March 2019 Newsletter
CO-PRESIDENTS' LETTER

Dear Saxe Families,

We hope you all enjoyed a restful Winter Break and your kids have readjusted to the early morning hours and homework assignments. To help ease their transition back, we are proud to announce the grand opening of the new “Saxe Café” lounge area! Starting tomorrow, students will be able to relax on several new couches placed just outside the cafeteria doors in the common area. Students can read, do homework or play board games during lunch hours, and the seating areas can also be used during non-lunch hours for group projects or after-school clubs. 

In addition to the Saxe Café, four water bottle refilling stations will be installed throughout the school in the coming months, all courtesy of this year’s Celebrate Saxe donations. Your generosity has immeasurably enriched the experience of each Saxe student, both inside and outside the classroom, and we are forever grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.

We’d also like to thank the current Saxe PTC Board, particularly co-Treasurers Ann McMahon and Stephanie Taylor , for the countless hours they spent reviewing, approving and executing this year’s grants. Your hard work and dedication truly make a difference!

Gratefully yours,

Susan Gelvin and Geri Mohr
Saxe PTC Co-Presidents
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER

Dear Saxe Parents,

As we enter the month of March, we continue to focus on our most important asset—our students. The Association of Middle Level Education has teamed up with several other organizations to declare March the official month to focus on students ages 10-15 and celebrate middle level education. The key messages to celebrate “ Middle Level Education Month” are:

  • The importance of parents being knowledgeable about young adolescents and being actively involved in their lives
  • The understanding that healthy bodies plus healthy minds equal healthy young adolescents
  • The realization that the education young adolescents experience during this formative period of life will, in large measure, determine the future for all citizens
  • The knowledge that every young adolescent should have the opportunity to pursue his or her dreams and aspirations, and post-secondary education should be a possibility for all

New Canaan exemplifies what it means to provide the best education possible and Saxe Middle School is proud to be able to play a critical role in the overall educational journey that our students make. Thank you for your continued support! Click HERE to learn more about #MLEM.

Have a great month,

Dave Gusitsch
Principal, Saxe Middle School
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tickets Now on Sale for the 7/8th Grade Musical!
Come and support the Saxe 7th and 8th graders as they perform Disney's  High School Musical  on Friday, April 5 at 7:00 PM and Saturday April 6 at 1:00 PM.  Click HERE  to buy tickets online. For questions or seating accommodations, contact the Saxe Box Office .

Do you have a small business you want to advertise in the show program? Click HERE to buy a Business Ad. Parents, celebrate your student performer with a parent booster ad for your child in the show program! Click HERE to buy a Parent Booster Ad. The deadline is Sunday, March 10.
The 3rd Annual NC Color Run
Saturday, April 27 at NCHS
9:00 AM: Kids' Color Dash (.8 miles) 
9:30 AM: NC Color Run/Walk (5k)
The NCHS Scholarship Foundation presents the 3rd annual NC Color Run. Click HERE to register by April 26. The cost to register is $35 per individual; the family maximum is $130. Children 5 and under are free. Come run (or walk) for a great cause!
BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATES
Currently, our town funding bodies are reviewing the Superintendent's Proposed 2019-2020 Budget and the Board of Finance has already requested significant cuts to the school budget. All Saxe parents should become familiar with the budget that was unanimously approved by the BOE as it was presented to the Board of Finance on February 5th. Click HERE for the presentation.

A public hearing regarding the budget will occur at the Board of Finance meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall. All are welcome to attend the public hearing and to voice their opinions. For those who cannot attend, but wish to be heard, please email the Board of Finance members .

Budget Quick Notes as provided by the BOE:
  • The BOE has stated that the proposed NCPS budget meets the guidance that was set forth by the Board of Finance in October.

  • The proposed BOE budget has an increase of $1.82 million (2.03%), which is lower than the Board of Finance guidance by over $700,000.

  • Brendan Hayes, BOE Chairman, stated, “The budget reflects the administration’s hard work in controlling costs, in virtually every major category including staffing. Thanks to the dedication and focus of our outstanding administration, the [BOE] is proposing a very conservative budget, and our district has instituted cost savings in the current year that will continue to pay significant dividends in the years ahead.” (For Mr. Hayes' full statement, please click HERE.)

