February 8/9, 2023

 

 

NEW! Thank You! Thank you to all those who contributed to our Catholic School Week service project to benefit Corpus Christi Food Pantry! Our families donated 564 lbs of food in support of the Food Pantry’s mission to prevent hunger and homelessness in the Nashua community. 

 

We also want to thank last week’s most excellent team of popcorn poppers who popped over 500 bags of popcorn for ALL students on BOTH campuses last Friday! Wowza! Thank you to Melissa Michels, Alayna Zucchi, Kelly Ciaradelli, and Arthur Carew!

 

NEW! Financial Aid for 2023-2024 - We have extended the deadline for financial aid applications for the 2023-2024 school year. The original deadline outlined in parent re-enrollment emails and packets was February 1st. The deadline is now next Friday, February 17. All applications must be received by this date so that we can make awards and inform parents as promised by March 15. There is a $40 Financial Aid application fee assessed by FACTS. 

 

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.

To apply for financial aid, access your FACTS Tuition Management account through your existing Family Portal login. 

  • Click HERE to go to the FACTS Family Portal login page.
  • Our District Code is SCA-NH. Type in your username and password.   
  • After logging in, click on Financial in the left hand menu.
  • Click on the Apply for Grant & Aid link located at the right side of the window.

For questions, please contact Business Manager Shauna Hein at [email protected] or 603-882-7442, ext. 212.

 

NEW! Student Communications Reminders - As partners in the education of our students, we believe that parents should be fully aware of all communications between students and our teachers and staff. Therefore, we will be reminding students (particularly those at the upper campus) of the policies below. We ask parents to also discuss them with their children.

  • Parents should always be copied on any email from a student to a teacher. If a teacher receives an email from a student that does not include a parent, he or she will copy the parent on any response to the student. 
  • Students should not text a teacher at any time for any reason. If a student must communicate with a teacher, he or she should use the teacher’s school email.

 

NEW! Progress Reports - Progress reports will be distributed tomorrow, February 10. Lower campus students will bring progress reports home in their backpack, while upper campus parents will receive an email.

 

STEM Day Speakers - Are you in a STEM field? Would you like to share your love of  Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math? We have begun planning for this year’s STEM Day, to be held on Tuesday, May 16. We are looking for speakers to present to students on both campuses about their interest and/or careers in any STEM-related field, whether as a professional or hobbyist. Presentations are approximately 20-30 minutes in length, and can be virtual or in person. If you are interested in participating, please email Carol Fiore at [email protected].  Many thanks! 

 

Annual Fund - Our goal for the Annual Fund is 100% participation from current families, faculty and staff, and School Board members, with $65,000 as our financial goal. We ask you to support our mission to provide an excellent Catholic education to all students at Saint Christopher Academy by donating at the level your family is most comfortable. 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!

 

NEW! Lost and Found - Yikes! The lost and found collections at both campuses are OVERFLOWING! If your student is missing a piece of clothing (uniform or not!), water bottle, lunch box, or other item, please have him or her check the lost and found as soon as possible. The upper campus collection is located in the cafeteria (and has toooo many items to list!), while the lower campus collection is located by the front desk and currently includes:

  • 5 Navy school sweatshirts
  • 3 Gray school sweatshirts
  • 1 Navy school sweater
  • 1 Lake George sweatshirt
  • Assortment of winter hats
  • Assortment of gloves/mittens (lots of singles, some sets)
  • 4 Fleece coats
  • 2 Lunch boxes
  • and 1 Single pink croc

 

 

NEXT WEEK! Valentines Free Dress - Life is sweet when you have a Free Dress Day! Students and staff are invited to dress in Red, Pink, or White on Tuesday, February 14 for Valentine’s Day! Students are reminded to follow all free dress code guidelines. 

 

February Vacation - Don’t forget….February 27 to March 3 is our February/Winter vacation!

 

DEADLINE NEXT WEEK! Hot Lunch Ordering - Ordering for March Hot Lunch is open and runs through midnight on February 15 on Boonli.com.. We cannot accept late orders, so please be sure to order early! Also….be sure that you complete your checkout and receive an emailed confirmation of your order! If you do not receive an email, your order has not been placed.

