NEW! We have a boatload of thank you's to share this week!
LC Popcorn Machine Thank you! Last week, we put out a call for donations for a new popcorn machine to replace the aging unit at the lower campus….and our families came through in tremendous fashion! Thanks to the Cardinale, Vivieiros, Varsalone, and Machado/Amorim families, the new machine was paid for and ordered by the end of the day on Wednesday and delivered on Friday! Thank you SO much!
Open House Thank you! We’d also like to thank everyone who helped with our Open House on Sunday! It was a successful event with 20+ potential new families stopping by for a tour and to meet our faculty. Special thanks to our faculty and staff for their welcoming presence and to all parents who shared the event with their family and friends! We are blessed to have so many people working together to build a strong Saint Chris!
Dance Thank you! We also wanted to extend a great big thank you to Mrs. Osborne and the National Junior Honor Society for coordinating the super fun Fall Dance at the upper campus last week, as well as our teacher chaperones! Thanks, too, to Mr. Patel for being our DJ!
All Saints Day Thank you! Today was a great day as we celebrated the solemnity of All Saints! Special thanks to the many parents who joined us at our three school masses today. Your presence at the sacred liturgy is always welcome and appreciated!
Day after Halloween Teacher Treats Thank you! So many thanks to our Parent Group for all of the wonderful coffee, cider, and breakfast treats to help our teachers make it through the day after Halloween!
NEW! Current Student Re-enrollment for 2024-2025 - Re-enrollment for current students opens today and runs through January 15! The parent marked as the primary in each student’s account should have received an email today with instructions on completing the re-enrollment process for 2024-2025. The re-enrollment packet is accessible through your Family Portal. Because we have high demand and waiting lists for all of our grade levels, any student who has not been re-enrolled by January 15 will forfeit his or her seat for the following year. There will be a registration fee of $200 due as part of the online re-enrollment. Please contact Lorrice Bedard at [email protected] if neither parent received the re-enrollment email today.
NEW! Lower Campus Before and After Care Location Change - Good news! The church renovation will be completed by the end of this week, so we will be moving our Before and After Care programs back to the church hall starting Monday, November 6th! Students can be dropped off in the morning at the double doors at the top of the ramp on the right side of the building. There is a doorbell for students to ring to enter. Likewise, After Care students may be picked up at the same door (when students are not out in the back parking lot).
TODAY! Winter Uniform begins November 1 - Today marks the beginning of our winter uniform season on both campuses! Please be sure that students are dressed appropriately and all uniform pieces have been purchased from Red Brick Clothing. Thank you for your cooperation in making the following changes….
Lower Campus:
- Boys must now wear navy blue uniform pants. Shorts may be worn again on April 1.
- All students must wear navy uniform sweatpants over their shorts for gym class.
Upper Campus:
- Boys must now wear khaki uniform pants. Shorts may be worn again on April 1.
- Girls must now wear either khaki uniform pants or plaid skorts. Shorts may be worn again on April 1. Note that skorts can be no more than 3” above the student’s knee.
- All students must wear the blue long sleeved oxford shirt with the SCA logo. Short sleeve polo shirts may be worn again starting April 1.
- All students must wear uniform sweatpants over their shorts on gym days.
NEXT WEEK! Veterans Day Commemorations - This year, both campuses will be holding Veterans Day Commemorations on Friday, November 10. The upper campus ceremony will take place at 9:00 AM and the lower campus will take place at 9:30 AM. All veterans are invited to attend so that we may honor them and thank them. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP HERE.
NEW! Upper Campus Wall of Honor - Next week Saint Christopher Academy Upper Campus will observe Veterans Day with a school assembly filled with patriotic songs, and a discussion of the importance of the day. In addition we would like to have a "Wall of Honor" filled with stars that have the name of our family members who have served in our military. Parents are asked to fill out the sheet HERE if you have one (or two) such family members so that we can honor them. Please return the star with your child to their advisory by the end of this week. Printed copies are available with your child's History Teacher. Thank you so much for your help with this. If you have any questions you can direct them to Mr. Purcell at [email protected]
NEW! Lower Campus Parent-Teacher Conferences - Parent-teacher conferences at the lower campus are scheduled for Wednesday, November 15 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Conference sign-up's were done in most classrooms on Parent Information Night in September. If not, you will hear from your teacher shortly. At least one parent/guardian must meet with each child's homeroom teacher at the lower campus at this time.
