DECEMBER 2024
Grandparents Days
There are never more smiles, laughter, and love on campus than on Grandparents Days, which were held on November 25 and 26. We were pleased to host so many of you for a sneak peek into your grandchildren’s lives at CVCA. We hope that by meeting teachers, visiting classrooms, and strolling the hallways, you saw the Christ-honoring, impactful, and excellent education and experience your grandchildren are receiving.
A Note from President Jason Spodnik: “What a beautiful encouragement to feel your powerful support and care, not just for your grandkids, but for the mission of CVCA as the Lord uses us in the lives of the next generation. Your prayers are deeply coveted as we take strategic next steps to respond to the increasing demand of families who desire their children to experience the life-on-life daily discipleship that the Lord is shepherding at CVCA.” If you would like to chat with Jason about how you might take part in helping resource a God-big vision, please email him at jspodnik@cvcaroyals.org.
Semester Highlights
As your grandchildren finish their exams and start Christmas break, we are thankful to look back on the semester. Students worked hard while also enjoying great times with their friends and classmates. Enjoy these highlights of just a few of the activities that took place over the past few months.
With the new year will come many more exciting events and activities at CVCA, including Jterm, the Winter Social, the Royal Evening, winter and spring sports, the Spring Musical, and so much more. Stay tuned for more information about how you can be involved in the upcoming months.
Don’t miss these end-of-year opportunities to help CVCA!
What a blessing to be able to donate to your grandchild’s Christ-honoring education through tax-saving opportunities.
Would you like to tell the State of Ohio how to direct your tax dollars? That’s possible with the Ohio Tax-Credit Scholarship Program.
Take a moment to watch this VIDEO about how Ohio allows you to redirect a portion of your tax dollars to benefit CVCA students – up to $1,500! Ohio’s Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) enables you to make a gift to CVCA that will cost you nothing because every dollar you contribute directly reduces your state tax liability.
While the donation deadline is April 15, 2025, we thought you’d be interested in learning about this valuable tax credit now as you work on your 2024 taxes. To contribute today, click HERE and be sure to select Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy from the drop-down menu. Learn more HERE. Since this opportunity is open to everyone in the state of Ohio, we’d appreciate it if you could share this information with your friends, neighbors, and fellow church members.
You may want to consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
If you turned 70.5 in 2024, you can direct a distribution from a traditional (pre-tax) IRA directly to CVCA. The advantage is that you avoid the income tax you would otherwise pay when taking a personal withdrawal from your IRA. The maximum withdrawal to a QCD for 2024 is $105,000 per person. If you are taking a required minimum distribution (RMD) in 2024, the QCD may count towards your RMD, which needs to be taken by December 31, 2024.
These are easy, win-win opportunities to save on taxes while supporting CVCA. The year’s end will be here faster than you know it, so avoid waiting until the last minute to allow for accurate processing with your investment provider. If you have any questions, please contact your financial advisor or tax accountant. For general questions, contact John Harabedian in the CVCA Development Office at 330-929-0575, ext. 324, or by email at jharabedian@cvcaroyals.org.
Are you looking for additional ways to get involved and support CVCA?
Advent Thoughts
Advent is here – a time of waiting and expectancy. As the world and Mary awaited the birth of Jesus, this month, we await Christmas and, more importantly, His second coming. There are many benefits to waiting and expecting that are often missed in the busyness of the hectic holiday season. Waiting makes us more attentive to what we are waiting for. That attentiveness allows us to be more alert and notice God at work around us. May we slow down to look at each moment with expectancy for how the Lord is at work in and around us – for His presence is the real gift we need. Immanuel, God with us!
Throughout 2024, the Lord has encouraged me through multiple books and teachings to incorporate silence and solitude into my daily life. How countercultural this is in a fast-paced world, and how difficult it is to put into practice! But in silence and solitude, we find the peace and presence of God. Hudson Taylor, missionary to China (1832-1905), wrote, “Take time. Give God time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you. Take time to read His Word in His presence, that from it, you may know what He asks of you and what He promises you. Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life.” I encourage you to join me in making solitude and silence a part of your daily routine this Advent season and beyond.
Jennifer Meybaum, CVCA Grandparents Club Coordinator
Enjoy this song from Phil Wickim, which speaks to Jesus’ Kingship – even in the manger.
Wishing you and your family a very merry Christ-centered celebration of Christmas!