May 8, 2026
Dear Saxe MS Family,
As we conclude Teacher Appreciation Week ‘26, we would like to express our deep gratitude to our Saxe PTC for the amazing lineup of food, fun, and festivities that awaited our staff each day throughout the week. I feel as though we have the best group of educators, professionals, and staff members of any middle school, anywhere, and this week the celebrations were a fine reflection of, & lived up to, this level of complement. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!
This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at a community reminder, Wizard of Oz, School Nurse’s Appreciation Day, Math, Science, Social Studies, Saxe in the News, Heritage Month, Lost & Found, Hawks Gazette, Walk, Ride, Roll to School Day, E-bike/Scooter Safety Week, May the 4th (be with you), Teacher Appreciation Week, Dogs of Saxe, and much more. Enjoy, have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there in our school community!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
5/10 – Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day
To all the moms in our Saxe community – Happy Mother’s Day! Your love, support, and enthusiasm make such a difference in the lives of your children, and in the partnership of the work that we do every day. We hope you enjoy a wonderful day filled with the appreciation and gratitude you so greatly deserve.
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” – Helen Keller
“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” – Mary Lou Retton, American gymnast
“It isn’t where you came from. It’s where you’re going that counts.” – Ella Fitzgerald
Saxe Jokes of the week:
What are the strongest days of the week? Saturday and Sunday. Every other day is a weekday
What does a house wear? Address!!
How did the art competition end? In a draw.
How do you stop an astronaut’s toddler from crying? You rocket.
What does the sun drink out of? Sun-glasses.
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!
Community Reminder
Not only is this time of year a busy and exciting one, it is also a time to display the attributes of being good citizens that we have so purposefully embedded into the work that we do with our students throughout the entire year. Below is announcement that was made today over the PA system for all to hear. Please feel free to reinforce this message as we positively reinforce the importance of representing ourselves in the best way possible, both at school and throughout our amazing community.
“Before we head into the weekend, we want to take a moment to share a few important reminders…
Every single day, we see you showing up for each other. Being kind in the hallways. Treating your classmates and teachers with respect. Going out of your way to be courteous and caring. That is who you are as Saxe students, and we are genuinely proud of you for it.
This weekend, as you’re out and about in New Canaan, whether it’s at the Wizard of Oz play, The May Fair, or anywhere else, we’re asking you to bring that same respectful energy with you. You represent this school, this community, and most importantly, yourself, wherever you go — and we know you’re more than capable of making those who care most about you, proud.
Have a wonderful, fun-filled weekend. Be good to each other, be good to yourselves, and we’ll see you back here on Monday. And, don’t forget, it’s Mother’s Day – be good to your Moms and Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms in our Saxe Community!”
Spring Musical
Best wishes to the Cast & Crew of Wizard of Oz this weekend – break a leg!
(A few more pics, below)
Happy School Nurse’s Appreciation Day
Happy School Nurse’s Appreciation Day from Saxe MS! We are grateful for all that Ms. Faust does for our school community – thank you!
Math
Did you know? Our Math Thinking Wall outside Room 126 is more than just puzzles. It’s a space where students engage in problem-solving, reasoning, and perseverance. New challenges rotate throughout the year, inviting students to think deeply, try multiple strategies, and learn from one another. Stop by before or after school to give it a try—correct solutions earn a prize!
Science
This week, 8th-grade science classes visited the DOME at NCHS in order to set the stage for our exploration into Earth and Space Science. The DOME allows us to tour the cosmos from a unique perspective and dive deeper into the patterns of movement that result in various astronomical phenomena. Students left with a new appreciation for the size and scale of our universe, as well as the technology available to them.
Keep scrolling for more DOME pics included below!
Social Studies
Ms. Campbell’s students had some fun doing some interactive activities for our lessons about the opium war, political systems, and economic systems to help them better understand how globalization shifts China’s power and different types of relationships between governments and their people.
Saxe in the News
Below are a few images of 7th-grader, Bassett Bretschger, in the Oval Office and White House grounds as he was present on Tuesday for the official re-launch of the Presidential Fitness test. Reports came back that he performed well on the the battery of pull-ups, push-ups, plank and curl-ups, while the entire group was inspired by 90-year old golf legend, Gary Player, putting down more push-ups than 32-year old golf phenom, Bryson DeChambeau, on the South Lawn!
Heritage Month
This month we honor the many contributions of fellow Americans with Asian and Pacific Islander heritage. This week, we celebrated Henry Lee, Kimberly J. Ng, and Maya Lin, for their remarkable achievements and lasting impact in their respective fields.
