December 2017
PRESIDENTS' LETTER
Dear Saxe Families,

November was a big month at Saxe with many highlights. The Dr. Robert Brooks "Raising Resilient Children" lecture was truly a standout evening made possible by combining forces with all the PTCs/PFAs of the NCPS. We hope you found his tools useful and are implementing some in your day-to-day.

We also had the honor of presenting a $83,000 technology grant to the Board of Education to purchase 315 laptops and 8 carts for 5th and 6th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies classes. This donation will enable Saxe to reach a 1:1 student-to-device ratio in all humanities classes in all grades -- which is a big WIN for every student at Saxe. Currently, we are reviewing all of our fall grant applications and will update you once those details are finalized.

Lastly, calling all contractors and builders with a heart of gold! We need help transforming the Faculty Dining Room with limited funds. The staff has finally reclaimed this small room now that the new wing has eased space limitations. The room is in dire need of some TLC, along with new kitchen cabinets and counters. Know anyone who can help? Please email us!

Happy Holidays to everyone! We know December will fly by, so enjoy every moment with your loved ones.

Jingle all the way,
Katie VanDussen & Susan Gelvin
​Saxe PTC Co-Presidents
DATES AT A GLANCE
December
5-8th: Early Dismissal for 5th Grade only
5th: Book Fair
5th: Guys and Dolls Info Sessions
5th: Saxe Building Project Grand Opening
5th: NCHS/8th Gr. Orchestra Festival
6th: Book Fair
7th: Book Fair
11th: Guys and Dolls Auditions
12th: Happy Hanukkah!
13th: Guys and Dolls Auditions
14th: 7/8 Chorus Concert
19th: NCHS/8th Grade Band Festival
21st: January Newsletter Deadline
22nd: Early Dismissal
25th: Merry Christmas!
25th - Jan. 1st: No School - Happy 2018!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SAXE BUILDING PROJECT GRAND OPENING!
Tuesday, December 5th, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Everyone is invited to join in celebration of this incredible building project! Open to the public! Click HERE for more information.
Saxe Book Fair is NEXT WEEK!
Tuesday, December 5th - Thursday, December 7th
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Saxe Auxiliary Gym

 Click HERE for the class visit schedule (subject to change beyond the PTC's control).

Click HERE to volunteer! Many shifts to choose from!

Parents are welcome to give book fair gift certificates to their children's teachers to add to the classroom library. Purchase your book fair gift certificates by clicking HERE.
Online gift certificate sales will end at 5:00 P.M. sharp this Sunday, December 3rd.
7/8th Grade Musical: Guys and Dolls!
Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy filled with classic Broadway songs
such as "Luck Be a Lady", "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat", "Adelaide's Lament", and
"A Bushel and A Peck." Hailed as the perfect musical comedy, this award-winning
classic gambles with luck and love under the bright lights of Broadway.

Performances
Friday, March 23rd at 7pm  and  Saturday, March 24th at 2pm 
in the beautifully renovated Saxe Auditorium!
A possible 3rd show may be on  Saturday, March 24th at 7pm.

Student and Parent Information Sessions : Tuesday, December 5th
STUDENTS: Tuesday, December 5th , 2:00-3:00 PM in the Saxe Auditorium
PARENTS: Tuesday, December 5th , 6:00-7:00 PM in the NCHS Choir Room
The 2pm meeting will be more focused on student questions, and the 6pm meeting more on parent questions, but students and parents can attend either meeting.

Auditions will be after school on 
Monday, December 11th and Wednesday, December 13th .
Students should start preparing a short musical theater song to sing for
auditions (no pop music, please). They will need to bring 16-32 bars of music
(about a verse and a chorus), properly marked, that they intend to sing.

Callbacks will be on  Monday, December 18th .

Click HERE to visit the Guys and Dolls website for f urther information,
required audition registration, and audition sign-ups!
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Coming Soon: Winter Concerts!
All Concerts are in the Saxe Auditorium
unless otherwise noted

CHORUS:
7th/8th Gr. Concert: December 14th @ 7 PM
5th/6th Gr. Concert: January 9th @ 7 PM
Snow date for 7/8 Concert: December 19th
Snow date for 5/6 Concert: TBD
We need a few parent volunteers at each concert!

ORCHESTRA:
NCHS/Saxe 8th Gr. Orchestra Festival:
December 5th @ NCHS, 7 PM

5th-8th Gr. Orchestra Concert: January 17th @ 7 PM
Snow date: January 18th
Please contact Caryn Frick at  carynfrick@gmail.com  to volunteer
on the night of the 5th-8th Concert.

