NOVA NEWS - May 2025
May 2025
Dear Nova Families and Community,
Our community continues to inspire. It was wonderful to attend our recent Multicultural Night and connect with so many of you. Experiencing the food, music, dance, and traditions of our diverse families was a powerful reminder of what makes Nova so special.
In April, I asked for your help in advocating against proposed charter school funding cuts. Thanks to your efforts, over 1,000 communications were sent to state leaders. This outreach is making a difference. The Senate Education Finance Committee’s omnibus bill does not include the proposed cuts, and the House bill, just released, also appears clear. While it will likely be a month or more before we know the final outcome, all signs are encouraging at this point.
As we continue through the legislative process, I encourage you to reach out and thank the following legislators for their support. You do not need to send a long message — even 2–3 sentences thanking them for the actions highlighted below would be very meaningful. Legislators often hear from citizens when they are being asked to do something, but they do not always hear follow-up thank yous after they act. Your outreach can make a big difference.
Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL – Vadnais Heights): Offered an amendment adding $132 per pupil to fully offset the Governor’s proposed facilities cuts to charter schools. You can see Senator Gustafson present this amendment at the 18:45 mark of the hearing.
Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL – New Brighton): As Chair of Senate Education Finance, supported Senator Gustafson’s amendment even at the expense of some of her own priorities.
Senator Rob Farnsworth (R – Hibbing): Spoke strongly in opposition to the proposed cuts to charter school as well as private school transportation. You can see some of Senator Farnsworth’s comments at 1:05 and Nova Classical’s comments at 2:00 of this hearing.
Representative Julie Green (DFL – Edina): Authored HF2016 to extend school safety funding to charter schools, and successfully gained bipartisan support to move the bill forward, securing a committee hearing even when time was limited. This may not pass this year, but she has helped it gain significant momentum.
Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL – Eden Prairie): Authored a charter authorizer transparency and accountability bill, seen as an alternative to a more harmful proposal to place a moratorium on new charter schools and the growth of existing ones. You can see Senator Cwodzinski present this bill at the 40:00 minute mark and Nova Classical’s comments at 57:00 of this hearing.
Thank you again for standing with Nova Classical!
It's a Great Day to be a Knight!
Dr. Brett Wedlund
Family Multicultural Night was
SO much FUN!
Hey Nova Families!
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.
During this drive feel free to send plastic film from home to Nova with your scholar to get saved from a landfill. Thank you all for your support in the fall -- we can’t wait to do it again!
- NCA Green Team
Boosterthon Fundraiser: Fun Run & Color Run: Friday, May 16
Boosterthon is returning this year to help fundraise $60,000 for our general fund: advancing academics, extracurriculars, student support, and character development through our core virtues: justice, temperance, fortitude, wisdom, and prudence. Lower School homerooms and SoL Houses compete for daily challenges and overall prizes and then celebrate with a Fun Run the morning of May 16 and Color Run that afternoon.
You can click here and search for "Nova Classical Academy" to register your student. The excitement will start building in classrooms with our in-school kickoff on May 8, when families begin gathering pledges towards your student's homeroom and House prizes.
Families are invited to come watch the Lower School Fun Runs. The schedule and signup to volunteer are here.
Annual Update for 2025-2026
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.
Summer Camps are open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova Classical website. Don't miss out!
Offerings include strength and conditioning, volleyball, soccer, basketball and needlework.
Last chance to register for Spring Volleyball Rising Knights Grades 5-8! Registration closes May 9, 2025 @ 4:00 PM. Register here.
Please visit our website to plan your cheering section and purchase tickets for home games and meets!
Congrats to Ava Ball who is our Athena Award recipient for 2025! What an amazing volleyball career she has had at Nova Classical Academy. We wish you all the best and good luck as your college career begins shortly.
We’re excited to share that the Regional History Bee was recently hosted at Wayzata Central Middle School—and Nova Classical was proudly represented! Congratulations to Seraphina, who took home the gold medal, and Cedar, who earned the silver medal. Their hard work and passion for history truly shone through. Both students have now qualified for the National History Bee in Orlando this May. We couldn’t be prouder—way to go, Seraphina and Cedar!
Our School of Logic students had an unforgettable evening at the Spring Fling dance! The night was filled with fun, laughter, and some seriously impressive dance moves. A huge shoutout to our amazing SoL Senate and dedicated staff chaperones for making the event so special—we couldn’t have done it without you!
Ms. Irish's Needlework Club students were so excited to show off their creations in last week's Needlework Show. Students spent weeks on various needlecraft projects and displayed them in an after-school event that had lots of visitors! Students learned the arts of embroidery and cross-stitch and were beaming with pride with all of the compliments and praise from the guests. Way to go, Ms. Irish and the Needlework Club!
Students had a great time at the first day of Cribbage Club with Ms. Ruday! It was all smiles, strategy, and lots of learning as they picked up the basics of this classic card game. We can’t wait to see their skills grow each week!
