NEW! Lower Campus Guidance Counselor – We are excited to announce the lower campus will be adding a part-time Guidance Counselor position to our faculty and staff for the 2025-2026 school year…and we are equally excited to announce that Mrs. Hickey has agreed to take on this new role! Mrs. Hickey has a Masters in Education with a concentration in Guidance Counseling. She will be working directly with students and teachers to ensure student success academically, socially, and emotionally. Mrs. Hickey will also work closely with Mrs. Osborn, upper campus Guidance Counselor, to help students successfully move to the upper campus.
NEW! Thank You! A thousand thank you’s to all those who were involved in our incredible 21st Annual Auction last Saturday night! So many wonderful people contributed in ways large and small, but every contribution was important! Please thank all those in these wonderful groups:
- The Auction Committee, under the direction of Jamie Gregoire, who spent the past six months planning this fabulous event. Their excitement about this year’s theme was contagious and they put their heart and soul into bringing it to life for everyone to enjoy.
- Our 21 sponsors and advertisers, who donated over $21,000 in money and services.
- Everyone who donated to our class baskets, raising a total of $2,571.
- All those individuals, families, and businesses who donated items for the silent and live auctions. The total value of all donations was over $36,000.
- The 18 people who donated decorations and candy table items through our Amazon wish list.
- Our staff and faculty who helped to create the fabulous class projects and who very willingly put on props and costumes for photos to add to the night’s decor.
- All those who donated a Ticket for a Teacher, covering the cost of a well-deserved night out for 37 of our faculty.
- The Event Center staff (especially Flame!) for their professionalism and assistance, as well as Tyler, Becca, and Andrew from TS Event Productions and Dan Staples from Dans’ Balloons.
- The 20+ students from Bishop Guertin High School and Saint Anselm College (most of whom are Saint Chris alumni!) for their help with set-up the day prior to the event and with a variety of tasks the night of.
- Ryan Farris for his Faith in Action presentation. The Faith in Action part of the evening raised over $35,000 for repairs and upgrades to our upper campus gym and stage.
- And finally, all those who spent a fun and fruitful Saturday evening with us as guests and volunteers. Your enthusiasm for the event and school was exciting and truly appreciated!
NEW! Auction Video - An annual tradition, the Auction video kicks off the live portion of the night’s festivities and is always a BIG hit! We were honored to have parent Jay Clair, with the assistance of his wife Jessica, produce this year’s video (even when he had knee surgery in the middle of the process!). Be sure to check it out on the school website HERE!
NEW! Next Year’s Theme - A new part of our Auction activities was the opportunity for guests to donate to vote for next year’s Auction theme. We are pleased to announce that Auction 2026 is….
NEW! Missing Basketballs from Auction - In the hubbub of the end of the Auction event, two large light-up basketball speakers sitting on the prosecco tables at the entrance to the Event Center went missing. These were borrowed from one of our families and they would like them back. If you ended up with them, please return them to either campus and we will reunite them with their owners. Thanks!
NEXT WEEK! Tuition Deposit - As noted in the 2025-2026 re-enrollment/registration packet, a $250 tuition deposit per student will be automatically withdrawn from a family’s FACTS Tuition Management account on Tuesday, April 1st using the payment method selected during registration. This is a TUITION DEPOSIT and will be applied toward your family's tuition balance. Please note that this is not the same as the $200 returning student REGISTRATION FEE that was paid when you submitted your students re-enrollment packet. Questions about the tuition deposit, or any other financial concerns, should be directed to Shauna Hein at [email protected].
FACTS Fees - We have been informed by FACTS that in addition to withdrawing the $250 tuition deposit, FACTS will also be withdrawing their payment plan “Enrollment Fee” around April 1st. This FACTS fee is for the use of the FACTS payment system. Those parents who chose one payment or two semiannual payments will be charged $25 and those who chose 10 monthly payments will be charged $55. We apologize for the confusion caused by the similar fee name…we are working to have this changed for future years.
