NOVA NEWS - June 2024
Dear Nova Classical Community,
As the 2023-2024 school year draws to a close, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude with each of you for your unwavering support and involvement. This year marked the first year of our new strategic plan, focusing on classical education, academic and student support, inclusive community, facilities, and staff support.
One of our proudest achievements this year was the recognition of our Upper School as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School for Closing Achievement Gaps. This prestigious award, granted by the U.S. Department of Education, highlights the exceptional efforts of our students, staff, and community in ensuring academic excellence and equity. We are one of only 43 schools in the nation to receive this honor, which underscores our commitment to providing every student with the opportunity to excel.
I often hear new families compare being offered a spot at Nova Classical Academy to winning the lottery, and I share a similar level of excitement to be able to serve such a wonderful community. I am deeply grateful for our dedicated educators, staff, and the support of our families, whose commitment and collaboration have made this year so successful.
As we look forward to a well-deserved summer break, I encourage you to celebrate your child's achievements and take time to relax and recharge. Thank you for being an integral part of the Nova Classical Academy community. I wish you all a joyful and restful summer and look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.
It’s a Great Day to be a Knight!
Dr. Brett Wedlund
Nova Classical's Annual Used Uniform Sale
Our Annual Used Uniform Sale will be held on August 1, 2024 from 4 pm -7 pm in our Great Room, all pieces will be $3 each. Donations of laundered, gently-used uniform pieces may be dropped off at the Main Office during the summer, Monday - Thursday, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, through July 29. 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.
Volunteer to help. SoR students welcome!
Our Lower School Student Proxeny, a group of nine amazing 5th graders, along with their Advisor Ms. Lozano, held a greeting card drive over the past few weeks. Lower School scholars reached their goal of 1,000 quality, handmade cards to donate to our neighbors across the street at Sholom Home. The Student Proxeny officers had the pleasure of delivering these wonderful creations to the residents, in person, and it definitely spread joy and light to their days! Thank you to all of the scholars for their thoughtful messages and heartfelt cards. They were surely appreciated!
The Lower School Vocal Concert was an enjoyable time for all! We enjoyed hearing so many great musical selections and seeing so many scholars perform solos and group songs on many different instruments. Congratulations to Ms. Urbrock and Ms. Smoot for a job well done getting everyone ready for the concert. A big high five to Ms. Juedes, too, for all of her help with props and creating a beautiful rainbow. And, of course, great job to all of the soloists for their fortitude and bravery during their performances. We are so proud of all of you!
Congrats to our Nova Classical Academy scholars who are participating in our Mounds Park Academy Panthers co-op in Boys Tennis this spring. Nova Classical athletes are Mason Engelking, Thomas Huelskamp, Benaiah Mathews, Ashwyn Prochnow, Adam Redden, Davis Rovn, and Garret Webb. The most recent rankings were published on Sunday and have us Ranked #3 in class A, with Garrett Webb ranked #1 in singles. Great job athletes and Coach Rovn!
Our Boosterthon fundraiser raised more than $57,000 to support increased field trip fees and Playworks recess coaching. Thank you to our donors, t-shirt sponsors, and to all who came out to cheer on our runners at the Fun Run and Color Run! Enjoy our NCA Boosterthon video!
Congratulations to the directors, cast, and crew of Macbeth who hosted three performances over Mother's Day weekend at Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Thank you to all who worked to make this production a success!
Ms. Juedes and her "Wildly Creative" artists in grades K-5 decorated biomes from the bottom of the ocean to the tree tops and the arctic. Thank you to all who came out for our Lower School Art Show.
In the 2nd Round of Battle of the Books, we had 10 teams that competed! We had a very close competition, with only a couple of points separating our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Congratulations to our winners, who are all in 4th Grade!
- 1st place: Amelie, Audrey, Fiona, Yein, Olivia, Margot, and Ava
- 2nd place (tie): Isla, Mika, Amisa, Anna, Lilah, and Julia
- 2nd place (tie): Malachi, Andre, Cordell, Eliott, Willem, Drake, and Owen
- 3rd place: Violet, Eva, Fiona, Lauren, Harriet B, and Harriet N.
Our 1st place team also competed in the final Battle of the Books competition against other Friends of Education schools. They were in a 3-way tie for first and ended up coming in 3rd after a sudden death round. Congratulations Amelie, Audrey, Fiona, Yein, Olivia, Margot, and Ava -- we are so proud of how you represented Nova Classical!
Congrats to Nova Classical Academy's Junior Sonja Schweser who earned 2nd place in the National Mock Trial Court Room Artist Competition in Willington, DE, this past weekend. Sonja was awarded the Minnesota State Championship in March and earned the trip to Nationals to compete against the other state's champions. Thanks for representing Nova Classical Academy so well and doing a wonderful job. We are so proud of you!
Parents and Community Members:
Support our staff and scholars by applying to become an active volunteer and then click here to browse and sign up for upcoming opportunities! We need a lot of help to organize and run our 8/1 Used Uniform Sale.
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.
Highlights from the Board Meeting on May 20:
1. The Board approved a definition of classical education written at/below an 8th grade reading level. This work ties to Goal 1 of the Classical Education focus of Nova Classical’s Strategic Plan.
2. The Board approved the Board of Director meeting dates for the 2024-25 academic year.
3. After receiving requests from Fit Academy and St. Croix Lutheran Academy to dissolve athletic co-ops, the Board approved the dissolution of the football co-op with St. Croix Lutheran Academy. The Board further resolved the dissolution of the girls soccer, boys cross country, girls cross country, boys basketball, girls basketball, and boys soccer co-ops with Fit Academy.
4. The Board approved renewing Nova Classical’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League which includes participating in the approved interscholastic activities and athletics sponsored by the League and its various subdivisions.
5. The Board conducted a closed meeting, as permitted by section 13D.05, subdivision 3(a), to evaluate the performance of the Executive Director Dr. Brett Wedlund. The Board finds that Dr. Wedlund is highly effective in completing the duties of the Executive Director and in meeting the goals set for SY24.
6. For the May Board training, Fifth Grade Teacher Ms. Laura Buri and Academic Director Dr. Missy Johnson presented an overview of the work by Nova Classical’s Equity Team. Ms. Buri and Upper School Teacher Mr. Brendan O’Hara serve as the school's Equity Coordinators. Comprised of teachers, students, parents, and administrators, Nova Classical’s Equity Team partners with Nova Classical's community to address current and historical barriers within Nova systems in order to work toward an environment that ensures all students have the opportunity to learn and thrive.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, June 24, 2024.
For meeting minutes and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit the Board section of Nova Classical's website.
Sign up for the Nova Classical Family Directory at novapto.membershiptoolkit.com. Follow NPTO on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information!
The June NPTO Board meeting will be held virtually on June 25, from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Meeting ID: 842 4045 9837
Passcode: enrich
Great Gatherings Kickoff Gala: Reimagined
Join the conversation on June 19, from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, as we turn NPTO's fundraising gala, the Great Gathering's Kickoff Party, into a more inclusive family carnival.
Meeting ID: 266 422 755 541
Passcode: JSVYFP
DATES TO REMEMBER
June:
6: Last Day of School
7: No School (Staff Work Day)
19: Building Closed (Holiday)
24: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
July:
1-5: Building Closed
29: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
August:
1: Used Uniform Sale
26: 1st day of school for Grades 1-12
28: 1st day of school for Kindergarten
19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
