NOVA NEWS - May 2026

Dear Nova Classical Community,

More than 30 years ago, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to authorize charter schools. Over time, that foundation gave rise to educational models as varied as language immersion schools, schools designed specifically for students who had not found success in traditional settings, and schools like Nova, grounded in classical education. It is a special movement, and it has made a real difference for tens of thousands of Minnesota students.

That context makes recent news in our state worth addressing directly. In the past month, several charter schools have announced they will not open next fall, including Agamim Classical Academy, the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture (AFSA), and Watershed High School. They are not alone. A number of other charter schools are still working through the question of whether they will be able to remain open for the 2026-27 school year. These closures reflect a financial reality that is pressing hard on schools across Minnesota: costs continue to grow, and state revenue, while appreciated, does not always keep pace. For next year, the per-pupil funding increase from the state is 2.69%.

I want to take this opportunity to share where Nova Classical stands.

Financial stewardship has been a defining value of this organization for many years. In 2019, we made a deliberate decision to ensure that our expenditures would not outpace our revenue growth. That commitment was later formalized in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan through the adoption of a belief statement that reads: "We believe ethical and prudent financial decision-making ensures the continued existence of our model." Those are not aspirational words. They are operational ones.

The results are tangible. We have been within 2% of our projected enrollment each of the past several years, which matters because enrollment is the primary driver of the revenue we receive. We also maintain a fund balance of 34.4%, meaning we hold more than a third of our annual operating expenditures in reserve. That number is worth explaining, because it may seem high. Charter schools, unlike traditional public schools, cannot go to a local tax base for a levy or a referendum when costs outpace revenue. There is no safety net beyond what we build ourselves. Some of the schools now facing closure have had fund balances that would cover less than a week of their expenditures. Our reserve exists precisely so that Nova is never in that position.

None of this is accidental. It is the result of years of consistent, unglamorous financial discipline, and it is one of the most important things we do on behalf of our students and families.

We remain grateful for the Minnesota charter movement that made Nova Classical possible, and we remain committed to honoring that opportunity by leading a school that is built to last.

It’s a Great Day to be a Knight!

Dr. Brett Wedlund

Get ready. Our Spring Boosterthon Fundraiser is almost here! This year, we’re aiming to raise $60,000 schoolwide to help sustain the strong, enriching programs that make our school such a special place for every student. From classroom experiences to extracurricular opportunities, these funds play an important role in supporting the full scope of what we offer and we’re counting on our community to help us reach this goal.

Upcoming Dates:

• May 7: Official kickoff TODAY!
• May 15: Celebration Day: Fun Run and Color Run!

This year’s theme is Star Quest 5: Space is the Place of Discovery! Students will enjoy exciting incentives along the way, all leading up to a Fun Run for School of Grammar and a Color Run for our School of Logic—a joyful celebration of our community and all we make possible, together.

Our Annual Used Uniform Sale will be held on July 30, 2026. Please sign up to volunteer. We will accept laundered, gently used uniform pieces -- no holes or stains -- to sell at our Used Uniform Sale.

Donations may be dropped off at the Main Office during the last week of school, June 1-3, and during the summer, Monday - Thursday, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, through July 28. 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.

Returning Students: Complete your Online Registration Portal Update in the Infinite Campus parent/guardian portal. This step is required for all families to register for the upcoming school year. To start, select "More" in your portal menu.

If your student will not be returning, please email enrollment@novaclassical.org to begin the withdrawal process. Timely notice is important—late summer withdrawals are difficult to fill. Early communication helps ensure a smooth transition for your student and allows us to offer the spot to a family on the waitlist.

Nova Upper School Drama

Antigone takes the stage May 22 & 23.

Join us at the Park Square Theater located at 20 W. 7th Place in St. Paul, MN 55102

Don't miss it! Get your tickets here.

Registration is open for the following summer activities offerings!

Fiber Arts Camp Rising 4-7

Session One: July 13-16, from 1:00-3:30 PM

Session One: July 20-23, from 1:00-3:30 PM

Summer Strength and Conditioning

Rising 6-8: Tuesday-Thursday 8:30-9:30 AM

Rising 9-12: Tuesday-Thursday 7:30-8:30 AM

Coed Summer Youth Soccer Camp Rising 3-6

June 22-26, from 9:00-11:00 AM

Summer Volleyball Rising 7-12

Tuesdays from 5:00-7:00 PM

Summer Knights Basketball Academy

Rising 1-2. Flexible drop in schedule. Come to one or both sessions.

