February 27, 2026
Dear Saxe MS Family,
As we round out the final days of February, we have quite a bit to reflect on, and be grateful for, already in 2026. Our return from the Winter Break was not a typical one, as we got an unexpected 2-day extension to the break due to one of the larger snowstorms in recent memory (besides the one just last month). As I spent a large portion of my day outside clearing our driveway, roof, & property, I thought frequently about our dedicated staff members who were here at Saxe clearing the sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, and everything else that had to be done for us to safely return to school. After they cleared their own properties, they were here and did an amazing job of having our campus clear and ready for us all. Thank you to these members of our Saxe and NCPS custodians and maintenance teams!
Once we got back in on Wednesday, it was great to see our students and staff back in the building! A special shout-out to every staff member who helped out a colleague or two to start the day as we navigated a trickier-than-expected snowfall during the morning commute. It was the quintessential definition of “TEAM,” and it allowed everyone to get into the building safely and get the day underway. By 2nd or 3rd period, it was like we had never left, and everyone was back into their rhythm!
These are just a couple of examples of what makes Saxe MS a special place to work and/or attend. Below, you will find a few more snapshots of our week as the latest Saxe Weekly takes a look at the most recent podcast, Middle Level Education Month, Grade 8 to 9 Orientation at NCHS, Celebrate Saxe & cafe lobby furniture, Global Day of Unplugging, World Language, the Lunar New Year, Hawks Gazette, community events, Music, Art, PE, Recess, (snowy) scenes around Saxe, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
3/1: National School Social Worker Week
3/3: Advisory (postponed – date tbd)
3/5: Faculty Meeting
3/5: 8th to 9th Orientation at NCHS
3/6: Global Day of Unplugging
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Change is made of choices, and choices are made of character.” – Amanda Gorman
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”– Anonymous
Saxe Jokes of the week:
What did the baby laptop call her father? Data
Who is Frosty’s favorite aunt? Aunt Arctica.
Where do fruits go on vacation? Pearis.
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!
Middle Level Education Month
March is Middle Level Education Month, and we could not be more proud to celebrate the important role that this stretch of time plays in our students’ educational journey! Below is a blurb from NAESP that captures why this time is so important in the lives of our students:
Middle school is more than a bridge between elementary and high school—it’s also a critical juncture where students explore, develop new ways of thinking, and encounter diverse social challenges. Middle-level educators are at the heart of this journey, fostering safe and engaging environments where students can excel both academically and personally. We celebrate Middle-Level Education Month to shine a light on the remarkable efforts of these educators.
We look forward to sharing more about how we will celebrate Middle Level Education Month throughout March!
Hawks to Rams
Below is a reminder and all the information you will need to make the grade 8 to 9 Orientation evening at NCHS a great success. Enjoy the evening and all that NCHS has to offer (it truly is a remarkable school)!
Class of 2030 Freshman Orientation Schedule
Celebrate Saxe
A tremendous THANKS goes out to our amazing Saxe PTC, and all parents, for always helping improve our school community/environment! Over break, the new Cafe Lobby furniture, a focal point of the 2025 Celebrate Saxe campaign, was delivered & installed. We will be sharing updates with the students in the near future as to how the seating arrangements and use during the lunch waves will be coordinated, so stay tuned… We look forward to using it before, during, & after school, and also plan to ‘celebrate’ student contributions to our school community with the special privilege of lunch in the “Saxe Cafe”! It looks great & what a tremendous upgrade to this space!
Global Day of Unplugging
Saxe MS is looking forward to “unplugging” next week, and we encourage all families to join in as we “throw it back” to a simpler time! Below is the text from our Saxe Unplugs Family Newsletter, which includes a few simple ideas on how to participate. Stay tuned for more next week, too!
Dear Families,
We are excited to share that Saxe Schools will participate in the Global Day of Unplugging on March 6, 2026. National Unplugged Day, March 7, is an opportunity for communities to intentionally step away from screens and refocus on connection, presence, and well-being.
