Thank you for your service to the Lord through teaching, leading and serving. Our mission at The Good Shepherd Ministries is to help families to know, to love and to serve Jesus Christ. We strive to meet the needs of our entire congregation with all of our ministries focused on this goal.

This online handbook outlines TGSM’s policies and procedures for teachers, helpers, nursery caregivers and other ministry leaders. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the information found in this handbook, please see Director of Christian Education and/or the coordinator responsible for your specific area of ministry.

I. General Responsibilities

Teachers, ministry leaders, helpers and nursery caregivers are required to be examples in faith and conduct. Maintaining a high standard for our workers is one of the best ways for us to present Christ to those around us. Some additional responsibilities that accompany commitments to serve are:

1. Faithful attendance to regular church services.
2. Faithful in prayer for your ministry.
3. Faithfully serve the church through tithing and stewardship.
4. The ability to make a minimum 6-month commitment.
5. Must attend all workers meetings and workshops.
6. Must be in agreement with the doctrines and Statement of Faith of TGSM.

All commitments to serve are reviewed every six months. This renewal allows us to respond to the various needs within our congregation and ensure that our teachers, helpers, nursery caregivers and ministry leaders are using their gifts and talents to their fullest capacity. Other expectations:

1. Timeliness: Teachers and other volunteers/workers are required to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to their scheduled class time.

2. Absence: Teachers must provide at least three days notice (to the Director of Christian Education) if they are aware that they will be absent. In addition, if they share responsibilities, the teacher should also contact the other teachers to make them aware of the absence.

3. Expense Reimbursement: All expenditures should be approved by the Director of Christian Education prior to purchase. After approval and purchase, an expense reimbursement form (available in the church office) should be completed and submitted to the Director of Christian Education.

4. Other: If a teacher determines that they are unable to fulfill their commitment, they should provide 30 days notice to the Director of Christian Education before resigning. The Good Shepherd ministries reserves the right to remove, excuse, or disqualify any person from serving due to misconduct, disrespect, non-compliance or refusal to follow policies and guidelines.

II. Children’s Teachers & Helpers

Because we recognize that we are a reflection of God’s love to the children in our care, we take our responsibility to them seriously. The following guidelines are set forth to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which we can help our children to know, to love and to serve Jesus.

1. Background Screening & Training: In order to provide a safe and secure environment, all teachers must complete a thorough screening process and receive training regarding TGSM policies and procedures. In addition, extra training opportunities are often made available. Children’s ministry teachers and helpers should attend all scheduled training.

2. Classroom Management: We find that when students are engaged in active learning, they are less likely to misbehave. On occasion, however, it may be necessary for the teacher to gently correct a child or redirect their attention using a variety of techniques. At times it may also be necessary to temporarily remove the child from the activity in progress. Please note that all disciplinary measures should be done with a spirit of love and care for the child.

TGSM has a no tolerance policy for physical aggression. If a child does become physically aggressive (i.e. biting, hitting), the teacher (or helper) should immediately page the parent or guardian and ask that they remove the child from the classroom for the remainder of the class. Under no circumstances should a teacher, volunteer or helper engage in physical punishment/discipline of a child.

3. Staffing & Visitors: Only scheduled teachers and helpers are allowed to be in the classrooms unless directed by the Director of Christian Education. All teachers and helpers must be clearly accounted for on the attendance rosters and there should be at least two adults in each classroom at all times.

If a parent or guardian would like to visit their child during class time, it is permitted for them to observe. Other visitors should not be permitted in the room unless under the direction of the Director of Christian Education. These rules are established and enforced to protect children from abuse and also to protect the caregivers.

4. Drop-Off & Pick Up: It is necessary for the parent or guardian who drops off the child to also pick up the child. In addition, the parent or guardian must be present to retrieve their child as children are not allowed to leave the classroom area to find their parent. If the parent or guardian is not staying for the service, it is always necessary for the teacher to obtain a contact number where they can be reached.

5. Sickness Policy: We want all of our children healthy and happy. We ask that parents keep their children home if they have a fever greater than 99.0 or a contagious illness. To maintain healthy rooms teachers and helpers should not admit sick children.

6. Bathroom Policies: If a child needs assistance in the restroom, the teacher should provide the least amount of help necessary. In addition, the restroom door should always remain open.

