The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Academy Upper School Families,

As we enter the final quarter of the school year, let’s continue encouraging our students to stay engaged and give their best effort as they work toward a strong finish. With your partnership, we can help them meet their goals and celebrate all they've accomplished.

In these past few weeks, we've had several wonderful opportunities to celebrate our students—the memorable senior retreat, a vibrant and inspiring Multicultural Night, and the joyful performances at the School of Logic Choir concert. These moments remind us of the many ways our students grow, lead, and shine. Thank you for the ongoing support and collaboration that makes experiences like these possible.

Important Dates:

• Friday, April 18: No School (Staff Work Day)
• April 21 - 25 & April 28: Upper School MCA Testing
• Tuesday, April 22: Board of Directors Candidate Forum 6:30-8:00 PM
• Friday, May 2: No School, (Building Closed, Staff Professional Development Day)
• Friday, May 16: SoL Boosterthon/Color Run,
• Friday, May 16 & Saturday, May 17: Drama Performances-James and the Giant Peach,
• Wednesday, May 21, SoR Choir Concert, 7:00 PM
• Friday, May 23: No School (Staff Work Day)
• Monday, May 26: No School (Memorial Day)
• Wednesday, May 28: Upper School Assembly, 3:15 PM
• Wednesday, May 28: Upper School Spirit Wear Day:
  • Out of uniform guidelines can be found here
• Sunday, June 1: SoR Graduation, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, June 3: 8th Grade Promotion
• Wednesday, June 4: Last Day of School

Please review this month's Herald for information on upcoming events and school updates. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

We are honored to celebrate these students for their achievements:

March Students of the Month

March Students of the Month were selected by their teachers for demonstrating excellence in temperance! Congratulations to Paris Lee (12), Flannery Page (11), Violet Blood (11), Soren Wanless (9), Reine Galope (9), and Alaina Yang (9). We celebrate your displays of virtue!

Regional History Bee

Congratulations to Seraphina Elverum Buxton and Cedar Shah for their outstanding performances at the Regional History Bee hosted at Wayzata Central Middle School. Seraphina earned the gold medal and Cedar took home the silver. Both students represented Nova with excellence and have qualified for the National History Bee in Orlando this May.

St. Paul Athena Award

Ava Ball has been selected as a St. Paul Area Athena Award winner. This award honors female athletes for their dedication and excellence in sports and Ava's outstanding achievement in athletics for the 2024-2025 school year. We are proud of you, Ava!

Multicultural Night

Many thanks to our SoR NHS and our Nova Classical Equity Team for organizing and hosting a wonderful Multicultural Night! It was a joyful celebration of our diverse community. It was inspiring to see students so proud to share their backgrounds, and such a gift for all of us to learn and celebrate alongside them.

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 Upper School (grades 6-11) April 21 - 25 and April 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!

Boosterthon is returning this year to help our SoL fundraise $10,000 towards our whole-school goal of $60,000! Boosterthon is Nova Classical's spring fundraiser during which SoL students are invited to gain pledges and SoL Houses compete for daily and overall prizes and then celebrate with a Color Run on May 16. You can click here and search for "Nova Classical Academy" to register your student. Please select your student's teacher for HOUSE, the study-hall at the end of the day, as their teacher.

Registration opens April 24 on mybooster.com. The excitement will start building in classrooms with our in-school kickoff on May 8, when families begin gathering pledges towards your student's House prizes that will be awarded until May 16, the day of the Color Run!

8th Grade Promotion – Tuesday, June 3

Nova Classical Academy will celebrate our 8th grade students as they move from the School of Logic onto the School of Rhetoric. Their Promotion ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 3, at 6:00 PM. Students should arrive no later than 5:30 PM.

AP Testing Information Students and Parents

Please note that payment for AP exams are due on Thursday, May 1. Your payment balance is available in Infinite Campus under "Fees" and can be paid for via credit card. If you would like to pay via cash or check, please refer to Infinite Campus for your balance due and submit payment to Ms. Voelker before May 1. Thank you!

Junior/Senior Prom

The SoR Student Senate will be hosting the Junior/Senior Prom at A-Side Public House 7:30-10:00 PM on Saturday, May 3. Ticket cost is $55. Tickets may also be purchased during SoR lunch (dates to be announced). Parents who are interested in helping with setup should look for the sign-up from Ms. Gabor. Ms. Smoot will follow up with more details.

SoR Ascot

Ascot is scheduled for May 22 for SoR students! Students are invited to wear their best garden party attire for a day of games, food, and fun! Please remember that out-of-uniform dress guidelines will still be in effect and respectfully enforced. Students may partake in a food truck or bring a picnic basket. Our regular school lunch will be available for all students.

ValleyFair Field Trip, Grades 9-11

Students in Grades 9-11 have the opportunity to attend the Valleyfair Field trip on the last day of school on June 4. The cost is $58. Field trip forms will be distributed in House the week of May 5, and are due on May 21.

