August 30 New Parent Orientation (grades K-6) – 7:00 PM – Church Hall
August 31- September 3 NO SCHOOL – Labor Day Weekend
September 1 Hot Lunch ordering for Sept/October begins
Sept. 4 Full uniforms required for all students
September 4 1st Day of PreKindergarten
September 7-13 Scholastic Book Fair – Library
September 9 Parish & School Community Day – Following 10:00 AM Mass – Church Hall
September 10 Independence Day
September 10 Fiddle Sizing – 8:30 AM -- Lobby
September 11 School Board Meeting – 8:00 AM – Library
September 12 Parent Information Night – 6:45 PM – Church
September 13 Fiddle Sizing – 8:30 AM -- Lobby
September 14 Coffee with the Principal – 9:15 AM – Church Hall
September 15 Hot Lunch ordering for Sept/Oct ends at midnight
September 17 Band and Fiddle Squad Begin
September 20 3-School Mass – 9:15 AM -- Church
September 24 1st School Mass/Mercy Day Mass – 9:15 AM – Church
September 24 Hot Lunch begins
September 28 No School – Teacher Faith Formation Day
NEW! Thank You – We are blessed to have so many people who support St. Chris in so many ways! Each week, we like to highlight a few of those who have gone above and beyond for the school...so be sure to check back here each week! This week, we’d like to extend special thanks to our faculty and staff who worked all summer long to get St. Chris ready for our students this Fall: Gloria Sheehan, John Levesque, Murrayann Abucewicz, Jackie Langenfeld, Claire Ternan, Carol Fiore, Marta Nissen, and Cindy Clarke! Special thanks go to the parish staff for their help in scheduling all of our events for the upcoming year, especially Fr. David Harris and Linda Sanborn!
NEW! Welcome Back from the School Board - The St. Chris School Board welcomes students, teachers, and parents back to school! We are looking forward to a productive and fun school year. The School Board is comprised of parents, parents of alumni, and local business leaders. Our role is to advise the principal on various matters pertaining to the management and development of the school. We are fortunate to have a strong and thriving school and one of our goals is to keep it that way and to help make St. Chris even better for everyone. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month in the library at 8:00 AM and welcome parents to attend our meetings. We are also always available to answer questions and to hear your thoughts and concerns through email at [email protected]. On behalf of School Board Members Cindy Clarke (Principal), Father David Harris, Fred Daniels (Chair), Nick Dahl, Todd DeRego, Tom Nardone, Mark Roy, Heather Griebel, David Savino, Corrine Zeman, Paula McLellan, Patrick O’Mara, Carol Fiore, and Marta Nissen, we welcome you and look forward to seeing you throughout the school year.
NEW! Attendance – Just a reminder that if a student is going to be out of school for the day, whether from illness or appointment, you must notify the school by 9:00 AM that day. You may call the school at 603-882-7442 and leave a message OR send an email to [email protected] (which can also be accessed by clicking on “Attendance” at the top of our new website!). If a student is not in school by 9:00 AM and we have NOT heard from a parent, we will be calling to doublecheck on the student’s welfare. This is to ensure that all our students are safely where they should be!
NEW! Morning Visits to Classrooms – Please remember throughout the year that mornings are NOT the time to visit the classroom and attempt to talk to your child’s teacher, as she is busy getting the children settled into the room and ready to start learning for the day. If you need to speak to a teacher, please either send her an email or send in a note with your student. Teachers will get back with you as soon as they are able during their busy day. If you have an emergency message about a particular issue, you can leave it with either Mrs. Bastarache or Mrs. Sheehan who will be sure it gets to the teacher right away.
NEW! After School Student Pick-up Schedule Changes – 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 the front desk (882-7442)! Please do not rely on emailing teachers as they are often too busy teaching to check their email until after the children have left. With a quick phone call, you can be assured that the front desk will let your child’s teacher know about the change in plans as soon as possible. We want to keep all our kids safe, so thanks for your help in this!
NEW! Website Tips – Have you checked out our NEW school website yet at StChrisSchoolNH.org? The website has been redesigned from top to bottom with special attention to the needs of our parents! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting special tips for parents as you navigate the new website!
Tip o’ the week: Quicklinks at the top of the front page take you directly to three of the most used parts of the website….Teacher Pages, Wednesday News, and Attendance.
- The Teacher Page button sends you to a listing of all our teachers. From there, you can scroll down to find your child’s grade level (and/or specials like computer and art), and the teachers in that level. Click on the teacher’s name to go directly to the teacher’s home page or click on the email link to send an email.
- The Wednesday News button takes you to the list of Wednesday News articles for the year. The most current Wednesday News will be at the top of the list.
