The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Academy Upper School Families,

As we step into the new year, January provides a perfect time to pause and reflect on the progress we've made while eagerly anticipating the months ahead. We’re now at the midpoint of the school year, and it’s inspiring to see the growth and dedication our students have shown. Their passion for learning and resilience in the face of challenges continue to motivate and encourage all of us.

None of this would be possible without your invaluable partnership. Whether you've supported our classrooms, attended events, or simply offered your encouragement, your involvement plays a crucial role in making Nova such a vibrant and supportive place for our students.

As we look toward the second half of the year, I want to take a moment to thank our families for being such an integral part of the Nova community. Your continued dedication to our school and its mission helps create an environment where every student can thrive. We look forward to the growth and connections that lie ahead, and together, we will make the remainder of the school year just as rewarding and inspiring as the first. Thank you!

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

Important Dates:

• SoL Black & White Dance, Saturday, January 25
• Semester one Report Cards will be mailed the week of February 2.
• No School, Staff Professional Development Day, Friday, February 14
• No School, Monday, February 17
• SoR Snow Daze Week, February 18-21
• SoR Snow Daze Dance, February 22

Please review this month's Herald for information on upcoming events and school updates. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

In this section, senior Zenji Shiroma reflects on the senior thesis as a capstone experience that is designed to challenge students intellectually and cultivate the habits of learning and mastery.

"The senior thesis is the culmination of the journey throughout the years at Nova. I had the opportunity to do my senior thesis out-of-state, in a university lab over the course of seven weeks. I was able to do this through academic support from my teachers. Using my experience with the Nova curriculum, I was able to create an accurate and concise paper that earned praise from my college professor and his team. Pulling on elements from my English and Science courses, I was able to demonstrate a superior understanding of a complex and niche subject. Over those seven weeks, I learned how to adapt to sudden and thwarting obstacles, such as lacking DNA for my project, how to manage my time, especially when it came to reading 20 page papers, and I also learned new skills, both in and out of the lab. The Nova curriculum prepared me for lifelong learning by allowing me to learn how to apply, create, and present knowledge in an understandable and specific manner."

~Zenji Shiroma, Nova Classical Academy, Class of 2025

We are honored to celebrate these students for their achievements:

December Students of the Month

December Students of the Month were selected by their teachers for demonstrating excellence in prudence or academic growth. We celebrate your display of virtue!

Enya Wu, Henry Conlin, Nina Penniman, Abigail Gill, Derin Aslan, Victor Hansen, Lila McNellis, Rei Yang, Madeline Rovn, Drew Dahl, Sumailla Martinez-Miranda, and Ava Lair.

History Bee Finalists

Congratulations to the following SoL Scholars who have qualified for the Nova History Bee on Thursday, February 21, at 2:30 PM. We are proud of your hard work and we look forward to cheering you on as you showcase your historical knowledge and skills!

Eleanor Cooper, Seraphina Elverum Buxton, Sloane Mumford, Cedar Shah, Emir Arzamendia, Sofian Bouzouina, Liam Conley, Ethan Egginton, Niko Farganis, Oliver McInroy, Andrey Osaulenko, Nikolai Osaulenko, Emerson Varghese, Josh Galope, and Abdelatif Siyad.

Youth in Government (YIG) Participants

The YMCA of Minnesota’s Youth in Government (YIG) program offers students hands-on experiences in civic engagement by simulating government roles like legislators, judges, and journalists. Through events, participants build leadership, public speaking, and critical thinking skills while exploring democratic processes. We commend our Nova Classical student representatives for their time and engagement at the January 2025 YIG conference!

Alia Delgado, Evelyn Eller, Atticus Fleischacker, Greta Gerber, Elwen Hage, Elliot Lynch, Sylvia Ralston, Nicole Schuster, and Samuel Shepard

Eagle Scout Project

Many thanks to senior Jean-Luc Dubois for completing his Eagle Scout Service Project at Nova Classical. Jean-Luc desgined and fabriacted a cubby storage unit that may be used by staff during the school day and then extra-curricular students can use it after school hours for a place to set their belongings during their practices or activities. We appreciate your contributions to our community!

Has your student accomplished something exceptional outside of the classroom? Have they earned a special award, been recognized with a medal, or made a significant impact in their community? We’d love to hear about their achievements!

Please share the details by filling out and submitting this form. Your child might be featured in our morning announcements, celebrated during a student assembly, highlighted in our staff newsletter, or noted in The Herald.

If you were unable to attend the 2027 Capstone interest meeting on January 16, please click HERE for the presentation which includes registration details.

Registration will remain open until February 15, with current 10th grade students receiving priority. If the trip reaches capacity with the 10th grade students, we will offer a 2028 Capstone trip for the current 9th grade class.

