Pagers Coming to a Pre-K & K Near You!

Beginning the weekend of September 4th & 5th we will be using pagers in the

Nursery and Pre-K & K Area.

Why?

• Improved communication between classroom and families.
• Current system relies on an individual being able to see the number boards on the right and left of the stage.
• Number boards sometimes get moved and/or are broke.
• Many times family members are engrossed in worship or the sermon and do not see the number board.
• The number board does not help families who attend Vida Nueva, a class in the Discipleship Center, or who are volunteering in another area.

How will it work?

• Parents will pick up a pager for their family while checking-in at the HUB. 1 pager/Family.
• Computers will prompt families to enter pager number.
• Stickers will print after they have done this.
• Stickers will include the child's pager number on both the child's sticker and the parent's sticker.
• Children will be dropped off a their classrooms as usual. There are no changes in drop off.
• At pick- up parents will return their pager.
• Parents must still present the corresponding pick-up sticker to their child's sticker to pick up their child. A Pager cannot be returned in exchange for a child.
• If a child's family is needed during service, the classroom will notify the HUB of the child's name and pager number.
• The family should go directly to their child's classroom and present their pick-up sticker to the leader.

This is a new system for us at the Rock Island Campus. As with any change there may be kinks to work out. We appreciate your patience and any feedback you have that will make us run our Children's Area smoother and maintain a safe place for your children to learn about God.

Missions Weekend - Aug 29 & 30

Here's what we are learning in the Tool Shed this weekend (08/29& 08/30):

Bible Story: Peter & John Keep Telling Others About Jesus - Acts 4:1-21
Main Point: I Will Tell Others About Jesus
Actions: Point to yourself when you say I. Put your hands around your mouth like you are yelling/speaking through megaphone. Point to all the people around you when you say Others.)
Memory Verse: All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. John 13:15. (For actions to this verse, click here.)

Sneak Peek into this week's Family Devotional:

• Some fun ways you can help your child learn scripture.
• Some fun games to help you springboard into a discussion with your child about what they are learning.

New Memory Verse

New Memory Verse: August 22nd/23rd - September 12th/13th

All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 13:35

Actions:

All men (wave hand from one shoulder around till it is stretched out straight in front of you) will know (point to your head) that you are my disciples (point to yourself – be sure to remind kids that Jesus said this and what a disciple is – a follower of Jesus – somebody who does what He does) if you love (hug yourself/arms crossed over each other in front of chest) one another (point to everyone around you).

Bringing It Home: Cookie Island & Sharing

This past weekend we traveled to Cookie Island with Marty and Sergeant Argent. Marty taught the islanders that God wants us to share. Our Bible Story was about David who kept his promise to his friend Jonathan by sharing what he had with Jonathan's son Mephibosheth.

Here a couple activities you can do at home with your child either as a springboard to get your kids talking about what they learned or as roller skates to help them put what they learned into action.

Bake Cookies Together

Baking is a great way for your child to feel like a "big person". It also teaches them to follow directions and that there are steps to take to accomplish a task. You can also teach a child about measuring, about safety, and about the value of waiting and the value of enjoying something you created and waited for.

As you cook together you can discuss what your child learned about this past weekend. Keep questions simple. Examples of questions you might ask are:

• Didn't Marty in church visit an island with a bunch of cookies? OR
• What was the name of the island that Marty visited this weekend? Cookie Island
• What was wrong on Cookie Island? They weren't sharing.
• What were the islanders not sharing? Cookies
• Where did the story Marty taught the islanders come from? The Bible
• Is everything in the Bible true? Yes
• Who gave us the Bible? God/Jesus
• Who was in the Bible Story this weekend? David
• Was David the King? Yes
• What do you think a King does? Let their imaginations run free!
• Do you think King David had a lot of stuff? What did he own? Again, let their imaginations run free!
• King David remembered that his best friend Jonathan who had died had a son. Did King David want to help or hurt Jonathan's son? Help
• Do you remember Jonathan's son's name? Mephibosheth
• Was Mephibosheth scared when he met the King? Why? Yes, the King might want to hurt him or think he was trying to be king since Mephibosheth's grandfather used to be the king.
• What did King David give Mephibosheth? Land, house, food. He became his friend.
• Do you think God wants us to share what we have? Yes.
• What are some things you can share? Toys, hugs, bike, etc.
• Who can you share with? Sister/brother, friends at school or on my street, cousins, etc.

