December 2020 Newsletter

CO-PRESIDENTS' LETTER Dear Saxe Parents,  Welcome to December—WE MADE IT!! We know that the holidays this year will look different but hope that you are able to spend time with family and enjoy the magic of the season. As this year comes to a close, we are touched and amazed by the generosity of our Saxe parent community. With your help, the PTC has already begun funding a number of student activities and curriculum enhancements that will enrich every student’s experience at Saxe.   Here are several ways in which your Celebrate Saxe donations have already made a difference:  12 classroom sound systems.    Books for grade level book clubs A “lunch bunch” program with Student Resource Officer Deak Customized Welcome Mats with the Saxe Hawks logo for the school’s front and back entrances Customized Saxe Hawks Banners for the campus light poles and a new Saxe Hawks flag The PTC will continue to work with the Saxe faculty and curriculum coordinators to find impactful ways that we can support the students and staff to enhance the overall level of education provided at Saxe. We are looking forward to what we can achieve together in 2021!  We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season.   Warm holiday wishes,  Jenny Volanakis and Patty Zoccolillo  Saxe PTC Co-Presidents

PRINCIPAL'S LETTER Dear Saxe Parents,  It is my hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. While this is my favorite holiday because the primary focus is around family, gratitude, and food, this year was different for many of us. For the first time, we did not travel to visit family in Pennsylvania. We did however create new memories and made the best of a challenging situation while taking stock and giving thanks for all that we have to be grateful for.  December is an extension to the season of giving “thanks.” It is typically a quick stretch to the next holiday break and the new year which we hope will be filled with fun, excitement, and hopefully some good news on the pandemic front. My goal is to not look too far ahead, but to remain present and appreciate all that we have to be thankful for (personally and professionally). Our Saxe family is important to all of us and I feel fortunate to be part of this fine community, especially now. I wish you the best during this holiday season and hope to be able to share a little “gratitude and thanks” with each of you throughout the month of December. Sincerely,   Dave Gusitsch Principal, Saxe Middle School

IMPORTANT DATES

Grade 5 Parent/Teacher Conferences December 1-4 *early dismissal for 5th graders

Winter Break December 23—Early Dismissal  December 24-January 1—Winter Break

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank You to Our Volunteers  Bravo to Sarah Haddad for leading the charge to present this year’s 5th/6th grade musical, Willy Wonka, Jr. Her meticulous planning and thoughtful management of this virtual production helped to make this an amazing experience for all involved. Thank you for taking on this challenge and making the show a success!

Connecticut State Requirement for 6th Grade Students Connecticut State Law requires ALL students to have a physical exam during sixth 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 1st 2020. Upon completion of the exam, please email the completed CT health assessment record to the lower division health office. You may 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

Profiles in Gifting: A New Canaan Historical Society Holiday Fundraiser Just in time for the holidays, the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society has partnered with the Silhouette Lady for a truly personalized gift your grandparents won't forget. Using a photograph, the Silhouette Lady will hand cut silhouettes and deliver them for easy pick up to the New Canaan Museum. Best of all, she is donating 25% of all proceeds to the NCM&HS. Just click HERE to choose the package you would like, mention you are part of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society and check holiday shopping off your list.

New Canaan CARES presents "Vaping, Did you Know? – A Family Conversation" Dec 7 at 7:00 PM Vaping is an emerging public health threat to our community's youth. DDo you and your child know what vaping is and the effects it has on their lungs and life? Join this informative session with your child 11 years and up. Click HERE for more information and to register.

New Canaan CARES presents "Mental Health 101" Dec 15 at 9:30 AM Families with children 10-13 Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. What happens when your child's mental health encounters a new and different experience? How do children handle it? How do parents handle it when they see their children in distress? Learn ways to effectively manage anxiety in your child and yourself. Leave feeling stronger, resilient and empowered to face each new challenge head on together. Click HERE for more information and to register.

New Canaan CARES presents "Let's Talk About Mental Health" Dec 15 at 6:30 PM Families with Children 14 and up "It’ s ok to not be ok." Join us with your child for an open, honest, conversation about the importance of checking in on friends and family during this unusual time. Teens are talking about it, you can too! In partnership with Silver Hill Hospital. Click HERE for more information and to register.

Cozy Hat and Sock Drive Now through Dec 15 Sophie D'Elisa (Grade 5) and her family are running a Cozy Hat and Sock Drive to benefit the cancer patients at Stamford Hospital's Bennett Cancer Center. A collection box is located in the main vestibule of St. Aloysius Church. You can also contact Kristine D'Elisa for additional drop-off locations or to arrange a pick-up. Please donate new, adult-sized cozy hats and socks. Soft beanies and head scarves are also welcome. The drive will run through Tuesday, December 15.

Register for New Canaan Squash Programs are available for boys and girls K-12. No experience is necessary! New players are welcome to try a free clinic. Squash has famously been called “the world’s healthiest sport” thanks to the high intensity workouts that improve strength, balance and agility, all while being fun and social! Is your field hockey or lacrosse player looking for speed and agility conditioning? Is your football player looking for winter conditioning? Does your soccer player want to improve their footwork? Does your tennis player want winter court time? Squash is the perfect complement to almost any other sport and so many of our players are multi-sport athletes. Click HERE for more information. If you have any questions or to register for a new player clinic, please contact Liz Schmidt for 5th/6th grade and Allison Zinczenko for 7th/8th grade.

Need More Information? Have Questions? Click HERE for our newly improved Saxe PTC website.

saxeptcnewsletter@gmail.com | www.saxeptc.org

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