Faculty Updates
NEW! Upper Campus Science and English - Mrs. Sue Mack, upper campus Science and English teacher, has taken a new position at Fairgrounds Jr. High for the fall. We wish her well in her new position and thank her for her many years of service to Nashua Catholic Jr. High and Saint Christopher Academy!
NEW! Mrs. Schreiner - We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Mary Schreiner will be replacing Mrs. Mack as an upper campus Science and English teacher. Mrs. Schreiner is a graduate of Saint Anselm College and has extensive experience in English-related professions as well as teaching, mentoring, and tutoring students. Welcome Mrs. Schreiner!
NEW! Please Welcome Dr. Spidaliere - We are also excited to welcome Dr. Daryl Spidaliere as our new 3rd grade teacher. Dr. Spidaliere holds degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Radford University, and Southern California University, and has many years of experience working with youth. Having previously taught older students, he is currently pursuing a teaching certification with the Diocese of Manchester. Dr. Spidaliere is excited to bring his passion for education to 3rd grade at Saint Chris!
Substitute Teachers Needed - We continue looking to add to our list of available substitute teachers for this Fall! Substitutes are paid by the day and can choose to sub at the lower campus, the upper campus, or both! If you are interested, please send a resume to Mrs. Clarke at [email protected].
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Calendars and Daily Schedules
Academic Calendar for 2023-2024 -You can print the Academic calendar for the upcoming school year HERE. This calendar contains school start dates, vacation and no school dates, as well as early release days. Please note that the dates for the last day of school and other end-of-year activities are tentative…the actual final day of school, as well as other end-of-year activities, will be finalized once we know the impact of our winter!
Online Calendars: You can follow the school activities calendar on the Academy website HERE or view our activities on the Google calendar HERE.
Important Back to School Dates: Please mark your calendars with the following important back-to-school dates!
NEXT WEEK! Monday, August 28 – Lower campus Meet the Teacher from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Class lists will be posted in the school that day. NOTE: This is a drop-in event, so families are welcome to visit any time between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. Pro tips:
- Come after 9:45 AM to avoid the waiting-for-the-door-to-open crowd!
- Bring along any wipes/tissues/paper towels requested by your student’s teacher to lessen your child’s load on the first day of school!
- When you arrive, check the large bulletin board in the lobby to find your child’s assigned teacher. Staff members will be available to help direct you to the classroom.
NEXT WEEK! Monday, August 28 - First day of school for 6th grade only at the upper campus. Students should be in full uniform. Don’t forget to send in a lunch…no extra food will be available!
NEXT WEEK! Tuesday, August 29 - First day of school for all other students on both campuses. Students should be in full school uniform that day. Don’t forget to send in a lunch…no extra food will be available at either campus!
Friday, September 1 and Monday, September 4 - No School…Labor Day Weekend
Wednesday, September 6 - New Parent Orientation, 7:00 PM at the upper campus
Tuesday, September 12 - Upper Campus Parent Open House, 6:30 PM
Thursday, September 14 - Lower Campus Parent Open House, 6:30 PM
Daily School Schedule - 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 complete upper campus schedule, click HERE.
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Required Documentation for the Start of School
Medical and Immunization Updates - At the start of the school year, we need updated physical and immunization records for every student, grades PreK to 8. These can be provided in paper copy sent into school on the first day or by email to Gloria Sheehan at [email protected] at the lower campus and Laura Danielson at [email protected] at the upper campus. Note: If you student has a medical or religious exemption for immunizations, please also forward that document. All documentation is due by September 1st.
COMPLETE BY NEXT WEEK! Email Check-up and Primary Contact Selection Form - Due to software constraints, only ONE email contact per family can receive automated emails in order to purchase school portraits from our photographer, O’Connor Studios. Likewise, only this primary contact can receive automated emails about enrollment for next year.
To ensure that all emails are correct in our systems and are going to the correct primary email, all families MUST complete the short form located HERE by August 31st. Please only complete the form ONCE for every family. Thank you very much for your cooperation in this VERY important matter!
Catholic Sacraments - If your child made a Catholic sacrament (Reconciliation, First Eucharist, or Confirmation) in any parish since September of 2022, please email Jackie Langenfeld with the type of sacrament, the date of the sacrament, and the parish where it occurred. We are required by the Diocese to maintain this information. Thank you!
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DUE NEXT WEEK! Summer Work and Supply Lists
Upper Campus Summer Work: All upper campus summer work should be completed and brought to school on the first day back to class:
6th Grade Summer Work - Students should complete the work below and also the appropriate math work based on their assigned math class.
Summer Reading – HERE
Lemonade War Packet – HERE
Grades 6 - 8 Math: Please click your student's math class level below to view summer assignments.
7th and 8th Grade History: Summer work for students in both the 7th and 8th grade can be found HERE.
7th Grade English Summer Reading: Please click HERE for the 7th grade summer reading assignments.
8th Grade English Summer Reading: Please click HERE for the 8th grade summer reading assignments.