NEW! Saint Chris Financial Aid - If your family is interested in Saint Chris financial aid for the 2025-2026 school year, all applications are due by Tuesday, April 22. 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. IMPORTANT: We cannot make ANY Saint Chris financial aid award without an application for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications received AFTER April 22 will be considered for remaining available funds on a first come, first served basis.
NEW! Parent Group Meeting - Our Parent Group will meet on Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 PM at the upper campus to plan two important upcoming events….the Teacher Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, May 7 and our school-wide BBQ on Friday, May 23. We are in need of many volunteers to make each event a success…please join us!
NEW! FINAL Hot Lunch Ordering – Hot Lunch ordering for May opens this coming Tuesday, April 1st on Boonli.com through April 15. Hot Lunch will end on Friday, May 30 on both campuses. This is the last Hot Lunch ordering period for the school year! As of Monday, June 2nd, all students on both campuses must bring a bag lunch through the end of the year!
NEW! Important Upper Campus Pick-up Reminder - Upper campus parents are reminded that they must enter the pick-up line on Bartlett Ave by coming down Bartlett. from Wellington Street. Do not attempt to “cut” and enter the line via Webster Street (along the side of the school). This is dangerous and disrespectful to those who have followed the directions and waited in the line from Wellington St. Thank you for your cooperation with this!
DEADLINE NEXT WEEK! Annual Appeal - Many thanks to all those who have already donated to our Annual Appeal! Our total currently stands at just shy of $50,000. If you have not yet donated, please consider doing so today! All donations by Monday, March 31st will be listed in our Honor Roll of Donors to be distributed in our summer News and Notes. All donations, no matter the size, are MOST appreciated and will be used to directly benefit our students. To donate quickly and safely online, please click HERE. Thank you!
NEXT WEEK! UPDATED! Spring Uniforms - April 1st usually marks the start of our Spring Uniform season….but we are making an exception this year and allowing Spring uniforms starting Monday, March 31! Please note the following changes from the winter uniforms:
Lower Campus:
- Boys may now wear the navy blue twill uniform shorts. Socks must be navy or plain white (no sports socks with logos).
- Both boys and girls may wear the navy blue uniform gym shorts on their gym day. Gym sweatpants do not need to be worn over the shorts.
Upper Campus:
- Boys and Girls may wear the khaki twill uniform shorts.
- Girls: Shorts can be no more than three inches above the knee. Socks must be navy or white knee socks.
- Boys: Shorts cannot be longer than one inch below the knee. Socks (navy or black) or white socks only that show above the sneaker or shoe must be worn. Socks can have small logos like the NIKE swoosh, but otherwise cannot have logos, stripes, or blocks. Socks must be worn at all times.
- Boys and Girls - Navy or red colored “golf/polo style” (long or short sleeve) shirt with Saint Christopher Academy logo may be worn.
- Boys and Girls - Navy blue uniform gym shorts may be worn on gym days.
- Boys and Girls on Mass Day - Students must wear their dress uniform on mass days. This includes the twill shirt for both boys and girls (with a tie for boys). Boys should wear their twill khaki uniform pants and girls may either wear their skorts or the twill khaki pants.
Please note: Spirit wear is not considered to be part of the school uniform. Therefore, students are welcome to wear these items on school or personal free dress days or on official Spirit Days.
Used Uniform Closets - Both the upper and lower campus used uniform closets have recently been straightened up and organized…and there is a great selection! The lower campus especially has lots of shorts, perfect for the Spring uniform change on April 1st! Parents are welcome to check out the used uniform closets during the school day. Please check in with reception and receive a name tag before proceeding to the closet!
THIS WEEK! Q3 Grades and Report Cards - Grades for Quarter 3 close THIS Friday, March 28. Report cards will be emailed to parents on Friday, April 4.
Lower Campus Forgotten Lunch Reminder - Please do not rely on our bagel and cream cheese “forgotten lunch” as a bagged lunch from home replacement. The forgotten lunch is ONLY for those students who get to school and discover that they are not on the Hot Lunch list for the day. All parents are expected to provide a bagged lunch from home for their child if he/she did not order Hot Lunch for the day. Parents will be billed $3.50 for the forgotten lunch through Boonli. Students who repeatedly ask for a forgotten lunch will be asked to call home and have a parent bring a lunch to school rather than receiving a forgotten lunch. Thanks for your help with this!
