Christ Covenant Kids!
Sunday Mornings for Kids
Nursery
(0-3 Years Old)
8:30am & 10:45am
Infants and toddlers are lovingly cared for throughout the morning so parents can focus on the service and the fellowship time.
Children's Church
(PreK-Kindergarten)
8:30am Service only
The focus of Children's Church is to teach the children about the format of the adult service. Each week they sing, pray, listen, and discuss a Bible passage as well as have time to learn about each other. This is optional. Children are also welcome to stay with their parents for the entire worship service.
Sunday School
(PreK-5th Grade)
9:45-10:30am
Children attend age appropriate classes during this time. They are taught from The Gospel Project, a 3-year cycle through the Bible.
Additional Information
Check-in Process
We use a security tag system for check-in and pick-up. All children birth-5th grade must be checked in before entering their classrooms and will be dismissed when their parent/guardian returns with a corresponding tag. We have two check-in stations. One is located in the nursery and the other is near the children’s hallway.
Healthy Child Policy
Communicable Disease Policy
It is our desire to provide a healthy and safe environment for all of the children at Christ Covenant. In order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among the children, these three rules are in place concerning disease. Both parents and caregivers must be familiar with these policies.
- Children with infectious diseases should be kept home until they are no longer contagious. If a child is exhibiting symptoms of illness such as fever, diarrhea, open skin lesions or blisters (as in chicken pox), or persistent nasal discharge, the parent should keep the child home.
- Hand washing or usage of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer must be a regular habit for both children and caregivers.
- Parents of children who appear ill during class will be asked to come get them.
To ensure that your child is able to participate in Children’s Ministry activities, parents are asked to comply with the following guidelines:
A child should not participate in a class if and when any of the following exist:
- Fever (Note: Children should be free of a fever for 24 hours after a contagious disease before coming back to church.)
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Any symptom of childhood diseases such as scarlet fever, German measles, mumps, chicken pox, or whooping cough
- Common cold – from onset through one week
- Sore throat
- Croup
- Any unexplained rash
- Any skin infection – boils, ringworm, impetigo
- Pink eye or other eye infection
- Thick green, yellow or constant nasal discharge
- Any communicable disease
Neither caregivers nor church staff is allowed to give any medication to any child.
Download the Healthy Child Policy
Child Protection Policy
“Our children are worshippers who have an eternal destiny—either heaven or hell. God can use us as parents to help point them to Jesus. What an enormous privilege, but what weighty responsibility that is. Churches also have a responsibility to steward the gift of children. Several hours a week, parents entrust this very precious gift of children to churches—to watch over, instruct, and protect the kids under their care. Church workers then should consider the time spent with other people’s children not as a burden, but as a great privilege and important responsibility.” (Deepak Reju)
Protecting Children Before They Arrive
To ensure a safe environment for all children, every applicant who wishes to serve in the nursery or children’s ministry is required to submit a background check and complete childcare training before serving.
Screening Procedure
To ensure safe and quality care, Christ Covenant has established several criteria all caregivers must meet to work with our children:
● All caregivers must be members (or children of members) in good standing at Christ Covenant.
● All caregivers must be eighteen years of age or older. Youth who are at least eleven years old are welcome to assist (subject to the approval and direction of the Children’s Ministry Director), but they are always in addition to the adult caregivers.
● All caregivers must have completed childcare and abuse awareness training.
● All background checks must be satisfactorily completed.
Training
All caregivers must complete childcare and abuse awareness training before they are allowed to work with children. This training is renewed yearly. Parents with questions about childcare training are encouraged to contact the Children’s Ministry Director.
Signing a Child in to Nursery and Children’s Ministry
All parents who would like their child to be in the nursery or participate in a children’s ministry program must check the child in to the appropriate classroom or activity granting permission for the child to participate in the event or program. The child and parent will receive a coordinating identification sticker to be used at pick up.
Pick Up Procedure
Any parent with a child signed in to the nursery or a children’s ministry program must pick up the child using the identification sticker given at check in.
Allergy Policy
Classes frequently have snack times, and it is the parents’ responsibility to inform teachers and volunteers of allergy needs. Special needs should also be noted on the identification sticker.
Two Caregiver Rule
At least two qualified caregivers must be present in each classroom at all times. One of those caregivers must be an adult. We consider adults to be age eighteen and older. Youth who are at least eleven years old are welcome to assist (subject to the approval and direction of the Children’s Ministry Director), but they are always in addition to and supervised by the adult teacher. If at any time there is only one person in the room, the class door must remain open to the hallway.
Restroom Procedure for Nursery
If possible, parents should have their children use the bathroom before entering nursery. All diaper changing and/or potty needs must be handled by female caregivers only.
Restroom Procedure of Children's Ministry
Children Pre-K through fifth grade needing to use the restroom shall go with another child of the same age and gender. The restroom should be unoccupied by adults prior to children entering. The hostess will supervise from the hallway outside the closed bathroom door until the children are finished. The children must wash their hands with soap and water. The hostess will ensure they return to the classroom. This will enable the classrooms to maintain appropriate child to caregiver ratios.
Electronics Policy
Cell phones and other devices are not to be used during class time by children or adult caregivers. If it comes out the teacher will ask that the child put it away. If it continues to be a distraction, the teacher may hold on to it until the end of class time.
Graduating from Nursery
Children who are four may move up to the Pre-K/K Sunday school class and Children’s Church. The transition occurs quarterly on the first Sunday in September, December, March, and June.
Appropriate Discipline
All nursery and children’s ministry volunteers are responsible for providing a loving, respectful, and orderly atmosphere in which children can learn, play, and interact with others. This atmosphere should be maintained by preparing beforehand, proactively directing children towards acceptable activities, verbally encouraging positive behavior, and, when necessary, correcting or redirecting inappropriate behavior.
Acceptable means of redirecting inappropriate behavior include correcting the child verbally, withholding a certain privilege or activity for a brief time, or separating the child from the group for a brief time (particularly if his behavior is endangering or upsetting other children).
Nursery and children’s ministry volunteers and staff members should never yell, spank, or hit a child. If behavior is uncontrollable or the child does not respond to the discipline measures above, ask the Children’s Ministry Director to call the parents.
Mandatory Reporting
According to North Carolina law, “Any person or institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent...or has died as the result of maltreatment, shall report the case of that juvenile to the director of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found. The report may be made orally, by telephone, or in writing” (G. S. 7B-310).
All children’s ministry volunteers who have any such suspicion should immediately report their concern to the hostess or Children’s Ministry Director who will contact the Pastor of Counseling.
Download the Child Protection Policy
Volunteering
Requirements to serve in any area of children's ministry are as follows:
- Be a member in good standing
- Attend children's ministry training
- Complete a background check
Download Background Investigation Consent Form
Currently Serving:
See Sunday School Schedule See Children's Church Schedule
Family and Parenting Resources
The search for theologically sound and relevant books to use with your children can be overwhelming. These sites may help you filter through the myriad of resources available. It is not possible for us to research every resource on these sites, however, the content of what they sell or promote is overall reliable.
WTS CHILDRENRisen Motherhood
Our Children's Nursery Coordinator
If you have any questions about the nursery, contact Ann Roberson.
EMAIL Ann
Our Children's Ministry Director
If you have any questions or are interested in being involved with children's ministry at Christ Covenant, contact Marci Ballard.
EMAIL MARCI