The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Families,

With the start of a new school year, it is a pleasure to welcome students and families back to campus. After a summer of rest and preparation, we look forward to the building being filled with curiosity, learning, and community. A warm welcome to our returning families, and a special greeting to those joining the Nova community this year.

We encourage families to be active participants in school life. Whether through Nova PTO, the Upper School Parent Advisory, the Senior Celebration Committee, or other events throughout the year, your involvement enriches our community and makes a meaningful difference for students.

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday. The evening provided an opportunity to connect with teachers, explore classrooms, and share in the excitement of a new year. If you have any follow-up questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for entrusting us as partners in your child’s education. We look forward to a year filled with growth, learning, and accomplishments.

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

Mr. Stewart Lindstrom, Latin

Mr. Lindstrom, a Nova alum and former captain of our cross-country team, will be teaching Latin in the School of Logic and School of Rhetoric this year. He comes to us from The Journey School, where he taught grades 5–8 English Language Arts. Mr. Lindstrom will also serve as assistant coach for Boys and Girls Cross Country Running this fall.

We’re so excited to see Mr. Lindstrom bring his passion for classical education and Nova spirit into the classroom and on the trails!

Ms. Glenna Gilbert, Science

Ms. Gilbert brings a wealth of experience to Nova, with degrees in Biology, Pharmacology, and Law. Before entering education, she worked as an attorney helping clients with scientific patents and pharmaceutical development. Most recently, she taught 8th-grade science and is currently completing her Master of Education.

We’re so excited for Ms. Gilbert to share her passion for science and discovery with our 6th and 7th grade students!

Dr. Mike Landesman, Science

Dr. Landesman holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and brings a strong background in scientific research and development. He has worked as a staff scientist in analytical chemistry and in R&D at bioMérieux/BioFire Diagnostics. This year, Dr. Landesman will be teaching Chemistry in the School of Rhetoric and 6th grade Science in the School of Logic.

We’re excited for Dr. Landesman to inspire Nova students with his passion for scientific discovery and critical thinking!

Mr. Chase Adelsman, Math

Mr. Chase Adelsman will continue in his role teaching School of Logic Math, following his service as a long-term substitute last year.

A proud Nova alumnus and the Director of our Theater Program, Chase brings a deep commitment to Nova’s mission and a passion for student growth. We’re thrilled to have him continue as part of the teaching faculty!

Ms. Anna Clowser, Art

Welcome Ms. Anna Clowser as our new School of Logic Art teacher and Study Skills Teacher.

Ms. Clowser earned an MFA in Art, a BFA in Sculpture, and a BA in Social Justice from the University of Minnesota. She has served as a Teaching Assistant in a variety of classes at the University of Minnesota since 2022 and has been a collaborator with Culture, Healing, Art, Nature & Technology (CHANT) since 2023. She is excited to bring her passion for art and education to Nova, sharing that she looks forward to “encouraging curiosity and critical thinking, using art as a method to help students as they learn more about the world and themselves.”

Ms. Debbie Conrad, In House Substitute Teacher

Ms. Conrad will be joining us as one of our K-12 In-House Substitute Teachers, supporting students across all grade levels. With a background in Psychology and a specialist degree in Applied Behavioral Strategy, she brings valuable experience from her work in special education and classroom support.

We are excited to have Ms. Conrad on board and know her calm, caring presence will make a big difference across the Nova community!

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! Everything you need to know, including information about transportation, uniforms, school supplies, and more is updated on our website.

Quick Links:

• School Uniform Guidelines Updated for 2025-2026
• Nova Bus Information
• Silent Dismissal Process (end of day dismissal for K-8)
• Educational Benefits

We can't wait to see you back on campus!

As part of our commitment to maintaining a focused and supportive school environment, Nova Classical Academy continues to uphold a uniform policy that supports both individual student success and our broader school community. This year, we’re pleased to share that students from both the School of Logic and the School of Rhetoric contributed meaningful input to the updated Upper School Uniform Guidelines. Their feedback helped shape a policy that reflects both the practical needs of our learning environment and the values of our classical tradition.

• We appreciate your support in helping students follow these expectations—such as wearing a polo or oxford shirt under sweaters and sweatshirts, keeping shirts tucked in, and ensuring uniform bottoms meet the required length and material standards. Your partnership helps uphold the high expectations we share at Nova.
• Students are expected to be in uniform every day unless it is a designated non-uniform day, such as Spirit Wear or a themed dress-up day. On those days, students are still expected to follow the Out of Uniform Guidelines, which can be found here.
• If a student needs assistance meeting uniform requirements, please know that school administration is here to help. Our aim is always to support students while minimizing time out of class.

Nova Classical’s uniform policy is designed to minimize distractions, encourage preparedness, and promote a unified, professional appearance. It also supports character development by reinforcing values such as simplicity, dignity, and respect, while helping students understand how principles connect to rules. Uniform guidelines for each school are available on our website. Thank you for helping us maintain a learning environment that reflects Nova’s mission and values.

