The ARK
Ministry
for Young Children
(birth
through kindergarten)
ARK
(Always Reaching Kids)
The Children’s Ark is intended to provide a safe nurturing experience
for young children (birth through kindergarten) during Sunday Morning.
While their parents are attending Worship and Sunday School, the children
have their own learning and worship experiences within the Ark. During
their stay on the Ark, the children are ministered to by many loving
and responsible care givers including paid staff and parent volunteers
(just like YOU). During the 8:30 and 11:00 am Worship Services they
experience ARK Stories as well as supervised play time.
At 9:45 children participate in Sunday School experiences developed
specifically for their age group.
Reservations
To climb aboard the Ark we need parents to fill out a short registration
form that lists basic safety information such as; age, allergies,
medical needs, likely parent location while at church and any other
special information the volunteers need to know about your child. Any
additional persons authorized to sign out children should be noted on
the form. The Young Children’s Coordinator will help assign your
child to the room that is most appropriate. Room
assignments are based on both the child’s age and the dynamics
of the class.
Boarding
and Departure
Once your child has been registered, boarding is as easy as dropping
your child off at their assigned room. Due to the busy Sunday morning
schedule on the Ark we ask that only one adult drop off and pick
up your child. Inside the child’s room, you will receive an
identification tag. Please be sure to make verbal contact with
an adult worker before leaving or picking up a child.
Itinerary
The following time schedule is maintained during the voyage. Please
be courteous of the planned activities by not dropping off or picking
up your child in the middle of activities—especially Sunday School.
8:30 – 9:30 am – The voyage sets sail with ARK
Stories (Bible stories and songs led by a volunteer). Paid caregivers
as well as parent volunteers also assist your children with supervised
play and activities.
9:45 – 10:45 am – Sunday School is led by Sunday
School teachers and curriculum is designed to give children a basic
understanding of the Bible and Christian principles.
11:00 – 12:00 pm – The voyage continues with ARK
Stories (Bible stories and songs led by a volunteer). Paid caregivers
as well as parent volunteers also assist your children with supervised
play and activities.
Crew
The ARK is staffed by many paid and volunteer workers each Sunday morning.
John
Hull, Minister of Faith Development, oversees Children’s
Ministries.
Dodi Hance, Young Children’s
Coordinator, supervises the paid staff and volunteers and maintains
appropriate room assignments.
Steven Straub,
Children’s Ministry Coordinator, works with elementary children.
He also interacts with the young children’s coordinator.
A Greeter is on hand from 10:45-11:10 to help visitors
with the registration process and any additional needs.
-
Responsibilities
include: assist visitors with registration, introduce visitors to
room workers and coordinator, help visitors locate other needs (worship,
adult classes, school age classes).
Paid caregivers
staff each room from 8:15 to 12:30 each morning.
Room Volunteers
are also present in each room throughout the morning to assist with
activities.
-
Responsibilities
include; supervising children during activities, assist parents with
check in and check out, assist paid worker and ARK Storyteller as
needed. We encourage all parents to volunteer so that rotations can
be every other month or once a quarter.
-
Two
shifts each Sunday; 8:30 – 9:30 and 10:50 – 12:00
ARK Storytellers
are volunteers that lead each age group through Bible stories and
songs during the 9 and 11 am worship services.
-
The
storyteller leads each age group (2 yrs old and up) in a short worship
experience including telling Bible stories and leading the children
in songs or other worship activities.
-
Two
shifts each Sunday; 8:30 – 9:30 and 10:50 – 12:00.
Sunday School
teachers give lessons from the Sunday School curriculum.
You
– We expect that each regular attender will volunteer in some fashion
to help improve the Ark. We encourage open communication and feedback
from parents to assist in continually improving the Ark.
Room
Assignments
Room
assignments are based on both the child’s age and the dynamics
of the class. Starting with the 2-year-old class, children normally
remain with the same group for a school year. Promotion takes place
in August. For example, Susie has her third birthday in January. She
remains with the "2-year-old" group until the next August
when her class is promoted. Dodi Hance, Young Children's Coordinator,
determines the appropriate room assignments.
|
Class
|
Age
|
Room
|
|
Lambs
|
Infants
|
116
|
|
Giraffes
|
Crawlers
|
117
|
|
Puffins
|
Toddlers
|
119
|
|
Camels
|
2-year
|
124
|
|
Ducks
|
3-year
|
122
|
|
Elephants
|
4-year
|
125
|
|
Lions
|
5-year/kindergarten
|
126
|
|
