HPUMC Children's Ministry Policies for Parents 2007-2008

General

• If your child is at Sunday school, at least one parent or guardian must remain on the church campus the entire time, in case you are needed at any time throughout the Sunday school hour(s).
• All children must have a completed enrollment card on file.
• Each year you will receive a Parent Permission/Information Form in the mail. You will be asked to complete the form and return it to your child’s Sunday school class. These will be kept on file in case of an emergency. It is also requested that if you carry a cell phone you turn it to vibrate on Sunday morning in case we need to be in touch with you.
• Parents of children ages birth through kindergarten must sign their child in on the forms located on the tables outside each room. Please indicate where you will be located during the hour.  Please also indicate what time you will pick your child up (either 10:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.).
• A parent or guardian only may pick up children ages birth through first grade. For security reasons, no siblings under the age of 18 may pick up a child.
• Children second grade and older may meet their parents in a designated location on HPUMC church campus, if, and only if, the Parent Permission/Information Form is on file in their Sunday school classroom.
• For health reasons and out of respect to other families, children should not be dropped off in the nursery or Sunday school classes with signs of obvious illness. This includes runny nose, severe coughing, fever, or diarrhea. If a child is ill, a parent will be asked to come take the child out of Sunday school.
• There are several places around the church considered "Lost and Found" locations.  One is at the desk outside the Sanctuary.  Another is at the information desk outside of Wesley Hall.  There is a small "Lost and Found" area in room 126 (located in the younger children's area).

Nursery

• For the safety of the children in nursery rooms, children must be passed over the door when dropping off and picking up. The nursery doors must remain closed at all times!!!
• For children in the nursery, all items – car seats, diaper bags, bottles, cups, pacifiers, diapers, and any other items in diaper bag – need to be clearly labeled. The nursery is not responsible for any lost items.
• For children in nursery, in addition to signing children in and out, parents must pick up a pager. The caregiver will page parents only in cases of emergency or if a child continues to cry 15 minutes or more and can not settle.

Nursery and Younger Children

• In an effort to regularly communicate with parents, you are asked to look at the blue information banner hanging next to your child’s door and take “news for the week” flyer provided in the banner pocket.

HPUMC Children's Ministry Policies for Teacher Volunteers 2007-2008

General

• Teacher’s should be in their classrooms to prepare and  receive children at the following times:
  • 9:30 a.m. Sunday School:  Prepare -  9:00 a.m.  Receive Children - 9:15 a.m.
  • 11:00 a.m. Sunday School:  Prepare  - 10:40 a.m.  Receive Children - 10:45 a.m.
• All volunteers in the Children’s Ministry must submit a background check application, annually.
• Use one wipe or Kleenex per child when wiping nose or mouth to limit spreading of germs.
• All Children’s Ministry volunteers must wear a nametag while volunteering.
• In all Sunday school rooms, a minimum of two volunteers must be in a classroom at all times. Fifth grade will have floaters available to assist small group leaders.
• Report any injuries or illness to your Staff Coordinator or Director of CM. Insurance requires that we file incident reports with the business office.
• First aid kits are available for minor injury in each nursery room and at the following locations: 
  • First Floor: Children’s Information Center & Supply room 126
    (band-aids are available in all Younger Children’s classrooms)
  • Second Floor:  Supply room 217
• Evacuation routes are posted by the light switch in each classroom.
• If a child is missing, enact the missing child procedure in the file box  labeled “Missing Child Procedure” at the following locations:
  • First Floor: Children’s Information Center
  • Second Floor: Supply room 217
  • Sanctuary Entrance: Information Center
  • Wallace Building Entrance: Information Center
• Report any unusual or suspicious person or activity to a Staff Coordinator or the Director of CM.
• Report any violation of the Child Protection Policy to a Staff Coordinator or the Director of CM.
• Lost and found items are to be taken to the switchboard at the Sanctuary entrance.

Younger Children

• Younger children ages two through five (first floor) are allowed only to use the restrooms located inside the classrooms while in Sunday school. One child at a time in the restroom. If a child needs assistance, leave the bathroom door open.
• Nursery workers, not volunteers, change diapers. A teacher volunteer from the 2-3 age group should take the child to a nursery worker in room 113. The teacher volunteer should stay with the child and return to the classroom with the child.

Elementary

• Children ages Kindergarten through fifth grade may go to the restroom with permission from his or her classroom teacher. The teacher granting permission is responsible for the child until he/she returns to the classroom.