Important School Information

To report an absence, please call in to (651) 209-6320 and select option 8.

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability. For detailed information, see the “Student Attendance Statute” MN 120A.22 Subd. 4 and 6.

Reporting Student Absences

Please contact the school in advance if you know your child will be absent. Student absences must be reported to the school by the start of school on the day of the absence or tardy. Parents may report an absence by calling the school office, or by submitting notification of absence online.

Student Sign-Out Policy

Students must be signed in and out of the school building by a parent or guardian. When a parent, guardian, or other authorized person comes to pick up a student during the instructional day, he or she must come into the school office to sign out the student or to provide a written notice to the school. A student will not be pulled from class for a mid-day sign out until a parent arrives in the school office. Please time appointments and student pick-up accordingly.

Ill-Child Pick Up

The school will make every effort to contact a parent or guardian immediately when a student is sick and needs to go home during the school day. It is expected that when you receive a call regarding an ill child, you will pick him/her up within 60 minutes of being contacted.

A student absent from school shall be excused for the following reasons:

1. Absence because of illness, medical, dental or diagnostic testing appointments.
   The school may require an absence of three (3) consecutive school days or more due to these reasons to be documented in writing by the treating physician, dentist, other health professional.
2. Absence because of death in the immediate family. Immediate family includes the grandparents of the student and the descendants of a grandparent of the student.
3. Absence due to attendance or observance of religious holidays. We request written notice of absences due to religious observance in advance of the absence.
4. Pre-planned college visits for students and families.
5. Absences because of other circumstances as approved by Administration prior to the absence.

All absences other than those described in the Excused Absences section above are considered unexcused. The consequences for unexcused absences are as follows:

1. 3 Unexcused Absences:  Nova will send a written notification (attendance alert letter) to the parent and student regarding the school attendance issue with a warning that a failure to improve will result in a referral to the School Attendance Matters program (SAM).
2. 5 Unexcused Absences:  Nova will send a written notification to the parent and student that a referral has been made to the School Attendance Matters program (SAM).  The parent will be notified by the Ramsey County Attorney’s office of the date and time of the program meeting.  The parents and/or student(s) are required to attend this meeting.
3. 5-10 Unexcused Absences:  A meeting with the school principal is required to complete an In-School Attendance Contract.
4. 10+ Unexcused Absences: Nova will notify the parent and student that a referral has been made for a School Attendance Review Team (SART) hearing. The parent will be notified by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office of the date and time of the hearing.
5. 15+ Unexcused Absences: Students whose attendance does not improve after the SART hearing may be petitioned to Court.

* The School of Grammar counts absences by the days. – 1 day = 1 day.

* The School of Logic and Rhetoric counts absences by the period. – 7 periods = 1 day.

* Both the Upper and Lower School counts 3 unexcused tardies as 1 unexcused absence.

Please contact the appropriate school office in advance whenever you know your child will be absent; we have dial-in absence phone lines as well as an online absence form on the Nova website. If your child will be absent or tardy, you must notify the school by the start of the day on the day of the absence or tardy. Missed school work due to excused absences must be made up per the section on Make-Up Work.

Health & Wellness

Questions? Please contact the Health Office

Educational Benefits & Menus

Wellness Policy, policy #533 (under Sections 8-Mandatory Policies)

Questions? Please contact our Food Services Director

Nova Classical provides free bus transportation to all students living within the city of St. Paul (and within the current St. Paul Public School boundary lines), and more than two miles from Nova Classical. Additionally, we provide bus transportation to students living within two miles of the school at a cost of $200/family for the year. Student bus information automatically rolls forward to the next year and families will receive an email by mid-August with bus stop information for that school year. Complete the form below if you need changes made to your current bus transportation (new rider, no longer riding, move to a new address, etc.).

• 2024-2025 Bus change Request Form
• Transportation Frequently Asked Questions
• My Ride K-12 App Guide (Route Stops and Times)
• Here Comes the Bus App Guide (GPS)
• St. Paul Public School District Boundaries

In an effort to streamline our dismissal process as well as increase safety, we use a program called Silent Dismissal for our end of day dismissal procedure. Click the following links for more information:

Parking and traffic around Nova Classical can be tricky, particularly at morning drop off and afternoon pick up. For the safety of our students and everyone in the Nova Classical community, please follow the rules of all posted street signs and directions from staff if you are asked to move.

