Happy New Year! Here's what happening with HillsideKids in January!

Waumba Land (birth through PreKindergarten)

We want preschoolers to take a first look at who God is and understand...

God made me.  God loves me.  Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

A new year gives us another reason to celebrate that Jesus wants to be my friend forever!

This month, we will share several of the miracles that Jesus performed in His short time with us here on earth, showing us that nothing is too hard for Him. If Jesus is so amazing and powerful that He can walk on water then surely He can help me learn to share with my friends.

Preschoolers will hear how Jesus turned water to wine (we call it a “super fancy drink”), helped His friends fill their nets with fish, fed thousands with two fishes and five loaves of bread, and calmed a storm by just telling it to stop. Through each story, our little ones will learn that Jesus can do anything, and “With God, all things are possible,” (Matthew 19:26).

UpStreet (Kindergarten through 2nd grade)

Avenue252 (3rd through 5th grade) 

January is a great time to work on changing the way we play this game of life. It feels like a fresh, crisp start to a new year! So, we’re going to spend the month in Proverbs, a book packed full of wise and visual verses to challenge our thinking—especially about the topic of Self-Control.

Self-control means choosing to do what you should do—and not what you want to do. In the moment, that’s hard for a lot of us. The good news is that God doesn’t ask us to do anything all on our own. We’ll share verses like 2 Peter 1:3 that say: “God’s given us everything we need to lead a godly life.” Self-control is a way to display to the world around us that we have God in our lives. And He’s present every hour of every day, ready to help us take control of our thoughts, words and actions.

Each week, we’ll talk specifically about choosing to have self-control in areas where we know kids (and adults) typically struggle, plus we’ll focus on faith skills like navigating the Bible and personalizing Scripture in their everyday lives.

We are so excited about this month in Proverbs with a different principle each week addressing real life situations where we need self-control. Isn’t it great to know that God’s given us everything we need to live a godly life and to grow in wisdom? Join us this month as we dive into our virtue of Self-control: Changing the way you play!

Gingerbread House Building - A parent/child event!

Join in the fun of this parent or grandparent and child event!

Build a Gingerbread House together!  

Date:  Tuesday, December 20th

Time:  6:00-7:00pm

Cost: $27.50/family

All supplies included.

Checks payable to Hillside Church.

Location:  Gingerbread Builders in the Strawberry Village by In and Out Burger.

Sign up between now and Sunday, December 18th at the information counter in the main lobby of the church or drop by church anytime this week to sign up and drop off your check/cash.  Church office is open 9-5pm.

Questions?  terri@hillsidemarin.org

HillsideKids Go Christmas Caroling this Sunday!

Join us for Christmas Caroling this Sunday!

You are invited to this upcoming parent/child event of HillsideKids!

A group will be going to sing Christmas Carols this Sunday.

Meeting at 12:30pm at Church for a quick run through then off we'll go to Aegis Living to sing for the residents there.

Then we can head out into the neighborhood and share Christmas Cheer!

Then back to the church by 2:30 for cookies and coco!

Email me back and let me know if you are planning to attend and how many children/adults are in your group.

This is not a drop off event - a responsible adult must attend with the children in your group.

Blessings,

Pastor Terri

terri@hillsidemarin.org

HillsideKids in December

HillsideKids & Families in December

Seems like we have been forced to think Christmas since before Halloween this year.  For those of us who have Thanksgiving as our favorite holiday, it has been a battle to keep Christmas at bay!  Well, December is finally here!   The reason for the season is in front of us and as parents and church, we want to work together to make sure that Jesus isn’t lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  

To make sure that you are connected, even if you aren’t able to be at Hillside Church each week, please go to the facebook page: HillsideKids and “like” or “subscribe” and then watch our postings as they come up on Facebook.  

Below I have given the basic dates for December activities for kids at each of their age-levels.  Please go to the Hillside Family Ministry blog to get more details about each event and to sign up to get notified when new information is posted.

FamilyTime Christmas Caroling

Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:30-2:30pm

We will do a quick run through of the songs and then we will be walking (with strollers if needed) from church parking lot  and back by 2pm for cookies and coco down at The House before heading home.

We will sing for the residents at Aegis Living (5555 Paradise Drive at 1pm as they finish lunch) then divide into two groups if there are enough of us and walk through the neighborhood behind Aegis as well as across the street (Mariner’s Cove), dress warmly and festively and wear your walking shoes.  Songbooks will be available.

