What time am I supposed to arrive?

Teachers should arrive promptly at 8:40 AM to set up their classrooms before the start of the service. This includes preparing materials, setting up any technology, and ensuring the space is welcoming for children.

Where’s the schedule for my classroom?

Each classroom follows a structured schedule tailored to the age group. You can find your schedule on the Nursery, Preschool, or Elementary pages.

I woke up sick and am unable to come this morning. What do I do?

Follow these steps:

1. Notify Leadership: Contact your leader and message your week’s group message. This should be done as soon as possible to allow for adequate time to find a replacement teacher.

2. Find a Replacement: If possible, try to find a replacement teacher to cover your absence. You can reach out to other volunteers or leadership for assistance in finding a replacement if needed.

3. Rest and Recover: Focus on getting the rest and care you need to recover. Prioritize your health and well-being to ensure a speedy recovery. No need to stress! Let us know if you need help in any way, are in the hospital, or need meals.

What are our bathroom safety guidelines?

1. Two-Teacher Rule: Two teachers must be present during each bathroom visit. This ensures the safety and supervision of the children at all times. NEVER take a child to the bathroom alone FOR ANY REASON.

2. Check for Occupancy: Before allowing children to enter the bathroom, one teacher should ensure that the bathroom is empty. If an adult is using the bathroom, children should wait until it is vacant before entering.

3. Gender-Specific Escort: When assisting children to the restroom, teachers should follow gender-specific guidelines. Male teachers should escort boys, and female teachers should escort girls.

4. Wait Outside the Door: Teachers should wait outside the restroom door and avoid entering unless there is an emergency (A child becomes unconscious or has a seizure, for example). This helps maintain privacy and boundaries for the children.

5. Assistance with Caution: If a child requests assistance inside the restroom, teachers should exercise caution and ensure another teacher is present. Unless there’s an emergency (see #4), they should NEVER enter the restroom themselves and instead provide assistance from outside with the door open. If needed, send the Floater to find one of the student’s parents.

What are our discipline guidelines?

For a specific list of our discipline procedures, go here.

Here’s 3 guidelines to remember:

1. Redirect with Respect: Gently guide the child's behavior toward a more appropriate activity or action while maintaining respect and kindness in your communication.

2. Seek Support if Needed: If redirection is ineffective, involve the child's parents or seek assistance from leadership to address the behavior effectively and ensure a supportive environment for the child.

3. Safety and Kindness Always: Prioritize the safety and well-being of the child and others in the classroom, ensuring discipline is carried out with kindness and respect for the child's dignity.

I suspect a student be suffering from abuse. What do I do?

Recognize Signs of Abuse: Abuse can be noticed in many ways, including the following:

1. Verbal disclosures from children about abuse.

2. Written disclosures (such as prayer requests) indicating abuse.

3. You personally witness abuse to a child.

4. Signs of abuse are evident on a child (bruises, burns, etc).

Reporting: If you recognize or even suspect signs of child abuse, report it immediately to your Devotion Kids Leader and/or to one of the pastors: Matt Burkett, Thomas Webb or Jason Gallagher. This reporting is mandatory, even if you feel like you might be overreacting. You’ll need to provide any information or observations that led to the suspicion or recognition of abuse.

A child got hurt. What do I do?

Here is the accidents procedure:

1. Administer First Aid: In the event of an accident or injury, provide immediate first aid as needed. Each classroom is equipped with a basic first aid kit containing essential supplies for treating minor cuts, scrapes, or bruises.

2. Notify Kids Ministry Leader : If the situation requires more than basic first aid or if the injury is more serious in nature, notify the Kids Ministry Leader immediately. They will provide guidance and assistance in managing the situation.

3. Notify Parents: Notify the parent or guardian of the child involved in the accident. Provide them with a copy of the completed Accident Form and explain the nature of the incident and the treatment provided. Even if, in your view, that the accident isn’t extremely serious or an emergency, our default should be to notify a parent. Remember, our aim is to build trust.

4. Complete Accident Form: For every accident or injury, complete an Accident Form documenting details such as the nature of the injury, how it occurred, and the treatment provided. This form helps to keep accurate records and ensures that all incidents are properly documented.

5. Follow-Up: Follow any additional instructions or procedures provided by the Kids Ministry Leader or church leadership regarding follow-up actions, such as seeking medical attention or notifying other relevant parties.

What are our emergency evacuation / lockdown procedures?

Emergency Evacuation Plan: Follow in the event of a fire or any other reason for evacuation:

1. Safely Escort Children: Teachers must safely escort all children out of the building using the nearest exit.

2. Take Attendance Twice: Teachers should take attendance twice during the evacuation process: once as the class exits the classroom and again in the designated evacuation location.

3. Keep Class Together: Teachers must keep the class together until it is safe to return to the classroom. Children should not re-enter the building until notified by law enforcement, the Fire/Safety Team, or church leadership.

Lockdown Plan: Follow in the event of a threat to the welfare of our children.

1. Lock Classroom Doors, if possible: Teachers must lock the classroom doors to prevent unauthorized entry.

2. Turn Off Lights: Do what you can to create and maintain a low-profile environment.

3. Gather Children Together: Gather all children in a designated corner of the room away from windows and doors. If you are able / if it is safe to do so, take attendance to ensure you have all of your children.

4. Maintain Quietness: Encourage children to remain quiet to minimize noise and avoid drawing attention.

5. Remain in Lockdown Mode: Teachers must remain in lockdown mode until notified by church leadership or law enforcement that it is safe to resume normal activities.