BAND:
NCHS/Saxe 8th Grade Band Festival:
December 19th @ NCHS , 7 PM

5th/6th Gr. Band Concert: January 24th @ 7 PM
7th/8th Gr. Band Concert: January 25th @ 7 PM
Snow dates for both Saxe shows: January 31st
We need a few parent volunteers at each concert!
8th to 9th Grade Transition Parent Coffee
Tuesday, January 9th @ 9:15 AM 
NCHS Wagner Room
Snow date: Thursday, January 11, 2018, same time and place
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ATTENTION 6TH GRADE PARENTS!
Connecticut State Law requires ALL students to have a physical
exam during sixth grade. Click HERE for important details.
Spirit Wear has Restocked!
Need holiday gift ideas? New Spirit Wear has arrived in time for the holidays! Shop the online store and we will contact you for pick up instructions.  Click HERE to purchase Spirit Wear online.

ISlides are still available! Each pair is $44.99 (includes personalization). Refer to the size chart and use code "NC10" for special pricing. They will be delivered straight to you.
Saxe Mural Project & Visiting Artist!
Exciting news! Students will be asked to design and paint a mural for the new wing! In preparation for this project, Ed MacEwan spoke to the students about his painting career and work with large scale murals. Click HERE for more information about his visit!
Yearbooks are On Sale NOW!
Click HERE to place your order! For questions, please email Brad Lepisto at brad.lepisto@ncps-k12.org .
Recycle for Art
Call for Recyclable Items
Your family's trash may be the art department's treasure!
Please clean and sanitize all items as appropriate before delivering your items to the main office. Click HERE for a list of items the art department can always use.
It Takes a Village! Thank You for Volunteering!

A special thank you to Leslie Bisesi and Malia Frame for organizing a lovely luncheon for the Saxe Faculty and Staff in November.

The 5/6th Grade Production of Aladdin was FANTASTIC! We are especially grateful to Parent Coordinator Danielle Sibilia , and the many other parent chairs: Tracy Goldman (PR/Publicity), Chris Tate (Graphic Design), Maria Caruso (Advertising/Photographer), Heather O’Gorman (Chaperone Coordinator), Clemente Pascarella (Treasurer), Cathy Dougherty (Tickets), Kelly Ratner & Kim Frieders (Concessions), Jacqueline Harmody (Flowers), Meg Saunders (Kisses), Sarah Haddad (Lobby Décor), Ulrika Veroude & Laura McDaniel (Costumes & Make-up) and Norma Canas, Megan Bradley, Ilse Tillman, Tammy Allen, Shannon Smith, Ann Saridakis (Cast and Crew Party). We greatly appreciate the excellent support of faculty/staff, especially Lauren Nicole Sherwood (Director/Choreographer and Costume Designer), Anthony Medaglia (Technical Supervisor), Joe Gergle (musical director), Matt Blank (Assistant Director/stage manager), Lisa Jarosik & Mary Calabres e (Saxe office), Saxe Art Teachers , and Alan Sneath (VPA director) and Susan Kelley in the Visual and Performing Arts Department.
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Computers for Kids
If you know a child or family in need of a computer, please email  patricia.potts@ncps-k12.org.
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January 2018 Newsletter Deadline
Please click HERE  to submit your news by 5:00 PM on Thursday, December 21st. The newsletter will be published on January 2nd.
COMMUNITY CLICKS

Pura Vida for Children "Holiday Mailbox"
Pura Vida for Children and the Pura Vida Club of NCHS are raising funds to help pay for the food at their annual community ‘Feed My Starving Children’ food packing event in the Spring. Click HERE to learn more and make a donation.

New Canaan Youth Wrestling
NC Youth Wrestling registration is LIVE! Led by Head Coach Bobby Rushton, Gr. 5-8 practices are Mon. & Wed. from 7-8:30 PM. For more details or to register, click HERE.

"Be Kind" Girl Empowerment & Leadership Summit
Friday, December 8 @ 5:30-8:30 pm at Stepping Stones Museum (Norwalk). Join middle school girls from across Fairfield County for an evening of girl empowerment.
Click here for more information and to register.

New Canaan Lacrosse Association
Registration for NCLA Spring 2018 lacrosse programs for boys & girls in grades K-8 is now open. Grades 5-8 deadline: January 17, 2018. Visit nclax.org for details .

Let's Help Transform Mead Park Playground
A dedicated effort is underway to help transform the playground at Mead Park. Click here to learn more.

Auditions for Into the Woods, JR in Greenwich
Open Arts Alliance announces its Spring 2018 production of Into the Woods, JR . Auditions (ages 8-18) are on December 13, 14, and 15 from 6-9PM at Round Hill Community Center in Greenwich. Register at  www.OpenArtsAlliance.com . For more information about auditions, please click HERE.
Saxe Parent Teacher Council |  saxeptcnewsletter@gmail.com | www.saxeptc.org