• Wednesdays, June 10-July 29, from 12:05-1:20 PM
• Thursdays-June 11-July 30, from 5:00-6:00 PM

Rising 3-6. Flexible drop in schedule. Come to one or both sessions.

• Tuesdays, June 9-July 28, from 12:05-1:20 PM
• Thursdays, June 11-July 30, from 6:00-7:15 PM

The Lower School Junior Coaches had a great time celebrating the end of the year with a field trip to CHS Field. Students enjoyed fun, recess style activities on the field and had the chance to meet Mudonna T. Pig, the Saints’ official mascot. It was a memorable day filled with laughter, teamwork, and plenty of smiles.

Thank you to our community for coming out to enrich our Family Multicultural Night this year! Special thanks to our Equity Coordinators, Brendan O'Hara and Laura Buri, and NHS, for organizing the potluck and performers.

The Fiber Arts Show on April 30 was fantastic! Thank you, Ms. Irish!

A heartfelt thank you to the organizing families, performers, and filmmakers who created this year's Supernova Film & Music Festival! It was a stellar success. Your time, creativity, and dedication made this unforgettable celebration of student talent possible. We’re also deeply grateful to all the students and families who shared their incredible talents with our community. Your passion and gifts lit up the night—thank you for inspiring us all!

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.

• May 7-18: Boosterton Prize Distribution and Fun Run
• May 29: Senior Basket Helpers
• May 31: Graduation Reception
• June 2: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony Helpers
• June 3: NPTO Last Day Frozen Treat Distribution

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. Landrum (Voelker), School Counselor, Grades 8-12, with questions or ideas.

Highlights from the April 27 Nova Classical Board Meeting:

• The Board honored a Nova Scholar with the Spotlight Award this month. Mahini Balasubramanian was celebrated for all her contributions to the Nova Community. She founded Med Venture in her junior year, connecting students to the medical field through hospital visits, campus blood drive, and community fundraising. She also participates in: Student Senate, Cross Country, Track & Field, Letters of Love, and National Honor Society. Her teachers highlight the joy she brings to every interaction, the leadership that she demonstrates on a regular basis, and her embodiment of the virtues Nova seeks to cultivate: fortitude, justice, prudence, temperance, and wisdom.
• The Board voted to approve the change of the athletic association for Nova. Nova will leave the Skyline association at the end of the Fall sport season and enter the Minnesota Classical Athletic Association. The intention with this thoughtful change is to create a more competitive level of sport across our team sports for our athletes and to be better able to provide them with encouragement in their athletic endeavors.
• The Board reviewed the first reading of the Employee Handbook. The largest changes in this edition are the result of alignment between time off and MN Earned Sick and Safe Time rules.
• The Expansion project is progressing with permits finally in hand! The hole is being dug to pour footings and prepare for the walls to be installed in the next month.
• The Board added a parent to the Governance Committee. Volunteering on a Board Committee is a great way to engage in the leadership of our school and a great way to explore potential future Board membership.
• Board Elections are underway. Vote today!

• The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Please join virtually or at school.

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

Board meetings are open to the public. All are welcome to attend meetings. We are also open to having Nova family members join our work groups. If you are interested in attending or joining a board committee those can be found here.

The Nova Classical Board of Directors Election ends on Monday, May 11, at 4:00 PM. Eligible voters should have received an email from Simply Voting with a link to their online ballot.

If you are a parent/legal guardian of a currently enrolled student or a current employee of Nova Classical and did NOT receive an email, please email governance@novaclassical.org.

Information about the candidates is available on the Nova Classical website.

Volunteers Needed! Check out the open positions open positions here. Choose from short-term, long-term or one-time commitment).

2026 Teacher/Staff Appreciation

Nova PTO showing our appreciation and gratitude towards the teachers and staff May 4-8, 2026. We are accepting monetary donations here to help with the costs of the festivities.

Upcoming Gatherings & Events.

• Monday to Friday, 5/4-5/8: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

• Sunday, 5/31: Grades 2-5 Kickball Game. Click here for tickets.

• Thursday, 7/16: Historic Hill Garden Party & History Walk (adults only). Click here for tickets.

Find Gatherings Tickets, connect to the Family Directory, and get involved at novapto.org.

May:

4-8: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

15: Boosterthon Fun Run and Color Run

18: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

22: No School (Staff Work Day)

25: No School (Building Closed)

June:

3: Last Day of School

19: No School (Building Closed)

29: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

July:

1-7: Building Closed

27: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

30: Used Uniform Sale

Summer Hours:

M-Th, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, from June 5-August 14

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!

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!