Rev. 0 Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed II Timothy 2 : 15 Austin Chinese Church awana@austinchinesechurch.org 11118 Dessau Road Austin, Texas 78754 (512) 339-8675 3 & 4 Year Olds K 2 nd Grade 3 rd 5 th Grade
Dear Awana Parents, Thank you for sending your child to our Awana Club here at Austin Chinese Church (ACC). If this is your first time to Awana with your child, please know that you are making an eternal investment in your child s life. We want to thank you for blessing us with the opportunity to minister to your children, and in turn, to your family also. We hope you take the time to read this entire parent handbook. This manual is designed for you and your clubbers. Please share this with them and keep it handy to reference throughout the entire year. In this manual, you will find information on the activities, policies, and procedures. We hope that this manual will keep you up to date and informed on the Awana Club at ACC. We hope your experience with Awana will be a positive one. Should you have any questions which are not addressed in this handbook, please feel free to contact your child s leader or any member of the leadership team at any time. Thank You, ACC Awana Leaders
Table of Contents WELCOME TO AWANA!... - 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION... - 1 - COST FACTORS... - 2 - A TYPICAL AWANA NIGHT... - 3 - AWANA SCHEDULE... - 4 - CLUB TIME SCHEDULE... - 4 - PARENT EXPECTATIONS... - 5 - CLUBBER EXPECTATIONS... - 6 - LEADER EXPECTATIONS... - 7 - DROPPING OFF / PICKING UP CLUBBERS... - 8 - SAFETY... - 8 - COMMUNICATION... - 9 - UNIFORMS... - 9 - WELLNESS POLICY... - 9 - HANDBOOK GUIDELINES... - 10 - BIBLE TRANSLATIONS... - 10 - THE AWANA STORE... - 11-2016-2017 AWANA CALENDAR... - 12 -
Welcome to Awana! Thank you so much for your interest in our Awana program. We count it a real privilege to work with boys and girls and their parents. Here at Austin Chinese Church (ACC), our goal is to provide a safe, encouraging, and exciting atmosphere where boys and girls can learn about God s love and can discover how to know and live for Him. General Information Awana is an internationally-recognized and respected youth program. Our club here at ACC is just one of over 10,000 more clubs around the world where young people gather together for Bible teaching, memorization, fun games, and singing. The Awana program gets its name from II Timothy 2:15, where Christians are told that Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed. The two main goals of Awana are to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. For more information on the Awana program, visit Awana.org. - 1 -
Cost Factors Registration Fee Non-refundable $35 per child The Awana registration can be done online http://tinyurl.com/hv2jtyq Uniforms and Handbooks The costs for items are listed below. If there are financial difficulties, please contact the Awana Commander for assistance. Club Uniform Handbook Book Bag Cubbies $ 11.00 $ 11.00 $ 7.00 Sparks $ 11.00 $ 11.00 $ 6.00 T&T $ 15.00 $ 10.00 $ 6.00-2 -
CHECK-IN A Typical Awana Night Clubber check-in begins at 7:20 PM. After check-in, clubbers will assemble in the gym to await the opening ceremony. The Cubbies will be drop off directly to the classroom. One (1) Awana share On-Time Bonus will be given to each clubber who is checked-in before 7:30 PM. OPENING CEREMONY Taylor Gym All clubs assemble in Taylor Gym for the flag ceremony at 7:30 PM sharp. Using the American and Awana flag, the club is called to order. Flags are presented, pledges are recited, and the evening is opened with prayer. Announcements are made and clubs are dismissed to their first activity. HANDBOOK TIME Using achievement-oriented learning sections, Awana training emphasizes the importance of God s word for sound living. Clubbers progress through graded handbooks, working individually and together with their leaders. About 30 minutes is given to this period when the leaders listen to the clubber s memory work. Uniform awards are earned during this time. GAME TIME Game Time is a unique time to learn Christian sportsmanship and ethics, and a chance to let off steam and have fun! Four teams are used allowing everybody the opportunity to play every game and have a great time. LARGE GROUP TIME It is a quality time for group Bible study or a sharing of Biblical truth in storytelling, teaching, testimonies and songs. This Bible truth, however presented, is the heart of the Awana Large Group Time. - 3 -
Awana Schedule Club Grade Room Cubbies Ages 3 and 4 T201/T202 Sparks K - 2 nd Grade Per Schedule T & T (Truth & Training) 3 rd 5 th Grade Per Schedule All Cubbies, Sparks, and Truth & Training rooms are located in Taylor Hall Club Time Schedule Cubbies (All) Sparks (Boys) Sparks (Girls) T&T (Boys) T&T (Girls) 7:10-7:20 7:20-7:30 7:30-7:45 Leaders Meeting (Taylor Resources Room) Check-in (Taylor Foyer) Opening Ceremony (Taylor Gym) 7:45-8:20 8:20-8:55 Cubbies Schedule (T201/T202) Games (Taylor Gym) Handbook (T211/205) Handbook (T210/205) Handbook (T210) Large Group (T208) Large Group (T208) Games (Taylor Gym) 8:55-9:30 Large Group (T208) Games (Taylor Gym) Handbook (T210) WHAT TO BRING Uniform, Handbook, Pencil, and Bible Please be sure your child has a good pair of well-fitted sneakers so he or she will be ready to go! - 4 -
Parent Expectations We basically have very few requirements that we hope our parents will meet; however, they are important and key to the success of your child s club year. Should you have questions or need help in achieving these requirements, please ask your clubber s leader and they will be happy to help. Help children to attend Awana every week and to arrive on time. During the week, help your child prepare at least two to three sections. This will ensure they will complete their handbook and will receive their special awards. Most children will be adequately prepared if he or she spends 10 minutes a day 5 times a week in the club handbook. Bible verses set to music are a great way to assist Sparks in their memorization. CDs and tapes are available to purchase through your child s leader. Please review the clubber expectations found later in this handbook with your child. Rules of behavior will be enforced. Make Awana a Priority! o o o o Set aside enough time to help him/her learn sections. Provide on-time transportation to club. Encourage your clubber to participate in all activities. Work with your child s leader on how you can participate and volunteer in that club. - 5 -
