NEW! NEW FACULTY and STAFF! Please join us in welcoming our new faculty and staff at the lower campus!
- Mrs. Laurie Lovejoy is our new nurse. She comes to us with over 40 years of nursing experience. As a grandparent to a Saint Chris student, she is very excited to be serving our school community!
- Ms. Marianela Ramirez joins us as our Spanish instructor. As a native of Columbia, she is particularly excited to share her joy of her native language and culture! (As an aside, Ms. Ramirez is the wife of upper campus computer teacher Mr. Betancourt!)
- Mrs. Neva Varsalone is moving from a kindergarten aide position to become one of our two new second grade teachers. Mrs. Varsalone has a degree from American University and a deep desire to help our students learn and grow. She is also the mother of three Saint Chris students!
- Ms. Christine Reilly is the additional new second grade teacher. She comes to us with a long history of teaching in Catholic schools. Her daughter is also a returning student at Saint Chris!
- Miss Caroline Howe joins us in the 4th grade homeroom/Science position. Miss Howe has been in the education field for ten years and looks forward to exploring science with her fourth and fifth grade students!
DUE NEXT WEEK! Summer Reading and Work - The lower campus back to school supply list as well as summer work assignments for both campuses are available in an article highlighted in the “News and Announcements” section of the school website HERE throughout the summer months. Please review all assignments with your child and be sure that all work is completed before the first day of school!
Lower Campus - The school supply list for the lower campus includes summer assignments for the lower campus students at the end of each grade’s supply list.
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. Please see the list below for work by student grade, subject, and academic level:
6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Math: Students are expected to complete a minimum of 3 lessons per week for the 10 weeks of summer (30 total lessons) in the leveled math book they received at the end of the school year. Help pages and the answer key for reference are in the back of the book.
6th Grade English: All 6th grade students should complete the work HERE regardless of their assigned English/Literature level.
6th Grade History: Please click HERE for the 6th grade History packet.
7th Grade Advanced Literature: Please click HERE for the 7th grade Advanced Literature summer reading assignments.
7th Grade Honors Literature: Please click HERE for the 7th grade Honors English summer reading assignments.
7th and 8th Grade History: Please click HERE for the 7th and 8th Grade History Project.
8th Grade English: All 8th grade students should complete the work HERE regardless of their assigned English/Literature level.
NEW! Spirit Store Now 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! (Be sure to hit the “Load More” button at the bottom of the page to see all of our exciting items!
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]!
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NEW! TRANSPORTATION NOTES
Bus Schedules - We just received our bus schedule list for Nashua buses. Once we process all the schedules, parents will receive an email with their student’s bus number and schedule.
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 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.
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.
Also, please do not rely on your student to inform the teacher of ANY pickup changes. Students do not always remember where they are supposed to go at the end of the day and often relay the incorrect information. We are committed to dismissing our students safely and efficiently, but it can be confusing and upsetting to students when they forget about the dismissal change and end up where they are not supposed to be. Rather than relying on the student, please notify the front desk by a phone call at 603-882-7442. Thank you!
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NEW! Teacher and Staff Appreciation! Help Us Welcome Back Our St. Chris Staff! The Teacher Appreciation Committee is stocking a Back-to-School Snack & Treat Table for our wonderful faculty and staff! If you’d like to contribute, please purchase an item directly from our Amazon Wish List HERE by the end of this week so we can have everything ready for Back-to-School Week. No need to send anything into school- just enjoy the excitement of the first day! Thank you for helping us show our St. Chris staff some love! -Brianna, Lisa, Angela and the entire Teacher Appreciation Committee
NEW! Student Music 🎶 and Drama 🎭 Program Registrations: All registrations for Upper Campus (all grades) and Lower Campus (grades 3-5) music and drama programs are now open! Don't wait to sign up as some groups start right away; LC Chorus and Performance Choir are especially time sensitive. For UC details and registration links, click HERE. For LC details and registration links, click HERE. Please feel free to contact Mr Quigley with any questions. Looking forward to a great year of music and performing arts!
NEW! LIBRARY NEWS - Book Fair - Mrs. Noon is excited to announce that we will have our annual book fair in early November this year. Parents will have the opportunity to shop during parent-teacher conferences. If you are interested in volunteering at the book fair, please contact [email protected]. It's never too early to get on the volunteer list! There will be a sign-up sheet on the library door during Meet the Teacher Day.
