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| FAQ about Nova and Enrollment | Kindergarten FAQ |
FAQ
- How was Nova Classical Academy started?
- What is a charter school?
- Who authorizes Nova?
- How many students attend Nova?
- What are the section sizes?
- Does Nova charge tuition?
- What is the difference between Kindergarten and Enrichment?
- What are the school hours and calendar?
- Do St. Paul students get preference for enrollment?
- Does Nova have any admission requirements?
- Does Nova have a gifted program?
- Does Nova provide Special Education services?
- What are the student demographics at Nova?
- Does Nova have band and/or orchestra?
- What specialists does Nova have?
- Does Nova have computers?
- What foreign languages are offered at Nova?
- Does Nova have a gym?
- What extracurricular activities are offered at Nova?
- Does Nova offer busing?
- Does Nova have a hot lunch program?
- Do Nova students wear uniforms?
How was Nova Classical Academy started?
Nova Classical Academy was founded by three St. Paul parents: Elisa Knudson, Simon Fung, and Teresa Schulte. These parents saw a need in the public school system for the kind of rigorous classical education typically found only in private schools. They also saw a need for a school that acknowledged parents as the primary educators of their children and which sought to assist them in that task. Nova Classical Academy opened in the fall of 2003 with approximately 165 students in grades K–6. Grades 7 and 8 were added in 2004 and 2005. Grades 9, 10, and 11 were added in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and we will eventually educate students in grades K–12 beginning in the fall of 2012.
Please see our History page for further details.
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a public school that receives public education funding and is open to all children in the state in which it is located. In general, a charter school is independent of the local school district, nonsectarian, tuition-free, and governed by a board of directors elected from among the parents and staff of the school as well as interested community members. In return for increased accountability for results, charter schools are free of many regulations governing traditional public schools. Charter schools must have an authorizer to oversee these accountability efforts. Minnesota passed the first charter school law in 1991 and saw the opening of the first charter school in the nation in 1992. Now, 40 states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing the creation of charter schools. In Minnesota, charter schools are part of the state’s system of public education.
Who authorizes Nova?
Charter schools may be authorized by schools boards, institutions of higher learning and certain nonprofit corporations. Contracts with authorizers must be examined and renewed every three years. Nova is authorized by Friends of Education, a nonprofit corporation organized specifically to sponsor knowledge-based charter schools. Friends of Education authorizes a number of other charter schools in the Twin Cities.
How many students attend Nova?
We currently enroll approximately 695 students in grades K–11. We have three sections each of grades K–5 and two sections each of grades 6–11.
Nova holds a K–12 charter. Our current growth plan will have Nova at three sections of K–8 and two sections of 9–12 in 2015.
What are the section sizes?
20 students in Kindergarten, 24 in grades 1 and 2, 26 in grades 3–11.
Does Nova charge tuition?
No. Nova Classical Academy is a public school and is funded by general education revenues just like any other public school. We do expect parents to participate in fundraising activities, and some non-required programs are fee-based.
What is the difference between Kindergarten and Enrichment?
Kindergarten at Nova is a half-day program. Nova does offer an optional afternoon Enrichment Program for enrolled Kindergartners on a fee basis. The fee for the Enrichment Program for the current year (2011–12) is $2,700 for the full year ($900 per trimester). A Kindergarten student may enroll in the afternoon Enrichment Program at the beginning of three “entry points.”
What are the school hours and calendar?
Classes begin at the Lower Campus (Kindergarten–5) at 9:00 AM and continue through 3:40 PM. Kindergarten begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 11:30 AM (unless students remain for the optional Enrichment Program which also ends at 3:40 PM).
Classes begin at the Upper Campus at 8:40 AM and continue through 3:50 PM.
Do St. Paul students get preference for enrollment?
No. With limited exceptions, charter schools do not have geographic preference areas. Any Minnesota child in the offered grades is eligible to enroll, but parents must apply for admission for their children. Charter schools DO have staff and sibling preference. Please see our handout on the application process for further information regarding deadlines and lottery procedures.
Does Nova have any admission requirements?
There are no academic or geographic admission requirements, but, as stated above, application must be made in writing. In addition, applicants who are admitted MUST come to an orientation interview and sign a partnership agreement to be enrolled. Grade placement and promotion will be determined on the basis of skills assessments.
Does Nova have a gifted program?
We are committed to providing appropriately challenging studies to gifted students within the framework of our classical curriculum. Our core curriculum is accelerated and enriched and meets the needs of most moderately gifted students. In addition, we use ability grouping to ensure that all students are comfortably challenged. Parents, and students themselves, share a large part of the responsibility for making this successful.
Does Nova provide Special Education services?
Yes. We contract with ISES, as well as employ two full-time special education teachers, for the provision of all Special Education services for our students.
What are the student demographics at Nova?
Information on Nova’s student demographics, including student population, Special Education, and Free and Reduced Price Lunch percentages, are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s website.
Does Nova have band and/or orchestra?
Playing an instrument is not only personally enriching, but research indicates that it helps with academics, especially math. Instrumental instruction and band are offered at Nova through the Hill-Murray Parish Band Program. Private string lessons and String Orchestra are also offered at Nova. These are fee-based programs.
What specialists does Nova have?
We employ specialists in the areas of Art, Music, Physical Education, and Latin.
Does Nova have computers?
Computers are an essential part of schools today—for teaching, research, communication and presentations. It is important to keep in mind, however, that computers are not an end in themselves, but a tool to help accomplish other goals. Nova’s students have access to computers in all classrooms as needed.
What foreign languages are offered at Nova?
