GRAMMAR GAZETTE

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Dear Fabulous Nova Classical Families,

We are almost halfway through the 22-23 school year! The end of Quarter 2 is Friday, January 20. Please encourage your scholar to continue to work hard and get all of their work turned in before January 20 to finish the quarter strong!

This newsletter contains important information about an upcoming Family Game Night, a Latin Parent Education Night, celebrations of Nova scholars, spring club registration, and more!

We hope to see you at our next Virtue Assembly on Wednesday, February 1, at 3 PM. The 2nd graders will be presenting on the virtue of Prudence. This will also be a spirit wear day. Scholars are invited to wear spirit wear tops with uniform bottoms on our assembly/spirit wear days.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Warm Regards,

Ms. Tousignant

On Friday before break, we had our Battle of the Books where over 120 students competed and showed their knowledge of a list of 12 books. We have 11 teams moving on to the finals in April. Congratulations to our participants, finalists, and our winning team - 4th graders Nina, Sommer, Eliana, Vera, and Ella!

Also before break, 4th and 5th graders took a test to qualify for the History Bee. The 25 students with the highest scores will take an online test to qualify for the Regional History Bee. Students that qualify for the Regional Bee will also compete in the Nova History Bee in February.

Congratulations to our Lower School finalists:

Grade 4: Seraphina, Natalie H, Sal, Eleanore C, Charlie G, Davis, Judah, and Anya

Grade 5: Teddy, Willa, Andrey, Nikolai, Sofian, Niko, Emir, Ethan, Evie, Clara, Alice, and Emerson.

Come cheer on your Nova Boys' and Girls' Basketball Teams!

Grades K-2: Thursday, January 12 (Boys' games @ 5:30 & 7:00 PM)

Grades 3-5: Tuesday, January 17 (Girls' games @ 5:30 & 7:00 PM)

Poster-making supplies, pom-poms, and face-painting will be provided. Concessions will be available!

NOTE: Families are invited, and parents are required to supervise their children at these events.

*Sponsored by Nova Classical's Lower School Parent Advisory Committee

"Why Latin?" Parent Education Night - Tuesday, January 17 @ 6:30

Why does Nova Classical Academy teach Latin? What benefits do students gain from learning an ancient language? Do students learn to speak Latin? This session will explain the reasons why students at Nova Classical are required a basic proficiency of the language of the ancient Romans, how we go about teaching it, and what skills they absorb in the mastery of its grammar and structure.

Please join us for a virtual parent night on Tuesday, January 17, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM with Dr. Burrows.

Meeting information:

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 823 0143 6771
Passcode: 745760

Attention 5th Grade Families!

School of Logic Info Night - Thursday, February 2 from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

Please join us to learn more about 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.

For planning purposes, please RSVP here. Hope to see you there!

Our Lower School Parent Advisory Council would like to invite you to a "Family Game Night" on Friday, February 10! It will include a potluck taco bar dinner, board games, gym games, bingo, and plenty of fun! For planning purposes, please RSVP here!

As part of the evening, we will be having a taco bar! Please visit this form to sign up to bring an item or two for the Taco Bar: Taco-Bar Sign-Up

In order to make the night a success, we need to have a great crew of volunteers! If you'd like to volunteer in any capacity, please sign up here!

Thanks in advance for your consideration!

Check out all the Spring club offerings on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. Spring club registration opens January 30, 2023. Registration closes February 17, 2023 @ 4:00 PM.

