NEW! Thank you! - Many thanks to our Parent Group members Jamie Gregoire, Amy Lawless and Diana Morel for their Valentine treats for the teachers on both campuses last week!
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THIS WEEK! PreKindergarten 3's Survey - Over the years, we have received a number of requests for the addition of a Prekindergarten 3 program at Saint Chris. As part of our ongoing strategic planning for the Academy, we are continuing to evaluate the need for that program…and we need our parents’ help! ALL current parents are invited to complete a brief survey HERE regarding a PreKindergarten 3 program. Please complete the survey by this Friday, February 23rd. Thank you!
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NEW! Lower Campus Lost and Found! - The lost and found at the lower campus is OVERFLOWING! So many wonderful coats, hats, sweatshirts, etc. that we KNOW parents would love to have back! We have set everything up on tables in the hallway for the next couple of weeks…please take a moment to pop into school and take a look! Click HERE for a preview video (with a lovely accompaniment by some members of our lower campus Performance Choir!)
Recognizing Excellence Award Nominations - Nominations for the 2024 Diocese of Manchester’s Teacher of the Year, Clergy of the Year, and St. Joseph the Worker awards are now open!
- Teacher of the Year Award - The New Hampshire Catholic School Teacher of the Year views Catholic education not only as a profession, but as a vocation of service to students and to the greater Church. A practicing Catholic active in his or her faith, the award recipient brings a joyful witness to his or her ministry that inspires students to not only achieve academically, but to put their skills and knowledge to good use creating the Kingdom of God on Earth. Submit a nomination HERE.
- Clergy of the Year Award – The recipient of the Spirit of St. John Vianney Award is a member of the clergy who similarly provides inspirational support for Catholic education in the diocese. The faithful witness that the recipient of the Spirit of St. John Vianney award provides is inspirational to students as they go on to eventually discern their vocation in life. Submit a nomination HERE.
- St. Joseph the Worker Award – The New Hampshire Catholic Education Community Saint Joseph the Worker of the Year Award is presented to a Catholic school community member whose gift of time, talent, or treasure of transformative influence, enabling Catholic education to thrive in their community. Nominees may include school leaders, directors, volunteers, donors, or any member of the local community who demonstrates the Christian values of faith, humility, and outreach to the marginalized in their personal lives as well as integrity, respect, and service in the workplace. Submit a nomination HERE.
THIS WEEK! Campus Ministry Visit - Saint Chris Campus Ministry will be visiting the elderly at Aynsley Place (80 Lake Street) this week from 3:00 - 4:00 PM on Thursday, February 22nd. All UC students are welcome to attend!
TONIGHT! CYO Basketball Tournament Championships - Two of our basketball teams will be competing in the finals of the CYO state tournament tonight, right here in our Saint Chris gym! The boys grade 5/6 team will tip off at 5:30 PM with the girls grade 7/8 team following them at 6:30 PM. Free dress passes for all students who attend either game! Gooooo Wildcats!
TOMORROW! Financial Aid Applications - If your family is interested in Saint Chris financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year, all applications are due TOMORROW, Thursday, February 22 for priority award consideration. IMPORTANT: We can not make ANY Saint Chris financial aid award without an application for the 2024-2025 school year. Those who apply for aid by the February 22 deadline will be notified of their award by March 22. Applications received AFTER February 22 will be considered for remaining available funds on a first come, first served basis.
You can apply through your Family Portal. Click on Financial in the left hand column, then Apply for Grant and Aid in the pop-up window.
Note: Financial Aid applicants will also be required to apply for financial aid from the Children’s Scholarship Fund at a later date. Financial aid may also be available from the NH Education Freedom Account program. Parents will be informed when the application windows open for each program. Any aid received from those funds will be deducted from the financial aid awarded through the Saint Christopher Academy financial aid program.
For questions, please contact Business Manager Shauna Hein at [email protected] or 603-882-7442, ext. 212.
