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Dear Parents,

Welcome to Westminster Calvary Nursery Ministry, where we lay the foundation for our youngest learners to Grow Up in Christ and Reach Out to Others. Your child will be loved and cared for by dedicated, well-trained volunteers who delight in partnering with you to launch your child on the journey of pursuing life in Christ.

Letter from the Director…………………………………………………………………………….3Our nursery volunteers do not babysit. Instead, they take advantage of

Security and Signing In………………………………………………………………………………..4 every moment they have with your child to teach simple Bible truths and

model God’s love. From the infant rooms where the children are prayed for

Hygiene and Health………………………………………………………………………………………..5 to the toddler rooms where the children are actively learning Bible stories,

the Nursery is alive with age-appropriate activities designed to introduce

FAQ’s……………………………………………………………………………………………………………6-7

Partnering With Parents…………………………………………………………………………..8-9

Curriculum…………………………………………………………………………………………………10-11

Curriculum At-a-Glance……………………………………………………………….back cover

your child to God.

But we know that no one will have the impact on your child’s spiritual development that you will. So, we are constantly looking for ways to partner with you. Check out the pages entitled “Curriculum” to find outabout the tools we have developed for you to use in the everyday moments of your life to help you point your child toward Jesus. In fact, everymoment you have with your child is an opportunity to point your child to Him. I encourage you to take advantage of each second. As important as that intentional teaching is, your children will learn even more about the truths of scripture by watching you intentionally living out the truths of scripture.

Please let us know how we can serve you and your child. It is our pleasure!

Ryan FerreriDirector of Children’s MinistryRyan@westminstercalvary.org303-223-4640

Another way Westminster Calvary partners with you is through Child Dedication. For information about how to publicly dedicate your child to the Lord contact me anytime.

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GETTING STARTEDThe Nursery is one of the secure areas of the building and you will need to show Calvary Church identification cards before you enter the hallway. So, whether you are a guest dropping in for the day or a member who has added a child toyour family, Children’s Ministry Central (CMC) in the lobby is the place to start for registering your child and receiving ID cards.• Guests will obtain temporary passes each week from CMC.• Regular attenders can get a permanent photo ID and have children added to

our classroom rosters at CMC.• If you forget to bring your parent ID to church, stop by CMC for a

temporary one so that you can be admitted to the nursery.

In the Nursery, you will be issued a kiddie keeper, a key-chain like device that corresponds toyour child’s room Remember, you must bring two possessions each timenumber and cubby. you enter the nursery:You will need it to For drop off: Your child and your parent IDpick up your child. For pick up: Your kiddie keeper and parent ID

DROP OFF, THE TWO-WORKER RULE, AND PICK UP Please thoroughly complete the sign-in sheet at your child’s room each week so that we know how to best care for your child and how to reach you during each ministry hour. Please only drop your child off in a classroom when two workers are present. It is our policy that no child ever be alone with a volunteer. Also:

• Wash your child’s hands with the provided wipes at drop off time.• Label your child’s belongings each week. See p. 7 for a list of what to bring.• Label your child’s bag. Tags are available at checkpoint.

Please indicate on the sign-in sheet which adult will be picking up your child. Remember to stay on-site if you have a child in the nursery. Then, at pick-uptime hand the kiddie keeper to a caregiver so that it can be matched to the one on your child’s back. This is part of our security measures.

EMERGENCY EVACUATIONIn the event of an evacuation, DO NOT come to the Nursery. Instead, exit the building safely according to the evacuation plan for your section of the building. Then, proceed to the parking area near the Nursery to pick up your child. Our volunteers will safely evacuate and care for your child and will release him to you after attendance is taken and you show proper identification.

HEALTHOur volunteers use standard precautions to help keep your child healthy. That means:• They use a glove when dealing with bodily fluids• They wash their hands often• Toys are washed every time the nursery is open• Rooms are thoroughly cleaned each week• Our caregivers will not serve in the nursery if they are sick

ILLNESS POLICYIn an effort to provide a healthy and safe environment for all of our children and staff, we ask that children and/or adults not be in our classrooms if they have any of the following symptoms and/or illnesses:

Active Chicken Pox ColdConjunctivitis (Pink Eye) CoughingDiarrhea (for any reason) Fever within the past 24 hours Infection of any typeLiceMeaslesMumpsRashRunny nose (clear drainage is allowed but not encouraged) Vomiting (within the past 24 hours)

If a child is being treated with antibiotics, he/she should be on the medicine for at least 24 hours before coming to any of the Children’s Ministriesclassrooms.