Attention 5th Grade Families! Please join us for the SoL Information Night, Thursday, February 20, 5:00-7:00 PM to learn more about the School of Logic at Nova! Parents/guardians and students will take an academic tour and learn more about School of Logic classes, student supports, and student culture. There will also be a pizza dinner and a Q & A session with our School of Logic Senators. RSVP here!

SoL Black and White Dance

The SoL Senate is excited to host the annual Black and White Dance for student in grades 6-8 on Saturday, January 25.

• Doors open at 6:50 PM, and the dance goes until 9:00 pm.
• Tickets are $5 at the door, and concessions will be available for purchase.
• Dress Code: 6th and 7th graders wear black and/or white. 8th graders where any color of your choosing!

We look forward to seeing everyone!

PSEO Information Night

Upper School students in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades considering PSEO (either part-time or full-time) are required to attend the PSEO information meeting on Thursday, January 30 at 6:00 PM (in-person only, Great Room) in order to gain state-mandated information about the program and to be school eligible to participate in a PSEO program while at Nova; one parent/guardian is required to attend the meeting.

~This informational meeting covers what PSEO is, how PSEO works with the Nova Classical graduation requirements, and the PSEO application and intent to enroll processes.

~If student and at least one parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, they and one parent/guardian are required to set up a meeting with the school counselor prior to May 15 to discuss PSEO program eligibility and expectations.

~If you are unable to attend the in-person event, please schedule an appointment with Ms. Voelker.

Snow Daze

SoR students will be celebrating Snow Daze from Tuesday, February, 18 - Friday, February 21. The Snow Daze dance for students in grades 9-12 will take place on Saturday, February 22, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Snow Daze is organized by the SoR Senate.

SoR Information Night, Thursday, February 27, 5:00-7:00 PM

Parents and students of this year’s 8th-grade class are invited to attend an informational event to learn more about Nova Classical’s School of Rhetoric. Teachers and current SoR students will share what our high school has to offer! A light dinner will be provided. Plan to attend this fun event! RSVP here!

Senior Retreat, Friday, March 14 - Saturday, March 15

Save the date!! The Class of 2025 will be going to Base Camp for their Senior Overnight Retreat. The retreat begins with students arriving at Base Camp at 7:00 PM and ends with breakfast and students departing at 7:00 AM. The cost is $60 per student which includes, the high ropes course, rock climbing, games, food and fun overnight events. Please click here for the registration form. Additional details will be shared with the senior families directly. Thank you to the NPTO for their support of this event!

Homework help is available for Upper School students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Homework support is provided by an Upper School Teacher and Educational Assistant. Please note, daycare is not available for siblings in the School of Grammar.

Students may report to Room 326 at 4:00 PM. Students should be picked up from school at 5:00 PM.

We are trialing a new process to improve bus tracking and GPS. Students were given student IDs last week. Students are encouraged to keep their student ID with them or in their backpacks so they can check in when getting on the bus. This will help us monitor bus attendance more efficiently and ensure a smoother experience for everyone. Students with cell phones can also find their barcode for their student ID on the Here Comes the Bus App (called "Bus Pass"). Please note that participation in this trial is not required. It will not restrict students from boarding or exiting the bus if they do not have the item with them.

Thank you for your support as we test out this new process. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Michelle Ingram, Operations Manager.

• Photos can be uploaded using a Gmail account to the US Yearbook Photo Drop 2024-25
• To purchase a "baby ad" or student recognition ad at the Josten's Custom School Yearbook Ads for Students & Businesses
• Click here to purchase a yearbook today!

Have other questions? Don't have access to a Gmail account? Contact Ms. Tetmeyer at yearbook@novaclassical.org

Enrollment application for the 2025-2026 school year is open. Please visit our website for information. All applications submitted by January 31, 2025, at 4:00 PM, will be entered into the enrollment lottery in February 2024. Current students do not need to reapply.

• Thursday, March 27
• Thursday, May 29

To show their school pride, Upper School students are invited to wear Nova Classical Spirit Wear with uniform bottoms or jeans. Please note, ripped/torn clothing is not allowed.

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 PM, Nova’s NHS and Equity Team will be hosting the third annual Family Multicultural Night. As we plan for this night of celebration, there are several ways to get involved early.

Sign up to:

• Host a cultural booth
• Share a performance
• Make a monetary donation

Information about RSVPing, volunteering, and contributing to the potluck will be coming soon! Questions or concerns? Please reach out to equitycoordinator@novaclassical.org.

Libraries open doors for reading, research, and resources! Nova Classical Student IDs double as Library Cards again this year! Through our LibraryGo partnership with the St. Paul Public Library (SPPL), all students have active library cards that can be used to check out up to five (5) books and materials, and to access their online databases. Help your student use their account online or at checkout at one of the 14 SPPL branches.

