Lewis Center UMC Children’s & Youth Ministry

Re-Opening Guidelines 

Following the Ohio Public Health Advisory System and in accordance with CDC Guidelines, Children’s & Youth Ministry will operate under new procedures for Sunday School.

When Delaware County is a Red or Purple Alert, Sunday School will be closed.

When Delaware County is under a Yellow or Orange Alert, Sunday School will be open with the following measures in place:

REGISTRATION

  1. Parents MUST sign up children for Li’l Kid Connection and/or Kid Connection. Sign up will begin on Tuesday morning and run through Thursday at 9 p.m. for the upcoming weekend service(s).  NO LATE SIGNUPS WILL BE ACCEPTED, EVEN IF SPACE REMAINS. (The early signup requirement will allow time to make staffing, facility, and supply adjustments as needed.)

  2. Parents MUST sign up middle and high school youth for youth worship. Sign up will begin on Tuesday morning for the upcoming weekend service. 

  3. Signups will be electronic; the link will be available on the church website and via email.  Anyone who wishes to sign up but cannot access the electronic system should contact Amy Dunlop at 614-323-2469 (children) or Chasity Staats at 614-273-9303 (youth). 

  4. Signups will be limited

    • Preschool/Kindergarten: 9 children (East Wing – Classrooms 1-

    • Elementary: 12 children (East Wing – Classroom

    • Youth: 12 (YACC) -- Note: Middle and High School will alternate weeks. Middle School will meet the first and third Sundays. High School will meet the second and fourth Sundays. 

  5. A detailed email will be sent to registered families prior to the Sunday service with information on class assignment, procedures, entry & exit, etc.

  6. In the event a ministry participant or family member tests positive for Covid 19, all participants of said class will be notified by the church staff.

CHECK-IN/CLEARANCE PROCEDURES

  1. All ministry staff and volunteers will be temperature checked upon entering the buildings.

  2. Preschool and elementary children, accompanied by one parent, will enter via the NORTH entry door to the east wing (the door nearest the main church entrance).  Check-in Station will be located in hall.

  3. Youth will enter using the door on the porch of the YACC.  Middle school youth will need to be accompanied by one adult at check-in.  Check-in Station will be located at the door. Youth parents may only enter the YACC if volunteering. 

  4. Check-in Procedure will begin 10 minutes prior to the start of worship.  

  5. While you wait to check in, please stand on one of the x’s to be properly distanced from others. Everyone older than kindergarten must wear masks while waiting for check-in.

  6. A designated check-in team will take temperatures as children and youth enter the ministry areas.  

    1. If fever is above 100 degrees, the family must leave the respective buildings and not attend worship.

    2. If temperature is less than 100 degrees and child is exhibiting no other signs of illness (flushed cheeks, rapid breathing, cough, congestion, runny nose), children and youth will be admitted to ministry.  

  7. Registration paperwork will be checked for all children and youth at check-in tables.

  8. After child is cleared for entry, parent will drop off at classroom door, then exit via sanctuary door nearest the choir loft. 

  9. After the youth is cleared for entry, the adult dropping off may exit the YACC deck and proceed to the main building for worship.  

PICK-UP/EXIT PROCEDURES

  1. All children and middle school youth will need to be picked up by one adult immediately following worship.

  2. Parents of preschool and elementary children will line up at the door nearest the choir loft following worship.  After pick-up, please exit the east wing hall via the NORTH door and proceed out the front doors to the parking lot.

  3. The youth will exit the front door of the YACC when the adult picking up arrives.  

HEALTH/SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

  1. Preschool/kindergarten children are encouraged but not required to wear masks.

  2. Elementary children (grades 1-5) and all youth will be masked for Sunday School.

  3. All children and youth will use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting ministry areas.

  4. All ministry staff will be masked. Presenters may take off their masks while speaking if maintaining a minimum six foot distance from audience.

  5. Ministry staff will hand sanitize during class and at dismissal.

  6. All children and youth will be directed to a seat upon arrival and will stay in that seat throughout the hour to minimize contact. 

  7. In classrooms, tables and chairs will be 6 feet apart. 

  8. All materials needed in classrooms will be in individual Ziplock bags for children or youth to use. Once a bag is given to an individual child or youth, it will be labeled and stored for use in subsequent weeks.

  9. Classrooms and all surfaces (including tables and chairs) in rooms will be cleaned prior to and after each class.  

  10. There will be one bathroom available in the east wing and one in the YACC. Children and youth are strongly encouraged to use the restroom before arriving to keep bathroom breaks at a minimum. 

  11. There will be no snacks or drinks (including coffee cups) in any classroom.

 
 

If you have any additional questions, please contact