Here are the offerings for Lower School for Spring Clubs:

KidCreate Studio, Grades K-2

Chess Club, Grades K-8

Japanese Language Club, Grades 1-3

Lower School Drama Club, Grade 2-5

Chainmaille Jewelry Club, Grades 3-5
Astronomy Club, Grades 3-5

KidCreate Studio, Grades 3-5

Science Olympiad, Grade 5 only (more info below)

Minnesota Science Olympiad - Grade 5 only

Join our team as we prepare to compete for the first time in the Minnesota Science Olympiad on April 15th, 2023. The Science Olympiad will have 20 science and engineering events including some that test students' knowledge of rocks, weather, and astronomy or their skill with ciphers by decrypting a message, ability to communicate how to build something technical, or build and test a gravity-powered vehicle. There's something for everyone! During our Thursday meetings, we will practice a number of these fun events and work together to decide who will compete in each event at the Science Olympiad. Coaches will help students prepare for the competition but family support is also encouraged. Check out the club website here. Advisors: Mr. Kimble and Ms. Gabor

Students must be able to attend the April 15, 2023 competition. The competition runs from 8:00 AM to 12:15 PM with awards ceremony from 1:30-2:30 PM. Please do not register if you are unable to attend the competition.

Winter Basketball Leagues Grades K-1 (11:15 AM - 12:30 PM) and Grades 2-4 (12:30 - 2:00 PM)

Registration closes January 25, 2023 @ 4:00 PM

Dates: Saturdays

January 28
February 4, 11 & 25
March 4 & 11

Registration can be found on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. Click on Activity Registration, then Athletics, then Camps/Clinics. Questions? Email athletics@novaclassical.org

As the colder weather is in full effect, students will need to have winter gear every day. This includes a coat, hat, and gloves, as well as snow pants and boots. Students will go outside to recess every day unless it is 0 degrees air temp or -5 degrees with the windchill. It is important that they are bundled up and are able to stay warm at recess!

As a reminder, please CLEARLY LABEL all items - all snow gear tends to look alike so this helps get lost items back to their owners! Label items using a black permanent or Sharpie marker or personalized, purchased labels (www.namebubbles.com or to support the Nova PTO fundraiser through Mabel’s Labels, go to www.mabelslabels.com, and enter NOVA CLASSICAL ACADEMY PTO (ST. PAUL).

Thanks for your help with this!

Spelling Bee: Grades 3-8 Students

After winter break: Classroom and School-wide Bees take place

Week of February 6: School-wide winner takes online test

March 9: Regional Bee @ Fridley High School

Please contact Ms. Marchand for any questions about the Spelling Bee.

National History Bee: Grades 4-8 Students

Friday, January 13: Online Regional Qualification test for Top 25 qualifying students

Week of February 18: School-Wide Bee for Top 25 qualifying students

March/April (date/location TBD): Regional Bee for Top 25 qualifying students

To prepare for the exams and find more information about the competition, please refer to the National History Bee Site. Feel free to contact Ms. Tousignant for additional information.

Science Olympiad: Grade 5 Students

April 15, 2023: Regional Elementary Science Olympiad

More information can be found on the club website here or by contacting Ms. Gabor or Mr. Kimble.

NEW THIS YEAR: Families only need to report positive cases, not symptoms or household cases. Please use the link below (not the 21-22 version). Thank you!

2022-2023 COVID-19 Student Reporting Form

We love volunteers! We need help in classrooms or prepping materials behind the scenes, chaperones for field trips, as well as help with Nova Classical and NPTO-sponsored community events. Some opportunities are just a few hours and some are year-long.

Apply to volunteer with Nova Classical.

Browse and sign up for opportunities here.

January:

16: NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)

17: K-12 Parent Education Night: Why Latin? @ 6:30 PM in Room 228

20: End of Q2/S1

23: NO SCHOOL (Staff work day)

30: Board of Directors Meeting @ 6:00 PM

31: Deadline for 2023-2024 Enrollment Applications

February:

2: SoL Information Night @ 5:00 - 7:00 PM (5th grade families)

10: Family Game night (hosted by Lower School Parent Advisory and NPTO)

17: NO SCHOOL (Professional Development Day)

20: NO SCHOOL (Presidents' Day)

27: Board of Directors Meeting @ 6:00 PM

March:

7: NPTO Meeting @ 4:15 PM

13-17: NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

27: Board of Directors Meeting @ 6:00 PM

See Full Calendar