KidMin
FIRST GRADE – FIFTH GRADE
At Glenkirk’s KidMin, we see our ministry to elementary children and their families as a partnership between the church and home. When we gather on weekends, our hope is to start conversations with children that will travel home with them and continue throughout the week.
KIDMIN GOES ONLINE ONLY!
Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries, Amber McMahon, has put together various resources and at-home activities that can be done with your child and/or together as a family! We encourage you all to utilize these, as it will not only keep a sense of normalcy for Sunday mornings; but it will also be a great way for your child to learn faith cues from you! Click on the KIDMIN ONLINE tab above to learn how to access this material.
If you are not currently receiving emails from our Children’s Ministry Department, please email amcmahon@glenkirkchurch.org to be added!
- Sunday school will not meet in person.
- Club 8 and Homebuilders will not meet in person.
- AWANA Programs will not meet in person.
FAMILY SUNDAYS
A few times a year, we invite families to worship together in our Together ‘intergenerational’ worship service! Kids 1st grade and above should stay in service with their families. There will be regular Sunday school for newborn-Kinder in the Children’s Wing!
DEDICATIONS AND BAPTISM
Baby dedications and baptisms take place on various Sundays throughout the year in our worship services. For more information or to schedule a baptism, please email Kinsey.
CONTACTS
Amber McMahon, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries CLICK HERE to email Amber
Johanna Heller, Administrative Assistant CLICK HERE to email Johanna
KidMin Online
Glenkirk KidMin will be online only throughout the stay at home order. We have put together many resources for you to use at home! If you have any questions with any of this, please email Amber McMahon!
Step 1: Go to digitalpass.lifeway.com
Step 2: Click on “Get Started!” to create a free account. (This must be an email that you can easily access, as they will be sending a verification code to verify your account!)
Step 3: Once your account has been created, go back to digitalpass.lifeway.com
Step 4: Click on “Login” rather than “Redeem Your Digital Pass” as this is a much easier route. It will prompt you to enter your login details, and then it should bring you to the main page. (Which looks like the image below)
Step 5: Click on the light blue icon that says “LifeWay Kids at home” (It looks like the image below)
Step 6: This will then take you to your main “Dashboard” which houses all of your curriculum resources, videos, and activities. (This looks like the images below)
Step 7: You’re in! There are instructions on how to use what they have, and which videos to watch as well. The main video is the second one from the left on both rows, so this one will go over the lesson and other components of it in the best way possible.
MIDWEEK PROGRAMS
AWANA CLUBS | Currently on Break
Glenkirk AWANA is a perfect place for kids to become who God created them to be. Each Wednesday during the school year, children arrive on campus for an evening of games, activities, Bible lessons, and scripture memorization. Registration is just $50 per child. CLICK HERE for our full schedule.
AWANA Cubbies: 3-4 year olds; TK (6:30pm-7:30pm)
AWANA Sparks: Kinder-2nd grade (6:30pm-8:00pm)
AWANA T&T: 3rd, 4th, 5th grade (6:30pm-8:00pm)
VOLUNTEERS
Our AWANA Clubs are looking for some addition hands in to help run our program beginning in the Fall! Volunteers are needed to check children in, help facilitate games and other activities, and be in the small group rooms to help kids with their handbooks. All volunteers must sign up and will undergo a personal interview with our director and a background check. For more information about the program, CLICK HERE or email Johanna below to get involved!
What is AWANA?
AWANA stands for Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15)
There are 3 different clubs with in the program:
Do to keeping the programs developmentally appropriate we keep children in the grade level they are at school. If you have concerns or thoughts on this, please email us to discuss.
Cubbies: 3 year, 4 years, and TK. All children must be fully potty trained to participate (no pull ups).
Sparks: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd
Truth and Training: 3rd, 4th, and 5th
Each club has its own motivation (prizes) and runs a bit different to make it appropriate for the age group.
Cubbies will receive their Appleseed book and vest the first night they attend. They all work on the same verse together each week. If they come and participate they will earn their reward. Cubbies is from 6:30-7:30 PM.
Sparks will receive their Flight zone book the first night they come. Once they complete this (can take up to three meetings) they will have EARNED their official book and vest for the year. They then can learn verses at their own pace and complete one book a year. If they finish the book before the year is over they can then go back into the book and do bonus sections for extra rewards.
