NEW! July Meeting Minutes - Our Board of Limited Jurisdiction (School Board) is tasked with helping to guide the school's strategic vision, Catholic mission and identity, and financial stability. You can find out more about the Board on the website HERE. The page features short biographies of each of our Board members as well as meeting minutes. and a form for contacting the Board with questions.
Board Contact Form - Parents may contact the School Board by using the form HERE. Questions about day-to-day operations and procedures at Saint Christopher Academy should be directed to Principal Cindy Clarke at [email protected].
Meeting Minutes - Minutes from the July 2025 School Board meeting have been posted on the Board page of the Academy website. Please click HERE to review. Note: Links to the minutes from this and previous meetings from the past year can be found in the right sidebar of the School Board website page.
NEW! Staff Welcome! Please welcome Ms. Kristen Bechard to our lower campus as the part-time physical education teacher! Ms. Bechard is well known here at Saint Chris as both a mom and coach of the cross country and track teams. We are excited to have her join our staff and share her enthusiasm for physical fitness with our lower campus students!
NEW! Thank you! Thank you Conway Arena and Conway Ice Rink Commission for selecting Saint Christopher Academy as one of their 2025 non-profit grant award recipients. We are most grateful for their generosity and support of Saint Chris and so many organizations that promote health and fitness for local youth! We will use these funds to purchase additional equipment for our physical education programs.
NEW! 6th and 7th grade Field Trips - Our 6th and 7th grade students will be on the move for their first field trips of the year very soon after school starts! Permission slips for these trips will need to be completed by parents and returned to Mrs. Coker ASAP. The permission slip for the 6th grade trip to Patriots Place on September 30 can be found HERE and the slip for the 7th grade trip to Camp Lincoln on September 18 can be found HERE.
NEW! All School Mass - Speaking of field trips…all lower campus (grades PreK to 5) students will be taking their first “field trip” for the year together as they walk to the upper campus on September 23rd for our Fall All-School Mass! Students will walk to the upper campus for a 10:15 AM Mass in the gym, then return immediately after. Students are required to have a permission slip for this outing, which can be downloaded HERE. Please complete and return the slip to your child’s homeroom teacher. Teachers will be in contact with parents about chaperones for the walk. If your child will not participate in this activity, he or she MUST stay home the morning of September 23rd.
NEW! Student Email Changes - As described in the parent email earlier this week, all veteran student usernames/emails have been amended to include the student’s year of graduation. Passwords have remained the same. Students must use their new username/email to log into email or any other school-related Google app. Upper campus new students will receive their username/password during their first computer class. Lower campus students will receive their username/password during the first month of school. Please see the email HERE for more information.
NEW! Uniform Requirements - All students must be in full uniform starting their first day of school next week. We are currently in our Fall uniform phase, so students may wear uniform shorts until November 1st. Please see the complete list of uniform requirements HERE.
NEW! Lower Campus Book Fair - We are pleased to announce we will be offering the I:55 Book Fair this year. The Book Fair will run Sept. 3 to Sept 12. Your child will visit the library to create their Wish List from Sept. 3 to 5. More information will be sent home once school starts. To volunteer, please contact Mrs. Noon at [email protected] or see her in library on Meet the Teacher Day on Monday.
8th Grade High School Entrance Exam Prep Course - In preparation of upcoming high school entrance exams for BG and other private schools, 8th grade students are invited to participate in an after school High School Entrance Exam Prep Course starting in September. For more information about the class and how to sign up, please read the letter HERE.
Upper Campus Daily Schedule Changes - To better accommodate the academic rigor of our middle school students, we have adjusted our upper campus schedule for the coming school year. Please note:
- We have added 10 minutes to the school day. The late bell will ring at 7:55 AM (vs 8:00 AM last year) and dismissal will be at 2:30 PM (vs 2:25 PM last year).
- We have created a Mass block schedule to provide more consistency for our students and teachers for Masses and other school-wide events.
Internet Safety Presentations - With children spending more and more time online, it’s more important than ever for parents to understand how to guide and protect them in the digital space. Mark your calendars for an important and informative internet safety presentation by the Nashua Police Department on Tuesday, September 16 at 6:30 PM in the upper campus gym. This invaluable presentation is for parents of all ages.
Note: During the months of September and October, upper campus students will also attend an age-appropriate internet safety presentation by the Nashua Police Department.
