Grace Bible Church of Port Orchard Washington

Grace Bible Church AWANA Clubs

Once on the calendar page for any group, you can change the category and then click "go" to change to that category...
Click here for the main AWANA events calendar

Cubbies – Ages 4 & 5 - Events Calendar

Sparks – Grades Kindergarten though 2nd - Events Calendar

T&T Boy's Club – Grades 3rd through 6th - Events Calendar

T&T Girls's Club – Grades 3rd through 6th - Events Calendar

Trek – Grades 7th and 8th - Events Calendar

High School - Grades 9th through 12th - Events Calendar

Activity Permission Slip – All Grades

Awana Parents Handbook

WELCOME TO GRACE BIBLE CHURCH AWANA CLUB

It is our privilege to have your child attend. We sincerely desire this experience to be a fun time of learning and growth for your child.

The word AWANA is an acronym derived from the words Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. This comes from Scripture in II Timothy 2:15 which states, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Each weekly club meeting is composed of three main elements. Your child will enjoy the active, but safe AWANA games in Game Time. These are uniquely created around the AWANA game circle. During Handbook Time, a trained adult leader works with a small group of clubbers, assisting them in progressing through their club handbooks. Council Time is a time of singing, sharing together, and listening to Bible stories and devotional messages prepared and presented by exemplary speakers.

You have a critical part in all of this. In order for your child to get the most out of the AWANA program, your partnership with us is essential. Please support your child's interest in the program by helping with memorization and encouraging enthusiasm about AWANA.

Through this website, we hope to inform you of various activities, events, and policies of AWANA.

You have an open invitation to visit our club any time and please, feel free to call the AWANA Commander or your child's club director if you have any questions.

Contents:

AWANA Dinners
Attendance
Winter Weather
Club rules and discipline
What's the cost?
Clubber handbooks
AWARDS
Events
AWANA Scholarship Camp

AWANA Dinners

New this Club Year. At 5:30 PM you can come and enjoy a wonderful meal with your family before AWANA. The cost is $2.00 per adult and $1.00 per child!

ATTENDANCE

CUBBIES, SPARKS AND T&T BOYS AND GIRLS

AWANA Club Meetings for Cubbies (4-5 year olds), Sparks (Kindergarten through 2nd grade) and T&T Boys & Girls (3rd through 6th grade) are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Please arrive on time, but not before 6:15 PM unless you were attending the AWANA dinner.

TREK/JUNIOR HIGH

(7th & 8th grade) are held on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

JOURNEY/SENIOR HIGH

(9th Grade through 12th grade) clubs are held on Thursday evening from 7:00 ~ 8:30 PM with an optional hang out time from 8:30 ~ 9:00 PM afterwards.

The club year is divided into quarters for the purpose of attendance awards. Each younger clubber can earn one award each quarter if no more than one night is missed during that quarter. The 1st quarter ends in November, the 2nd quarter ends in January, the 3rd quarter ends in March, and the 4th quarter ends in May.

The younger clubbers can also receive awards for Sunday School attendance. The club year is divided in half for this award, and each clubber can earn one award each half if they have not missed Sunday School more than three times during the half.

WINTER WEATHER

When the cold and snow comes, and the Port Orchard schools are closed due to bad weather, there will be no AWANA that night. If you are in doubt as to whether AWANA will meet, call your club director or check the Calendar - Click here to go to the AWANA Calendar page

CLUB RULES AND DISCIPLINE

To insure a safe and orderly club meeting, the following rules have been established:

Clubbers are to remain with their leaders at all times.
Clubbers are not to bring valuable belongings to club. If your daughter brings a purse, encourage her to not leave it unattended.
Gum chewing and eating candy are not allowed without permission (younger clubbers).
Clubbers will walk through hallways and common areas at all times.
Climbing on furniture and/or pews is not allowed.
As a matter of common courtesy, clubbers will show respect for all adult staff and for one another.
With the exception of Cubbies, in the event a clubber is consistently misbehaving, disrespectful, or disruptive, the "3-count" will be administered. (See the section on the 3-count)

You can help us to maintain a safe and orderly program by doing the following:

Instruct your child to check-in at their own club's secretary table.
Cubbies will not be allowed to leave their area without a parent.
Drive carefully in the parking lot as you come and go each week. There are up to 200 children loading and unloading for AWANA.

Thank you for your help in these matters. We believe that together, we can provide a quality program for your child where learning and growing will be fun and rewarding.

THE "3-COUNT"

(For Sparks, T & T)

The Leader gives the clubber "one" for disruptive behavior.
The Leader gives the clubber "two" if behavior continues. The Club Director intervenes to allow the clubber an opportunity to explain his or her actions and to remind the clubber of the consequences of receiving a "three." The clubber is taken to the "Guidance Center," where he or she spends the remainder of the club meeting. In the Guidance Center, he or she receives individual attention from the Commander, working together on the clubber's next handbook section.
In the event a clubber receives a "three" for continued misbehavior in the Guidance Center, his or her parents will be called and asked to pick up their son or daughter immediately. If the parent cannot be reached, the Club Director will speak with them after club or by telephone as soon as possible.
Any clubber dismissed from club with a "3-count" will not be allowed to return to club until the second meeting after the dismissal.
Any clubber dismissed from club with a second "3-count" will not be allowed to return to club until the third meeting after the dismissal.
Any clubber with a third infraction will be dismissed for the remainder of the club year.