Welcome back and Happy Reading to all!
NEW! Look Us Up on Social Media – Don’t forget that we have very active social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram! Each account usually has different material, so be sure to follow both! You can find us at https://www.facebook.com/SaintChrisAcademy and https://www.instagram.com/saintchrisacademy/.
NEW! Popcorn Fridays - If your child loves popcorn, he or she is going to LOVE Popcorn Fridays! By preordering now, your student/s on either campus will receive a fresh bag of delicious popcorn every Friday! The cost is $22 for the year per student (approximately 22 Fridays between October 2 and the end of May. No popcorn on Early Release Days). Please complete the form HERE to order popcorn for your student/s for the year as no individual bags will be available for purchase on Fridays. Fees will be posted in Incidental Billing in the Family Portal. Ordering deadline is Wednesday, September 16.
NEW! Kid Trivia Night - Does your child have random information taking up space in his or her head? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to come show us what they know at the first Kid's Trivia Night of the school year on Friday, September 25 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the LC church hall. The cost is FREE. Students bring their own snacks and water…Miss Nott and Mrs. Lowry will provide the questions and prizes!
Upper Campus Fall Athletic News:
Upper Campus Fall Sports Sign-Ups - Tryouts for girls soccer, boys soccer and girls volleyball will be held on Thursday August 27th and Friday August 28th. Attendance is required for both days for these cut sports. The first day of practice for boys and girls cross country will be Thursday August 27th. Click HERE to sign up.
TOMORROW NIGHT! Upper Campus Fall Sports Information Night - The final Fall sports information nights will be held tomorrow evening in the upper campus gym at 5:00 PM. This will give families an opportunity to find out more details about all fall sports and ask questions.
Lower Campus Cross Country - Lower Campus Cross Country Registration for fall 2026 is now open! Cross country is open to all students entering 2nd through 5th grade next school year. 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.
Upper Campus Field Trip Permission Slips - Our upper campus students will be on the move this fall, with field trips planned for all three grades! Permission slips for each grade can be downloaded below, completed by a parent, and returned to the school on the first day of school (6th grade is welcome to return forms at their August 11 Meet-Up, too). Please click on the appropriate field trip below for more information and a permission slip:
- 6th Grade September 23rd trip to Patriots Place HERE.
- 6th Grade October 23rd trip to the Federal Courthouse HERE.
- 7th Grade September 17th trip to Camp Lincoln HERE.
- 8th Grade September 25th retreat at Immaculate Conception Church HERE.
Calendar Raffle Fundraiser – It’s Fall Calendar Raffle time again! On the first day of school, all 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 6,000 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!
Online Ticket Purchases - By popular demand, we are excited to announce that Calendar Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase ONLINE this year, in addition to our usual paper copies! Further information, instructions, and a shareable QR code will be provided in the raffle ticket packet and in future editions of the Wednesday News!
Hot Lunch Ordering - The Hot Lunch program will begin on both campuses on September 28. Students will need to bring 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 28 through October 30 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 it 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.
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. This calendar will be updated as Fall athletic schedules evolve.
School Vacations/Holidays for 2026-2027 - For planning purposes, below are the major vacations, holidays, and early release dates for the next school year. Please note that any changes to the school calendar will be noted in upcoming Wednesday News editions.
No School Dates:
- Labor Day Weekend - No School - September 4 and 7
- Diocesan Teachers Workshop - No School - October 9
- Columbus Day - No School - October 12
- Veterans Day - No School - November 11
- Thanksgiving - No School - November 25 - 27
- Christmas - No School - December 21 - January 3
- MLK Day - No School - January 18
- February Vacation - No School - February 22 - 26
- Teacher Workshop - No School - March 10 (Note: Grade 5 will have Step-up Day in the morning)
- Easter - No School - March 26 and 29
- April Vacation - No School - April 26 - 30
- Memorial Day - No School - May 31
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 18 - Teacher PD
- October 30 - Teacher PD
- November 10 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- January 15 - Teacher PD
- April 16 - Teacher PD
- May 14 - Teacher PD
- June 11 - 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 3 (Christmas Tree Lighting)
- January 7 (Staff Christmas Party)
- May 18 (STEM Night)
- May 28 (BBQ)
- June 1 (Baccalaureate)
- June 9 (Convocation)
2026-2027 School Calendar - Please add these important back-to-school dates to your calendar now:
NEXT WEEK! Wednesday, August 26 –
- First day of school for 6th grade students ONLY. This will be a half day for 6th grade students. 6th grade 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.
