NOVA NEWS - August 2024

Dear Nova Classical Community,

I am not sure what your experience is, but, at my house, summer involves navigating youth sports and camp schedules. Despite that making summer feel very quick, I also enjoy the space that summer provides for reflection. Having an intentional pause is important for Nova Classical as we build upon the work towards the goals of our strategic plan. Having used last year largely as an information-gathering year, we will continue to plan and implement our next steps to achieve our strategic objectives.

This year, you will see a focus on several key areas:

• We are using the findings from last year's extracurricular activities and athletics comparison studies to determine if additional offerings are needed and what they might be.

• We will begin the first phase of implementing a Multiple Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) program, starting with the support available to all students at Nova Classical.

• Our potential expansion project is progressing, with further work scheduled to define the scope underway.

• We are refining our systems to highlight outstanding achievements of our students and staff, and to better hear our students' voices.

We are excited about the opportunities these initiatives will bring to enhance our school community. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer activities, including finding time for reflection, and we look forward to seeing all of our students and families back for the start of the year in August.

It’s a Great Day to Be a Knight!

Dr. Brett Wedlund

Our Annual Used Uniform Sale will be held this afternoon, August 1, 2024, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM in our Great Room. All pieces will be $3 each and proceeds from the sale of used uniforms benefit Nova Classical's Uniform Assistance Program. Our NPTO will also be selling spirit wear as a fundraiser to benefit their school-wide community-building programs.

Registration is open for after school clubs on August 12, 2024! Check out all the offerings on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova Classical website.

Don't forget to register! Fall sports, First Tech Challenge, and Debate are already open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of our website.

5/6 Coed Soccer is now Middle School Boys and Middle School Girls Soccer

Attention all 5th and 6th grade soccer players: Nova Classical's 5/6 coed soccer team has a new format this season! Interested players should register for either the boys middle school soccer team or the girls middle school team. Teams will be made up of athletes in grades 5-8 and will compete in a new middle school league composed of other metro area charter schools. Details and the schedule are available on the Extracurriculars page of our website.

Middle School Boys Soccer information here.

Middle School Girls Soccer information here.

Registration opens August 16, 2024. Limited space available.

Middle School Girls Volleyball

Registration for middle school girls volleyball opens August 16, 2024 for girls in grades 5-8. Practice will take place once a week. The game schedule on the Extracurriculars page of our website.

Personalized labels through namebubbles.com or www.mabelslabels.com work great! The cost for a set of labels is usually less than replacing one lost item. If not using personalized labels, please write your scholar’s first name (or initial) & complete last name clearly on all items. There is often a designated “This Item Belongs To:” spot inside items for this purpose. When items are clearly labeled, we can get them back to your scholar quickly. If not, your scholar will need to look through the many items that end up in the Lost & Found. Unlabeled uniform items, because they look alike and are often the same brand & size as one’s classmates, may be difficult to find. Thank you for helping us keep unlabeled, unclaimed Lost & Found items out of landfills!

Thank you, donors, for all your support. Last year's Give-to-the-Max campaign funded our solar-powered scoreboard! It has arrived and we are excited and ready to use it for gym class, recess games, competitive sports, and fun community events together, outside!

Congratulations to the Nova Classical Spring Track and Field athletes who competed at the MSHSL State Class 4A Track Meet in June. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the sport!

Mark E. ('24) - 110m Hurdles

Henry P. ('24) - 100m and 200m

Silas R. ('24) - Discus and Shot Put

Eli A. (10th) - 800m

A huge thanks to Jeremiah Rogers (Class of 2016) for capturing memorable moments of our athletic teams throughout the year with his expert lens, and for his dedication as our strength and conditioning coach!

Congratulations to Nova Classical Academy Upper School for being recognized for having the best public school teachers in the state! According to the latest rankings, our dedicated and talented educators have been acknowledged for their exceptional commitment to excellence in education. We couldn't be prouder of our amazing team! Check out the full rankings here. Way to go, Nova Classical Academy! Let's continue to strive for greatness together.

Congratulations to Nova Classical's Robotics team, 6699 Tempest, for bringing home the Golden Bean award for iconic robot design from the Chicago Robotics Invitational on July 21!

Thank you to our teachers who have hosted enriching academic programming this summer including our Summer Boost, Extended School Year, and (new this year) KinderCamp!

Way to go SoR volunteers who have worked at the zoos and animal shelters, run summer camps, helped out at Sholom Home, and filled a variety of needs in our community!

Thank you to our chaperones who took some of our 8th grade scholars to Washington DC. in June. They visited many places including the White House, The Smithsonian Natural History Museum, The Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials.

Parents and Community Members:

Apply to become an active volunteer to help support our staff and scholars! Consider being a Lower School Room Rep or handing out the NPTO's Welcome Back Frozen Treats at our Open Houses. Click here to view the always-current list of opportunities and links to sign up.

SoR Volunteering Network:

Nova Classical Families, do you know of a non-profit that needs help in our community? Do you need help in your research lab or hospital this summer? Do you have a connection with an animal shelter, museum, or park cleanup group? SoR Students are required to log 80 hours of community service to graduate. Please help us connect our students with opportunities in the community. Please contact Ms. Voelker, School Counselor, Grades 8-12, with questions or ideas.

Highlights from the June 24 Board Meeting:

1. The Board approved the Board of Director officers and committee chairs for the 2024-25 academic year. Officers will be: Board Chair, Suzanne McInroy; Vice Chair, Bavi Weston; Secretary, Becky Lund; and Treasurer, Todd Sample. Committee Chairs will be: Budget and Finance Chair, Todd Sample; Academic Excellence Chair, Colleen Hansen; Governance Chair, Becky Lund; and Executive Director Review Chair, Bavi Weston.

