NEW! Thank you! Thank you to the Abboud family for the Ferrero Rocher treats for the lower campus teachers last week!
iReady Testing Continues- The winter session of iReady standardized testing will run through THIS Friday, January 24. Lower campus students will test in their homerooms, while upper campus students will test in their computer classes. We encourage you to remind your children to approach these assessments with focus and determination. Their effort and attitude during these tests are important in showcasing their learning and growth. Please also be sure that all students are well rested and have a good breakfast! Thank you for your support in helping your children do their best.
THIS WEEK! Report Cards - Report cards will be issued via email for both campuses on Friday, January 24.
NEW! March 20 & 21 Date Switch – The Catholic Schools Office has informed us that they are changing the date of their Spring professional development for teachers from Friday, March 21 to Thursday, March 20. This was an unavoidable change due to scheduling challenges for the Diocese. Therefore, we will now have NO School on March 20, but will HAVE school on March 21st. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
NEW! Financial Aid Applications - Applications for the Saint Christopher Academy Financial Aid program are now open. If you are interested in applying for financial aid for the 2025-2026 school year, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. IMPORTANT: We can not make ANY Saint Chris financial aid award unless a student has been re-enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year. In addition, financial aid applications can not be reviewed by the school for aid until a 2024 tax return has been uploaded. You may fill out the application prior to completing your taxes, but we are unable to award aid until after the tax return is submitted.
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.
Yearbook Ordering – Parents will receive an email from O’Connor Studios about ordering the Saint Christopher Academy 2024-2025 yearbook on Friday! Please take the time to open the email, read the information, and place your order...the ordering window closes at midnight on February 21! In addition to the yearbook itself, families in all grades may purchase a Personal Message and/or a Family Sponsorship! 8th grade families only may also purchase a 1/4 page graduate ad.
For more information, please see our Yearbook Ordering email HERE that was sent to parents earlier today.
NEW! School Nurse Request - Our school nurses would like to remind everyone that parents must call the school (603-882-7442) or email [email protected] or [email protected] whenever a child will be absent. This applies to BOTH lower and upper campus students. It is imperative that we know if a student will not be in school each day. In addition, if your child is not well, please include illness details or diagnosis in your message/email. Our school nurses must pay close attention to the illness trends in the school and your input helps with that effort.
NEW! Upper Campus Popcorn Last Week - Our apologies to all those who ordered popcorn at the upper campus but did not receive it last Friday...we had a scheduling snafu! Those students who were supposed to receive popcorn will be receiving a coupon for an ice cream treat at lunch. Yum!
NEW! Lower Campus Parking Lot Reminders - It’s time for a friendly reminder about our safety rules for pickup in the lower campus back parking lot! As the year goes on, we are seeing some “breaking” of the rules which puts all students and parents at risk. We appreciate all parents (and grandparents, babysitters, and other pickup people!) helping us to keep our students safe by:
- Entering the parking lot slowly and carefully, keeping an eye out for parents and students walking to and from their car;
- Backing into a parking spot to make pulling out easier and safer when students are around at dismissal;
- Not parking in the area with the striped line at the top of the stairs. This area is reserved for those waiting for students to leave the building. All those who are waiting for students should be within that space so they are not blocking other open parking spots;
- Do not allow younger children, including PreK and Kdg students who have already been dismissed, to run around either the parking lot or the lower sidewalk area. They should stand with you inside the designated waiting area with the stripes.
Calendar Notes --
- NEXT WEEK! EARLY RELEASE - Next Wednesday, January 29th will be an Early Release day for teacher professional development.
- NO SCHOOL Day - Wednesday, February 5th, will be our next no school day following Martin Luther King Jr Day. Teachers will be participating in professional development. Note: Our 5th grade students will be participating in our annual Step-Up Day at the upper campus from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. Parents of 5th grade students will receive more information about Step-Up Day this week.
- FEBRUARY VACATION - Our February vacation will run from Saturday, February 22nd through Sunday, March 2.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
NEXT WEEK! Catholic Schools Week - Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic schools in the United States…and we are looking forward to a fun and meaningful week here at Saint Chris! It will run from January 27 through January 31 and will include themes and special activities for each day. Please look for an email tomorrow detailing the events of the week!
NEW! Day of Giving! We are excited to announce that we will hold our annual Catholic Schools Week Day of Giving next week during our Catholic Schools Week celebration! During this day of philanthropy, camaraderie, and fun, we invite all Saint Chris friends, families, and alumni to join together in support of Saint Christopher Academy and its amazing teachers. The day's events will include incentives for donors, plus ongoing donation updates, videos, and photos on our social media platforms!
