Before coming to Miami Valley Christian Academy, we home-schooled our children.  There are many blessings and wonderful aspects of this type of schooling, but we thought our oldest child would benefit from a more rigorous curriculum than what we were providing.

For us, selecting a new school was about more than academics.  We would be trusting others to help raise and disciple our children. We knew a school setting couldn’t replicate the homeschool approach, but we still wanted our children to benefit from the core reasons we chose homeschool – a Christ-centered education, Christians living a faithful witness before them, and plenty of time to just be a kid.

In addition to these central tenets, we had many other considerations. From practical matters like travel distance, to spiritual considerations like understanding and application of Scripture, to personal preferences like extra-curricular options, school amenities and such, the list was long!  Finding a school seemed a daunting task and we thought it unlikely that one school could meet all of our needs.

We researched and talked with more than a dozen schools before narrowing the list to a few schools for in-depth interviews and visits.  From start, we could see a marked difference between MVCA and other schools.  In most visits, we had to probe to determine if and how the school centered itself around Christ. At MVCA, it was just the opposite.

Through each person we talked to, faculty, staff and other families, examples of the school’s focus on Christ were mentioned.  In some cases, easy for us to see.  On a tour through one of the classrooms, the teacher explained the activity the students were working on.  They were writing letters to graduating seniors including a Bible verse that would encourage them.

Added to all this, the genuine love for the students, and pursuit of excellence in all aspects – from sports, to academics, to discipleship – each of these examples made an impression on our family.  We enrolled our children at MVCA!

We’re going into our third year and it has been such a joy. When we visited the school, we heard about what made MVCA a special place, but since becoming part of the school we’ve been able to personally experience being part of the “pride.”

We set out to find a school that would meet as many of our criteria as possible.  Never did we imagine that God would provide for us a school like MVCA that “checked all the boxes” and more!

Our family decided to make the change from a public school to Miami Valley Christian Academy for the 2021-22 school year. Our daughter, Riley, was going to be entering into 5th grade. We began to explore private Christian schools throughout the city and after a few interviews, lots of prayers and a little research, we ended up at MVCA and we could not be happier. Riley is thriving in so many ways – she has grown so much spiritually, personally and academically.

At Miami Valley Christian Academy there is a very strong sense of community between all families, students and the staff. We have felt extremely welcome as a new family! The Academy is constantly sending out prayer groups to be a part of, volunteer opportunities, Grandparent involvement, etc. Our family has joined various committees and groups to serve and get to know others. We are greatly involved in the Athletic Boosters program and have enjoyed getting to know other athlete families.

Riley has received individualized attention from the teachers and is continuously pushed and challenged to reach her full potential with MVCA’s higher academic standards. With the small class sizes, the students are recognized as unique individuals and can receive one-on-one attention. The subjects that Riley struggled with at her previous school are now some of her best. She has even made the Honor Roll each quarter thus far!

During our interviews with other schools, what set MVCA apart the most were the clear value systems. The Academy is extremely mission driven which was important for our family. The entire faculty shares in the same moral values taught in our home. Each day the students start with reading the Bible and end the week with Chapel. The entire curriculum stems from the Truth about God’s Word and it is used as a foundation for all subjects – especially including history and science. Riley’s faith has deepened by integrating that with her studies.

MVCA puts a very heavy focus on life outside of the classroom and teaches the students the importance of serving and character development, starting at elementary age all the way through young-adult years. The Academy recognizes that all students have different skills and provides several opportunities to develop those talents. There are a variety of extra-curricular activities, programs athletics and volunteer opportunities to give back to the community. Riley plays basketball for the school and plans to play volleyball in the fall. She was also able to be a part of her first musical in the Christmas play and has gained experience in the arts she wouldn’t have had elsewhere.

We could not be more pleased with our decision to attend Miami Valley Christian Academy! We have made friends with other families and know that Riley is surrounded by positive influences with her peers. MVCA has encouraged development in all areas of Riley’s life and our family is beyond blessed to be here – we are proud Lions!

My name is George Reuss and I am a proud father of two MVCA students, Sarah and Ben.

Seemingly not so long ago, we were searching for a Christian based school that was Christ centered, with a staff that was committed to their teaching from a Christian perspective. One day during the search for school possibilities, we came across a little school in Newtown called Miami Valley Christian Academy (MVCA). At that point in time, we were unfamiliar with MVCA and sought-after reviews of this school. After reading many positive reviews, we decided to attend the MVCA Open House in February that year. Unbeknownst to me, a wonderful experience and adventure for both Sarah and Ben would just begin.

During our initial visit to the MVCA Open House in February that year, we were met by a very kind and hospitable host named Paige McElfresh. Paige exuded an unmistakable passion for the Lord and MVCA, for which she serves. We were given a tour of the school and eagerly listened to all the wonderful stories Paige offered. At this point my spirit was overwhelmed by the promises of such a find! Later that evening I asked, Lord, is this the school for Sarah and Ben? The Lord spoke to my spirit and said YES! Within days of our initial visit, we signed up Sarah for Kindergarten and the year following, Ben for preschool.

Throughout the school years at MVCA, Sarah and Ben have been blessed with teachers that have a true passion for Christ! Over the years and from time to time when issues arose, in Sarah and Ben’s world, I experienced teachers taking time to get involved and pray with my children, for their specific concerns and needs! How awesome is that! It is with great comfort to know that MVCA staffs their school with professionally educated Christian teachers, who truly care about their students. Even during times of disciplining, it has been my experience that teachers handle each situation with biblical influences, ending with positive resolutions. Every year I have heard the words “I have a new favorite teacher this year dad”! However, every once in a while, I ask them both “who is your favorite teacher of all time?” and so far they have always stated “Mrs B. from the 3^rd grade class”, followed by a close 2^nd with Mrs. McGill from the 4^th grade class. Some of the kids most memorable experiences include being in Mrs’ B’s class reciting in unison before a test; “just try your best and let God do the rest! Another favorite experience would be the 2 day trip to the Shawnee State Park with Mrs. McGill, what a treat! Personally, I enjoyed the overnight trip to the Noah’s Ark, in Kentucky. A most recent favorite experience of Sarah’s would be the class trip to Washington D.C. with Mr. Braun. The list is truly endless!

Currently, my daughter Sarah is a Junior and plays on the MVCA Lions Volleyball Team and my son Ben is a Freshman and plays on the MVCA Lions Basketball team.

Thank you Lord for being faithful to us! Thank you for the blessing of MVCA and your work you are doing within. I pray that each parent, each student and every staff member that walks the halls of MVCA, grows closer to You, so we can impact generations to come, for Your kingdom. May You continue to bless MVCA, and draw those who need You, close to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

God Bless!

George Reuss