NEW! Tuition Deposit Date - As noted in the 2024-2025 re-enrollment/registration packet, a $250 tuition deposit per student will be automatically withdrawn from a family’s FACTS Tuition Management account on April 1st using the payment method selected during registration. This tuition deposit will be applied toward the family's tuition balance. Questions about the tuition deposit should be directed to Shauna Hein at [email protected].
NEXT WEEK! February Vacation - Don’t forget….next week, February 26 to March 1st, is our February/Winter vacation!
NEW! March NO School Day - There will be NO school on Friday, March 15 so teachers may attend professional development through the Diocese of Manchester. Please mark your calendars!
☘️ Lower Campus St. Patrick’s Day Program ☘️ - Parents of PreK through 2nd Grade students are invited to our Saint Patrick’s Day concert on March 14 at 1:30 PM in the church hall. There will be performances by the PreK through 2nd grade classes, as well as some special guests!
NEW! Spring Portraits- O’Connor Studios will return to the lower campus on Wednesday, March 27 for Spring Portraits for lower campus students only. This is a Dress UP Day for lower campus students! This is a one-time event, so there will be no retakes for absent students. More information will be forthcoming soon!
❄️ Upper Campus Snowflake Dance ❄️ - Due to a conflict with Ski Club, the upper campus Snowflake Dance has been postponed to Friday March 8. Tickets are on sale this week at lunch at the upper campus….$5 cash.
Dress for the event is “semi-formal”:
Girls: Dress, skirt and blouse, dress pants and top, or full jumpsuit (no strapless dresses or tops.) may be worn. If the straps on the dress or top are less than 2 inches wide, please wear a sweater or shrug over it. Skirts and dresses should be no more than 3 inches above the kneecap and should not be tight-fitting. Shoes or sandals must be worn. No flip flops.
Boys: Dress shirt, tie, and dress pants. No jeans. Clean, casual or dress shoes are allowed. No flip flops or sandals.
THIS WEEK! YEARBOOK ORDERING ENDS! – If you have not yet located an email from O’Connor Studios about ordering a yearbook, contact Carol Fiore at [email protected] as soon as possible so she can help resolve any problems before Friday. The online ordering platform closes THIS FRIDAY, February 23! Do not wait until the last minute. Please take a few minutes to look for those emails, read the information, and place your order! The messages are tailored for each student and contain a unique access code. We are unable to process late orders.
The online ordering system is the ONLY way to order the yearbook and any add-on yearbook items.
O'Connor Studios will use the same parent email address that was used in the fall to order your student's school portraits. Check those same email accounts (including spam and trash folders) for the yearbook information! The ordering platform can only accommodate one email address per student.
**IMPORTANT: You received a separate email for each student. Every student has a unique access code and you must place separate orders for each of your children.
**8TH GRADE FAMILIES ONLY: The cost of the yearbook is already included in the graduation fee. All 8th grade students automatically receive a yearbook at the end of the year and do not need to order one. However, you may want to order supplemental add-on items (personal message, family sponsorship, ¼ page graduate ad)! If purchasing add-on items you still need to “select” the yearbook as if you are ordering it as well, but on your student's ordering page the cost for the yearbook is listed as "free."
Don't miss out on this opportunity to preserve your child's memories of this school year! If you have any questions, please contact Carol Fiore at [email protected].
NEW! Spring Sports Signups! Winter is almost fully behind us (knock on wood), and we are getting a bit more daylight! With more daylight comes excitement about warmer weather, and of course, spring sports here at Saint Chris! We are now conducting signups for all of our upper campus spring sports including baseball, softball, golf, and track and field. For any upper campus student interested in any of the above sports, please click on the link below to sign up. There is some additional information on the signup form with what to expect, and we will also be offering informational meetings after we return from February break.
https://forms.gle/pXCNSGmwvU8orx4s9
NEW! Baseball/Softball Open Gyms - In preparation for the upcoming spring season, we are happy to announce that we will once again offer baseball and softball open gyms starting after February break. These open gyms are totally optional, and open to any upper campus student. Open gyms are just an opportunity to get a baseball or softball in the kids hand, and get them mentally ready for the upcoming season.