Gingerbread House Building

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 6:00-7:00pm

750 Redwood Highway #1210 in Strawberry Village south of In and Out Burger.

All supplies included to build a family gingerbread house for $27.50/small house.

We will meet there at 6:00pm.  Check payable to Hillside Church is due at time of sign up.  

Sign up will be at the information counter in the main church lobby.  No calls to the office, confirmations of paid spots only.  Reservations necessary for this event.  Last minute spots can add as long as spots are available so that group rate will apply.  Small Gingerbread House is only option for this outing, cost $27.50 for one small house.

Christmas Eve 

Saturday, December 24th:

A description of the services is available elsewhere in this issue of Hillside News.  Here are the details about what we are offering to children on Christmas Eve.

4:00 pm and 6:00 pm Children’s Programs

Waumba Land

Nursery Room 1 for birth-toddlers

Preschool Room 2 for 2 & 3 yr olds

PreKindergarten Room 3 for 4 & 5 yr olds

UpStreet & Avenue252

Elementary UpStreet Room for K-5th Grades

8:00pm & 11:00pm No Children’s Programs/No Childcare

Families are welcome to worship together.

Christmas Morning

Sunday, December 25, 2011

There will be NO services on Christmas Morning at Hillside this year.  We encourage you to enjoy your family time, remembering the brightness of the day that our Savior and King was born and finding ways to incorporate Jesus into the day like having a Birthday Breakfast for Jesus Party.  On Christmas Eve we will have available a kit for you to take home so that you can bake your own cake and celebrate Jesus’ birth as a family.

New Year's Day

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Regular Schedule resumes.

REMINDER: 

Our children’s environments are staffed and ready to receive children beginning as early at 9:15.  All our children’s environments will close at 9:45am once the teaching elements have begun.  The Waumba Land, UpStreet and Avenue252 teams thank you in advance for arriving in a timely way.  Should you and your children arrive after 9:45am, you are welcome to worship with them in the auditorium or choose to attend the 11:00am service where limited childcare is available for younger children.  

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day 

Please consider lending a hand on these special outreach days when we have many guests and visitors with us.  It also is a way to show your appreciation to our dedicated volunteers who work year round to care for all the children in the church.  No training required, just arriving a bit earlier than usual to help set up (4pm) or staying a bit later to help clean up (6pm).  Youth welcomed to serve as crew leaders and community service hours are available.

Contact Terri Woodard terri@hillsidemarin.org or 415/342-9130 to volunteer or to find out what is needed.  

Kids & Families November Preview

FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL

Thanks so much to all who joined us for the Family Fall Festival on October 22nd.  40-50 people came and had a great time carving pumpkins, face painting, eating and having conversations.  To see photos of the event, click here.

Special thanks to Heidi Kane and Deena Berger and their families and friends who helped them run this event.  

A spring event is in the works!

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER

November not only brings a change in season and weather but also an opportunity to really connect on Sundays.  In Family Ministry, Ryan and I take our responsibility to create meaningful experiences for children and students seriously.  We strive to make our hour with the kids and our volunteers the best hour of the week.  

Children learn by repetition so getting your children in front of their small group leader as often and as regularly as possible is critical to the growth as Christians.  

Please take time before November 1 arrives and make attending a priority.  Consistency builds trust and comfort for all of us, but it is especially important for our children and students.

Waumba Land:  Birth through PreKindergarten

In November, Waumba Land will be diving into “Happy Helpers” Month.  We will be teaching a different aspect of helping each week.  Our Memory Verse is Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and loving to each other.” (NCV) as we unpack that God made people who help me.  So look for your child to be doing some special helping this month at home and at school!

UpStreet:  Lower Elementary (K-2 grades)

UpStreet  in November is all about the virtue of Gratitude.  It’s all about slowing down and showing gratitude for both the big  and the little things of life.  We remember that because of what God has done for us, we have a reason to be grateful.  Our theme for November is:  Pitstop: Pull over for a Gratitude Adjustment.  So if you have Nascar gear to wear this is the month to break it out and show it off!  

Avenue252:  Upper Elementary (3-5 grades)

We love our new environment for older elementary kids called Avenue252.  While this group does the same lesson as UpStreet, they do it with a whole different attitude - this is more of preteen youth group.  So this group is getting ready to do some special events.  We are working on one for November....so keep an eye on the HillsideKids page on Facebook (Parents: go there and “like” or “subscribe” to it so you stay in the know).  Since our theme is “Pitstop” for the month - I can guarantee you it will be a race for pure fun and something to be grateful for after you have been with us! 