NEW! Upper Campus Parent-Teacher Conferences - Upper campus parent-teacher conferences will take place on Thursday, November 16, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM, in the upper campus gym. All meetings will be 10 minutes in length and MUST be pre-scheduled using the Sign-Up Genius HERE (click the tabs across the top to view each teacher’s conference schedule as well as a waitlist for teachers whose conferences are full.) Parents are encouraged to review their student's schedule and prioritize meeting with teachers whose class is challenging a student most. Parents are not required to attend or to speak with all of a student's teachers.
NEW! Early Release - Next Friday, November 10, will be an early release day! Upper campus students will be released at 11:30 AM and lower campus students will be released at Noon (Prek will release at 11:40 AM and Kdg at 11:45 AM). Nashua buses will be provided on the early release schedule. There will be NO After Care that day.
NEW! Thanksgiving Vacation - In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, we will have NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, November 22nd through Friday, November 24!
Hot Lunch Orders for December - Ordering for December’s Hot Lunch opened today and runs through midnight on the 15th on Boonli.com. Please be sure to place your order early in case of technological difficulties. You will receive an email confirmation once your order has been placed….if you do not receive that email, your order has not yet been placed and your child will not receive Hot Lunch for the month. Thank you!
MEETING THIS WEEK! Parent Group - Many thanks to those parents who attended last week’s first Parent Group meeting of the year! The group is currently working on plans for the upcoming Father-Daughter Dance (grades PK to 8) on November 18, Mother-Son Bowling (grades PK to 8) in January, and monthly Teacher Appreciation treats on both campuses. It’s not too late to get involved! Email Kevin Belt at [email protected] to help with the Father-Daughter Dance and either Jamie Gregoire at [email protected] or Jane Gill at [email protected] to help out with teacher appreciation! The Parent Group’s next meeting will be THIS Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00 PM in Ms. Thompson’s room at the upper campus. Please join us!
Father-Daughter Dance - Dads (or grandads, uncles, and other father figures) and their daughters are cordially invited to attend the Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, November 18 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the upper campus gym! This event is open to all families from Prek to grade 8 and tickets are $15 per family.
Since it is a dress-up evening, our students should keep in mind these guidelines: Dress, skirt and blouse, dress pants and top, or full jumpsuit (no strapless dresses or tops.) may be worn. If the straps on the dress or top are less than 2 inches wide, a sweater or shrug should be worn over it. Skirts and dresses should be no more than 3 inches above the kneecap and should not be tight-fitting. Shoes or sandals must be worn. No flip flops.
NEW! Gym Tarp Help Needed - In anticipation of the Father-Daughter Dance the following day, we will be tarping the upper campus gym floor on Friday, November 17 at 9:00 AM. Many hands make light work…we’ll need at least 8 volunteers to get it done! If you can assist, please email Marta at [email protected]. Thanks!
NEW! Lower Campus Chess, Checkers and Cribbage Club - We are thrilled to announce that our lower campus Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage Club is back thanks to parent volunteer Tom Nardone! This program offers a safe, low stress environment for children to learn and enjoy the games, while engaging in a social activity that is fun for all. Children play with classmates and learn at their own pace. The club will start on Monday, November 6th at 7:30 AM. Students should enter through the Before Care entrance and check in with the teacher on duty before proceeding to Mrs. Hickey’s class for the club.
Additional parent helpers are MUCH appreciated and welcome! (Note: All volunteers must have completed the Diocesan Safe Haven training prior to volunteering.) While some knowledge of chess, checkers, and especially cribbage would be helpful, it isn’t necessary!
NEW! Spirit Day #2 - Our Wildcat Spirit Shirts were delivered last week and, as promised, we’ve scheduled another Spirit Day! Students are welcome to wear their spirit shirts, other Saint Chris gear, or blue and white on Friday, November 17!
