The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Families,

As we near the end of the first quarter, there’s much to celebrate in our students’ learning and involvement across the Nova Classical community. Our recent National Honor Society Induction honored students who exemplify scholarship and service, and Grandparent & Special Person Day gave families a wonderful opportunity to see our students’ learning in action. Highlights like Homecoming Spirit Week and the SoL Movie Night added plenty of school spirit and fun to the season. In the week ahead, we’re excited to take part in Unity Day, a time for students and staff to come together in celebration of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. We’re grateful for the many ways you support your students and our school community, it makes all the difference.

Important Dates:

• Thursday, 10/16: No School (Staff Workday)

• Friday, 10/17: No School (Building Closed)

• Monday, 10/20: No School (Building Closed)

Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend ahead!

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

This month Senior Arantza Martinez-Miranda reflects on a favorite Nova Classical tradition and what it means to her.

"My favorite Nova tradition is Multicultural night. This night is meaningful to me because I get to learn about other people's backgrounds and what is important to them. During this event, people get to share their stories and this makes me feel both happy and also curious about the cultures of other people. Of course, the food is a great part. I get to taste and experience new types of foods that I wouldn't normally try. Something I would love to see would be a multicultural club. We have so many amazing cultures at Nova that I think it would be great if we could celebrate them not just one night, but throughout the year!" ~Arantza Martinez-Miranda, Class of 2026

We are honored to celebrate these students for their achievements!

Awards will be shared at the SoL Assembly on Thursday, October 30, and the SoR Assembly on Friday, October 31.

September Students of the Month

Congratulations to our Students of the Month, honored for showing fortitude and nominated by their teachers for consistently demonstrating perseverance: Anya Solodin (7), Adam Garske (7), Nikolai Osaulenko (8), Evie Downs (8), Brooklynn Williams (8) and Maida Abdulle (10).

2025 AP Scholars

Nina Aamodt, Mahini Balasubramanian, Violet Blood, Will Choi, Henry Conlin, Sylvia Dumitrica, Adeline Fitch, Rachel Hayton, Lila McNellis, Pela Ronning, and Thomas Walker

2025 AP Scholars with Distinction

Leyla Altunbilek, Elias Andre, Madeline Brazelton, Chloe Brown, Omeed Church, James Garske, Alexander Hungs, Julien Miest, Sawyer Owens, Garrett Webb, Mary Winter, and Tai Zumbahlen

2025 AP Scholars with Honors:

Alexandra Baker, Harper Drake, Kincaid Gerber, Penelope Hafner, Thomas Huelskamp, Christine Ma, Ayla Mallberg, Arken Mason, and Thi Nguyen

2025 National Honor Society Inductees

National Merit Scholarship Commended Students

• Penelope Hafner
• Michi Liang
• Mary Beth Winter

~We’re proud to celebrate our Nova Classical Academy seniors who have been recognized as National Merit Scholarship Commended Students! This honor is awarded to students whose PSAT/NMSQT scores place them among the top 50,000 high scorers nationwide, a remarkable academic accomplishment.

⚽Senior Sawyer Owens has been named to the Minnesota State High School League Class A All-State Boys Soccer Team for 2025 — a well-deserved recognition of his skill, dedication, and leadership on the field.

Congratulations to Benaiah Mathews and Isabel Pass for their incredible performances at the Skyline Conference Championships!

🏆 Benaiah captured the individual boys’ championship for the second consecutive year, finishing with a time of 16:39.92.

🏆 Isabel earned the individual girls’ championship title with an impressive time of 18:54.45.

Their leadership and determination helped propel their teams to outstanding results!

The Boys’ Team claimed their 7th straight Skyline Conference title, while the Girls’ Team finished 3rd overall. Additional congratulations to Eli Andre, Patrick O’Keefe, and Lyle Gerber, who also earned All-Conference Top Ten honors for their strong performances. A huge round of applause to all our runners and coaches for their dedication and success!

As we near the end Quarter 1, here are key dates and resources to help students stay on track.

Important Dates:

• Friday, October 24: Last day to turn in work for Quarter 1. Any work or quizzes assigned on or after October 27, will count toward Quarter 2.

• Friday, October 31: Last day of Quarter 1. Quarter 1 grades will be posted November 5.

Supporting Student Success at Nova Classical:

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

Academic Supports:

• House Time (Monday–Thursday): Independent study for academic work, teacher meetings for extra help, and make-up assessments.

• Weekly Missing Work List: Provided to students weekly in House.

• House Activity (Friday): Community-building activities.

Family Updates:

• Alternating weekly emails to families:

• Week 1 – Missing assignments
• Week 2 – In-progress grades of D or F

We warmly invite families to collaborate with teachers to celebrate student successes, discuss progress, and explore ways to support continued growth. Your partnership is key to helping students thrive. Registration information will be emailed to families on October 21.