100% of every donation made during this annual 24 hour giving campaign will be added to the Saint Christopher Academy Fund for Teachers, a permanent endowment fund dedicated to providing long-term equitable pay and benefits to the outstanding teaching professionals who work tirelessly to educate our students.
To donate, click HERE anytime between 12:00 PM (EST) on January 28 through 12:00 PM (EST) on January 29!
NEW! Upper Campus Drop-In Tour Day - Do you know families who are considering Saint Chris for their grade 6 to 8 student in the fall? We believe that experiencing our school during the school day is the best way to get a real sense of the energy and enthusiasm of our Saint Chris community so the upper campus will be holding a drop-in tour day on February 11 for anyone who would like to see our staff and students “in action”! Potential families are welcome to stop by the school any time between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm for an impromptu personal tour.
NEW! New Family Enrollment - Tours and applications for students interested in joining our school community for next year have increased over the past few weeks as many parents respond to changes in local schools. If you know of any family who is interested in Saint Chris, please encourage them to contact Lorrice Bedard at [email protected] for a tour or to apply as soon as possible! Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis and open spots in several grades are limited. Thank you!
Upcoming School Masses - All parents are invited to attend our school masses! Parents must enter through the front door of each campus facility, sign in, and receive a nametag to attend. All upper campus masses are at 9:45 AM and lower campus masses will be at 1:45 PM unless otherwise noted. The schedule for the next month is:
- January 27 - Lower campus Catholic Schools Week Mass @ 9:45 AM
And Upper campus students will attend Mass at Bishop Guertin High School
- February 6 - Upper campus @ 9:45 AM
- February 12 - Lower campus @ 1:45 AM (grades 3-5)
- February 18 - Vocation Day! Upper Campus @ 8:15 AM and Lower Campu @ 9:00 AM
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VISIT THE AUCTION WEBSITE HERE!
NEW! What should I wear? Sport your school spirit for your favorite college team…or put on the glitz of the NBA Draft Night…almost anything goes for the “NCAA Big Dance”! From bright suits to college colors, the Auction is a great opportunity to get your style game on and have some fun.
Class Basket Donations - Themed baskets are some of the most popular items at the Auction! We especially appreciate the special class baskets that are created through the generosity of our families. When you donate to a class basket, the money goes directly towards the purchase of items for your child’s class basket! This year, our super fun class themes are:
PreK - It’s My Birthday!
Kdg - Disney Dreams
1st Grade - Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Fun
2nd Grade - Creative Kids Craft Supplies
3rd Grade - Lego Lovers
4th Grade - Nerf Nation
5th Grade - Outdoor Games
6th Grade - New England Sports
7th Grade - A Few of My Favorite Things (one basket for boys and one for girls!)
8th Grade - Off to High School
To make a cash donation in support of your child’s class basket, please click HERE!
NEW! Amazon Wishlist - The Auction Committee has been working hard since September to plan this fabulous evening and they could use a little help with decor and candy table supplies. Check out the Amazon Wishlist HERE for a quick and easy way to support the Auction! Items may be added over the next few weeks as the need arises…be sure to check the list a few times before the big night!
Sponsor Thank You! Many thanks to those who purchased sponsorships! Every business listed below is linked to their webpage…please check them out!
PLATINUM Sponsor
Wanderlust Therapeutic Services
GOLD Sponsor
SILVER Sponsor
BRONZE Sponsor
Family Chiropractic of Merrimack & Wellness Center
COPPER Sponsor
NEW! Granite Commerical Real Estate
CENTERPIECE Sponsor
Additional Sponsorships Available - Would you, your family or business like to join this fabulous list of Auction sponsors?! We have many levels of sponsorships available, from $250 to $10,000! We also have a great variety of “custom” sponsorships including support of many important parts of the Auction like the Wine Pull, desserts, centerpieces, candy table, and more! All sponsorships provide donors opportunities to reach hundreds of parents, alumni, and friends of Saint Chris through pre-event publicity on the Auction website, on social media, and in the Wednesday News, as well as ample recognition at the Auction itself. To learn more about Auction sponsorship opportunities, please click HERE!
TONIGHT! Auction Committee Meeting - The next meeting of the Auction Committee will be TONIGHT, Wednesday, January 22 at 7:15 PM at the upper campus. Plans are moving into high gear as we plan for March 22nd…please join us!
Videographer STILL Needed! One of our favorite Auction traditions is the school video that opens the live auction portion of the evening! The video often follows the theme of the evening and gets the crowd ready to bid high in support of our students. Due to professional obligations of the wonderful alum who produced the last few videos, we found ourselves in need of a new videographer. We’d love someone with professional experience who can capture the spirit of our school and students and let it shine on the screen! If you…or someone you know…would like to help with this project, please contact Marta at [email protected]. (Note: This would be a GREAT sponsorship opportunity for a local videography business!)