Saint Chris Wildcat Spirit Wear Store Is Open! Our fall Spirit Store through Maverick Stitch and Screen is now OPEN! In addition to our traditional Wildcat Spirit Shirts (including tie-dye!) for students and adults (perfect for school Spirit Days!), offerings include pajama pants (students and adults) and polos, fleece vests and jackets, and softshell vests and jackets for adults! We even have bucket hats and baseball caps!
This ordering period will end on September 15. All items will be delivered to the school in approximately two weeks after that and sent home with students. Additional ordering periods will be announced as the year progresses. Please click HERE to order and show your Wildcat pride!
Please note: Spirit wear is NOT part of the daily school uniform on either campus and may only be worn on Free Dress or Spirit Days. Spirit wear is not part of the gym uniform. Thanks for your help with this!
P.S. Have ideas for other fun spirit items? Let Marta know at [email protected]!
Employment Opportunities - We are still in need of a 4th grade/Science teacher! Please spread the word! Preferred applicants should be practicing Catholics, hold an appropriate New Hampshire teaching certification (or be eligible for certification through the state or the Diocese), and be ready to embrace our school mission of developing students who are confident,independent, lifelong learners, who lead by example, and who live their lives with integrity and concern for others. Candidates may read more by clicking HERE!
From FACTS Regarding Credit Cards - Beginning September 1, 2025, the fee for credit card transactions will move to 3.05%. This slight change reflects the rising costs imposed by credit card companies and ensures FACTS can continue to offer convenient payment options while maintaining the quality of our services. As always, alternative payment methods, such as ACH, are available at no additional cost. FACTS looks forward to serving you during the 2025-2026 school year and thanks you for your continued partnership.
Miscellaneous Important Notes
Calendar Raffle Fundraiser – It’s Fall Calendar Raffle time again! On the first day of school, all oldest and only students on both campuses will bring home envelopes with our popular Fall Calendar Raffle tickets! We have some GREAT prizes again this year, including gift cards to fabulous stores and lots of CASH! Every family is asked to sell a minimum of 10 tickets at $10 per ticket. This is the first of our three major fundraisers, so we are really counting on your support! This year, our Academy goal is 4,400 tickets between the two campuses! We can do it!
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!
NEW! Look Us Up on Social Media – Don’t forget that we have very active social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Each account usually has different material, so be sure to follow both! You can find us at https://www.facebook.com/SaintChrisAcademy, https://www.instagram.com/saintchrisacademy/ and https://www.pinterest.com/SaintChrisAcademy/.
Hot Lunch Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 29. Students will need to bring a lunch from home until that time! Ordering for Hot Lunch is done through Boonli.com. Full instructions for ordering can be found HERE for the lower campus and HERE for the upper campus. Ordering for September 29 through October 31 will take place from September 1st through the 12th. (Normal ordering takes place from the 1st to the 15th the month prior). Parents will also receive an email on September 1st with the detailed ordering instructions. Please be sure to read carefully!
Wednesday News Email - Do you have a grandparent or other important person in your family who you would like to receive the Wednesday News? If so, email Marta Nissen at [email protected] to have them added to the list! Please indicate the individual’s name, email address, and relationship to your family.
After Care - If your lower campus child will be attending After Care on a regular basis, please send a note to the homeroom teacher on the first day of school or let him/her know on Meet the Teacher Day.
Required Documents for School
Nurse Notes: Our school nurses, Mrs. Sheehan (lower campus) and Mrs. Danielson (upper campus), would like to remind parents of the following:
7th Grade Vaccination Reminder - ALL students who are entering 7th grade MUST have a Tdap done and a physical/immunization record submitted to the upper campus school nurse, Mrs. Danielson, as soon as possible. The Tdap is specific to students of the 7th grade age. It is NOT the Dtap! If a student has a medical or religious exemption to vaccinations, please submit a copy of that paperwork to Mrs. Danielson before school starts in the fall. Thank you!
Medical and Immunization Records - At the start of the school year, we need updated physical and immunization records for every student, grades PreK to 8. These can be provided in paper copy sent into school on the first day or by email to Gloria Sheehan at [email protected] at the lower campus and Laura Danielson at [email protected] at the upper campus. Note: If your student has a medical or religious exemption for immunizations, please also forward that document. All documentation is due by September 1st.
Medications - Students who require prescription medication at school (including epi-pens) must provide an updated doctor’s order for the 2025-2026 school year. Please remember to check the expiration dates on those medications! Please bring documentation and medication to school on the first day of school.
Updated Contact Information - Summer is a prime time for change of addresses and other contact information…and we want to keep you up-to-date on all communications from Saint Chris! If your address, email, or phone number will be different this fall, please contact Database Administrator Donna Beatrice at [email protected]. Thank you!