 

YEARBOOK ORDERING Parents have received an email from O’Connor Studios about ordering the Saint Christopher Academy 2022-2023 yearbook!  If you have not yet done so, please take the time to look for the email, read the information, and place your order . . .the online ordering platform closes at midnight on February 24!  As with Hot Lunch ordering, you must adhere to the deadline. We are unable to process late orders. Please do not wait until the last minute to locate the email and place your order in case you have a problem.

 

  • The online ordering system is the ONLY way to order the yearbook and any add-on yearbook items.

 

  • O'Connor Studios will use the same parent email address that was used in the fall to order your student's school portraits.  Check those same email accounts (including spam and trash folders) for the yearbook information!   The ordering platform can only accommodate one email address per student. 

 

  • **IMPORTANT:  You will receive a separate email for each student.  Every student has a unique access code and you must place separate orders for each of your children

 

  •  **8TH GRADE FAMILIES ONLY: The cost of the yearbook is already included in the graduation fee.  All 8th grade students automatically receive a yearbook at the end of the year and do not need to order one.  However, you may want to order supplemental add-on items (personal message, family sponsorship, ¼ page graduate ad)!  If purchasing add-on items you still need to “select” the yearbook as if you are ordering it as well, but on your student's ordering page the cost for the yearbook is listed as "free."

 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to preserve your child's memories of this school year! If you have any questions, please contact Carol Fiore at [email protected].

 

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Roll Out the Red Carpet for Saint Chris!

 

19th Annual Auction

March 25, 2023

The Event Center, Nashua

 

NEW! Auction Sponsors – This week we have THREE new Silver sponsors!! A triple hooray!  Many, many, many thanks to:

 

Presenting Sponsor:

Matrix PMO

 

Platinum Sponsor:

Wanderlust Therapeutic Services

 

Gold Sponsor:

Wireless Zone

 

Silver Sponsor:

Camps Bernadette and Fatima

Millyard Bank

Nashua Riverfront Dentistry

Kevin Brown - Knights of Columbus Insurance

Playa Bowls Nashua

 NEW! Celebrations Catering

NEW! Toyota of Nashua

NEW! The Brian and Sharon Hall Family

 

Bronze Sponsor:

Catholic Medical Center

Family Chiropractic of Merrimack and Wellness Center

 

 

Your business or family can join this wonderful group of supporters by also becoming an Auction sponsor! In addition to our established leveled sponsorships, we can customize sponsorships or you can sponsor important parts of the Auction…think dessert, drinks, or centerpiece sponsor! For more information, click HERE or contact Marta Nissen at [email protected].

 

Auction Donations  Help us make the Auction a fun and exciting evening with the donation of an item for the silent or live auctions! Donations of new items are always needed and greatly appreciated. Feel free to reach out to friends, family, and local businesses too! You can find donation ideas or make a donation online HERE or simply  bring your donation to either the upper or lower campus! 

Wine Donations - Next time you are at the grocery store or the liquor store, consider purchasing a bottle of wine (value $15 or more) to donate to our always popular Wine Pull! Wine donations can be sent to Marta at either campus!

 

Class Baskets - Themed baskets are VERY popular at our event! In addition to the wonderful baskets donated by individuals and businesses, each grade (Pre-k to 8) is putting together a very special themed basket thanks to the donations of their families! To make a cash donation towards your child's class basket, please click HERE!!

 

UPDATED! Tickets - Tickets were mailed on Friday, February 3rd! If you did not receive an invitation, please send Marta an email at [email protected]. We can also send invitations to any of your friends or family who are interested in attending or supporting the auction….just send Marta an email and we’ll get it right out ! You can purchase tickets either by returning the RSVP card included with the invitation or by going online HERE! Tickets are $85 per person and include complimentary champagne, a drink ticket, a fabulous sit-down dinner, and night full of fun with your Saint Chris friends! 

