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Child Care at Trinity |
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Trinity Presbyterian Church offers loving, dependable childcare services all year. We have prepared this information page to answer any questions you may have about the supervision and care your child will receive. "Let the little children come to me" Matthew: 19:14 WHO PROVIDES CHILDCARE? Our childcare services are coordinated by professional staff and volunteer workers who provide a safe, nurturing environment for all children. Professional Staff: Heather Kern, is a long-time member of our congregation and has been serving in the Nursery for six years. Heather holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and works as a childcare professional. Nursery Volunteers: This group serves the childcare program faithfully though out the year. Parents who make use of the program regularly are encouraged to volunteer. Schedules are developed in advance so people can plan ahead. A substitute list is also provided in case of last minute illness or emergencies. All child care workers wear nametags so you can identify them easily. WHEN IS CHILD CARE AVAILABLE? We provide childcare from 9:30 am - noon every Sunday, from the third Sunday in September until the second Sunday in June. During the summer, childcare is available for the 9:30 am service. We also provide childcare for special worship services and some of our congregational events. WHERE IS THE NURSERY? The Nursery is located in Room 1 on the level below the Sanctuary. This room is used by Trinity Nursery School during the week and is equipped with its own rest room and changing table, as well as age-appropriate toys. HOW IS THE PROGRAM MANAGED? When you bring your child to the Nursery, one of our childcare workers will greet you and ask you to complete a sign-in sheet. If your child is new to the program, we encourage you to arrive a few minutes early so you have a chance to talk to a member of the staff who will be there at least ten minutes before the session begins. At the end of the session, a staff person remains until all children have been retrieved. DO I NEED TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR CHILD CARE? We do not have any kind of registration requirements or fees for childcare. We do hope, though, that you will volunteer to assist in the Nursery. HOW OLD MUST A CHILD BE TO PARTICIPATE? On Sunday mornings, infants and children up to age three are welcome to participate in our childcare program. Children who are ready for a more structured environment are encouraged to attend Church School classes. We offer classes for two-year-olds through sixth grade at 9:30 am, and for children age four through fourth grade at 11:00 am. For special events and services other than Sunday morning worship, we supervise children up to age five. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD CAN'T STOP CRYING? Occasionally, a child will cry for a long period of time because he or she is tired, hungry, irritable, etc. Our childcare workers will make every effort to calm a crying child, but if the child is obviously inconsolable, someone will come to find you. Many children do cry when their parents leave, but tears tend to subside at the appearance of an interesting toy! WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES? We do have a few simple rules: · Please complete the sign-in sheet before leaving. · For the sake of your own child, as well as the others, we ask that you not bring a sick child into the nursery. · Bring diapers, bottles, snacks, etc., in a diaper bag clearly labeled with the child's name. List instructions on the sign-in sheet. Youngsters like to "share" their snacks, so we need to know if your child has food allergies or sensitivities. · If your child is taking medication and requires a dose while in our care, we ask that you return to the Nursery to attend to this. · Unless you tell us otherwise, we will change diapers and escort children to the rest room, as needed. · Due to the broad age range, we ask parents not to bring small toys into the nursery. Soft "love objects" are welcome! · Children will be released into the care of a parent or other designated adult only! Please do not send an older sibling to retrieve a child.
Safety We certainly don't anticipate that a fire will ever occur, but in the event of an emergency, childcare workers will follow our evacuation procedure. All children will be escorted to the house at 100 West Gate Drive, where you can retrieve them when safety permits. Policy If you are new to the program, it is only natural that you may be uneasy about leaving your child with people you don't know. We have clear guidelines regarding the manner in which we inter- act with the children in our care. We will be happy to share these guidelines with you and answer any questions you may have. FOR MORE INFORMATION If you want to know whether childcare is offered for a particular event, or you want to talk about the program, contact the Church Office at 428-2050. If you are interested in learning more about Trinity Nursery School, our state-licensed, weekday preschool program, please call Director Diane Balfour at 795-3123. |
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