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
NEW! Lower Campus Uniform Closet Captains - We are looking for one or two parent volunteers to be “captains” of the used uniform closet at the lower campus throughout the upcoming school year. Captains will be responsible for the intake and organization of newly donated uniforms and the upkeep of the used uniform area. Thanks to the efforts of previous volunteers, the area is well-organized…but it does take an hour or two every month to keep things straightened out and ready for parents to “shop”! Volunteering can take place before, during, or after school dependent on volunteer availability. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Donna Beatrice at [email protected]. Thank you!
FIRST Lego League - We are excited to offer FIRST Lego League to students in grade 4-8 again this fall, as long as we have enough assistant coaches to help our lead coach. The FLL season will start as soon as school opens and runs through December. FLL recommends at least 3 adults per team, and the number of coaches will determine the size of the team. Coaches work with the students to understand the challenges, organize the team, and complete the projects. No previous FLL experience is necessary! The number of coaches will determine the size of the team and student sign-ups will take place after our coaching staff is set. For more information about coaching or to volunteer, please contact lead coach Stan Rydewski at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Lower Campus School Store Volunteers - We need two parent helpers for our lower campus School Store! The store will be open on Tuesday mornings from 8:30 - 8:45 AM for students in grades PreK to 1st and on Wednesdays from 8:30 - 8:45 AM for grades 2 to 5. Parents may volunteer for one or both days. If you are able to help, please email Marta at [email protected]. The store will open for the first time on Tuesday, September 2nd!
Volunteering at Saint Chris - Are you planning on volunteering at Saint Chris this coming school year? If you have not yet completed the Safe Environment Training, get a jump on things by completing it over the summer! All volunteers are required to complete the training prior to ANY volunteer opportunities, including Hot Lunch, field trips, class projects and activities, etc. Training must be renewed every three years and you will be notified by the school when you need to renew your training To complete the training, please see the Diocesan information HERE. Questions about the process at the lower campus can be directed to Jackie Langenfeld at [email protected] and questions about the upper campus can be sent to Sue Coker at [email protected].
Hot Lunch Volunteering - We are still in need of many, many more Hot Lunch volunteers! We need two volunteers daily at each campus. As our largest volunteer program, we need lots of help to make the Hot Lunch program happen at both campuses! 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 at the Academy, and to see your children and their friends. Volunteers serve lunch approximately one day a month on the day of the week of your choice (although those who want to help out several days a month are always welcome!). Staff members from our caterer, Celebrations, also help serve lunches on both campuses on Monday through Thursday. Volunteer hours are approximately from 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM at the lower campus. At the upper campus, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday volunteer hours are 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM. Due to a modified class schedule, Tuesday volunteer hours at the upper campus will be 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM.
To volunteer at the lower campus, use the Sign-Up Genius HERE. To volunteer at the upper campus click HERE. Be sure to click through the tabs at the top of each Sign-Up Genius to view the teams and dates available for each day of the week!
Hot Lunch Substitutes - If you can’t commit to a full schedule of Hot Lunch volunteering, consider signing up to be an occasional Hot Lunch substitute! You can pick the day of week that you are available (or all five days!) and we’ll put you on our sub list for that day. If a scheduled volunteer is unable to make a scheduled shift due to illness, he or she will call subs on the appropriate list. To sign up as a lower campus Hot Lunch sub, click HERE. To sign up as an upper campus sub, please click HERE. Thank you!
SUMMER WORK AND SUPPLIES
Summer Reading and Work - While we certainly hope our students are enjoying every minute of their summer vacation 😎, we also hope they are working on their summer reading and work too! For your convenience, the links to summer reading and work assignments are available in an article highlighted in the “News and Notes” section of the school website HERE throughout the summer months.
Upper Campus Math Summer Solutions Book - All upper campus students (rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade) received a Summer Solutions math workbook, along with instructions for completing required summer math work. Each student’s workbook will be matched to his or her anticipated math class for the fall. The Summer Solutions book, with completed work, should be brought to school on the first day of school.
Back to School Supply Lists -
Lower Campus - The Back to School Supply Lists can be found HERE. This list also contains summer reading and work assignments.
Upper Campus - Because each student’s schedule is unique, there is NO supply list for the upper campus. Students will receive a list from each teacher on the first day of school.
Cleaning Supplies for Upper Campus - Although upper campus students will receive their individual class supply lists at the start of school, all upper campus students are asked to bring a box of tissues, a roll of paper towels, and a container of Clorox wipes to school on the first day. Thank you!
