NEW! Lower Campus Staff Changes
- Mrs. Joyce, fifth grade teacher, has taken a new teaching position in the Lowell Public Schools this fall. We will miss Mrs. Joyce and wish her the very best in the upcoming school year!
- Mrs. Amber Bouchard has returned to fifth grade this fall to replace Mrs. Joyce. Mrs. Bouchard spent last year in kindergarten and previously taught 4th/5th grade English at the Academy. She will be a fifth grade homeroom teacher as well as the 4th and 5th grade social studies teacher. Many thanks to Mrs. Bouchard for her willingness to make this last minute change!
- We are happy to welcome Mrs. Tamara Oetjens back to the Academy as a kindergarten teacher! Mrs. Oetjens taught prekindergarten at the Academy in the 2022-2023 school year and also has a wealth of early learning experience. Due to prior commitments, Mrs. Oetjens will not be in the classroom until next Tuesday. In the meantime, Mrs. Clarke will be filling in!
- Two of our prekindergarten and kindergarten aides have “switched” places this year! Mrs. Morrell will be in prekindergarten with Ms. Deana and Mrs. McAfee will in kindergarten with Mrs. Bois.
Calendar Information
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.
2024-2025 School Academic Calendar - Our school calendar is available on the website HERE!
Days with NO After Care - We will have a number of NO After Care days this year, so please note these on your calendar:
- All Early Release Days (September 20, October 25, November 21, January 29, April 17, and May 9)
- September 27 (Staff Outing)
- December 6 (Christmas Tree Lighting)
- January 9 (Staff Christmas Party)
- May 20 (STEM Night)
- May 23 (BBQ)
- June 4 (Baccalaureate)
- June 9 (Convocation)
Important Back to School Dates: Please mark your calendars with the following important back-to-school dates!
THIS WEEK! Friday, August 30 and Monday, September 2 - No School…Labor Day Weekend
NEXT WEEK! Wednesday, September 4 - New Parent Orientation, 6:30 PM at the upper campus. This orientation is for ALL new parents from both campuses! Please join us to learn more about Saint Chris, to meet important staff, and to get your questions answered!
Tuesday, September 10 - Upper Campus Parent Open House, 6:30 PM in the gym.
Thursday, September 12 - Lower Campus Parent Open House, 6:30 PM in the church hall.
Medical Information
NEW! Medication at School - If your child uses medication that may need to be administered during the school day (inhaler, ADHD medication, etc.) or in an emergency situation (epi-pen), please be sure to send the medication to the school nurse at the appropriate campus. Saint Christopher Academy policy regarding dispensing medication is in compliance with State Law and Diocesan policy:
- Students requiring prescription medication during the school day must have a completed medication permission form signed by the ordering physician and the student’s parent. The prescription must be in its original container.
- Students requiring over the counter medications, such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Tums, and cough medicine/drops, require a completed medication permission form signed by the parent and the student’s physician.
- Parents of a child diagnosed with a potential life-threatening allergy requiring an epi pen may request approval for their child to be allowed to possess and use the epi pen. Otherwise the epi pen will be held at the nurse’s office and by the student’s teacher.
- Parents requesting their child carry a prescribed inhaler may do so on the medication permission form. Otherwise, inhalers will be held at the nurse’s office.
- A Parent Permission to Dispense Medication form is available on the last page of the Handbook HERE. Copies of this, as well as a Request for Approval to Use and Possess Epinephrine Auto-Injector forms, are available at the nurse’s office.
Contact either Mrs. Sheehan ([email protected]) at the lower campus or Mrs. Danielson ([email protected]) at the upper campus for more information.
THIS WEEK! IMPORTANT! 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 your student has a medical or religious exemption for immunizations, please also forward that document. All documentation is due by September 1st.
Transportation
NEW! PreK and Kindergarten Instructions - On Meet the Teacher Day, PreK and Kindergarten parents received a paper copy of the drop-off and pick-up instructions. The instructions can also be found HERE. Thank you for your cooperation!
NEW! Nashua Bus Service - Please be patient with our school bus service over the next week or so as the Nashua School District refines the routes and continues to train their drivers. With all of the schools in Nashua back in session, there are a lot of students both at Saint Chris and at other schools who need transportation and there are bound to be delays and other mistakes. The schedule will smooth out as the year goes along! If you have any questions, please contact Nashua Schools Transportation office.
NEW! Lower Campus Independence Day - For the first couple of days of the school year, some parents of our preK and kindergarten students like to walk their child into school in the morning for a little extra transition time (and it’s always the parents who need this, not the kids!). We understand! However, experience tells us that students who are able to enter the school on their own and navigate to the classroom feel much more independent and comfortable and start the day on a much more positive note. Therefore, we have declared our very own Independence Day on September 3rd….the first day that we ask ALL of our students to enter the school and find their classrooms without their parents’ help! Don’t worry…we will have teachers stationed both outside the school and in the hallways to help the children find their way. Thanks for your cooperation!
