Kids Community

Welcome to Kids Community at New Hope! We are so excited to introduce you to our ministry! Please use the resources provided to browse our website to learn more us. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope you’ll stop by and spend a Sunday morning with us!


Vision, Mission, Core Values

A MISSION THAT CONNECTS US

As a committed team, we exist to help children love and follow Jesus for a lifetime.

A MISSION THAT PROPELS US

Together, we will accomplish our mission by engaging children in hands-on Bible learning activities where they can experience God’s love and be equipped to develop and grow in a personal, lifelong relationship with Jesus.

A MISSION THAT PROPELS US

As we fulfill our mission, we will:

  1. Cherish children. (Psalm 127:3)
    Children are our target audience and our ministry will be tailored to meet them on their level. Our activities will be age-appropriate and engaging. Our classroom furniture, books, toys, décor, music and lessons will reflect our desire to provide an optimal environment for children to learn and enjoy their time with us.
  2. Be relevant. (James 1:22)
    In order to reach children, our target audience, every lesson, activity, game, song and discussion must be relevant in their lives TODAY. We desire for children to move from head knowledge to heart knowledge by asking, “What does this mean to me?” We want children to not only hear and know God’s Word but also personally apply the lesson focus of the week.
  3. Embrace creativity.
    Children learn and process information differently. Therefore, we will intentionally incorporate activities that complement various learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic). Our lessons use quiet and active elements which include arts & crafts, games, hands-on application, object lessons and tasty treats. We use visuals, movie clips, drama, puppets and active participation to creatively tell the Bible story.
  4. Value, support and equip parents. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
    Because parents are their child’s primary teacher, we count it a privilege to support and equip parents in this vital role. Some of the resources that we offer include a Faith At Home Resource Library, which is open at church on the last Sunday of each month. The library contains books, videos, music and printed articles to help strengthen marriages & families. Another way that we support parents is to celebrate faith milestones such as baby/child dedication, salvation and baptism. One of our most recent resources has been a Facebook page for Kids Community parents and leaders to dialogue and offer feedback regarding our ministry.
  5. Maintain a safe environment.
    Feeling safe and secure are among a child’s highest needs. Children cannot learn well in an environment where they are afraid. We aim to care for a child’s physical well-being as well as their emotional safety. Some of the safeguards we have in place are age-appropriate classroom equipment; background checks for volunteers; check-in and check-out procedures; nut-free snacks; classroom rules/discipline policies; affirmation; acceptance; and positive reinforcement.
  6. Have fun!
    We want children to feel that church is a fun, exciting place to be! We want laughter and smiles to fill our classrooms, on-the-edge-of-your seat anticipation and occasional surprises!

What to Expect

Nursery

We know that leaving your baby, for the first time or in an unfamiliar environment, can be overwhelming. The provided training will help them care for all of your child’s needs. We hope that the following information will help you and your baby have a great experience with us on Sunday morning.

Registration/Check-In

Teachers will be prepared to check your children into their classrooms 10 minutes before the start of the service. Please fill out the sign-in sheet located inside your baby’s classroom as well as two-part name tag. You should retain the left side of the name tag and return it when picking up your child at the end of the morning. You should fill out the right side of the name tag with your child’s name and any details concerning feeding and napping schedules, teething issues or other information that we should be aware of.

What to Bring

Please bring disposable diapers, bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, and any special blankets that will comfort your baby through the morning. Label all of your child’s items with his or her name.

Snacks

We supply Cheerios® for babies on an as-needed basis. If your baby has any allergies or special dietary needs and cannot eat what we have provided, please inform the teacher and bring an appropriate snack for them in a labeled bag/container. **Please note that we are unable to spoon-feed your child.

Cry Policy

We adhere to a strict 10-minute cry policy. If your baby cannot be comforted within that time, you will be contacted.

Safety

To ensure that your babies receive the best care, we adhere to a one caregiver to every three children ratio in our infant classroom.

Promotion

We promote your children from this classroom based on development. So, when they start walking steadily, we will move them up to our toddler room. Your children’s teachers and the ministry director will communicate with you before this change is made.


Toddlers and 2's

This is a fun and active stage in your children’s lives! We are excited to welcome them into our Toddlers and 2’s environment and look forward to teaching them three basic truths:

God loves them. God made them. Jesus wants to be their friend forever.

Please refer to the information below to help us make sure your child’s time with us is GREAT!

Registration/Check-In

Teachers will be prepared to check your children into their classrooms 10 minutes before the start of the service. Please fill out the sign-in sheet located outside your child’s classroom as well as two-part name tag. You should retain the left side of the name tag and return it when picking up your child at the end of the morning. You should fill out the right side of the name tag with your child’s name and any details concerning feeding schedules, teething or potty issues or other information that we should be aware of.

What to Bring

Be sure to bring extra diapers and a change of clothes. Label all items, including bottles or cups, snacks, diapers, pacifiers, etc. If your children are potty training, please be sure to communicate that to the teacher. We ask that they wear disposable training pants to the classroom.

Curriculum

Our teaching plan begins in our toddlers and 2’s environment. All activities are age- appropriate while maintaining flexibility for the normal needs of toddlers and two-year-olds. We currently use First Look® curriculum, which centers around three basic truths:

God loves them. God made them. Jesus wants to be their friend forever.

We focus on one of these basic truths each month. Every week your children will learn a Bible story that will help them understand the key truth for the morning. Your toddlers and two-year-olds will also participate in one curriculum-based, age-appropriate activity and classroom play during the morning. We ask that you do not bring extra toys, since it is hard to distinguish what belongs to whom as well as provides an unnecessary distraction from the morning’s activities.