Give From What You Have

This week go through your child's closet and toy box with your child. Pick out clothes, shoes, coats, toys, books, etc. that they no longer use or fit them. Encourage your child to pick out toys and books that he/she can give away.

Work together to clean them and pack them in a box or bag. Then plan a time to take them to a local Goodwill or Salvation Army or local shelter. Take your child with you when you go and talk to them about why they are sharing with others. Remind your child that we give from what God has given us.

Week 6: David and Mephibosheth

Here's what we are learning in the Tool Shed this weekend (08/22 & 08/23):


Bible Story: David and Mephibosheth - 2 Samuel 9:1-13
Main Point: I Will Share With Others (Point to yourself when you say I. Put your hands out palms up as if giving someone something when you say Share. Point to all the people around you when you say Others.)

NEW! Memory Verse: All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

Sneak Peek into this week's Family Devotional:

• You'll be able to make your kitchen smell good, teach some practical life lessons (like washing your hands before working with food and never touch a hot oven), and help a friend or neighbor this week.

See ya this weekend!

Bringing it Home: Balloon Island

This past weekend we traveled to Balloon Island. Marty helped the islanders learn that they could be happy no matter what because God loves them.

Here are some fun balloon games you can play at home with your child on your very own Balloon Island. These are also great games to play as a whole family or with your child's friends. The more the merrier!

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Floating Balloons

Blow up one balloon/person. If your child/ren want let them blow up the balloons themselves. Offer your help tying each one securely. The object of this game is to hit the balloons up into the air and keep them afloat for the longest period of time.

You can make it more challenging by adding rules such as: everyone must stay seated or everyone must hop on one foot.

Balloon Hunt

Fill 10 balloons with two to four beads each and hide the filled balloons around the house or yard. Have your child go on a hunt for the balloons. They must find as many balloons as they can, pop them, and return with their beads.

Balloon Bulge

Blow up about 10-15 balloons and place them on the floor. Set the timer to 2 minutes or use a fun song. As long as the timer is going or the music is playing you and are your child are to pick up and hold as many balloons as possible. You must pick up the balloons all by themselves without help, put them in your clothes, between your legs, under your arms, between your teeth, etc. Each person takes a turn while the others watch and laugh themselves silly! The person who holds the most balloons when their time is up is the winner.

Tips for families of Kindergarteners

http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/dailyparent/volume.php?id=28

http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/parenting/36063.html

http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/802-11-tips-for-kindergarten-parents

Week 5: David and the Ark (The Presence of God)

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Here's what we are learning in the Tool Shed this weekend:

Bible Story: David & the Ark (The Presence of God) - Psalm 57:7-10; 2 Samuel 5:1-4, 7:8-9

Main Point: I Will Be Happy Because God Loves Me

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

This is our the last week of this memory verse!!!

Memory Verse: Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

Sneak Peek into this week's Family Devotional:

• A little twist on an oldie, but a goodie. A simple song you can do with your child to remind them that God loves them.
• Enjoy the last days of summer with a fun nature walk that can teach your child that God loves them.

See ya this weekend!

Bringing It Home: Week 4: Hide & Seek

This past weekend your child learned about David being chased by Saul. And even though King Saul wanted to hurt David, David chose to show mercy when he had the chance to kill him. David was kind when others were mean.

Games are a great way to get your child actively involved in the story which improves their ability to both relate to the story and to remember the story. Here's a fun game to play with your kids to help them review what they learned this past weekend in class.

And since some of them played this game or something similar in class they will think it pretty neat that you know it too and can tell you all about the story of King Saul and David.

