NOVA NEWS - September 2025

As we begin the 2025–26 school year, Nova Classical Academy is renewing its commitment to classical education. This model continues to shape not only how we teach, but also how we lead, make decisions, and serve our school community. The same virtues we foster in our students—justice, fortitude, prudence, temperance, and wisdom—continue to shape how we steward the future of our campus.

We’re pleased to share that a key step forward in our expansion process was recently approved by both the Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Saint Paul City Council. This progress represents a significant milestone, bringing us meaningfully closer to realizing our vision and strategic plan for Nova Classical.

In the months ahead, we’ll continue to work on aligning the project scope and construction planning, as well as securing the remaining city approvals. As progress continues, we’ll begin sharing more detailed updates, including what families can expect during different phases of construction.

As a reminder, the project includes dedicated student support spaces, enhanced safety and security features, and a new gym facility—complete with locker rooms and a weight room—that will also serve as a storm shelter. We’re also reworking existing campus spaces to better align with our academic and extracurricular programming. These project focus areas are designed to ensure our facilities continue to meet the needs of Nova students today and into the future.

Thank you for your continued support. As always, we’ll keep you informed as the project moves forward and remain committed to transparency and community partnership. Feel free to visit our facility expansion page to find additional details and timeline information.

It’s a Great Day to be a Knight!

Dr. Brett Wedlund

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 Classical 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 and contact@novaclassical.org.

We look forward to showcasing the amazing things happening in our community!

Welcome to our 2025-2026 school year! All the information you need is updated on our website. We can't wait to see you soon.

Personalized labels through namebubbles.com or mabelslabels.com work great!

Labeling your scholar’s items costs less than replacing something that gets lost. If you don’t use personalized labels, please write your scholar’s first name (or initial) and full last name clearly on every item. Many items even have a “This Item Belongs To:” spot for labeling. When things are labeled, we can return them quickly. Without labels, your scholar will need to search through the Lost & Found. Uniform items are especially hard to identify since they often look the same.

Thank you for helping us reduce waste by keeping unlabeled, unclaimed items out of landfills!

Kemmetmueller Photography will be conducting our student picture day on Wednesday, September 10. Click here for information on picture day preparation and ordering school photos!

Feel free to contact Kemmetmueller Photography by email at info@k-photography.com or by phone at (952) 473-2142 if you have any questions about your student's picture day, need help with ordering photos, or have any other concerns.

Parking and traffic at Nova Classical can be challenging, especially during drop-off and pick-up. For everyone’s safety, follow posted street signs and staff directions, including when asked to move.

Parking and Traffic Guidelines

• Passenger loading zones are for quick drop-off and pick-up only. Drivers must stay in their cars. If your child needs extra time, park in a legal spot instead.
• Drop-off/Pick-up locations:
• Last names A–K: Mercer St. (back of building)

• Last names L–Z: Victoria Way (front of building)

• Kindergarten: Drop-off in person at the main entrance; pick-up at the Kindergarten entrance (Victoria Way side).

• Use the crosswalks. Follow directions from staff and crossing guards. Never cross between buses or parked cars.

• Follow posted signs and never park in illegal areas, including bus zones, passenger loading zones, parking lot driveways, within 20 feet of crosswalks, or anywhere marked "No Parking".

• Do not make U-turns on streets around Nova Classical—drive around the block instead.

• Stay off cell phones and other distractions while driving.

Click here for complete information on Nova Classical's Transportation & Silent Dismissal Procedures

Links for Infinite Campus are new this year. Please use the app or the new links for student and parent portal access.

Student Portal: novamn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/students/nova

Parent Portal: novamn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/nova

Check out our updated Uniform Policy for the 2025-2026 school year.

Nova Classical Academy is pleased to invite the special people in our students' lives so that they can experience the unique nature of our learning community. Grandparents and special persons will be greeted in the Great Room at a welcome table for check-in and refreshments and then escorted to classrooms.

All guests must request classroom visits through this link, so we can be well prepared to welcome them. The last day to register to request a classroom visit is Friday, October 3, 2025. Due to space constraints, we may not be able to safely accommodate all requests for classroom visits. Visitors will receive a confirmation email and visit schedule prior to the event. Only registered and confirmed visitors will be allowed this year.

Please sign up for only one visit per scholar. Due to space issues in the classrooms and in the parking lot, we ask that only Grandparents and/or Special Persons (and not Parents) visit on this day. Parents, we also need help to run this event; please sign up here to volunteer.

Feel free to contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org with any questions.

Fall Baseball Clinic, Grades 3-12:

Registration opens August 25, 2025. More information here.

Fall Basketball Academy, Grades K-6

Registration is open for Fall Basketball Academy. More information here.

Auditions for the Upper School Fall Musical, Annie Jr, will be held September 11 & 12. Sign up for auditions on the Extracurriculars page.

Mock Trial registration opens September 15, 2025, on the Extracurriculars page.

Nova Classical's Girls Soccer Team is off to a strong start for their season. They are currently 3-1 to start the year. Join us today for a home game at 4:30 PM to cheer them on against Concordia Academy, or on Monday, 9/8, for at 4:30 PM for an away game at Trinity School at River Ridge!