All students study Latin beginning in 3rd grade and continue through grade 8. Once students enter into the School of Rhetoric (grade 9) and also demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Latin III, they have the option of continuing with Latin or beginning a Romance language.
Does Nova have a gym?
Nova’s Lower Campus has both indoor and outdoor facilities for recreation and physical education.
Nova’s Upper Campus has a full-sized gymnasium and uses nearby Palace Park for outdoor activities and games.
What extracurricular activities are offered?
Nova currently offers students the opportunity to participate in many athletic, scholastic, and non-scholastic activities. The following is a sample: Badminton Club, Baseball, Basketball, Book Club, Chess Club, Choirs and Vocal Ensembles, Cross Country, Destination ImagiNation, Drama Club, Fencing Club, Fencing Team, First Lego Robotics League, Golf Club, Junior Classical League Club, Junior First Lego Robotics League, Mad Science Club, Math Team, Mythology Club, Running Club, School Newspaper, Ski and Snowboard Club, Soccer, Student Senate, Sword Tag Club, Tennis Club, Volleyball, Worm Club, and Young Rembrandts Art Club.
Does Nova offer busing?
We provide transportation at no cost to any St. Paul resident who lives more than two miles from school. We also offer bus service for a fee to students who live within the two-mile limit. Families outside of St. Paul are responsible for getting children to an existing St. Paul bus stop. In addition, we will assist in matching families who are interested in carpooling.
Does Nova have a hot lunch program?
Yes. We contract with Lancer Catering, a Minnesota-based food service management company, for daily catered lunch services.
Do Nova students wear uniforms?
Yes. We believe that orderly classrooms begin with orderly students. We have a clear uniform code and offer three vendors from which to choose.
Kindergarten FAQ
- How long is the day for Kindergarteners?
- What are the age requirements for Kindergarten?
- What is the Kindergarten class size?
- What is the Kindergarten schedule?
- What is the Enrichment Program schedule?
- What does Classical Education look like in Kindergarten?
- Do Kindergartners have homework?
- What is the cost of the full-day Kindergarten Enrichment Program?
- What do the students learn in the Enrichment Program?
- Do you have Kindergarten classroom volunteers?
- Where do students go on field trips?
- What skills does a child need to have to be ready for Kindergarten at Nova?
How long is the day for Kindergarteners?
Kindergarten at Nova is a half-day, running from 9:00–11:30 AM.
Nova also offers an afternoon Enrichment Program for Kindergarten students which runs until 3:40 PM.
What are the age requirements for Kindergarten?
State law requires that Kindergarten students must attain the age of five prior to September 1 of the enrollment year, unless the local school board has adopted a policy for early enrollment in select cases. The Board of Nova Classical Academy has adopted Early Admission to Kindergarten Guidelines.
What is the Kindergarten class size?
What is the Kindergarten schedule?
9:00—School Begins, Morning Circle Time
9:15–10:15—Reading and Writing Instruction
10:20–10:50—Art or Music
10:50–11:25—Math
11:30—Kindergarten dismissal
What is the Enrichment Program schedule?
11:40–12:20—Lunch and Recess
12:30–1:30—Rest time, read aloud and discussion of chapter book
1:30–2:15—Gym or Recess and snack
2:15–3:30—Science or Geography
3:40—Enrichment Dismissal
What does Classical Education look like in Kindergarten?
The curriculum is language intensive with a primary focus on reading. Individual reading instruction is provided for all students. The students are also given many opportunities to memorize facts. The curriculum is very rigorous and the teachers have high expectations for all students. We provide the Kindergarten students with a balance of whole-group instruction, independent work time, and learning lab time. The academic needs of all students are met through a multisensory, direct instruction approach to reading, writing, and math. The students also learn about the virtues of Justice, Temperance, Prudence, and Fortitude.
Do Kindergartners have homework?
Yes, daily homework is mandatory for all students. Homework is a review of the letters or phonograms the students practiced in class that day. Homework is not meant to be difficult for the Kindergarten students and it should not take more than five minutes. Parents are also expected to be reading out loud to their children every single day.
What is the cost of the full-day Kindergarten Enrichment Program?
The fee for this program for the 2011–12 school year is $900 per trimester.
Kindergarten students may only move into the Enrichment Program in at the beginning of each trimester.
What do the students learn in the Enrichment Program?
The full-day Kindergarten students delve deeper into the subjects of reading, geography, and science. They also have lunch, recess, rest time, physical education, snack, and extra learning lab time. Kindergarten students gain exposure to science and geography topics in the morning, but it is explored in greater depth in the afternoon.
The Kindergarten curriculum is designed for all students to complete satisfactorily without participating in the Enrichment program.
Do you have Kindergarten classroom volunteers?
Parents and grandparents are welcome to volunteer their time and talents in the classroom, especially as reading volunteers.
Where do students go on field trips?
Nova students take educational field trips during the year. Kindergarten students will go to the Carpenter Nature Center in the fall and to the Minnesota Zoo in the spring.
What skills does a child need to have to be ready for Kindergarten at Nova?
Your child should be able to:
- use developmentally appropriate small motor skills: hold a pencil, use scissors, color inside the lines, etc.
- separate from his/her parents without becoming emotional;
- dress his or her self (put on a coat, zip, snap, and button);
- follow verbal directions without numerous reminders;
- work with other children in a cooperative manner;
- demonstrate engaged concentration for a minimum of 15 minutes;
- be self motivated towards learning;
- sit and maintain attention while you are reading and be able to answer questions when the story is complete (recall details, sequence of events, etc.).
Ask a Question
If you have a further question, please contact Linda LaFrombois, at llafrombois@novaclassical.org.
Nova Classical Academy welcomes you!