Hide and Sneak

• Hide & Find - Hide an object in your house or outside. Have your child quietly - "just like David" - search for the object. They must learn to "sneak" around to find the object "just like David" had to sneak up to Saul to take his spear. You can have one item or several items.
• Hide and Sneak - Pretend to be King Saul. Have your child be David. If you have more than one child or one of your child's friends over have them get involved and play the part of David's friend. Pick one item to be your spear and another item to be your water jug. Then lay down on the floor surrounded next to your "spear" and "water jug". Pretend to be sleeping - lay down and snore. Then have your child who is David - and his friend or you other child if they are playing too - tiptoe around the furniture or grass outside and get as close to you, the King, as possible. They have to be very quiet so they don't wake the you, the King. Have them take the "spear" and "water jug". When they have them they should hurry and run away to the other side of the room or yard and pretend to be on a hill and shout down to King Saul. You should jump up startled and be looking for your "spear" and "water jug". To make it even more fun, as you play the part of the King sleeping you can yawn and roll over as they get close to you. You can repeat this letting your child be King and you play David.
• The Chase (tag) - Take turns chasing each other outside. Designate one area as the King's tent where he is safe and one area the cave where David is safe. The King should chase David. When David is tagged he/she becomes the King and starts chasing you who is now David. To make it different, chase different ways - skipping, hopping on one foot, jumping, on all fours, quietly, etc.

Week 4: Chased by the King

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Here's what we are learning in the Tool Shed this weekend:

Bible Story: David takes King Saul's gear - 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Main Point: I Will Be Kind When Others Are Mean
Memory Verse: Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

Sneak Peek in this Week's Family Devotional:

• What do these 5 things have in common? Roller Coaster lines, Bullies, David, Prayer, and a Spear To find out pick up your Family Devotional this weekend.

Just a reminder that our Family Devotionals are a great way for you to review and teach the Bible Story with your child. You don't even have to know the story or be a Bible whiz. Family Devotionals are a great way to learn together as a family!

See ya this weekend!

Bringing it Home: Masks of Emotions

This past weekend your child learned that God Gives Me Friends. It was the story of David and Jonathan found in 1 Samuel 18:1-16; 19:1-7; 20: 1-42. Thanks to the friendship between David and Jonathan, David was saved from King Saul. This story is full of emotions: cheering, excitement, sadness, happiness, anger, fear.

This activity helps your child identify emotions in the story which has several benefits.

1. Helping children identify emotions in others helps them also learn to identify their own.
2. Helping children identify emotions in others helps them learn to empathize.
3. Helping children identify emotions in the Bible story will help the characters become alive, seem real.
4. Helping children identify emotions in the Bible story helps children identify with the character. It can be a relief to a child (and adults too) to know that you are not the only who has felt a certain way.
5. Helping children to see the story as real, as relatable also helps them take away the application points and apply it in their life.

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

This week dig out some paper plates and crayons. If you have old magazines you don't mind being cut up get them out too. Help your child make a face that matches each of the following emotions: happy, sad, scared, and angry.

Then walk through the story of David and Jonathan and each time there is an emotion have your child find the corresponding "mask" and wear it till the next emotion comes int he story.

Here's a guide:

• David meets Jonathan = Happy (friends make us happy)
• David returns from battle victorious = Happy (cheering, people were happy they had won, they were singing)
• King Saul gets mad = Angry (Saul's face turned red, he didn't like that the people loved David)
• David was sad = Sad (David was sad that the King didn't like him.)
• David has to hide = Scared (the King was trying to hurt him, his only friend was Jonathan)
• Jonathan was sad = Sad (Jonathan was probably sad that his dad wanted to hurt his friend)
• Jonathan goes to the King, his dad, to convince him to not hurt David = (scared, the King might get mad that Jonathan wants to help David and not him)
• David was happy = Happy (to have such a good friend who would help him.)
• King Saul gets mad again = Angry (King Saul tries to kill David)
• David was scared = Scared (David had to leave so the King couldn't hurt him)
• David was happy= Happy (David was so happy to have a good friend like Jonathan who would help him and warn him)
• David and Jonathan = Sad (sad that they had to say good bye)
• David and Jonathan = Happy (but glad to be friends and promised to always take care of one another and their families

Get those crayons out and go have some fun!