GRAMMAR GAZETTE
Back-to-School Edition!
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Dear Wonderful Nova Classical Lower School Families,
April marks the start of the fourth quarter, and it’s hard to believe we are in the final stretch of the school year! With the arrival of warmer weather, students are enjoying more time outside, bringing fresh energy and excitement to their learning. This time of year is filled with growth, reflection, and new opportunities as we work toward a strong finish.
It’s also a great time to celebrate the connections that make our school community so special. Whether through classroom activities, school events, or the daily moments of encouragement and support, we are grateful for the partnerships that help our students thrive. Thank you for your continued involvement—we look forward to a fantastic final quarter together!
We hope to see you at our Multicultural Night, which is taking place this evening! More information and a link to RSVP and get involved can be found below.
Other upcoming events and important dates:
- Friday, April 18: No School (Staff Work Day)
- Tuesday, April 22 Board of Directors Candidate Forum 6:30-8:00 PM
- Friday, April 25 Lower School Drama Performance 6:30-8:00 PM
- Thursday, May 1: Lower School Art Show 5:30-7:30 PM
- Friday, May 2: No School (Professional Development Day)
- Tuesday, May 6: Virtue Assembly @ 9:00 AM
- Tuesday, May 6: Spirit Wear Day
- Tuesday, May 6: NPTO Dinner and Meeting 5:30-7PM
- Thursday, May 8: Lower School Vocal Concert 6:00-8:15 PM
- Friday, May 16: Boosterthon Fun Run
- Friday, May 23: No School (Staff Work Day)
- Monday, May 26: No School (Memorial Day)
- Monday, June 2: Virtue Assembly @ 3:00 PM* Note: Monday, not Tuesday
- Monday, June 2: Spirit Wear Day
- Wednesday, June 4: Last Day of School
Be sure to read this month's Gazette to learn more about upcoming events and school information, and, as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Warm Regards,
Ms. Tousignant
Get involved in this year’s Family Multicultural Night!
This special event is a celebration of the diverse cultures that make up our incredible school community. Whether you come to enjoy the delicious potluck, explore cultural booths, watch live performances, or simply connect with others, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate, learn, and make lasting memories together—we hope to see you there! RSVP and get involved through our newsletter.
Questions or concerns? Reach out to equitycoordinator@novaclassical.org.
MCA Testing Information
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) annually administers statewide assessments. They are designed to provide the state, districts, and schools with a snapshot of student progress towards meeting the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards.
At Nova Classical Academy, we will have MCA testing in the Lower School (grades 3-5) April 11-17 and in the Upper School (grades 6-11) April 21-28. If you have any questions about the MCAs, please contact our Academic Director, Dr. Johnson.
MDE has a site to promote student readiness for the MCAs if you'd like to take a look with your student prior to testing. Please make sure that your student has plenty of sleep and eats a nutritious breakfast each morning. We are so excited to see how our students continue to grow in their academics!
Lower School Art Show — Thursday, May 1!
Nova students' creativity will LIGHT UP this evening!
Join us for the Lower School Art Show celebrating our exploration of light. Explore the artistic creations of our K-5th graders, support the Nova Classical art program through the silent auction and giant plushie raffle! We will have some food trucks on site with food available for purchase as well!
We are looking forward to seeing you on Thursday, May 1, 2025 5:30-7:30 PM in the NCA Gymnasium.
We are in need of volunteers to help with set-up during the school day, running stations the evening of the event, helping greet guests & keep food away from the art in our gymnasium, and clean up. Sign up here to help!
Lower School Vocal Concert — Thursday, May 8
We look forward to seeing you at our K-5 Vocal Concert: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Schedule for the evening:
Grades K-2: 6:00-6:45 PM
*Intermission*
Grades 3-5: 7:15-8:15 PM
Concert attendance by all K-5 students for their portion of the concert is required as part of their music grade. Attire is the school uniform.
We are looking for volunteers to help with greeting and seating! Sign up here if you're interested in helping!
Green Team Updates!
Thank you so much for your plastic donations in the fall that helped us make Nova 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!
