Week of January 17th-23rd

Clarification and more: Junior and Student Volunteers

A Junior Helper is any volunteer that is in 1^st – 4^th Grade and Ages 7-10.  These Children MUST serve with a parent and only in the Age 3-5, Age 2, Age 1, Infants.

When serving with a parent, it is expected that the parents is coaching the junior helper and guiding them in how to safely and appropriately care for and interact with the children.  These junior helpers are under no circumstances to walk around holding the babies.  Regardless of any outside certification or how responsible the young volunteer, this is a blanket policy that now holds true for All junior helpers with no exceptions.  The safety of the babies and children in our care is our number one priority, and the sense of security that parents feel in leaving their children with us, is extremely important.

A Student Volunteer is any volunteer that is 5^th-12^th Grade and Ages 11-17.  These children may serve without a parent but within these specific guidelines.

5^th – 6^th Grade        (11-13)           Grade K/1, Ages 3-5, Age 2, Age 1, NO INFANTS

7^th – 8^th Grade        (13-14)      Grade 2-5 (as Assistant Small Group leader*),Grade K/1, Age 3-5, Age 2, Age 1, Infants (hold & carry)

 9^th – 10^th Grade      (14-15) Grade 2-5 (as Assistant Small Group leader*),Grade K/1, Age 3-5, Age 2, Age 1, Infants (hold & carry)

These policies have not been stringently enforced by me or our Experience Leaders in the classroom in recent years, but I now feel very strongly about these policies being enforced and ask that all adults in the nurseries partner with me in enforcing them.  We owe it the babies in our care, their families and the junior and student volunteers we serve with to not put more responsibility on our young volunteers than they are ready for. If you have any questions about this please feel free to speak with me or Vance Martin, our children’s director.

This weeks Schedule:

Early Childhood- http://heathervenuti.wordpress.com/early-childhood-schedule/

Special Friends- http://heathervenuti.wordpress.com/special-friends/