NOVA Middle School 2022-23 Annual Report

2022-23 ANNUAL REPORT

! y o J An independent middle school for highly capable students

360-491-7097 | novaschool.org | South Puget Sound, WA

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Hello NOVA Community, I am so grateful for being welcomed into the fold this year and for everyone that helped make the 2022-2023 school year a successful one. Celebrating our 30th anniversary as a school and 20 years in our current building has been an amazing opportunity to hear from and get to know our alums, their families, and past board members, as well as our current students and parents. We were so fortunate to celebrate NOVA and all its constituencies this year.

Throughout the 30 years, one thing has stayed the same NOVA’s mission to be a safe haven for highly capable students in the greater Olympia community.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to NOVA and for helping to make NOVA what it is today.

TIFFANY PRICE 02 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

OUR MISSION

Fostering the joyful pursuit of intellectual, social, and emotional expansion through a challenging curriculum that nourishes highly capable students to develop identity, self-empowerment, and community.

OUR VISION

Inspiring lifelong learning for a more compassionate, engaged world.

OUR VALUES

CONNECTION We embrace the power of care, compassion, and relationships.

COMMITMENT We are passionately devoted to our work.

INTENTION We design experiences based on expertise and reflection.

JOY We celebrate and delight in learning and discovery.

03 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

WORKING ON DIVERSITY OLYMPIA DEMOGRAPHICS 2022 School-Age population by race 40 minute radius from NOVA

People of the Global Majority 49.3%

White 50.7%

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS 6TH GRADE

People of the Global Majority 61%

White 39%

7TH GRADE

People of the Global Majority 30%

White 70%

8TH GRADE

People of the Global Majority 43%

04 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

White 57%

As a member of the Olympia community, I donated to NOVA Middle School because I believe in and have witnessed NOVA's ability to create an inclusive and safe environment for children of color. My daughter is a NOVA alum and as a military family, the difficulty for us has always been the uprooting of life that occurs.

It was at NOVA that my daughter found her voice within a community.

NOVA creates young enthusiastic scholars that learn to embrace their differences and those differences are showcased in education, art, sports and the social and emotional development.

These incredible young people go out and make a difference in the lives of others after attending NOVA Middle School.

Current NOVA Parent and Board Member

ALUM STORIES When I was in 5th grade, school was already pretty disappointing. Pointless work and school was losing its meaning for me. Sixth grade at NOVA turned that upside down, and suddenly school was fun again and I couldn't wait to go to NOVA everyday. And the point of school was about being curious and learning new stuff. It was learning for its own sake, not just to please someone else or to be a good kid. When I left NOVA and entered high school, that sense of learning for myself was as strong as ever. I see it in my NOVA friends still. We're off in college and challenging ourselves, learning new things, figuring out the world...because learning is this journey and a gift and a puzzle all at once. I don't know what sort of student or person I would be if I'd gone to a different middle school—I'm sure thankful that I had NOVA. NOVA Graduate

NOVA really emphasized that individuals can make a difference, and I don't think I'll ever be satisfied unless I feel like I'm doing important work that uses my abilities to benefit others.

NOVA's academics and small classrooms provide you with a fantastic base for high school, and they provide you opportunities for independent growth. But for me the most important preparation was my sense of self. I think that because NOVA is such a small school, by the time you exit eighth grade, you have become the most concentrated version of yourself, meaning that all your personality traits are demonstrated at the extreme. I think because I spent so much time getting to know myself in middle school without worrying about fitting in, I was able to hold tight to a core vision of who I am.

NOVA Graduate, Class of 2015 05 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

INCOME TUITION & FEES

EXPENSES $1,874,850

PROGRAM SERVICES

$101,751 FUNDRAISING OTHER $3,308 GAIN ON INVESTMENTS $42,821

17%

OF EXPENSES WENT TO FINANCIAL AID, HELPING MISSION-APPROPRIATE STUDENTS RECEIVE A NOVA EDUCATION.

FINANCIAL AID

$326,739

OPERATIONS

$257,825

41%

OF NOVA FAMILIES RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID.

I transferred to NOVA during my last year of middle school. The students and teachers were all very welcoming. We all knew every classmate and lower classmate on a first-name basis. I very much recommend NOVA to those who are looking for schools aiming for high academic achievement, a close-knit community, and a fun, unique school.

NOVA Graduate 06 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

$1,358,728

30

NEW STUDENTS

13% INCREASE IN

ENROLLMENT

55

$53k

42

$47k

CONSECUTIVE YEAR DONORS

RAISED FOR THE ANNUAL FUND

NEW DONORS

RAISED AT THE GALA

My child had the most amazing experience at NOVA. He came home everyday with a smile on his face, bursting with knowledge and excitement.

Every teacher was fully committed to the learning experience and truly cared about each and every student.

