Join New Canaan Cares and the Saxe PTC
A brief synopsis of each of the issues which come across our desks every day!
A great opportunity for questions, answers, and consensus building!
 
FriendSHIFTS: Annoying Social Challenges, Painful and Hurtful Behaviors
Respect for Authority: Parents, Teachers, Other Adults
Social Networking: The CELL Phone Craze, To network or not to network?
Boundaries: How and when to set them, How to make them work for you
Parallel Parenting: Within your family, With other parents

Relationships with the Opposite Sex
 
If any of these topics make you want to pull your hair out or cry hysterically, then join us for a morning of laughter and strategy!

Friday, November 13 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 pm
Saxe Auditorium

November 9 - November 13
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saxe Lobby

Pre-K through High School
 
 
Come and participate in an informative presentation on the IEP/PPT Process, presented by New Canaan Public Schools Special Education Administration (Darlene Pianka, Director of Special Education, Mary Ann DeFelice, Special Education Coordinator, PreK - 5 and Carole Pakkala, Special Education Coordinator, 6 - 12).

Friday, December 4

Saxe will host a "High School Options Fair" for students interested in learning about some of the out-of-district high school options available to them.  The Fair will take place during 8th grade lunch in the foyer outside the cafeteria and students will have the opportunity to visit with representatives from each school to learn more about their program offerings.

Representatives from the following schools and programs will be on hand:
 
 
At 10:45, representatives from these programs will be in the Saxe Auditorium to meet with interested students and parents.  We welcome any parents who would like to learn more about these opportunities.
 
Please feel free to contact your child's school counselor with any questions.

A Record Release Form (available on-line at the Saxe website under Grade 8 or in the Upper Division Office) must be completed.  If a student is applying to more than one school, please attach a list of schools and complete addresses to which you are releasing records.  Forms should be turned in to Irene Picchione, Grade 8 Secretary, at your earliest convenience.

All recommendations should be placed in a pocket folder with your child's name on it.

All student information should be filled out at the top of each form.

Each form should be included in the folder listing the schools and the due dates of the recommendations.

Recommendations should be given to teachers 3-4 weeks prior to the date they are due.

Stamped, addressed envelopes should be attached for each recommendation for the Math and English teacher.  Please put the teacher's last name and the Saxe address as the return address (468 South Avenue) on the envelopes.

Counselor/Principal recommendation envelopes usually need three stamps, and we prefer that they be unattached, as sometimes we have to use our own envelope.

October 2009
At the October 5, 2009 BOE meeting, Roy Walder, Transportation Coordinator, gave an update on the Opt-in bus program, noting little change from previous years.  He also said that for those scheduled for buses only 50% ride them.  Board members suggested this means that families need to be made aware that each bus costs the district $75,000 a year and there are real economic consequences when students sign up for transportation they have no intention of using.  It was pointed out that transportation can always be provided in an emergency situation or at a later date if circumstances change.

The Board also heard an update on Social Emotional Learning Framework.  The goal of this committee is to develop a more defined and integrated approach to social emotional learning across the district.  They pointed to the success of the recent "Names Can Hurt" program at the high school as one positive step forward.

At the October 19 BOE meeting, Dr. Mary Kolek, Deputy Superintendant, presented the 2009 CMT results.  She reported that this was the strongest overall district performance to date; 90% of students were in goal or above in most categories.  Mr. Greg Macedo, Saxe Middle School Principal, presented Saxe students' CMT results.  Saxe students in 2009 continued to have excellent results with 90% or greater of students in goal range in writing, reading and math while 50% of students were in the advanced range in most grades in those categories. 

Board of Education Liaisons 
Jennifer Essigs
jenniferessigs@gmail.com
 
Kelly Kraus
Kraushaus00@aol.com

Flu Information
This year in addition to seasonal flu we have concerns about H1N1 flu. This flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.  It can cause mild to severe illness.

How to Avoid the Flu

• Get a seasonal flu shot. The CDC recommends flu shots for ALL children 6 months to 18 years.  Children are a pivotal point of transmission for spread of flu.
• This year in addition to the seasonal flu shot, there is the H1N1 vaccine for children at risk.  Consult your doctor about this vaccine.
• Handwashing is an excellent means of prevention.  Keep your hands away from your face.  Germs enter through your mouth, nose and eyes.
• Cough Etiquette includes covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or sneezing into your sleeve.
•  Avoid close contact with sick people, stay home from work/school when you are ill.
• Stay home until you are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine.
  

How Flu spreads
The flu spreads by respiratory droplets released by an infected person coughing or sneezing. This is why it is so vital that we all cover our mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.  It usually spreads from person to person, though occasionally touching something with virus on it and then touching their nose or mouth may infect a person.  