Conference Dates & Information:

• Thursday, November 6, 2025, 4:30-8:00 PM, in person only

• Friday, November 7, 2025, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, virtual only (Google Meet)

• Please note that all Special Education conferences will be virtual (Google Meet)

• All conference slots are 12 minutes long and will be booked through PickATime

• Conference sign-ups close 24 hours before each date

11th and 12th grade students will be given AP registration forms in House on the week of October 13, 2025. Registration forms will also be available on grade level Google Classrooms. AP Registration is due November 1, 2025. Changes to registration can be made (with an additional cost of $40 per change in registration) through March 14, 2026. Payment for AP exams are due May 1, 2026, but can be turned in with registration. Payment options and instructions can be found on the last page of the registration form. Infinite Campus payment will be available shortly after November 1st.

Students are not required to take an AP exam if they are in an AP class, though it is encouraged. Students are able to take exams for classes that Nova Classical does not offer the AP version of (e.g., Pre-calculus), though the student will be responsible for preparing for the exam on their own.

We will celebrate Unity Day on Wednesday, October 22. Students can wear orange on top and Nova uniform on the bottom. Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month. This is a day we can come together to send a visible message of building through justice, temperance, and prudence. The call to action is simple: wear and share the color orange. Started by PACER in 2011, this statement becomes a conversation starter, showing support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention. Our students will be participating in activities this day to confirm their commitment to standing up against bullying.

Please mark your calendar for the 2025-26 Upper School Spirit Wear Days!

• Thursday, October 30, 2025: SoL Spirit Wear Day
• Friday, October 31, 2025: SoR Spirit Wear Day
• Wednesday, January 14, 2026: SoL Spirit Wear Day
• Thursday, January 15, 2026: SoR Spirit Wear Day
• Wednesday, March 18, 2026: SoL Spirit Wear Day
• Thursday, March 19, 2026: SoR Spirit Wear Day
• Wednesday, May 27, 2025: ALL Upper School Spirit Wear Day

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 on our school website. Students who choose not participate are to be in uniform.

We’re excited to share details about the June 15–18, 2026 trip to Washington, D.C. for our current 8th-grade students! If you missed the information session, you can view the presentation here and register using this link.

This meaningful experience brings history, citizenship, and culture to life as students explore our nation’s capital alongside their classmates, deepening their understanding of both themselves and the world around them.

👉 Registration is open until October 24, and the deposit is due by October 31.

At Nova Classical Academy, we learn not for school but for life and this journey is a powerful extension of that purpose. Please email Mrs. Paschall with questions.

Homework Club is 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.

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.

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 25-26 Nova Classical Upper School Yearbook.

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

Student school pictures were taken last week. Pictures retakes will be held on Tuesday, October 21. 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.

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.

Drama Club Performances of Annie Jr.

Location: Park Square Theater at 20 W. 7th Pl, St. Paul, MN 55102

Tickets are live and on sale here.

Dates:

• Friday, November 14, at 6:00 PM
• Saturday, November 15, at 2:00 PM
• Saturday, November 15, at 5:30 PM

Winter Extracurricular Activities

Winter sports are now open for registration and Winter After-school Clubs will open for registration October 28, 2025. Check out our offerings on the Extracurriculars page of Nova Classical's website.

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.

Upcoming Event: Saturday, 11/8: Nova Family Carnival at Nova Classical

Get involved at novapto.org. View open volunteer spots, connect to the family directory, and more.

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

The Nova Family Carnival is on Saturday, 11/8, 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. RSVP for timed entry and sign up to volunteer.

Click the links below for specific grade-level volunteering opportunities.

• Kindergarten: Fishing Game
• First Grade: Duck Pond
• Second Grade: Plinko
• Third Grade: Bean Bag Toss
• Fourth Grade: Giant Dice Roll
• Fifth Grade: Cake Walk
• Sixth Grade: Soda Ring Toss
• Seventh Grade: Tetris Tumble
• Eighth Grade: Prize Wheel

SOR Grades 9-12 can join in the fun, as well as earn 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 NPTO Carnival in November. 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. Landrum (Voelker), School Counselor, Grades 8-12, with questions or ideas.

October

• 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

November

• Monday, November 3: Beginning of Q2
• Thursday, November 6: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00 PM
• Friday, November 7: Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (VIRTUAL ONLY)
• Saturday, November 8: Nova Family Carnival 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday, November 11: NPTO Zoom Meeting 7:30-8:30 PM
• Thursday, November 13: Enrollment Open House 5:30-7:00 PM
• Thursday, November 20: Give to the Max
• Monday, November 24: No School (Staff Professional Development)
• Tuesday, November 25: No School (Staff Work Day)
• November 26-28: School Closed (Observed Holidays)

See Full Calendar

Athletics Calendar