This day builds on the work our school has already done to promote healthy technology habits, including our use of Yondr pouches to support a phone-free learning environment. Additionally, in February 2026, the Saxe PTC and NHS PFA generously sponsored speaker Tanner Clark to address our middle school students and community on resilience and strength in the digital world.
On this day, students and staff will be encouraged to minimize device use during the school day when possible. The goal is not to restrict, but to create space to notice how technology affects our focus, relationships, and daily habits. Learning that must take place on devices, such as assessments, will not be interrupted on this day.
Throughout the week, classrooms may incorporate brief discussions or activities centered on awareness, balance, and healthy technology use. We invited staff to participate by modeling unplugged moments whenever possible. On that day, smartboards will continue to be used for instruction, and 1:1 Chromebook use will be limited to essential activities and assessments.
We recognize that technology plays an important role in our lives and learning. A Global Day of Unplugging is a chance to pause, reflect, and practice balance together as a school community. Check the school’s weekly newsletter for resources to help families participate in unplugging on March 7.
Here are some quick ideas for March 7th:
- Create a device “parking lot” for the evening (kitchen basket, drawer, etc.)
- Plan a screen-free family dinner
- Plan a screen-free outing for Saturday – engage in conversation, board games, outdoor time, or creative projects
- Model the behavior—parents unplug too!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to foster focus, connection, and well-being for our students.
World Language
As part of World Language Week, Saxe Intermediate School was proud to welcome New Canaan High School and Grade 8 World Language students to present to our Grade 5 students as they prepare to select their language of study for next year. On Thursday and Friday (2/26 and 2/27), the cafeteria was filled with energy and excitement as students shared their experiences learning Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Latin.
Our experienced students spoke about what they love about their language classes, cultural experiences, how learning their language has enriched their lives in a myriad of ways, and how their language of study connects them locally and globally. Fifth graders had the opportunity to ask questions, hear authentic student perspectives, and begin envisioning their own language journey at Saxe Intermediate School and beyond. It was a wonderful celebration of student voice, leadership, and the vibrant multilingual community we are proud to foster. ¡Gracias! Merci ! 谢谢！Gratias! to all students, teachers, and staff who helped make this event such a great success.
Saxe Spirit
Thank you to 7th-grader, Ethan Z for providing some slides to help learn more about the Chinese Lunar New Year!
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.
Save the Date
Below is more information on an upcoming community event that may be of interest!
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Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Not only were there some impressive accomplishments on display, but some fine musical sounds also filled the hallways this week at Saxe MS!
Ms. Gianetta’s Saxe Art students chose some of their favorite subjects to include in their latest projects & it’s neat to see their ideas come to life!
Ms. Grainsky’s Saxe Art students had their creativity on display with their latest project! So neat to see the different styles, perspectives & approaches – students were all locked in!
And, we are seeing some more Saxe Art “popping up” around the building!
Ms. Lashendock’s students are getting ready for their clay unit in Saxe Art… It was fun to hear them discuss the history of clay design & make connections to how it is still used today!
This week, our Saxe MS staff had an opportunity to dive a little more deeply into accessibility resources, which include universal tools that are available for all students… Thanks to Ms. Tremblay for the great preparation & presentation!
Caught some Wiffleball action in PE this week. This must mean spring is right around the corner, right?! 🙂
Sometimes the weather makes it a little more challenging, but we still do our best to provide opportunities for our Saxe MS students to get outside to move around, socialize, & have FUN! Even if it’s only for a small chunk of time, Saxe Recess is an important part of their day!
Scenes around Saxe
There were plenty of opportunities to capture some “snowy scenes around SaxeMS” this week!
A HUGE thanks goes out to our terrific Custodial & Maintenance teams for their efforts following the recent snowstorms! Not only did they make sure our Saxe MS campus was safe, but they got the outdoor spaces cleared so our students can still get out for some fresh air & activity!
We even had a parent drop the plow on his truck after dropping off his kids on Wednesday to help out – thanks again, Mr. S!
Dogs of Saxe
Nothing stops Teddy, not even the snow, from visiting us during morning dropoff!
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
