Pre-K / Kindergarten

Volunteer Meeting: Arrive by 9:15 AM wearing your volunteer shirt for the volunteer meeting to discuss the day's schedule and any special instructions. Our meeting is going to end at 9:25, so if you need coffee or snacks, head to the coffee bar, but be in your rooms at 9:30.

Volunteer Check-In: After our morning meeting, when you arrive in your rooms, please enter your phone number on the iPad and check yourself in.

The Lesson: The Wednesday before volunteers serve the lesson for the Sunday they serve will be uploaded to Church Center. We ask all volunteers to read the lesson and familiarize themselves with what is being taught before they serve.

Room Readiness: Be in the Pre-K Room by 9:30 AM to prepare the room for the children's arrival and get the welcome activity ready. Ensure you have all the supplies you need for the day (snacks, water, pull-ups, diapers, wipes, etc.) and the activities.

Hands-Off Approach: Our disciplinary action is limited; we are not parents, and this is not school. We will talk to the children and de-escalate, but we do not use our hands. If the child is still unresponsive to our directions, then we will message our morning group message for help.

Group Message: Reach out to the morning group message when you have a problem with a child. If a child is unresponsive to our correction or direction, or if a situation requires immediate attention, such as when an ice pack is needed. For any and all situations, simply say “We need help in the Pre-K Room”. Be prepared to explain the details upon the Team Leaders’ arrival.

Security: For matters of safety and security, if you see a person looking into rooms, wandering the children’ hall, or in the parking lot. Message the morning group message.

BE THE LIGHT: Strive to eliminate negativity and instead bring positivity, energy, hope, and vision. When serving, aim to bring a cheerful attitude and set aside negativity. We know and understand that everyone is dealing with challenges outside of this environment, but we serve to put our focus on making an impact for the kingdom!

Compassion: Lead & serve with compassion. We handle all situations with compassion & grace. We do not hand out parenting advice or correct families, but rather love and encourage. If there are any issues, bring them to the attention of the Team Leader or Pastor Chris before or after service.

No phones: No devices of any kind, we need to pay attention to the needs of the children

Arrival Position: One volunteer needs to be positioned at the door during this time, and the other will be with the children. If there is a youth volunteer in the room, they will be with the children while the adult volunteer greets families.

Check-In: Ensure the child has been checked in and has their sticker placed on their back.

Placement: We do allow for toddlers to move up from the Nursery early, but it is decided upon careful review. For the Pre-K Room, we do not allow early move-ups. If there are any issues or questions about placement in the Pre-K Room, speak to our Team Leader or Pastor Chris before or after service.

Assist with Bags: Help parents with any bags as they drop off their children.

Reassurance: Comfort families by reassuring them that their children will have fun, be safe, and well cared for, especially a family new to the room or the church.

Visitors or Guests: For first-time visitors or guests, direct them to the check-in desk in the foyer.

Allergy and Special Requests: Check for any allergies or special dietary requirements that need attention. Confirm with families if their child can have goldfish and/or animal crackers . If there is another snack or someone brings something for their birthday, like cupcakes, ensure that it is okay with the families as well.

Technology: No electronic devices of any kind are allowed to be brought into the Pre-K Room by a child.

Report Attendance: Before starting the lesson at 10:10, provide a head count to the Team Leader through our morning group message.

Discipline : Kindly provide children with instruction, direction, and correction. We are not the parents and are not to spank, threaten, or yell. If children need to be separated for any reason, do so. In the Pre-K Room, we use a reward system. Teaching children to apologize for their wrongs to others is a great way to help them learn how to act with other children and volunteers.

Prize Box: The prize box in the Pre-K Room exists to reward children for finishing the day with no issues. Show the prize box to the children and let them know we keep it stocked with fun stuff!

Strike System: Children get strikes for not following the volunteers’ instructions, directions or corrections. First strike, is a warning in the Pre-K Room. Second strike, they will not get a prize from the prize box. Third strike, we get the team leader to come assess. You will message the morning group message for the team leader to stop by and assess if the child needs to be removed. Children can earn a strike back through good behavior throughout the morning. We handle every situation tenderly with compassion. We are not their parents.

Count Down: 5,4,3,2,1: We count down from 5,4,3,2,1 to direct the attention of the room. Once we get to 1, the whole room should be quiet and eyes forward, no one moving around. Practice with them by counting down 5,4,3,2,1 when you get to 1, place your 1 index finger over your mouth in a shushing fashion to remind the children to get quiet and still.

Service Energy: Children feed off the energy of the volunteers in the room. If your energy and excitement are low or non-existent, then so will theirs be. Bring life to the room through your excitement and energy by jumping, clapping, smiling, laughing, etc.

