Children's Ministries
To learn more about Children's Ministries, contact Rev. Kent Smith at 201-652-1966, ext. 12, kent@westside.org.
New Safety Precaution
To keep track of your children's whereabouts, we are requesting that all children receive a hand stamp prior to the 8:45 service. The red stamp will indicate that your child is going to be leaving us at 10 a.m.; these children will be picked up in Room 306 (no more playground until things are settled). The blue stamp indicates that your child is to be brought to his or her next classroom by the teachers. Teens will be located outside the two church entrances to stamp your child's hand and answer questions. Please contact Dawn or Kent with comments.
We will be taking the children to their classes after the Chapel; however if you need to collect your children prior to 10 a.m., you will find them in the following rooms:
PreK-K: Room 206
Grades 1-2: Room 314
Grades 3-5: Room 311
Thank you, parents, for your support as we fine-tune our first hour of classes. The middle hour seems to be going well, as is.
Church School Options for your Children
Families are urged to attend church together at either 8:45 or 11:15 a.m. and to participate in the 10 a.m. Education Hour. Children learn best from what they see their parents do. Following are the options to choose from on Sunday mornings:
8:45 a.m., Rotational Model Church School, for children from age 3 to grade 5. For families unable to stay for the 10 a.m. Education Hour.
10 a.m., Education Hour, with classes for everyone from age 2 through adult, with educational childcare for the youngest children in the nursery. Church school classes during this time will follow a traditional format.
11:15 a.m., Gateways to Worship, for children in kindergarten, grades 1 & 2. This class unveils the adult world of worship by explaining the sacraments and parts of the service and exploring the seasons of the church year.
Important Dates for Church School
Dec. 24, 2 p.m.: Christmas Eve, Nativity service for families with young children
Dec. 27, 10 a.m.: Worship service, no church school, brunch after worship
Jan. 2: Parent Date Night and Kids' Club
Jan. 3, 10 a.m.: No church school classes, teacher training and large Coffee Hour for families
Jan. 3-9: New Orleans trip
Jan. 18: Teacher training and brunch
Feb. 7: Annual Congregational Meeting and Brownie Bake-off
Feb. 13-21: Asheville Mission Trip for youth
March 6: Parent Date Night and Kids' Club
March 14: FOCUS Worship Service
March 19-21: Unknown Destination Trip
March 28: Palm Sunday processional and Easter Egg Hunt
April 1, 6 p.m.: Maundy Thursday Agape Feast for families; worship, 8 p.m.
April 3: Parent Date Night and Kids' Club
April 4: Easter Sunday, no church school
April 23-25: FOCUS retreat
May 1: Parent Date Night and Kids' Club
May 2: Choir Recognition/Celebration Sunday
May 9: Mother's Day/Flower Sunday
May 16: Confirmation Sunday
May 21-23: Knoebel's Trip
June 5: Parent Date Night and Kids' Club
June 6: Senior Sunday, Teacher Recognition, and last day of church school
June 26-July 2: Henlopen
Second-Grade Bibles
Each September our second graders are presented with personal copies of the Bible as they begin a lifetime relationship of study and prayer. If your child comes to our church after this annual event, please contact the church office for a Bible. Children are asked to bring their Bibles to church school.
Mission and Stewardship
Our stewardship teaches the children the importance of giving with their weekly offering. Our mission project include Thanksgiving Food Baskets, Christmas Wish List, One Great Hour of Sharing, and other programs appropriate for children.
God and Country
For Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts interested in earning their God and Country award, contact Kent Smith at ext. 12; Kent@westside.org. There will be an initial meeting on October 1st at 4 p.m. in Kent's office. Membership at West Side is not required.
Babysitting Service
The church maintains a list of middle and high school youth who are available for babysitting at reasonable rates. The list provides the town, grade, and qualifications of each teenager who have signed up for this service. This is for West Side members and nursery school families only.
God's Plan for Growing Up
Because of the conflicting views of sexuality that children encounter in our culture, it is essential that parents provide a Christian, age-appropriate perspective on sexuality from an early age. A curriculum to assist parents in this effort has been produced by the Presbyterian Church (USA). We will provide a training class for parents of kids in grades 2-5. Watch the newsletter for further information.
Children's Library
Children's books, parenting books, videos, and much more
are available in our children's library on the second floor near the elevator.