If any of these symptoms are noticed in your child, we will be unable to allow your child to stay. If your child has already been left in the classroom, we will locate you and ask that you remove your child from class. Calvary Church’s First Aid team is always available to help in confirming any symptoms. Thank you for helping us to provide a healthy environment for each of our children and volunteers.

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AT WHAT AGE CAN MY CHILD BE LEFT IN THE NURSERY? You may leave children with us as early as you are comfortable doing so. Every September there is a promotion out of the Nursery and into the Early Childhood department for children who will turn two by September 30th. Otherwise, they stay with us for another year on Sunday mornings, Tuesday mornings, and Wednesday nights. Children must be three by September 30th to join the King’s Kids choirs on Sunday nights; all younger children stay in the nursery for the year.

WILL MY CHILD STAY IN THE SAME NURSERY ROOM ALL YEAR? In order to maintain safety ratios in each of the rooms and to provide age-appropriate learning materials for your child as he ages, periodically through the year on Sunday mornings your child will be promoted within the nursery to one of our eight large, cheerful rooms. You will be informed when your child needs tomove to a new class.

WHEN IS THE NURSERY OPEN? Sunday mornings: 9-12:15The Nursery opens at 9:00. Please plan on arriving no later that 9:15 for the 1st hour or 11:00 for the 2nd hour so that proper staffing can be arranged in eachclassroom and so that your child and you can benefit from the teaching during the whole ministry hour.

Sunday nights: 5:50-7:15 The Nursery generally follows the same schedule as the King’s Kids choirs. We are occasionally open at other times through the year. Watch the bulletin for updates.

Tuesday mornings: 9:05-11:15The Nursery runs in conjunction with the Study and Share women’s Bible study, and children must be pre-registered.

Wednesday nights: 6:20-8:00The Nursery follows the same schedule as Discovery Clubs, the Wednesday night children’s programs, and children must be pre-registered.

Please pick up your child promptly after each program. If you are serving in other children’s classrooms, we understand that you may be delayed. For programs that require pre-registration, watch for communication in the bulletin or by mail oremail to announce upcoming program and registration dates. Sunday morning Nursery generally runs all year. The Nursery is typically closed during the summer on Sunday nights, Tuesday mornings, and Wednesday nights.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO THE NURSERY?• Diapers• Change of clothing• Ointment-we will apply it only at your request• Comfort item such as a pacifier or blanket• Premixed bottle in an insulated bag. Our caregivers need to feed several

children each hour and need to be able to pull bottles from bags withouthaving to mix them.

• Cup labeled with your child’s namePlease label all personal items each time you come to the nursery. Stickers are available for this purpose at the sign-in area.

WILL MY CHILD RECEIVE A SNACK?We feed the children a snack of Cheerios® as their development allows. If your child is allergic to Cheerios® we will be happy to feed him/her a similar snack that you provide. Please do not bring baby food. Our caregivers are so busy that there is no time to spoon feed the children; you are welcome to join us in the nursery to feed your child.

IS A PRIVATE NURSING AREA AVAILABLE?Two nursing rooms are available in the Nursery suite where, with a turn of the dial, you and other moms and babies can hear the morning worship service. Achanging table is provided for your convenience. You will need to show your parent ID when entering the nursery. An additional nursing area is available in theWomen’s Restroom on the 400 level.

WILL YOU CHANGE MY CHILD’S DIAPER OR TOILET MY CHILD? It is our goal to check each child’s diaper at least once while they are with us. If your child is potty training, please take him to the bathroom before class. Feel free to use the child-size toilet in our class bathroom. Also, clip an orange potty-training tag to your child’s shirt; this will help to remind our caregivers to takeyour child to the bathroom during class. If you feel your child will need to use the bathroom more than once during each hour, please help our caregivers by toileting your child between ministry hours or during class. We suggest you bring a change of clothes for all children in case of accidents.

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In the Nursery classrooms children will be taught three basic guidelines in honoring God:

OBEY, BE KIND and SHOW HONOR

When a child makes a dishonoring choice we will move through the following steps, progressing to the next step only as needed:

The purpose of Calvary Church Children’s Ministries:

To partner with parents in the spiritualdevelopment of their children as we encourage and

challenge each child to become a fully devoted

follower of Jesus Christ.

