Preschool and Children s Ministry Guiding Principles

Transcription

1 Preschool and Children s Ministry Guiding Principles Principle 1: Principle 2: Principle 3: Principle 4: Principle 5: Principle 6: Principle 7: Principle 8: All decisions and procedures are based on what is best for the child. Children s rooms, furnishings, and supplies belong to the children assigned to the room, and the teachers model Christian cooperation through planning as it relates to these resources. Everything in the room relates to the program and session in progress. Decisions are based on church-approved policies and reflect the values of Biblical Truth, Intimacy with God, Intentional Hospitality, Ministry Excellence and City Renewal. Be careful mixing fantasy with reality, because children need to know that everything at church is true. Teachers are encouraged to grow spiritually and mentally through training and planning, and live by the Biblical standards being taught to the children through the mission of the church. Everyone related to the children s ministry follows the same policies and procedures. Children deserve the best that the church ministry has to offer.

2 Preschool and Children s Ministry Policies The following policies are provided as guideline to help protect preschoolers, children, and their families who attend ministry related programming at Bellevue Baptist Church. Once the approval process is complete all policies will be provided to families attending Bellevue who have preschool and children. Policies are listed in random order. Policy #1 Policy #2 Policy #3 Policy #4 Promotion All children will be promoted according to the following guidelines. Babies-2 year olds will be promoted according to the needs of the child or need of the church. (This is determined by the Preschool Ministry staff according to the size/development and growth of a child or classroom attendance size.) 3 year olds -3 rd graders will be promoted on a yearly basis with the goal being that the child is in a classroom with other children their age. Teacher/Leadership/Volunteer Training All preschool and children s ministry volunteers will be expected to attend needed training on a regular basis. (Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly) Sickness Policy Please do not bring your child into the Preschool and Children s Ministry classroom at Bellevue Baptist Church if they have or have had any of the following symptoms in the last 24 hours: vomiting, diarrhea, temperature, discolored mucus, rash, and un-explained symptoms Personal Items Policy Younger preschoolers are allowed to bring one personal item from home, but parents must remember to label the item with the child s name before dropping them off in the preschool classroom. Older children are encouraged to leave personal items at home. Cell phones, IPods, and DS s sometime have Bible software and are permitted in the classroom; however the children s ministry staff will not be responsible for lost items.

3 Policy #5 Policy #6 Policy #7 Policy #8 Policy #9 Policy #10 Policy #11 Drop Off/Pick Up Policy Parents are asked to drop off and pick up all preschoolers and children at their child s classroom door. Older siblings, under the age of 16, are not allowed to drop off or pick up preschoolers or children. All parents must present a pick up ticket before a child can be released from the classroom. Allergy Policy Parents are asked to notify preschool and children s ministry staff of all known allergies and other medical issues. This information is critical to the protection and safety of your child. Several allergies carry lifethreatening symptoms, and proper communication is critical. Children s allergies are printed on the child s name tag for easy identification. Biblical Teaching Policy All preschool and children s classrooms will teach Biblical truth using age-suitable foundational principles that allow children to learn in a small group environment with authentic hands-on learning activities. We will teach key biblical concepts that lead children to a life of transformation. The key concepts are God, Jesus, Creation, the Bible Community/Missions, The World, Self, The Church, Salvation/Baptism, and the Holy Spirit. Medication Policy All needed medication must be given by a parent or legal guardian. Classroom volunteers are not allowed to administer medications. Classroom Snack/Eating Policy A standard snack of crackers and water will be provided for preschoolers. On occasion your child may be offered food items that relate to the biblical learning activity in the classroom. When this happens, an ALLERGY ALERT sign will be posted on the entry door to your child s classroom. Parents are expected to notify classroom volunteers of allergy concerns. Church Respect Policy Children will be instructed on proper use methods for the church facility and its contents. Disrespectful Behavior Policy Children who willingly disobey and repeatedly disrupt classroom activities will be given a 3 strike warning. Following the 3 strike warning, parents will be notified, and a personal meeting with the children s ministry staff will determine the behavior outcome.

4 Policy #12 Policy #13 Policy #14 Policy #15 Policy #16 Policy #17 Policy #18 Policy #19 Policy #20 Policy #21 Registration Deadline Policy At various times, registration is required to attend certain activities. All registration deadlines are expected to be followed by all parents. Church Childcare Policy Childcare will be offered for a maximum of 3 hours per session. VIP Volunteer Service Policy All parents are asked/expected to serve during the regular rotation. Current rotation is once every 4 weeks. Unattended Policy Volunteers are expected to always provide quality care to the preschoolers and children. Children will always be accompanied by an adult when out of the classroom. (Restrooms, worship care transition, etc ) On-Campus Policy Parents are expected to be on campus and involved in church related programming while preschoolers and children are in the care of the preschool and children s ministry. Open Door Policy Parents are always welcome to visit their child s preschool and children s classrooms, however, please remember that entering the classroom delivers unwanted germs and confusion for young children. Volunteer Grace Period Policy All volunteers will be expected to follow the 6 month grace period before serving in the preschool or children s ministry. Application/Background Form Policy All volunteers will be required to fill out and secure an application/background form before serving in the preschool or children s ministry. Inclement Weather Policy Proper communication will be provided for all schedule changes due to inclement weather conditions. Classroom Teaching Policy All classroom volunteers will strive to provide the absolute best teaching environment for preschool and children. This means that the classroom belongs to the teacher assigned to that room for that hour and that teachers can use the room at their discretion, but that the classroom must be returned to its original state for the next teacher/volunteer.

5 Policy #22 Policy #23 Policy #24 Policy #25 Policy #26 Policy #27 Policy #28 Policy #29 Policy #30 Outdoor Classroom Policy All teachers are encouraged to use God s amazing creations as a teaching tool as often as possible. Wall Surface Policy All wall surfaces shall be used for classroom teaching activities, as long as proper care is provided to preserve the well-being of the church facilities. Homemade Food Items Food items should be store bought and served from their original containers in order to prevent food allergy concerns. No homemade items should be brought or served in the classroom. Opening/Closing Facility Policy The preschool and children s ministry will open 15 minutes before a session begins and will close 15 minutes after a session ends. Mandatory Reporting Policy The Preschool/Children s Ministry of Bellevue Baptist Church is considered as a mandatory reporting agency. Our staff and volunteers are required by the laws of the state of Tennessee to report all suspicious cases of any form of child abuse or suspected child abuse. Volunteers should immediately report concerns to a preschool or children s ministry staff member. Volunteer Child Policy Older siblings are allowed to join with their parents by serving in the preschool and younger children s classrooms. This will only be allowed when one parent is present and the child remains under the leadership of the classroom volunteer staff. The older sibling will be expected to follow all policies related to the class. New Christian Class Policy All children making a public profession of faith at Bellevue will be asked and encouraged to attend a 4 session class for New Christians prior to being baptized. This class will be offered on a monthly rotation basis. At least one parent will be asked to attend each session with their child. Parent/Child Dedication Class Policy All parents requesting involvement in the Parent/Child Dedication service will be asked to attend a 2 hour dedication class before being allowed to participate in the service. This class will be offered on a quarterly basis. Children s Baptism Policy Children wanting to be baptized must have celebrated their 5 th birthday, expressed a genuine understanding of the salvation process, be able to

6 communicate personal details related to their salvation transformation, have made a public profession of faith, had a personal meeting with a member of the children s ministry staff and attend the New Christians class for children. This policy is provided to assure genuine understanding and maturity of the salvation process.