September 2015 Newsletter

    Back to School - Sunday School

Fall is near and school is in session!  This is an exciting time of year for kids as they head back to school and settle into a new routine.  Of course this means the start of Sunday school as well.  This is a great opportunity to enroll our young parishioners in fun, exciting and educational religious experiences.  It is also the time to develop and review your safety requirements and standards for a successful Sunday school program.

Premise Safety –
 

1. Inspect all desks, chairs and tables for safety.  Broken chair legs, cracked table tops, sharp edges are all points of concern.
2. Evaluate bookcases, shelving units, TV and audio stands for safety.  Are they easily tipped over onto a child?  Should they be tethered to the wall to prevent falling and injuring a student?
3. Are all cleaning, medical and poisonous or hazardous materials locked in a safe place?
4. Do the electrical outlets all have covers?  Are drawers and cabinets child-proofed?
5. Are all rooms easily visible?  No curtains or other items should obstruct classroom viewing.  Emergency lighting should also be in working order.

Kid Safety –
 

1. Implement a clear check-in/check-out program.  If the person picking up the child is not on the approved list, do not release the child.
2. Establish controlled access to the classrooms.
3. Require hall monitors to be present and active before, during and after Sunday school sessions. 
4. Develop clear guidelines for food allergy management.
5. Review all craft projects, games and outings for students.  Extreme activities are not necessary in providing an exciting and educational Sunday school experience.

Volunteer Safety –
 

1. Background checks!  It does not matter the size of your congregation, you must screen volunteers and perform background checks on everyone.  In this day in age, it’s not a personal attack, simply a matter of necessity to have waiting periods, screenings and checks. 
2. Provide CPR and basic emergency training for all volunteers.
3. Require open door policies.  No one-to-one contact ever! 
4. Establish a restroom policy and sanitation requirements.
5. Get parent/child information sheets with emergency contact information complete with medical and allergy concerns.
6. Finally, have a lock-up procedure.  Inspect all rooms to be sure no one has been left behind and all rooms, doors and windows are secure.