Truth and Training:
3rd and 4th graders will receive a Start zone the first night they attend. After they finish this book they will EARN their book and shirt for they year. They can work at their own pace to finish the book and have the option to complete on book a year. If they complete the book before the year is over then they can go back and do the bonus sections for more rewards.
5th grade is run as a small group and they will work together each week on their verses. The first night they attend they will receive their TREK book and T&T shirt. If someone misses a week they can go back and learn the verse in their own time, but they can not move ahead of the group.
All clubs are working towards finishing books and can earn ribbons, trophies and patches and jewels for their vests. Every week has an opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts. Please check the calendar for the end of the year awards ceremony. Parents are encouraged to come and celebrate the children’s hard work and effort and they will receive a final award for the year!
Each Week
We look forward to partnering with you to create a positive club experience:
- Encourage your clubber to bring their Bible, vest or t-shirt, and AWANA club book each week.
- Encourage your clubber to complete sections in their books, memorize their verses, and do the activities (to finish a book in the year we recommend at least 2 sections a week for Sparks and T & T. Cubbies have one verse a week).
- Encourage your clubber to wear closed toed shoes (please no high-heels or flip flops!)..
- Encourage your child to complete sections in their books by memorizing their verses and doing any activities listed. To finish a book within the year, we recommend completing at least 2 sections a week for Sparks and 3rd and 4th grade of T&T. Cubbies and 5th Grade T &T, have one verse a week that they will all work on together.
AWANA bags are available for clubbers to purchase all year long! These bags are great to help clubbers carry their books, Bible, and other supplies to and from club each week.
Have you lost your book, vest, or anything else AWANA related? New items may be purchased by clicking on the vest picture. Children will be given them at handbook time one week after if we have it in stock.
Check-In and Drop-Off
All clubs check into the KidMin Center on the iPads. The printed out tag with your child’s name on it is for your child to wear and there is a second tag that will print for you to use at pick-up.
Drop off begins at 6:30PM. iPads will be ready for sign-in starting at 6:00PM, however leaders will not be available for drop-off until 6:30PM.
All clubs will check-in on the iPads provided in the KidMin Center before heading to their classrooms.
Check-Out
All clubbers must be picked up by a parent or guardian who is over the age of 18! Older siblings in high school and middle school will not be accepted. Please keep your pick-up sticker that you received at check-in for pick-up; you will need to give the sticker to the leader at the door to pick up your child. A photo of the tag on your phone will be accepted. If you misplace your sticker for any reason, you will be asked to show your ID to the adult at the door and they will check the authorized pick-up list.
If you need to add an additional authorized person to your pick-up list, please email Johanna at jheller@glenkirkchurch.org at least 24 hours before club.
AWANA Store
On various Wednesdays throughout the year, we open our AWANA Store for kids to be able to purchase items using their AWANA Bucks! AWANA Bucks can be earned for reciting memorized verses, bringing your AWANA book, bringing your Bible, wearing your vest, and participating in games and theme nights. Please see the calendar for AWANA Store dates.
At AWANA, we ask the children to follow 3 simple rules to ensure everyone has fun and feels safe. Please be sure to talk to your children about these rules and what they mean:
-Respect yourself and others
-Keep your hands and feet to yourself
-Listen when others are speaking
If a child has trouble following these rules, you will be notified by a Club Director. If your child continues to have trouble going forward, you will be contacted by our AWANA Director to discuss the issue further. You are more than welcome to contact us if you ever have any questions and we will do our best to find answers.
Please be sure to read your emails and check our Instagram for updates on theme nights and other fun events on our Glenkirk Campus! Thank you for the opportunity to share God’s love with your child. We are excited for another amazing year at Glenkirk AWANA!
CONTACTS
Amber McMahon, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries CLICK HERE to email Amber
Johanna Heller, Administrative Assistant CLICK HERE to email Johanna
SUNDAY PROGRAMS (ONLINE ONLY)
Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries, Amber McMahon, has put together various resources and at-home activities that can be done with your child and/or together as a family! We encourage you all to utilize these, as it will not only keep a sense of normalcy for Sunday mornings; but it will also be a great way for your child to learn faith cues from you! You can visit the KIDMIN ONLINE tab above to learn how to access the material. If you are not currently receiving emails from our Children’s Ministry Department, please email amcmahon@glenkirkchurch.org to be added!
- Sunday school will not meet in person for the few weeks.
- Club 8 and Homebuilders will not meet in person.
