NEW! Thank You - A huge thanks to all of our faculty and staff for their enthusiastic participation in yesterday’s all day meeting and training! We accomplished a lot, had a great time doing it, and are excited to hit the ground running on Monday!
NEW! New Faculty and Staff - Due to increased enrollment at the upper campus, the 6th grade move to the upper campus, and the retirement of longtime faculty members at the lower campus, we have a number of new faculty and staff joining us this year! We are excited about the expansion of our staff and the increased academic opportunities this will provide our students. Please join us in welcoming:
Upper Campus
Cindy Bannon - English Long Term Sub
Julia Fehmel - History
Tran Trang - Math
Pamela Hughes - Science
Sue Mack - Science
Emma Neville - Spanish
Casey Feltham - Theology
Ryan Farris - Athletic Director & Physical Education
LoRetta Lowry - 6th Grade (Science)
Tom Mechin - 6th Grade (History)
Hailey Nott - 6th Grade (English)
Lower Campus
Danielle Troy - 1st Grade
Jennifer Young - 1st Grade
Tracy Beauregard - Physical Education
Mary Foran - Computers
Upper & Lower
Jillian Enright - Guidance
Donna Beatrice - Database & Advancement Services
NEW! Updated COVID Policies and Procedures - We have updated our opening COVID policies and procedures for the 2021-2022 school year. They were emailed to parents and can also be found HERE. Please note that we will continue to review ongoing COVID infection rates in our local area, as well as the recommendations of local health experts, and adjust our policies accordingly throughout the year. We appreciate our parents understanding and flexibility!
Commuter Student Instructions - Will you be dropping your student off in the morning….or picking him or her up in the afternoon? Please be sure to see the instructions HERE for lower campus students and HERE for upper campus students. We ask everyone’s cooperation in following these instructions carefully and mindfully in order to keep our students safe and our process orderly and speedy!
NEW! Rectory Driveway and Grounds - Please note that cars should not use the rectory driveway at any time, nor block the driveway exit. In addition, please refrain from walking on any of the mulched areas around the parish. Thank you!
NEW! Upper Campus Fall Athletic Tryouts - The fall athletic season is upon us! If your student is interested in participating on a sports team at the upper campus, please note the following:
- Fall sports included boys soccer, girls soccer, girls volleyball, and co-ed cross country
- All athletes must be registered to try out for a team using the Google form HERE.
- There will be a MANDATORY athletic meeting for parents and athletes who are interested in participating on Monday, August 30 at 6:00 PM at the upper campus. This meeting will cover tryout information, Covid policies, expectations of players, parents, and coaches, game schedules, athletic policies, and much much more.
- Tryouts will begin on Tuesday, August 31. Note: This date is subject to change based on coach availability. Please see next bullet!
- Coaches are needed for boys soccer and girls volleyball. Please contact AD Ryan Farris at [email protected] if you are interested in coaching either of these sports! These are paid positions.
NEW! Upper Campus Short Term Lunch Concessions Help - The upper campus is in need of lunch concessions help for the next few weeks until our regular Hot Lunch volunteer schedule is active! These volunteers would be selling chips and ice cream to students during their lunch period. There are three daily lunch periods and volunteers may choose to work one period or all three periods on the day/s of their choice. Only one volunteer is needed per day. Please note: volunteers do need to wear a mask when in the building. To volunteer, please click HERE! Thank you!
Education Freedom Account -- Over the summer, the New Hampshire legislature recently passed the needs-based Education Freedom Account (EFA) program which will offer grants of a minimum of $3,400 for families at 300% of the poverty line or below to spend on their children’s education, including:
- Tuition at a school of their choice, including Saint Christopher Academy
- Tutoring
- Internet connectivity
- Special education services and therapies
- Online learning courses and programs
- Fees for specialized or advanced courses, assessments, certifications and college entrance exams (SAT/ACT)
- Other learning experiences
You can find more information about the program from the state HERE.
The program is being administered through The Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire and applications should be available on August 17. Sign up NOW so you will be notified when applications open! Please visit the Children’s Scholarship Fund website HERE.
Yes, Every Student Scholarship Program - Applications are still open for the Yes, Every Student Scholarship Program from the NH Department of Education. This is a first-come, first-serve needs-based grant program administered by FACTS for the NH DOE that can provide grants of either $2,500 or $5,000 to families, dependent upon income. Several Saint Christopher Academy families have already been awarded aid monies! Please click HERE for instructions on how to apply.
School Hours - Just a reminder that the upper and lower campuses run on slightly different daily schedules. To view the lower campus schedule, click HERE. To view the upper campus schedule, click HERE.
NEXT WEEK! First Day of School (EEK!) - The first day of school for ALL grades on both campuses will be NEXT Monday, August 30! Lower campus parents received an email yesterday with a secure link to class lists. In order to keep our students and staff safe under our updated COVID policies, there will be no parents allowed inside the building, including on the first day of school. Teachers and staff will be stationed throughout the building on the first day of school to help students to their classrooms.Please also remember that all students on both campuses should be in full uniform on the first day of school.
NEW! Nashua Bus Passes - Parents of Kdg - 8 students who qualify for Nashua school bus transportation and who completed the Nashua Bus Survey a few weeks ago were sent an email yesterday with the time and location of your child/ren's bus pick-up and drop-off. Students will not need a bus pass to board the bus on Monday morning. They will be given their printed bus pass during the day at school on Monday.
NEW! Library News - The online Scholastic Book Fair is fast approaching. Mark your calendar for September 13th - September 26th. More info will follow on accessing the online catalog, how to donate books to your child's classroom and more! The magic is back!
Labor Day Weekend - We will have Friday, September 3 and Monday, September 6 off for Labor Day weekend!
