March 27, 2026
Dear Saxe MS Family,
It’s pretty amazing to think that yet another month is almost “in the books” as we round out the last full week of March. Next week will bring us up to the April break, and this is the time of year that continues to move pretty quickly. We often remind ourselves to periodically slow down and appreciate the little things, or things that we are grateful for. Each week, we try to showcase some of these in our newsletter, and we appreciate you taking a moment to read, scroll, listen, or any other way you prefer to consume your media. Regardless, we are happy you’re here!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest Saxe MS podcast, a grade 8 assembly, Physical Education, a grade 8 “look-ahead”, Advisory, the Nail Art Club, MLEM, signs of Spring, the latest Hawks Gazettes, a “community board”, recess, Paws for a Cause, cafeteria food, Science, plants, 7Purple celebration, certificates of gratitude, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
3/31 NCPS String Fest @ NCHS Main Gym (6:00 pm)
4/1 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
4/2 Quarter 3 Ends
4/3 April Break begins
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.”-Unknown
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi
“One day or day one. You decide.” — Unknown
“If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life you want, you’re eventually going to be forced to spend a lot of time dealing with a life you don’t want.” – Kevin Ngo
Saxe Jokes of the week:
Did you know that dolphins never make a mistake? They do everything on porpoise.
Why was the blanket so confident before the test? It had the material covered.
How do baby geese get out of their shells? They follow eggs-it signs.
Can you buy a ticket today for a trip to the moon? No, sorry. The moon is full right now.
Why do oranges wear sunscreen? So they don’t peel.
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!
Grade 8 Assembly
We were honored to welcome Susan Unrad once again to Saxe for a meaningful assembly. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, she shared her family’s story and personal experiences, helping students understand the importance of remembering history and offering a powerful opportunity to connect with the past through firsthand testimony. Through her work as a school counselor and Holocaust educator, Susan continues to ensure that these important lessons are passed on to future generations. She also encouraged students to say no to hate and to be upstanders, using their voices and actions to stand up for others. Mrs. Unrad joined us through the Voices of Hope Center at the University of Hartford.
Her testimony brings history to life & provides an opportunity to our students that many may never otherwise have. Thank you to all involved!
And, seeing the ship manifest from her family’s travels to the US reminded me of the manifest my father shared from his (& my grandparents’) journey from Bremerhaven, Germany to Boston in 1949 (including the original European spelling of our name, Gusic).
Physical Education
Students in 7th and 8th grade have been working on badminton in PE class. Students have learned new skills, worked with different partners, and played some doubles, which culminated in a class tournament.
Grade 8 “Look Ahead”
Below is the message that went out to students and staff this week in preparation for the 8th-grade culminating activities. There’s a lot of excitement to look forward to!
Dear 8th Grade Students,
As we look ahead to the final quarter of the 2025-26 school year, we wanted to send a brief message to provide an overview of some important End of Year (EoY) dates and remind you of how proud we are of each of you as students, leaders, and for being genuinely good people. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to work as closely as we have with you during your time at Saxe, and we look forward to our final quarter together. You have learned, grown, matured, and exhibited great character during your time here at Saxe, and we look forward to finishing the school year on a positive note. There is still work that needs to be done that will require your dedication and commitment, but we also have some fun activities that will allow us to celebrate you as the Saxe Class of 2026!
Let’s work hard but also enjoy each moment of the final few months that we have together by doing our best to make every day better than the last, for ourselves, one another, and our school community. You all have already built a strong legacy of being a wonderful class, and I look forward to building upon that between now and June 18th!
With gratitude,
Dr. Ferreira and Mr. Gusitsch
Advisory
This week focused on not only culminating Middle Level Education Month, but also creating a “Community Board” that reflects various stages of this important portion of our students’ educational journey! We will be building upon this next week as we consider what advice our students would give themselves as they prepare for the grade they are currently in (a retrospective reflection, of sorts).
This particular session included coordination between our NCPS Portrait of a Graduate and the core attributes and characteristics as outlined in “The Successful Middle School”, through our national Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE). We used a digital slideshow (feel free to check it out!) to help set the stage for the collaborative activity. Thanks again to our Student Council students and staff (Ms. Martin & Ms. Link) for putting this meaningful activity together for the 76 different groups of students and staff in their respective Advisory “troops”!
Snapshots from Advisory
Here are Ms. Beatman & Ms. Lashedock’s students focused and engaged!
Ms. Goodman’s Advisory group proudly displaying their work!
Mr. Devine’s group “striking an Advisory pose”…
Ms. Perretti’s group was “all in”!
Mr. Gusitsch’s group in action!
Nail Art Club
The Saxe MS “Nail Art Club” is working hard, practicing techniques they’ve been learning each week. So far, they’ve covered how to do gradients, work with nail vinyls, using dotting tools, and now they’re mastering the art of freehand painting. We are so impressed with what they’ve been able to create!
Middle Level Education Month (Last Call!)
This month in Advisory, we have focused on the impact middle level education has on the overall educational journey of our students. This includes positive experiences, shout-outs, suggestions for future success, and so much more. Check out moments from our “travels” along the middle level education roadway, below!
And, as a reminder, our students are welcome to participate in MLEM too! Below is information that has been included in the most recent Saxe Weeklys:
Each March, we celebrate Middle Level Education Month. It is an opportunity for us to recognize the role that this phase on the educational journey of our students is one of the most important portions of their trip! Below are some more resources, information, and opportunities for students to get involved. Stay tuned for more information and moments to celebrate throughout the month of March. If you have any questions about getting involved, please feel free to reach out!