- Lower campus Meet the Teacher from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Class lists will be posted in the school lobby that day.
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! Thursday, August 27 - First day of school for ALL students on both campuses. (2nd day of school for grade 6.) Students should be in full school uniform.
LAST CALL!! Lower Campus Altar Servers - Fr. David would like to invite any Catholic student in grades 4 and 5 who has completed his or her Confirmation to sign up as a school altar server for the lower campus. Members of any Catholic parish are welcome to participate. Students must be able to sit still on the altar, follow the Mass proceedings, remember and carry out instructions while standing in front of the whole school, and, most importantly, understand the sacred responsibility of serving at God's altar. There will be training during the school day. Questions? Contact Marta Nissen at [email protected]. Spaces are limited. Please use the Sign-Up Genius HERE. Note: Upper campus altar servers and lectors will sign up in Theology class once school has begun.
After Care Rates - Extended Care (both Morning and Afternoon Care) will begin on the first FULL day of school on both campuses, August 27. Students are automatically registered for Extended Care…there is no additional registration needed! Due to rising program costs, After Care rates on both campuses will increase 50¢ per half hour this fall, making the rate $6 per half hour. The late fee remains $10 per 5 minutes after 6:00 PM. The Family Discount program (100% cost for the first child and 50% of all additional children on either campus) will remain. Parents will continue to be invoiced through their Family Portal on a monthly basis. Please note: All Extended Care balances are due when billed on a monthly basis. If a family is past due on Extended Care payments above $100, they will not be able to utilize the program until that balance is paid.
Hot Lunch Volunteering - Hot Lunch needs YOU!! 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 SignUp Genius HERE. To volunteer at the upper campus click HERE. Be sure to click through the tabs at the top of each SignUp 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. Substitute signups are on a tab on each of the volunteer links provided above.
Volunteer Popcorn Poppers Also Needed! - We are in need of poppers for our Friday Popcorn...particularly at the upper campus! Upper campus popping begins at 7:45 AM and takes approximately two hours to complete. The lower campus begins at 8:00 AM and takes approximately three hours to finish (more students = more popcorn to pop!). Depending on the number of volunteers, you will be assigned to approximately one popcorn session a month with another volunteer. Signup to volunteer HERE! Thanks so much for your help!
Nurse Notes:
Medications - Students who require prescription medication at school (including epi-pens) must provide an updated doctor’s order for the 2026-2027 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.
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 Laurie Lovejoy at llovejoy@saintchrisacademy.org 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.
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, Laura 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!
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. 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].
ST. CHRIS PARISH NEWS
Saint Christophers' Community BBQ - All families are invited to attend the 4th Annual St. Christopher Parish Community BBQ on September 13 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (following the 10:00 AM mass). Come share food, fellowship and fun at Saint Christopher’s Catholic Church! There will be delicious food, cornhole, sack races, sand art, a 50/50 raffle…and the Kona Ice Truck! All are invited to join the free festivities 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!
NEW! Daily Morning Mass - Parents and families are welcome to attend the daily morning Mass at St. Christopher Parish! This non-music Mass takes place Monday through Thursday at 7:30 AM and lasts approximately 30 minutes. On Wednesday mornings, Mass is immediately followed by Eucharistic Adoration and Rosary until 9:00 AM for those who wish to stay.
NEW! OCIA - Are you considering becoming a baptized Catholic? Or are you already an adult Catholic - or Christian of another faith - who would like to receive Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion as a Catholic? If so, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) is for you! Please join us Tuesday night, Sept. 8th, 6:30 PM in the Church Hall for our information night! For details, contact Fr. David at the rectory or the OCIA coordinator, Joe Mercurio, at [email protected].
Fall 2026 Sacrament Prep Program - Registration for the Sacrament Prep starting in the fall of 2026 is now open on the St. Christopher Parish website. Click HERE for more information.
COMMUNITY NEWS
