2026.8.26 – Welcome Back Saxe MS! Day 1 Reminders & Resources :)

August 26, 2026

Dear Saxe Middle School Students and Parents,

We have been busy preparing Saxe Middle School for the opening of the 2026-27 school year and enthusiastically await the arrival of our approximately 630+ 7th & 8th-grade students tomorrow morning! Whether this is your first time arriving on campus, or you have been through this with some of your older children, we would also like to welcome our parents to the 2026-27 school year! Every member of our learning community matters, belongs, and plays an important role in making Saxe Middle School the special place that it is. In addition to the information that was sent in our recent “Welcome Back Letter”, below are some important details, live links, and helpful resources as we prepare for our first day…

The School Day

Saxe Middle School (Grades 7, 8) starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:30 pm (doors open at 7:40)
After-school extracurricular activities will begin in September (more info will be shared soon)

*It is always helpful for your child to bring a printed copy of their schedule on the first day. Because there are some situations that require some last-minute fine-tuning, please print a fresh copy on Wednesday evening (or, Thursday morning). You may find the link to PowerSchool, here, and if necessary, instructions to access your child’s schedule, here.

As students arrive at school on Thursday, they should report as follows:

Grade 8 Students – Report to their Period 1, “A” Day World Language or Special Area class
Grade 7 Students – Report to their Period 1, “A” Day Core class

Noteworthy Contacts

Students can rest easy knowing that we will have staff around the building to point them in the right direction in the event they need a little guidance in our first few days :). On the occasion of an absence on any given day, please email Ms. Benware in the Saxe Middle School Office:

lin.benware@ncps-k12.org or call 594-4500

Also, the following staff members will be helpful to take note in the event you need to contact someone for your child:

School Counselors: Sarah Beltran, Brad Lepisto, & Tammy Nettleton
Dean of Students: Dr. Kristin Kleis
Special Education: Dr. Liz Hannaway
Administration: Dr. Julie Ferreira – Asst. Principal & Grade 7 Administrator
Administration: Mr. David Gusitsch – Principal & Grade 8 Administrator

Phone Free Schools & Digital Wellness

As we have seen, our move to Phone Free Schools, and a general emphasis on digital wellness, has hugely beneficial to students (and, adults) in the way we operate within our building during school hours. We will continue to build upon this, and students are reminded to bring their Yondr pouches on day 1 (there will be pouches available for students who are new to Saxe, or in need of one). As a reminder, cell phones, smartwatches, wireless earphones, or any personal digital communication devices will not be permitted during the school day and should remain powered down & in their pouch. While we will still be using school-approved technology as part of the learning process, where/when appropriate, we look forward to helping students disconnect from unnecessary distractions to connect with those around them during our time together! If you have any questions, please contact your School Counselor, or if you need to get a message to your child(ren), Ms. Benware will be more than happy to assist!

Arrival and Departure

Thanks for following these simple rules to keep our students safe. Dropping off or picking up students on the street is unsafe. The passing of a school bus with its stop sign extended/lights flashing is illegal & will be reported by the bus driver. Please review the arrival/departure locations and procedures here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have been compiling a list of FAQs as we lead up to the opening of the school year. These include topics from backpacks to what to bring on Day 1, electronic devices, lockers to lunches, and everything in between. You are welcome to view these questions and the accompanying responses, here.

General Reminders

Wellness matters! Prioritize a good night’s sleep and remember to prepare for each day by eating a healthy breakfast.
Important student information, including academic integrity, habits of success, school safety, code of conduct, and more, is available in our Saxe MS Student Handbook. All students and parents are encouraged to access and review this useful information.
Our administrative assistants, school counselors, teachers, and administrators are always happy to answer any additional/specific questions that you may have. Please feel free to reach out!

Saxe PTC

Finally, we invite all parents to be active members of our school community. As a member of the Saxe Parent Teacher Council (PTC), you may participate in a variety of efforts that are all designed to have a positive impact on the entire educational experience for your child. We are so grateful for our amazing PTC and the wonderful partnership that exists with our school! Please visit the Saxe PTC site, here.

Parting Thoughts

In addition to the above information, we will continue celebrating our Saxe students, staff, activities, and community through our weekly newsletter (saxems.com), our continuously updated website, and our X (Twitter) handle, @SaxeMS. I look forward to connecting, or reconnecting, with each of you soon!

Wishing everyone a great evening and a restful night’s sleep on the eve of our new school year. We look forward to seeing our entire 2026-27 Saxe Middle School community come together for the first time tomorrow!

Be well,

Dave Gusitsch

Principal, Saxe Middle School

Thanks to our Facilities Department, our building is looking great inside & out, and ready to welcome our students back for the 2026-27 school year! Thanks to all involved!