NEW! Thank You! Oh my goodness…where to start in thanking all those who had a hand in making our Roaring 20th Anniversary Auction a HUGE success on Saturday night! So many wonderful people contributed in ways large and small, but every contribution was an important part of the evening! 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.
- Our 24 sponsors, who donated over $43,000 in sponsorships money and services.
- Everyone who donated to our class baskets, raising a total of $2,991.
- 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 40+ 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 willingly donned 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 27 of our faculty.
- The Event Center staff for their professionalism and assistance, as well as a number of outside vendors for audiovisual services, balloon decorations, school video production, and more.
- Eleven 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.
- Tom Bolton for his Faith in Action presentation. The Faith in Action part of the evening raised over $31,000 for enhanced safety for our two campus facilities.
- 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!
TONIGHT! Spring Teacher Fair - The Academy will hold a drop-in Spring Teacher Fair on TONIGHT, March 20 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the upper campus! During the Teacher Fair, candidates will participate in an informal mini-interview with the principal and meet faculty and staff. Candidates are encouraged to download and complete the Diocesan Teacher Application at https://www.catholicnh.org/.../Sch.../TeacherApplication.pdf prior to the Teacher Fair and also bring along supporting credentials such as teaching accreditation, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
NEXT WEEK! Upcoming NO School Days in March - Please also mark your calendar for our Easter break next week from March 28 (Holy Thursday) through Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday).
NEW! Q3 Grades and Report Cards - Grades for Quarter 3 close this Friday, March 22. Report cards will be emailed to parents on Tuesday, April 2nd.
New Last Day of School Before Summer Vacation - Due to the lack of snow days this winter, we are able to move our final day of school for grades PreK to 4, 6 and 7 from Friday, June 14 to Wednesday, June 12! This will still be a half day, with grades 6 and 7 releasing at 11:30 AM and grades PreK to 4 releasing at noon. Note: 8th grade’s last day of school remains June 5 (half day release for grade 8 only at 11:30) and 5th grade’s last day of school remains June 11 (half day release for grade 5 only at noon).
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 24
- Family BBQ at the upper campus (all current families invited!)
Wednesday, June 5
- 8th Grade last day of school - 8th grade released at 11:30 AM
- 5:00 PM – 8th grade Baccalaureate Mass at St. Christopher Parish (graduate and two parents only)
- 6:30 PM - 8th grade dinner at the upper campus (graduate and two parents only)
Friday, June 7
- 7:00 PM - 8th grade Graduation at the upper campus
Tuesday, June 11
- Grade 5 last day of school - 5th grade released at noon
- 5:30 PM - 5th grade Convocation at upper campus (students gather at lower campus at 4:40 PM)
Wednesday , June 12
- Early Release and final day of school for grades PreK to 4, 6 & 7
Lower Campus Chess Club - The next session of the lower campus Chess Club will be Monday, April 8 because Easter Monday falls on April 1.
Spring Uniforms - When we return from Easter break on Tuesday, April 2nd, we will be in our Spring Uniform season! 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 upper campus especially has lots of boys and girls shorts, perfect for the Spring uniform change on April 2nd! 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!
Red Brick Clothing New Location - And speaking of uniforms….Red Brick Clothing, our official uniform supplier, would like to remind all parents that they have moved their offices to 55 Carl Drive in Manchester. The Hudson office is no longer open. Uniforms may be purchased in person at the Manchester office, or online HERE.
Hannaford Helps Schools - It’s time again for the annual Hannaford Helps Schools program! If you are a Hannafords shopper, please consider participating in the program to benefit the school! For more information on how to participate, click HERE.
DEADLINE THIS WEEK! Catholic Schools Office Parent Survey - As part of the Diocese of Manchester’s Catholic Schools Office (CSO) ongoing partnership with parents, the CSO often seeks your input as it relates to your child’s Catholic school experience. The Catholic Schools Office is asking all parents in our diocesan Catholic school system to please complete a parent survey. If you have multiple children enrolled (and in multiple schools), please select one diocesan/parish school for the purpose of this survey. The CSO is grateful for your time; hearing directly from parents helps them in their role as Catholic school system administrators. Deadline to complete the survey is March 22nd. Please click the link HERE to begin. Thank you for your participation!
