, was in the Puppy Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday! Not only that, Roly actually scored a touchdown! What a special dog who was so lucky to find a forever home with Mike! He is also pictured below with his sister, Violet, who was adopted in NY the same week!
Saxe Clubs
Just a reminder that our after-school activities are up and running! Below is a snapshot of what is being offered. You can use the link below for more information and to sign up!
Saxe After School Club Information
Tea & Trivia Club
On Thursday, the Tea & Trivia club met for the first time and enjoyed the afternoon! They started off with a brisk English Breakfast Tea and also tried a Citrus Oolong. Trivia included animal facts and Olympic updates!
Community Event
Save the date for this timely & relevant topic!
Hawks Gazette
Check out the latest edition of the Hawks Gazette! Thanks to our students and staff advisor, Mr. Myers, for this fun, interactive format in which to learn more about, or engage with, Saxe Middle School. We enjoy seeing Saxe through the lens of our students!
Or check it out by accessing the Hawks Gazette Google Site, directly.
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Students in Mr. Chard’s science class used computer programs & sensors to experiment w/line curves & graphs. Students participated by moving back & forth, steadily, to try to best match the graph that is on the screen. I tried a couple of runs & it’s easier said than done!
Students in Ms. Kiley’s math class work through some practice problems on angles by collaborating with one another, checking each others work, & responding to guided questions… Each student was able to confidently share exactly what they were working on & why!
Students in Ms. Craw’s ELA class looked at perception & perspective in nonfiction text by discussing & analyzing different techniques authors use to convey a point of view. Great examples & an important life skill for students to understand!
It’s always inspiring to spend a few minutes seeing, & even more so listening to, our Saxe students describe their work/projects they have been working on! Whether it’s graphic charts, ladders of inference, iceberg methods, or just creative images, they are so proud of their work (as they should be)!
8 Green took a moment to reflect on much of what we have to be grateful for… These are great reminders AND inspiring messages!
8 Blue is in the spirit with this updated board… Tons of perspective & gratitude – great reminders in the sometimes fast-paced world we live in!
8Red is in the spirit with their updated board, too… Great reminders (&, SO easy) on how to do our part in helping maintain the best school culture possible! A special shout out to Charlie Bases, Lizzy Turullols, Maya DeChristopher, & Jayden O’Shea for their help!
We highlighted some of the notes on the 8 Purple board last week, but felt it was worth sharing the ever-growing board in its entirety, as it continues to inspire our Saxer community!
This STEM Workshop class was BUSY (&, focused) getting their projects out, about, & “running” down the halls to test their creations. This one had a gear ratio that got it absolutely cooking at top speed!
This STEM Workshop class was BUSY (&, focused) getting their projects out, about, & “running” down the halls to test their creations. I affectionately referred to this one as the “POW” (Party On Wheels)!
This STEM Workshop class was BUSY (&, focused) getting their projects out, about, & “running” down the halls to test their creations. Teamwork in action!
Our Leadership Team is such a solid group of individuals who continually contribute to our positive school climate… Thank you for helping out with the “gratitude gifts” this week, the teachers are going to love them!
The NCHS Courant is back at Saxe MS & we couldn’t be more pumped to have the print issues available for our school community to see what’s going on at NCHS, & follow along in the lives of our former students! Nice work & thanks for including us in your deliveries!
Students in Mr. D’s class review and discuss some imperialism and colonialism in Africa as it relates to the global impact of today.
Saxe School Counselors went into classes to deliver their next lesson in the “high school transition” series. Not only were important topics covered, we were also overjoyed to welcome some of our former students back as NCHS senior “Rambassadors” shared a student perspective!
It’s not easy to get people excited about Professional Learning right before a break, but the PL Team put together an amazing lineup & knocked it out of the park! Thanks to everyone who helped plan, organize, & deliver any of these meaningful sessions! It was a great morning at Saxe!
It’s not easy to get people excited about Professional Learning right before a break, but the PL Team put together an amazing lineup & knocked it out of the park! Thx to everyone who helped plan, organize, & deliver any of these meaningful sessions! It was a great a.m. at Saxe!
One of the most important parts of learning how to best reach our students is revisiting &/or understanding how the human body works at the most basic level (it’s “scientific”!).
We are beyond grateful for our PTC! Not only was our day filled with some amazing professional learning, our Saxe staff also enjoyed a tremendous lunch at the midway point – thanks again to all involved!
Here’s the finished product from the work our Student Leadership students put into the care packages from our Central Office staff. What a nice gesture – thanks to all!
Thanks to our Saxe Custodial Team for setting up the Cornhole boards during lunch! Added bonus, they are staying out for participants of the “Night to Shine” event being held here this weekend – enjoy!
Scenes around Saxe
Days are getting longer, temps are getting a little warmer, & all is good when we are able to get outdoors at Saxe!!
Good morning, Saxe MS! It’s a slick one out there this morning, so we are operating on our 2-hour Delayed Opening Schedule. Take your time & be safe out there! A special “thanks!” to our dedicated custodial & maintenance teams for ensuring our campus is safe & ready for arrival!
The Saxe morning crew heads into the Winter Break by getting a little activity in before the school day begins. Members of this group have been out here almost EVERY day up to this point… After a stretch of sub-freezing temps the past month, 35* felt like spring!
Not only do our Custodians make sure our sidewalks are clear of snow & ice during these cold stretches, once it warms up, they are out there cleaning up the extra salt & debris… Thanks for always keeping our campus safe, clean, & beautiful – you are appreciated!
The days are getting longer & mornings are just little brighter, each day! This helps us see some of our favorite visitors at arrival – our Dogs of Saxe!
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