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:

Family Ministry happens at Hillside because of volunteers.  The volunteer team makes what we do at each age level such an amazing experience for the children and their families. We are looking beyond our current families and those who worship with us on a regular basis.  If that’s you, then please prayerfully consider serving in one of the following ways:

Currently we have the following openings: 

• Host Team (greeting, registration)
• Assistant Small Group Leaders  (K-2 grades) 
• Mentors (3-5 grades)
• Registrar (to set up attendance data base and input weekly attendance, make name tags, parent tags, etc.)
• Graphic artist to work with me on different elements within each environment
• Publicity Coordinator to help us get the word out of our activities
• Photographer/Videographer for occasional Sundays and events

If you are able to serve, even if in a limited way, please contact me.

STAY CONNECTED

Please take a minute and go to these two website and join them through “like” or “subscribe”.  This is not only a way for us to communicate to you but for you to give us feedback and get your questions answered.

For parents of kids birth through 5th grade: click  here

For parents of Middle School and High School Students: click here

Waumba Land this Fall....things you are going to want to know before Sunday!

HILLSIDE FAMILY MINISTRY

Back to school is here and it is an exciting time in the life of a preschooler.  As young families transition into new routines, your Waumba Land Team wants to let you know about some necessary changes to the program that they have been working on as they get ready for the Fall Launch of Waumba Land.  

The primary purpose of Family Ministry at Hillside is to partner with parents in the spiritual development of their kids.  As an effort to continue to hone that relationship, we have made some changes to how we run our environments that we hope will make communication easier, make our environments better for your children and help our dedicated volunteers to maintain balance in their lives.  

Information regarding all environments that you need to know:

1. Our new formats will begin on our Fall Launch date of September 11, 2011. 
2. New registration forms will need to be filled out on your first visit beginning with September 11.  Registration area will open at 9:00am on launch day.  One form per child.   
3. Our registration area will be open by 9:15 each week beginning September 18 to allow for parents to drop off in a timely way each week.  Our program begins promptly at 9:30.   Environments will be closed to arriving children after 9:45 each week.  Our program begins at 9:30, by 9:45, just like in the adult worship experience, our leaders have progressed into teaching the foundational components which the rest of the morning is built. So to respect those who are leading, those who arrive in a timely manner and to minimize the disruptions in all of our environments we are asking that you arrive to register your children between 9:15 and 9:25 each week.   
4. Safety ratios will continue to be adhered to which may mean that you might be asked on any given Sunday to help out in one of our environments.   
5. Security: the two tag plus sign in and out process will continue by age-level.   
6. Take home papers/Parent Cue will continue to help us partner with you to keep reinforcing the lessons from Sunday.  Please take time to read through those take home papers and choosing some of those helps to engage your family in a deeper spiritual conversation.   
7. Curbside Welcoming.   We have discontinued offering candy as a part of our curbside welcoming.  Stickers will continue to be offered when a greeter is available.   
8. Community Service:   Youth are welcomed at both 9:30 & 11:00 to come be Small Group Helpers.  Sign up with Terri terri@hillsidemarin.org.

Additional Information for Waumba Land Parents

• Baby Cuddlers:  We are looking for 6-8 volunteers who will serve in our baby and crawler environment (Nursery), ministering to new Moms and cuddling the many new babies that we have and are having within this coming year.   If you are willing to serve at the 9:30 or the 11:00 a.m. services twice a month, please contact me (terri@hillsidemarin.org) or Jessica Pridemore (jessicapridemore@gmail.com) for more information.  Background checks are required for this position. 
• Changes in Staffing.  As a part of our preparation for the coming year, the Waumba Land team has decided on changing the way we staff our environments.  So please note that your child’s age-level leadership team may be different this year than last year.  
• Parent Take Home is called the Parent Cue now.  It is now also available by email.  To receive your Parent Cue by email please email admin@hillsidemarin.org and request to be added to the list for Waumba Land’s Parent Cue.  
• Allergies or Restricted Diets: Please note that our Waumba Land children do have a snack time each morning.  Unless noted otherwise at the registration table, we serve a very limited snack selection.  Cheerios, Honey Maid Graham Crackers, Pepperidge Farm Fish Crackers, and Kirkland Animal Cookies.  A list of ingredients is available in registration, please ask to see it if you need to check the contents.  Those with nut &  allergies need to know that we cannot guarantee that these products are nut or dairy free.   Please complete an allergy sticker at affix to the back of your child’s name tag to alert the leaders of your child’s allergy.  All parents are welcome to provide a snack container with their child’s full name on it and hand it to their age-level leader each week.  Parents of children who have an epi-pen are asked to provide a backpack or bag with their child’s name clearly marked on the backpack/bag.  Parents are asked to talk to the lead teacher in their child’s age-level environment to ensure their child’s safety.
• Safety Drill:  On Sunday,  September 18 we will be having a practice safety drill at 9:50am so that our staff and children know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency.  We will prepare the children for the drill, walk them through it and then return to classrooms and continue with the program.  A note will be posted in the registration area reminding you of the drill happening. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Terri Woodard at terri@hillsidemarin.org.

