Nursery & Preschool

 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me'
...and He took the children in his arms, put His hands on them and blessed them."
Mark 10:14, 16

In our nursery & preschool rooms, we nurture the children physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Children learn about God's love for them through wonderful Bible stories, songs, and fun activities designed with professional caregivers and volunteers who provide consistency for the children and maintain our high standards of health and safety.  Our staff understands the special nurturing each child needs and strives to see that each child will begin to feel and understand Jesus' love for him/her.

Each Sunday morning care for infants and children up to K-4 is available during worship & Sunday School.  We have three baby nurseries, one for those still in cribs, one for crawlers, and one for toddlers. Each of these nurseries is equipped with a parent paging system. Parents may take a silent pager with them, so they can be located in the case of an emergency. These nurseries are staffed with professional caregivers, assisted by parent volunteers and Sunday Sitters.

Our Education Committee is here to make your child’s experience of the church be good, safe, fun, and informative.  If you have any questions about the Nursery or Preschool Ministries at WPC, please contact us!

Parent Nursery Schedule - Current

Parent Nursery Schedule - Summer

Paid Staff Nursery Schedule - Current

Paid Staff Contact List

Preschool Sunday School Teaching Schedule - Current

Nursery Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

What age does the nursery include?
The nursery & preschool programs are intended for children ages birth through K4.

Which room should my child attend?
For children who will not be at least 2 by September 1 of the current school year, they will be in the Toddler Room if they can walk, the Crawler Room if they can crawl, and otherwise the Crib Room.  If your child is 4 by September 1 of the current school year, then he/she will be in the K4 Room, K3 Room if 3, and K2 if 2.  If you have questions concerning this, please feel free to discuss with the Nursery Staff in your child's room, the Nursery Supervisor on duty, or the Nursery Coordinator.

If I have a question concerning the nursery, whom should I contact?
Questions may be directed to the Nursery Staff in your child's room, the Nursery Supervisor on duty that Sunday morning, or the Nursery Coordinator.  In addition, you may also contact Associate Pastor Barbara Stoop.

When is the nursery available?
The nursery is available every Sunday morning from 15 minutes prior to the first event until 15 minutes after the last event concludes.  During the summer months, this is from 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.  For the remainder of the year, it is from 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  The nursery is also available during special events such as church dinners, special worship services, musical programs, etc.

What can I expect when I walk into a nursery room?
When you walk into a nursery room, you will be greeted by Nursery Staff or a church member assisting in the room.  All caregivers are identified by name tags.  The sign-in procedure includes filling out a name tag label for your child (in all rooms) and picking up a pager (Crib, Crawler, & Toddler Rooms).  Caregivers will help you with this.  The name tag label is a four-part label.  The largest label, where you record your child's name, your name(s), where you will be (Sanctuary, Sunday School, New Member Class, etc.), and information about your child, is placed on your child's back.  You will take the receipt portion with you and show it upon return to the room when you pick up your child.  The two small labels may be placed on your child's possessions.  The pagers are used to notify you in case a problem arises with your child (won't stop crying, etc).  Feel free to notify the Nursery Staff in the room of any special instructions pertaining to your child, concerns, etc.

How are the nursery rooms staffed?
Nursery rooms are staffed with paid workers and parents of children in the program.  All paid staff are qualified childcare professionals who are screened through SLED.  There is one paid worker in each room.  Other caregivers consist of parents with children in the program and other adult church members (see Sunday Sitters Volunteer Program).  We ask that all parents with children in the nursery program serve five times a year (about every 10 weeks).

What will my child be doing when he/she is in a nursery room?
For children in the Crib, Crawler, and Toddler Rooms, care consists of interacting with other children and the workers.  Age-appropriate toys are available.  For children in the K2, K3, and K4 Rooms, they will play during the 9:00 hour, have a Sunday School lesson during the 10:00 hour, and play in the room (K2) or go to the gym or outside playground (K3 & K4) during the 11:15 hour.

Where are the schedules for parent volunteers, Sunday Sitters, and paid workers?
Schedules for parent volunteers, Sunday Sitters, and paid nursery staff are available on this webpage as PDFs, which may be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader.  The Parent Volunteer Schedule is updated every 10 weeks, and the Sunday Sitter and Paid Workers Schedules every month (going out three months).  All schedules are created and maintained by the Nursery Coordinator.

How is the Parent Volunteer Schedule created?
The Parent Volunteer Schedule is created every 10 weeks for the following period.  The process starts about 4 weeks before the next schedule begins.  Parents will receive an email from the Nursery Coordinator asking them to complete a form on the church website that asks for family availability by week, which rooms the family is available to serve in, and whether or not they are available during the 9:00 hour.  Based on input from this form, the schedule is generated and posted on this webpage.

I am a parent volunteer and have a conflict on the date I am scheduled to serve.  What should I do?
Since the Parent Volunteer Schedule is created using input from families as to which weeks they are not available, conflicts are hopefully rare.  In the event of a conflict, it is your responsibility to find someone to cover your scheduled time slot.  Once you have found a replacement (either via swapping with another family or just getting someone ot serve in your place), please notify the Nursery Coordinator.

Family contact information is available on the church website via myWPC/Access ACS.  Note that when you access this tool, you will be asked to register if you have not already done so.  The registration keys off of the email address that the church has on file for you.  If the church does not have an email address or the email address is not correct, you will need to contact the Church Office at 232-2424.

Once you have accessed the myWPC tool, you should see on the right side of the page a list of groups of which you are a member.  This will include the Master Nursery/Preschool Group (which includes contacts for all families in the group) as well as groups from all rooms in which you have children (Parents of Crib Children, etc).  Using the current Parent Volunteer Schedule, select a date/room/time that you are available and then click on the room group to see contact information for all families in that room.  Note that these groups are not always up-to-date, so you may need to use the Master Nursery/Preschool Group.  Click the check box to the left of the name of the person(s) you wish to email (alternative phone numbers are available also).  Then go to the drop down box labeled "I want to . . ." above the list of contacts, select "Group Email," and click the "GO" button next to that box.  You will then be given the option to either "Allow us to send the email for you" or "Send the email through your email application."  The last option will launch your computer's email client if it is not already running.  In the email, explain your situation to see if they are willing to swap with you.  If you have problems with any of this, contact the Nursery Coordinator.  The more time you give yourself to arrange coverage, the more likely you will be able to find someone to swap with.  In case of a last-minute conflict either late Saturday or early Sunday, please contact the Nursery Coordinator directly.