- The Attendance button immediately opens your email so that you can send a message to the school when your child is going to be absent or late for the day. How handy will that be at 2:00 AM when you realize your child’s fever just isn’t going away and he or she will have to be home for the day?!
FIRST Lego League -- It’s that time of year again! FIRST Lego League at St. Chris will be starting up as the school year starts and we’re looking for parent volunteers to help with this awesome team. Our FLL season will run from the beginning of September till mid-November. If anyone is interested in volunteering or coaching, please contact Lana Tyrrell at [email protected]. You don’t have to have a child on the team to be a coach or volunteer! Student signups will be available via Signup Genius during the first week of school and availability will be based upon the number of coaches. The team is open to all students who are 9 years old or older in 2018, but space will be limited.
Labor Day Vacation – Don’t forget that we will not be in school on Friday, August 31 and Monday, September 3! Enjoy the last few days of summer!
Parent Volunteers – It’s not too early to think about how you will make a difference at St. Chris! Our school is so thankful for the many, many volunteers who partner with us to offer special events and programs that would not exist without their help. Numerous studies show that students are more successful in school when their parent volunteers…it’s a win-win for everyone! To see the many ways you can get involved here at St. Chris, click HERE! You can also sign up to volunteer for the individual programs by clicking through to the Sign-Up Genius under each opportunity. Thank you SO much!
Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed! This is a special call for Hot Lunch volunteers! As our largest volunteer program, we need lots of people to make the Hot Lunch program a success…over 100! 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 in the school, and to see your children and their friends. Volunteers serve lunch just 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!). To volunteer, use the Sign-Up Genius at https://tinyurl.com/hotlunch2018.
Back to School Parent Events – Mark your calendars for the following events! They are a great opportunity to meet fellow parents and/or get caught up with old friends, as well as find out what’s new at St. Christopher School!
New Parent Orientations – We can’t wait to welcome our new parents to St. Christopher School! New parents from grades K-6 should attend the New Parent Orientation, to be held on Thursday, August 30 at 7:00 PM in the Church Hall. The Orientation will cover volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, “inside info” from veteran families, tours of the school, question and answer session, and more!
Because PreK parents attended their own Orientation on Wednesday, they do NOT need to attend the New Parent Orientation on Thursday evening.
St. Chris Community Day – Join our St. Chris parish and school community in giving thanks for a new school year at the 10:00 AM mass, then join in the fun in the church hall! Representatives from a larger number of parish and school groups will be offering fun, games and food for all! Students who attend mass in uniform receive a FREE DRESS pass!
Parent Information Night – All parents should attend the Parent Information Night on Wednesday, September 12 at 6:45 PM. The meeting will begin in the Church with a series of short presentations outlining the state of the school and the upcoming school year. We will then adjourn to the school so parents may visit their children’s classrooms (be sure to leave a note in your child’s desk…they’ll be looking for it!). We’ll see you there!
First Day for PreK – Our littlest students will join us for their first full day on Tuesday, September 5.
NEW! Bus Options for Communities Outside Nashua – We are excited to announce that we have contracted with SchoolWheels Direct to provide several morning bus routes from local communities outside Nashua. This new program is being offered in partnership with Bishop Guertin High School at a cost of $500 per student for the year. Payment will be made directly to SchoolWheels Direct and can be made on a monthly or yearly basis. Students will be picked up by bus at designated stops and brought to Bishop Guertin High School. From there, students will be transported by shuttle to St. Chris and will arrive here by 7:30 AM. Students who are not in before school activities will be enrolled in Before Care with the appropriate charge. Additional information about the communities served and the bus routes is included in this week’s paper News. Sign-ups can be done directly with SchoolWheels Direct HERE.
NEW! Raffle Calendar Fundraiser –It’s calendar time again…and we have some GREAT prizes this year! This paper Wednesday News packet includes 10 calendar raffle tickets per family. Each ticket is $10. 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! This is the first of our three major fundraisers in the annual Invest in Excellence campaign, so we are really counting on your support!
We will have a number of fun student seller incentives throughout the month of September! Check them out!
FRIDAY FUNDAY incentives for every Friday in September (except on Sept 28, a no school day!). Any student who brings in at least one ticket will receive the prize of the day:
Friday, September 7 – Free Dress Pass for Friday, September 14
Friday, September 14 – Cookie treat at lunch on Monday, September 17
Friday, September 21 – Free popcorn
Student Surprise Free Dress Passes will be chosen on random days during the month of September from anyone who turns in a ticket on that day.
Crazy Mrs. Clarke will make a special appearance in October if we beat our school goal of 2,000 tickets! We’ve met our goal each of the last 9 years…can’t wait to make this number 10 and see what crazy Mrs. Clarke will do this year!
