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The Preschool Ministry seeks to provide a Biblically-based, safe and fun environment for preschoolers and their families as we teach them of God's love and share the good news with our community and the world.
Preschool Objectives
The objective of our Preschool Ministry is to help each preschooler:
v Associate God, Jesus and the Bible with happy feelings
v Know that the Bible is a special book that tells about God and Jesus
v Think of church as a happy place where people love me
v Think of home as a place of love and security
v Develop a positive feeling of self-worth
v Make progress in solving problems, sharing and expressing oneself
v Begin to show love, respect and acceptance for others
These Christian objectives and biblical truths are interwoven in the following activities:
v Art, Blocks, Books, Home Living
v Music, Nature, Pictures and Puzzles
We want you to know, understand and discuss our objectives with us. We recognize the validity of play time and the importance of what your preschooler is learning through activity/relational teaching. The home and the church must work together to benefit your preschooler.
General Information
Information sheets should be completed by parent on their first visit.
Personal toys and games should be left at home. When preschoolers bring personal items it distracts and disrupts the class.
Teacher Responsibilities
Teachers need to be in the classroom and prepared to teach at least 15 minutes prior to the start of class.
Teachers are responsible for attending teacher training and meetings.
Teachers need to be familiar with the policies and procedures.
Preschoolers with Special Needs
We welcome preschoolers with special needs and will mainstream them with other preschoolers, when possible. In addition, we have a Special Needs Ministry that provides a self-contained classroom. When circumstances require special accommodations, the parents and the Special Needs Team will work together to decide on an appropriate solution.
Suggestions to Parents
Bring your preschooler to church regularly to establish familiarity and continuity with teachers and other preschoolers. Talk about church and the happy experiences they will have at church learning about Jesus.
Dress your preschooler comfortably.
Allow adequate time for dressing and feeding your preschooler before coming to church.
Security
For the safety of our preschoolers, a security system is in place. The parent will be responsible to help SHBC staff to carry out this system. Only the parent/guardian is authorized to bring and pick up their preschooler from activities. Exceptions may be made in the event of an emergency or when prior arrangements have been made. Parents/Guardian will be asked to give names of adults who have their written permission to bring their preschooler to class and to pick up their preschooler from class. Written permission must be given each time that the parent/guardian designates another adult to pick up their preschooler.
Receiving/Dismissing Your Preschooler
v Preschoolers can be received up to 15 minutes before each session and should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of each activity.
v Under no circumstances should a preschooler be left in any room unless an adult is present.
v Preschoolers are brought to their classes by and released to a parent or adult guardian who is listed on the Preschool Information Sheet and the parent/adult guardian needs to present the current Spring Hill Baptist Church security system being used.
v Please knock at the door and wait for a teacher to receive or dismiss the preschooler.
v A parent should call for his/her preschooler immediately following the service or function, but not more than 5 minutes early so as not to interrupt teaching in progress, or upset the other preschoolers.
v To avoid congestion in the preschool areas, only one parent should call for the preschooler. The parent should knock, present the appropriate security system in use at the time, and wait for his/her preschooler to be brought to him/her.
v Only preschoolers and their teachers are permitted in any preschool room. Parents may be invited for certain occasions. This is necessary for the safety of our preschoolers and to allow teachers to provide activities to challenge and meet the needs of each preschooler.
v Parents, other family members, and friends are asked NOT to visit the preschooler to "look in" on him. This may upset your preschooler (thinking it's time to go), upset the other preschoolers, or disrupt the teaching session.
v Diaper bags, bottles, clothing, and other personal items (such as diaper wipes, powder, lotion, etc.) must be labeled with the preschooler's full name. Masking tape is very useful for labeling diaper bag contents. This will reduce your loss of items that can get confused with the church's supplies or other preschooler's belongings.
v Leave promptly, even if your preschooler seems fretful. If your preschooler remains unhappy or as need arises we will contact you.
Feeding Policies
v Infants will be fed formula, milk, juice, or water as provided in plastic bottles. Feeding young preschoolers is a serious responsibility, therefore time and circumstances do not allow for any other type of feeding. Bottles will be warmed per parent's directions to ensure they are safe for preschoolers to drink.
v There is a discreet nursing area provided.
v Only plastic baby bottles are to be sent in the diaper bag. Each bottle should be labeled with the preschooler's name and contents. (Example: John Smith - Apple Juice - at 10:00 a.m.)
v No outside food should be brought into the preschool room except in regard to food allergies. Toddler and all older preschoolers are served a snack of crackers and water during their time in Bible study. The teachers are very conscientious about any allergies.
Hygiene Policies
Disposable gloves will be used during diaper changing.
Disinfecting wipes will be used for wiping up all spills, cleaning the diaper-changing area, wiping down crib mattresses, etc.
Preschoolers are helped to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before snack time. Disposable gloves will be used whenever performing first aid procedures. An approved disinfecting solution will be used to clean the toys and equipment used by preschoolers. Teachers are responsible to clean these used items each day these items are used.
Health Policies
This policy is for the well-being of all our preschoolers. Parents should report all known allergies to the teacher immediately. For the protection of your preschooler and the other preschoolers, parents are requested not to bring a preschooler who appears to be ill.
A preschooler should not be brought to church when any of the following exists:
v Temperature of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours
v Vomiting or diarrhea
v Any symptom of childhood disease such as scarlet fever, German measles, mumps, chicken pox, or whooping cough
v Sore throat
v Croup
v Any unexplained rash
v Any skin infection – boils, impetigo, ringworm
v Pink eye or other eye infections
Preschoolers who appear ill during a church activity will be isolated with adult supervision and the parents will be asked to pick up their preschooler. If a preschooler contracts a contagious illness following an activity in the preschool area, please notify the church office.
Preschool teachers are not authorized to administer medications.
Promotion Policy
Babies and ones are promoted within their division based on their physical development. At the age of two, preschoolers are promoted yearly based on their age as of September 30.
It is best for all preschoolers to participate in a department with preschoolers their own age. Please trust our judgment in placing and promoting your preschooler.
Preschool Curriculum
The material is Bible based and planned for the growth and development of preschoolers. We teach preschoolers from birth about the love and truths of Jesus.
Your preschooler may bring home a leaflet to share with you the Bible thoughts that are written at their level of understanding. This leaflet gives you the opportunity to reinforce the Bible lesson at home during family devotions and gives you an activity to share.
How Parents Can Help
For a preschooler’s first experiences at church to be happy and meaningful, the major responsibility is in the hands of their parents.
v A preschooler's adjustment to church is much more difficult after seven months of age, so we recommend bringing the preschooler to church early and regularly.
v Be familiar with the Preschool Policies, and cooperate in every way possible. We are eager for your preschooler to have happy experiences at church and trust that you will be willing to help.
v Begin talking to your preschooler positively during the week about going to church. Use the preschooler's teachers' names and other friends in his class frequently when talking about happy times at church.
v Don't be surprised if your preschooler's nap and feeding schedule become altered while they are at church. They may get so involved and excited, that they find there is too much fun to go to sleep! We will, however, do all we can to keep your preschooler on the schedule you specify.
Opportunities for Preschoolers and their Families
There is always something happening for preschoolers at Spring Hill. Please check out the monthly newsletter or the preschool section of our website (www.springhillbaptist.org) for up to date information.
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