November 6, 2026
Dear Saxe MS Family,
Happy November! As we enter a month that puts an emphasis on being thankful, and general gratitude (importantly so), there was no shortage of reasons to be grateful, and smile, around Saxe… This week in the Saxe Weekly, we take a look at the latest Saxe MS podcast, our Veterans Day, World Kindness Day, Math, America the Beautiful at the NCHS Dome, PL Day, the “Be…” Wall, and much more. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
Be Well,
Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
Upcoming Noteworthy Dates:
11/11 – Veterans Day
11/13 – World Kindness Day
*Quotes that resonated with us this week:
“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.”-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”-Unknown
“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” – Taylor Swift
Saxe Jokes of the week:
What do you say when you see someone after midnight on New Year’s Day? I haven’t seen you since last year!
What New Year’s resolution should a basketball player never make? To travel more
Why was the Roomba late for class? It overswept
Veterans Day
Ms. Baltz, Grade 7/8 students, and Saxe staff helped to create a bulletin board to thank our Veterans, including our staff, and family members of our staff. As someone who has family who have served (Dad – US Air Force; brother – US Army; cousins – US Navy), this is a powerful reminder to thank all those who have served to allow the freedoms that we are all afforded. Thank you to all who have served & stay tuned for more Veteran’s Day coverage next week!
Saxe Weekly: The Podcast
Interested in getting an overview of the latest Saxe Weekly in podcast form? Using Google’s Gemini Notebook, 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!
Below is a graphic representation of the latest Saxe Weekly created through Gemini Notebook for you to enjoy!
World Kindness Day
Next Friday (11/13), we’ll join schools and communities around the world in celebrating World Kindness Day! It’s a simple idea with a big impact: a reminder that small acts of kindness (holding a door, saying thank you, giving a complement, inviting someone to sit with you at lunch) can make a real difference in someone’s day. At Saxe, kindness is part of who we are every day, and we love any chance to celebrate it. We’d love for families to join in, too! Over dinner or on the drive to school, consider asking your child: “What’s one kind thing someone did for you this week?” or “Who could use a little kindness right now?” These small conversations go a long way toward building the caring community we’re proud of. Thank you, as always, for partnering with us in helping our students grow into kind, thoughtful people, both in and out of the classroom!
Math
Students in Mr. Santoro’s Period 3 class participated in an error analysis gallery walk focused on geometric transformations and triangle congruency and similarity. They rotated around the room, analyzing sample problems, identifying and correcting errors, answering questions, and collaborating with peers to explain their mathematical reasoning.
Be Thankful
8Red’s new “What We Are Thankful For…” board is up at SaxeM! Students shared what they’re grateful for, from family & friends who “support me through anything” to simply being “loved by many people.” A great reminder heading into Thanksgiving!
We will also be asking our students to reflect on their own experiences next week and consider the following: Someone who brightens my day is…A small simple thing that always turns my day around is… A good memory or kind moment I’ve gathered this fall is… Something that has helped me grow and branch out this season is… A favorite moment from this past year that I wish I could replay is…
These moments are important for all of us to maintain perspective on all we have to be grateful for!
Hundreds of reasons to smile… The “Be…” Wall at Saxe MS keeps growing, with each note sharing a simple, personal goal like being more respectful, more confident, or less stressed. Love the honesty & reflection from our students!
America the Beautiful Premier
The Dome at NCHS is proud to participate in the grand premiere of America the Beautiful on Wednesday, November 11, 2026! Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer, this breathtaking giant-screen film takes audiences on an immersive journey through America’s stunning landscapes while celebrating the conservation efforts that have preserved the nation’s natural wonders for generations. The special Veterans Day screening offers a unique opportunity to experience America’s beauty while honoring those who have served. Tickets are $10, with a 50% discount for veterans using promo code VET250. Additional showings will be available from 11/12-11/21. View the official trailer and purchase your tickets through the Dome’s Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/america-the-beautiful-our-nations-wonders-tickets-2003930424845?aff=erelpanelorg.
Happy Birthday!
A special shout-out to our Saxe students who are celebrating their birthdays this week & next – Happy Birthday!
X
Below are photos and phrases that were included on our Saxe Middle School page (@SaxeMS) this week. Enjoy!
Our Saxe PTC went above & beyond for our staff on PL day… Fall decor, balloons, a sub that seemed to go on forever, & a sushi platter that disappeared in record time! Thank you for taking such great care of our team!
PL day at Saxe MS had our Math department collaborating across grade levels, working through problems like this one together… Love seeing our teachers think like students & dig into the “why” behind the math!
Bonjour, Hola, Salve, & Ni Hao… & welcome to the Design Lab! Our Saxe MS World Language department spent PL day collaborating & sharing ideas in one of our most creative spaces!
Our Saxe MS Science & Social Studies departments put our recently renovated space to great use on PL day… Lots of energy, great conversations, & plenty of collaboration across the room! Love seeing this space work just as well for our staff as it does for our students!
Our Saxe Art department brought their A-game to PL day! From clay coins & hearts to a croissant-shaped dish (!), the creativity was on full display… & they hands-down had the best lunch set up. Tablecloths, silverware, & pumpkins – five-star dining!
Our Saxe MS ELA department made great use of this week’s PL day… Using a “See-Think-Wonder” gallery walk, they evaluated student work & calibrated feedback together. Love seeing our teachers learning alongside one another!
At Saxe MS, we believe a positive environment truly matters… From “Good things are going to happen today” to “Be happy. Be Kind. Be well…” the reminders are everywhere! And this week’s Monday quote may be a new favorite: there are no “bad” days, just “character-builders”!
Amazing weather for November as Saxe MS students took advantage of every minute outside at recess… Blue skies & fall colors make for a great backdrop!
Picture Makeup Day was held this week at Saxe MS… Love the set up from Legacy Studios, especially the mirror for one last smile check… Hope everyone brought their best “say cheese”!
This terrific crew of Saxe MS 8th-graders joined me for “Pizza with the Principal” as our Celebrate Saxe raffle winners… It was great to connect, chat, & hear about their experiences! A big shout-out to our wonderful PTC for making these opportunities possible!
The latest Saxe MS staff “Question of the Day” asked if you decorate for the winter holidays before Thanksgiving… Looks like most of our team is giving the turkey its moment first!
Have a great week & see you next Friday!
Thank you to all of our Saxe Weekly contributors! Each edition is an example of “collaboration in action.”
Saxe Resources (live links)
Website: https://www.ncps-k12.org/saxe
Saxe Middle School
Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment
PS – On the go and interested in getting an overview of the Saxe Weekly in podcast form? Using Google’s Gemini Notebook, we are able to offer an option to listen to all of the great “goings on” in our school community while you are out & about, with the Saxe MS Podcast! We invite you to give it a listen… Enjoy!