If you would like to know what your children are learning, please pick up a copy of the Small Talk parent page located on the wall outside of the classroom. You are your children’s best teacher, so use the activities to extend classroom learning and talk about God with them all week at home.

Snacks

We serve a light snack each week, usually Goldfish®, graham crackers or Nilla Wafers®. If we are serving something else, you will find a note posted on the door outside of your child’s classroom informing you of the snack. If your children have any allergies or special dietary needs and cannot eat what we have provided, please inform the teachers and bring an appropriate finger-food snack for them in a labeled container. **Please note that we are unable to spoon-feed your child.

Cry Policy

We adhere to a strict 10-minute cry policy. If your baby cannot be comforted within that time, you will be contacted.

Safety

To ensure that our classroom is safe and to create the best possible learning environment, we adhere to a ratio of one teacher for every four children.

Promotion

We promote your children from this classroom to our preschool environment based on development as well as age. Promotion takes place twice per year: in the fall (September) and in the spring (March). Your children’s teachers and the ministry director will communicate with you before any changes are made.


Preschoolers (~ 3 - 6 years old)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind." -Luke 10:27

We want to know Him to love Him!

The preschool years are a time to begin the process of responding to the love of God. The above key verse sums up our response to God. In order to love God we must first know Him so the focus of these years is on learning the story of God throughout time.

Registration/Check-In

Teachers will be prepared to check your children into their classrooms 10 minutes before the start of the service. Please fill out the sign-in sheet located at the far end of the room with any details concerning food, potty issues or other information that we should be aware of.

Curriculum

Preschoolers will progress from knowing that God knows and loves them, to them knowing and loving God. Each week kids will be taught Old and New Testament Bible stories and how they show God’s unchanging character.

We want your preschoolers to look forward to coming to Kids Community so the lessons will include music, storytelling, puppetry, games and crafts specifically designed for this active age group.

Sunday morning is divided into several segments:

  • As soon as they walk in the door, they participate in an activity that is designed to grab their attention as well as introduce the day’s Bible story and bottom line.
  • They will then hear a creative presentation of the Bible story and participate in worship, where they are encouraged to sing and dance and interact with their leaders.
  • During the last part of their morning, they will participate in several creative, fun activities designed to help them better understand the key truth of the day through a hands-on experience.

Snacks

We provide snacks each week. If your children have any allergies or special dietary needs and cannot eat what we provide, please inform the teachers.

Cry Policy

We adhere to a strict 10-minute cry policy. If your child cannot be comforted within that time, you will be contacted.

Safety

To ensure that our classroom is safe and to create the best possible learning environment, we adhere to a ratio of one teacher for every five children.

Restrooms/Potty Training

If your children are potty training, please communicate that to the teachers and bring an extra change of clothes.

Volunteers are never allowed in the bathrooms alone with children. They will assist them with clothing (as needed) outside the door and with hand-washing afterwards inside the classroom.

Promotion

Kindergartners are promoted to our elementary environment based on the school calendar. Promotion takes place in the fall. Our elementary ministry is designed for children 1st to 3rd grade.


The Origin Kids (Grades 1 - 3)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"; and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." -Luke 10:27

We are learning how to love and live!

Origin is defined as “the beginning of something's existence”. Our name is a reminder that we have One source of truth and knowledge - God. But it is also an acknowledgement that the early elementary years are a time to begin to take the truths of the Bible and allow them to transform our hearts and impact our daily lives. The above verse sums up all that we are called to be and become, and is the key verse for the elementary ministry.

Registration/Check-In

Teachers will be prepared to check your children into their classroom (back corner of the fellowship hall) 10 minutes before the start of the service. The elementary children meet as a class and together go to join the adults for the first part of the service. Please fill out the sign-in sheet located on the table when dropping off and picking up your child.

Curriculum

We are thrilled to offer a one-year curriculum of the life of Jesus. As the incarnation of God, Jesus’ life offers us a tangible way to know who God is and what He is like. Telling God’s Story: Meeting Jesus by Peter Enns has proven to be an excellent tool for engaging the children through story and activity in the life and teachings of Jesus.

We are also working together to learn New Hope’s statement of faith, the Nicene Creed, over the course of this year.

Snacks

We do NOT generally have snacks for the elementary children. However, if your child has any allergies please let us know when you drop them off in case the lesson of the day includes food, as it occasionally does.

Safety

To ensure that our classroom is safe and to create the best possible learning environment, we adhere to a ratio of at least one teacher for every seven children.

Promotion

The elementary ministry serves children currently in grades one through three. As the number and ages of our oldest children change the elementary ministry may be revised or expanded.


The Edge

On August 28, 2011 New Hope began an Upper Elementary/Middle School ministry called The Edge. The purpose and vision of this ministry is to build upon the discipleship already set into motion by our kid’s home, school and church environments thus far.

The primary time commitment for the students and volunteers involved in The Edge takes place almost exclusively during New Hope’s Sunday morning worship service. Time is split between students actively engaging in the main worship service and classroom time led by Joe Miller, New Hope’s Pastoral Associate and other volunteers.

Currently, this ministry serves students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades.

All students in 5th, 6th and 7th grade are invited to join our time during the 2012-13 school year.

1st Sundays: On the first Sunday of each month, students will be asked to attend worship service with no extra jobs required of them. Before the service, students will receive a short series of questions to help guide them through the time and wrestle with during the week individually and with their families.

3rd Sundays: On the third Sunday of each month, students will be asked to serve in a specific Sunday morning ministry. Activities could include serving in the worship service, in the kid’s ministry or other various tasks that would be agreed upon by New Hope leaders, parents and of course, students.

2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays: On these weeks, students will begin the morning in worship and then be dismissed back to the classroom for discussion and study.