Promotion Weekend June 29, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , comments closedPromotion Weekend, when Toddlers in Little Adventurers through 4th Graders moves up to their new classes is July 11/12. Pick up a Know Where To Go map from our check-in areas if you are unsure of your child’s class or room location.
If you have never completed our 4-page Family Enrollment Form, please pick one up from our Welcome Center to receive a key tag and ensure your child is assigned a permanent small group in the fall. If you have completed this form before, you do not need to re-enroll. Click here for more information about Kid’s Quest participation and enrollment.
Rising Preschoolers June 22, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , comments closedAre you the parent of a toddler in our Little Adventurers class? Promotion Weekend is July 11/12 and if your child will be 3 years old by September 30, 2009 it’s time to move up to the Preschool Explorers class!
Our mission in Preschool is to help children discover who God is and guide them in knowing Him, loving Him, and serving Him. The preschool curriculum is on a 2-year cycle and uses concrete examples in Scripture to help your child learn who God is and how he or she can respond to Him. Classroom activities include:
- Make It Fun - Games and activities in small groups to get the children thinking about the day’s lesson and engage with friends in their group.
- Make It True - Teaching the actual Bible lesson in small groups with a specific focus and “So What?” response. The So What is typically repeated 4-6 weeks in a row to help the Biblical principle stick.
- Make It Stick – Tools and activities to help the children apply what they are learning to their own lives. Also includes reviewing and repeating the So What? Question and Answer as well as the Treasure Box Verse (their Bible memory verse).
- The Tree House - Children move from small groups to a larger room called The Tree House, where they join with other Preschool classes for Large Group time for approximately 20 minutes. The Tree House is home to our puppets, usually featuring two particular puppets named Green Bird and Yellow Bird. Puppets interact with the Large Group Leader to guide our children in active worship, Bible teaching, application of the lesson, and fun! The Bible Focus, So What? Q & A, Treasure Box Verse, and story are taught using music, motions, pictures, props, characters and puppets.
- Snack - The church provides a few basic snacks for the children. For any allergy concerns, consult the Preschool Coordinator on-site in the Preschool area during services for an ingredient list.
- Bathroom Time – Please encourage your child to go to the bathroom before coming to class. We do take children to the bathroom as needed, but it is helpful if your child has toileted prior to coming to class. Because our children are young, occasionally accidents happen. We keep a supply of clean clothes and underwear just for that purpose and ask that you wash and return any borrowed clothing the next week. Individual Small Group Leaders determine how to handle bathroom time for their class. Some leaders take the entire class to the bathroom at the same time. Other leaders choose to take a small group of children whenever it seems necessary. Regardless of how the Small Group Leader handles bathroom time, our policy is that no child is ever alone one-on-one with an adult and that the bathroom doors remain open at all times. If your child is still in diapers or in the process of toilet training, please let us know. We do not have facilities in each room for diaper changing and therefore do not regularly change diapers unless there is a clear need. If staffing is limited for the day we may put your LED number up (the last 6 digits on the back of your key tag) on the red screens located throughout the building to ask you to return to care for your child. If you have questions or concerns about this you may call any of our staff listed below.
In order to make your Little Adventurer’s transition to Preschool as smooth as possible, here are a few helpful suggestions:
- Take a field trip with your child to the Preschool Explorer rooms located on the first floor in the rooms numbered in the 1100’s.* Ask a Greeter at check-in for directions if needed. Your child’s exact classroom assignment will be based on his or her birthday month. Consult the room signs next to the doorways for the birthday months to determine your child’s room. Stop by the Tree House Large Group room in Room 1108, too. (*If you attend the Frontline service, children meet in different rooms. Ask the Greeter at Frontline check-in for the right location).
- As you can see from the activities listed above, there is a lot packed into the service for your child! We encourage you to arrive in class 10 minutes prior to the start of the service so they won’t miss a single activity, including play time which occurs during check-in and check-out.
