NEW! Vocation Day Thank You! Our Vocation Day was a huge success yesterday on both campuses! Twenty priests, sisters, deacons, and lay people joined us for Mass and presentations. We have many, many thanks to share…starting with Mrs. Noon and her fabulous Vocation Day Committee and volunteers! The committee and volunteers included Catherine Collard, Laura Louis, Alison Nardone, Rose O'Neil, Allison Salafia, Danielle Schuh, Erin Varsalone, Julie Vincent, and Jamie Vivieros. We’d also like to thank the parents who brought in the wonderful selection of brunch items and those volunteers who helped escort our classes to their scheduled speakers. Finally, a big thank you to all the religious who made the day such a resounding success. We love hearing about your vocations to the Lord!
NEW! Teacher Appreciation Thank You! We’d also like to extend special thanks to the Parent Group and to the Gagnon family for their teacher appreciation goodies this week! The fresh baked cookies and cinnamon rolls were delicious!
NEW! Congratulations! Special congratulations to MathCounts team members Yuvaan Gulati and Owen Neary for being selected for the MathCounts State Competition on March 15!
NEW! More Congratulations! Hooray for our girls’ JV basketball team for their Tri-County championship win over Amherst this week! The girls played a super game under the direction of coach Ryan Farris. Go Wildcats!
TONIGHT! Teacher Fair - Spread the word! Saint Chris will hold a drop-in Teacher Fair tonight, Wednesday, February 19 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the upper campus. Teachers with certification from grades prekindergarten through grade 8 looking for full-time teaching positions are encouraged to attend. During the Teacher Fair, candidates will be able to do an informal mini-interview with Mrs. Clarke and a group of current faculty. Candidates are encouraged to download and complete the Diocesan Teacher Application HERE prior to the Teacher Fair and also bring along supporting credentials such as teaching accreditation, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
NEW! Spring Spirit Wear Store - Spring will be here before we know it….we promise! In preparation, we have opened our online Academy Spirit Wear store and have added some really fun SPRING items! New additions include bucket hats, lightweight heathered quarter-zips, short-sleeved denim shirts, sling bags, and….tie-dye Spirit Shirts! Wowza! The store is HERE and will remain open for orders until March 15. Orders will be delivered here to school approximately two weeks after ordering has closed.
NEW! ☘️ 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 13 at 9:30 AM in the church hall!
NEW! No Milk on March 3rd - Due to delivery date conflicts, there will be no milk on our first day back from vacation. Milk will resume on March 4.
NEW! Parking Reminder - Our snowy winter has made parking around both campuses a bit of a challenge! Please do not park in front of…or very close to the edge of…any driveway. We have had several complaints from our neighbors on both campuses who have been unable to pull safely out of their driveway. In the interest of safety and good relations, please park carefully!
NEW! No School Reminder - There will be NO SCHOOL on Thursday, March 20 so teachers can attend the required Diocesan professional development.
Upper Campus Supply Request - The upper campus is running low on tissues and paper towels! If parents could grab some extras and send them in to your student’s advisory, it would be MOST appreciated!
Yearbook Group Photos - We are taking group activity/club photos for the yearbook next month on the mornings listed below. Please note that there are no retakes. Students should wear regular uniforms and may not use dress down passes that day.
Lower campus - Monday, March 10 (students wear regular school uniform)
Upper campus - Tuesday, March 11 (students wear regular school uniform…no gym uniforms)
STEM Committee - We are excited to announce the reboot of our STEM Committee, a group of parents who work with faculty and administration to augment our STEM curriculum with a variety of programs, clubs, and activities. These might include: STEM Day speakers and STEM Night activities, Math and Science clubs, FIRST Lego League, Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage Club, and Coding and 3D printing clubs among other programs. The STEM Committee will meet on Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 PM at the upper campus. We look forward to working with you!
