The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Families,

As we move into the final weeks of the school year the energy in our building this time of year is truly something special. The weeks ahead offer many opportunities to recognize and celebrate all that our students and staff have achieved.

We recently celebrated Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable educators and staff members who show up for our students every single day. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and genuine care are at the heart of everything we do, and our community is better because of them. A heartfelt thank you to our NPTO for the time and thoughtfulness they poured into honoring our teachers and staff.

I also want to extend a huge thank you to our community for your generous support of the SoL Boosterthon and Color Run. Because of you, we not only met our goal, we surpassed it, raising over $72,000! Thank you!

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

Important Dates:

• Friday, May 22: No School (Staff Work Day)
• Friday, May 22 & Saturday, May 23: Drama Performances of Antigone
• Monday, May 25: No School (Memorial Day)
• Sunday, May 31: SoR Graduation
• Tuesday, June 2: 8th Grade Promotion
• Wednesday, June 3: Last Day of School

We are honored to celebrate our students for their achievements!

April Students of the Month

April Students of the Month were selected by their teachers for demonstrating excellence in justice. Congratulations to: Vera Delgado (8), Logan Mangan (9), Isabel Pass (9), James Olson (10), Bradley Yang (10), and Lucie Byron (12). We applaud your displays of justice!

National Merit Scholar-Scholarship Awards
We are proud to celebrate Eli Andre who has been awarded a National Merit Scholarships by his chosen university. Please join us in congratulating this outstanding scholar on this remarkable achievement!

Athena Award

Maria Odegard has been selected as a St. Paul Area Athena Award winner. This award honors female athletes for their dedication and excellence in sports and Maria's outstanding achievements in soccer and track. We are proud of you, Maria!

Multicultural Night

Many thank to our SoR NHS and Nova Classical Equity Team for organizing a truly memorable Multicultural Night. Watching students and families celebrate and share their backgrounds with such enthusiasm and pride reminds us why community matters. Thank you!

Returning Items

Please help your student locate and return any school-issued books and materials, and encourage them to clean and organize their locker and backpack. All school-issued books are to be turned no later than Wednesday, June 3.

Final Exams

The last days of the school year often are filled with end of year projects, papers, and exams. Not every class assigns a traditional final exam, however, to help ensure students do not have too many major tests on a given day, we stagger tests by subject area as follows:

• Wed. 5/27: SoL Specialists-A Day
• Thurs. 5/28: History, Science and SoL Specialists-B Day and SoR Specialists-A Day
• Fri. 5/29: Math and SoL Specialists-C Day and SoR Specialists-B Day
• Mon. 6/1: English and Languages
• Tues. 6/2: Make up exams and exam completions, if needed

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, report cards will no longer be mailed home. Grading and classroom comments can be found in your student’s Infinite Campus portal. You can log in at any time to stay up-to-date on your student’s academic progress. For assistance with logging in or resetting your password, please contact Michelle Ingram at mingram@novaclassical.org.

Thank you to our incredible Nova Classical community for helping us soar past our fundraising goal! Because of your generosity, enthusiasm, and support, we raised more than $72,000 to help keep our programs strong and stable.

From academics and extracurriculars to student support and enrichment opportunities, your gifts make a lasting impact on our school community each and every day. We are deeply grateful to our families, friends, staff, and supporters who shared, donated, volunteered, and cheered us on throughout this journey.

Together, we truly reached the stars — thank you for investing in our students and the future of Nova Classical Academy!

Spirit Wear Days

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

• Tuesday, May 26, SoL Spirit Wear Day
• Wednesday, May 27, SoR Spirit Wear Day

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

It has been fun to see our scholars embracing a new Nova 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 celebrate this colorful tradition.

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.

Guarantee a 6th-12th grade yearbook for your student. Place your order now! The order link will remain open until May 22, or until yearbooks sell out.

Not sure if you already placed an order? Please contact Mrs. Tetmeyer at yearbook@novaclassical.org.

8th Grade Promotion – Tuesday, June 2

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 2, at 6:00 PM. Students should arrive promptly at 5:30 PM.

SoL Last Day of School

On Wednesday, June 3, students in grades 6-8 will have a final day schedule including Disputatio, locker clean out, House activities, yearbook signing, and the "Highland Games."