MLEM: as shared by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
MLEM: as shared by the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE)
March is Middle Level Education Month (MLEM), devoted to celebrating the opportunity of the middle grades and the profound and consequential years of early adolescence.
This year, we are lifting up the voices and the champions of the middle grades. From students sharing their perspectives through our expanded Student Sound Off Contest, to adult advocates who guide, mentor, and inspire young adolescents every day, MLEM is all about recognizing the impact happening in middle schools across the country.
Join us as a champion for middle level education! There are a variety of ways both students and adults can get involved and celebrate the power and promise of the middle grades.
MS Student Sound Off Contest
Students can SOUND OFF on any aspect of their middle school experience in response to any of the prompts below. Because we all have different talents, interests, and ways of expressing ourselves, students can submit in the format that most appeals to them.
- Being a middle schooler is like…
- I feel happiest when…
- I feel safest at school when…
- I wish the adults in my life better understood…
- Something that really matters to me is…
- One of the biggest challenges or opportunities of being a middle schooler today is…
- An adult in my life that is really important to me is…
- An adult in my life that makes me feel safest being myself is…
- An adult in my life that cheers the loudest for me is…
- An adult in my life that I really admire, or see as a role model is…
After you’ve reviewed the contest details below, be sure to submit your sound off by April 3, 2026! Need some inspiration? Check out the finalists from 2023, 2024 and 2025.
And, yes – there are prizes!
Adult Advocate Awards
In a successful middle school, every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate. In fact, research shows that students who can name an advocate at school experience many benefits, including greater engagement at school… Each day, thousands of adult advocates show up for kids in ways that matter to them, from teachers and administrators to counselors and coaches.
Yes, our Saxe Middle School staff members were once in middle school, too! Last year, we put together a collage showing some of our “proudest” middle school moments, and we had many staff members join the fun for this year (below). Enjoy and see how many teachers you can pick out!
Signs of Spring
Thank you to Ms. Perretti for capturing the earliest signs of true Spring we have seen around Saxe!
Hawks Gazette
Check out the latest editions 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 them 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!
The Saxe MS Community Board, showcasing students’ contributions from our most recent Advisory session, is shaping up nicely!
In the “Spring Spirit” at Saxe MS!
Seeing a cup with Homer Simpson on it is a great way to set the tone for a fun lab at Saxe MS! With that being said, the “learning in action” (collaboration, communication, adaptability, resilience, teamwork, etc.) was impressive. It was performing under pressure at its finest!
Thanks to our Saxe MS custodial & maintenance team for getting these bench upgrades assembled & set up in the courtyard… Can’t wait to see them get some use as the warmer weather comes around!
Saxe Recess
Little rain? Cold temps? No problem! This is, of course, optional, but it’s wonderful to see 100+ students choose to get out & enjoy a little unstructured play time during Saxe Recess, in ANY weather! Nice work…
Some main goals of Advisory at Saxe MS are to build community & have fun! This week, we did both by reflecting on the experiences along the “middle school journey”… As part of Middle Level Education Month, we will showcase the amazing responses & what makes our school community great!
We got a TON of terrific responses to the prompts about the “middle school journey” at Saxe MS & they will be on display for all to see… Our students continue to “Inspire”!
And, an added bonus? Some of them match the newly restocked planters out front!
Here’s a look at the Saxe MS Advisory display board with reflections on learning, confidence, community, future, & so much more… Can’t wait to see it filled with every member of our school!
The Paws for a Cause campaign at Saxe MS has taken off & has had great support! Thanks to all who have contributed & can’t wait to see these final haul – there are going to be some happy pets soon!
The Paw Paw seeds that were stored over the winter are starting to sprout! Can’t wait to see these & other plants start to take off as the nicer weather comes around at Saxe MS!
We are so fortunate to have such healthy, delicious options for our Saxe MS students & staff in our cafeteria. The best part? The amazing team of dedicated folks who put this all together each day, with such big smiles! It is evident they truly care about their work & our school!
7Purple was “all in”, reinforcing some of their recent learning through a friendly Kahoot competition with the team AND teachers! This will be followed by some recognition of students living their Charter & contributing to the positive school climate on their team – nice work!
One of my favorite things to do each month at Saxe MS is to deliver our Certificates of Gratitude where our staff recognizes their students & colleagues for going above & beyond! It is an absolute honor to hand these out…
It’s “official”! We shared the “Save the Dates” for the activities our Saxe MS 8th-grade students & staff get to look forward to in June… We still have quite a bit of work to do to finish strongly in quarter 4, but our students have shown they are up for it – Go Hawks!
Congrats to many of our former Saxe MS students on their recent success at the high school level on the hockey rink! You make the community proud!
Scenes around Saxe
Some days have been nicer than others since Spring has sprung at Saxe MS, but certain things help keep the Spring spirit strong – thanks to all involved!
Dogs of Saxe
A couple of our favorite visitors dropping their humans off for another day of school at Saxe MS this week!
Some of our Saxe MS students put in some overtime during a South School event last Friday (maybe even one of them in the Southpaw get up… (Does that qualify as a Dogs of Saxe feature?!) Regardless, great to see them all participating!
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