Commuter Student Instructions - Are you 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 contacted 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.
Lower Campus 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.
Lower Campus After Care Phone Number - Parents who use the lower campus After Care program are reminded that they can contact the After Care staff directly after school hours at 603-438-4735.
Miscellaneous Important Details
NEW! Upper Campus Mass Uniform - Please remember that upper campus students MUST wear their oxford shirts on school mass days. No polos are allowed those days, even in the fall and spring. Quarter-zip sweatshirts may be worn over the oxford. Boys must also wear a tie. Thank you!
Expanded Saint Chris Wildcat Spirit Wear Store! Have you visited our EXPANDED Spirit Store through Maverick Stitch and Screen?! In addition to our traditional Wildcat Spirit Shirts for students and adults (perfect for school Spirit Days!), new offerings include pajama pants (students and adults) and polos, fleece vests and jackets, and softshell vests and jackets for adults! We even have pom-pom hats and baseball caps!
The first ordering period will end on September 15 and all items will be delivered to the school and sent home with students as soon as they are completed. Additional ordering periods will be announced as the year progresses. Please click HERE to order and show your Wildcat pride!
Please note: Spirit wear is NOT part of the daily school uniform on either campus and may only be worn on Free Dress or Spirit Days. Spirit wear is not part of the gym uniform. Thanks for your help with this!
P.S. Have ideas for other fun spirit items? Let Marta know at [email protected]!
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 1:45 PM on both campuses unless otherwise noted. The schedule for the next month is:
August 29 - Lower campus (grades Kdg to 5)
September 11 - Upper campus
September 16 - Lower campus (grades 3-5)
Hot Lunch Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 23. Students will need to bring a lunch from home until that time! Please remember to send your child with any necessary utensils to eat his or her bagged lunch. We do not have spoons, forks, or knives available for student use. Ordering will open on September 1st. It will run through midnight on September 15…no late orders accepted! 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. Parents will also receive an email on September 1st with the detailed ordering instructions. Please be sure to read carefully!
Calendar Raffle Fundraiser – It’s Fall Calendar Raffle time again! All students on both campuses received 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 4,400 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!
Look Us Up on Social Media – Don’t forget that we have very active social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Each account usually has different material, so be sure to follow both! You can find us at https://www.facebook.com/SaintChrisAcademy https://www.instagram.com/saintchrisacademy/
https://www.pinterest.com/SaintChrisAcademy/
Student Programs and Activities
Popcorn Fridays and Popcorn Volunteers - If your child loves popcorn, he or she is going to LOVE Popcorn Fridays! By preordering now, your student/s on either campus will receive a fresh bag of delicious popcorn every Friday (and you don't have to pack a snack!)! The cost is $27 for the year per student (approximately 27 Fridays between October 4 and the end of May. No popcorn on Early Release Days). Please complete the form HERE to order popcorn for your student/s for the year as no individual bags will be available for purchase on Fridays. Fees will be posted in Incidental Billing in the Family Portal. Ordering deadline is Friday, September 13 and popcorn will begin on October 4th.
We are also in need of volunteer poppers at both campuses! Upper campus popping begins at 8:00 AM and takes approximately two hours to complete. The lower campus begins at 8:30 AM and takes approximately three hours to finish (more students = more popcorn to pop!). Depending on the number of volunteers, you will be assigned to approximately one popcorn session a month. Thanks so much for your help! Questions? Contact coordinator Andrea Rugg at [email protected]. Sign up to volunteer HERE!
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 3rd. Students will visit the Book Fair on either September 4th or 5th to compile their wish lists. Additional shopping opportunities include visiting the library during their regular library times the week of September 9th, 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 12th, or during regular school hours. The Book Fair will close on Friday, September 13th at 11:30am. Please contact Mrs. Noon at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering at the Book Fair.
Click HERE to reach the Scholastic Book Fair homepage to purchase an eWallet, or browse the digital flyer!
Online Book Fair and eWallet - The online Scholastic Book Fair runs from August 30th - September 12th. 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.
UPDATED! Lower Campus Cross Country Sign Ups - Calling all runners! Sign ups are still open for students who will be in 2nd - 5th grade this fall by clicking HERE. Please fill out one form for each child in your family. Click HERE for more details along with the practice and meet schedule. For questions, please contact Coach Beauregard ([email protected]). Deadline for signup’s is THIS Friday, August 30!
Parent Volunteers
Volunteering at Saint Chris - Are you planning on volunteering at Saint Chris this school year? 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 at the lower campus can be directed to Jackie Langenfeld at [email protected] and questions about the upper campus can be sent to Sue Coker 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 additional requests from our students!! In particular, we are looking for parents to coordinate:
- Coding Club (either/both campuses)
- 3D Printing Club (either/both campuses)
- Science Club (either/both campuses)
- Math Club (either/both campuses)
- Jr. Great Books (lower campus)
If you have an interest in any of these areas, please reach out to Marta Nissen at [email protected] to discuss!