The Boys Soccer Team is currently 2-2. Show your support this evening for a 6:30 PM away game at Concordia Academy, or on Saturday, 9/6, for a home game at 10:30 AM against Humboldt.

Cross Country has their second meet today at Tri-City United - Montgomery beginning at 4:00 PM.

U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of Minnesota schools, evaluating performance across 1,676 elementary schools, 1,547 middle schools, and 880 high schools statewide. We're excited to see that Nova Classical appears prominently at all three levels, including:

• #33 Best Minnesota Elementary Schools
• #5 Best Minnesota Middle Schools
• #2 Best Minnesota High Schools
• #134 High School in the Nation

Congratulations to Harper Anderson (5), Kiera Anderson (5), and Zoey Connor (4) for their amazing accomplishments in the Needle Arts competition at the Minnesota State Fair. These scholars attend Nova Classical's Needlework Club and showcased their talents during this year's event, each taking home a ribbon for their work.

Parents and Community Members:

Apply to become an active volunteer to help support our staff and scholars! Consider joining these teams:

• Join the decorating team for the September 27, Great Gathering Kickoff Party
• Help pull wish-list books and run the raffle for the October 11, B&N Bookfair
• Run a carnival game with other families from your student's grade at the November 8, NCA Family Carnival!
• Click here to view the always-current list of opportunities and links to sign up.

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 August 18 Nova Classical Board Meeting:

1. The Board took their new required oath of office. To meet the requirements of MN Statute 358.05, all members of a charter school board must take an oath of office. Nova Classical board members promise to uphold three duties: duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience.

2. Dr. Wedlund provided updates on our expansion project. We are waiting for final bids for a general contractor which is our next step in the planning phase. Those RFP's are due at the end of August. He shared that our variance zoning request went to the St. Paul Zoning Committee and they were unanimously approved to be recommended to the Planning Committee for approval. Bonding discussions are continuing to make progress as we explore what options we will have in that area.

3. School is fully staffed and students started back Monday, August 25!

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, September 29, 2025.

For meeting minutes and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit the Board section of Nova Classical's website.

Please complete the 2025-2026 Educational Benefits application which is now available in Infinite Campus. If you prefer, you may also download the application from 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. So, complete your application today!

Nova PTO’s sole purpose is to provide resources to Nova Classical’s staff, students and their families in ways that the school cannot.

For example, NPTO runs the Nova Family Directory, which is powered by MembershipToolkit. Click here to set up your family’s information. Want to carpool? Having a birthday party? Get connected with our community.

Visit www.novapto.org for more about what Nova PTO does and SAVE THE DATE(s) for the fun we have planned!

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, 9/10, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM: A-Side Public House donates 15% back to Nova. Reservations recommended.
• Saturday, 9/27, 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM: Great Gatherings Kickoff Party. Join Nova parents, guardians, teachers, and alumni for a casual adults-only reception at Summit Brewing Event Space. Register by Friday, 9/19, for free admission.

• Saturday, 10/11: Book Fair at Barnes & Noble at HarMar Mall Roseville
• Saturday, 11/8: Nova Family Carnival at Nova Classical

SAVE THE DATE: The Nova Family Carnival is on Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM with festivities for the whole family. This whirlwind of fun is your chance to mingle with school families and enjoy family-friendly games. Visit our 2024 Carnival page, which highlights the fun we had last year! Click here for open volunteer slots.

More ways to support the Great Gathering Kickoff: Volunteer, Donate a Gathering, and/or Donate Items.

Follow NPTO on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information!

October:

2: No School (Staff Work Day)

3: No School (Staff Professional Development Day)

7: Classical Parent Education Night

11: K-12 Barnes & Noble Book Fair

15: Grandparent/Special Person Day

16: No School (Staff Work Day)

17: No School (Building Closed)

20: No School (Building Closed)

22: Unity Day

21: Picture Retake Day

27: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

31: End of Q1 (LS) / Midterms (US)

November:

7: No School (K-12 Conferences)

20: Give to the Max Day

24: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

24-28: No School (Building Closed 11/26-28)

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!

FERPA NOTICE to Parents

In compliance with the US Department of Education, Nova Classical will post FERPA Privacy of Student Records each year. This information will also be available on the Nova Classical's website under Resources > Important Information > School Policies > Other policies.

If you do not want Nova Classical to disclose, you must notify the Lower School or Upper School principal (per child first/last name) in writing by September 12, 2025.

Lower School Principal, Mrs. Farrell

Upper School Principal, Mrs. Paschall

Thanks! For more information on FERPA, please click here.

Student Photo Opt-Out Form (Optional)

Nova Classical partners with the Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) for access to their online and in-library collections, for all our scholars regardless of where they live, through the LibraryGo! program. Library accounts will be activated after September 18, 2025. Nova Classical provides the necessary directory information to SPPL to ensure all students have access. The information includes the student's address and the parent/guardian email(s). If you would like your student to opt-out, please complete this form by September 18, 2025. If you have questions about this program, contact Community Engagement Manager, Ms. Gabor, at vgabor@novaclassical.org.