BE ON TIME Clubber Expectations Awana begins at 7:30 PM. Check-in begins at 7:20 PM and clubbers are rewarded for being on-time. BE PREPARED Bring Handbook, Bible, pencil, and sections ready to pass. Also wear comfortable clothing and sneakers in order to participate in the activities held on a typical evening. Clubbers are required to wear their Awana uniform to each club meeting. A properly worn uniform helps Awana clubbers and leaders earn respect and credibility. BE RESPECTFUL Clubbers are expected to listen and follow their leader s directions. BE FRIENDLY We want to encourage the children to seek to help one another and work as a team. BE AN EXAMPLE Rules are necessary for a smooth running club. We use the 5- count and 3-count method. 5-Count (group) by the time the leader counts to five, clubbers should be in their place and quiet. 3-Count (individuals) when a clubber misbehaves they will be given a warning by their leader. 1 st Warning Conversation with their leader 2 nd Warning Time-out from the activity 3 rd Warning Conversation with the Commander and parents will be called to pick-up their clubber - 6 -
Leader Expectations We basically have very few requirements for leaders to meet; however, we do have some expectations we encourage them to consider. The following may give you some insight into the type of leadership we strive for in our ministry. A leader must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A leader must have a desire to work with and a compassion for children. We expect our leaders to be on time. We expect our leaders to be examples. We expect our leaders to follow the rules and wear their uniforms. We expect our leaders to display a proper attitude before the clubbers and other leaders. We expect our leaders to pray for our Club on a regular basis. We expect our leaders to realize ACC Awana is not just a program, but a ministry of the church and a place of service to God. Volunteer Screening: For the safety of our children and workers, ACC has taken a number of steps to ensure the protection of all involved. ACC screens all workers who have regular access to young people. This screening process includes an agreement to undergo a police background check. - 7 -
Dropping Off / Picking Up Clubbers Please follow these procedures upon your arrival and departure each Awana evening. Cubbies (Ages 3 and 4) must be dropped off after check-in and picked up by their parent/guardian at their classroom (Room T201). Sparks (Kindergarten to 2 nd Grade) should be ushered into their classroom after check-in to await the opening ceremony. At the end of the evening, parents must come on time to Taylor Hall Foyer to await their children. T&T (3 rd to 5 th Grade) should be ushered into their classroom after check-in to await the opening ceremony. At the end of the evening, they will be in the gymnasium awaiting their parent/guardian. Safety Permission Forms and Contact Information Parents or guardians will be asked to provide current contact information so that we might be able to contact you in the event of an emergency. That form will also contain a place for you grant permission for your child to participate in the Awana clubs activities, including game/play time. Footwear Due to the nature of game time activities, clubbers should wear sneakers to all club meetings and activities. - 8 -
Communication Do you have any questions concerning Awana? Is there a problem or misunderstanding? Do you wonder why a section was not signed off? Contact your clubber s leader. Still not satisfied? Talk to the Awana Commander. We will do all we can to give competent answers and solutions to your problem. Uniforms The Awana uniform is an integral part of the Awana program and helps in the overall discipline of the club. This includes the Sparks vest buttoned and the Truth and Training shirt tucked in. Again, this falls under the heading of making Awana a priority, ensuring that your clubber leaves the house with his/her complete uniform. Wellness Policy As we all know, sickness can keep going around with children, affecting not only the other children in your child s Awana group, but your family and other families as the illness goes back and forth between the children. Children SHOULD NOT attend Awana if they are not feeling well. Please use the same respect you would want others to show you and your family before bringing your clubbers to Awana. - 9 -
Handbook Guidelines Handbook time is a special time each night when the clubber and their leader can connect. Clubbers are broken down in to smaller groups and take turns reciting and explaining the handbook sections they have studied throughout the week. It is important to have you clubber ready to recite the verse, but it is even more important to ensure they know what it means. We want to emphasize memorization with retention and understanding. Some other very simple guidelines are: Sections must be passed in order. Silver & Gold (T&T) & Sparks Review level sections may be done later. Word Perfect 2 Helps Clubbers may receive 2 helps or prompts per section if needed, in order to keep going, but wrong words may not be used. Clubbers may complete up to 5 sections in one club night. To complete a handbook in one year, a child should have two to three sections ready to be completed when they arrive each week. Bible Translations The official translation of the Bible that ACC Awana uses is ESV or NIV. Your child is not limited to this translation. You may use any you feel is easier to understand with the exception of the Living Bible, which is not a translation, but a paraphrase. To help the listener, if another translation is used, please write out the verses and put them in the proper place in the handbook. - 10 -
The Awana Store The Awana Store is a privilege obtained through the earning of Awana shares. Sparks and Truth and Training clubs earn the Shares by passing handbook sections. Leaders may also give additional Shares for anything from courtesy to good sportsmanship at Game Time. At no time will Shares be taken away from a clubber. Once earned, they belong to the clubber until spent at the Awana Store. The Store will operate several times a year after club is over. Small toys and Awana items may be purchased with the Awana Shares. Using the shares, clubbers may buy presents for themselves or for birthdays, Christmas, etc. It is a great way to teach saving and giving to the clubbers. At the end of the Awana year, all shares are to be turned in. - 11 -
2016-2017 Awana Calendar - 12 -
Help your clubbers each week at home learn their verses!