Baseball - Tues & Thurs - 2:45-4:30 PM - 3/5, 3/7, 3/12, 3/14, 3/19 and 3/21.
Softball - Mon 3:30-5 PM & Fri - 2:45-4:30 PM - 3/4, 3/8, 3/11, 3/18, and 3/22.
This is not associated with tryouts, and attendance to open gyms will not impact a student's ability to make a team.
Faithful Fridays - Upper campus students and their parents are invited to join Ms. Thompson and Mrs. Lester for prayer and adoration in the chapel every Friday from 7:00 - 7:30 AM. Donuts and fellowship follow each week!
TOMORROW NIGHT! Auction Committee Meeting - Our next Auction Committee meeting will be tomorrow night, Thursday, February 22nd at 7:00 PM at the upper campus. We are getting close to the big event….please join us!
STEM Day Speakers - Are you in a STEM field? Would you like to share your love of or experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math? We have begun planning for this year’s STEM Day, to be held on May 16. We are looking for speakers to present to students about their interest and/or careers in any STEM-related field, whether as a professional or hobbyist. Presentations will be approximately 20-30 minutes in length. If you are interested in speaking, please email Carol Fiore at [email protected].
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TICKETS:
ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO PURCHASE TICKETS!
Seating is limited to 250 guests and all tickets must be purchased by March 1st.
Click HERE to purchase today!
RESERVED TABLES:
Tables of 10 guests can be also reserved ahead of time by sending a list of attendees to Marta at [email protected]. Please be sure that all guests have purchased tickets before sending the list. Thanks!
TICKET FOR A TEACHER SPONSORS:
Aren’t our teachers GREAT? Thank them for a job well done by being a Ticket for a Teacher sponsor! Our teachers work hard all day, every day in the classroom…they deserve a night out! To be a Ticket for a Teacher sponsor, simply complete the RSVP form HERE and select Ticket for a Teacher.
DONATIONS:
We’re still looking for some swell items for our silent and live auctions!
Take a look at a list of ideas HERE. Donations may be dropped off at either campus!
The Auction Committee has also put together a last minute Amazon wish list for decor and candy table items...please see it HERE!
CLASS BASKETS:
Themed baskets are VERY popular at our event! In addition to the wonderful baskets donated by individuals and businesses, each grade (Pre-k to 8) is putting together a very special themed basket thanks to the donations of their families! To make a cash donation towards your child's class basket, please click HERE!!
SPONSORS:
Our sponsors are the bee’s knees! You, your family, or your company can still support the Auction as a sponsor. Click HERE for more information!
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Wanderlust Therapeutic Services
Silver Sponsor
Nashua Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
Bronze Sponsor
Kevin Brown '99 - the Knights of Columbus Insurance
Family Chiropractic of Merrimack and Wellness Center
Decorations Sponsor
Linen Sponsor
Heads or Tails Sponsor
Dessert Sponsor
Paige Aquino & Ainsley Teas
Cooler Raffle Sponsor
Faith in Action Video Sponsor
Copper Sponsor
The Valade Family
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Hot Lunch Volunteers - Thank you to our fabulous Hot Lunch volunteers! The schedule for the next week is:
Thursday, February 22
LC: Julie Vincent, Liz McClure
UC: Susette Parks, Jamie Viveiros
Friday, February 23
LC: Sarah Clauss, Brenda Milinazzo, Katrina Adell, Amy Milinazzo
UC: Kate Aquino, Nadra Bell
Monday, March 4 (after February Vacation!)
LC: Diane London, Corrina Wang
UC: Liz Cyran, Nadra Bell
Tuesday, March 5 (after February Vacation!)
LC: John Lynch, Tina Bruno
UC: Emily Uong, Diana Morel
Wednesday, March 6 (after February Vacation!)