More than simply obeying a set of rules, God desires that we live and behave in such a way that others are drawn to Him. In Children’s Ministries we will encourage and challenge your children to think of their words and behavior in terms of honoring God, His Word, their leaders, others, and property.

“God is interested in hearts because that’s where real and

lasting change takes place.”

Our desire is to use every teachable moment to help build the inner character your children need to follow the Lord in every area of their lives. Those momentshappen not only during Bible lessons but also as we help them to make honoring choices in their words and actions.

“Trying to change behavior will be fruitless without also rewriting what the child believes and says in his/her heart”.

When children make choices that are dishonoring, we will address both the behavior and the heart issue.

Quotes are from Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. For more information on their parenting material available through Calvary Church, please contact Pastor George May at 560-2341 or gmay@calvarychurch.org.

The plan you see on the next page is based on the parenting material referenced above and is designed so that we are using similar language in the classrooms that our Calvary parents are learning to use in their home through these parenting classes. It is a way wepartner with parents in the spiritual development of their children.

As your child ages out of the Nursery, you will see a similar plan being used, age-appropriately, throughout Children’s Ministries.

1. Clarify expectations and show the child what a better choice looks like.2. Ask him to take a “break”- a quiet time removed from the group to think about

what he is doing wrong, why it is dishonoring and what he will do differently. Our caregivers will be sitting with him, explaining this in a short, simpleconversation.

3. As needed, issue a consequence such as missing out on an activity or, when necessary, calling his parent.

After each of these steps, we will bring discipline times to a positive conclusion and give him a fresh start. This is done by asking three basic questions and adding one simple statement:

“What did you do wrong?” “Why was it wrong?”“What are you going to do differently next time?” He will then be encouraged to “go ahead and try again!”

Of course, we will be answering these three questions for and with your Nursery-aged child. We ask the questions so that the child can get used to hearing thequestions and answers and, one day, be able to answer them for himself.

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We use the A Sure Foundation curriculum from Children Desiring God (www.childrendesiringGod.org ) , adapted byour own staff and volunteers.

WHY USE CURRICULUM IN THE NURSERYIt is a common misconception that children are brought to the nursery just so that the rest of the congregation can receive Bible teaching without the interruption of a baby’s cry. We are not babysitters. Sure we change your child’s diaper, comfort his pain, feed him and play with him while you go elsewhere to receive Bibleteaching, but more than that your child is receiving intentional teaching about our God every time he enters the nursery gates. And why not? As your child’s brain develops new pathways to learning, we should be linking that learning to God and His truth.

INFANTSIt starts from the first time you leave them in our care. As infants are being rocked, having their diapers changed, or being fed, they are prayed for. In fact, each time your child enters the Garden of Grace Nursery he is being prayed for. We pray scripture passages to God on behalf of your child. Take a look at theposters over the changing table next time you’re in. On one, you’ll see a Bible passage, and on the other poster is a suggested way for our caregivers to turn that verse into a prayer for your child. So, your child is not only being prayed for, he is hearing God’s word as well. Need some ideas of what to pray for your child? Ask your caregiver what he prayed for your child today. What will God be pleased to do in the life of your child because of the prayers of his parents and his caregivers?

YOUNG TODDLERSIn addition to being prayed for, your young toddlers also hear a new Truth Statement each month. Truth Statements are short phrases that caregivers repeat throughout the session while caring for your child in rooms 333, 334, 335, and 336. These are Bible truths like “God Made Everything,” God is Good,” and “Jesus is Here!.”

Here is how these truths might come up in conversations. “I see your fingers. God made your fingers. God Made Everything!” Or, “Here is our snack. God is Good to give us food to eat.”

Children learn through repetition and because we’re interested in helping your child’s brain make pathway connections to spiritual things we’ll repeat these simple truths over and over all month, with the ultimate goal of these truths contributing to changing your child’s heart. To find out what Truth Statement we are working on this month, check out the poster closest to your classroom gate.

OLDER TODDLERSFor our oldest children, the Truth Statement becomes the core of the curriculum. It is the main point of the Bible Lesson taught in 332 and 337, and it is reinforced through hands-on, age appropriate activities. Children will also learn a simple Bible memory verse each month that is related to the Bible lesson. Parents areencouraged to practice these verses at home, too. Each week a take home page is available to parents in our oldest toddler rooms. It includes the Truth Statement, the Bible story reference, the memory verse, and often some suggested activities for you to do at home that will reinforce the Bible truths presented in class.

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