Our Spring Break S.O.S. Day scholars spent their time spreading joy by assembling 60 Birthday Kits for those in need! Each kit included a handmade card, a birthday banner, and candles—little touches to make someone’s special day even brighter. When we reached out to our friends at the Shalom Home, they requested six kits for their residents. The kids were eager to deliver them in person, and what a special moment it was! One resident was celebrating her 92nd birthday, and our scholars sang Happy Birthday—Nova style! The remaining 54 kits will go to a local food shelf, ensuring more birthdays are celebrated with love. Moments like these remind us that learning through service is at the heart of our community. GO KNIGHTS!
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:
- SoR Students to help at tonight's LS Art Show, "The Glow Show," with Food Trucks
- This Friday's Supernova Music and Film Festival helpers
- Help decorating A-Side Public House for this Saturday's Junior/Senior PROM
- Volunteers and food donations for Teacher/Staff Appreciation week
- Lower School Music Concert helpers
- A team of helpers for the Boosterthon Fun Run as well as t-shirt and prize distribution
- Assistance assembling Senior Baskets
- Help setting up and cutting cake at the Graduation Reception
- help organizing and running the Used Uniform Sale
SoR Volunteering Network:
Our School of Rhetoric Students (Grades 9-12) 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 April 28 Nova Classical Board Meeting:
Nova Classical awarded the Spotlight Award to Nova parent Siiri Davidson. Mrs. Davidson has helped to reenergize the NPTO and to better connect the NPTO and the Nova Classical community. She has led several projects, most recently bringing back the family carnival. She has also organized numerous Great Gatherings, fundraising opportunities, the ice-skating party, and many other events. Mrs. Davidson coordinates volunteers, designs flyers, and does anything else needed to make these events a success.
The Governance Committee reported that Board elections had started and that no parents were running for the two open seats. The Board charged the Governance Committee to identify at least two parents to fill the parent seats that will be empty beginning July 1, 2025.
The Board heard budget updates from Executive Director Dr. Brett Wedlund, including the difficulty of budget planning with proposed cuts for charter school funding at the state and federal levels. Dr. Wedlund then presented a proposed FY26 Compensation Model and basic FY26 proposed budget, including updates to the FY25 budget to pull forward expenses from next year. The Board approved the FY25 budget revisions, the FY26 compensation model, and the FY26 budget compensation line items.
The Board approved the licensed instructional staff leadership positions for FY26.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, May 19, 2025.
For meeting minutes and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit the Board section of Nova Classical's website.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We are looking for helpers. Single event, short term and long term roles available. Check out more here
Upcoming Events:
May 2: Supernova Short Film & Music Festival
Family tickets available here. SoR students may attend without a parent or guardian. Individual tickets will be $10 at the door. Questions? Contact Sovanneary at sphannsweere@gmail.com.
Submit your music or film for inclusion in the festival here. Questions? Contact Ryan at ryansweere@gmail.com.
May 5 - May 9: Teacher and Staff Appreciation.
Use these links to volunteer, donate food or donate money. **Participating with NPTO in appreciation week is optional.**
May 6: In person PTO Meeting. Pizza at 5:30. RSVP HERE for free dinner & childcare. Meeting from 6-7p.
Kids can create a card for their favorite teacher or staff!
May 10: Group Mountain Bike Ride 9:00-11:00 AM. Carver Lake Purchase Tickets. All Ages.
May 31: Save the Monarch Butterflies at Nova purchase tickets. All Ages.
June 3: NPTO Zoom Meeting 7:30 PM (Meeting ID: 842 4045 9837 Passcode: enrich)
July 17: Historic Hill Party and Walking Tour purchase tickets. Adults Only.
SAVE THE DATE:
- 2025 Great Gatherings Kickoff Party Saturday September 27, 2025
- 2025 Nova Family Carnival is Saturday November 8, 2025
Follow NPTO on Facebook, sign up to volunteer, or visit our website for more information and get in touch with Nova Classical families when you sign up for the Family Directory!
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week - May 5-9
NovaPTO is revving up for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week (May 5-9) by collecting monetary donations and readying a crew of volunteers. Participating with NPTO in Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is optional.
- Click here to donate money using the NPTO online store by selecting "Teacher/Staff Appreciation"
- Click here to sign up to volunteer
DATES TO REMEMBER
May:
2: No School (Staff Professional Development Day/Building Closed)
5-9: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
6: NPTO Meeting from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (in-person with dinner & childcare)
8: Boosterthon Fundraiser kickoff
16: Boosterthon Fun Run & Color Run (spectators welcome at the Fun Run)
19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
23: No School (Staff Work Day)
26: No School (Building Closed)
June:
4: Last Day of School
19: Building Closed (Observed Holiday)
Summer Office Hours:
June 9-August 8: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Offices will closed on Fridays