- AWANA Programs will not meet in person.
CURRICULUM
We currently feature Lifeway’s Gospel Project!
Show Kids the Big Picture of God’s Story – The Gospel Project® for Kids immerses kids in the gospel through every story, theological concept, and call to mission from Genesis to Revelation. Ultimately, the gospel message changes everything; heart transformation can only take place when a child experiences the gospel. Through The Gospel Project® for Kids, kids and preschoolers will understand the Bible is not just a collection of stories, but one unified story—God’s story of redemption.
CONTACTS
Amber McMahon, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries CLICK HERE to email Amber
Johanna Heller, Administrative Assistant CLICK HERE to email Johanna
Ocean Commotion Virtual VBS | July 13-17, 2020
Ocean explorers- prepare to embark on an adventure like no other! Glenkirk’s Ocean Commotion Virtual VBS is fast-approaching, so get ready to be completely submerged in God’s love as we dive deep into learning more about Jesus and find truth below the surface! We are super excited to embark on a brand new Virtual VBS journey on July 13-17!
Our Children’s Department, staff, and volunteers have been working hard to develop a brand new Virtual VBS experience! Each child who registers will receive a “Virtual VBS” kit delivered to their doorstep the weekend before VBS. This kit will include all of the supplies that they will need in order to participate throughout the week. Everything from craft supplies, to science experiment ingredients, to meaningful family discussion starters that can be used after each day is done – along with a few surprises
With this kit, you will receive a schedule of events for each day and instructions on how to follow along. We are excited for you all to join us as we participate in this brand new VBS experience TOGETHER! While we had all hoped that it would work out to be together on campus for this, it has become clear that this unfortunately isn’t part of God’s plan for us this Summer.
VOLUNTEERS
Adult Volunteers
Adult volunteers and leaders are needed all over campus to make sure that VBS runs smoothly and efficiently. For questions, please CLICK HERE to contact Amber!
Student Volunteers
Unfortunately, because children will be participating from their homes with the help of a parent, we are unable to have student leaders this year, since there will be no on-camps groups for them to be able to lead. We deeply apologize, and are so disappointed about this. We know this week is so important to students that participate, and we have been so blessed by the huge number of students who are willing to give a week out of their summer each year to serve the kids on campus. You are all truly amazing! That being said, we would love to have you all back next year, when we hope to be able to have our VBS on campus once again.
CONTACTS
Amber McMahon, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries CLICK HERE to email Amber
Johanna Heller, Administrative Assistant CLICK HERE to email Johanna
Elementary Summer Camp 2020 | June 2020
How do I know my child is ready for camp?
They’re Showing Interest
Sometimes it’s best to let your kids judge when the timing is right. If they start to show interest in camp or ask for permission to go, it’s a strong sign that they are ready to pack their bags and head off for a weekend or week of fun.
They’ve Slept Away from Home
Making the decision to send your child away overnight can be worrisome for parents. However, if they’ve spent the night away from home or even extended periods of time with grandparents, aunts or uncles, then camp should not be a problem! This is not a requirement, however we do find children who have slept away from home before handle camp better.
They Can Bathe on Their Own
Heading off to sleep-away camp means parents are not around to help with bed time and bath time routines. As we are happy to remind your child and strongly encourage them, camp is really a time for becoming self-reliant. Being able to shower or bathe and brush their teeth on their own is often a good indicator that your little adventurers are self-reliant and ready to rough it at camp!
They Can Follow Instructions
There will be counselors and other grown-ups leading the show at your kids’ camp, and they need to be able to follow the instructions. If your kids listen well at home and demonstrate the proper behavior and rule-following on sports teams or at school, that is a good sign they are ready for camp!
YOU Are Ready to Let Them Go
Your child may be jumping for joy at the thought of spending a week or more with friends old and new, but ultimately, you as the parent have to be ready to let them go. But if you just don’t feel comfortable or have an inkling that it’s just not the time, then listen to yourself!
The bottom line is everyone is ready for camp at different ages, so trust your instinct and if you feel that it’s time for your child to have an amazing time at camp. Sign them on up!
Drivers to camp are always needed. Must be a Glenkirk attender, pass a background check, and provide license and insurance information. CLICK HERE to email us about becoming a camp driver.
CONTACTS
Amber McMahon, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries CLICK HERE to email Amber
Johanna Heller, Administrative Assistant CLICK HERE to email Johanna