Symptoms of Flu are: fever, headache, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, dry cough, and joint pain. Some complications caused by the flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes.  Children may develop sinus and ear infections.

Please do not send your child to school if she/he has a fever or is ill. We need your help to keep our school healthy.

Visit the Town of New Canaan websitefor the latest information about H1N1.

Anne Goebel RN, 7th/8th grade nurse
Janet Reed RN,  5th/6th grade nurse

 

Corrections and Pick-up Information

If you joined the Saxe PTC and did not pick up a PTC Directory at the Open Houses, the Directories are available for pick up in the Main Office at Saxe.  Please see Mary Calabrese to receive your copy. Haven't joined the PTC yet?  It is not too late - we have extra directories available.  Membership is $25 and includes one copy of the Saxe PTC Directory.  Additional copies are $10 each.  Your membership helps pay for the many programs and events that help shape your child's Saxe Middle School experience.  Bring a check payable to "Saxe Middle School PTC" to Mary Calabrese in the Main Office at Saxe and receive your directory.

Saxe PTC Student Directory Corrections:
Burger: tburger@gridironcapital.com
Frohling: jschlueter@gmail.com
Hamilton: Jhamilton@nbccsite.org
Lee: Brian and Kerry Lee, 277 Country Club Road, kldesigns@optonline.net, 203-966-5951
Lozier:  trinelozier@aol.com
Paloka: 23 Fieldcrest Road
Pitteway: Lawrence Pitteway, 66 Field Crest Road, 203-966-2196; Cynthia & Roger Hargrove, 15 Stony Lane, Norwalk, CT, 06850, 203-831-8657
Wrenn: lisamwrenn@aol.com

Publicity Committee needs a few volunteers that are good at taking pictures or have a literary/journalistic background, please contact:

Saxe Family Pasta Night, Friday, January 29th, 2010
Please consider volunteering to help out at this fun filled evening for our children!  We need your assistance in the following areas:  Basketball (chair & volunteers), Publicity, Bingo, Refreshments, Finance, Set-up / Clean-up, Food / Parent Servers, Table Captains
Hall Monitors / Safety, Tickets & Check In, Music / Decorations, please contact:

Amy Rochlin and the entire Fall Fundraiser Team for running a very successful donation and magazine drive!  We could not have done it without you.  The success of the fall fundraiser is so important to the many activities and events that we fund throughout the year.  Your hours and efforts were endless and so appreciated.

Thank you to the Saxe Administration, Faculty & Secretaries for holding informative Open Houses for our Saxe families.

VP-Hospitality, Susan Kammler, the 5th Grade Room Parents and Team Coordinators: Amy Conley, Kajsa Sheibley, Anna Gruseke and Jody Trager for helping oversee the setup for the Open House evenings. Thanks as well to the Open House parent volunteers that provided food and refreshments.  

Membership Chairs: Chhaya Dagli and Lois DeGhenghi and the volunteers who assisted in distributing the directories.

Spiritwear Chairs: Brenda Curtin and Sue Campbell, for creating a terrific Spiritwear line and the many volunteers that helped out with sales at all the numerous fall events.

Carolyn Savini, Stephanie Kushner & Lisa Pernek for all their help organizing Photo Day.

From Amy Rochlin: Thank you to everyone who worked hard to make the Magazine Drive and Cash Donation Program a true success:  Tracey Karl, Lisa Ceci, Johanna Sillo, Jenny McMahon, Jennifer Essigs, Kathryn Tohir, Sally Finnican, Wendy Pratt, Debbie Dolby and the countless volunteers who helped out in the workroom, cafeteria and at the prize table.

H1N1 Talk Presented by New Canaan Cares
Thursday, November 5
9:00 - 11 a.m. 

Seventh Grade Dance
Bring A Friend!
Members Free, Non-Members $15
Saturday, November 7
Doors Open at 6:30 pm

Middle School Student Governing Board
Leadership Opportunity, Help Plan Fun Events And More!
Tuesday, November 10
6:00 pm

"Perfect Pairings" Ladies Night Out
New Canaan Wine Merchants and Artisanal cheeses from Erin Hedley
of La Dame Du Fromage will be featured.
Thursday, November 19
7:00-9:30 pm

7th Grade Pizza And Movie Night
Friday, November 20
7:00  - 10:00 pm
 
8th Grade Pizza And Movie Night
Saturday, November 21
7:00 - 10:00 pm
 

"Perfect Pairings" Ladies Night Out at the Outback Teen Center, Thursday, November 19
New England Dance Theater's production of the Nutcracker Ballet, December 4, 5, and 6
Outback's Winter Blast 2 - Save the Date, January 30, 2010