Hot Lunch Volunteering - We are still in need of many, many more Hot Lunch volunteers! We need a minimum of two volunteers daily at each campus.. 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 approximately 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 are approximately from 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM at the lower campus 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!
CHRIS PARISH NEWS
NEW! First Friday Adoration - St. Christopher Parish welcomes families to attend first Friday Eucharistic Adorations at the parish from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Come spend as little or as much time as you'd like in quiet comfort with our Lord before you pick up your kids from school! The next Adoration will be Friday, September 6.
St. Christopher Parish Sacrament Preparation Begins Soon
GRADE 2 Students - RECONCILIATION
RECONCILIATION class for this Fall 2024 begins September 29. Baptized students in Grade 2 and up who are seeking reconciliation should register for this class. Students and a parent attend 7 to 8 Sunday evening classes to prepare for this wonderful healing sacrament. We will learn about God’s love for all of us, His forgiveness when we go astray, the Ten Commandments and more. Online registration and payment can be found on the parish website under the Faith Formation tab. Students must also be registered for either our Family Faith program or enrolled at a Catholic school for their ongoing faith formation. Visit stchrisparishnh.org for registration information. Questions? Email: [email protected]
GRADE 3 Students- CONFIRMATION/EUCHARIST
Students in grade 3 who received their Reconciliation last Fall may register for this CONFIRMATION class. This class meets on 7 to 8 Sunday mornings. Families attend the 10 AM Mass and then proceed downstairs for class from 11:15 AM-12:15 PM. Students and a parent participate together as students learn and prepare to receive both Confirmation and Eucharist in Spring 2025. Students registering for this class also register for First Eucharist, which runs from January to May 2025. Students must also be registered for either our Family Faith program or enrolled at a Catholic school. Sacrament prep registration can be done conveniently online from our website stchrisparishnh.org Questions? Email [email protected]
Saint Christophers' Community BBQ - All families are invited to attend the 2nd Annual St. Christopher Parish Community BBQ on September 8 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (following the 10:00 AM mass). Come share food, fellowship and some fun at Saint Christopher’s Catholic Church! In addition to delicious food (Hamburgers! Hotdogs! Egg Rolls!), cornhole, and a 3-legged race or two, we have added spin art and a 50/50 raffle this year! All are invited to join the fun by RSVPing HERE. To make this event the best possible one ever, we need volunteers to support the different aspects of this community celebration. A link to the volunteer page is included at the bottom of the RSVP form!
Catholic Community News
NEW!! Immaculate Conception Parish Faith Formation News:
Immaculate Conception Parish’s First Reconciliation Program will begin early in September and the Registration for those students in Grade 2(or above) and having had Baptism, is overdue, but we are willing to extend the deadline until Thursday, of this week! All parents of those seeking this Sacrament should contact Maryann Stuke at 603-888-0321 x227 or via email [email protected] through Thursday, 8/29 ONLY.
For those in Grade 3(or above) who received Baptism and Reconciliation are eligible to receive Confirmation/First Eucharist in the Spring of 2025, if they are registered through us by Wednesday, October 2 HERE.
NEW! Parish of the Resurrection Faith Formation News:
Family Mass at Resurrection is on the first Sunday of the month at 10:30. We also have a Teen & Young Adult evening Mass on the fourth Sunday of the month at 5:00. The next dates for these are:
- Family Mass 9/8 at 10:30 (includes a backpack blessing for all students starting the new year!)
- Teen/YA Mass 9/29 at 5:00
- Family Mass 10/6 at 10:30
Youth Group at Resurrection is for grades 6 and up, meeting on the fourth Sunday of each month at 3:00 in our parish gym. Parishioners, family, and friends in middle and/or high school are all welcome! Our first meeting this year is on 9/29.
Our sacramental prep program begins in November. We offer a flexible curriculum in which families gather regularly alongside the completion of independent work at home.
NEW! St. Aloysious of Gonzaga Parish Faith Formation News:
Registration for Faith Formation at St. Aloysious is open till mid-September, including sacramental preparation for all grades. St. Aloysious also provides EDGE and Lifeteen programs for middle and high school youths. Elementary school children meet twice a month on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for sacramental preparation, and youth ministry sessions are held on Fridays (middle school youth) and Sundays (high school youth) from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Please see the flyer HERE for more information.
Community News
Happy Hearts Day Care - Happy Hearts Day Care, located at 12 Cushing Ave, will have three openings in the fall, for before and after care. The hours are 6:30 to 8:30 AM and 3:00 to 5:30 PM. We accommodate on snow days, two hour delays, 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 Linda at 603-321-9320.