2. Two Board of Directors completed their terms with the June meeting: Sasha Roses, teacher seat, and Theresa Nelson, parent seat. Upper School teacher Chris Shepard and parent Heather Meeker begin their three-years terms in July.

Highlights from the July 29 Board Meeting:

1. The Board approved a Schematic Design Proposal for the land owned by Nova Classical to the north of the school, between Kay Avenue and Mercer Street. Completing a schematic design will better inform the Board about limitations and options for the site for a possible expansion project.

2. The Board appointed Board Special Education Teacher, Shannon Hooge, to fill the vacant Teacher Board Seat beginning July 30, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2025.

3. Executive Director Dr. Brett Wedlund provided an update on Nova’s Strategic Plan, highlighting some of the strategies that are expected to be completed this year.

4. Using the emergency approval process, the Board approved three policies (Anti-Nepotism, Procurement, and the Bylaws) to meet an August 1 deadline from the state legislature. The Board also called a Special Board meeting for 7:00 PM on Monday, September 9, to review 14 (or more) policies to ensure that Nova Classical is in compliance with the latest state statutes.

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, August 19, 2024.

For meeting minutes and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit the Board section of Nova Classical's website.

Welcome to our 2024-2025 school year! All the information you need is updated on our website. We can't wait to see you soon!

Please complete the 2024-2025 Educational Benefits application which is now available in Infinite Campus. If you prefer, you may also download the application on Nova Classical's website. While you're there, please pay any outstanding balances in your student's food service account.

Did you know? Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, K-12 (milk is included with meals served at school. Milk is .45¢ with meals sent from home).

Why is completing an application still important?

Educational Benefits provide a variety of benefits to your student(s) and to our school, including important funds that provide programs and services to all of the students in our school community. Our school benefits only when applications are completed by the families of enrolled students, regardless of benefit status. So, complete your application today!

August and September breakfast and lunch menus will be posted on the Nova Classical website mid-August.

New this year? Want to stay in touch with fellow Nova Classical families? Sign up for the Family Directory to get connected!

Email us at novagreatgatherings@gmail.com or bring your questions and ideas to the next virtual planning session: Wednesday, August 7, from 7:00-8:00 PM

Join MS Teams meeting here:

Meeting ID: 260 527 217 828

Passcode: MPx77T

NPTO Open Positions (contact novapto@gmail.com if interested)

• Volunteer Coordinator: Manager sign-up genius for PTO events (can be done virtually)
• Social Media Coordinator: Create engaging posts for PTO events, fun happenings, ways to support the school, etc. (can be done virtually, uses META suite)
• Carnival Team Members wanted for the Great Gatherings Planning Committee
• Baking Brigade: Love to bake? We welcome donations of baked goods throughout the year. Email the baking brigade at novapto@gmail.com
  

Upcoming Fall 2024 Events:

8/1: 4:00 - 7:00 PM, Used Uniform Sale/Spirit Wear

8/21: US Open House Spirit Wear Sale and welcome back frozen treats

8/22: LS Open House Spirit Wear Sale and welcome back frozen treats

8/28: Kindergarten Coffee (all parents welcome) 8:00-9:00 AM

9/3: First PTO Meeting of the Year * Pizza Dinner at 5:30, childcare provided, 6:00-7:00 PM

9/17: Dine to Donate with at ASIDE Public House in St. Paul (fundraiser)

9/28: Book Fair Barnes & Noble in Roseville

10/8: October NPTO Meeting (Zoom only) 7:30-8:30 pm

11/7: November NPTO Meeting (Zoom only) 7:30-8:30 pm

11/9: Great Gatherings Family Carnival

Nova Classical’s annual Great Gatherings Gala will be reimagined this fall as a family-friendly carnival event. This whirlwind of fun is your chance to mingle with school families, enjoy family-friendly games, and sign up for future Gatherings held through the rest of the school year, and all for a good cause! Don't miss the chance to be part of the merriment throughout the day on November 9, 2024, at Nova Classical Academy. Learn more at NovaPTO.org. There, you can sign up to contribute a silent auction item or host a Gathering.

Sign up for the Nova Classical Family Directory at novapto.membershiptoolkit.com. Follow NPTO on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information!

August:

1: Used Uniform Sale

19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

26: 1st day of school for Grades 1-12

28: 1st day of school for Kindergarten

September:

2: No School (Building Closed)

18: Picture Day

28: Book Fair (NPTO)

30: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

October:

3: No School (Staff Work Day)

4: No School (Staff Professional Development Day)

11: Grandparents/Special Persons Day

16: Unity Day

16: Classical Parent Education Night

17: No School (Staff Work Day)

18: No School (Building Closed)

21: No School (Building Closed)

24: Picture Retakes

28: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

31: End of Q1 (LS) / Midterms (US)

Did you know that you can follow Nova Classical Academy on social media? Stay in the loop by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

FERPA NOTICE to Parents

In compliance with the US Department of Education, Nova Classical will post FERPA Privacy of Student Records each year. This information will also be available on the Nova Classical's website under Resources > Important Information > School Policies > Other policies.

If you do not want Nova Classical to disclose, you must notify the Lower School or Upper School principal (per child first/last name) in writing by September 13, 2024.

Lower School Principal, Ms. Tousignant

Upper School Principal, Mrs. Paschall

Thanks! For more information on FERPA, please click here.

Student Photo Opt-Out Form (Optional)