Thursday, December 31, 2009

January Plans

Story

Games/Memory Verse

Craft/Activity/

Discussion

Snack

Ruth

Kirk/Daryl

Lisa/Kevin

May/Kristin

Jan 5

"Jehovah Jireh" -

God is our Provider

Follow the Leader – Philippians 4:19

Names/Sticky activity

Susan Roberts provides

Ruth & Naomi

Mother May I?

Jan 12

"Jehovah Jireh" -

God is our Provider

James 1:17 – Group/Regroup

Decorated name cards

White snacks that remind us of God's holiness

Jesus – God's gift

Bouncing Challenge

Milessa Peterson provides

Jan 19

Jehovah Nissi – God is our Battle Fighter

Romans 8:31 with hand motions

Make shields

Elaine Vance provides

Israelites vs. Amelekites

Red Light Green Light

Jan 26

Repeat these 5-7 minute centres

Jehovah Nissi – God is our Battle Fighter

Monthly Pizza order

Armor of God – Shield of Faith activity

Helmet of Salvation Activity

Belt of Truth Centre

Sword of the Spirit Centre


Saturday, December 26, 2009

January 5 Plans

Theme: Jehovah Jirah - God is our Provider

Story: Ruth - Ruth & Naomi - Ruth to bring wicker basket
Craft/Science: Names of God - from book
Snack/Journal: Hummas & whole wheat crackers?
Game: Mother may I?

Planning: Group from Dallas will be here Jan. 12

Meeting Minutes

We had a meeting at May's apartment Wednesday, December 30, to work on plans for The Party for next year. We discussed what's working, what's not, discipline, suggestions and planning for January. Here's the minutes:

Present: Kevin, Lisa, Caleb, Carissa, Ruth, Walter, May, Kristin, Daryl. Regrets: Kirk, college students.

What's working:
Regular routines, the larger space, more kids coming, the snack/meal, having more helpers, coloured marks on hands for each group, mixed aged groupings, group leaders, using the foyer as well as the gym.

What's not working:
Kids running into the bathrooms, going up on the stage, playing with the mats, not always enough helpers for group leaders for each group, Dwight needs one on one.

Suggestions:
  • Have a designated supervisor for the stage area with a designated activity to be played there (ie. use the nets already stored there - for mini floor hockey).
  • Use the point system to "catch them being good".
  • Have preassigned areas for each of the adults/helpers.
  • Use mats for assigned seating areas.
  • Have a journalling option during snack time.
  • Have more new songs/ song sheets with words
  • Put the organization onto the blog - what's happening each week, who's assigned where
  • Need more props for story time (ie. wicker basket) - looking for more suggestions - maybe a bathrobe?

Discipline:

  • We need to be all on the same page and proactive
  • Have reasonable consequences, a time out space and someone to work/talk 1:1 with anyone sent to timeout. (Time out could be the far couches outside the admin office? - who could be the designated adult to work with those sent there - Kirk?)
  • Mats only to be used when taken down by adult/helper for specific activity and returned immediately afterwards.
  • Respect taught directly - children being disrespectful need to go home.
Organization:
6:00 - 6:40 Children arrive, are greeted, names on sign-in chart, play in gym
6:20 - 6:40 Older girls (9-11 years old) have special session just for them, taught by Lisa?
6:40 - 7:00 Singing in couch area, children either on couch or on mats, assigned seating
7:00 - 7:05 Split into groups - coloured marks on hands
7:05 - 7:17 1st rotation
7:17 - 7:29 2nd rotation
7:29 - 7:41 3rd rotation
7:41 - 7:53 Final rotation
7:53 - 8:00 Coats on, ready to go home, sign-out on clipboard

Rotations: Story, snack/journalling, games, craft or science - 12 min per rotation

Tasks:

May

  • Will make up song sheets with old & new songs,
  • Will purchase journals,
  • Will update blog
  • Will supervise doors & foyer during first gym time
  • Will teach new songs during singing?
Lisa
  • Will organize the weekly plans - who does what
  • Will e-mail May the info for updating blog
  • Will purchase book for small group for pre-teen girls
  • Will teach pre-teen girls (with Kristin)

Daryl

  • Will develop a star chart, reward system
  • Will plan gym/activity time
  • With Kevin will check on Dwight going to boxing program with Jonathon & Sarah

Kristin

  • Will teach pre-teen girls (with Lisa)

Kevin

  • When available will help with gym time

Kirk

  • Will help with gym time

Caleb

  • Will supervise stage?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas Break

The Party won't meet until the new year. We had 24 kids for our last time before the break. Seeing as we only had six helpers - it was pretty hectic, but things went very well.

If you're wanting to help in the new year - many hands make light work! I'll try to get the stories & activities planned and up on the website before January.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Coming Up

November 17 - Nehemiah; Lisa will be away - Kendra will fill in for her.
November 24 - Handwriting on the wall
December 1 - Solomon
December 8 - Devotional and Christmas party (gym time and cookie decorating?)
It would be good to have more rather than fewer helpers for the Dec. 8 activity.

Snacks:
1st Tuesday of the Month: Susan R
2nd Tuesday :Melissa P
3rd Tuesday : Elaine V or is it Elaine J? (Lisa said it was Elaine V - I guess she would know :)
4th Tuesday : Dominos Pizza

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Last Tuesday

Was our first time at Wascana School. It was a little bit crazy (it's always a little bit crazy); and very loud. We had 23 kids and 10 helpers - and lots of donuts and ended the evening with pizza. All of which went over well.

Friday, October 23, 2009

October 27

We're now at Wascana School Tuesdays from 6-8 pm.

Bible Story: Esther
Science: Afraid of shadows; globe & light
Snack: none assigned yet
Games: The trust game

Needs: More helpers; games equipment (balls, beanbags, etc.)

Note: All children must be signed in and out for their safety and for security reasons.

We're thinking of having a field trip to Elford's farm Saturday, Oct. 31. They could ride horses, and have safer alternative to trick or treating. We will have permission forms for the children to sign at The Party. They would have to bring the forms with them when we pick them up on Saturday.

October 21

Bible Story: Daniel and his three friends. (vegetarians)
Snack: Vegetables (of course!); celery sticks with peanut butter, carrots, banana slices
hot chocolate with marshmallows and cold lemonade
Games: Red Light/Green Light
Science: conduction (hot water, wooden popsicle stick, plastic knife, metal knife, margarine)
Which conducts heat the fastest?

News: We will be moving to Wascana School starting next week. We will also be changing to Tuesday nights. This means that the next The Party will be Tuesday, October 26 from 6:00 to 8:00.

There are several bonuses to changing locations:
  • We've really outgrown Daryl and Kristen's house (this is a big one).
  • It's more accessible for children with disabilities (the narrow stairs were a hindrance for some children)
  • We'll have gym space. As it's getting cold and dark out, it will be a big benefit to have an indoor space.
  • Most of the children already go to Wascana School, so they are familiar with it.

Some possible disadvantages will be:

  • Some of our helpers (Daryl and Sarah M.) have a night class on Tuesdays until Christmas; so we will need new and/or more helpers.
  • We will likely have to transport many/all of the children to and from the school.

So.... we're looking for more helpers - Tuesday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Wascana School. (This will count as community service hours for students).

Needs: Indoor play equipment (such as balls, a ball pump, bean bags, etc.)