CALENDAR INFORMATION
NEW! 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 10:15 AM on both campuses unless otherwise noted. The upcoming schedule is:
- September 9 - Upper Campus
- September 16 - Lower Campus
- September 23 - All School Mass at upper campus
- September 30 - Lower Campus
Google Calendar - Looking for the most up-to-date calendar of school days off, early release dates, and activities? Look no further than our online school Google calendar HERE! The entries on the Google calendar are also available on the school website calendar HERE. We will make every effort to keep these calendars up-to-date with the many happenings at Saint Chris throughout the year!
Looking for athletic events and activities? Those can be found on the Athletics Google calendar HERE.
School Vacations/Holidays for 2025-2026 - For planning purposes, these are the major vacations and holidays for the next school year.
- Labor Day Weekend - No School - August 29 and September 1
- Columbus Day - No School - October 13
- Diocesan Teachers Workshop - No School - October 20
- Veterans Day - No School - November 11
- Thanksgiving - No School - November 26-28
- Christmas - No School - December 22 - January 2
- MLK Day - No School - January 19
- Teacher Workshop - No School - February 4 (Note: Grade 5 will have Step-up Day in the morning)
- February Vacation - No School - February 23-27
- Easter - No School - April 3 & 6
- April Vacation - No School - April 27 - May 1
- Memorial Day - No School - May 25
Early Release Dates: On these days, the upper campus is released at 11:30 am. Lower campus grades 1 to 5 are released at noon. PreK and Kindergarten will be released shortly before noon…teachers will inform parents prior to the first early release. Early Release dates include:
- September 19 - Teacher PD
- November 6 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- November 21 - Teacher PD
- December 19 - Teacher PD
- March 20 - Teacher PD
- April 2 - Holy Thursday
- April 24 - Teacher PD
- May 15 - Teacher PD
- June 10 - Last Day of School
Days with NO After Care - We will have a number of NO After Care days this year, so please note these on your calendar:
- All Early Release Days
- December 4 (Christmas Tree Lighting)
- January 8 (Staff Christmas Party)
- May 19 (STEM Night)
- May 22 (BBQ)
- June 3 (Baccalaureate)
- June 8 (Convocation)
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Back to School 2025 Events/Dates - Please mark your calendar with these important back-to-school dates:
NEXT WEEK! Monday, August 25 – Lower campus Meet the Teacher from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Class lists will be posted in the school that day. NOTE: This is a drop-in event, so families are welcome to visit any time between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. School uniforms are not required.
Pro tips:
- Come after 9:45 AM to avoid the waiting-for-the-door-to-open crowd!
- Bring along any wipes/tissues/paper towels requested by your student’s teacher to lessen your child’s load on the first day of school!
- When you arrive, check the large bulletin board in the lobby to find your child’s assigned teacher. Staff members will be available to help direct you to the classroom.
NEXT WEEK! Monday, August 25 - First day of school for 6th grade only at the upper campus. Students should be in full uniform. This is an early dismissal day, with students released at 11:30 AM. Bus service WILL be provided for eligible 6th grade students. There will be NO After Care that day.
NEXT WEEK! Tuesday, August 26 - First day of school for all other students on both campuses. Students should be in full school uniform that day. Bus service for grades K-8 will begin.
Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1 - No School…Labor Day Weekend
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Back-to-School Parent Meetings - Back-to-school isn’t just for kids…it’s for parents, too! We will be holding three important parent meetings over the first three weeks of school and encourage ALL parents to attend the applicable meetings! Please note that these are parent only meetings and students should NOT attend.
New Parent Orientation - All parents who are new to Saint Christopher Academy are encouraged to attend this meeting on Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:30 PM in the gym at the upper campus. This meeting is for parents of children who are new at either the lower or upper campuses! (Parents of students moving from the lower campus to the upper in 6th grade do not need to attend.) Please join us to learn more about Saint Chris, to meet important staff, and to get your questions answered!
Upper Campus Parent Open House - All upper campus parents (veteran and new) are encouraged to join us for this meeting on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 PM in the gym. After a brief business meeting, parents will move through their child’s schedule and visit each of their child’s classrooms.
Lower Campus Parent Open House - All lower campus parents (veteran and new) should plan to join us on Thursday, September 11 at 6:30 PM in the church hall. Similar to the upper campus meeting, parents will be free to visit their children’s classrooms following a brief business meeting in the church hall. Our Book Fair will also be open during the Parent Open House!