Expanded Kindergarten and 1st Grade Programs - We are growing! Thanks to outstanding enrollment for next year, we have made the commitment to add a third class to both the kindergarten and first grade for the 2025-2026 school year! New families interested in either of these grades are encouraged to apply as soon as possible…they are filling fast!
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.
THIS WEEK! Yearbook Ordering DEADLINE – Parents received emails from O’Connor Studios about ordering the Saint Christopher Academy 2024-2025 yearbook. Please take the time to open the email, read the information, and place your order...the ordering window closes at midnight on THIS Friday, 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 last month.
NEXT WEEK! FEBRUARY VACATION - Our February vacation will run from this Saturday, February 22nd through Sunday, March 2. We’ll see everyone back to school on March 3rd!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
NEW! Upper Campus Spring Sports Signups This Week! It may be hard to believe after all that snow we just got, but spring and more daylight is just around the corner! With more daylight comes the great excitement about warmer weather, and of course, spring sports here at Saint Chris! We will be conducting signups for all of our upper campus spring sports including baseball, softball, golf, and track and field during lunches the remainder of this week. Upper campus students who are interested in signing up for a spring sport should see Mr. Farris during lunch to sign up for their respective teams. More information will be coming out after February vacation about exact start dates, and informational meetings for each team, so keep an eye here so you don't miss anything!
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. Open gyms are not associated with tryouts, and attendance to open gyms will not impact a student's ability to make a team.
- Baseball - Tuesdays 2:45-4:45 PM & Thursdays 4:00-6:00 PM
- 3/4, 3/6, 3/11, 3/13, 3/18, 3/25, 3/27 - *No School 3/20
- Softball - Mondays 2:45-4:30 PM & Thursdays 2:45-4:00 PM
- 3/6, 3/10, 3/13, 3/17, 3/24 and 3/27 - *No School 3/20
NEW! Spring Sports at Lower Campus – Calling all lower campus students for some after school sports fun! At this point, we are in the planning phases to gauge interest.
Activities would be one day per week starting mid-April for 4-5 weeks and there will be a participation fee. Volunteers would be necessary for the programs to run.
Pre-K, K and 1st - Soccer
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th - Flag Football
Please use the following form link HERE to let us know your child would be interested in one of the above activities.
UPDATED! Silver Knights Education Day - We are excited to announce that our grade 1 through 6 students will be once again attending the Silver Knights Education Game on Wednesday, May 28! Parents will also be given the opportunity to purchase tickets and attend with us. More details on ticket prices and other arrangements will be sent home after February vacation!
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:
- March 5 - Ash Wednesday - 9:45 AM at both campuses. Note: Ashes will be distributed to ALL students on both campuses during the Ash Wednesday Masses.
- March 19 - Upper campus @ 9:45 AM
- March 25 - Lower campus (grades 3-5) @ 12:15
NEW! Lower Campus Stations of the Cross - With Lent starting on March 5, 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, March 7 - 9:00 AM
- Friday, March 14 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, March 21 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, March 28 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, April 4 - 9:00 AM
- Friday, April 11 - 2:15 PM
Recognizing Excellence Award Nominations Now Open - Each year, the Diocese of Manchester honors exemplary members of the NH Catholic Schools community with notable awards at a statewide dinner in June. Parents and faculty/staff members are welcome and encouraged to nominate deserving individuals. Note: the deadline for all submissions is March 14. These awards include:
Saint Joseph the Worker Award – The Saint Joseph the Worker Award is presented to a non-teaching member of the school community (staff, administrative assistant, or, volunteer, etc.) who demonstrates the Christian values of faith, humility, and outreach to the marginalized in their lives. Our very own Mrs. Sue Coker was the well-deserved winner of this award last year! Click HERE to nominate individuals for this year.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for Achievement & Excellence in Catholic Leadership - Named for the great pioneer and leader in American Catholic education, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, this award recognizes a non-teaching staff member (school leader, Director, Pastor or Chaplain, Assistant Director, etc.) that shares in the same pioneering spirit. The recipient of this award will be an exemplary model of leadership through vision, action, or both. Click HERE to nominate.
