NEW! Faculty Changes - The end of the school year naturally brings changes to our faculty as teachers and staff complete one school year and move to new professional opportunities for the next school year. We are most appreciative of the service of our departing faculty and wish them all the best with their new opportunities! Please join us in thanking lower campus aides Corrine Goyette and Andrea Romero, lower campus teachers Andrew Ferguson, Danielle Donohue, Ann Whitesell, and Kerry Goltsov, upper campus teachers Marti Michael, Joe Borden, Tran Trang, Kyle Gillis, Emma Neville, Casey Feltham, and Lana Tyrrell, as well as interim upper campus nurse Emily Kuefler.
While we will miss those who are moving on, we are also happy to welcome new faculty and staff to our Saint Chris family for the upcoming school year! New teachers so far this year include lower campus aides Tina Cheshire and Amanda Morrell, lower campus teachers Amber Bouchard and Jessica Hickey, upper campus teachers Judy Krassowski and Michelle Rogers, and upper campus nurse Rebekah Thibault. Please extend your support of these new teachers (as well as several others who will be announced soon!) when school opens in August!
NEW! Faculty Openings - Spread the word! Due to a tight teacher market, we are in need of a few additional teachers to join our incredible faculty this fall! In particular, we are in need of teachers at the upper campus for math and for English, as well as music on both campuses. Preferred applicants should be practicing Catholics, hold an appropriate New Hampshire teaching certification (or be eligible for certification), and be ready to embrace our school mission of developing students who are confident, independent, lifelong learners, who lead by example, and who live their lives with integrity and concern for others. Candidates may read more about our open positions and apply by clicking HERE!
NEW! Lower Campus Extended Care Program Coordinator Job Opening - As the need for before and after school care continues to grow at the lower campus, we are adding a permanent Extended Care Program Director to our staff! The program director will be responsible for staffing and staff scheduling, as well as planning activities, serving snacks, supervising students indoors and outdoors, and supply/snack inventory. Detailed attention to maintaining attendance records is a must. Hours would be Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 AM and 3:00 to 6:00 PM. This position reports to Mrs. Clarke. Must be at least 18 years or older. Previous experience working with elementary school aged children is preferred and candidates should possess or attain CPR/AED/First Aid Certification. Pay is $25 per hour. Interested? Please contact Mrs. Clarke at [email protected].
NEW! Thank You! We are most grateful to all those who are working hard this summer to get our buildings in tip top shape for the upcoming school year! Our crews are cleaning and waxing floors, cleaning our closets and classrooms, painting, repairing, tending gardens and lawns, and more! In addition, look for updated classroom floors (goodbye carpeting!) at the upper campus!
Back to School Dates - Please mark your calendars with the following important back-to-school dates!
Monday, August 29 – Lower campus Meet the Teacher from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Class lists will be posted in the school that day.
Tuesday, August 30 - First day of school for all students on both campuses. Students should be in full school uniform that day.
Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5 - No School…Labor Day Weekend
Tuesday, September 13 - New Parent Orientation, 7:00 PM at the upper campus
Wednesday, September 21 - Lower Campus Parent Open House, 7:00 PM
Thursday, September 22 - Upper Campus Parent Open House, 7:00 PM
NEW! Prekindergarten/Kindergarten Playground Play Dates! - Starting on Monday, August 1st, the playground will be open for PreK and Kdg students and their parents for three Mondays in a row (August 1, 8, 15) from 9:00-10:00 AM. Come on down! This is a great time for the kids...and parents (!)....to make important connections with friends before the school year begins!
NEW! Uniform Requirements - There are no changes to the uniform requirements for this year. All uniforms must be purchased from Red Brick Clothing in Hudson (or online HERE). Please see the uniform requirements HERE.
NEW! Used Uniforms Donations - Has your child had a growth spurt and you find yourself with a few extra uniform pieces? Please consider donating to the used uniform closets on both campuses! Donations are always appreciated! Parents are actively looking for used uniforms now, so please drop donations off at either campus between 8:30 and 12:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
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.
Lower Campus Back to School Supply and Required Reading List - For those of you who like to be prepared, it’s time to stock up on supplies for the upcoming school year! The lower campus Back to School Supply and Required Reading List can be found HERE.
Upper Campus Summer Required Reading List - Please find the upper campus summer reading/project assignments HERE.
NEW! Upper Campus Supply List - Upper campus parents can find a new supply list for students in grades 6 to 8 by clicking HERE. Please note that because of the wide number of classes and levels offered, not all teachers are able to provide a supplies list until after classes have started. Students will be informed of any additional materials on the first day of classes.
NEW! Book Covers - Just a reminder that ALL hardcover textbooks must be covered with paper or a book sack throughout the school year. Book sox are often on sale over the next month, so keep an eye out and stock up!