For the safety of all families, please follow these rules:

• Pay attention to posted parking signs and do not park in illegal areas. Illegal areas include the bus loading zone, passenger loading zones, driveway entrances to the Nova parking lot, within 20 feet of a crosswalk (marked and unmarked) and any area that indicates no parking. Choose a different space if you’re unsure if you are parked legally.
• Passenger loading zones are ONLY for quick drop off and pick up. Parking in these areas is prohibited. The driver should remain in the vehicle at all times in the passenger loading zones. If your child(ren) can’t get in and out of the car quickly, please find a place to park instead of using the passenger loading zones.
• Drop off and pick up for students whose last name begins with the letters A – K is on the Mercer St. (back) side of the building. Drop off and pick up for students whose last name begins with the letters L – Z is on the Victoria Way (front) side of the building. Kindergarten ONLY drop off is done, in person, via the main entrance and pick up via the Kindergarten entrance on the Victoria Way side of the building.
• Follow the direction of staff members, crossing guards, etc. When crossing the street, use the designated crosswalk on the south side of the building and the unmarked crosswalk on the north side of the building (we are working on getting this painted). Do not cross between buses or parked vehicles. As adults, we are role models for our young scholars and want to make sure they are crossing streets safely by our example.
• Do not make a U-turn on any of the streets adjacent to Nova. Please drive around the block instead.
• Do not use your cell phone or any other device that may distract you while driving.

Following these directives will provide for a more efficient drop off/pick up process and ensure our students’ safety as well as that of the larger community. Thank you for your cooperation!

Activities – RevTrack

Field Trips – RevTrack

Lunch – Infinite Campus

Scholar Zone – RevTrack

School Events – RevTrack

Spirit Wear – BSN Sports

Transportation – PayPal Invoice

LibraryGo cards are active and ready to use!

Nova’s LibraryGo partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) grants library access to all our students regardless of where you live. Your student’s card is active and ready to use! Check out the library’s online collections of e-books, e-audiobooks, access online magazines, newspapers and databases from home, or go to one of the library’s 14 neighborhood branches to check out up to 5 library materials including books, CDs, DVDs, and Maker Kits. This program is completely free. The materials do not incur late fees and there is a read-down-the-cost program for fees incurred from lost items.

Go to sppl.org Your child’s library card number is built using their Nova Lunch PIN number:

Nova’s number (2209190300) + (your child’s 4-digit lunch PIN number)

Password: Your child’s birthday written MMDDYY, for example, January 26, 2012 would be 01262012

Contact Ms. Gabor if you have any questions.

Uniforms at Nova Classical Academy

Nova Classical Academy utilizes a uniform code and practice that we see as vital to the success of our students and our school as a whole. The purpose of the uniform policy is two-fold. First, it is functional: to focus students’ attention on their work at school rather than their attire and to project a unified school image, which is proper and neat in appearance, reflecting the importance we place on being prepared to learn. Second, it is philosophical: serving as a tool of character development (i.e., developing a sense of simplicity, dignity, and respect; understanding principles and how rules are connected to principles; making prudent decisions, etc.). Uniforms are a means to help all members of the school attend to the mission and vision of the school.

Nova Classical Academy students are expected to be in uniform on a daily basis. Administration may designate non-uniform days such as themed dress-up days or Spirit Wear days. It is the responsibility of the students and their parents to ensure that the student adheres to the uniform expectations. The Administration will develop uniform guidelines that specify what items are appropriate for students at each stage.

Uniform Assistance. Faculty, staff, and administration will work to support students and families in meeting uniform expectations and minimize time away from class attending to uniform related needs.

Click below to visit our School Spirit Wear store.

School Supply Lists

Being ready to learn involves being physically and mentally prepared to take in new information and think deeply about ideas and perspectives being discussed. It also involves organizing one’s school supplies to be best prepared for each and every class and the work that is involved with learning and developing one’s understanding. 

Nova Classical Academy offers the EduKit program as a convenient option for busy families to order school supplies for the upcoming school year. EduKits include the supplies approved by your student’s teachers. Early Bird orders provide for FREE shipping and ensure your student’s orders in his/her classroom during Nova’s Open House. The deadline to order is June 24, 2024. Your order also directly supports the initiatives and activities of the Nova PTO throughout the school year. Thank you for your support!

Students and families are also welcome to review the supply lists and purchase individual items as needed. Questions regarding specific supply items can be directed to the Lower or Upper School Office Managers.

K-5 Edukit Online Ordering Here

Section 1 | Legal Authority for Policies, Establishment, & Implementation of Policies

Section 2 | Board of Directors, Recruitment, Meetings, Agenda, Committees, Training

Section 3 | Applications, Admission, and Enrollment

Section 4 | School Administration

Section 5 | Curriculum

Section 6 | Student Life

Section 7 | Finance & Budget

Section 8 | Mandatory Policies

Other Policies

24-25 NCA District Testing Calendar

NCA Testing FAQ

Quick Guide for the MCA Individual Student Reports (ISR)

Understanding the MCA Individual Student Reports Video

FastBridge Family Report Guide