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Summer Office Hours - We’ll be here if you need us this summer! The school offices on both campuses will be open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday through Thursday! You can also call or email any of the school admin team on either campus and we’ll get back to you as promptly as possible!
TRANSPORTATION
UPDATED! Nashua Bus Transportation - The Nashua School District provides free bus transportation for students in grades K through 8 who live in Nashua. Lower campus students must live more than one mile from the lower campus and upper campus students must live more than two miles from the upper campus in order to be eligible for bus transportation. If you completed the bus survey earlier in the summer or indicated on your new student enrollment form that your child would ride the bus, his or her name was sent to the Nashua transportation department. Bus passes and bus stop information was emailed to these parents directly from the Nashua transportation department on Friday. Please check your email! All questions regarding bus passes and bus stops should be directed to the transportation department at 603-966-1055. Note: Saint Chris has NO control over bus routes or schedules.
NEW! Bus App for Parents - First Student provides a bus tracking app which allows parents to track live timing of bus pickup and drop-off for our students. Please click HERE for an introductory letter from First Student and instructions on how to download and use the app.
Commuter Student Instructions - Will you be dropping your student off in the morning….or picking him or her up in the afternoon? Please see the important instructions HERE for lower campus students and HERE for upper campus students. We ask everyone’s cooperation in following these instructions very carefully and mindfully in order to keep our students safe and our process orderly and speedy! It is imperative that all parents follow ALL of the instructions. NOTE: The first two weeks of school will be very busy at both drop-off and pick-up time as families learn the procedures and adjust to the timing that works best for them. Please be patient and kind to staff members and other parents.
Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals - If your child is going to be absent from school, arriving late due to an appointment, or will need to be dismissed early, you MUST notify the school as soon as possible. Lower campus notifications should be emailed to [email protected] and upper campus notifications should be emailed to [email protected]. Please note:
- Absence or Late Arrival: If a student is absent and we do not receive notification of the absence by 9:00 AM, parents will be contacted to confirm the absence.
- Early Dismissal: Notice of a student’s early dismissal MUST be submitted by 9:00 AM. Parents should not arrive at school to dismiss students without first notifying the school. Last minute and unexpected dismissals are disruptive to the class and may be difficult to accommodate if students are in other parts of the building for gym, recess, art, etc.
Lower Campus After School Student Pick-up Change Notification – 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 603-882-7442! Please do not rely on emailing teachers or the office at either campus as they may not be able to check their email until after school is over. With a quick phone call, you can be assured that the front desk will let your child and his/her teacher know about the change in plans as soon as possible.
Lower Campus After Care Phone Number - Parents who use the lower campus After Care program are reminded that they can contact the After Care staff directly after school hours at 603-438-4735.
STUDENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
NEW! Fall Music and Drama Programs - Signups for music and drama groups on both campuses, including Chorus, Performance Choir, Band, guitar lessons, and Drama Club, have been sent out via email. Certain events, such as our production of Alice in Wonderland Jr are earlier than usual this year so don’t wait to register! See the email from Mr Quigley (sent 8/15) for details and sign up links
Lower Campus Cross Country - Lower Campus Cross Country is open to all students entering 2nd through 5th grade this fall. Click HERE to register. There is a full season schedule as well as an invite to the BAND page at the top of the registration form. Registration will close Thursday August 28th so make sure to sign your runner up today!
Upper Campus Fall Sports Sign-Ups - The Upper Campus offers the following fall sports to their students - Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball and Boys and Girls Cross Country Running. Click HERE to sign up. All tryouts and practices begin on Tuesday August 26th. Game/meet/match schedules can be found HERE.
TONIGHT!! FINAL Upper Campus Fall Sports Information Night - Parents and students are invited to attend the last Upper Campus Fall Sports Information Night TONIGHT, Wednesday, August 20. This will give families an opportunity to find out details about all fall sports and ask questions. The session will be held in the gym at the Upper Campus starting at 6:30 PM.
ST. CHRIS PARISH NEWS
St. Christopher Parish Sacrament Preparation Begins Soon
Saint Christopher Parish BBQ - All families are invited to attend the 3rd Annual St. Christopher Parish Community BBQ on September 7 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (following the 10:00 AM mass). Come share food, fellowship and some fun at Saint Christopher’s Catholic Church! In addition to delicious food (Hamburgers! Hotdogs! Egg Rolls!), cornhole, and a sack race or two, we have added sand art and a 50/50 raffle this year! All are invited to join the fun by RSVPing HERE. To make this event the best possible one ever, we need volunteers to support the different aspects of this community celebration. A link to the volunteer page is included at the bottom of the RSVP form!