Policies and Guidelines
Uniforms and At Home Help
Awana requires uniforms and study materials, and these are provided at no charge to parents. If the clubber misplaces their handbook or uniform and needs additional items issued, parents may be asked to provide the funds for the replacements.
Awana requires your child to memorize Bible verses every week. Some children are too young to read, or have difficulty in doing so unassisted. Please spend some time every day going over their memorization verses with them, so they will be prepared when club nights arrive.
Security - Arrival and Dismissal Policy
To provide a safe and easy way to dismiss clubbers to their guardians, these guidelines will be followed:
Families should enter the church to drop off and pick up your clubber(s).
Arrival time (Puggles thru T&T): 6:15-6:30pm (please no earlier!), at the kitchen door of Fellowship Hall
Puggles & Cubbies will be escorted from the drop off area to their respected classrooms by staff. A short goodbye is helpful for children who have separation issues. You will be contacted if your Puggle or Cubbie is having a hard time in class.
Dismissal time: 7:45-8:00pm, in the Sanctuary (closing ceremony will finish at 8:00pm)
Puggles & Cubbies will be dismissed to their parents following the Cubbies awards. If you only have children in these clubs, you may leave at this time.
Trek Club Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm (or 8:00pm if they are staying as youth leaders)
Journey Club Time: Sundays, 6:30pm-8:00pm
Parents receive a numbered wooden chip at drop off. If the person dropping off will not be the same person picking up, you will get a number to use as a password.
If the pick up person does not have a chip or password, a Bethel staff member will contact the guardian on file.
Children will be dismissed only if checked out by an adult.
All older clubbers will remain in the Sanctuary for awards, announcements and closing prayer.
Families will be called up individually and dismissed.
5-Count/3-Count System and Discipline
So that all children may enjoy an environment that is safe, fun, and conducive to learning, Awana employs two procedures for keeping them focused on the planned activities: the 5-count, and the 3-count.
FIVE COUNT: Used in groups, whenever a leader wants everyone’s attention, he/she will begin counting from one to five, holding his/her hand in the air using his/her fingers during the count. By the time the count is at five, all clubbers should be waiting quietly.
THREE COUNT: Used with individuals, this count system is used with children that continue to misbehave after given opportunities to correct their behavior. Count One: a child is given specific warning that their behavior is inappropriate, and they have already been warned enough times. Count Two: Children are referred to talk to the Directors. Count Three: Directors remove the child from the activity, and refer the child to the Commander, who will speak to the child’s parents when they arrive. In extreme circumstances, parents may be contacted to pick their children up.
Please contact Emily Gwin at 724-601-8268 if you have questions or concerns.