Nova Classical Upper School is excited to launch a new tradition--Fun Sock Fridays! Upper School students and staff are invited to wear socks with patterns or fun colors every Friday. Show off your style and join in the fun as we kick off this colorful tradition!

A friendly reminder: Administration reserves the final approval to ensure that socks remain appropriate for the school environment.

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

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

We are excited to begin this school year together and grateful for the strong partnership between home and school that helps our students thrive. As we settle into routines, please take some time to review your student’s class syllabi together. These documents outline course expectations, grading practices, and important information for each class. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to reach out directly to your student’s teacher.

At Nova Classical, we are committed to supporting every student’s academic and personal growth.

Academic Supports provided to all students:

Nova Classical offers a variety of academic supports to help students stay on track:

• House Time

• Independent study, designated for academic work time, Monday-Thursday

• Time to meet with teachers for extra help, make up assessments

• Missing work list provided directly to students once a week

• House Activity (community building), Friday

• To help families stay informed, Nova sends alternating weekly email updates:

• Week 1: Missing assignments

• Week 2: In-progress grades of D or F

Thank you for reviewing this information with your student and for continuing to support their learning at home. Together, we can ensure that students feel prepared, supported, and confident in their growth this year.

Starting on Tuesday, September 2, Homework Club will be offered for Upper School students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00–5:00 PM, led by an Upper School Teacher and Educational Assistant. There is no fee for this academic support program and students are encouraged to register using this link.

• Students should arrive by 4:00 PM and be picked up promptly at 5:00 PM.

• Supervision is not available for SoG siblings; please consider registering for Scholar Zone if needed.

Although students are not required to attend every session in order to participate, this is a great way for students to receive extra support and stay on top of their school work! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Paschall.

Current 8th students and their families who are interested in learning more about the June 2026 to Washington D.C. are invited to attend an information session at Nova Classical on Tuesday, September 23, at 6:00 PM.

Monday-Friday, September 22-26

• Homecoming House Activities, (SoR)
• SoR Spirit Week Dress Days, Monday-Thursday -- SoR Only Out of Uniform day guidelines apply
• Dress Days to be announced by SoR Senate
• Friday, September 26: SoG/SoL/SoR Spirit Wear Day
  
• Students wearing Nova Classical Spirit Wear may wear jeans or uniform bottoms
• Students who choose not participate are to be in uniform

Friday, September 26: Parade at 2:00 PM. Parents/Guardians and Alumni are welcome to attend!

Saturday, September 27: SoR Homecoming Dance 7:00 to 10:00 PM (Grades 9-12)

• Guest Permission Slips (Link HERE) are due Wednesday, September 24.

Has your student accomplished something exceptional outside of the classroom? Have they earned a special award, been recognized with a medal, or made a significant impact in their community? We’d love to hear about their achievements! Please share the details by filling out and submitting this form. Your child might be featured in our morning announcements, celebrated during a student assembly, highlighted in our staff newsletter, or noted in The Herald.

Nova Classical continues to participate in Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. This means that all students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. No application, income verification, or preordering is required.

Please complete the 2025-2026 Educational Benefits application which is now available in Infinite Campus. If you prefer, you may also download the application on Nova Classical's website.

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!

Meals are prepared and delivered by CKC Good Food. Please see the August menus at our Food Service Website.

The state of Minnesota requires that schools share the dates of their lockdown/active shooter drills with parents and guardians. An active shooter drill is an emergency preparedness drill designed to teach students, teachers, school personnel, and staff how to respond in the event of an armed intruder on campus or an armed assailant in the immediate vicinity of the school. At Nova Classical Academy, we call these drills "Lockdown Drills."

Active shooter drills with PreK-12 students must be:

1. Accessible, developmentally appropriate and age appropriate, including using appropriate safety language and vocabulary
2. Culturally aware
3. Trauma-informed
4. Inclusive of accommodations for students with mobility restrictions, sensory needs, developmental or physical disabilities, mental health needs, and auditory or visual limitations

Lockdown Drill Dates:

• Lock Down #1, September 30
• Lock Down #2, December 5
• Lock Down #3, April 30

Scholar Zone is offering S.O.S activities for students in Grades K-6.

Click the photo below to select your days. Each day is hyperlinked to RevTrack for easy signup. You can also see what we have planned for each day. Please email scholarzone@novaclassical.org with any questions.

After School Clubs:

Registration opened on August 11, 2025. Check out the Extracurriculars page of the Nova Classical website to see descriptions of offered clubs.

Fall Baseball Clinic, Grades 3-12:

• Registration opens August 25, 2025. More information here.

• Registration is open now on the Nova Classical website. Registration closes August 29, 2025.

