Dear Parents and Students,

As the days of August dwindle, I hope your thoughts are focused on getting ready for the start of the 2009- 2010 School Year. We are excited about the upcoming year and look forward to welcoming you on September 1.

Just to give you a preview of what to expect, we have already installed four new Smart Boards throughout the school. We will have a least one Smart Board on every floor and our teachers are ready, willing and able to incorporate them into their lessons. We want to make your classroom experiences as exciting and as technology rich as possible.

We have also filled all of our staffing needs and, as such, will welcome several new teachers to our staff: Mrs. Lynne Ouellette (Art), Mr. Guy Morin (Science), Mr. Paul Fleming (Music) and Mr. Chad Westwood (World Lang.)

Thus, we are indeed excited about our new technology offerings as well as our new staff members and look forward to providing you with the best possible academic and faith filled environment that have always been the traits that make Nashua Catholic a unique and special place. We look forward to welcoming you on September 1. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Important Handbook Changes:

Students will be given their agenda books on the first day of school. Parents are required to read and sign off (on the form provided) on these agenda books. Please note the changes in the dress code. These changes can be seen on pp. 15-17. Most importantly, note that only white and navy blue socks can be worn and no boots are allowed while in school. We are a uniform school and count on your support in maintaining our dress code. Although not a change, we would like to remind parents that cell phones in schools can tend to be a disruption to the learning process. Students who have cell phones must turn them off while in school and keep them in their lockers. Students may ask permission to use their cell phones to make calls in designated areas. Students who do not comply with our cell phone policy will have their phones confiscated and parents will be required to come into the school to retrieve them. Again, your support and cooperation in helping us maintain an environment free from distractions and conducive to learning in very important to us.

Important First Lego League Announcement:

Through a parent volunteer, we have pre-emptively registered a First Lego League Team for this Fall's competition (i.e. registration had to be done early!) We have also ordered the New Lego NXT Controllers so our team(s) will have a competitive edge. The cost will be aproximately $108 per student. NC may be able help defray some of that cost. Be advised we do not have team members picked yet - we have just registered for NC to have a team. There will be an organizational meeting for any Parents and students interested in participating in this year's competition after school on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 3PM. We encourage any parent who would like to coach and/or mentor to attend this meeting. Please be mindful that any adult who works with children must complete a criminal records check and attend a Protecting God's Children Workshop. If you want your child to sign up early or if you have any further questions regarding First Lego League, please contact Mr. Keith Dowling (parent volunteer/coach) at 603-459-4051 or email him at keithdowling@myfairpoint.net

News from the History Department:

The History Department hopes that you are enjoying the summer. Since the weather has been so frightful for most of June and July, the good news is that all students should be in the midst of doing the summer reading(see the website for the reading list by year), since they couldn't be swimming. More information on summer reading assignments will follow in September in individual classes.

NC Admissions:

Nashua Catholic considers applicants through out the year according to space availability. We currently have openings in both 7th and 8th grades. Our mailing list for the 2010-2011 shool year at Nashua Catholic will start October 1, 2009. The families on our mailing list, as well as, the 6th grade students at Infant Jesus School and St. Christopher School will be invited to our Open House on Thursday, November 12, 2009.

Textbook Purchasing:

The Nashua Catholic site on www.varsitybooks.com is ready for use. This is a very convenient way of purchasing your textbooks using the course numbers sent home in June. Please, if purchasing from another source be sure the books' ISBN match those listed on the Nashua Catholic website - www.ncrjhs.org Your student will have the best start to his year with textbooks ready the first week of school.

Health Highlights: URGENT Request

If your child ever carries and epi-pen, there is a special permission form that needs to be signed by your doctor this summer. If you do not have one please request one from the office or through Mrs. Kirkwood.

Permission for inhalers, even if they are used occasionally must be from you doctor on the same permission form (pink) as the parent permission for acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These forms need to be in to Mrs. Kirkwood by the first day of school.

Traffic Patterns:

It is for the safety of all of our students that we ask that those dropping off and picking up students follow these quidelines: Morning: All students coming by car should be dropped off in the parking lot - Columbia Avenue entrance - close to the cafeteria. All students, unless specifically stated or late should use this entrance in the morning. Afternoon: Cars should use Columbia Avenue to Wellington Avenue (TWO streets up from the school) and come down Wellington to Bartlett Avenue in time for a 2:30 dismissal. Students will exit the school through the foyer and meet their rides on the school block and school side of the street ONLY. Webster Avenue in the Afternoon: Parking on Webster Avenue is limited and should only be used for sports carpools and urgent needs that require the parent to come in to the school in the last moments of the day to excuse the student. Nashua Catholic Calendar:
August

24 Tryout Week for Boy's soccer and Girl's soccer & volleyball

September

1 First Day of School - Full day - Regular uniform Cross Country Tryouts after school

4&7 No School - Labor Day Weekend

16 Parent's Night 6:00 - 8:00PM

25 School Dance 7PM



God Bless,

Thomas Kelleher
Principal