- It is normal for your child to go through a time of adjustment. If your child is more comfortable having you in the room with them for the first few minutes, we highly encourage you to do so. Usually it takes just a few weeks before they’re waving “bye” and coming into the room all by themselves. Each child is different and we will work with you to help your child feel safe and secure.
- For the safety of all our children and protection of your property, we ask that your child not bring any personal items, including sippy cups, in the Preschool rooms. If personal items do come in we will try to put them in your child’s take-home bag that we provide, but we cannot guarantee against loss.
If you are concerned that your child is not ready to move into the Explorers classroom you may choose to hold him in the Little Adventurer classroom for a brief time period. Just tell the Check-in Greeter that you are opting to hold them in Little Adventurers when you check-in so you are checked into the correct room and you can move then down when you believe they will be comfortable.
During check-out, you will receive a take-home card to help reinforce the lesson taught at home. They include a recap of the lesson, the “So What?” question and answer, the Treasure Box Verse, and parent suggestions. Consider setting aside one night in the middle of the week to review this card with your child.
We look forward to meeting and sharing with your children and we are excited about the opportunity to worship with them each week! Please feel free to contact any of our Preschool Staff if you have any questions. Additional information also available on our website: click here.
Your Kid’s Quest Preschool Team,
Kim Hellen, Director of Early Childhood, 703/770-2901, kim.hellen@mcleanbible.org.
Kristin Tomlinson, Preschool Team Leader, 703/770-2908, kristin.tomlinson@mcleanbible.org.
Emily Whitted, Saturday Preschool Coordinator, 703/770-639-2000, emily.whitted@mcleanbible.org.
Braeden Peters, Preschool Large Group Coordinator, 703/639-2000, braeden.peters@mcleanbible.org.
Goodbye 5th Grade, Hello Jr. High! June 15, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News, 4-Events , comments closed5th Graders will say “goodbye” to Kid’s Quest and “hello” to Jr. High in The Rock Student Ministries starting Sunday, June 21. Below is a special message to the parents of 5th Graders from Pam Stroup, the Director of the Parenting Ministry, as well as upcoming dates for all the fun activities your rising 6th Grader can participate in.
Congratulations! It’s the moment your child has been waiting for – time to move up to 6th grade and finally able to join The Rock Junior High! Many events are planned to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your child (soon to be called a Jr. High student in the ROCK). I wanted to be sure that you aren’t left out of the transition process because it may be even harder for you than your son or daughter.
That’s just one reason we have a special community group for parents of Jr. and Sr. high students called Transitions. Parenting Jr. and Sr. high school students can be a wild ride. It can be exciting and joyful, or daunting and scary. Change is happening quickly. Understanding and preparing for the transitions can make a huge difference in whether our families merely survive or thrive. God wants us to continue to grow in Him and to encourage one another as we guide our students toward Christ. This group of parents joins together to help each other learn how to make the transition and how to enjoy the wild ride that parenting pre-teens and teens can be. You will find encouragement and you will find tools… more than that, you will find friends to walk alongside you during the next stage in your family’s journey.
This community group meets in the Rock Student Lounge at 10:45 am each Sunday (except July and August). They are currently studying Proverbs 3 together. No registration or sign-up is necessary; you can just show up. If you would like to talk with someone in the group, you may contact the leaders Charlie and Lynn Derbyshire or Lance and Cecily Shea at transitions@mcleanbible.org. The time to get connected is now.
Pam Stroup, Director of MBC Parenting Ministry, 703/770-2997
The Rock Welcome Party
For rising 6th Graders & their parents to learn what The Rock is all about, ice cream, games, & worship
Thursday, June 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, The Rock Arcade
Move-up Sunday: Jr. High Programming
For rising 6th-8th Graders
Sunday, June 21, 9:00 am & 10:45 am, The Rock
6th Grade Ice Cream Social
For rising 6th Graders
Wednesday, July 1
The Rock on Wednesday Program, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ice Cream Social 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Pizza with the Pastor*
For rising 6th Graders
July 5, 12:10 pm – 1:00 pm, The Rock
August 2, 12:10 pm – 1:00 pm, The Rock
August 30, 12:10pm – 1:00 pm, The Rock
*RSVP REQUIRED to Keith.Seymour@mcleanbible.org
Jr. High Summer Camp
For rising 6th Graders
August 14-17, North Bay Camp, Chesapeake, MD
• High Ropes Course, Zip Line, Climbing Wall, Giant Swing, Beach, Boating, Swimming, and tons more.