April 23: Senior Cap and Gown Pictures

• Students are welcome to wear a different top (school appropriate) under their gown during photos. Students will be in uniform for the remainder of the day.

April 25: Senior Class T-Shirt Day

• Seniors may wear their class t-shirt with jeans
• Jeans with no rips/tears are allowed
• Out of uniform guidelines can be found here
• Seniors who do not participate are to be in uniform

May 1: Decision Day

• All Seniors are welcome to wear a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or other top representing where you will be attending after high school (students are expected to wear uniform bottoms).
• Seniors who are not attending college in the fall are welcome to wear a top that represents your plans (wear a shirt with a military branch logo, or a "gap" shirt if you are taking a gap year, etc.).
• Seniors who choose not to participate are to be in school uniform.

May 22: SoR Ascot Day

May 30: Graduation Breakfast and Rehearsal

June 1: Graduation 2:00 PM. Seniors report to school at 1:00 PM

They're in... now what?? If you’re a parent/guardian with a high school senior heading to college this fall, join us virtually on Tuesday, April 22, from 7:00-8:00 PM to learn more about how to best prepare your child for their next educational journey. This session will cover some of the key conversations to have with your child before they start college. From understanding finances, to navigating a college campus, to making sure your child knows how to do their laundry, we will help you feel prepared to send your child to college!

Register online now.

• Wednesday, May 28
• Please note this is a date change!
• Wednesday, June 4 (last day of school)

To show their school pride, Upper School students are invited to wear Nova Classical Spirit Wear with uniform bottoms or jeans.

• Please note, ripped/torn clothing is not allowed
• Out of uniform guidelines can be found here
• Students not participating in the Spirit Wear Day are expected to be in uniform

The end of the school year is right around the corner! Don’t forget to reserve your student’s copy of the Nova Yearbook. Ordering now ensures your student has a keepsake filled with memories from a great year at Nova. Supplies are limited, so be sure to place your order soon! Yearbooks can be purchased here.

Questions about the yearbook or student orders can be sent to yearbook@novaclassical.org

Homework help is available for Upper School students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Homework support is provided by an Upper School Teacher and Educational Assistant. Please note, daycare is not available for siblings in the School of Grammar.

Students may report to Room 326 at 4:00 PM. Students should be picked up from school at 5:00 PM.

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.

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!

• Save the date! Nova Classical's upper school drama production of James and the Giant Peach will be performed May 16 & 17, 2025 .Tickets go on sale April 28, 2025. All performances are held at Neighborhood House: 179 Robie St E, St Paul, MN 55107. Online sales only! No cash sales at the door. Purchase tickets here.
• Summer camps and clinics are open for registration on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. See what's being offered here.
• Rising Knights Spring Volleyball camp is open to grades 5-8. Registration closes May 9, 2025 @ 4:00 PM. Don't miss out! Register here.
• Nova Knights! Keep your competitive edge over the summer. Nova Classical's strength and conditioning sessions are open to student athletes in grades 9-12. All ability levels are welcome.
• Session times and dates are posted here.
• Registration opened on March 15, 2025, here.
  

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

Volunteer Opportunities:

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 - recommended for ALL ages.
• 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 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, Instagram, or visit their website for more information and get in touch with Nova Classical families when you sign up for the Family Directory!

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:

• 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.

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.

We invite our community members and students to share their stories, achievements, and upcoming events for a chance to be featured in Nova News! Whether it's highlighting a student group, activity, or special event, we welcome your submissions. To ensure a smooth process, we've developed some guidelines for coaches, advisors, teachers, staff, students, and parent volunteers. These guidelines are designed to help streamline submissions and ensure we capture the best of what Nova has to offer.

Please see the attached guidelines for more details on how to submit your items. Remember, you can also have your events or activities considered for our social media channels by emailing them to socialmedia@novaclassical.org. We look forward to showcasing the amazing things happening in our community!

April:

18: No School (Staff Work Day)

28: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

May:

1: Decision Day (Seniors)

2: No School (Staff Professional Development Day/Building Closed)

3: Jr/Sr Prom, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

5-9: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week

6: NPTO Meeting from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (in-person with dinner and childcare)

16: Boosterthon Fun Run & SoL Color Run

16: Drama Performance, James and the Giant Peach

17: Drama Performance, James and The Giant Peach

19: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

21: SoR Choir Concert 7:00 PM

22: SoR Ascot Day

23: No School (Staff Work Day)

26: No School (Building Closed)

30: Seniors' Last Day

June:

1: SoR Graduation, 2:00 PM

3: 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00 PM

4: SoR Field Trip to Valleyfair

4: SoL Highland Games (onsite)

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 be closed on Fridays

See Full Calendar

Athletics Calendar

2025-2026 and 2026-2027 Academic Calendars are now on our website!

Did you know that you can follow Nova Classical Academy on social media? Stay in the loop by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!