NEW! Lower Campus Fiddle Squad -- Mrs. Bailey will hit the ground running with a Fiddle demonstration on the first day of school! Lower campus students in grades 3-5 may participate in either Beginner or Advanced Fiddle Squad. Beginner Fiddle Squad will meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:45 AM and Advanced Fiddle Squad will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:45 AM.. For more information and to register, please see the sign-up sheet HERE.
NEW! Lower Campus Altar Servers -- Fr. David would like to invite any Catholic student 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 training during the school day. Questions? Contact Marta Nissen at [email protected]. Spaces are limited. Please use the Sign-Up Genius HERE
NEW! Extended Care -- 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 $3.50 per half hour increment (an increase of .50 from last year). Through our multi-child discount, families are charged full price for the first child and at a 50% rate ($1.75) 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! Volunteer Requirements - Do you think you might be interested in volunteering this year on either campus! Great…we’d love to have your help! To keep our students safe, all volunteers must complete the Diocesan Safe Environment requirements before volunteering. Requirements include:
- Volunteers must complete a Volunteer Application.
- Complete background checks for all states in which they have resided during the past 5 years. Background check forms (“CRR”) are returned to the school, not mailed to the State. NH CRR’s must be recompleted every 4 years.
- Complete child abuse awareness training online. Must take refresher training every 4 years.
Additional information about the volunteer requirements, as well as the forms to be completed and links to the online training, can be found on the Diocesan website HERE. In addition, Jackie Langenfeld is our Safe Environment coordinator at the lower campus and is available for questions at [email protected]. Sue Coker is the coordinator at the upper campus and can be reached at [email protected].
NEW! 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 at the lower campus, use the Sign-Up Genius HERE. To volunteer at the upper campus click HERE. Be sure to click through the tabs at the top of each Sign-Up Genius to view the teams and dates available for each day of the week!
NEW! Hot Lunch Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 26. Students will need to bring a lunch from home until that time! Ordering will open on September 1….further instructions will be provided to parents prior to that date.
NEW! Lower Campus Art Newsletter - Mrs. Fessenden has news to share! Check out her Art Room newsletter HERE!
NEW! Upper Campus Fall and Winter Art Club - Our new Art teacher, Ms. Krassowski, is ready to hit the ground running with the Fall and Winter Art Club for upper campus students! Sessions include Typography and Printmaking in the Fall and Illustration and Storyboarding for Books and Film in the Winter! For more information, click HERE. Please register online using the Google Form HERE. Contact Ms. Krassowski at [email protected].
NEW! Lower Campus Cross Country - We are excited for our upcoming cross country season! Students who will be in grades 2 - 5 in the fall are able to join the team. Practices will begin on Thursday September 1st and will be every Monday and Thursday after school until 4:30pm (weeks with Monday holidays, practices will be moved to Tuesday) through September and October. There are 2 Friday afternoon practice meets, 1 Saturday afternoon championship meet and 1 Saturday morning Catholic school meet. To sign up, complete the form HERE! Email the coach, Mrs. Beauregard ([email protected]) with any questions.
Volunteers are needed to help make this program a success! Please use the Sign Up Genius HERE to see when you could help out at practices and meets. You will also need to reach out to Jackie Langenfeld ([email protected]) to ensure you have completed the necessary volunteer training.
NEW! Upper Campus Fall Sports - Fall sports offered at the upper campus include boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, and cross country. All sports with the exception of cross country will have tryouts and are open to all students in grades 6-8.
There will be two MANDATORY athletic meetings for parents and athletes who are interested in participating in fall sports. Families do not need to attend both meetings. The two meetings will be offered on Wednesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 18 in the Upper Campus Gym starting at 6:00 PM. These meetings will cover general athletic department information, tryout information, expectations of players, parents, and coaches, game schedules, athletic policies, and much much more. Anybody interested in playing a fall sport must attend one of the two meetings.
Lastly, we are still in need of some upper campus coaches. We are hiring coaches for boys and girls soccer, and cross country. These are paid stipend positions. Previous coaching experience is preferred but not required. If interested, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Athletic Director Ryan Farris at [email protected].
NEW! Cheer Coaches - Looking ahead to winter sports, we are also looking for cheer coaches at both the lower and upper campuses. If interested, please contact Mrs. Clarke at [email protected].
NEW! Family 2 Family Referral Discount - Don’t forget that the Diocese is offering a limited time parent referral incentive, called Family 2 Family, which will provide $500 tuition credit to both referring and referred families! Between July 1 and September 1, 2022, any family enrolled in a Diocesan Catholic school that refers a new family to any of Diocesan Catholic schools (including Saint Christopher Academy) is eligible for the incentive. Our current families are always our best spokespeople..and we are pleased that they can be rewarded for their efforts through this program!
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