GRAMMAR GAZETTE
January 2025 Edition
Thursday, February 12, 2026
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman's quote serves as a reminder to look within for the fortitude necessary to overcome obstacles and to not be afraid to go above and beyond. We see this persistence every day in our teachers, staff, and students.
I have been observing teachers each week in their classrooms and I am witness to this proactive force, our educators providing the foundational building blocks (grammar) to support students in their own education, academically and social emotionally. It is similar to parenting a child: at first, modeling exactly what to do and what to say; next, gradually allowing the child to try the new skill on their own with supervision (logic); and, finally —although challenging at times— allowing the child to do the skill without supervision (rhetoric).
Many of you may have experienced this when your child first went to school for the first time or when the state issued your child a driver's license and you had to let them take the car without you (many of us may be tapping our heads). Harriet Tubman's strength, resilience, and ability to provide hope for others encourages each of us to continue to reach for the stars, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Farrell
K-8 Spelling Bee Winners
Well done to all participating scholars and congratulations to our winners!
- First Place: Tyler Peters, Grade 5
- Second Place: Neel Vijay, Grade 7
- Third Place: Jonah Varghese, Grade 4
2026 Summer Boost and Kinder Academy
Summer Boost (teacher recommendations only) and Kinder Academy will be held Wednesday, July 8 - Thursday, July 30, 2026, for rising Kindergarten through 6th Graders. This program is for students needing extra support in the areas of math and reading. Teachers will be recommending students for participation in early spring.
Student Toys
We have seen increase in the number of Rubik's Cubes and other toy-like items in the classrooms, hallways, recess, and lunch. Please remember that we have a NO TOY zone during instructional time, as well as during lunch and recess. Only students with official pre-approval may use fidgets in classrooms.
School Snacks
Each classroom has Daily Snack built into the schedule. Please note that we encourage all students to bring a snack to school every day. If a student forgets a snack, they may take one from our emergency snacks in the main office.
If you are able, we would gladly take donations of healthy snacks without tree nuts (e.g., peanuts) or artificial coloring (e.g., yellow food dye). A list of school snack options is available here. Thank you so much to those of you that were able to donate. We continue to seek donations for snacks.
Resources for Families
If your family could use extra support, there are caring local organizations ready to help.
Hennepin County Emergency General Assistance: Offers support for rent, utilities, and temporary shelter.
- Assists with food, clothing, or utility needs
- Call: (651) 437-7134
Dakota County Employment and Economic Assistance
- Provides information about public aid and emergency help
- Call: (651) 554-5611
Ramsey County - Keystone Community Food Center
You can visit Keystone’s Community Food Center located at 1800 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104. The center is between the Wendy’s and Arby’s on the corner of Fairview and University. No appointment or advanced registration is required. Food shelf participants are served on a first come, first served basis during the hours listed below. Please call (651) 917-3792 if you have any questions.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM & 2:00-4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM & 4:00-6:00 PM
**Please note, there is no morning service on the following 2026 dates:
- Wednesdays: March 4, June 3, September 2, and December 2.
Happy Little Art Room Newsletter
Check out our art room newsletter to see all the creative learning we did last month! From, Ms. Juedes
Additionally, information on our art curriculum, grading policies, Amazon wishlist, past newsletters, and more can be found on the art class website.
Ivy Camps is BACK!
We’re excited to announce that Summer Scholar Zone registration is now open — and even more excited to share that we’ve secured Ivy Camps once again, bringing back our favorite programs from last summer along with brand-new offerings your students will love!
Summer Scholar Zone is available to current Rising 1st–7th grade students. Please note that we are unable to accept incoming kindergarten students or students who did not attend Nova Classical Academy during the 2025–26 school year.
Families can register and manage payments online at novaclassical.revtrak.net. We encourage you to select your desired days of care as soon as possible, as spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and some days may fill quickly. All registrations must be completed by May 26, 2026.
A $50 non-refundable registration fee per student is required and does not apply toward session fees. Day fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Enrollment in the regular before- and/or after-school Scholar Zone program is not required to participate in Summer Scholar Zone.
📅 Enrollment Options:
-
Daily Rate (1–3 sessions per week): $70/day
-
4 sessions per week: $65/day
-
5 sessions per week: $60/day
We can’t wait to welcome your students for another fun-filled, enriching summer with Scholar Zone and Ivy Camps!
Volunteers - We Need You!
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.
Family Multicultural Night - April 16: GET INVOLVED!
On Thursday, April 16, 2025, from 5:30-7:30pm, Nova’s NHS and Equity Team will be hosting the fourth annual Family Multicultural Night. As we plan for this night of celebration, there are several ways to get involved early:
Sign up to host a cultural booth!
Sign up to share a performance!
Information about RSVPing, volunteering, and contributing to the potluck will be coming soon!
Questions or concerns? Please reach out to equitycoordinator@novaclassical.org.
🎶 K-5 Spring Vocal Concert
Save the Date for our K-5 Vocal Concert coming to you on May 7, 2026, hosted by Ms. Urbrock (1-5) Music and (K) Oratory School & Ms. Smoot (K) Music, in Room 130. Contact us at: rurbrock@novaclassical.org and msmoot@novaclassical.org
The following spring after school clubs still have openings. Register here. Registration closes February 13, 2026 @ 4:00 PM. Don't miss out on the fun!
- Chess Club: Grades 2-8
- Dungeons and Dragons: Grades 6-12
- Fly Fishing: Grades 6-8
- Intermediate Needlework: Grades 4-6
- Kidcreate Studios: Grades K-2 and 3-5
- Music on Grand: Band and Orchestra
- Nature Club: Grades 2-5
- Writing Club: Grades 7-12
Spring sports are open on the Extracurriculars page of Nova's website.
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.
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.
Nova PTO Zoom Meeting: Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 PM. Join us as we kick off planning for next year and review feedback and financial results.
Nova PTO has established the Community Support Fund to raise separate funds to support members of our community in need. Click here to donate.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, 2/7: Valentines for 2nd Graders - Click here for tickets
Saturday, 2/7: Nowhere to Wear it Party - Click here for tickets
Friday, 2/13: Grade 5 - Grade 12 Epic Nerf Battle - Click here for tickets
Friday, 2/13: Nova PTO Family Ski Day - Click here for more information
Saturday, 2/21: Nova Ladies Cocktail Social - Click here for tickets
Saturday, 2/28: 3rd Grade Winter Bonfire & Play - Click here for tickets
Friday, 3/13: Favorite Things Party - Click here for tickets
Sunday, 3/22: Nova Family Open Gymnastics - Click here for tickets
Find Gatherings Tickets, connect to the Family Directory, and get involved at notapto.org.
February:
13: No School (Building Closed)
16: No School (Building Closed)
23: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
March:
4: Virtue Assembly at 3:00 PM
6: K-12 Conferences (No School)
19: End of Quarter 3 for LS, Midterm for Semester 2 for US
20: No School (Staff Work Day)
23-27: No School (Building Closed)
30: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
April:
3: No School (Staff Work Day)
16: Multicultural Night from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
17: No School (Staff Work Day)
27: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM