This week in Christian Ed...

We rely on our volunteers to supplement the excellent care our staff provides on Sunday mornings. Volunteers assist the nursery staff in the room assigned and volunteer only once each 8 weeks. Please contact the office if you desire to be on the nursery volunteer schedule.

Notice: Childcare reservations MUST be made 5 days in advance of special programs to insure adequate numbers of nursery workers. Call the church office at 266-2455.

1. Bringing your child to the nursery for the first time.
2. Sunday Morning Schedule
3. Children's Age Groups
4. Nursery Staffing
5. Check-In Procedure
6. Locating A Parent
7. Check-Out Procedures
8. Suggested Diaper Bag Contents
9. Policy for Sick Children
10. Nursery Use at Other Times
11. Nursery Rules and Consequences

Children in the 2,3, and 4 year old classes will have a set snack time and outside playtime (weather permitting). Please dress your child appropriately for the weather.

Three and four year olds will go to the chapel for a short period of time to sing songs, hear a Bible story, and pray. This is led by a Lay Reader and begins about 15 minutes after the church service begins. As we leave the classroom for either chapel of outside, we will put a sign on the door so you can locate us.

The Nursery is also open during Sunday School for Infants and Toddlers. Two year olds and up will have a Sunday School Class in their nursery classroom. If a child's nursery placement is in a different room than the Sunday School placement, care givers will be responsible for transferring the child to the appropriate room.

Sometimes nursery classrooms are closed and ages are combined due to low attendance. If your child's room appears closed, find a staff member in another room. We will post a sign on the door when we go to chapel or outside on the playscape.
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The Infant Room is for babies who are not yet walking. The Toddler Room is for children who are walking but are not yet 2 years old.

The two, three, four, and five year olds who are not yet in Kindergarten will be in classrooms of their own with appropriate toys. Parents of children who are four years old will be encouraged to allow occasional visits to the service and Kid's Church to prepare the child for full attendance in regular services by the time they begin Kindergarten.

All elementary-age children are to attend worship with their parents. After the processional they will move to the Fellowship Hall for KIDS Church. They return to their parents in the service during announcement time.
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If the number of children exceeds the ration, there is a chance the room will be closed to additional children, since additional child care workers are not available unless a parent wishes to stay and volunteer. You are welcome to take your child to the service with you. The cry room is available off the Narthex near the elevator, if your child becomes noisy during the service. Another option is to check back later to see if an opening has become available.

The core group staffing concept provides:  A knowledge of your child's individual needs. An understanding of the classroom routine for that age level. The responsibility for the set up and clean up of the assigned room. This core staff is supplemented by a dedicated staff of volunteers. Each parent is strongly encouraged to participate by volunteering one Sunday every eight weeks. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to observe your child and see the Nursery in action on a regular basis. Parents who volunteer in the Nursery may receive a taped copy of the Sermon for that Sunday by contacting the church office (266-2455) no later than 10:00 a.m. Monday.

Because of the numbers of small children we are caring for, we regret that there is not enough space for your older children to "help" when you volunteer. On your Sunday to volunteer you may take your older children (age five and up) to Kid's Church and then see that there is someone for them to sit with during the rest of the service, or have them stay in the Lions room, if space is available.
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At the Check-In Station, please do the following:

1. Log your child in on the Sign-In/Sign-Out sheet. Use one line per child and include all the information requested. Be sure to include special instructions, such as potty training, nap times, feedings, etc.
2. Give diaper bag with all possessions labeled, and child to a staff member. Staff members will be identifiable by their name badge.
3. Pick up a token matching your child's nametag. Keep the token in a safe place. You cannot pick up your child without it.

After check-in, the staff will meet your child at the door and aid in separation. Long goodbyes often make clingy children become more so, and can upset other children who are already settled in. The majority of children adjust satisfactorily if you do not linger. However, this is not a hard and fast rule -- some children need to begin to play and then say goodbye to Mom and Dad. We will encourage the first approach as much as possible, but we will be flexible.

Some children who are experiencing separation anxiety might benefit from shorter stays in the nursery at the beginning. You can gradually increase their time until they are happily staying for the entire service.
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• A labeled diaper bag or sack
• St. Luke's labels are available
• Extra diapers (disposable please)
• Labeled, plastic baby bottle / sipper cup
• Labeled, pacifier if applicable
• Change of clothing
• Your child's favorite comfort article
• Infants should bring their own snack or baby food. A light snack is provided for older children and usually consists of animal cookies or pretzels.
• Coat / sweater, when cold, for outside play. If your child is not dressed for the weather, (s)he will stay inside with a volunteer while the group goes outside.

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• Unusual fatigue or irritability
• Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes
• Fever (child should be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to the nursery)
• Vomiting or diarrhea (anytime within the previous 24 hours)
• Inflamed throat. Rash

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping all of our children healthy by not bringing a child who may be sick. Caregivers assist in this effort by following strict hygiene procedures and washing toys with Chlorox on a regular basis.
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When using the nursery at times other than Sunday morning services, please follow all the usual sign-in and sign-out procedures and other policies outlined here.

Groups interested in meeting on Sunday nights or other times during the week should contact Tammy Martellotto BEFORE scheduling their meeting to be sure that child care providers are available for that day and time.

Childcare will be provided for church-sponsored activities other than Sunday morning and Sunday and Tuesday evenings on a reservation-only basis. You must reserve space for your child by contacting Tammy Martellotto or the church office (266-2455) at least 5 days in advance. those without reservations will be accepted only if space is available.
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1. No balls of any kind are allowed in any room
2. No rough-housing, pretend fighting, etc
3. No running in the rooms or hallways
4. Children leaving the nursery for any reason, including using the restroom, must be supervised by a caregiver at all times
5. Only movies with a Christian content will be shown on Sunday mornings. At other times the nursery is open, children may bring G-rated movies to watch. Please label the movie with the child's name. It is the responsibility of the child's parents to collect the movie at the end of the night. It is also the parent's responsibility to be sure that the movie is G-rated and previously previewed before allowing it to be brought to church.
6. When younger children are being dropped off in the Infant or Toddler rooms, older siblings must wait outside the door.
7. Use respectful voices and language
8. Do not hurt others
9. Listen and obey the staff and volunteers.

1. Warning
2. Time out - the Time Out will last the same number of minutes as the child's age and will occur in an area which can be supervised at all times.
3. If the caregiver has followed these procedures and decides that a child is still not under control, the caregiver may bring the child to the parent. Once a child has been brought to the parent, he/she must remain under the parent's direct supervision and may not be brought back to the nursery for the duration of that day's events.
4. Discipline for children under the age of two will consist of a simple statement of the rules and redirection to a more appropriate activity.

Please discuss these rules and consequences with your child and help Nursery staff to enforce them.
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