Parent Letter

September 3, 2009

Dear Awana Parents and Guardians,

It’s that time! Time to begin Awana and what fun we have planned for this year. Please read this letter and the attached information in order to make things run smoothly for you and your child.

AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). It is an international organization dedicated to seeing children learn of God’s love for them. The AWANA program here at First Southern Baptist of Westminster (FSBCW) seeks to provide an atmosphere in which your child can enjoy growing spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Separate club programs within AWANA have been tailored to preschoolers (Cubbies), early elementary (Sparks, for K – 2^nd) and upper elementary (T&T Clubs, 3^rd – 6^th grades).

Each week these different clubs participate in the following general components (in different order for each group, to maximize facility use):

--GAME TIME stressing healthy competition with emphasis on having fun and good sportsmanship--win or lose.

--COUNSEL TIME with teaching from God’s Word in a way that is fun and relevant to the children’s lives.

--HANDBOOK TIME consists of time spent where clubbers recite Bible verses from their handbooks (memorized at home during the week).

Our AWANA program meets Sunday night from 4:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. at FSBCW. Many evenings have special themes for the night; monthly newsletters, special flyers, and the FSBC Westminster Awana Website (http://www.fsbcwestminster.org/AWANA_Home_Page/) will keep you informed about upcoming events.

      The first night for Awana will be on September 13.

      All children and their parents will start the evening in the library at 4:45 pm.  At this time all students will be registered and given their team color assignments.  From there, children will line up on the Awana Square (T&T on the Green Line, Sparks on the Red Line, and Cubbies on the Blue Line) with their leaders.

      Awana starts promptly at 5:00 pm each Sunday. Be sure to review the Awana Schedule so you know where your clubber is during the evening.

      All students will be dismissed at 6:45 pm.  For the safety of your clubber, please be in the church fellowship hall at 6:45 to pick up your clubber.  Children WILL NOT be dismissed without a parent/guardian present.

      There will be a lot of fun activities and games scheduled for the children this year. Since

some of these are active games, we encourage all kids to wear tennis shoes and long pants to Awana each week. Flip-flops, sandals, and shorts are not appropriate for Awana.  Please, no heelys at club (wheels will have to be removed while at church).  For safety, clubbers who do not have appropriate attire will have to sit out for many of the games we play.

      Communication is the key to a successful Awana program so it is our desire to keep you as informed as possible about your children’s progress, changes to our schedule, and cancellations due to weather. Please be sure that we have accurate contact information on file for you, especially your phone and email address. We try to use email as much as possible to save time and postage.

      We are currently recruiting leaders and helpers in Awana. If you have a passion for children’s ministry and can serve on Sunday nights, we can use you in Awana. Few ministries are as rewarding as working in Awana.

While FSBCW substantially underwrites the cost of AWANA, a club registration fee is collected to help defray the operating costs. The registration fee can be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly, for half a year (now and again in January), or for the whole year (see chart below for costs). In addition, after completing an entrance booklet, clubbers become official members, and are eligible to receive their uniform and handbook (which are sold at our cost – see attached price sheet). You may pre-pay for these items so that your child will receive them immediately when they are earned, or you may wait to pay until the entrance booklet is completed. If you are facing a financial situation that would make your child’s participation in AWANA a stretch, scholarship funds may be available (contact the AWANA commanders, Debbi Kaufman or Dan Christian).

Within AWANA, a system of rewards encourages children in their handbook achievements and good behavior. Our emphasis is on positive discipline, where children see godly role models in their teachers and leaders. We delight in “catching kids being good!” However, if a child struggles with disruptive, disrespectful, or dangerous behavior, the following protocol will be used. The child’s leader, after determining that the issue cannot be resolved by simple methods (changing seating arrangement, etc.) gives the misbehaving clubber a "one" count – a warning that the next offense will bring greater consequences. If a second offense occurs that evening, the clubber is given a “two” and taken to the club director or commander to discuss the problem. (You as a parent will be notified if your child were ever to get to this point.) If the clubber demonstrates continued willful defiance in attitude or action, they are given a “three” and you, as parents will be contacted to take the child from club early (at which time the problems will be explained in detail, of course).  Your child will not be allowed to continue participation in activities that evening. If this does occur, additional consequences will be discussed (such as missing a club night(s), or having a parent/guardian accompany the clubber during the following club meeting).

We trust this gives you an overview of the AWANA program. Thank you again for teaming with us to teach your child about God and His love for us. If you have any questions, please feel free to call, or visit our AWANA clubs with your child (please notify us if you will be staying so we know who is on the premises).

If you do not have a church home, we would be honored for you to visit FSBCW. We have Sunday School/Small Group time at 8:45 and church services at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings, Adult Bible Study on Sunday evenings at 5pm.  Please call the office or surf the web for more information.

If you have any questions or comments about Awana throughout the year, please feel free to contact the Awana Commanders listed below.

Debbi Kaufman
Home: 303-410-0054

Cell: 720-371-3196

Email: ldyhwkd@gmail.com.

Dan Christian

Office: 303-429-1940

Cell:720-298-1244

Email: danc@fsbcwestminster.org