SoR Disputatio, Career Fair, and Ascot

The SoR Disputatio (a medieval-esque trivia contest in each grade level) as well as a Career Fair sponsored by Nova's National Honor Society, will take place the morning Thursday, May 21. Our annual Ascot for grades 9-12 will take place from 4th hour through the afternoon. A cherished tradition for our School of Rhetoric students, this event offers students a festive experience centered on the literature and history they've explored throughout their high school journey. Featuring games, food trucks, and a chance to unwind and celebrate in their accomplishments after completing theses, major papers, seminars, exams and standardized tests, students are encouraged to don elegant attire as they celebrate the occasion. 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.

Valley Fair Field Trip, June 3

Students in Grades 9-11 have the opportunity to attend the Valleyfair Field trip on the last day of school on June 3. The cost is $55. Field trip forms will be distributed in House the week of May 5, and are due today, May 21.

May 29: Senior Class T-Shirt Day

• Seniors may wear their class t-shirt with jeans (no rips/shreds)

• Out of uniform guidelines can be found here

• Seniors who do not participate are to be in uniform

May 21: SoR Ascot Day

May 29: Graduation Breakfast and Rehearsal

May 31: Graduation 2:00 PM. Seniors report to school at 1:00 PM

We would love your help making this year's graduation reception a special celebration! If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up. Every helping hand makes a difference. Thank you for supporting our graduates and their families.

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.

• 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.

Please note, the last day of Homework Club for this year is Thursday, May 28.

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.

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.

Ivy Camps is BACK!

We’re excited to announce that Summer Scholar Zone registration is now open — and even more excited to share that we’ve secured Ivy Camps once again, bringing back our favorite programs from last summer along with brand-new offerings your students will love!

Summer Scholar Zone is available to current Rising 1st–7th grade students. Please note that we are unable to accept incoming kindergarten students or students who did not attend Nova Classical Academy during the 2025–26 school year.

Families can register and manage payments online. We encourage you to select your desired days of care as soon as possible, as spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and some days may fill quickly. All registrations must be completed by May 26, 2026.

A $50 non-refundable registration fee per student is required and does not apply toward session fees. Day fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Enrollment in the regular before- and/or after-school Scholar Zone program is not required to participate in Summer Scholar Zone.

Enrollment Options:

• Daily Rate (1-3 sessions per week): $70/day

• 4 sessions per week: $65/day

• 5 sessions per week: $60/day

We can’t wait to welcome your students for another fun-filled, enriching summer with Scholar Zone and Ivy Camps!

Nova Upper School Drama

Antigone takes the stage this weekend, 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.

Summer is just around the corner! Registration for summer activities is open on the Extracurriculars page of the Nova website.

Strength and Conditioning - Begins June 9, 2026

High School Session - Rising 9-12, Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30-8:30 AM

Middle School Session - Rising 6-8, Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30-9:30 AM

Summer Volleyball - Begins June 9, 2026

Rising 7-12, Tuesdays, 5:00-7:00 PM

Fiber Arts

Session One: Rising 4-7, July 13-16, 1:00-3:30 PM

Session Two: Rising 4-7, July 20-23, 1:00-3:30 PM

Coed Youth Soccer

Rising 3-6, June 22-26, 9:00-11:00 AM

Volunteers Needed

Check out the open positions, here. Short term, long term, and one time commitment opportunities are available.

Nova PTO has established the Community Support Fund to raise separate funds to support members of our community in need. Click here to donate.

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

Volunteers - We Need You!

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:

• May 31: Graduation Reception
• June 2: Promotion Ceremony and Reception
• Leading up to and on July 30: Used Uniform Sale

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.

Hennepin County Emergency General Assistance: Offers support for rent, utilities, and temporary shelter.

Hastings Family Service

• Assists with food, clothing, or utility needs
• Call: (651) 437-7134

Dakota County Employment and Economic Assistance

• Provides information about public aid and emergency help
• Call: (651) 554-5611

Ramsey County Keystone Community Food Center

You can visit Keystone’s Community Food Center located at 1800 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104. The center is between the Wendy’s and Arby’s on the corner of Fairview and University. No appointment or advanced registration is required. Food shelf participants are served on a first come, first served basis during the hours listed below. Please call (651) 917-3792 if you have any questions.

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM & 2:00-4:00 PM
• Wednesday: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM & 4:00-6:00 PM

**Please note, there is no morning service on the following 2026 dates:

• Wednesdays: June 3, September 2, and December 2.

May:

22: No School (Staff Work Day)

25: No School (Building Closed)

31: SoR Graduation at 2:00 PM

June:

2: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at 6:00 PM

3: Last Day of School

19: No School (Building Closed)

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

Nova Classical Event Calendar

Athletics and Activities Calendar