NEW! Altar Servers Sign-Ups – Would your child love to serve the Lord at mass? Fr. David would like to invite any child in grades 3-6 who has completed his or her Catholic First Communion to sign up as a school altar server! Students must be willing to sit still on the altar, be able to remember and carry out instructions while standing in front of the whole school, and, most important, understand the sacred responsibility of serving at God’s altar. If your child is interested, please sign him or her up via the Sign-Up Genius HERE. by September 7. There will be a special training with Fr. David and Mrs. Nissen.
NEW! Coffee with Mrs. Clarke -- Our first Coffee with Mrs. Clarke will be held on Friday, September 14 from 9:15 – 10:15 AM in the Church Hall! This is an informal opportunity to get together with Mrs. Clarke and other parents and chat about all that’s happening at St. Chris. Bring your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions….we’ll bring the coffee and light refreshments!
NEW! Parent-Student Handbook – Your paper Wednesday News includes a copy of the updated Parent-Student Handbook for this year. Please take the time to read it yourself and review it with your student(s). All students and parents must sign and return the form located at the back of the Handbook by September 14.
NEW! Fiddle Squad – Is your 3rd to 6th grade student interested in Fiddle Squad? Mrs. Bailey will be in the lobby on Monday, September 10 and Thursday, September 13 at 8:30 AM to do fiddle sizing for interested students. Information about the Band and Fiddle Squads are included in this week’s paper News.
NEW! Book Fair – are excited to start the year off with our Scholastic Book Fair to support the library! For the first few weeks of school, the library will be FULL of great books and items that are sure to be a hit with your kids (and even a few things for us adults, too!). Each class will visit the library during the Book Fair and parents are welcome to shop any time that school is in session or during any evening gatherings. Also, volunteers are needed to help Mrs. Noon with the event. If you can help, please contact Mrs. Noon at [email protected].
Clifford and Geronimo Stilton Costumes – Mrs. Noon is also looking for adventurous volunteers who would like to don an alter ego during the Book Fair! We will be receiving Clifford and Geronimo Stilton costumes as part of the Book Fair festivities and would love to have those characters meet the children on the mornings of the Fair! Time commitment would be from 8:30-8:50 AM on any of the days between September 10 and 13. Volunteer for one day, or volunteer for them all….haven’t you always wanted to be a big red dog or a giant brown mouse?! Contact Mrs. Noon at dnoon@stchrisschoolnh.org for more information!
Carpooling Instructions -- Please understand that the first few weeks of the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up are unusually busy and sometimes a bit confusing. We ask everyone’s patience as new parents learn our routine and veteran parents get back into the swing of things! Please take a moment to review the following procedures to keep us all going safely in the RIGHT directions:
Morning Drop-off –
Pre-K and Kdg – ONLY these students should be dropped off in the REAR of the school. (The only exception would be those older students who carpool with PreK or Kdg students).
Please enter the back parking lot via the entrance closest to the school building and pull up to the top of the stairway, perpendicular to the parking spaces.
You should not park or exit your car. Teachers will meet your car and help your student out of the car.
Once your student has exited your car, please proceed forward and then circle around to exit the parking lot via the exit closest to the dumpsters.
To avoid congestion on Brookline St., please go straight out of the parking lot down Hill St.
Grades 1-6 – These students should be dropped off along the sidewalk in FRONT of the school.
Parents should turn onto Cushing Ave via Manchester St. ONLY and pull as far forward in front of the school as possible.
Your child should exit the car immediately without your assistance so that you may move on as quickly as possible and make room for other parents behind you.
For safety and security reasons, please do not park your car in front of the school or attempt to have your child cross the street from the opposite direction (even with your assistance).
In addition, students should not exit your car into the teacher’s parking lot…please wait until you have pulled up to the sidewalk.
Afternoon Pick-Up – Again, the first few weeks will be very busy in the parking lots…please be patient! The following rules are very important for student safety:
Back Parking Lot: This area is for Pre-K and Kdg pick-up, as well as those students who live OUTSIDE Nashua. (Students who carpool with Pre-K and Kdg students will exit to the back parking lot also.)
If you arrive early, you may find that the entrance to the parking lot is blocked by yellow gates. Please do NOT move the gates. Various classes often use the parking lot for activities until just before pick-up and it must remain clear. We will have 6th grade student helpers come to move the gates when appropriate.
Enter the parking lot via the entrance closest to the school building.
Please BACK into the spaces along the outside of the lot first, saving the inside row of parking spaces for later arrivals.
Exit your car and meet your child at the top of the stairs. Do not ask students to walk across the parking lot alone.
Please keep students with you and keep them from climbing the trees and running down the hill on the grass.
Exit the parking lot via the exit closest to the dumpsters.
Upper Parking Lot (by the Church): This area is for those students who live INSIDE Nashua.