Cleaning Supplies for Upper Campus - All upper campus students are asked to bring a box of tissues, a roll of paper towels, and a container of Clorox wipes to school on the first day. Thank you!
Used Neckties for Upper Campus Boys - Has your workplace gone remote and you are left with a few too many unused ties?! Please consider sending in one or two for our upper campus “Tie Box”! Occasionally, our young men forget their tie for mass day at the upper campus and need to pick one from the box in order to meet uniform code. They LOVE to have a fun selection…and our supply is dwindling. No need to send in new ties or even a large quantity…just pick a few of your used “favorites” to donate! They can be sent in to either the upper or lower campuses and we’ll get them in the box. Thanks!
Grades Prek to 8 Back to School Supply and Lower Campus Summer Reading List: Please click HERE for the lower campus school supply list for 2023-2024. The list includes supplies needed for grades PreK to 8.
(Note: Because of the wide variety of student schedules, upper campus students may be given additional supply lists on the first day of school dependent on their individual teacher’s requirements.)
The supply list also includes summer work assignments for students in grades 1-5. Look for the blue type! Students in grades Pre-K and Kindergarten do not have summer work.
LC Spanish Supplies: Our lower campus Spanish teacher, Mrs. Presenti, would like to ask students in grades 1 to 5 to have a wide ruled composition notebook for Spanish class. In addition, students in grades 3 to 5 should have a Spanish folder to take work home.
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Miscellaneous Important Details
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. Extended Care will begin on the first day of school on both campuses. Students are automatically registered for Extended Care…there is no additional registration needed.
An additional fee does apply to the Extended Care program. The rate is $4.00 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 ($2.00) 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 from October through April. All balances from May through June will be billed on a weekly 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.
Lower Campus Extended Care Location - Due to construction at St. Christopher Parish (see end of newsletter for construction details), the lower campus will be unable to use the church hall for either the Before Care or After Care programs until at least October 29. Therefore, the programs will be held in the 1st and 2nd grade wing of the school during that time. Extended Care students may be dropped off at the double glass doors at the far end of the school, by Brookline St. There is a doorbell at the door.
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.
Used Uniforms - We have a large assortment of used uniforms at both campuses. If you are looking for a few pieces to get the year started, feel free to stop by at either campus between 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM, Monday through Thursday!
UPDATED!! Nashua Bus Transportation - The Nashua School District provides free bus transportation for students in grades K through 8 who live in Nashua. Your student’s enrollment packet included a transportation selection form where you indicated whether your child would ride the bus or be a commuter student. The names of those students marked as bus riders were sent to the Nashua transportation department. UPDATE: All those who indicated that their child is a bus rider should have received an email from either Jackie Langenfeld or Donna Beatrice on Friday, August 18 with the bus pass. Please contact Jackie Langenfeld at [email protected] with any questions.
Commuter Student Instructions - Will you be dropping your student off in the morning….or picking him or her up in the afternoon? Please see the important instructions HERE for lower campus students and HERE for upper campus students. We ask everyone’s cooperation in following these instructions very carefully and mindfully in order to keep our students safe and our process orderly and speedy! It is imperative that all parents follow all of the instructions. NOTE: The first two weeks of school will be very busy at both drop-off and pick-up time as families learn the procedures and adjust to the timing that works best for them. Please be patient and kind to staff members and other parents.
Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals - If your child is going to be absent from school, arriving late due to an appointment, or will need to be dismissed early, you MUST notify the school as soon as possible. Lower campus notifications should be emailed to [email protected] and upper campus notifications should be emailed to [email protected]. Please note:
- Absence or Late Arrival: If a student is absent and we do not receive notification of the absence by 9:00 AM, parents will be called to confirm the absence.
- Early Dismissal: Notice of a student’s early dismissal MUST be submitted by 9:00 AM. Parents should not arrive at school to dismiss students without first notifying the school. Last minute and unexpected dismissals are disruptive to the class and may be difficult to accommodate if students are in other parts of the building for gym, recess, art, etc.
After School Student Pick-up Change Notification – 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 to 603-882-7442! Please do not rely on emailing teachers or the office 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 Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 25. Students will need to bring a lunch from home until that time! Ordering will open on September 1. 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! Ice Cream at the Upper Campus - Due to unavoidable cost increases, we need to raise the prices of the a la carte ice cream treats at the upper campus. Prices now range from $1 to $3. Ice cream is available at lunch time only in the cafeteria.
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Student Programs, Activities and Extracurriculars
Lower Campus Scholastic Book Fair News - The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to the lower campus! We are so excited to start the year off with the Scholastic Book Fair to help support our lower campus library. Students in grades PreK - 5 will bring home Book Fair information for your review the week of September 5th. Students will visit the Book Fair on either September 7th or 8th to compile their wish lists. Additional shopping opportunities include visiting the library during their regular library times the week of September 11th, before school, and during the day during recess or lunchtime with their teacher's permission. Parents may shop during the Open House on Thursday, September 14th. Please contact Mrs. Noon at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering at the Book Fair.