Segments: The lesson for each week is broken up into segments. Most segments include a script. The script helps us to transition from segment to segment, ask questions, and breakdown the theme for each day.

Reading: When we read the script and transition from segment to segment we need to do so with energy and excitement to help generate as much involvement as possible.

Gathering: When gathering the kids to the worship section of the room have them each sit/ stand on a square on the carpet.

Prayer & Worship: Gather the children together in the worship area. Pray before starting worship to help bring focus. Encourage the children to sing and dance by joining you in singing and dancing to the songs.

Lesson & Script: Use the scripted parts of the lesson to assist in transitioning from one part of the service to another. The best use of the script is to read it before service starts to be familiar with what is said for the day. Then as we start the lesson follow along with the script without having to read word for word what is on the script. Feel free to ad-lib while maintaining faithfulness to the message, energy, and points within the script.

Snack & Small Talk: During this time, bring the children to the snack area (tan table with blue chairs), hand out waters and snacks to the children (gold fish or animal crackers). While the children are snacking, begin asking the small talk questions and engage in light conversation.

Craft: During this time, have the children transition to the Craft Bar to do the craft.

Game: At this time, transition the children to the appropriate area, the snack area, the worship area, etc., to play the game before pickup.

Black Cabinets: No children are allowed to go into the black cabinets.

Regular Bathroom Breaks: Assess the child’s need to use the restroom every 30 minutes to ensure children do not have accidents. If families request a shorter time frame, ensure that you set an alarm or reminder to do so.

Engagement with Children: When doing worship, activities, games, etc., engage with the children, sing the songs, dance, play, and engage. When doing the activity, help the children with patience, ensure they understand what to do, and provide as much help as they need while also fostering some independence.

Free Play: While the children are free playing in the playroom, communicate and play with them. Observe who looks like they may need someone to play with or someone who looks like they are sad or apprehensive, and talk and play with them.

Playground: When the Pre-K Room goes to the playground, they first must be quiet and walk together. Second, the Volunteer will send a message to the morning group message that your room is going to the playground. When your group is getting ready to re-enter, let the group message know so that the Team Leader can let you in. The back door by the playground is exit only, no re-entry.

DVD Player Instructions: If additional entertainment is needed:

Use the "TV remote" to switch the input by pressing the input button

Then press the arrow down to select "HDMI 2”.

Turn on the DVD player using the 'on' button on the DVD Player

Then, use the DVD player remote to play the selected video.

Service Ending: The Team Leader will send a message when Pastor is praying to let all volunteers know when the service is ending.

Family Pick-Up: We want all children out of the playroom, shoes on, and calmed down for the family pickup.

Ensure the children are leaving with their family: This is essential for the safety and well- being of our children. It also conveys this to families, especially those who are new to the room or the church.

Sticker Removal: As you cheerfully hand over the children and their belongings/crafts to their families, remove their sticker from their backs.

Last Child Standing: Once service is over, stay in the room until all children are picked up. Leave no child behind and bring no child to their family. Families must come to pick up their children.

Room Cleanup: Ensure the Pre-k Room is tidy. Turn off lights and equipment and secure any trash. Keep Trash in the trash can.

Supply Check: Note any low supplies like diapers/pull-ups or wipes on the dry-erase board for restocking or anything that needs to be fixed or washed. Write them on the whiteboard located on the black cabinet.

Shutting Down: Turn off all lights, tie the trash bag up, leave the trash bag in the trash can, and lock the iPad outside of the room.

Responsibilities: As youth volunteers, your contributions are vital in creating a welcoming and safe environment for the children under our care. We believe youth volunteers are excellent role models for children.

Expectations: We want our youth volunteers to know the volunteer guide for the rooms they serve in, just like the adult volunteers. Read over this complete guide to better be able to assist the leading adult volunteer in all areas.

Energy: Bring energy and excitement to everything, the lessons, crafts, activities, games, and worship!

Drop-off: While the leading adult volunteer is at the door greeting parents and children as they arrive, you will be engaging with the children by playing games, Legos, etc.

No Phones: No devices of any kind, pay attention to the children to optimize the time we have to connect and lead.

Correction: Let adult volunteers know of any issues that arise, and they will instruct, direct, and correct. Issues include: behavioral issues, supply issues, a child is scared or uncomfortable, a child doesn’t feel good, etc.

Tidying Up: Help clean up the room by putting things away, wiping down surfaces, and preparing the room for the next service.

Above All: Assist the other volunteers in the room with a cheerful attitude and a helping hand.