SOS Days & Summer Are Coming Up Soon!
Give your kids a fun-filled break during their days off! S.O.S. (School Out of Session) Days are packed with engaging activities in a safe, friendly space where they can create, play, and enjoy quality time with friends. Don’t miss out on the excitement!
Click HERE for our schedule of events and how to register:
Summer Scholar Zone is Almost Full!
Join us for an unforgettable summer at Scholar Zone, where fun meets enrichment in a safe, nurturing environment! We’re partnering with Ivy Camps USA to bring exciting, high-quality programming led by instructors from top U.S. universities.
- Ivy Camps USA enrichment
- Creative arts & STEM activities
- Hands-on learning and exploration
- Extended hours available for working families 7:30-5:30
- Daily fun in a licensed, engaging setting
Spots are filling up fast—secure your child’s spot today and give them a summer full of discovery, creativity, and joy!
EduKits Available Now!
Did you forget to order your EduKit last year? Did you spend the day before school began staring at wiped-out shelves at the local store? Order your EduKit today to guarantee an enjoyable last day of summer!
Ordering through EduKit makes back-to-school shopping a breeze! With just a few clicks, you can have all your child’s school supplies delivered directly to their classroom by the first day of school. Each kit is teacher-approved and customized to match our school’s supply list, ensuring your child has exactly what they need on day one. Plus, a portion of each purchase supports our school community!
Summer camps and clinics are open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. See what's being offered here.
Save the date! Nova Classical's upper school drama production of James and the Giant Peach will be performed May 16 & 17, 2025 at Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Ticket sales begin April 28 on the Extracurriculars page of Nova Classical's website.
LibraryGo Information
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.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week — May 5-9
Help us celebrate our outstanding Teachers & Staff during Appreciation Week!
Monday, May 5 Coffee & breakfast bar
Tuesday, May 6 Catered Lunch will be Served
Wednesday, May 7 Snacks, treats & beverages available
Thursday, May 8 Catered Lunch will be Served
Friday, May 9 Specialty Desserts will be served
Use these links to volunteer, donate items or donate money.
Shower your teachers and staff with notes of appreciation. Card-making stations will be available at the Lower School Art Show on May 1st and at the In-Person NPTO Meeting on May 6th.
NPTO Updates
Wow! Thank you to all of the volunteers for helping to make Lower School Family Game Night a success. It was a fun time for all of us.
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 Purchase Tickets Recommended for Ages 12-Adult.
May 6: In person PTO Meeting. Pizza at 5:30 PM. RSVP HERE for free dinner & childcare. Meeting from 6:00-7:00 PM.
May 10: Group Mountain Bike Ride 9:00-11:00 AM at Carver Lake Purchase Tickets. All Ages.
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, 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!
Volunteers — We Need You!
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:
- volunteers and food donations for Family Multicultural Night
- volunteers and donations for Teacher/Staff Appreciation week
- a team of helpers for the Boosterthon Fun Run
- assistance decorating for Prom or with the Graduation Reception
Please contact Ms. Gabor, Community Engagement Manager, for any questions about volunteering or background checks.
Upcoming Lower School Events!
April:
10: Multicultural Night from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
18: No School (Staff Work Day)
22: Board Candidate Forum from 6:30-8:00 PM
25: Lower School Drama Performance 6:30-8:00 PM
28: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
May:
1: Lower School Art Show 5:30-7:30 PM
2: No School (Staff Professional Development Day/Building Closed)
5-9: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
6: Virtue Assembly @ 9:00 AM
6: Spirit Wear Day
6: NPTO Meeting from 5:30-7:00 PM (in-person with dinner and childcare)
8: Lower School Vocal Concert 6:00-8:15 PM
16: Boosterthon Fun Run & Color Run
16-17: NCA Drama Presents: James and the Giant Peach
19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM
23: No School (Staff Work Day)
26: No School (Building Closed)
June:
2: Virtue Assembly @ 3:00 PM *Note: Monday, not Tuesday
2: Spirit Wear Day
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 closed on Fridays