Please park your car within the marked spaces only. If extra parking is needed, you may park in the lot next to the parish’s barn (beyond the white house with the Mary statue in front)
Exit your car and meet your student in the parking lot by the door to the church. Do not ask students to walk across the parking lot alone.
Please do not allow students to jump off the stone walls or run around in the memorial garden next to the Rectory.
NEW! Independence Day – Starting on the first day of school, most parents will be comfortable dropping their children off at the designated drop-off points listed above…which is great! We understand, though, that some parents of our younger students in PreK and Kdg might need a little extra adjustment time (and it’s always the parents who need this, not the kids!). Therefore, we have declared our very own Independence Day on September 10….the first day that ALL our students will enter the school and find their classrooms without their parents help! 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, so please give your student the opportunity to show how “big” they are! We will have teachers stationed both outside the school and in the hallways to help the children find their way….no worries, they will be fine! Thanks for your cooperation!
UPDATED! Hot Lunch – Our Hot Lunch program will begin serving lunch on Monday, September 24. Ordering for September 24-October 31 will take place from September 1 to September 15 at Boonli.com. Further information about the Hot Lunch program will be distributed in the paper News or can be viewed online HERE. Please note that NO late orders can be taken after midnight on September 15. At midnight, the system automatically generates our vendor orders that are then placed first thing in the morning on the 16th.
Free Dress – No uniforms until after Labor Day! Shorts are okay, but please be sure that your child’s clothing follows the guidelines set out in the Handbook, including NO tank tops/spaghetti straps/tube tops/halter tops, NO clothing displaying rock groups/violence/inappropriate sayings, NO extra-large or baggy shirts or pants, and NO shorts/skirts/skorts that are more than 2-3 inches above the knee. Thanks!
NEW! Teacher Parking Lot and Auction Parking Spot – Please keep in mind that the parents should not park in any of the spaces in the parking lot in front of the church/school along Cushing Ave. during school hours. This lot is for teachers only so they can park easily and get into the school for the kids! If you’d like to ensure you always have a guaranteed parking spot, the first space in that lot is up for bid each year at the Auction to the highest bidder! This year’s winner has permission to park there until March 24, 2019…so please keep that space clear!
NEW! School Store – Our School Store, nicknamed the Husky Hut, is located in the lobby, against the you-can’t-miss-it bright yellow wall. For most of the school year, students and their parents run the store, although for the first few weeks of school it will be manned by school staff every morning from 8:30-8:50 AM. Available items include supplies like pencils and notebooks, as well as Husky spirit items. During the year, look for announcements of school spirit wear that will ONLY be available at the school store!
Student volunteers from grades 4-6 and their parents are needed to run the store! This is a great chance to volunteer WITH your child and gives our students a chance to practice their math and service skills! To volunteer, please check out the Sign-Up Genius HERE . Thanks!
NEW! School Uniforms – This week’s paper News contains a printed copy of the uniform chart prepared by Red Brick Clothing. Please note that Red Brick is our official uniform supplier and uniforms should not be purchased from anyone else, including Educational Outfitters.
NEW! 3-School Mass – On Thursday, September 20, students from Nashua Catholic Jr. High and Infant Jesus School will be joining us here at St. Chris for a very special mass celebrating the start of the school year. Mass will begin at 10:00 AM and all are invited!
NEW! School Mass – Our first St. Chris all-school mass of the year will be Monday, September 24 at 9:15 AM and will be prepared by 6W in celebration of Mercy Day. Please join us as we give thanks for the opportunity to begin a new school year together and to ask for God’s blessings.
NEW! Address Changes – The real estate market continues to be HOT and we hear that several of our families have recently purchased new homes or will be moving soon…congrats! If you have moved over the summer, please be sure to send us your new address and phone information as soon as possible so that we can update our records. It is imperative that we have the correct information for your student! You can use the change of address form in the back of the Student-Parent Handbook to update info, or send any new info to Marta at [email protected]. Thanks!
Before and After Care – Our Extended Day programs have begun! Before Care opens at 6:30 AM and After Care is available until 6:00 PM. Additional information is included in this week’s paper News. All students who attend either Before or After Care must have a completed registration form on file before attending. (It is okay to send the form in with the child on the first day he or she attends.)
Private Tours – Know of any new folks moving to the area? Have friends or relatives who would enjoy the St. Chris community and value a St. Chris education? We’d love to show them our school! Private tours with the wonderful Jackie Langenfeld can be scheduled for almost any day! To arrange, please have the prospective families call Jackie at 882-774, ext. 114.
NEW! First Friday Eucharistic Adoration – St. Christopher Parish invites all parents and families to spend time with the Lord in quiet prayer and contemplation during the First Friday Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, September 7 from 1:00-3:00 PM in the church. The chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at 3:00 PM.