October 6

Hi crew! Welcome to October! Amy is up to lead this week, with Andrea and Dale assisting. 

Your new series in the Grapple curriculum is called Hide 'n' Seek, which raises questions about integrity, the fact that sin hurts everyone, the fact that God looks at the heart, and our responsibility to honor our parents. Here is an overview of the four lessons:

September 22 - Is It Okay if I Don't Get Caught?
September 29 - Is It Okay if Nobody Gets Hurt?
October 6 - Is It Okay if I Was Trying to Help?
October 13 - Is It Okay if My Friends' Parents Say It's Okay?

Here's this week's lesson link:

Hide 'n' Seek

Is It Okay if I was Trying to Help?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

Sarah's Last Sunday

This will be Sarah's last Sunday before maternity leave. In her absence, here is where you should go with questions:

• Curriculum & supplies - Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty
• Substitutes - the sub list posted on this blog
• Sunday morning questions/needs - Cindy Bagley, or another floater in the hallways

Stickers for Children's Serve Sunday

October 20 is Children's Serve Sunday, and that day in Sunday school will be very different from most. More to come on that!

In preparation, there will be a sheet of label stickers in your classrooms this week. Please make sure that every child gets a sticker before leaving. These stickers tell kids which items to bring to donate to Lighthouse Ministries on October 20. 

Contact Jenny Fishback with any questions.

3rd-5th Retreat Registration Opens this Week!

Make sure to check out the new bulletin board in the middle of the hallway. Encourage all 3rd-5th graders to post their names on the board if they are coming to retreat, which is November 9-10. 

To register, families can go to www.ccum.net/children for more information. 

Self-Release

This year, I am experimenting with making self-release an opt-out rather than an opt-in. At 11am, you can allow all of your class to exit, whether "self-release" appears on their tags or not. Parents who do not want their children to self-release can indicate that, and we will put that on tags. 

But remember - no need to dismiss anyone prior to 11am, unless a parent is there for them! Thanks!

September 29

Way to kick off this new series in the curriculum! I checked in on Alive! once Sunday, and you were all engrossed in discussion in small group rooms. For those not in the classroom Sunday, Your new series in the Grapple curriculum is called Hide 'n' Seek, which raises questions about integrity, the fact that sin hurts everyone, the fact that God looks at the heart, and our responsibility to honor our parents. Here is an overview of the four lessons:

September 22 - Is It Okay if I Don't Get Caught?
September 29 - Is It Okay if Nobody Gets Hurt?
October 6 - Is It Okay if I Was Trying to Help?
October 13 - Is It Okay if My Friends' Parents Say It's Okay?

Here's this week's lesson link:

Hide 'n' Seek

Is It Okay if Nobody Gets Hurt?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

Check-In Issues

We have had some issues with electronic Check-In recently, so if you have had children arriving at your doors without tags, that might be why. There should be guest tags inside the front flap of your black binders. Please have parents fill out those hand-written tags if Check-In has failed them, or if they are a guest.

Self-Release

This year, I am experimenting with making self-release an opt-out rather than an opt-in. At 11am, you can allow all of your class to exit, whether "self-release" appears on their tags or not. Parents who do not want their children to self-release can indicate that, and we will put that on tags. 

But remember - no need to dismiss anyone prior to 11am, unless a parent is there for them! Thanks!

September 22

Thank you to Dale for finishing up the Why Can't I Sleep In series last week. Wish I could have been there to see you all in action! I'll be around for the next four weeks (barring an unexpected early delivery of Baby Jack), and I can't wait to support and enjoy what's going on. 

This week, Elizabeth leads, with Dale and Amy assisting. Your new series in the Grapple curriculum is called Hide 'n' Seek, which raises questions about integrity, the fact that sin hurts everyone, the fact that God looks at the heart, and our responsibility to honor our parents. Here is an overview of the four lessons:

September 22 - Is It Okay if I Don't Get Caught?
September 29 - Is It Okay if Nobody Gets Hurt?
October 6 - Is It Okay if I Was Trying to Help?
October 13 - Is It Okay if My Friends' Parents Say It's Okay?

Here's this week's lesson link:

Hide 'n' Seek

Is It Okay if I Don't Get Caught?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

Check-In Issues

We have had some issues with electronic Check-In recently, so if you have had children arriving at your doors without tags, that might be why. There should be guest tags inside the front flap of your black binders. Please have parents fill out those hand-written tags if Check-In has failed them, or if they are a guest.

Self-Release

This year, I am experimenting with making self-release an opt-out rather than an opt-in. At 11am, you can allow all of your class to exit, whether "self-release" appears on their tags or not. Parents who do not want their children to self-release can indicate that, and we will put that on tags. 

But remember - no need to dismiss anyone prior to 11am, unless a parent is there for them! Thanks!

September 15

Thank you to Andrea for planning and leading the lesson last week. Looking into your classroom and seeing 47 Alivers was beyond exciting - and perhaps an indication that we may need to make some tweaks to accommodate that number! Andrea, you did a fantastic job of keeping the group focused. Well done, team.

This week, Dale leads, with Tara and Amy assisting. The series continues with:

Why Can't I Sleep In:

Why Is Church So Long?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. With school just getting started, they're still transitioning to a new year. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

Sarah out of town this week

I will not be in town this Sunday, but as always, please feel free to get in touch with me before Thursday evening with any questions or requests. Cindy Bagley will be available in the halls to answer questions, take children to the bathroom, etc.

Check-In Issues

We have had some issues with electronic Check-In recently, so if you have had children arriving at your doors without tags, that might be why. There should be guest tags inside the front flap of your black binders. Please have parents fill out those hand-written tags if Check-In has failed them, or if they are a guest.

Self-Release

This year, I am experimenting with making self-release an opt-out rather than an opt-in. At 11am, you can allow all of your class to exit, whether "self-release" appears on their tags or not. Parents who do not want their children to self-release can indicate that, and we will put that on tags. 

But remember - no need to dismiss anyone prior to 11am, unless a parent is there for them! Thanks!

September 8, 2013

Thank you to Amy for planning and leading the lesson last week. I am sad that I was out of town and unable to pop in to say hello, but I hear that everything went great! Well done, team.

This week, Andrea leads, with Tara and Elizabeth assisting. This week, the series continues with:

Why Can't I Sleep In:

What Am I Supposed to Do at Church?

This lesson provides lots of opportunity for the kids to share how they are already serving at church. Lots of 4th-5th graders lead worship by singing with PSALM Kids, or pass out bulletins, or usher, or give offering, or acolyte. Make sure to recognize for them that it's not the adults who make the church live - they are the life of the church. 

And consider skipping the "Clue 2" in the Grapple Clues section, which talks about an obscure Bible character falling asleep during church... probably not the focus you want to have for this lesson. 

Finally, be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. With school just getting started, they're still transitioning to a new year. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

BYOB

Remember that this Sunday Sunday (September 8) is BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible), and we want to encourage all children 3rd grade & up to bring their Bibles. Specifically encourage kids in Alive! to bring the Bibles they received from Christ Church, if they still have them. 

If there are any kids in your class who do not have a Bible of their own, let Sarah know - we would be happy to provide them with one! 

Because it's a busy Sunday with 2nd grade Bibles, I might not be available to check in as much as I would like, but please seek out Cindy Bagley (Prepare Coordinator & hallway floater) if you need any assistance throughout the morning. Thank you!