Changes in the UpStreet Environments that you Need to Know!

The summer months have given the ministry teams time to gather and debrief last year’s experience for them and for our children and to make some strategic changes that will hopefully have a positive impact on everyone. 

The primary purpose of Family Ministry at Hillside is to partner with parents in the spiritual development of their kids.  As an effort to continue to hone that relationship, we have made some changes to how we run our environments that we hope will make communication easier, make our environments better for your children and help our dedicated volunteers to maintain balance in their lives.  

Information regarding all environments that you need to know:

Our new formats will begin on our Fall Launch date of September 11, 2011. 

1. New registration forms will need to be filled out on your first visit beginning with September 11.  Registration area will open at 9:00am on launch day.  One form per child.   
2. Our registration area will be open by 9:15 each week beginning September 18 to allow for parents to drop off in a timely way each week.  Our program begins promptly at 9:30. Environments will be closed to arriving children after 9:45 each week.  Our program begins at 9:30, by 9:45, just like in the adult worship experience, our leaders have progressed into teaching the foundational components which the rest of the morning is built. So to respect those who are leading, those who arrive in a timely manner and to minimize the disruptions in all of our environments we are asking that you arrive to register your children between 9:15 and 9:25 each week.   
3. Safety ratios will continue to be adhered to which may mean that you might be asked on any given Sunday to help out in one of our environments.   
4. Security: the two tag plus sign in and out process will continue by age-level.   
5. Take home papers/Parent Cue will continue to help us partner with you to keep reinforcing the lessons from Sunday.  Please take time to read through those take home papers and choosing some of those helps to engage your family in a deeper spiritual conversation.   
6. Curbside Welcoming. We have discontinued offering candy as a part of our curbside welcoming.  Stickers will continue to be offered when a greeter is available.   
7. Community Service: Youth are welcomed at both 9:30 & 11:00 to come be Small Group Helpers.  Sign up with Terri (terri@hillsidemarin.org).

UpStreet

For our incoming Third, Fourth and Fifth graders....

We have heard your children’s comments and this year we are offering them a special environment, all their own.  

Sundays at 9:30am, UpStreet for the older kids will be offered in the Conference Room.  

We will do our best to make the space fun and friendly.  Your child’s small group leaders be waiting for them on September 11 and ready to create an UpStreet experience just for them.   

For convenience, parents will be able to sign their older elementary aged kids in outside the Conference Room.  

There will be a parent sign in/out sheet as well as a continuation of the security 2-tag system.   

IMPORTANT: Please note that we will be closed to incoming children after 9:45 each week so come on time.   

Registration forms are also going to need to be completed this year so please be prepared and allow time on your first visit from September 11 on to fill out forms.   

For your Kindergarten, First and Second Graders...

Things will continue much the with only a few changes that will help streamline the flow and bring the level of teaching down to their level of learning.  We realize that this means that there are two or three areas where you will be required to sign in your children.  

We suggest that you start with your youngest child, since we have early care available for them.  The older kids can enter their room as soon as the door to the conference room is open.  Children are in your care and supervision until the have been signed in and are wearing their name tags.  We ask that you pick up children from youngest to oldest as well to give our oldest the most time to wrap up their small group time. 

Children will continue in the same color group and with the same small group leader as last year.  

New nametags will reflect their color group better this coming year. 

Please arrive early to complete registration forms for your child on your first visit beginning with September 11. 

Immediate Service Opportunities in UpStreet

• A small group leader for 3rd Graders.  If you would be willing to come along side this amazing group of Third graders, please contact Terri Woodard (terri@hillsidemarin.org) to get more information.  

Until the position is filled, we will be asking parent volunteers to assist in the older children’s environment until a group leader has been found.  A sign up for specific Sundays will be available at the registration table outside the conference room as well as in the registration area in the children’s ministry wing.