Lost and Found
The lost and found is at capacity! If you are missing anything, please come and take a look! We are going to donate all items not picked up next weekend, so if you could take a look by May 15th, that would be appreciated. Your lost items would like to come home!
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 out the latest edition 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!
It’s always amazing, borderline magical, how the lobby of Saxe MS transforms for each musical. This spring, the classic The Wizard of Oz is the feature & is sure to be terrific! Congrats to all of the parent volunteers who make it happen!
The crowd is filling in & ready for the @SaxeMS Spring Musical – The Wizard of Oz! Best wishes to the Cast, Crew, & all involved – break a leg!
We are only at intermission in the spring musical, The Wizard of Oz, & it has been beyond amazing! Bravo! 👏
On stage or behind the scenes, congrats to everyone who helped out, or was involved, in the Saxe MS spring musical, The Wizard of Oz – it was a terrific show! Bravo! 👏
Saxe MS Spring Walk, Ride, and Roll
Looks like it may be a bit chilly in the morning, but the sun will be shining & it should be a beautiful way to start the day at Saxe MS… Be safe & we look forward to seeing many of our students, families, (&, hopefully pets) joining in the Walk/Ride/Roll to School fun!
We could not have asked for a more beautiful morning for the Saxe MS Spring Walk, Ride, Roll to School Day! It was so nice to see so many students, families, & dogs out & about to start the day! Thanks to all who helped make it possible!
The NCPD SRO Crew was out in full force to help with all facets of the Saxe MS Spring Walk, Ride, Roll to School Day! It was a perfect morning & we appreciate all who helped make it possible!
And, thanks to our Saxe SRO, Officer Blank, for the Gator ride to check out the action along the travel routes!
Saxe MS E-bike/Scooter Safety Week
Perfectly, plannfully timed, Officer Blank and Dr. Kleis led the way in coordinating the E-bike & Scooter Safety Week. It was a great success, included participation by our former Saxe, & current NCHS students, and culminated with a raffle for a brand new bike helmet.
Officer Blank, kicked off the Saxe MS E-bike/Scooter Safety Week by welcoming students & ensuring helmets fit properly – nice work!
It was great to have some of our former students giving back to their middle school during the Saxe MS E-bike/Scooter Safety Week. Nice work by, and thanks to, all!
Dome Visit
Our Saxe MS 8th-graders got to collectively experience a trip through the universe in the NCHS Dome this week…What a wonderful resource to reinforce their learning & a terrific opportunity to gain amazing perspective, together!
And, a special thanks to Mr. Whitlock for “piloting” this amazing piece of technology with a skilled, steady hand! Check out that “command center” – impressive work!
It was a beautiful day at Saxe MS & we had a little fun with the date today… Kind of cool the ClassLink landing page was even in the spirit – “May the 4th be with you”!
Teacher Appreciation Week
Strong way to start Teacher Appreciation Week at Saxe MS – Tasty Yolk for the win!
The SaxePTC sponsored Cinco de Mayo lunch this week was unreal! The fact that it fell on a Tuesday(i.e., Taco Tuesday) made it even more special! Thank you to all involved, our Saxe MS staff were delighted!
Word on the street was that this was the inspiration for this spirited pair of socks, too!
The Bubble & Brew truck is always a fan favorite at Saxe MS! Thank you to our Saxe PTC for providing the absolute best Teacher Appreciation Week lineup around!
What an amazing week of Teacher Appreciation it’s been so far at Saxe MS! We are so grateful for our ever-supportive Saxe PTC who has absolutely helped everyone in our school community feel the love…Tasty Yolk, Taco Tuesday, Bubble & Brew, & gourmet cookies, so far – thank you!
Not to be outdone, Friday was a strong close to Teacher Appreciation Week with lunch from La Rocco’s Country Market – DELICIOUS!
Friendly reminders to be respectful around our school community during state testing at Saxe MS:)
Public Service Announcement: the Saxe MS Lost & Found is reaching capacity! Please take a look & help return your belongings back home… All items left at the end of the school year will be given a second chance through a “generous donation” process…
A couple different angles of the recently mulched courtyard at Saxe MS… Turned out great & thanks to everyone involved in keeping our campus looking so sharp, we are fortunate to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery!
Dogs Of Saxe
Normally, we only get to see our 4-legged friends seeing their humans off to school in the dropoff line at morning arrival. This week, with Walk to School Day, we got to get out & about and see some on their walks or even overlooking their property 🙂
Some Dogs Of Saxe have so much character & personality, they almost seem human! 🙂 We love seeing them all at Saxe MS morning arrival…
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
Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment
Saxe Middle School
