Volunteer Guidelines
Our Mission: Love God. Love others.
We believe children are fully capable of participating in the Gospel.
We believe the Kingdom of God is available to our children including salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, water baptism, communion, and operating in the gifts of the Spirit.
We lead our children to Jesus. We teach the Bible. We train our children to be disciples of God.
Each Sunday age-appropriate classes are available for children ages six months through eleven years old.
We believe the Kingdom of God is available to our children including salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, water baptism, communion, and operating in the gifts of the Spirit.
We lead our children to Jesus. We teach the Bible. We train our children to be disciples of God.
Each Sunday age-appropriate classes are available for children ages six months through eleven years old.
Check In/Out Procedure:
- Each Sunday, guardians may check in their children beginning at 9:30 am. At check in, guardians will receive a unique barcode on the child's name tag and on the guardian sticker.
- Guardians will bring that barcode with them when they pick up your children after service.
- For the safety of our children, at 10:15 am registration is closed and the Children’s Ministry door is locked. Families arriving after 10:15 am will sit in the sanctuary together as a family unit during service.
- For the safety of our children, only authorized volunteers are allowed past the check-in tables. We have a security team monitoring our premises.
Wellness Policy:
In order to provide a safe environment for everyone, children may not be checked in if the child has any of the following symptoms:
By a guardian signing their child into class, the guardian is agreeing their child meets the wellness policy. If a child becomes sick while in our care, we will notify the guardian to pick up their child. All diaper bags, bottles, or cups must be labeled with the child’s name. Team members are NOT allowed to administer medication.
Food Allergies:
When a guardian initially registers a child into our system, they will disclose any food allergies. We ask guardians to update any changes at check in. Nursery age children are offered plain cheerios, goldfish crackers, and graham crackers. PreHarbor age children are offered animal crackers or goldfish crackers. Harbor Kids are routinely not offered a snack.
Harbor Nursery:
Ages: Harbor Nursery is available for children six (6) months until their third (3rd) birthday. Child must be potty-trained before moving to the next class.
Harbor Pre-K and Kindergarten:
Ages: Three (3) through five (5). Children must be potty-trained before attending this class.
Graduation from this class to Harbor Kids is a designated Sunday in the month of May for students who will be six (6) by September 30 of that year.
Harbor Kids:
Ages: Six (6) by September 30 of current year through age eleven (11).
Graduation is a designated Sunday in the month of May for those moving into Harbor Kids and for those moving from Harbor Kids to Harbor Youth.
A student may remain with Harbor Kids until age twelve (12) before September 30 of the current year IF both Administrator and parent agree that a student would benefit from an additional enrichment year.
Separation Anxiety:
If a child is crying at check-in or during our care, remind the guardian that we will contact them by text if the child has not stopped crying within ten (10) minutes of check-in or during our care.
Electronic Devices and Toys:
Children will leave your favorite toy or electronic gaming devices with guardians. Cell phones will be kept on mute and put away. A team leader may use their phone or electronics for logistics of that service.
Expected Behavior:
-Keep their hands and feet to themselves. Respectful with words and actions.
-No running anywhere inside. No ball playing inside. No fighting, play-fighting, or rough playing.
-If a child is misbehaving, that child will be redirected immediately.
-If misbehavior continues, the child will be warned that if that behavior continues they will be asked to sit in a designated chair in the back of class.
-If misbehavior still continues, the child will be moved to a designated chair in the back of class and will not receive prizes given at the end of service.
-If misbehavior still continues, then the parent/guardian will be called. Teacher will text the parent number on the tag and notify a security member.
Conflict Resolution:
We choose to align with God’s Word. If conflict is with a child, then use the following process with the guardian along with the child.
“Love one another with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:18
When conflict arises, go directly to the person with whom you have conflict and discuss the situation in person and alone. At no time is social media an acceptable place to discuss conflict. All conflict must be addressed face-to-face or at least voice-to-voice and not by text.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” Matthew 18:15
If conflict is not resolved after the first meeting, make your team leader aware of the incident.
