The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Academy Upper School Families,

As the end of the school year draws near, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and encouragement throughout the 2024–2025 academic year. Our Upper School students and staff are looking forward to the many meaningful events and exciting celebrations that will bring the year to a close. We recently observed Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, and I’d like to express my deep appreciation for the incredible educators and staff members who guide and support our students each day. Their enthusiasm, commitment, and care make a lasting impact on our school community. A note of thanks to our NPTO for their time and incredible efforts to celebrate our teachers and staff last week. Their continued support is appreciated!

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

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

Important Dates:

• Friday, May 16: SoL Boosterthon/Color Run--POSTPONED due to forecasted rain.
• The Color Run will take place on Wednesday, June 4
• Friday, May 16 & Saturday, May 17: Drama Performances-James and the Giant Peach
• Wednesday, May 21, SoR Choir Concert, 7:00 PM
• Friday, May 23: No School (Staff Work Day)
• Monday, May 26: No School (Memorial Day)
• Wednesday, May 28: Upper School Assembly, 3:15 PM
• Wednesday, May 28: Upper School Spirit Wear Day
  • Out of uniform guidelines can be found here
• Sunday, June 1: SoR Graduation, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, June 3: 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, June 4: Last Day of School-Spirit Wear Day
• SoL Color Run

In this section, Senior Abigail Gill reflects on her time as a student at Nova Classical, what it has meant to be part of our school community and how her educational experiences have influenced her.

"Coming to Nova from a public middle school and out of the pandemic was extremely refreshing for me. Of course it was challenging to suddenly have so much expected of me, but I felt so much more connected to my teachers, engaged in the material, and most of all, I felt challenged. Nova teachers and the Nova curriculum push you to use your mind to its fullest potential. As humans, our minds are our greatest strength, and I appreciate Nova and its teachers for wanting to take complete advantage of that asset. Through Nova, I have learned how to manage my time, appreciate the world around me, think critically, express myself, understand different perspectives, and do things even when they’re hard.

I have always wanted to be a teacher, and not only did Nova set me up for success in college on the path to achieving that dream, but it also gave me amazing role models. All of my teachers have had such an impact on me, have taught me beautiful things, and I want to be like them in so many ways. I want to inspire learning, curiosity, and creativity like they did in me. I will forever be grateful for Nova and my education here that has encouraged me to make the hard journey out of the cave. To never be satisfied with shadows, but always search for the true light."

~Abigail Gill, Nova Classical Academy, Class of 2025

We are honored to celebrate these students for their achievements:

April Students of the Month

Anya Solodin (6), Willa Congiu (7), Nikolai Osaulenko (7), Amayah Casmire (8), Reine Galope (8), Zelda Menne (8), Opie Peklo (8) and Maren Prestegaard (8).

National Merit Scholar-Scholarship Awards
We are proud to celebrate our Sean Borell, Rachel Jeong and Thomas O'Keefe who have been awarded National Merit Scholarships by their chosen universities. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding scholars on this remarkable achievement!

National Honor Society News

Nova Classical’s chapter of the National Honor Society has recently launched a website! The website will house information about all NHS events— from Dimes for Disasters to Multicultural Night. Keep checking the website for information about NHS events!

American Rocketry Challenge

Congratulations to Nova Classical students, Thomas Huelskamp, Michi Liang, and Kenji Wang for qualifying for the national finals of The American Rocketry Challenge! They will travel to Washington D.C. this weekend to compete at Nationals. We wish them all the best!

We’re pleased to share the updated Upper School Uniform Guidelines, which will go into effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The changes were informed in part by student focus groups, whose input helped shape a policy that balances consistency with student voice.

Please click here to view the updated guidelines. These updates reflect clarifications to existing expectations. No new clothing items have been added.

For your convenience, the Donald's Uniform website can be found here. We appreciate your support in helping students come to school dressed for success!

Tickets are on sale now for the Upper School drama production of James and the Giant Peach! Performances are held at Neighborhood House located at 179 Robie St. E. in St. Paul on Friday, May 16, at 5:30 PM, and Saturday, May 17, at Noon and 5:00 PM.

Returning Items

Please help your student locate and return any school-issued books and materials, and encourage them to clean and organize their locker and backpack. All school-issued books are to be turned no later than Wednesday, June 4.

Final Exams

The last days of the school year often are filled with end of year projects, papers, and exams. Not every class assigns a traditional final exam, however to help ensure students do not have too many major tests on a given day, we stagger tests by subject area as follows:

• Wednesday, 5/28: SoL Specialists-A Day
• Thurs. 5/29: History, Science and SoL Specialists-B Day and SoR Specialists-A Day
• Fri. 5/30: Math and SoL Specialists-C Day and SoR Specialists-B Day
• Mon. 6/2: English and Languages
• Tues. 6/3: Make up exams and exam completions if needed

Good News! We have just crossed the $45,000 mark towards our goal of raising $60,000 for our general fund! SoL students have earned an out-of-uniform day on Tuesday, May 27. Please note, Out-of-Uniform guidelines apply and can be found here.

You can still join the fun at mybooster.com, and spread the word of about our awesome school and fundraiser! Donate if you can - this year, we're raising funds for our General Fund -- advancing academics, extracurriculars, student support, and character development through our core virtues: justice, temperance, fortitude, wisdom, and prudence

The SoL Color Run orignally scheduled for Friday, May 16 has been postponed due to forecasted rain. To celebrate the progress towards our goal, SoL students may wear their Color Run T-shirts with uniform bottoms on Friday, May 16. We will host the Color Run on Wednesday, June 4.

SoL Last Day Events

On Wednesday, June 4, students in grades 6-8 will have a final day schedule including Disputatio. locker clean out and yearbook signing in the morning, and the return of the "Highland Games" during the afternoon.