Budget Timeline/Critical Dates:
Board of Finance Meetings
Tuesday, 3/05 at 7 PM, Town Hall, Meeting Room, Public Hearing on Budge t
Thursday, 3/07 at 7 PM, Town Hall, Meeting Room, Vote on Budget

Town Council Meetings
Wednesday, 3/20 at 7 PM, Town Hall, Meeting Room, BOE Budget Presentation
Tuesday, 4/02 at 7 PM, Town Hall, Meeting Room, Public Hearing on Budget
Thursday, 4/04 at 7 PM, Town Hall, Meeting Room, Vote on Budget
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank You to Our Volunteers!
A huge thank you to Lisa Hull and Lotten Milligan for their time and energy planning, organizing and hosting the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, February 15th! A special thanks to all the parents who contributed as well.
Note From the School Nurse
Connecticut State Law requires all students to have a physical exam during 6th grade .  The CT Health Assessment form needs to be on file in the nurse’s office by the last day of 6th grade. We accept physicals dated from June 1, 2018.

Upon completion of the exam, please send your child's CT health assessment record to the lower division health office. Please contact your school nurse, Joelle Graham, with any questions. She can be reached at joelle.graham@ncps-k12.org or at (203) 594-4526.
COMMUNITY CLICKS
Final Chance to Register for New Canaan Softball Spring 2019 Season
This is the last week that New Canaan Softball is accepting registration for the 2019 Spring Little League season for girls in grades K-8. Click HERE to learn more about this exciting program that emphasizes teamwork, town pride, and building confidence through skill development.
New Canaan Father/Daughter Dance
March 9, 5:30 - 7:00 PM at Woodway Country Club
Dads and daughters will dance the night away at this very special event sponsored by Elm Street Events. Ticket price includes a three-course dinner, a father/daughter photo, a sundae bar, and more. Click HERE for more information and to register.
Middle School Night at the YMCA
March 9, 7:00 - 9:30 PM at the YMCA
This month's Middle School Night features dodge ball, nine-square and kickball, as well as basketball, swimming, diving, spin, and a Zone Challenge with Parisi. Pizza and snacks are available for purchase. Click HERE to register in advance. Also check out the YMCA's middle school programs for the spring: cooking club, art class, and the Adventure Club (featuring Go-Karting, nature hikes, and ropes course field trips).
Preschool/Elementary Program: The Power and Purpose of Play
March 12, 10:00 AM in the New Canaan Library Lamb Room
Play is a child’s works. Beth O’Brien (head of Early Childhood, New Canaan Country School) discusses the latest research on how different kinds of play help build the specific skills that create the strongest foundation for future success. Click HERE for more information and to register.
YWL Empowering Women Series: Mind Body Connection
March 12, 7:00 PM at The New Canaan Historical Society
Come to this energizing and fun workshop to learn how your brain influences your body. You will practice mindfulness techniques to help you feel centered in the midst of chaos. Click HERE for more information and to register.
NC CARES presents "Hidden in Plain Sight"
March 26, 7:00 PM at NCHS Cafeteria
Walk through a mock teenage bedroom to find clues of high-risk behavior. You will learn about drug trends, signs to look for, and gain tools to have tough conversations with teens. Click HERE for more information and to register. Co-sponsored by the RAM Council and NC Cares.
Being Your Parent's Caregiver While Raising Your Children
March 27, 7:00 PM at NCHS Wagner Room
Do you feel sandwiched with the challenges of being a caregiver for an older family member while raising your own children? This NC CARES panel will cover caregiver roles, adjusting expectations, and alleviating caregiver stress. Sponsored by NC Cares and Staying Put in New Canaan. Click HERE for more information.
New Canaan Substance-Free Teens (8th Grade Program)
Monthly meetings through June 2019
This series of workshops will help 8th graders learn how to live a substance-free life. Click HERE for more information or contact Ram Council President Joyce Sixsmith, (917) 678-0543.
New Canaan Racquet Club Tennis Lessons
Give the gift of tennis to your child! Classes are held on weekdays after school and on the weekends. Click HERE for more information and ensure your child learns the "sport of a lifetime!"
Collecting Gently Used Computers
Computers for Kids is collecting gently used computers to fix up and give to families in need. If you have an unused computer to donate, please bring it to the Saxe Lower Division Security Desk labeled with your name and address. If you know a child or family in need of a computer, please email  Patty Potts .
All-Girls Flag Football League
Calling all 5th and 6th grade girls interested in playing flag football! If you would like to participate in an ALL-GIRLS flag football league this spring, please contact Craig Hunt or Mariella Montoni Scofield . There will be one practice per week and a game on Saturdays.