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
NEW! September 19 Parent Group Meeting – Shorty’s – 6:30 PM
NEW! September 19 Auction Committee Meeting – Shorty’s – 7:15 PM
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 – Thank you to the lovely ladies who came in last Wednesday to stuff our first, very fat, paper Wednesday News of the year! Marilyn Hogan, Fran Richardson, and Emily Uong…you’re the best!
NEW! Parent Group Meeting – As planners of many of our sooooo fun community events, our Parent Group is one of the most active groups here at St. Chris! During the year, the Parent Group coordinates activities like enrichment speakers, the Christmas Tree Lighting, the Used Book Sale, teacher appreciation events, and the always awesome BBQ! There are many ways to get involved…and every parent is automatically a member! The group will have it’s first organization meeting for the year at Shorty’s in Nashua on Wednesday, September 19 at 6:30 PM. Please join us!
NEW! Auction Committee Meeting -- Time to get the party started…or at least start planning for it! Our Auction Committee will hold its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:15 PM at Shorty’s in Nashua. Our auction is the largest fundraiser for St. Chris, having raised over $55,000 dollars last year to assist in making St. Chris a better place for all students! There’s a place on the Auction Committee for everyone, including those interested in theme/decorations, item procurement, technology/computers, class art projects, reservations/seating, etc.! Meetings are held monthly through December, then bi-weekly during January and weekly in March, although Committee members “come and go” as needed with their role on the Committee. Contact chairperson Jenn Torosian at [email protected] for more information. And yes, you read that right….we are holding the Parent Group and Auction Committee meetings back-to-back on September 19! Hoping this will make it easier for everyone to get involved in one…or both…groups!
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!
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.
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!
UPDATED! Website Tip o’ the Week: With the new website, you’ll never miss an update to your student’s classroom page! All of our Teacher Pages have a “Subscribe” button under the teacher’s photo. By clicking that button and submitting your email address, you’ll receive an email each time the teacher makes a post to that page!
NEW! Drama Club Director and Stage Crew Manager Needed – Our Drama Club needs you! This uber-successful club for grades 3-6 is in need of both a Director and Stage Crew manager ASAP! Our Drama production is currently scheduled for November 30 and is at risk of being canceled if we can not find a Director! If you have experience in youth drama productions…or the interest in learning….please contact Mrs. Clarke at [email protected] by this Friday, September 7. Thank you!
UPDATED! 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 are now available via Signup Genius HERE. The team is open to all students who are 9 years old or older in 2018, but space will be limited.
Parent Volunteers – 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!
UPDATED! Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed! We have 19 volunteers signed up for Hot Lunch so far…thank you to those who have made the commitment! However, we are far short of the 100 volunteers needed to run the program. Without help, we will be forced to cancel Hot Lunch days…which means everyone will have to make a lunch every day….oh no! Please consider giving of one day per month to the program. 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. 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!
THIS SUNDAY! 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!
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. Sign-ups can be done directly with SchoolWheels Direct HERE.
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!
DEADLINE THIS WEEK! 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.
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!
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.
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 is available HERE.
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].
NEW! Online Book Fair – Parents (and far away relatives!) are welcome to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online starting today! To shop, go to HERE.
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!
NEXT WEEK! 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 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. Also, please note that due to cost increases, our vendors were unable to provide gluten free options for our Hot Lunch. We apologize for the inconvenience.
School Store Volunteers – 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!
UPDATED! 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. Due to busing constraints, Mass will now begin at 10:00 AM instead of 9:15. All are invited!
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! Low Gluten Host – St. Christopher Parish and School offer low gluten hosts for our gluten intolerant students who have already received First Communion. If your child is gluten intolerant and would like to receive Communion at our school masses, please email Marta at [email protected].
NEW! AmazonSmile – Are you an Amazon shopper? If so, be sure you use AmazonSmile and designate St. Chris to receive .5% of eligible purchases! We recently received a $76.88 donation from AmazonSmile, which brings our total Amazon donations to $1,193.76!
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. The registration form can be found HERE.
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.
THIS WEEK! 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.
NEW! Parish Youth Ministry –
St. Chris Kid Group Starting Up Soon! – Kid Group is a chance for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to play games with friends, talk about God, and, of course, eat some great food. We meet on Saturday nights from 5-7pm in the Pennell Center, starting on Saturday, September 15th (dinner included). You don’t need to be a parishioner of St. Chris Parish to come; you’re already part of the fantastic St. Chris community. Parents are welcome to join our Facebook group (St. Christopher’s Youth Ministry) or our Instagram page (@stchriskg) to stay updated on events and meetings. Hope to see you soon! Any questions email Emily Murphy at [email protected].
St. Chris Junior Group Starting Up Soon! – Kid Group is a chance for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to hang out with friends, learn more about Catholic beliefs and traditions and, of course, eat snacks and desserts. We meet on Sunday nights from 6-8pm in the Pennell Center, starting Sunday, September 16th. You don’t need to be a parishioner of St. Chris Parish to come; you’re already part of the fantastic St. Chris community. Parents and students are welcome to join our Facebook group (St. Christopher’s Youth Ministry) or our Instagram page (@stchrisjg) to stay updated on events and meetings. Hope to see you soon! Any questions email Emily Murphy at [email protected].
Youth Ministry Volunteers Needed – St. Christopher’s Youth Ministry is looking for 4 adults to help make a difference in the lives of the kids. Volunteers attend meetings twice a month, help run games and discussion, and give an example to the kids of what a faithful Catholic adult looks like. If you’re interested in helping out with any age group (high school, junior high, or elementary), please email Emily Murphy at [email protected] or call the rectory at (603) 882-0632.