This page is used to post important information regarding our Children's Ministry.

New Policy Changes - Effective Sunday, March 16, 2008

We have implemented some changes to our policies as a ministry.  Of note, for the safety of everyone involved, we have made some important changes to the drop-off and pick-up procedures.  The notes below summarize the changes you should expect.

ALL Children to Wear Church-Issued Identification.  Every child in the ministry, regardless of age, will now wear church-issued nametags.  This helps to clearly define who is within our responsibility of care at any point in time during the meeting.  It will also allow teachers to call children by name.  The child’s nametag is stored in the classroom each week and will be worn at all times while he/she is in our care.

Parents Must Carry a Family ID Card.  The church has issued family ID cards for all families with children in the ministry who have permanent nametags.  Children’s nametags remain in the classroom each week, but the parent permanently keeps the Family ID Card.  Two cards have been produced per family and are small enough to fit in one’s wallet or purse.  The number on the ID card matches the number printed on each child’s tag in the family.  The parent must present this card in order to pick-up the child from class.

Drop-Off Procedure.  Parents are strongly encouraged to drop off their children to class for ALL ages.  This provides you an opportunity to interact with the teacher, as well as for the teachers to share any last-minute instructions.  It’s strongly advised that parents allow children to use the restroom before dropping them off to class to avoid any unnecessary distractions during the class.

Pick-Up Procedure.  Children of ALL ages must be picked up at class at the end of the service (5th-6th graders are no longer permitted to be released without being picked-up).  Only a parent, guardian, sibling 13 years of age or older, or another responsible adult designated by the parent may pick-up a child from class.  The teacher is required to check the child out by matching the number on his/her nametag with the number on the Family ID Card.  Therefore, whoever picks up the child from class MUST carry the family ID card and present to the teacher to check-out.  For the safety of everyone involved, there will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy.

Supervision of Children Before and After the Service.  For the safety of everyone involved, we ask parents to supervise their children while on the church property – inside and outside the building.  Children who are unsupervised should be instructed to return to their parents.  Let’s help to keep one another accountable by encouraging each other to provide the supervision our kids need.

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE A FAMILY ID CARD?
If you have not received your cards, please visit the Children’s Ministry Registration Station in the main lobby this Sunday.  There we will provide the necessary instructions and give out the cards.  Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to receive this information.