NOVA NEWS - October 2026
Dear Nova Classical Community,
It is hard to believe that we are already more than a month into the 2026-2027 school year. The start of a school year can always be a challenge, and I want to thank you for your partnership in making this one go smoothly.
Election day is coming up, and I want to share some information on an item that will be on the ballot this fall that could affect Nova.
This November, Minnesota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment about the Permanent School Fund. This fund goes back to 1858, when Minnesota became a state and set aside public land to help pay for schools. That land has since earned money through timber sales, mining, and leases. Today the fund is worth more than $2.3 billion. That fund has increased by roughly $1.6 billion, or about 240 percent, since 2010, and this ballot question is about how much of that fund is given to schools each year, not about new taxes.
Right now, public schools, including Nova Classical, receive about $68 per student. The amendment would raise the yearly distribution rate, with estimates showing an increase of about $33 per student. For Nova, that could mean roughly $33,000 more every year, on an ongoing basis.
This is a constitutional question, so leaving it blank on your ballot counts as a "no" vote. I wanted to provide you a little bit of background on this ballot measure so that you can make an informed decision aligned with your values.
Beyond the ballot, there are also several ways to stay connected with Nova in the coming month, including the Book Fair at Barnes & Noble on October 10, Parent Education Nights on October 6 and 22, and Grandparent and Special Persons Day on October 14.
We look forward to seeing you at these events and appreciate everything you do to make Nova a strong community for our students.
It's a Great Day to be a Knight!
Brett Wedlund
The Trivium comes alive at Homecoming
Nova's Fiber Arts Club was well represented at the State Fair! We are so proud of our many student entries and 7 ribbon winners!
XC Griak 3rd Place Trophy!
Save the Dates for Virtual Parent Education Nights!
Please see our Nova Classical Academy Calendar to add our Parent Education Nights to your family’s schedule. These virtual Parent Education Nights are entirely optional and a great way to deepen your understanding of classical education and our commitment to habits of learning and mastery. These are adults only event on Zoom from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. We are looking forward to learning together with our Nova Classical Community!
Tuesday October 6: Singapore Math, Grades 1-5 | Passcode: 987102
This virtual Parent Education session will focus on Singapore Math in 1st through 5th grade, so is intended for parents of scholars in those grades.
Thursday, October 22: Reading, Grades 3-5 | Passcode: 755742
This virtual Parent Education session will focus on Reading in grades 3rd through 5th grade, so is intended for parents of scholars in those grades.
Thursday, November 17: Latin and Study Skills, Grades 5-12 | Passcode: 223001
This virtual Parent Education session will focus on Latin and Study Skills in grades 5th through 12th grade, so is intended for parents of scholars in those grades.
Thursday, December 10: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Habits of Learning | Passcode: 328066
This virtual Parent Education session will focus on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Habits of Learning in grades 5th through 12th grade, so is intended for parents of scholars in those grades.
Victoria Park Mural Dedication Ceremony - October 8
The city park across the street from our school is hosting a mural dedication ceremony on October 8, at 4:15 PM. The mural, titled "Layers of Migration", has been a collaborative project by Elissa Cedarleaf Dahl with Right Track Interns. Learn more about the city's plan to develop our neighboring city park land.
Grandparent & Special Person Day — October 14
Nova Classical Academy invites the special people in our students’ lives to experience our unique learning community on October 14! The deadline to request a classroom visit is tomorrow, October 2. Click to reserve your visit.
Due to limited classroom space, only grandparents and/or special persons—not parents/guardians—may visit classrooms. Parents and guardians are invited to help make the event special by volunteering to help host. Questions? Contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org
2027-2028 Enrollment Lottery Window Opens November 1
The 2027-2028 Enrollment Lottery Window will be open from November 1, 2026-January 31, 2027. Current students do not need to reapply. Our Enrollment Open House will be held on November 12, 2026 from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM for prospective families. Join us for a presentation of our programs and tour of the school. Register HERE.
Give to the Max — November 19
Give to the Max Day—Minnesota’s biggest day of giving—is November 19. Early giving starts November 1. Click here to Give to the Max!
This year, we’re raising $150,000 to finish and furnish our new expansion, planned to open this winter. The building is just about ready, now we need your help to fill it with opportunity!
