Awana and the Awana logo are Registered
Trademarks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission.
Calvary Bible Church Awana Clubs
Date posted -
December 12, 2004
Parents Guide
Why Do Parents Appreciate Awana? Back
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Awana meetings are brimming with life-enriching experiences
for young people. These meetings provide consistent positive
teaching every week - training that stresses strong moral and
spiritual values. Clubbers learn about the reality of God, the
truth of the bible and respect for our nation's freedoms. Awana
plants seeds of wisdom while youth begin the process of becoming
responsible adults.
Awana exists for parents who appreciate the valuable
influence of godly men and women in their children's lives.
It is an organization for those who want their children to
find peace - true peace - in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If that is your concern, take a closer look at Awana. For
reasons that are evident in the smiles of happy faces of boys
and girls in more than 40, 000 Awana clubs worldwide, you will
want your son or daughter to attend Awana club next week as much
as they want to attend themselves.
Where Does My Child Belong? Back
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His/her age and grade primarily determine the club that your
child belongs in. Take the age of your child when he/she started
the current school year (September) and look on the table below.
For example, if your child were three years old in September,
he/she would be Cubbies. If your child turns three after this
date they must wait until the following year to begin club.
| Age*/Grade |
Awana Club |
| Ages 3-4 |
Cubbies (coed) |
| Ages 5-7 (Grades K-2) |
Sparks (coed) |
| Girls Ages 8-9 (Grades 3-4) |
Chums |
| Boys Ages 8-9 (Grades 3-4) |
Pals |
| Girls Ages 10-11 (Grades 5-6) |
Guards |
| Boys Ages 10-11 (Grades 5-6) |
Pioneers |
*Age she he/she started the current school year.
Parents may opt to hold a child back in Awana if he/she has
been held back in school. In this case, the child's age would
not match the table above but his/her grade would match. This is
at the parent's discretion and the child must remain in that
club for the entire Awana season.
For those who are home schooling or whose child is working on
material higher than their grade level, the child will be placed
according to age in his/her normal grade level.
Memorization Tips Back
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Following are tips for helping your child complete his/her
memorization work:
- Spend 10-15 minutes each day working with your child on
the handbook material rather than cramming the day of Awana.
- Treat Awana as part of your child's daily homework
assignments. Set aside a specific time during the day to
work on sections and activities.
- Read the verse over and over while trying to recite it.
Learn it one phrase at a time.
- Write out the verse and recite it as you cover (or
erase) more and more of the words.
- Recite the verse into a tape reorder and play it back
over and over.
Attention Parents: You can help! Back
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Parents, following are principles and guidelines to help your
child work with his/her leader and learn the Biblical truths
being taught.
- Help your child on time with their book and uniform.
- Learn the basics of Awana. Take time to read through the
handbook. Learn the requirements so that you can encourage
your child as he/she progresses through the memorization
work.
- Learn the names of your child's leader and director.
Speak with the leader from time to time after club to find
out how well your child is behaving and progressing. It is
best to talk with the leader after club unless it is urgent
as the leaders have preparation work to do at the beginning
of club.
- Be thankful and pray for your child's leader
and director. Teach our child to pray for them. These
individuals spend an incredible amount of time and energy in
this ministry. Teach your child to appreciate them.
- Be thankful for substitute leaders. They man not get
everything completed that night and may not do things
exactly the way the regular leader did them. Encourage your
child to be flexible.
- Do not be critical of the leader or director in front of
your child. Resolve misunderstandings by humbly approaching
the leader or director. Make sure you are in control of
yourself before you approach a leader or director.
- Spend 10-15 minutes each day working with
your child on the handbook material rather than cramming the
day of Awana. You will be amazed at the
results.
- Invite your child’s leader and/or director to your home.
Use the time to meet him/her and better understand Awana.
Leaders and director are concerned about your child’s
spiritual well being.
Behavior Guidelines Back
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Children are expected to be obedient and cooperative during
Awana. We realize they are children. We will use occasional
behavior problems as opportunities to teach them about sin,
salvation and their responsibility to obey God's commands.
However, if a director or the commander determines that the
child is defiant and refuses to cooperate (rebellion in Biblical
terms). Or is intentionally harming other clubbers, the parent
will be notified and must come and pick the child up. Upon
returning to club the next week, the child and parent must meet
with the director or commander and the child must approach those
he/she sinned against and ask to be forgiven.
Note that we want your children to come to Awana. Even if you
or the schools consider your child to be a "behavior problem,"
we want the child to come. God has given us the answers to all
of these problems in his Word, the Bible. The best place for a
family experiencing this problem is at Calvary Bible Church. The
children can participate in the activities and the Bible
training and the Awana and youth group programs and the adults
can study Biblical principles in the adult Bible study. In
addition, there are other resources available for you to help
you learn God's pattern for the family. See the Awana commander
if you would like additional information. We want to work with
you and your family to resolve these difficulties.
Dress Code Back
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Dress is casual but modest. The purpose of the dress code is
to protect knees during game time and assure modesty. Dress for
Cubbies and Sparks is long pants/slacks, shoes, shirt with
sleeves, and uniform vest. Dress for Chums, Guards, pals and
Pioneers is long pants/slacks, shoes and uniform shirt. For
girls wearing skirts, please wear pants underneath. Tennis shoes
are highly recommended.
Special Note for Picking up Clubbers Back
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At the end of the Awana club meetings, clubbers will remain
in their classrooms until a person who is responsible for them
arrives at the room entrance. This person would typically be a
parent, the person who brought them to club or an older sibling.
Competition - Winning and Losing Back
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In Awana at Calvary Bible Church, both team and individual
competition are encouraged. Individuals and teams that put forth
the effort necessary to win these competitions will receive the
appropriate awards. The Bible teaches that the rewards that
Christians receive in heaven are based on their efforts to serve
and obey God while in this world. Note that salvation is not
based on our efforts. It is a free gift from God that we accept
by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible encourages Christians to
"lay up treasures in heaven" rather than on earth (Matthew
6:20).
It is the goal of the CBC Awana leadership to train young
people in the say way so that they understand the level of
effort that God requires of them.
Procedures for Bad Weather Back
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In the event of bad weather, the club director and leaders
will make every attempt to notify the clubbers. If you are
unsure as whether there is club due to bad weather, all your
child's director or call the church at 734 434-4044. |