Home Athletic Games

Grades 9-12 - Student passes for students in grades 9-12 are available on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. All students must have a pass to enter games. Passes are $10 and get you into all home volleyball, basketball and soccer games with the exception of section play off games.

Grades 6-8 - Students must be accompanied by an adult who is not a current student. Students without an adult will not be admitted to the game. Family passes are available for purchase on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website. Passes are good for regular season games only.

All Students - Be prepared!! Get picked up on time after the end of the game. Call your ride with 15 minutes left in the soccer game and at the beginning of the 3rd game of the volleyball match.

SoR Lunch Clubs:

Club Leaders - stop by the Activities Department (Office 201) and confirm your club details for the year with Mr. Rovn or Ms. Rogers. Details should include the following:

• staff supervisor name
• meeting room number
• all meeting dates for the first semester
• general list of initial attendees

Clubs may begin to meet the week of September 15, 2025, if all information has been received by the Activities Department. Club leaders and staff supervisors will receive an email with instructions for the new attendance procedure, after all information has been received and reviewed. Questions? Email activities@novaclassical.org.

Still have a question? You can email athletics@novaclassical.org or activities@novaclassical.org

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.

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, 8/27, 8:15 AM - 9:30 AM: First Day of Kindergarten Coffee/Donuts -- ALL PARENTS WELCOME.

• Wednesday, 9/10, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dine to Donate at A-Side Public House. Reservations recommended.

• Saturday, 9/27, 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM: Great Gatherings Kickoff Party. Join us for an adults-only casual reception at Summit Brewing. Register NOW. Admission is FREE if you register by Friday, 9/19. Visit Great Gatherings Kickoff for more details.

• Saturday, 10/11: Book Fair at Barnes & Noble at HarMar Mall Roseville

• Saturday, 11/8: Nova Family Carnival at Nova Classical

Share your time and talents with Nova PTO, we are always looking for helpers. Single event, short term and long term roles, click here for a current list of volunteer opportunities.

The Nova Family Carnival is on Saturday, November 8 from 10:00am-4:00pm 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 carnival highlights page to see some of the fun we had last year! The families of each grade level support this event by hosting a carnival games as shown below:

• Kindergarten.........................Fishing Game
• First Grade................................Duck Pond
• Second Grade..................................Plinko
• Third Grade..........................Bean Bag Toss
• Fourth Grade.......................Giant Dice Roll
• Fifth Grade.................................Cake Walk
• Seventh Grade........................Tetris Tumble
• Eight Grade...............................Prize Wheel

Grades 9-12 can join in the fun as well as rack up volunteer hours.

Parents and Community Members:

Apply to become an active volunteer to help support our staff and scholars! Once you're active in our volunteer system, sign up for opportunities such as helping out at the September Great Gathering Kickoff Party or October B&N Bookfair.

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.

Many thanks to all the parents, guardians, and SoR volunteers who have contributed their time and energy this summer! Highlights include:

• Used Uniform Sale: Volunteers donated more than 60 hours to sort, stage, and run the event. Special thanks to our NPTO for fostering community among shoppers, coordinating carpool connections, and recruiting volunteers for future events.

• Community Service: SoR volunteers supported local organizations, including zoos, animal shelters, summer camps, and Sholom Home, meeting a variety of community needs.

• Summer Academic Programming: Teachers hosted engaging and enriching programs, including our Summer Boost Program, helping students stay motivated and prepared for the school year.

Your dedication and service make a meaningful difference for our students and our community. Thank you for all that you do!

Have any great summer adventures? Or just hanging with Nova Classical friends? Played softball, baseball or lacrosse this summer? We’d love to showcase that and more in the 24/25 Nova Classical US Yearbook.

We are also looking for Spring Prom photos and the 8th grade trip to Washington DC. Submit photos to yearbook@novaclassical.org

August

• Monday, August 25: First Day of School

September

• Tuesday, September 2: NPTO 7:30 PM (Virtual)

• Wednesday, September 10: Picture Day

• Monday-Friday, September 22-26: SoR Spirit Week

• Friday, September 26: All-School Homecoming Parade and Spirit Wear Day

• Saturday, September 27: SoR Homecoming Dance 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Saturday, September 27: Great Gatherings Carnival (Adults only)

• Monday, September 29: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

October

• Thursday, October 2: No School (Staff Work Day)

• Friday, October 3: No School (Professional Development)

• Tuesday, October 7: Parent/Guardian Education Night and NPTO Meeting

• Saturday, October 11: Barnes & Noble Book Fair

• Wednesday, October 15: Grandparent & Special Person Day

• Thursday, October 16: No School (Staff Work Day)

• Friday, October 17: No School (Building Closed)

• Monday, October 20: No School (Building Closed)

• Wednesday, October 22: Unity Day

• Monday, October 27: Board of Directors Meeting at 6:00 PM

• Friday, October 31: End of Q1

See Full Calendar

Athletics Calendar