From the Children’s Scholarship Fund – Great news from CSF! The Education Freedom Account (EFA) application has been moved to a new portal, creating a smoother and quicker application process for all families. There will no longer be a lengthy, combined application for both ETC and EFA -- families will apply to EFA via a separate Family Portal!
- Families already receiving an EFA grant in 2024-25 will soon be invited to re-apply for 2025-26 with a new link.
- Families already receiving an Education Tax Credit (ETC) scholarship in 2024-25 will be invited to re-apply for 2025-26 in April via the existing family portal.
REGISTER THIS WEEK! Anxiety in the Family Workshop from the Catholic Schools Office - Anxiety is at an all-time high crippling and affecting our youth and families. The Catholic Schools Office and the Office of Parish Faith Formation are offering a free workshop on April 5th with powerful and practical interventions to help our youth to overcome the cultural crisis in mental health. Please see the flyer HERE for more information. Free but please register by March 28th so we can be prepared with resources.
End of the Year Dates - The end of the school year may seem like a long way away, but it will come quickly! We have scheduled the following important dates and events:
Friday, May 23
- Family BBQ at the upper campus (all current families and incoming 2025-2026 new families invited!)
Wednesday, June 4
- 8th Grade last day of school - 8th grade released at 11:30 AM (no bus for early release students)
- NO After Care
- 5:00 PM – 8th grade Baccalaureate Mass at St. Christopher Parish (graduate and two parents only)
- 6:30 PM - 8th grade Baccalaureate Dinner at the upper campus (graduate and two parents only)
Friday, June 6
- 7:00 PM - 8th grade Graduation at the upper campus
Monday, June 9
- Grade 5 last day of school - 5th grade released at noon (no bus service for Early Release students)
- NO After Care
- 5:30 PM - 5th grade Convocation at upper campus (students gather at lower campus at 4:40 PM)
Wednesday, June 11
- Early Release and final day of school for grades PreK to 4, 6 & 7
NEXT WEEK! Lower Campus Spring Portraits - O’Connor Studio is returning to the lower campus NEXT Wednesday, April 2 for Spring Portraits. This is for lower campus students only. It is a one-time event, so there are no retakes for absent students. Only students who have paid for photos will go to the photographer to have a picture taken.
O'Connor Studios sent families an email message with a link for online ordering. Paper order envelopes went home last Wednesday. If you are interested in having your student's spring portrait taken, you may place an order online or use the paper envelope. Even if you did not receive an email message, the paper envelope also includes a QR code for online ordering. Students placing an order using only the paper envelope (not online) should bring their completed paper envelope to school for picture day.
This is a Dress UP Day. All lower campus students may dress up instead of wearing the uniform, regardless of whether they're getting a spring portrait!
Diocesan Scholarship - Established by Ella Sue and Salvatore La Cerva in 1993, the La Cerva Scholarship Fund enables a Catholic education for students entering grades 6-12. Scholarship awards may cover up to 75% (maximum) of a yearly Catholic school tuition in Diocesan and parochial schools in New Hampshire. Awards are based on demonstrated financial need, along with a set of criteria. For more information, click HERE.
Lenten Diaper Drive!
UPCOMING ACADEMY EVENTS
NEW! Drama Club Production of Mary Poppins, Jr. - The award-winning film Mary Poppins comes to life in our Drama Club's upcoming production on Friday, April 11 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, April 12 at 2:00 PM at the upper campus gym! Drama Club students in grades 3 to 8 have been working hard to prepare this amazing show and can't wait to share it with you!
Online Ticket Sales - Tickets for both performances of Mary Poppins, Jr. can be pre-purchased online HERE. Ticket options include:
- Adult Tickets - $10
- Students, aged 5-15 - $5 (under 5 free)
- Family, including 5+ in the same family - $35
- Multi-performance ticket for one adult - $12
IMPORTANT - You will receive an emailed receipt for the purchase of any online ticket purchase. THIS IS YOUR TICKET and must be presented for admission, either on your phone or in a printed copy.