Safety:
Tornado Warning:
All children will be moved to interior classrooms.
Fire:
All children will be moved from classrooms to the open field across the street.
In order to provide a safe environment for everyone, children may not be checked in if the child has any of the following symptoms:
- Fever with in the previous twenty-four (24) hours
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the previous twenty-four (24) hours
- Any symptom of a contagious illness
- Any skin infection
- Pink eye or any other eye infection
- Head lice
- If child is being treated with antibiotics, they should be on the medication twenty-four (24) hours prior to attending class
By a guardian signing their child into class, the guardian is agreeing their child meets the wellness policy. If a child becomes sick while in our care, we will notify the guardian to pick up their child. All diaper bags, bottles, or cups must be labeled with the child’s name. Team members are NOT allowed to administer medication.
Food Allergies:
When a guardian initially registers a child into our system, they will disclose any food allergies. We ask guardians to update any changes at check in. Nursery age children are offered plain cheerios, goldfish crackers, and graham crackers. PreHarbor age children are offered animal crackers or goldfish crackers. Harbor Kids are routinely not offered a snack.
Harbor Nursery:
Ages: Harbor Nursery is available for children six (6) months until their third (3rd) birthday. Child must be potty-trained before moving to the next class.
Harbor Pre-K and Kindergarten:
Ages: Three (3) through five (5). Children must be potty-trained before attending this class.
Graduation from this class to Harbor Kids is a designated Sunday in the month of May for students who will be six (6) by September 30 of that year.
Harbor Kids:
Ages: Six (6) by September 30 of current year through age eleven (11).
Graduation is a designated Sunday in the month of May for those moving into Harbor Kids and for those moving from Harbor Kids to Harbor Youth.
A student may remain with Harbor Kids until age twelve (12) before September 30 of the current year IF both Administrator and parent agree that a student would benefit from an additional enrichment year.
Separation Anxiety:
If a child is crying at check-in or during our care, remind the guardian that we will contact them by text if the child has not stopped crying within ten (10) minutes of check-in or during our care.
Electronic Devices and Toys:
Children will leave your favorite toy or electronic gaming devices with guardians. Cell phones will be kept on mute and put away. A team leader may use their phone or electronics for logistics of that service.
Expected Behavior:
- Learning self-control is a normal part of maturity. Most situations with our children can be resolved by redirecting the child to a more appropriate activity.
- Each class will reward for desired behaviors.
- Our Kids team (ages 6-11) will reward with affirmation and/or small prizes for the following behaviors:
-Keep their hands and feet to themselves. Respectful with words and actions.
-No running anywhere inside. No ball playing inside. No fighting, play-fighting, or rough playing.
-If a child is misbehaving, that child will be redirected immediately.
-If misbehavior continues, the child will be warned that if that behavior continues they will be asked to sit in a designated chair in the back of class.
-If misbehavior still continues, the child will be moved to a designated chair in the back of class and will not receive prizes given at the end of service.
-If misbehavior still continues, then the parent/guardian will be called. Teacher will text the parent number on the tag and notify a security member.
Conflict Resolution:
We choose to align with God’s Word. If conflict is with a child, then use the following process with the guardian along with the child.
“Love one another with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:18
When conflict arises, go directly to the person with whom you have conflict and discuss the situation in person and alone. At no time is social media an acceptable place to discuss conflict. All conflict must be addressed face-to-face or at least voice-to-voice and not by text.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” Matthew 18:15
If conflict is not resolved after the first meeting, make your team leader aware of the incident.
Safety:
- Our check-in and check-out process ensures the safety of our children. Team leaders will check the unique barcode on the name tag against the adult barcode. No other person is allowed to pick up a child. If a guardian loses the barcode, please check the guardian's ID.
- Our premises are being monitored by security cameras.
- Our goal is to have two (2) adults in each classroom along with our teen volunteers.
- Our security team monitors weather and safety issues and will inform our Children Ministry team leaders of events.
Tornado Warning:
All children will be moved to interior classrooms.
Fire:
All children will be moved from classrooms to the open field across the street.