LC: Jennifer Villada, Liz Guilmette
UC: Rocio Spencer, Becky Kosterman
Popcorn Poppers: Our popcorn poppers for this Friday are:
LC: Melissa Michels, Kristie Healey, Jill Queenan
UC: Rachel Ricker, Stephanie Ellison, Ram Mandeli
NEW! Hot Lunch Ordering - Seems like we just did this, but Hot Lunch ordering for April will open while we are on vacation! Ordering runs from March 1st through midnight on March 15. Do not wait until the last minute to order. Also….be sure that you complete your checkout and receive an emailed confirmation of your order! If you do not receive an email, your order has not been placed.
NEW! Employment Applications and Teacher Fair - With the current teacher shortage, Saint Christopher Academy is currently building an applicant pool for any openings that may be available for the 2024-2025 school year. Interested applicants are invited to submit materials as soon as possible so we may begin conducting interviews. Current teachers, new education graduates, and recently retired teachers are welcome to apply! Click HERE for more information on how to apply!
The Academy will hold a drop-in Spring Teacher Fair on Wednesday, March 20 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the upper campus! During the Teacher Fair, candidates will participate in an informal mini-interview with the principal and meet faculty and staff. Candidates are encouraged to download and complete the Diocesan Teacher Application at https://www.catholicnh.org/.../Sch.../TeacherApplication.pdf prior to the Teacher Fair and also bring along supporting credentials such as teaching accreditation, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
Upcoming School Masses - All parents are invited to attend our weekly school masses! Parents must enter through the front door of each campus facility, sign in, and receive a nametag to attend. All masses are at 9:45 AM on both campuses unless otherwise noted. The schedule for the next month is:
March 6 - Upper campus Mass
March 13 - Lower campus (all grades) Mass
March 18 - Upper campus Mass (change in date!)
March 25 - Lower campus (grades 3-5) Mass
Lower Campus Stations of the Cross - With Lent starting this week, we have scheduled Stations of the Cross for our lower campus presented by the 5th grade. Parents are welcome to attend this short (approximately 20 minutes) observation of the stations and should come through the school and sign in prior to going to the church. The schedule is:
- Friday, February 23 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, March 8 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, March 22 - 2:15 PM
CHRISTOPHER PARISH NEWS!
NEW! St. Christopher Parish Lenten Schedule –Saint Christopher Parish has created a rich schedule of programs, masses, rosaries, and confessions to help us deepen our faith during the holy season of Lent. All school families are welcome and encouraged to attend any and all of these Lenten activities!
FORMED Subscription - St. Christopher Parish has subscribed to FORMED (https://formed.org), an online platform for Catholic movies, shows, bible studies, catechetical programs, and books. The subscription can be used for free by academy families… there is a lot of good Catholic content for families to enjoy!
The platform can be used on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TV's. To register, visit Formed.org and click 'Sign-Up' and then on the "Create A New Account" page enter either "Saint Christopher Parish" or our zip code "03064". Enter your name and email and the process is complete. There are no passwords needed.
COMMUNITY NEWS!
NEW! Diocesan Camp Virtual Night - All families interested in Camp Bernadette or Fatima for this upcoming summer are invited to attend a virtual Saint Chris Family Night on March 14 at 7:30 PM via Zoom! Please see the flyer below with all of the details and the Zoom link!
These camps offer it all: incredible outdoor activities such as canoeing, fishing, archery and rock climbing; arts and crafts to spark imagination and creativity; camp life designed to help children grow in faith and create a sense of belonging and foster friendships among campers from all across the country; positive, energetic, experienced counselors; and a gorgeous lakefront New Hampshire location! For more information or to register, please click HERE!
Summer Employment - Camps Fatima and Bernadette are hiring! The camps hire teachers or mature high school and college students. Every staff member undergoes a thorough interview, including criminal background check, and extensive training to prepare them to help your children get the most out of their camp experience. A staff member should be trustworthy, responsible, enjoy working with kids and act as a good role model. Staff members must be 17 or older. To view current opportunities, click HERE.
Nashua North/South Information Nights - All 8th grade students who will be attending either North or South next year are invited to attend an upcoming Information Night to hear from department heads and to make course selections. Please register for the events HERE.