• Account number: Nova Classical’s school number (2209190300) + (the scholar's 4-digit lunch PIN number)
• Password: Your child’s birthday written MMDDYY, for example, January 26, 2012 would be 01262012

If you have questions about this program, contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org.

Spring Sports opened for registration January 13, 2025! Register on the Extracurriculars page of the our website.

Spring Club Registration opens January 27, 2025

Offerings include:

• Writing Club (Grades 4-6)
• Chess Club (Grades 2-8)

You can register on the Extracurriculars page of the our website or by clicking this link.

A reminder as basketball season is here! Students in Grades K-8 must to be accompanied by a parent/guardian to attend all home athletic events. Students in Grades 9-12 may attend events without a parent/guardian present, but must purchase an annual student pass for $10. The student pass will get an individual student into any contest hosted on campus for volleyball, basketball, or soccer. Family passes are also available to purchase. Events are found here.

Passes and individual game tickets can be purchased online in advance, with a credit card at the door, or with Apple Pay on your mobile device. The ticketing site is located at the GoFan link in the toolbar of the extracurriculars calendar or by the Quick Links on the extracurricular page of Nova Classical's website.

The Nova Classical Board of Directors is seeking a Community Member candidate to serve through the remainder of this school year (through June 30, 2025). Community members cannot be a Nova employee or a parent/guardian of a student enrolled at Nova Classical, but could be the grandparent of a student. Community member candidates must reside in the state of Minnesota and be at least 21 years old.

Please contact Becky Lund, chair of the Governance Committee (governance@novaclassical.org), with questions or if you know of someone who might be interested in supporting Nova Classical at the board level.

Here are some upcoming Great Gatherings you don’t want to miss!

• Feb 1: Sourdough Starters. Ticket Required.
• Feb 14: Epic Nerf Battle! Nova Grades 5-12. Ticket Required.
• Feb 14: Chuck E. Cheese Gaming & Pizza Nova Grades K-8. Ticket Required.
• Date TBD: Oula Dance Fitness With Ms. Tousignant. Ticket Required, Adults Only.

Sign up for these gatherings (and more!) here!

Next PTO Meeting:

The next Nova PTO Meeting is on Tuesday, February 4, from 7:30-8:30p via Zoom.

• Meeting ID: 842 4045 9837
• Passcode: enrich

Volunteer Opportunities:

There are several ways you can volunteer with NovaPTO here.

Save the Date:

• All School Family Ski Day February 14, details and tickets coming soon
• PTO Meeting: March 4, 7:30-8:30 PM via Zoom
• Lower School Game Night: Friday, March 14, 5:30-8:00 PM
• PTO Meeting: April 8, 7:30-8:30 PM via Zoom
• PTO Meeting: May 6, In person only with Pizza! Dinner 5:30-6:00 PM. Meeting 6:00-7:00 PM
• PTO Meeting: June 3, 7:30-8:30 PM via Zoom

Follow NPTO on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information and get in touch with Nova Classical families when you sign up for the Family Directory!

Parents and Community Members:

Apply to become an active volunteer to help support our staff and scholars! We still need help to run the 11/9 Carnival.

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.

We invite our community members and students to share their stories, achievements, and upcoming events for a chance to be featured in Nova News! Whether it's highlighting a student group, activity, or special event, we welcome your submissions. To ensure a smooth process, we've developed some guidelines for coaches, advisors, teachers, staff, students, and parent volunteers. These guidelines are designed to help streamline submissions and ensure we capture the best of what Nova has to offer.

Please see the attached guidelines for more details on how to submit your items. Remember, you can also have your events or activities considered for our social media channels by emailing them to socialmedia@novaclassical.org. We look forward to showcasing the amazing things happening in our community!

January:

25: SoL Black and White Dance 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

27: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

30: PSEO Information Night at 6:00 PM

February:

4: NPTO Meeting from 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Zoom)

6-7: One Act Play Festival

14: No School (Staff Professional Development Day)

17: No School (Building Closed)

20: SoL Information Night at 5:00 PM

18-22: SoR Snow Daze Week

21: Nova Classical History Bee at 2:30 PM

22: SoR Snow Daze Dance 7:00PM - 10:00 PM

24: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

27: SoR Information Night at 5:00 PM

March:

4: NPTO Meeting from 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Zoom)

4: Spirit Wear Day

7: No School (K-12 Conferences and Staff Work Day)

10: No School (Staff Work Day)

24: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

27: Upper School Awards Assembly during House

27: Upper School Spiritwear Day

28: No School (Staff Work Day)

31: No School (Building Closed)

See Full Calendar

Athletics Calendar

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