NEW! Saint Chris Academy Wildcats Athletics Instagram - Our Wildcat athletes have a new home on Instagram! Check us out at @sca_wildcats to see our students in action!
TOMORROW NIGHT! Praying for All Souls - Ms. Thompson would like to invite all upper campus students to join together in praying for all souls in Purgatory during an evening event tomorrow, November 2. Students will gather for an evening of camaraderie (and pizza!), learn about Purgatory and the history of All Souls’ Day, and then participate in a candlelit procession to Edgewood Cemetery to pray for all those who are buried there. For more information, please contact Ms. Thompson at [email protected].
Help Needed! Lower Campus School Store - Our lower campus School Store is in need of a parent volunteer coordinator to help with item ordering and stock management, as well as opening the store two times per week from 8:30 - 8:45 AM. The store stocks small school supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, etc.), school spirit items (hats, keychains, stuffies, etc.), and the occasional holiday “special” item. The store is a student favorite and we’d love to get it up and running within the month! If you are interested in this fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity, please reach out to Marta at [email protected].
Wrestling Coach(es) Needed - We are very excited to be bringing a wrestling team back to the upper campus. We have students interested in participating, but we don’t have a coach for the team. Previous wrestling and coaching experience is highly encouraged, but not required. This is a paid, stipend position at the upper campus. The team practice schedule is flexible to accommodate coaches' work schedules. For anyone interested, please contact the upper campus Athletic Director, Ryan Farris at [email protected].
Upper Campus Winter Sport Signups - As much as we may be afraid to say it, winter is right around the corner. The bouncing of basketballs, pinning of wrestlers, and the cheers from our spirit team are just weeks away at this point. We are beginning the process of signups for our winter teams. Upper Campus teams for the winter season include boys varsity and JV basketball, girls varsity and JV basketball, coed wrestling, and a spirit team. Please note the spirit team is not a competition team, but will be cheering for home athletic events.
To sign your child up for a winter sport, please follow the link HERE to fill out the form. Signups are not a binding contract, but instead allow the coaches and athletic department to have an idea on how many athletes will be coming out for each team.
TONIGHT! Mandatory Upper Campus Basketball Only Meeting - November 1 at 6 PM - There will be a mandatory meeting for all students interested in trying out for the Tri-County basketball teams TONIGHT, Wednesday, November 1, at 6:00 PM in the gym. Topics include tryout processes, team schedules, expectations, team rules, and other important basketball specific information.
Ski Club UPDATE! - Registration for this year’s Ski Club is now underway! Parents were sent an email from Mrs. Joyce last week detailing the Ski Club and the same information can be found on the school website HERE. IMPORTANT: All students must be registered for Ski Club using the form HERE by December 1st!
Crotched Mountain will be opening their online purchasing for school Ski Clubs on November 1st. All Ski Club participants (except those with EPIC passes) must purchase their Ski passes through the online system in addition to registering with Saint Chris through the link above. The Crotched Mountain website is HERE.
Now Hiring - UC Boys Basketball Coaches – Our upper campus boys basketball teams are in need of coaches for both the Boys A and Boys B teams. The 2023-24 basketball commitment begins Monday, November 6, and runs through the middle of February, with a potential of additional basketball through the end of March. Games and practices are primarily in the afternoon and evenings at least 3-4x during the week, and then again on Saturday mornings.
Interested applicants should have previous coaching experience. Previous coaching experience within the middle school age group is preferred, but not required. This is a paid stipend position, and all interested applicants should email a copy of their professional and coaching resume to Athletic Director, Ryan Farris at [email protected].
