Ironwood Kids

 

Ironwood Kids is a fun and formative environment where kids are known, loved, and centered on the Gospel of Jesus. Each Sunday, kids are met by the welcoming and familiar faces of our background checked adult volunteers and invited into rooms equipped with age appropriate fun. Children ages 2 and up will engage in Bible centered curriculum, songs, and activities to help them learn about the God who made and loves them. We also have loving volunteers ready to welcome our zero-one year old babies into a safe and comforting atmosphere.

 

Planning To Visit?

Come to our Kids Check-In room, which is conveniently located in the center of our campus. One of our hosts there will help you register any children for Ironwood Kids, escort you and provide as much of a tour as you desire and help you find what you need while answering any questions. Let us know you’re coming and we’ll have somebody waiting to meet you (we’ll also save you some time and pre-register your kids by clicking the link below).

 

classroom policies + practices

  • Nursing Mothers’ Room
    Room 308 is available for mothers who need to feed their infants. This private room has a diaper changing station and a live audio stream of the sermon.

    INFANTS, CRAWLERS, AND WALKERS

    What to Bring
    Diapers, sippy cups, a change of clothes, and anything that might help in soothing your child if needed (blanket, pacifier, etc.). Please label any personal items that are brought into the classroom.

    Diapers
    All diaper changing is done by the adult female volunteers in our classrooms.

    Snacks
    We do not serve snacks in our infant and crawler rooms but are happy to feed the children any provided bottles or snacks as requested by parents.

    We will serve water and Honey Nut Cheerios in our walker room. If you do not want your child to have a snack, or if you are going to provide your own, please communicate your preferences to the classroom teachers when dropping off your child. If your child has a food allergy that you would like us to be aware of, please make sure to get a red band from the Kids’ Check-In. This band can also be attached to the diaper bag.

  • What To Bring
    Bring diapers or pull-ups and a change of clothes.

    Curriculum
    We begin teaching a structured curriculum in our 2-year-old class. Our 2 and 3-year-olds will focus on one Bible story and theme each month. Children will participate in weekly lessons, sensory activities, songs, and playtime that connects with the Bible story.

    Snacks
    Water and Honey Nut Cheerios (for 2-year-olds) and Goldfish or gummy snacks (for 3-year-olds) will be served during class. If you do not want your child to have a snack, or if you are going to provide your own, please communicate your preferences to the classroom teachers when dropping off your child. If your child has a food allergy that you would like us to be aware of, please make sure to get a red wristband from Kids Check-In.

  • What to Expect
    Our PreK and Kindergarten classrooms use a curriculum called The Gospel Project for Kids. This curriculum takes kids chronologically through the Bible by using the overarching narrative of Scripture to show how every story in the Bible points to Jesus. During their time in the classroom, kids will play and create lesson-related activities, participate in a Bible story and discussion, and be led in a time of worship. They will also work on learning a monthly scripture verse and a unit-based big-picture question to help them connect the dots in the big story of the Bible and themes of scripture.

    Snacks
    Water and Goldfish will be provided during service. A gluten-free option for gummy snacks is available as well. If you do not want your child to have a snack, or if you are going to provide your own, please communicate your preferences to the classroom teachers when dropping off your child. If your child has a food allergy that you would like us to be aware of, please make sure to get a red wristband from Kids Check-in.

    Restrooms
    We request that parents take their children to the restroom before dropping them off in class. A restroom is available within the classroom that children can use on their own if needed. Adult female helpers may give limited assistance when necessary.

  • What To Expect
    Our elementary classrooms use a curriculum called The Gospel Project for Kids. This curriculum takes kids chronologically through the Bible by using the overarching narrative of scripture to show how every story in the Bible points to Jesus. Each room participates in a schedule that includes activities to introduce the week’s lesson and a large group teaching time. During this time, they will transition to a different room to hear the Bible lesson and participate in a time of worship. Following large group time, kids will transition back to the classroom for a Bible story review and small group activities that reinforce the lesson's main point in practical and tangible ways. They will also work on learning a monthly scripture verse and a unit-based big-picture question to help them connect the dots in the big story of the Bible and themes of scripture. Kids who successfully memorize the monthly verse by the end of the month will be given a small prize during class.

    Snacks
    Water and Goldfish will be provided during service. A gluten-free option for gummy snacks is available as well. If you do not want your child to have a snack, or if you are going to provide your own, please communicate your preferences to the classroom teachers when dropping off your child. If your child has a food allergy that you would like us to be aware of, please make sure to get a red wristband from Kids Check-In.