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Student Programs and Activities
NEW! Campus Ministry - Saint. Chris's Kitchen will be making Candlemas themed treats next Thursday, January 30th from 2:45pm-3:45pm in the upper campus kitchen. Cost is $5 for supplies. See Mrs. Prud'homme for a permission slip.
DEADLINE THIS WEEK! Winter Robotics STEM – Our Fall 2024 After School STEM program was such a success that we are running a Winter version starting the week of February 3rd for students in grades 3 to 8. Our Winter session will leverage Lego's Technics and Spike Prime materials to teach students about Robotics and Engineering. While they learn to Design, Build, Code and Test their Robot, they will also learn about Teamwork, Collaboration and more. View the links below to learn more.
https://spike.legoeducation.com/prime/lobby/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JV7x014U0I
Meeting dates and times will be determined based on coach and student availability. There will be a $40 fee for the 8-week course.If your child is interested, please sign up HERE to receive additional communications by Friday, January 24. Thank you!
Step-Up Day Reminder - Parents of 5th grade students are reminded to RSVP for the 5th grade Step-Up Day on February 5th by completing the SignUp Genius HERE. Please RSVP by Friday, January 31 so that the upper campus staff can prepare appropriately.
Chess, Checkers & Cribbage Club! New members are ALWAYS welcome to the Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage Club. To view the schedule for upcoming meetings, please click HERE!
Parent Volunteers
THIS WEEK! Parent Group Meeting - Our Parent Group will meet TOMORROW night, January 23 at 7:00 PM in the upper campus conference room. We will be planning the upcoming Mother-Son Bowling Night on February 4 as well as preliminary plans for the Teacher Appreciation Lunch in May. All are welcome to attend!
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 20. 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].
NEW! Hot Lunch Volunteer Schedule - Thank you to our fabulous Hot Lunch volunteers! The schedule for the rest of this week and the first few days of next week is:
Thursday, January 23
LC: Christin Morrison, Amanda Vargas
UC: Nadra Bell
Friday, January 24
LC: Christine MacNeil, Krista Spadano, Ann Marie Pellechia
UC: Sarah Neary, Heather Bowen
Monday, January 27
LC: James Rappaport, Amanda Vargas
UC: Lisa Censabella
Tuesday, January 28
LC: Dorene Krauss, Jen Liba
UC: Nadra Bell
Wednesday, January 29
LC: Early Release - No Lunch
UC: Early Release - No Lunch
NEW! Popcorn - Thank you to this week’s popcorn poppers:
Lower Campus: Donna Walton, Ami Stevens, Rachel Franco
Upper Campus: Amy Algeo, Darcie Guarino
ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISH NEWS
NEW! Come and See! Families of Academy students who are currently without a spiritual home or who have been away from the faith are invited to attend Mass this Sunday and experience the beauty of the Catholic faith! Families are welcome to attend Mass at St. Christopher Parish at 8:00 or 10:00 AM, or at any of the many parishes in the Diocese of Manchester. We'll see you there!
Eucharistic Adoration at St. Christopher Parish - The parish would like to extend a warm welcome for parents to join them for Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of each month from 12:00 - 3:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to spend quiet time with our Lord in prayer and/or contemplation. Adoration is on a drop-in, come-and-go basis, so parents are welcome to come by for whatever time they have available during the Adoration hours…maybe for a few minutes before our 3:00 PM pick-up time? The next Adoration takes place on Friday, February 7. Enter the church through the side door.
St. Christopher’s Moms & Minis – Meet with other moms for hot coffee, light treats and conversation in the church hall. Our minis get to play while we chat and grow in faith and fellowship! We meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 9 - 10:30 AM during the school year, with play dates throughout the summer. For additional information call or text Alex Sullivan at 603-479-4554.
COMMUNITY NEWS
NEW! Free Throw Competition - The Knights of Columbus at St. Elizabeth Seton in Bedford will be hosting their annual Basketball Free Throw Competition on Sunday, January 26, 2025 (snow date: February 16) beginning with FREE registration at 3:00 pm in the St. Elizabeth Seton Activity Center located on 190 Meetinghouse Rd in Bedford, NH.
All boys and girls, ages 9 through 14, are eligible to participate. IMPORTANT: All participants must bring their birth certificate for proof of required age as of January 1, 2025.
Winners will be awarded a trophy in each category and the first place winner in each category will be eligible to participate in the KofC State Competition scheduled for March 16th at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, NH.
Any questions please contact Mark Rioux at [email protected].