Your support will help us open these spaces fully equipped and ready to serve our students from Day One, helping strengthen the Nova experience for years to come.
As always, Nova Classical’s Give to the Max Day will feature hourly challenges, fun incentives, and plenty of community spirit! Follow along, share our campaign, and help us spread the word. Together, we can finish and furnish the expansion, creating even more opportunities for our scholars.
School Uniform Guidelines
Check out our updated Uniform Policy for the 2026-2027 school year.
Personalized labels from namebubbles.com or mabelslabels.com are a great way to keep track of your scholar's belongings. A set of labels typically costs less than replacing one lost item. If you do not use personalized labels, clearly write your scholar's first name (or first initial) and full last name on all items. Many items include a "This Item Belongs To:" label for this purpose.
Clearly labeled items can usually be returned quickly. Unlabeled items are placed in the Lost & Found, where scholars must search for them. Uniform items are especially difficult to identify because they often look the same and may be the same brand and size as other scholars' items.
LibraryGo
Nova Classical Student ID's 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 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
Contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org with any questions about the program.
It's time to get out and support our Nova Knights sports teams!
Passes and 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 under "Tickets" in the bottom toolbar of the extracurriculars page.
Winter Sports
Winter sports are open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. Make sure to have your students' Infinite Campus ID number when you begin registering.
K-4 Winter Basketball League
Registration is open for the K-4 Winter Basketball League on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. Questions? Contact John Carrier at jcarrier@novaclassical.org.
After School Clubs
Registration for winter session After School clubs opens October 26. View club offerings on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website.
Clubs end at 5:00 PM. Please pick up students in the Great Room; doors will open at 4:50 PM. Students in grades K–6 who are not picked up by 5:10 PM will be taken to Scholar Zone, where a fee applies.
REMINDER: Students in Grades K-8 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian to attend all home athletic events. This includes middle school games. 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 regular season contest hosted on campus. Family passes are also available to purchase.
We are proud to celebrate our outstanding seniors who have been named 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists: Archer DeHoskins, Luke Fadden, Natalie Heidemann, and Finn Penniman. Semifinalists are among the highest-scoring students nationwide on the PSAT/NMSQT, representing approximately the top 1% of graduating seniors in each state. We are incredibly proud of these students and their hard work, dedication, and academic achievement. Congratulations!
Way to go, Nova Cross Country! Our Varsity boys team charged to an impressive 3rd-place finish out of 34 teams in the Griak Invitational's Maroon Race, with Paddy and Benaiah earning medal finishes.
The girls team battled through a competitive field to finish 28th, while runners on both teams posted multiple personal-best times on a fast course against tough competition.
Our SoR Senators did an amazing job organizing the Homecoming festivities! Despite the parade being rained out for the first time in more than a decade, dress up days, House competitions, the Upper School assembly's the staff-student volleyball games, and the Homecoming Dance kept our traditions strong and made it a week to remember. Thank you, Senators!
Lastly, a big thank you to our Bus Buddies for modeling helpfulness each day! From welcoming younger students to lending a hand when someone needs it, these students show that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. We’re grateful for the way they help create a caring, connected Nova community—one bus ride at a time!
Bus Buddies
Semifinalists National Merit Scholarship
Homecoming Assembly
Parents and Community Members:
Apply to become an active volunteer to help support our staff and scholars! Click here to view the always-current list of opportunities and links to sign up.
Consider great ways to support our community by:
- Volunteer this weekend at the Twin Cities Marathon with your family
- being a Lower School Room Rep
- helping set up and run our October NPTO Bookfair
- organizing or putting on our NPTO's Great Gathering Kick-off party in November.
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. Landrum, School Counselor, Grades 8-12, with questions or ideas.
Highlights from our September Board Meeting:
Spotlight award goes to Becky Lund. Becky has been teaching at Nova since 2003, and has served in integral roles on the Board of Directors for many years. Ms. Lund is the Chair of the Governance Committee, currently serves as a Pedagogy Lead, and she runs the Lower School Drama Club leading wonderful productions every year. She is an asset to the Nova Community and an important part of the culture of the school.