New Parent Orientation - New parents should be on the lookout for an email from the Academy about an Orientation event at 7:00 PM at the upper campus on September 2. Please reserve this time on your calendar.
Uniform Requirements - There are no changes to the uniform requirements for this year. All uniforms must be purchased from Red Brick Clothing in Hudson. Please see the visual guide to uniforms HERE. The Academy page on the Red Brick website is HERE.
Academic Calendar - You can print an Academic calendar for the upcoming school year HERE. Please be aware that while we strive to keep the calendar as is, dates may change during the year if necessary. All changes will be announced in the Wednesday News as soon as possible. You can also follow the school calendar on the Academy website HERE.
Last Reminder! Lower Campus Back to School Supply and Required Reading List - Do you have your supplies yet?! The lower campus Back to School Supply and Required Reading List can be found HERE.
Last Reminder! Upper Campus Summer Required Reading List - Please find the upper campus general English/Literature and History summer reading/project assignments HERE. Additional English/Lit assignments by class level were sent separately along with summer Math work.
NOTE: The upper campus does not have a traditional supply list like the lower campus. Teachers will share a list of needed supplies with the students in each class on the first day of school.
Lower Campus Band and Fiddle Squad -- The Baileys are back and we are so excited to have Band and Fiddle Squad return this year! Lower campus students in grades 3-5 may participate in either Beginner Band or Fiddle Squad. Both are before school enrichment programs that meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7:45 AM. For more information and to register, please see the sign-up sheet HERE for Band and HERE for Fiddle Squad.
NEW! FIRST Lego League - We are looking for parent volunteers to coach our FIRST Lego League (FLL) team! This fun after school opportunity is open to students in grades 4 through 6 and runs from the beginning of school through the fall. The group would meet in a dedicated space at the upper campus. FLL “guides youth through STEM learning and exploration at an early age. From Discover, to Explore, and then to Challenge, students will understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting competition while building habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way.” If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Clarke at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Lower Campus Altar Servers -- We are happy to announce that we will once again have altar servers at our school masses! Fr. David would like to invite any Catholic child in grades 4 and 5 who has completed his or her First Communion to sign up as a school altar server for the lower campus. Members of any Catholic parish are welcome to participate. Students must be able to sit still on the altar, remember and carry out instructions while standing in front of the whole school, and, most importantly, understand the sacred responsibility of serving at God's altar. There will be a training on September 15 during the school day. Questions? Contact Marta Nissen at [email protected]. Spaces are limited. Please use the Sign-Up Genius HERE.
Extended Care -- The Extended Care program will begin on the first day of school! Students who need to be dropped off early and/or picked up late can take advantage of our Extended Day program on both campuses! Please see HERE for information/hours on the upper campus program and HERE for information/hours on the lower campus program.
An additional fee does apply to the Extended Care program. The rate is $3 per half hour increment. Through our multi-child discount, families are charged full price for the first child and at a 50% rate ($1.50) for each subsequent child at the same campus. Parents are invoiced through their Family Portal on a monthly basis.
Please note: All Extended Care balances are due when billed on a monthly basis. If a family is past due on Extended Care payments above $100, they will not be able to utilize the program until that balance is paid.
NEW! After School Student Pick-up Schedule Changes – We know that in this crazy world a parent’s plans can change without warning! If your wild day necessitates a sudden change in where your child should go after school (After Care, Linda Rousseau’s, carpool pick-up, etc.) or who will pick up (mom, dad, grandma, family friend, etc.), we must be informed by a PHONE CALL (882-7442)! Please do not rely on emailing teachers or the office personnel at either campus as they may not be able to check their email until after school is over. With a quick phone call, you can be assured that the front desk will let your child know about the change in plans as soon as possible.
Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed! This is an early call for Hot Lunch volunteers! As our largest volunteer program, we need lots of people to make the Hot Lunch program a success at both campuses …over 100 people! Everyone is welcome to volunteer…we’ve had parents, alumni parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Hot Lunch is a great way to get to know other parents, to see what’s going on at the Academy, and to see your children and their friends. Volunteers serve lunch one day a month on the day of the week of your choice (although those who want to help out several days a month are always welcome!). Volunteer hours at the lower campus are approximately from 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM and 10:10 AM to 12:30 PM at the upper campus. To volunteer, use the Sign-Up Genius HERE.
Hot Lunch Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 27. Students will need to bring a lunch from home until that time! Ordering will open on September 1.
NEW! Hot Lunch Ordering Instructions: Ordering for Hot Lunch is done through Boonli.com. Full instructions for ordering can be found HERE for the lower campus and HERE for the upper campus. Please be sure to read all instructions carefully!
NEW! Calendar Raffle Fundraiser – It’s almost Fall Calendar Raffle time again! On the first day of school, oldest and only students on both campuses will bring home envelopes with our popular Fall Calendar Raffle tickets! We have some GREAT prizes this year, including gift cards to fabulous stores and lots of CASH! Every family is asked to sell a minimum of 10 tickets at $10 per ticket. This is the first of our three (and only three!) major fundraiser, so we are really counting on your support! This year, our Academy goal is 3,500 tickets between the two campuses! We can do it!
As in the past, for every 10 raffle tickets your family sells, you will earn one entry into a raffle for a $1,500 Tuition Credit or $1,000 Cash!
NEW! Happy Hearts Day Care - Happy Hearts Daycare, located across the street from the lower campus at 12 Cushing Ave has two openings for extended care. The hours are 6:30 to 8:30 and 3:00 to 5:30. They accommodate students on snow days, two hour delay, early release, no school days (except for the major holidays) and even if there is a power outage :) They also provide care on the Christmas, February and April vacation weeks. If interested, please call...880-6575.