Former NOVA Parent 07 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

OUR GALA SPONSORS

Thank

Tanasse Chiropractic 08 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

you!

Darishma Alphonse Nick Amin Rick and Sue Anderson Gustavo Aviles-Espinosa and Rosann Fitzpatrick Isa Bella David Bjornson Paula Bjornson Victoria Book Donald and Janet Boyle Julie Buck Troy and Carie Bussey David Campbell Skye Campbell-Ragsdale Carla Carter Samantha Chandler Andrea Chartock and Damir Ribic Ernesto & Julia Chavez Aaron Coby and Teresa Winstead Andrea and Rob Cornfeld Bonnie Cotton Heather Cushing and William Nevue Trina Delaney Josh DiStefano Brian Diveley and Millie Piazza Jesse Driskill and Charisma Scheffer Nancy Dwyer Shoshana Eisenberg Jack Fallat and Christine Nettle Jessica Ferlo Sydney Forrester David and Jennifer Wiliamson Forster Nathan and Erica Frost Andrew Frostholm Dave Fuller Ellen and Charles Fuller Jason Gacek Susan Gacek Anne and Ron Gajadhar Carlos and Veronica Garcia Mark & Sam Golliet David and Julie Hankins Jo Marie & Steve Hansen Katherine and Luke Hansen Scot Harrison and Rebecca Bolles Bette Hatcher Austin and Betsy Hildreth Yun-yi Ho Brandon and Rita Homan Rita and Brandon Homan

OUR GENEROUS DONORS Meghan and Doug Hopkins Colonel Al and Lynn Hoppe Travis Hoppe and Juliette Erickson Jim Howeth and Rod Andrada Grace Huang Brian and Kat Husted Anne and Howard Jess Barbara Jones Nathalie and Karl Jones Muriel Jorgensen Elisa and Ryan Kappedal Elisabeth Kingsbury and Antonio Ginatta Jasmit Singh & Molina Kochhar Elona Sanamyan and John Kuczynski Linda and Carl Manning Carrie Matyac and Joseph Ho Brenden McFarland and Alison Campbell Robert and Marion McIntosh Lauren McMason Tara McQueen Robert & Susan Meenk Vivian Merker Ben and Sarah Merrifield Carly Michael Raymond and Ruth Miles Nicole Miller Nicolina Miller Barbara Mitchell Hutton Anne Montgomery Charlene and David Moore David and Samantha Munnecke Rich Nafziger and Kristin Swenddal Emily and Geoff Nisbet Edward and Patricia O'Brien Jeffrey Olfson April Oultaw David and Inger Owen Jeff and Vanessa Palensky Vanessa and Jeff Palensky Aristides and Jane Pappidas Lowell Park and Emily Hitchens Sallie and John Parr Kylie Phillips Kylie and Drew Phillips Mary Piskorowski Steffani Powell and Scott Richards David and Midge Price Tiffany Price Mircea and Corina Rachita Vel Rajagopalan 09 |

Mark and Kazuko Rosen Katie and Stephen Russell Stephen Russell Tom Wright & Therese Saliba Kate and Todd Scriven Jason Selwitz and Rebecca Rutzick Beth and Kris Shera Clara and Ki Shin Joshua Shin Joe & Bonnie Shorin Marilyn Showalter Kelli and Keith Sigg Carrie Smith Ted Spealman Jessica Starr Geoff and Colleen Swett Carrie and Gary Swindler Gabriel and Cynthia Taylor Katherine Taylor and Jeremy Morris Wendy and Stephen Taylor Erin and Ian Timms Angela Tobias Allyson and Jason Tucker Greg Tudor and Kate White Tudor Julia VanDerslice Anne Weldon Jacob Wilson and Teva Grudin Sherrie Wilson Jocelyn and Kelly Wood Wendy and Lars Wulff Fengmin Yang and Xiaowei Liu Kristine Zhang and Aric Kollmyer Key Peninsula Firefighters Local 3152 Anonymous

This list reflects the support of donors from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. If you find an error, please notify us at development@novaschool.org and we will make a correction.

ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

At NOVA, my child wasn't just another kid in a sea of students. NOVA restored her brilliance in mind and spirit.

n o i t c e Conn Former NOVA Parent

10 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

Commitment There is so much amazing interaction with teachers.

It makes it feel like we're on a team—for the success of one child.

Current NOVA Parent 11 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

n o i t n e Int Our child is thriving at NOVA! He's treated with dignity and respect. What got him into "trouble" in a traditional school is met with acceptance and care.

Current NOVA Parent 12 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

My child woke up excited to go to school and came home excited to to do her homework.

She was learning with a voraciousness that I hadn't seen from her.

Former NOVA Parent

Joy!

13 | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

20 22 20 23 2020 22nd Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501