DEADLINE NEXT MONDAY! Recognizing Excellence Award Nominations - Nominations for the 2024 Diocese of Manchester’s Teacher of the Year, Clergy of the Year, and St. Joseph the Worker awards are now open! The deadline to submit nominations is NEXT Monday, March 25!
- Teacher of the Year Award - The New Hampshire Catholic School Teacher of the Year views Catholic education not only as a profession, but as a vocation of service to students and to the greater Church. A practicing Catholic active in his or her faith, the award recipient brings a joyful witness to his or her ministry that inspires students to not only achieve academically, but to put their skills and knowledge to good use creating the Kingdom of God on Earth. Submit a nomination HERE.
- Clergy of the Year Award – The recipient of the Spirit of St. John Vianney Award is a member of the clergy who similarly provides inspirational support for Catholic education in the diocese. The faithful witness that the recipient of the Spirit of St. John Vianney award provides is inspirational to students as they go on to eventually discern their vocation in life. Submit a nomination HERE.
- St. Joseph the Worker Award – The New Hampshire Catholic Education Community Saint Joseph the Worker of the Year Award is presented to a Catholic school community member whose gift of time, talent, or treasure of transformative influence, enabling Catholic education to thrive in their community. Nominees may include school leaders, directors, volunteers, donors, or any member of the local community who demonstrates the Christian values of faith, humility, and outreach to the marginalized in their personal lives as well as integrity, respect, and service in the workplace. Submit a nomination HERE.
Tuition Deposit Date - As noted in the 2024-2025 re-enrollment/registration packet, a $250 tuition deposit per student will be automatically withdrawn from a family’s FACTS Tuition Management account on April 1st using the payment method selected during registration. This tuition deposit will be applied toward the family's tuition balance. Questions about the tuition deposit should be directed to Shauna Hein at [email protected].
Campus Ministry Updates - Our upper campus Campus Ministry program is busy! Here’s a few updates on their current activities:
- THIS WEEK! Lenten almsgiving opportunity - Upper and Lower Campus will be hosting a diaper drive to benefit Birthright from now until THIS Friday, March 22nd. They are especially looking for sizes 2-6. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
- NEW! Easter Blessing Bags - Upper Campus will be putting together Easter blessing bags - filled with socks, toothbrushes, cookies, cards, and the like - for the guests of the Day Café at Saint Patrick Parish in Nashua. We will be making these after school from 2:45-4:00pm next Wednesday, March 27th. If you are interested in volunteering, please see Miss Thompson for a permission slip.
Silver Knights Education Day - We are excited to announce that our grade 1 through 6 students will be attending the Silver Knights Education Game on Tuesday, June 4! Parents will also be given the opportunity to purchase tickets and attend with us. More details on ticket prices and other arrangements will be forthcoming soon!
NEXT WEEK!! Spring Portraits - O’Connor Studios is returning to the lower campus NEXT Wednesday, March 27 for Spring Portraits for lower campus students only. This 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. As with fall portraits, each student is given a unique access code for ordering. O'Connor Studios sent parents an email message with a link for online ordering, and paper order envelopes went home last week. Both include your student's unique access code. If you are interested in having your student's spring portrait taken, you may place an order online or use the paper envelope. Students purchasing pictures should bring their online receipt or their completed 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!
THIS WEEK! Yearbook Group Photos - Lower campus group photos for the yearbook will be tomorrow, March 21. All students at the lower campus should wear regular uniforms.
Annual Fund - Many thanks to all those who have already donated to our Annual Fund! Our total currently stands at just over $46,000. If you have not yet donated, please consider doing so today! All donations by 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!
THIS WEEK! P3: Prayer, Penance, and…Pasta! School families are invited to join members of St. Christopher Parish on the evening of Friday, March 22nd 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 Thompson is coordinating the evening! Please see the flyer below for more information and to register.
