St. Christopher School

September 1, 2011

Greetings St Christopher Families:

It is with great pleasure that I write to welcome you and your students to the 2011-2012 school year at St Christopher.  I hope that your summer has been filled with fun family activities enjoyed at a leisurely pace under beautiful, blue skies filled with sunshine.  How quickly summer concludes and our thoughts turn to eagerly preparing for the commencement of another school year.  This is always an exciting time of the year! The St. Christopher School faculty and staff eagerly await welcoming our new families and students and catching up with great summer stories and memories with returning families and students.  As the new principal, I am looking forward to meeting all of you and forming strong and positive partnerships.

• Faith Outreach began a wonderful project during Vocation Day last year.  Everyone from the school community decorated a tile, and after firing them all they were lovingly put together in the shape of a cross on the wall in the front stairway. Thank you Dana Robbins for volunteering to cement them to the wall.  A big job and a beautiful outcome! How wonderful that all of the materials could be donated to us by several of our families, and the project completed through the loving efforts of Teri Puksta and Donna Noon.  Many thanks go out to them as well as Peter Bauer for painting the wall behind it.  This cross is now a permanent addition to our school. We are truly blessed!

• New heating units were installed this summer in every room.  J.L. Hall gave us a wonderful deal and God was looking over us when the final cost came in below what was estimated!  We can now look forward to much better energy efficiency.  Thank you J.L. Hall!

• Our ceiling tiles were old and looking pretty shabby. All of the ceilings tiles were replaced and this has given our building a fresh new look.  Thanks to Bob, Armando and Sean!

• The “Lobby Project” is something that has literally taken my breath away!  To begin the project, a demolition team made up of Mark Roy, Mark Sheehy, Carol Laplante, Bob Hebert, Sean Carney and Chris & Marta Nissen removed the old front desk.  Then with Mark Roy’s engineering know-how, Jason Ramalho’s construction expertise, Dana Keegan’s decorating knowledge and Paula MacLellan’s planning efforts, this project is nearly complete!  When you walk through the front door you will be amazed at what has been accomplished in such a short time.  The volunteer efforts of those mentioned went above and beyond my wildest dreams.  They put their time, effort and dollars into making this dream a reality. Thank you to all from the bottom of my heart!  “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

• Our Nashua Catholic Schools Calendar Raffle Fundraiser is about to begin.  Calendars will be sent out Wednesday.  Every family will receive 10 to sell.  If you sell 10 your family will be entered into a drawing to win a $1500 tuition credit or a $1000 in cash. The drawing will be held on October 15^th at the Family Fun event at Nashua Catholic.

Back to School Parent Events – Be sure to 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 Orientation – 7:00 PM on September 6 in the Church Hall.
• Back to School/Back to Church Mass and Activity Fair – 10:00 AM in the Church. Activity Fair and Coffee/Donuts will take place in the Church Hall after the 10:00 AM mass! Students who attend mass in uniform receive a Free Dress pass for Sept. 14. This Mass was well attended!!
• Parent Information Night – 6:45 PM on September 12 in the Church.

As children return to school, let us bless them and pray for them to have a positive, enriching experience.  They are ready to learn about the world, other people, and themselves.  Their minds and hearts are open. I envision each child discovering new skills, enhancing their natural talents, and putting new knowledge to use.  Seeing children excited about their day stirs a new enthusiasm in me.  As a life-long learner, I look for and find a divine connection in the people and circumstances I encounter.  My thoughts and prayers bless each child as they begin the new school year.

The staff and administration look forward to seeing you all soon.  God bless!

On behalf of the St. Christopher School Team,

Mrs. Cynthia Vita Clarke