Saint Jean Baptiste de la Salle- Catholic School Teacher of the Year - St. John Baptist de la Salle, patron saint of teachers, dedicated his virtuous life to the cause of making Catholic education available and accessible to all students who desired it. The New Hampshire Catholic School Teacher of the Year similarly views Catholic education not only as a profession, but as a vocation of service to students and to the greater Church. Click HERE to nominate.
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VISIT THE AUCTION WEBSITE HERE!
INVITATIONS AND TICKETS
Time to buy your ticket! Do you have your ticket yet? If not, NOW is the time! Purchasing a ticket is easy…simply click HERE to purchase tickets online or return the RSVP card in the invitation envelope. Note - you will only receive electronic confirmation of your ticket purchase (see below). You will not receive an actual paper ticket.
Auction Software: Once you have purchased a ticket online (or your physical RSVP card has been processed at the school), you will receive an email and text messages from OneCause on behalf of Saint Chris. OneCause is our NEW online Auction software.
- Please click the link in either the text message or the email to complete any additional information necessary for your reservation and to claim your ticket. If you purchased a ticket for another individual, you will be prompted to assign the ticket to your guest/partner.
- Once you assign a ticket, your guest will receive an email and text to claim their ticket. Please ask them to follow the link and follow the instructions.
For a video walkthrough of the ticket buying process, please click HERE!
TABLES OF 10
Attending the Auction with your group of school besties?! Tables of 10 guests can be reserved ahead of time by sending a list of attendees to Marta at [email protected]!
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. Don’t feel like dressing to the theme? Business casual will be just fine!
CLASS BASKET DONATION
Our talented Auction Committee will be working on those class baskets soon…..but it’s not too late to make a cash donation to support your class’s basket! Please click HERE!
AMAZON WISHLIST
We’ve added a few things to our Amazon Wishlist HERE…it’s a quick and easy way to support the Auction!
TICKET FOR A TEACHER
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 click “Ticket for a Teacher” in the left column of the Auction website HERE. Thank you for supporting our outstanding faculty!
SPONSORS
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
Ducharme Tree Service + Coldwell Banker/Jena Ducharme
GOLD Sponsor
SILVER Sponsor
NEW! The Currid Family
BRONZE Sponsor
Family Chiropractic of Merrimack & Wellness Center
COPPER Sponsor
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!
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Student Programs and Activities
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
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. 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, February 20
LC: Christin Morrison, Amanda Vargas
UC: Nadra Bell
Friday, February 21
LC: Christine MacNeil, Krista Spadano, Ann Marie Pellechia
UC: Sarah Neary, Heather Bowen
Monday, March 3 (after February vacation!)
LC: James Rappaport, Amanda Vargas
UC: Lisa Censabella
Tuesday, March 4
LC: Kelly Ciardelli, Jen Liba
UC: Nadra Bell
Wednesday, March 5
LC: Melanie Marcu, Rugi Mercier
UC: Carol Cyran, Lorraine Barry
NEW! Popcorn - Thank you to this week’s popcorn poppers:
Lower Campus: Laura Gehringer, Diane Perault, Jhoanny Marte
Upper Campus: Amy Algeo, Darcie Guarino
ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISH NEWS
NEW! St. Christopher Parish Ash Wednesday Masses - Unable to attend our school Ash Wednesday masses at 9:45 AM on March 5? St. Christopher Parish will hold two additional Masses at 7:30 AM and 7:00 PM. All are invited to attend!
NEW! Lenten Workshop - Fr. David will hold a two evening workshop on the Catholic Mass during Lent and all parents are invited to attend! Source and Summit will cover the elements of the Catholic Mass and how they help us grow closer to the Lord. Appropriate for both lifelong Catholics and those who are looking to learn more about the faith, the workshop will be held at 7:00 PM on March 11 and March 18 in the church hall.
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.