7. Accident/Incident Reports: Teachers should report all accidents or incidents involving injury or inappropriate behavior to the coordinator for that ministry or the Director of Christian Education. At that time an incident report will be completed.

8. Snacks & Allergies: Snacks are provided for children during Worship Hour and Pioneer Club. Toddlers and pre-school aged children also receive a snack during Sunday school. When possible, snacks should correlate and supplement the lesson for that particular class. We encourage the parents of children with food allergies to provide an alternative snack for their child. Every child with a food allergy will receive a neon allergy alert sticker (at the time of registration) and teachers should be aware of these stickers.

9. Facilities & Supplies: Multiple ministries share the lower-level classrooms and each teacher is responsible for ensuring that all areas are properly cleaned and returned to their original layout after use. We ask that all teachers & helpers leave the rooms neater than how they were found.

All toys, tables & supplies should be put back where they were found, out of date materials should be removed from the walls, and there should be nothing left on tables, desk or top of cabinets. Please know that the appearance of the rooms should speak well of our ministry to visitors. Due to the fact that there is limited storage space, each classroom is stocked with core supplies (i.e. scissors, glue, markers, crayons) and all non-essential supplies are kept in a general area in the lower level. Teachers and helpers should strive to keep the rooms free of clutter by returning extra supplies to their designated area.

III. Nursery Caregivers

The nursery is available for babies, birth through 2 years of age and it is our goal to provide a safe and loving environment for babies where parents can feel comfortable leaving their little ones. The worker-to-child ratio is 1:2 (There should be one worker for every 2 children).

1. Nursery Curriculum: We believe that every baby can experience God’s tender love in classes filled with prayer, fun toys and activities. There is a curriculum especially designed for babies, information sheets and resources available for all nursery caregivers.

2. Registration & Retrieval: Caregivers should ensure that every parent registers (signs in) their child and fills out a child information sheet. All parents should also receive a pager and be aware of the call system. Nursery caregivers should ensure that all pagers are turned in at the end of each service. Babies should only be released to their parents or legal guardians. They are not to be released to siblings.

3. Sickness Policy: In order to protect all children and caregivers, nursery caregivers should not accept a child who is visibly sick. No one, with the exception of the parent/ guardian should administer medication to any child, with the exception of diaper ointment and/or powder (that is supplied by the parent or guardian) and then only if explicitly directed by the parent or guardian.

4. Safety: If a child disobeys the nursery workers and/or hurts another child, please notify the parent and ask them to stay in the nursery with their child for the remainder of that service. To safeguard all caregivers, there should always be at least two (2) approved adults (18 or older) present at all times in the nursery till every child has been retrieved. Caregivers should never change a diaper alone in a closed room. These rules are established and enforced to protect children from abuse and also to protect the caregivers.

5. Food in the Nursery: Animal crackers and cheerios are available for children in the nursery as a snack if age appropriate. Please be aware that due to allergies, some parents may provide additional snacks for their child. Time does not allow nursery caregivers to feed children other than bottles for babies.

6. Scheduling: If there is a scheduling conflict, nursery caregivers should please try to find a replacement and contact the nursery coordinator to discuss any changes.

7. Additional Responsibilities: Nursery Caregivers should: check and/or change each child’s diaper; remove bedding from all cribs (that were in use during the service) and place them on the changing table for the coordinator to take home and wash; keep the toys disinfected by wiping all toys with disinfectant wipes at the end of each service; ensure that all hazards (sharp, broken or potentially harmful objects) are remedied in a timely manner; not serve in the nursery if they are ill or suffering from a contagious disease; and ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed.

IV. Adult Teachers & Other Ministry Leaders

TGSM is blessed to have a multi-purpose facility that is able to be used for and by our numerous ministries. However, it is the ministry leaders’ responsibility to ensure the proper upkeep and care of the building. Other responsibilities include:

1. Post-Event: Following an activity or meeting, ministry leaders are responsible for ensuring that all used areas are properly cleaned and returned to their original layout. It is also the responsibility of the ministry leader to unlock and lock the building (and set the alarm system) if their meeting or activity is not scheduled during regular service times.

2. Bulletin Information: If ministry leaders would like information published in the bulletin, it must be received by church office before the end of the day the Wednesday prior to Sunday publishing.

3. Newsletter: Please submit all information for the newsletter to the Director of Christian Education by the 1st of each preceding month. (For example, submissions for our November newsletter should be received by October 1st.)