Hot Lunch Volunteers - Thank you to our fabulous Hot Lunch volunteers! The schedule for the next week is:
Thursday, November 2
LC: Athena Chisholm, Melissa Richardson, Crystal Romero, Mia Shepard
UC: Lucilene Foppa, NEED A VOLUNTEER
Friday, November 3
LC: Erin Sarette, Jen Liba, Cassy Vachon, Stephen Carroll
UC: Nadra Bell, NEED A VOLUNTEER
Monday, November 6
LC: Robin DeGrandis, Erik Smith, James Rappaport, Tyler Ramrath
UC: Carrie Ayers, Marge Decato
Tuesday, November 7
LC: Lucilene Foppa, Andrew Ciardelli, Tina Bruno, Andrea Rugg
UC: Teresa Carlton, NEED A VOLUNTEER
Wednesday, November 8
LC: Danielle Schuh, Stacy Driessen, Kristie Healey, Krista Prymak
UC: Sasha Shaplyko, Nadra Bell
Lower Campus Hot Lunch Sub Needed - We are still in need of a Hot Lunch substitute for the lower campus on December 11. If you can help out, please email Marta at [email protected]. Thanks!
Popcorn Poppers: Our popcorn poppers for this week are:
LC: Melissa Michels, Kristie Healey, Jill Queenan
UC: Rachel Ricker, Steph Ellison, Ram Mandeli
NEW! CYO Basketball Grades 3-6 - Practices have begun for our 3rd/4th grade coed and 5th/6th grade boys CYO teams but there may still be space. Please contact Mrs. Beauregard with questions ([email protected]).
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:
November 6 - Upper campus mass
November 14 - Lower campus (grades 3-6)
November 30 - Upper campus mass
NEW! SCRIP for Christmas! – Did you know that you can purchase gift cards to most popular retailers and restaurants quickly and easily online through the Shop with Scrip Program…AND benefit St. Chris at the same time? Click HERE, select “Join a Program,” and create an account using our school code 751C7D6L13155. Gift cards are available from a long list of retailers and restaurants and all gift cards will be shipped directly to the school. You’ll usually receive your gift cards in under a week, and the school receives anywhere from 1.25% to 14% of your gift card purchase! Christmas is a perfect time to give the program a try, with gift card options like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, Target, and Barnes and Noble! SCRIP also has an app for your phone that makes ordering and managing gift cards soooo easy! Check out RaiseRight by ShopWithScrip!
COMMUNITY NEWS
UPDATED! Eagle Scout Project – My name is Ian Leonardi from Troop 773. I'm currently working on my Eagle Scout project.I graduated from Saint Chris in 2022. I am gathering books so every baby born at St. Joseph's Hospital in 2024 can go home with a new book. The hospital averages 500 babies born per year, so that will be my collection goal. Studies show that babies who are read to, grow up to have a better vocabulary. Giving each family a book will start them off on the right foot. It will also promote bonding between the parents and the baby. I will have collection boxes at both campuses through November 10 or you can use the Amazon Wishlist link thak is included. Thank you for your support.
Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/XIQAT7JWJLD2/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Boston Marathon Run in Honor of Lindsay Toomey - In November of last year, Saint Chris parent Lindsay Toomey lost her long battle with ovarian cancer. Heather French, a close friend of Lindsay’s and a fellow teacher, is running the 2024 Boston Marathon in honor of Lindsay. All proceeds from Heather’s fundraising for the marathon will go to Dana Farber Cancer Institute. All are invited to support Heather and remember Lindsay through a donation HERE.
Happy Hearts Day Care - Happy Hearts Daycare, located across the street from the lower campus at 12 Cushing Ave., has a few openings for extended care. The hours are 6:30 to 8:30 AM and 3:00 to 5:30 PM. They accommodate students on snow days, two hour delay, early release, no school days (except for the major holidays) and even if there is a power outage :) They also provide care on the Christmas, February and April vacation weeks. If interested, please call...603-321-9320.
Trinity High School Open House - Due to ongoing construction in the Trinity High School gymnasium, the Open House has been postponed to November 15 at 7:00 PM. Trinity High School is located at 581 Bridge St., Manchester. All future students in attendance will be entered into a raffle to win $1,000 off tuition! A Trinity High School education is affordable for all who desire it through several financial aid options. In addition, 2023 graduates of Trinity received over 24 million in merit awards. To RSVP, please contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] or by calling 603-668-2910 Ext. 220.Discover the difference at Trinity!