• Get ready to be challenged and strengthened in your faith through powerful teaching and awesome worship.
• Make new friends and get to know leaders. The best way to get involved in The Rock!
The Rock on Wednesdays (summer dates)
For rising 6th Graders
Wednesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 29
Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 26
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Worship Service in Community Room C
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm, The Rock Arcade, Food, & Fellowship
Rising Kindergartners June 8, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , comments closedPromotion Weekend, when Toddlers in Little Adventurers through 4th Graders move up into new classes is coming July 11/12. If you’ve got a rising Kindergartener, both you and your soon-to-be elementary student may be feeling a bit nervous about the change. This is a milestone moment in your child’s life – your baby’s growing up! I remember when my eldest son entered Kindergarten I was wholly unprepared for just how much was going to change for both of us. That’s one of the reasons why Kid’s Quest promotes classes in the summer instead of fall. Promoting in the summer gives your rising Kindergartener a chance to adjust to one change instead of two at the same time.
In Kid’s Quest, we’d like to help make the transition into our ministry for elementary children go smoothly. Your child may be saying good-bye to their beloved Green Bird & Yellow Bird from the Preschool Tree House, but they have so much to look forward to in elementary and a fabulous team of leaders eager to help them grow in their wisdom, faith, and friendship. So please join us for a Welcome To Elementary Parent Orientation on Saturday, June 13, at 5:45 pm, or Sunday, June 14, at 10:10 am, in Room 1207 which is near the Smith Center. Meet the elementary staff, hear how the elementary program differs from preschool, and learn how we can partner with you to have a spiritual impact on your child. If you have questions about the Parent Orientation, contact Amie Kim at 703/639-2000, x1052 or amie.kim@mcleanbible.org.
Want a sneak peek? Bring your whole family to our next KIDstuff, on Sunday, June 7. KIDstuff kicks off the elementary program’s virtue of the month, the core teaching theme, for Kindergarteners through 5th Graders and their parents, through energetic music, zany skits, and dramatic storytelling. This is a great opportunity for parents to be directly engaged in what their child is learning so they can discuss further at home. While the program is geared for elementary-age children, the whole family is welcome to worship and learn God’s word together. Click here to learn more and see video clips.
Congratulations AWANA Citation Award Recipients! June 5, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , comments closed
This weekend, June 6/7, we are proud to honor high school seniors Grace Reiman, Jared Smith, and Judson Wheeler during main church services as recipients of the AWANA Citation Award. This award is the culmination 10 years of handbook work, bible memorization, bible reading, service projects and Awana Club attendance. We congratulate Grace, Jared, and Judson for this achievement!
AWANA is an international, Bible-centered, children and youth ministry providing local churches with weekly clubs, programs, and training for students aged preschool through high school. Since 1950, AWANA’s goal has been to equip children, teenagers, and their families with the gospel of Christ and to train them to serve Him. One of AWANA’s hallmarks has always been scripture memory. The acronym AWANA stands for: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, taken from 2 Timothy 2:15 which says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Each week, over one million boys and girls, in more than 110 countries, attend AWANA clubs and youth programs where they play games, memorize Bible verses, and learn to apply Bible lessons to their lives. AWANA at McLean Bible Church Tysons Campus is currently on summer break but will return again in September. Watch for AWANA Registration Forms coming soon to our website at www.mcleanbible.org/awana and information walls located throughout the MBC building. For more information please contact our AWANA Commanders, Andrea Jensen or Joan Vistica at 703/639-2000, x1015 or awana@mcleanbible.org.