 

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School Mass Schedule - 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. The schedule for January and February is:

February 13 - Lower campus

February 22 - Ash Wednesday - Mass at both campuses

March 8 -Upper campus

March 14 - Lower campus, grades 3-5

March 21 - Upper campus

March 29 - Lower campus

 

NEW! Lower Campus Stations of the Cross - With Lent right around the corner, 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, February 24 - 1:50 PM
  • Friday, March 10 - 2:15 PM
  • Friday, March 17 - 2:15 PM
  • Friday, March 31 - 2:15 PM

  

Girl Scout Silver Award Collection - 8th grade student Amelia Parshley is collecting crayons and coloring books for “little heroes” being treated at the Lowell General Hospital as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award. Please see the flyer HERE!

 

 

Hot Lunch Volunteers - Thank you to our fabulous Hot Lunch volunteers! The schedule for the next week is:

Thursday, February 9

LC: Sarah Daugherty, Tina Bruno, Julie Vincent, Sadie Presenti

UC: Sarah Neary, Nadra Bell

 Friday, February 10

LC: Amelia Mickles, Ashley Curreri, Katie Shrieves

UC: Sue-Ellen Maher, Lisa Blanchard

Monday, February 13

LC: Sadie Presenti, Alex Sullivan, Erin Sarette

UC: Nadra Bell, Paul Schibbelhute

 Tuesday, February 14

LC: Sadie Presenti, Danielle Schuh, Hanna Sullivan, Andrea Rugg

UC: Sue-Ellen Maher, Kathy Maynard

 Wednesday, February 15

LC: Sadie Presenti, Elona Cook, Katie Osborn, Erica Lilley

UC: Sasha Shaplyko, Nadra Bell

 

Popcorn Poppers: Our fabulous popcorn poppers for the week are Loni Rooney and Laura Gehringer. 

 

THIS WEEK! Eucharistic Adoration at St. Christopher Parish - The parish would like to extend a warm welcome for parents to join them for Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of each month from 12:00 - 3:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to spend quiet time with our Lord in prayer and/or contemplation. Adoration is on a drop-in, come-and-go basis, so parents are welcome to come by for whatever time they have available during the Adoration hours…maybe for a few minutes before our 3:00 PM pick-up time? The next Adoration takes place THIS Friday, February 3. Enter the church through the side door.

 

Grade 7 & 8 STEM Summer Camp Opportunity - The Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), located in Hanover, NH, is conducting a GEMS Camp for Middle School students this summer.   Student registration ends on March 30, 2023. All 7th and 8th Graders are welcome to apply. Please see the flyer HERE for more information!

 

When:   Week of June 26 – 30, 2023.  This is being held on the campus of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL).   CRREL is located at 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH.

Cost:  The GEMS Camp is FREE!

Stipend:  Students receive a stipend for attending the week-long camp!

Registration:  Student registration ends March 30, 2023. Sign up online HERE.

 

Black History Month - First officially recognized in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, February is Black History Month across the US. This month celebrates the achievements of African Americans and their important role in US history. Locally, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire provides excellent resources on black history and culture in NH. Please visit their website HERE!

 

NEW! St. Christopher Parish Women’s Lenten Book Study – Mondays 7:15-8:30pm in the Parish Hall – Starting February 20thThis Lenten season, school mothers are invited to join the women of the parish as we journey through Sr. Miriam James’ book: Restore: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation. Together we will turn away from what wounds us and turn towards God to be embraced by His tenderness, mercy, and  love. Together we will practice prayer, fasting, almsgiving and sacrifice to help restore our hearts so we will see more clearly, love more strongly, and serve more passionately. More information and sign-up at https://tinyurl.com/StChrisRestore   Please email questions to either Danielle Schuh at [email protected] or Melissa Gouthro at  [email protected].

 

NEW! St. Christopher Parish Lenten Book Schedule – Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22 and the parish has created a rich schedule of programs, masses, rosaries, and confessions to help us deepen our faith during this sacred period. All school families are welcome and encouraged to attend any and all of these Lenten activities!

 

Lenten Schedule 2023