The Board welcomes our new student representative, Katie Her. This current 12th grader provided a very thorough report of student activities from kindergarten through high school.
The Board training focused on transportation and bus safety. Tom Oswald of Oswald Transportation, our transportation consultant, reviewed DOT safety processes and the measures he uses to support student safety, including bus inspections, on-site reviews, traffic studies, and advocacy for the four-way stop near the school. He also discussed supporting Pride Transportation in upgrading bus technology to track driving locations and patterns and report mechanical issues. The group also discussed family notifications regarding bus concerns, which are currently limited to buses running 10 or more minutes late.
Public comment was heard related to bus safety concerns.
The Board reviewed current enrollment and the budget impact of under-enrollment in 10-12 grades.
The bid for employer-sponsored benefits was approved, including medical insurance from Health Partners (a 13% increase) and moving dental coverage to Health Partners (a 19% decrease).
New state regulations on Cardiac Emergency Response Plans were reviewed and discussed.
The expansion continues to progress. Lockers are expected to be installed over MEA weekend. The floors and ceilings in the new building are poured. The bus parking is paved.
The Charter Contract Renewal was approved for submission to Friends of Education.
Wanting to support our school? Here are two opportunities:
The Budget and Finance Committee is looking to expand its membership. They meet via zoom the third Wednesday of the month at 5:00 PM. If you have knowledge in finance please consider joining this committee. You are welcome to attend a meeting and explore it first or reach out to the chair, Todd Sample, for more information. Our Board will be learning more about advocacy in the next couple of months.
- The MN Association of Charter Schools (MACS) is creating a Parent and Caregiver Advocacy Cohort. During the upcoming legislative session (a budget year) we need everyone, including parents and caregivers, advocating for equitable funding for charter schools and more! To that end, MACS is launching a Parent and Caregiver Advocacy Cohort in the late fall, comprised of three virtual sessions between October and November. We need your help recruiting parents and caregivers to this cohort. The Parent sign up form is here!
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, October 26, 2026. Details can be found here.
For meeting minutes and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit the Board section of Nova Classical's website.
Please complete the 2026-2027 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. Complete your application today!
NPTO In-person Meeting: Tuesday, October 6, 4:30 PM, in the Nova Great Room. Snacks will be provided. Spiritwear will be available for sale. Topics include: Bookfair, Volunteers needed, and Great Gatherings Kickoff Party.
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, 10/10: Book Fair at Barnes & Noble at HarMar Mall Roseville
Tuesday, 11/3: Virtual NPTO meeting at 7:30 PM
Meeting ID: 842 4045 9837
Passcode: enrich
Saturday, 11/7: Great Gatherings Kickoff Party! Click here for all the details. RSVP for FREE admission!
We need your help. Single event, short term and long term roles, click here for a current list of volunteer opportunities. Contact us at novapto@gmail.com or visit novapto.org for more information!
DATES TO REMEMBER
October:
2: No School (PD, Office Closed)
6: NPTO Meeting, 430 PM
6: Parent Education Night: Singapore Math, Grades K-5 (Virtual) at 5:30 PM
10: K-12 Barnes & Noble Book Fair
14: Grandparents/Special Persons Day
15: No School (Staff Work Day)
16: No School (Office Closed)
19: No School (Office Closed)
21: Unity Day
22: Parent Education Night: Reading, Grades 3-5 (Virtual) at 5:30 PM
23: Picture Retakes
26: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
November:
1: Enrollment Lottery Window Opens (for prospective students only)
5: End of Quarter 1 (LS) and Semester 1 midterm (US)
5: K-12 Conferences from 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
6: No School (K-12 Conferences)
10: NPTO Meeting, 7:30 PM
12: Enrollment Open House
17: Parent Education Night: Latin and Study Skills, Grades 5-12 (Virtual)
19: Give to the Max Day
23-27: No School (Office Closed)
30: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
December:
1: NPTO Meeting at 7:30 PM
10: Parent Education Night: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Habits of Learning, Grades 5-12 (Virtual)
17: Festive Sweater, K-12 (uniform bottoms required)
18: No School (Staff Work Day)
21-31: No School (Office Closed)
*Please note there is no Board Meeting in December
January 2027:
1: No School (Office Closed)
4: School resumes