At The Door Tickets - Tickets will also be available at the door on a cash only basis. Please note that we are unable to sell multi-performance tickets at the door. If you will be attending both performances, please purchase tickets online to receive the discounted price.
Lower Campus - Spring Into Action! Mrs. Beauregard is looking for pictures of what your child is doing this spring to keep active. Do they play a sport? Do they like to hike, go for walks, fly a kite, play at the playground? If interested in sharing, please send a picture of your child participating in their favorite activity to Mrs. Beauregard ([email protected]) and it will be printed and added to our PE board at the lower campus near the front desk.
STEM Programs - Additional STEM education, including hands-on Robotics, learning about the Engineering Design Process and introducing students to Block-coding, is available via After School programs. Currently, our Winter STEM program supports a Junior level for 3rd-5th graders and an Advanced level for 6th-8th graders. A Spring STEM season is scheduled to start some time in April and we are looking for students and parents to help coach. Read a weekly blog and more provided by The Local Beacon at this link... https://thelocalbeacon.org/steamprograms
Silver Knights Education Day - We are excited that our grade 1 through 6 students will be once again attending the Silver Knights Education Game on Wednesday, May 28! Parents may also purchase tickets and attend with us using the link HERE! The password is STCHRIS.
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:
- April 3 - Upper campus @ 9:45 AM
- April 9 - Lower campus @ 1:45 PM
Lower Campus Stations of the Cross - Lower campus Stations of the Cross continue on Fridays for the rest of Lent. Parents are welcome to attend this short (approximately 20 minutes) observation of the stations, presented by 5th grade. Parents should come through the school and sign in prior to going to the church. The schedule is:
- Friday, March 28 - 2:15 PM
- Friday, April 4 - 11:00 AM (Time Change)
- Friday, April 11 - 2:15 PM
Student Programs and Activities
NEW! Spring Mindful Movement Club for Kindergarten to Grade 2 - Students in grades Kindergarten to 2 are invited to join us for the Spring session of the Mindful Movement Club where kids will learn the power of their breath, thoughts, and of course, movement! We will read stories and play group games that focus on important social and emotional learning concepts to help kids thrive. And of course, we will dance, stretch, and get our wiggles out! The session will be four weeks long, meeting on Thursdays from May 1st through May 22. The club will start at 3:00 PM and parents should plan on picking up their child in the school lobby at 4:00 PM. Students may also be dismissed from Mindful Movement to After Care for an additional cost. Students should bring a small snack and a water. Class size for this session is limited to 12 students and the cost will be $20 for the month. Please sign up HERE!
NEW! Good Luck Varsity Basketball Teams! – Both our varsity boys and varsity girls basketball teams take the court again this weekend for the New England CYO Regional Tournament down in Norwich, CT! Both teams get underway on Saturday as they look to win the crown of best Catholic School team in all of New England!
NEW! Spring Sport Tryouts Start Monday 3/31 - The snow is gone and spring is here which means tryouts are just days away! For ease of information, we have compiled a few documents that are specific to each of our spring sports. Each document covers tryout schedules, team details and information, and a list of required items for each team.
There is currently no golf document as we are working through some logistics with nearby courses. For those students in grades 6-8 signed up for golf, we will communicate directly with parents when we have more information. Golf will not start until at least Monday, April 7.
NEW! Street Hockey Club In Partnership With Nashua PAL - We are thrilled to once again offer a street hockey team for upper campus students in partnership with Nashua PAL and the Nashua Boys and Girls Club. This club has games on Friday afternoons starting at the end of April. All games take place at the Nashua Boys and Girls Club, and transportation to the game is provided! This club is free to students, but has a maximum roster of 12. For more information, and to sign up, please click on the link below. Please note, there was an additional sign up sent out by Nashua PAL, but we are asking all students to sign up on our sheet so we can monitor the roster size.
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!
Upper Campus Rosary Group - "'Woman, behold your son.' Then [Jesus] said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother." (John 19:26-27) After a wonderful first meeting, the upper campus Rosary group will continue meeting for tea, snacks, fellowship, and, of course, most importantly, to pray the Rosary! Our Lady loved Jesus more than anyone who ever lived, and the goal of this group is to come to know and love Him just like she did. The club is open to all and will meet in room 202 (previously the sixth grade wing) from 2:40pm until about 3:30pm each Friday. Come by and check it out!