Online Book Fair and eWallet - The online Scholastic Book Fair runs from September 5th - September 18th. Please take a look at our Book Fair website HERE for some shopping ideas and to purchase the eWallet. The eWallet gives students a secure, cash-free way to shop the Book Fair. There is no charge to set up an eWallet. You can simply create an account and authorize a spending limit on your credit card. There will be a record of the eWallets at the Book Fair in case your student does not have their eWallet in hand. For more information, visit the online book fair HERE to shop and to purchase your eWallet!
STILL NEEDED! Lower Campus Altar Servers -- Hooray for all of our lower campus students who have signed up to be altar servers this year! We have a wonderful group so far and hope to add a few more young men! If your son is in grades 4 and 5 and has completed his First Communion, he is welcome to sign up as a school altar server. Members of any Catholic parish are welcome to participate as a school altar server. 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]. Please use the Sign-Up Genius HERE.
Cross Country at the Lower Campus – NOTE: Last day to sign up for lower campus cross country is September 8! We are so 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 August 31st and will be every Monday and Thursday afterschool until 4:30 pm at the North Common Field on Artillery Lane for September and October. There are two Friday afternoon practice meets, one Saturday championship meet and one Saturday morning Catholic school meet. Email the coach, Mrs. Beauregard ([email protected]) with any questions.
To view the season schedule and details, click HERE.
To register for the team, please click HERE.
To volunteer, please click HERE.
NEW! Upper Campus Sports Try-outs- Tryouts for fall sports at the upper campus begin next week! All students who are interested in fall sports should register as soon as possible using the link HERE. A full schedule of tryout dates for all fall sports, along with additional information, is available HERE. Note: Girls volleyball for grades 6-8 will begin on Monday, August 28, even though only 6th grade students will be attending school that day.
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Parent Volunteers
NEW! Handy Help Needed! The upper campus is in great need of a few handy helpers this Friday, August 25 to assemble a classroom of new chairs! All chair parts are already in the classroom…parent help is just needed to screw them together. If you can volunteer, please email Shauna Hein at [email protected]. Thank you!
Volunteering at Saint Chris - Are you planning on volunteering at Saint Chris this coming school year? Get a jump on things by completing the Safe Environment Training now! All volunteers are required to complete the training prior to ANY volunteer opportunities, including Hot Lunch, field trips, class projects and activities, etc. To complete the training, please see the Diocesan information HERE. Questions about the process can be directed to Jackie Langenfeld at [email protected].
New Volunteer Opportunities - While we will have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available on both campuses this year, we do have a few requests to get our year started! In particular, we are looking for parents to coordinate:
- FIRST Lego League (grade 4 and up)
- Coding Club (either/both campuses)
- Science Club (either/both campuses)
- Math Club (either/both campuses)
- Jr. Great Books (lower campus)
- Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage Club (either/both campuses)
If you have an interest in any of these areas, please reach out to Marta Nissen at [email protected] to discuss!
Hot Lunch Volunteering - Speaking of volunteering at Saint Chris….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 10:15 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!
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Other Important Stuff!
Calendar Raffle Fundraiser – It’s Fall Calendar Raffle time again! On the first day of school, all oldest and only students on both campuses will bring home envelopes with our popular Fall Calendar Raffle tickets! We have some GREAT prizes again 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 major fundraisers, so we are really counting on your support! This year, our Academy goal is 4,000 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!
St. Christopher Parish Renewal - In July Fr. David announced that after several months of planning, discernment, and prayer, the parish will begin a long-awaited rejuvenation of the church interior this fall. The significant upgrades include:
- New, custom-made red oak pews with comfortable kneelers, increased spacing between rows, and contoured seating surfaces. Handicap-seating areas will be designated in the front rows.
- Beautiful porcelain tile flooring installed throughout the main church and the sanctuary. Old carpeting will be removed and the sanctuary dimensions will be reconfigured to increase congregation seating.
- New sound speaker system that will provide enhanced sound quality and a much-improved aesthetical look.
The parish has launched a capital campaign to raise $250,000 to complete the project. School families who would like to support the campaign can make gifts online through Faith Direct, or by check or cash sent to the school or parish (Please make checks to St. Christopher Parish and mark “Renovation” in the subject line.). All gifts to the campaign are withheld from diocesan assessments. Any remaining funds after the project’s completion will be reserved for future capital improvements to the church.
Please note, the renovation is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 18th. There will be no public use of the main church from September 18 until the tentative reopening weekend of October 28-29th. All daily and weekend Masses will be celebrated in the church hall according to the regular schedule. School masses will be celebrated in the church hall. Gym class and Extended Care will also be relocated during that time.
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Outside the School
Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball - Registration for the fall season of Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball is now open. Programs are offered for:
T-Ball (ages 4-6)
Rookies (ages 6-8)
Minors (ages 7-9)
AAA on the 60' fields (ages 9-11)
Majors on the 70' fields (ages 11-12)
Registration deadline is September 2nd and the season begins on September 7. Please find more details HERE.