Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi has a plaque in his office, he told a crowd of about 40 people gathered outside Saxe Middle School on Monday afternoon.
L-R: Alex Knowles, Saxe Middle School Principal David Gusitsch, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi, Jessica Knowles, the Saxe Hawks mascot, Jess Huetter and William Huetter at the Aug. 26, 2024 ribbon-cutting of the new courts. Credit: Michael Dinan
“It says, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,’ ” Luizzi told Saxe students, parents, staff and faculty moments before formally cutting the ribbon at the new “Hawk’s Court,” a gift of the Parent Teacher Council.
“And when this first came together, it definitely was a bit of a moonshot,” he continued, addressing Saxe PTC Co-Presidents Jess Huetter and Jessica Knowles on a warm, sunny day. “But to your credit, you had the courage to take it, to go for it and to work with us, with the town, with everybody to put this together. And really, it’s another example of how the quality of the idea on behalf of the children is the single most important factor that we use in our decision-making.”
Dr. Luizzi and the Saxe Hawk just after the ribbon-cutting. Aug. 26, 2024. Credit: Michael Dinan
The ribbon-cutting, attended by Luizzi, Huetter and Knowles as well as Saxe Middle School Principal David Gusitsch, the Saxe Hawks mascot and students Alex Knowles and William Huetter, marked the culmination of a $170,000 fundraising effort and summer court installation overseen by town and district officials. It was followed by a students vs. staff game of knockout. The new courts replace weedy, cracked, non-regulation ones that still saw heavy use by students and the wider community. School opens Thursday.
In addressing the crowd with Knowles by her side, Huetter recognized Celebrate Saxe Committee members (also on hand) Tia Whinery, Remi Salami, Karen Willett, Lauren Connolly Nussbaum and Irene Manos.
Those who sponsored the new Hawk’s Court at Saxe Middle School are recognized on a plaque on site. Unveiled Aug. 26, 2024.
Huetter also specifically thanked Gusitsch, “who has the biggest ‘Dream Big’ motto ever,” she said, as well as Luizzi and district Director of Finance and Operations Sean O’Keefe who “were super supportive of helping us push this through all of the different obstacles,” and New Canaan Public Works Director Tiger Mann, who “went above and beyond to help us with this.”
“This would not have been done without him,” she said of Mann.
Gusitsch said that “words cannot describe how grateful we are as a school community for all that Jess and Jess have done in leading the PTC.”
At the Aug. 26, 2024 ribbon-cutting of the new basketball courts at Saxe Middle School, a gift of the Saxe PTC. Credit: Michael Dinan
“And thank you to everybody who’s here,” he continued. “You guys represent our school community, the parent community, and all who allowed these dreams to come true,” he said. “So thank you for all that you do for our students, for our staff, for our school. There are going to be generations of students who come through here who are going to benefit from projects like this. And we just want to thank you all for everything that goes into such a large project, and as well as the ones that go from day to day. You guys really make such a big difference in the experience that our students have here at Saxe… We look forward to enjoying many years of movement, activity and even relaxing out here. As you take a look, we have tables that students can choose to come out and socialize. Or foursquare, or the actual courts. It’s going to be a multi-purpose area that so many people are going to be able to benefit from.”
Luizzi noted that Hawk’s Court “will benefit kids during school, after school, on weekends, everything else.”
“And that is what saw this through from concept to completion,” he said, adding: “It really is a testament to the investment, the care, and the commitment we have to our children and to helping them to grow and have the best possible experiences here in New Canaan.”
They look great…Congratulations…