Food Drive - 5th grade student Jack Rugg, a member of the NH Kid Governor’s Executive Council, invites all students and their families to participate in a Food Drive to support the Nashua Soup Kitchen through March 29. Please see the flyer HERE for important details!
Upper Campus Track & Field Help Wanted – We are looking for some additional assistance with our upper campus track & field team. We are looking for some additional help with throwing and jumping events. Specifically, long jump, high jump, shotput, and discus. Anybody interested in helping out, and with experience in these events, is strongly encouraged to email Mr. Farris at [email protected].
Upper Campus Golf Coach – Spring is coming and before we know it, our Wildcat golfers will be hitting the local courses for some competitive golf. The upper campus is in need of a golf coach for this spring season. This is a paid stipend position. Previous golf coaching experience is preferred, but not required. Interested applicants should please reach out to Mr. Farris at [email protected] for more information.
Spring Sports Signups! Winter is almost fully behind us (knock on wood), and we are getting a bit more daylight! With more daylight comes excitement about warmer weather, and of course, spring sports here at Saint Chris! We are now conducting signups for all of our upper campus spring sports including baseball, softball, golf, and track and field. For any upper campus student interested in any of the above sports, please click on the link HERE to sign up.
NEW! Track Informational Meeting Postponed - Please note that the Track Informational meeting has been postponed. The new date and time will be announced soon.
NEW! Spring Sports Tryout Schedule - Spring Sports Tryouts and Track team practice start Monday, March 25! Click HERE to view the schedule for next week.
NEW! Spring Sports Game/Meet Schedule - All spring sports games and meets have been added to the school athletic calendar HERE!
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 16. 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].
Hot Lunch Volunteers - Thank you to our fabulous Hot Lunch volunteers! The schedule for the next week is:
Thursday, March 21
LC: Athena Chisholm, Stephanie Ellison
UC: Teresa Carlton, Emily Uong
Friday, March 22
LC: Amanda Coan, Erica Lilley, Lisa Blanchard, Katie Osborn
UC: Sarah Neary, Nadra Bell
Monday, March 25
LC: Ann Marie Pellechia, Amanda DeWitt
UC: Lorraine Barry, Lisa Censabella
Tuesday, March 26
LC: Tina Bruno, Shannon Silva
UC: Teresa Carlton, NEED A VOLUNTEER
Wednesday, March 27
LC: Amanda Vargas, Parissa Khayami
UC: Heather McCorry, Nadra Bell
Popcorn Poppers: Our popcorn poppers for this Friday are:
LC: Andrea Rugg, Amy Milinazzo, Emily Rodriguez
UC: Tara Canaway, Melissa Szymansky, Daliana Spencer
Upcoming School Masses - All parents are invited to attend our weekly school masses! Parents must enter through the front door of each campus facility, sign in, and receive a nametag to attend. All masses are at 9:45 AM on both campuses unless otherwise noted. The schedule for the next month is:
March 25 - Lower campus (grades 3-5) Mass Mass Canceled
April 3 - Upper campus Mass
April 9 - Lower campus (grades 3-5) Mass
April 16 - Vocation Day -
8:15 AM Upper Campus Mass
9:00 AM Lower Campus Mass
April 29 - Upper Campus Mass
Lower Campus Stations of the Cross - our final Stations of the Cross at the lower campus is THIS Friday, at 2:15 PM. 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.
CHRISTOPHER PARISH NEWS!
NEW! St. Christopher Parish Holy Week Schedule – Saint Christopher Parish welcomes school families to attend any or all of the upcoming Holy Week events at the parish!
COMMUNITY NEWS!
NEW! Topflight Football Camp - Bishop Guertin has asked us to pass along information about an upcoming free football camp on their campus for grade 5 to 8. Please see the graphic below and click HERE to sign up.
Sonia Kovalesvsky Day at WPI - Girls in grades 6 to 8 are invited to attend WPI’s Sonia Kovalevsky Day (SK Day) on Saturday, April 6 at WPI. The day will include interactive math activities, as well as presentations by women involved in a variety of STEM fields. See the flyer below for more information.