    Restrooms
    We request that parents take their children to the restroom before dropping them off in class. A restroom is available within the classroom that children can use on their own if needed.

 

general info

  • Check-In/Out Process
    All children are checked into Ironwood Kids, they will receive a name tag with a unique security code. You will also receive a claim tag with a matching code. When picking up your child, you must present the claim tag to the classroom leaders to match the codes on the tag. Only family members 18 years and older with a tag can pick up kids from their rooms. If a sticker is lost, it can be reprinted at the check-in kiosks.

    Calling System
    We avoid calling parents out of the service for any reason except for a child exhibiting signs of illness or dangerous behavior. If there is any other reason a parent would like to be called, they can notify a volunteer in their child’s classroom of the request and provide them with a cell phone number.

    Restroom Policies
    To ensure the safest possible environments for both children and volunteers, we have several policies in place regarding diaper changing and restroom usage, including:

    • Only adult females may change diapers

    • There are bathrooms in each of the classrooms

    • Only adult females may enter a restroom to provide needed assistance to a child

    Interior/Exterior Security
    We have a security team in place that regularly monitors the facility, and supervisors at each service specifically monitor the Ironwood Kids classrooms and hallways.

    Classroom Ratios
    We maintain a low volunteer-to-child ratio in each classroom and never allow a volunteer or teacher to have one-on-one time with a child. There are no exceptions to this rule.

    Volunteers
    All Ironwood Kids volunteers undergo an extensive process including an application, reference checks, interview, training, and background screening.

  • To protect the children and volunteers in our ministry, we request that parents do not bring children into the classroom if they are exhibiting any of the following symptoms, as we simply are not properly equipped to care for sick children:

    • Fever – Child must be 24 hours fever-free

    • Runny Nose – a runny nose due to a non-contagious allergy is not included

    • Persistent Cough

    • Questionable Rashes

    • Vomiting or Diarrhea within the last 24 hours

    • Impetigo

    • Measles, Mumps

    • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

    • Head Lice

    • Any symptoms of common childhood diseases, such as chicken pox, strep throat, foot & mouth, etc.

    If your child is experiencing any non-contagious symptoms from anything, please communicate that with the volunteers in the classroom to prevent any confusion. For more information, please email Laura LeFevre, the Ironwood Kids Director.

  • Birth - 2 Years Old
    In our early childhood classrooms, children are promoted by developmental stages – infants when they begin crawling, crawlers when they begin walking – until they turn 2. Volunteers will communicate with parents when they feel a child is ready to be promoted.

    Preschool
    In our preschool classrooms, children are promoted by age on their birthdays. Kindergartners remain in the kindergarten class until the transition at the end of the school year. For more information on our preschool program, please email Laura LeFevre, the Ironwood Kids Director.

    Early Childhood
    In our early childhood classrooms, children are promoted by developmental stages – infants when they begin crawling, crawlers when they begin walking – until they turn 2. Volunteers will communicate with parents when they feel a child is ready to be promoted.

 

For more information on Ironwood Kids or for general questions, email us by clicking the link below.

Stay In The Know

We offer a weekly newsletter that serve to both form as well as inform.

We are all being shaped by the habits we have, and in turn that is shaping our families. Everyday liturgies, or repeatable behaviors, have the power to bring us closer into a life lived for Christ. Each week, we will highlight a family formation topic aiming to equip parents in their walk to faithfully form their children towards following the way of Jesus.

We believe that the majority of discipleship takes place at home and giving parents a window into their kids’ classrooms on Wednesdays and Sundays allows us to better partner together in pointing your children towards the Gospel. Each week, we will inform parents about monthly focuses, upcoming events, and ministry highlights within Ironwood Kids, Fifth Grade, and Students as we aim to partner together.

 

5th grade ministry (11:30a service only)

5th Grade Ministry is designed to be a bridge year for kids transitioning from Kids Ministry to Student Ministry. We want to expose them to the student ministry environment on a smaller scale, such as teaching, worship, and discussion groups. Sometimes, entering into Student Ministry can feel intimidating and overwhelming, and we want to help them begin cultivating relationships with peers in a smaller environment. 5th Grade Ministry is available during the 11:30a service.

 

Upcoming Ironwood Kids Events

  • Laura Lefevre

    Kids Director
    Email

  • Mattie Smith

    Kids Admin Coordinator
    Email

  • Val Shinpaugh

    Kids Volunteer Coordinator
    Email

  • Kristen Ostberg

    Kids Curriculum Lead
    Email

  • Brooke Burns

    Kids Resource Coordinator
    Email

  • Abi Khavari

    Special Needs Coordinator
    Email