We’ve been asked, what happened to our older rocking chairs which still had a lot of life left in them?

Well, as we have been blessed- wecan be a blessing. Our older rocking chairs found a new home at Harvard Park. A few of them were given to individual teachers who had a need in their classrooms while the majority will be used in the Harvard Park Reading room. This special room is set aside to encourage children to love reading. Classes of kids use this room every day for a time set aside just to curl up with a good book.

Thankful that God continues to give us the opportunity to be a part of such a great school!

December is a busy time for families, so let me urge you now to look ahead at the Sunday you serve with our West Side Kids. If you see a conflict with your holiday plans, contact your Director ASAP to find a switch! We want to make sure we have a full volunteer staff!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Every Christmas Eve, West Side has special services to help famies keep their focus on Jesus and to remember the night of his birth. It’s a meaningful time for families and they often bring many un-churched guests. We also have full children’s programming during these services and teach our kids all about Jesus birth including a specialbirthday party for Jesus! During these Christmas Eve services, we needalmost 100 volunteersto serve in our children’s ministry! Please consider serving in this way- not only can you celebrateChristmas with our kids but you alsohavean opportunity to give our guests families a great first experience wtih West Side.Invite your spouse or kids to serve alongside you- the more the merrier!

December 23, 7:00 p.m. (Serve between 6:30-8)
December 24, 1:00 p.m.(Serve between 12:30-2)
December 24, 3:00 p.m. (Serve between 2:30-4)
December 24, 5:00 p.m. (serve between 4:30-6)

Contact your director if you can volunteer!

Jessica Schildman, Early Childhood (JessicaS@wschurch.org)
Missy Farley, Elementary (Missyf@wscurch.org)

Thank you for allowing God to use you in great ways during the upcoming Winter Quarter. It is a joy to serve with you. There are some exciting changes in the WILD schedule that you need to be aware of.

SCHEDULE:

9:00, 10:15

K-2nd Grade

Will meet in their designated Drop-Off rooms and will complete the Plug-In and Catch-On activities before going to Large Group/Worship. After LG, K-2 kids will travel back to individual classrooms designated for Pick-Up. K-2 classes will have a total of 25 min teaching time.

3rd-5^thGrade

Begin in Large Group Worship. Kids in these grades will be dropped off at Studio 2 and begin in Large Group/Worship first. Video games will be available for our early arrivals. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get to know the kids in your class. Once Large/Group Worship concludes the kids will travel to their designated Pick-Up classroom to conclude their hour with Plug In and Catch On activities. These classes will have a total of 20 min teaching time.

11:30

Drop-off/Pick-Up in Studio 2. Video games will be available for our early arrivals. Kids will start off Large Group/Worship, and conclude with Plug-In and Catch-On activities.

CLASSROOM LOCATIONS:

A list of these changes and a map can be accessed at: http://westsidekids.org/thewild/. Please be familiar with these locations before December.

HOUR DIRECTORS:

Welcome to our new Hour Directors! These volunteers have committed themselves to serving you every Sunday. Please let them know of any needs or concerns you may have.

9:00 Janet Brewer

10:15 Allison Gnuse

11:30 Kathy Jackson

SPRINGFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL:

As a reminder, the WILD has a partnership with SCS. In order to allow them to begin their Monday morning classes in an organized manner, we ask several things of you regarding this shared space.

• Please leave rooms the way you found them. If you need a special room arrangement, please notify your Hour Director and we will be happy to help make this happen.
• There is no need for kids to play with the classroom “stuff”: desks, books, reading nooks, classroom pets, etc. Engaging activities are provided for each minute of the WILD. Direct kids’ attention to these activities.
• All materials needed for Sunday morning are provided for you. Extra materials for each Sunday’s activities are kept at the Help Desk. Therefore, if you find that you need more of anything on a given Sunday please let us know and we can deliver it to your class.
• DO NOT USE ANY WHITE BOARD IN CLASS. This is especially important. These are special white boards, called Smart Boards, and they will be ruined if the wrong pen is used on them. Therefore, we will provide a small, portable white board for you, if needed.

INTERCOM SYSTEM:

60 seconds before your class transitions to Lare Group/Worship, you will hear a tone come through the intercom system. Please finish your activity and line your class up.

TRAVEL TO LARGE GROUP:

In order to get from classrooms to Large Group/Worship, please use the educational wing hallways instead of cutting through a classroom. Classes should always travel quietly in a single file line.

SUPPLY BOXES:

Supply boxesneed to be returnedto our designated supply room after each hour.

TEACHER TRANSITION:

To ensure that children being dropped off are always in the care of a WILD volunteer, please remain your designated Drop-Off/Pick-Up area until the teachers for the next hour arrive.

CURRICULUM:

You can download each month’s curriculum at: http://volunteers.westsidekids.org/elementary/

VOLUNTEER CENTRAL:

Volunteer Central is deemed a kid free zone. We encourage you to partake in the refreshments each Sunday while you get to know your fellow volunteers.

Prior to Sunday,December 5th please review the Children’s Ministry Manual.

Grateful for you,

Elementary Leadership Team

We’re looking for Elementary Ministry volunteers as we move into our summer session. This opportunity may be perfect for you if you are interested in: meaningful relationships, exciting work, spiritual rewards. Even 1 hour a month can fill an important role. On the job training will be provided. Here are a few of the available serving opportunities:

• Occasional/Monthly
  • Handing out take home papers
  • Setting up Children’s Ministry signage
  • Sitting with wiggly children
  • Putting teachers’ boxes back in the supply room
  • Filling in/subbing for small group leaders/teachers
• Weekly – No Prep Needed
  • Greeting parents
  • Helping parents with kiosk check-in
  • Checking children in/out of class
• Weekly – Some Prep Needed
  • Leading activities with a small group of kids
  • Directing a team of teachers for a class

Parents are especially encouraged to apply. This is a great opportunity to get involved in your child’s life and see exactly what they’re learning each Sunday morning. Don’t miss it!

