THANK YOU! Many thanks to our Parent Appreciation Committee for coordinating the snacks and drinks at both campuses for back-to-school! Such a lovely surprise! And thank you to the parents who donated the items through the Amazon Wish List!
NEW! Upper Campus Road Construction - The city of Nashua is currently repaving Columbia St., which is the street along the back of the upper campus. Parents should still proceed up Columbia St. to Wellington St. and down Bartlett Ave, but should be prepared for some construction delays.
NEW! Attendance Policy Update - We have updated our attendance policies for the Academy for the year. While this will be included in the Student/Parent Handbook, parents are encouraged to review the policies HERE carefully. Questions on the policy may be directed to Mrs. Clarke at [email protected].
NEW! TOMORROW! School Uniforms -- All students must wear official school uniforms starting tomorrow, August 27. Please remember that all new uniform pieces must be purchased from Red Brick Uniforms HERE. We also have a used uniform closet on each campus. Details on lower campus uniforms can be found HERE and details on upper campus uniforms can be found HERE.
NEW! “Independence” Day - Starting on the first day of school, most parents will be more than comfortable dropping their child off at the designated drop-off points…hooray! 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 8….the first day that ALL students will enter the school and find their classroom without parenal help! Experience tells us that students who are able to enter the school on their own 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!
NEW! Morning Visits to Classrooms – Along the same lines, 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 our faculty are busy getting their students settled into the room and ready to start learning for the day. If you need to speak to a teacher, please either send an email to the teacher or send in a note with your student and the teacher will get back with you as soon as possible. If you have an emergency message about a particular issue, please call the front desk at either campus.
NEW! 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.
NEXT WEEK! New Parent Orientation - All parents who are new to Saint Christopher Academy are encouraged to attend this meeting on Wednesday, September 2nd 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 Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 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 10 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.
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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PLEASE FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY STARTING TOMORROW!
🚗 TRANSPORTATION NOTES 🚌
NEW! Bus Riders - Bus schedules for the first few weeks of school are always a bit chaotic as everyone adjusts to new schedules. Buses may be late picking up students in the morning and they are almost always late in the afternoon. Please be patient! Because bus service is provided by the city schools, we are unable to help with any questions or concerns. Instead, please contact:
The District Transportation Office at 603-966-1055 if:
- you would like to request a different pickup or drop-off location
- you have questions about transportation eligibility
- you have moved and need to change transportation
The bus company at 603-883-0251 if:
- your student's bus is running late and you would like an estimated time of arrival
- your student has left an item on a bus
- your child will be absent from riding the bus
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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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!
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!
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/.
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.
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:
THIS WEEK! 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.
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.
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 22nd 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 will be distributed to students this week. 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 22nd.
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!
Ordering Opens Next Week! 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:
- NEXT WEEK! 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) .
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!
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.
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.
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY NEWS
NEW! Immaculate Conception Parish Fall Family Home Study – Just a reminder that our Registration for our Fall Family Home Study (for students in Grades 1-8) and Students in Grade 2 and up, *and have had at least 2 years of Faith Formation or are Catholic School Students (this can be their 2nd year), is closing on Tuesday, September 1; that is next week! Please go to this link to register your children:
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation gr 1-8 - Immaculate Conception Parish - Nashua, NH
We would love your family to be a part of our community this year-please plan to come join us!!!
COMMUNITY NEWS
