"A Smorgasbord of Middle School Topics  - Part II"
         
 
Join New Canaan CARES and the Saxe PTC to continue our brief synopsis of the main issues which comes across our desks every day!  This is a great opportunity for questions, answers, and consensus building!  We are offering a morning and evening session to give parents the opportunity to attend the presentation together.
 
Part II will focus on:
Respect for Authority:  Parents, Teachers, Other Adults
Boundaries:  How and when to set them, How to make them work for your family
Parallel Parenting:  Within your family, With other parents
 
If any of these topics make you want to pull your hair out or cry hysterically, then join us for laughter and strategy.

Auditions are scheduled for:
Thursday and Friday, December 10 and 11

Call backs will be held on:
Monday, December 14

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.

Save the Date!
8th grade students and their parents are invited to an informative meeting on the transition to New Canaan High  School.

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.

November 2009

November's BOE highlights included NCHS Principal Tony Pavia's test report covering SAT, AP and CAPT testing.  While the results did not top last years banner scores, New Canaan remains at or near the top of our DRG (demographic reference group). Dr. Abbey and Mr. Pavia both stated that the district continues to work on finding ways to improve overall and reduce some gender gaps in the scores.  Dr. Abbey was also proud to point out that CT Magazine has named New Canaan #1 in education in towns of similar size.  Also on the agenda was a report from the Guidance Department on how their department functions.  Vice Chair, Nick Williams expressed concern over the student to counselor ratio.  The BOE will look into this further. In addition Kathy Smith ran her last meeting as Chairperson.  The rest of the board expressed their appreciation for her steady leadership.

At the November 16 meeting newly and reelected members were sworn in by Claudia Weber, Town Clerk. First Selectman, Jeb Walker oversaw the election of new officers-Nick Williams, Chair; Jenny McMahon, Vice Chair; Alison Bedula, Secretary.  Dr. Abbey acknowledged outgoing board member Frank Manzella for 4 years of service.  Mr. Walker also read a town proclamation in recognition of the 40th anniversary of "The New Canaan Experiment"-in the 1970's young African American student teachers from the Norfolk State University, VA who were denied opportunities in their own community taught at NCHS.  The proclamation was received by Doug Sutton, one of the student teachers who participated in the experiment in 1970. Mr. Sutton later returned to teach in the New Canaan system at both Saxe and NCHS. He was a founding member of ABC of New Canaan and served on the board of the Horizons program.  

A trip to Spain for the high school Spanish Club was also approved. Budget Assumptions and Priorities were given a first read.  And Darlene Pianka led a review of the Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies across the District.

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

Save the Date!


Parents: We are asking you to start collecting small gifts to donate for BINGO prizes that will be collected after the holidays.

Donna Hill - hillct@optonline.net 972-6039
Deidre Shanley- dfshot@hotmail.com 966-3447
Peyton Thalacker - thalacker@att.net 594-9677

 

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

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:

Whitney McCarthy and Denise Ferguson, Susan Kammler and the host of parent volunteers who organized, cooked for and served at our Saxe Faculty Appreciation Luncheon in November.  Our staff gives a tremendous amount to our kids each day and it was a wonderful way to thank them.

New Canaan CARES and Meg Domino, for providing our parents with wonderful presentation at our most recent PTC meeting on the Hot Topics that come across the CARES desks daily.  Meg will be back with Part 2 on December 9th at Saxe.

Chhaya Dagli for her outstanding leadership while overseeing the production of the 5th and 6th Grade musical.   Her organizational skills helped make the event a great success.

Brenda Curtin for helping organize the volunteers for the After School Student Activities registration.

Martha Risom and the many volunteers who decorated our hallways at Saxe with beautiful artwork from the art program for you to enjoy.

Praise from our Musical Chair, Chhaya Dagli...
The Saxe 5th & 6th Grade Musical was a tremendous success thanks to the dedication and hard work of volunteers, teachers and administration.  Disney's High School Musical performed by the 5th & 6th graders was a sold out hit thanks to the commitment of the volunteers, parents and cast/crew.

Special recognition should be given to the wonderful sub-chairs who worked relentlessly to bring the show together:  Rachel Ranieri (PTC Program VP); Sharon McClymonds (Production Manager); Barbara Dahill (Treasurer & Tickets); Janine Pickhardt & Julia Koochek (Cast Party); Christina Fagerstal (Chaperone); Moya Ross & Teresa Piontkowski (Concessions); Keri Bryant (Director's Gift); Margie Ettinger (DVD Sales); Louise Rosenberg & Krista Fox (Lobby Decorations); Beth Colwell (Photography); Cynnie Thunem (Programs); Susan Serven, Johanna Sillo, & Keri Bryant (Publicity); Sue Holland (Sets & Props); Amy Reehl (T-shirts); Nancy Bemis (Ushers).

Items to be Donated Over December Break

There are over 100 items in Saxe's Lost & Found!  Please encourage your children to visit the Lost & Found located in the corridor between the gym and cafeteria.  Also, lost lunch boxes are located on a table outside the cafeteria.  Similar to previous years, all unclaimed items will be donated to a charity during the December break.

 
Check out the Outback!
New video games, two pool tables, etc.,
Friday, December 4
3:00 to 5:00 pm

Freestyle Rap Competition
Friday December 11
3:00 to 5:00 pm

Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Friday, December 18
3:00 to 5:00 pm (Hot cocoa provided!)

Books, Magazines, Spiritwear

If you are planning your holiday gift list, think of Saxe too!  You can support our school at the same time when you purchase books, magazines, or spiritwear this holiday season. Details to follow this newsletter shortly.