Sign-up to help on Sunday or contact us at TheWild@wschurch.org.

SERVING OPPORTUNITIESIMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE

Early Childhood Ministry

Purple Puppy (toddlers) Volunteers at 9:30or 11:00: Volunteers in these areas serve one Sunday a month. They get to play with toddlers. This could include lending a hand changing diapers, building block towers for tots to knock down, reading a book with an upset child, and dispensing many animal crackers. contact Jessica

Preschool Volunteers(Yellow Ducks, Green Frogs, Blue Birds, Red Foxes)at 9:30or 11:00: Volunteers in these areas serve one Sunday a month. They get toplay games,do crafts and other activities with our preschoolers. They also accompany the kids toGreenHouse for worship and teaching. Volunteers who serve with our preschool students have an opportunity to get to know kids and make an eternal difference in their lives. contact Jessica

Green House Worship Leadersat 9:30or 11:00: Volunteers who serve as worship leaders should be comfortable leadinglarge groups of kidsin songs while doing actions. Willingness to be silly is a must! Teaching kids how to worshipGod is a very rewarding task.If you have any interest, please contact Jessicato find out more about this opportunity.

Elementary Ministry

PowerHouse (kind-5th) Small Group Leaders at11:00: A small group leader is responsible for leading a specific grade of kids in simple activities and discussion questions that coincide with the lesson for that day. Everything is provided for you and there is no advance preparation required. Men, Women, Individuals, Couples are encouraged to check us out! Our volunteer schedule is simple: One Sunday a month or you can sign up to serve every week for the year. The kids love seeing the same people back to make an investment in their spiritual lives. We believe the reward will be yours!!! contact Brigette

Sunday School Leaders (2nd or 3rd grade) at 9:30: Volunteers who serve as Sunday School leaders have an opportunity to get to know kids and make an eternal difference in their lives. This role will allow you to guide, teach and care for children just as Jesus did. Each week you will be able to thoughtfully and prayerfully plan and implement a classroom lesson for your class as outlined int he curriculum provided. A LOVE of children is a MUST!!! Be ready to have fun!! Please contact Missyto find out more about this exciting opportunity!

Substitute Sunday School Leaders (K-5) at 9:30: Volunteers who servein this role are willing to substitue for a Sundayschool leader on an as needed basis. Please contact Missy for additional information.

Assistant Sunday School Leaders (1st- 3rd grade) at 9:30: Volunteers who serve in this role will assist the Sunday School Leader in managing the classroom and participating int he various fun activities for each lesson. Please contact Missy for additional information.

Electronic Check-InVolunteer at 9:30: We are looking for volunteers to greet families as they arrive and assit with the electronic check-in policy. This role doesn’t require any prep time. Volunteers are simply asked to come at 9:15 a.m., ready to help parents check in their children and answer any questions that they may have. A friendly smile is a must fr this role. Please contact Missy for additional information.

Children’s Guest Center

Children’s Guest Center Computer Check-In Attendant: We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping West Side guests become connected to our church. Volunteers who serve as a Check-In Attendant at the guest center must feel comfortable on the computer, be able to multi-task well, and be friendly. A commitment to giving ourguests a great first experience is a must! contact Jessica

Children’s Guest Center Greeters: We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping West Side guests become connected to our church. Volunteers who serve as a Guest Center Greeter must be friendly and outgoing, love meeting new people, and be willing to go the extra mile to help our guests make a connection here. A commitment to giving our guests a great first experience is a must! contact Jessica

NEW VOLUNTEERS

We are always looking for more volunteers in our kids ministry becauseour kids ministry is always growing!

1. All of our volunteers must fill out an application and background check form.
2. You’ll need to meet with/talk with a Children’s Ministry Leader to find out which role best suits your interests and gifts.
3. Finally, you’ll need to receive the training needed for the role you are stepping into.

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First, our Children’s Guest Center has a NEW LOCATION. Our new Children’s Guest Center is tucked out of the way at the East Entrance of the church (east of the chapel). We wanted to find a space that allowed us to meet with our guests in a less busy and crowded location. Because we are tucked out of the way, it may be a little more difficult for guests to find us. We’ve added additional signage to guide them, but if you encounter a new family, please go the extra mile and personally escort them to our new location! Giving a few minutes of your time could make a lasting impression on a new family.

Second, our guest center has a NEW LOOK. Our new location affords us the opportunity to create a welcoming space that is fun and inviting. You may be tempted to hang out there as well….but we want to encourage you to keep this area free for our guests. We want our children’s guest center volunteers to be able to connect with guests and give them their focused attention.

We’ve begun creating our new look but there are still a few thingsto be done. We’ve got a silver W that will be mounted on the wall over the striped circle. We also have a little left to do on the painting, but I think you’ll agree it already is looking great! (Thanks Mindy Collins for creating the design, and Kira Mulvany and Lisa West for painting.) We should have the final touches done in the next few weeks.

We’ll be posting lots of info on this site. You can look forward to poststhat keep your informed, equip you in your serving role and inspire you to keep making a difference in the lives of our kids!

The other day one of the staff said “We are at our best when our volunteers are at their best!” So true! We hope this site helps you to always be at your best when you are serving at West Side.

Some of our posts will be password protected so that only volunteers can access the information. Contact your volunteer or staff leader forthe password.

Save it to your favorites, and check in every week!