8th Grade Promotion – Tuesday, June 3

Nova Classical Academy will celebrate our 8th grade students as they move from the School of Logic onto the School of Rhetoric. Their Promotion ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 3, at 6:00 PM.

Students should arrive no later than 5:30 PM.

SoR Disputatio and Ascot

The SoR Disputatio (a medieval-esque trivia contest in each grade level), will take place the morning Thursday, May 22. Our annual Ascot for grades 9-12 will take place from 4th hour through the afternoon. A cherished tradition for our School of Rhetoric students, this event offers students a festive experience centered on the literature and history they've explored throughout their high school journey. Featuring games, food trucks, and a chance to unwind and celebrate in their accomplishments after completing theses, major papers, seminars, exams and standardized tests, students are encouraged to don elegant attire as they celebrate the occasion. Please remember that out-of-uniform dress guidelines will still be in effect and respectfully enforced. Students may partake in a food truck or bring a picnic basket. Our regular school lunch will be available for all students.

ValleyFair Field Trip, Grades 9-11

Students in Grades 9-11 have the opportunity to attend the Valleyfair Field trip on the last day of school on June 4. The cost is $58. Field trip forms were distributed in House the week of May 5, and are due on May 21.

May 16: Graduation Ticket and Senior Yard Sign Order Form are due May 16.

May 22: SoR Disputatio and Ascot Day

May 30: Graduation Breakfast and Rehearsal

June 1: Graduation 2:00 PM. Seniors report to school at 1:00 PM

• Link to livestream of the Graduation Ceremony

Please click here for additional details on the remaining Senior Events.

• Wednesday, May 28
• Wednesday, June 4 (last day of school)

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
• Out of uniform guidelines can be found here
• Students not participating in the Spirit Wear Day are expected to be in uniform

The end of the school year is right around the corner! Don’t forget to reserve your student’s copy of the Nova Yearbook. Ordering now ensures your student has a keepsake filled with memories from a great year at Nova. Supplies are limited, so be sure to place your order soon! Yearbooks can be purchased here.

Questions about the yearbook or student orders can be sent to yearbook@novaclassical.org

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

Please note that the final day of Homework Club for this school year is Thursday, May 29.

Our Annual Used Uniform Sale will be held on July 31, 2025. Please sign up to volunteer. We will accept laundered, gently used uniform pieces -- no holes or stains -- to sell at our Used Uniform Sale.

Donations may be dropped off at the Main Office during the last week of school, June 2-4, and during the summer, Monday - Thursday, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, through July 28.

If your donations do not have tags, please indicate size(s) to help us correctly label and organize donations for the sale. All proceeds benefit Nova Classical's Uniform Assistance Program.

Are your students returning for the 2025-2026 school year? Please complete the Annual Update in the Infinite Campus Parent/Guardian Portal to confirm/update contact and transportation information.

If your students are not returning, please email enrollment@novaclassical.org to begin the withdrawal process. We sincerely appreciate notice if your family intends to withdraw, allowing us to create a smooth transition for the withdrawing student. This also helps us to provide offers to students on the waitlist who are hoping to come to Nova Classical in the coming year.

We’re also excited to share some big news for the 25-26 school year: beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, Scholar Zone will be open to 6th graders! This includes both our regular after-school Scholar Zone days and our special SOS days.

Registration for these programs will open at 8:00 AM on Monday, July 7. We can’t wait to welcome our School of Logic students into the fun!

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.

Thank you so much for your plastic donations in the fall that helped us make Nova Classical more green. We would love your help to do it again! In order to secure free plastic film collection for the entire 2025-2026 school year, we need ten more families to sign up for Ridwell’s services at home. Sign up at get.ridwell.com/nova by the deadline on May 23.

The last day to bring in plastic was May 13. Please do not send plastic after that date. Thank you all for your support!

• Summer camps and clinics are open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova Classical website. See what's being offered here.
• Nova Knights! Keep your competitive edge over the summer. Nova Classical's strength and conditioning sessions are open to student athletes in grades 9-12. All ability levels are welcome.
• Session times and dates are posted here.
• Registration opened on March 15, 2025, here.
  

Volunteer Opportunities:

We are looking for helpers. Single event, short-term and long-term roles available. Check out more here.

Upcoming Events

• May 31: Save the Monarch Butterflies at Nova purchase tickets. All Ages.

• July 17: Historic Hill Party and Walking Tour purchase tickets. Adults Only.

SAVE THE DATE:

• 2025 Great Gatherings Kick Off Party Saturday September 27, 2025

• 2025 Nova Family Carnival is Saturday November 8, 2025

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 scholars and school community! Click here to view the always-current list of opportunities and links to sign up. Sign up to help make our upcoming community events a success! We need:

• a team of helpers to pack Senior Baskets
• decorate and serve cake at Graduation
• distribute Last Day Treats
• prep and help run the Used Uniform Sale

Please contact Ms. Gabor, Community Engagement Manager, for any questions about volunteering or background checks.

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!

May:

16: Boosterthon Fun Run

16: Drama Performance, James and the Giant Peach

17: Drama Performance, James and The Giant Peach

19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

21: SoR Choir Concert 7:00 PM

22: SoR Ascot Day

23: No School (Staff Work Day)

26: No School (Building Closed)

30: Seniors' Last Day

June:

1: SoR Graduation, 2:00 PM

3: 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00 PM

4: SoR Field Trip to Valleyfair

4: SoL Highland Games (onsite)

4: Boosterthon SoL Color Run

4: Last Day of School

19: Building Closed (Observed Holiday)

Summer Office Hours:

June 9-August 8: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Offices will be closed on Fridays

See Full Calendar

Athletics Calendar

2025-2026 and 2026-2027 Academic Calendars are now on our website!

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!