Rosary Club for Elementary Students! – We are excited for our Rosary Club for our elementary students! This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to grow in faith, deepen their devotion to Mary, and pray together in community. All students are welcome to join as we pray the rosary, reflect on its mysteries, and strengthen our connection to God through this beautiful tradition.
Students who are staying for the Rosary Club are to dismiss to the church hall at the end of the school day. We will have a snack and proceed to the church to say the rosary. All students should be picked by a parent promptly at 4:00 PM in the church parking lot. After 4:00 PM, students can be picked up at After Care.
Lower Campus Spring Sports - Registration - We had a great response from those interested in spring sports at the lower campus, so we will be offering them starting next month!
Below are the dates for both soccer and flag football and a link to the registration form. You will need to fill out one registration form per child even if you already filled out the interest form.
Pre-K, K and 1st
Soccer
Tuesdays 4/15, 4/22, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
Afterschool until 4:15 pm
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
Flag Football
Wednesdays 4/16, 4/23, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21
Afterschool until 4:30 pm
Click HERE to register for spring sports at the lower campus.
Baseball/Softball Open Gyms - 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 4:30-6:30 PM & Thursdays 4:30-6:15 PM
- 3/27
- Softball - Mondays 2:45-4:30 PM & Fridays 2:45-4:15 PM
- *No Open Gym 3/28
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, March 27
LC: Christin Morrison, Amanda Vargas
UC: Nadra Bell
Friday, March 28
LC: Christine MacNeil, Krista Spadano, Ann Marie Pellechia
UC: Sarah Neary, Heather Brown
Monday, March 31
LC: James Rappaport, Amanda Vargas
UC: Lisa Censabella
Tuesday, April 1
LC: Dorene Krauss, Jen Liba
UC: Nadra Bell
Wednesday, April 2
LC: Melanie Marcu, Rugi Mercier
UC: Carol Cyran, Lorraine Barry
NEW! Popcorn - Thank you to this week’s popcorn poppers:
Lower Campus: Andrea Rugg, Andrea Hechavarria, Chris Toomey
Upper Campus: Tara Canaway, Melissa Szymansky
NEW! Parent Book Club - Saint Chris parent Susanna Gagnon invites all parents to join her new Book Club for Saint Chris parents! This is a great opportunity for parents to come together, build connections, and enjoy a good book over food and drinks. Whether you're looking to unwind, make new friends, or simply share your love for reading, the idea of this book club is to offer a relaxed and welcoming space for parents to meet and chat. Come join the group for insightful conversations and a fun time! Please use this link HERE if you are interested in joining! The first meeting will be Wednesday, April 23rd at 7:00pm at Margarita's in Nashua. Please come, having already read the first book: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. From there, the group can vote on books and future dates together.
ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISH NEWS
THIS WEEK! P3: Prayer, Penance, and Pasta at St. Christopher Parish - School families are invited to join members of St. Christopher Parish on the evening THIS Friday, March 28th for a Lenten celebration before the start of Holy Week! The evening will begin at 5:00 PM with Stations of the Cross, followed by Mass, and then a FREE spaghetti dinner! Our very own Campus Minister Abbey Prud’homme is coordinating the evening! Please see the flyer above for more information and to register.
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! Click HERE for more information on the parish website.
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
PAL Gate City Striders Track and Field - The youth track & field program is a program offered by the Nashua Police Athletic League (PAL) and Gate City Striders (GCS) for boys and girls ages 7 through 14, who are interested in competing in track and field events. Middle school athletes are invited to participate at the conclusion of their school track & field season. Athletes without a school program can join at the beginning of the program. It includes twice-weekly coached workouts. Athletes can also choose to participate in the USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in June (optional).
Click HERE for more information and to sign up.
Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball – Don't miss out on the fun! Register your player today for Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball's Spring 2025. Visit https://www.nashuacalripken.org/leaguesummary for more information!