WHAT'S THE COST?

CLUB DUES:

$25 per year - 1st child
$20 per year - 2nd child
$60 for family of three or more (Sorry, no refunds)

Note: High School (Journey) club members do not pay yearly dues, but they do have to pay the costs associated with any handbooks they work in.

--OR--

$1.00 paid each week at check-in (There are 29 club meetings) Club dues help to provide the funds we need for awards, prizes and incentives for your child.

HANDBOOKS:

Cubbies, Sparks, T & T & TREK (Jr. High) $8.50 per book
$10.00 for Journey/High School book

UNIFORMS:

Cubbie Vest $ 9.00
Sparks Vest $12.00
T&T Polo Shirt $20.00
T&T T-shirt $14.00
TREK T-shirt $15.00

Uniforms are essential to the AWANA Club and are to be worn each week. A neat, clean uniform, with awards properly displayed, will make clubbers feel sharp and part of the group. Used uniforms are occasionally available at a discounted price. Lost handbooks and awards will need to be purchased again by clubbers.

CLUBBER HANDBOOKS

The handbook is a vital tool for your child's success in AWANA. It helps the clubber to learn about God and reinforces positive moral standards.

As you work with your child in his or her handbook, keep these things in mind:

Clubbers must have their handbooks at club to pass sections.
Sections are to be said to an AWANA leader. Only two helps are permitted to pass a section.
We desire to have clubbers come prepared with sections memorized each week. This will take more than club time alone. We suggest they spend 10-15 minutes each day to work on their handbook.
Do your best to explain the meaning of each verse. You will find that they memorize more quickly if they understand what they are memorizing. If you are unsure or want to confirm the meaning of anything in the handbook, please contact your child's leader or club director. They want to help!
Parents of Cubbies and Sparks must initial the sections they feel their children are ready to recite to their AWANA listener. T&T Girls Clubbers receive extra points for their team for parent initials.
Our club places no limit on the number of sections said per night provided the sections are recited quickly and accurately. Remember only 2 helps per section--not per verse. It takes an average of 2-3 sections a night to complete the handbook in the AWANA year.

AWARDS

CUBBIES:

FIRST BOOK AWARD RIBBON: Given upon completion of Hopper Book
SECOND BOOK AWARD RIBBON: Given upon completion of Jumper Book

SPARKS:

FIRST BOOK AWARD RIBBON: Given upon completion of Skipper Book
SECOND BOOK AWARD RIBBON: Given upon completion of Hiker Book
SPARKY PLAQUE: Given upon completion of Climber Book

CLUBBER OF THE MONTH

Each club chooses a few outstanding clubbers once a month for demonstrating overall good attitude, attendance, memory work, sportsmanship, etc. They represent the elite of each club, and we wish to recognize their efforts in glorifying God by being a wonderful example of what an AWANA clubber should be.

Truth & Training (Boys & Girls Club):

FIRST BOOK AWARD RIBBON
SECOND BOOK "EXCELLENCE" AWARD
THIRD BOOK AWARD
FOURTH BOOK "TIMOTHY" AWARD

TREK (Junior High):

FIRST TREK BOOK "MILESTONE" AWARD
SECOND TREK BOOK - Award depends on handbooks completed during Girls or Boys Club (T & T). If all four Girls or Boys Club (T & T) handbooks were completed plus the two TREK handbooks, the "Meritorious" Award will be given. If just the two TREK handbooks were completed, the "Excellence" Award will be given.

JOURNEY (High School):

FIRST, SECOND, THIRD & FOURTH BOOK ACHIEVEMENT PINS: A pin for progress! High schoolers achieve these distinguished pins upon completion of each year's Faith Foundations, Main Study and an Elective.
The Citation award: This is AWANA's highest award. It is given upon completion of all 10 books since Boys or Girls Club. In addition to completing the handbook requirements, clubbers must demonstrate a cooperative attitude and exemplary conduct in the AWANA program. Clubbers are eligible for these awards only on the leaders recommendation.

WHAT IS JOURNEY?

JOURNEY is the varsity "high school" component of the AWANA achievement program. Journey Bible studies are designed to help high schoolers mature in their walk with the Lord. If they are serious about becoming all the Lord wants them to be, He promises to give them everything they need to be fit for the Master's use.

Events

THE AWANA GRAND PRIX! (for all)

Shape that pine block just so; balance those wheels and axles! Then run for the finish line! The AWANA Grand Prix is a major event in our club each year with rating, awards for design and skill in each club, food and fun! Plan to race in the Grand Prix!

AWANA GAMES

The annual AWANA Games is a very exciting highlight of the club year. Boys and Girls, young ladies and gentlemen in grades 3 through 12 from AWANA clubs in Western Washington compete with one another in this thrilling Saturday event.

SPARKS-A-RAMA

SPARKS-A-RAMA is similar to the Games, but designed for the younger children, kindergarten through 2nd grade. No less exciting though, it is a day of great competition with new friends.

AWANA SCHOLARSHIP CAMP

Puget Sound Camp

AWANA Scholarship Camp is a weeklong camping experience your child will never forget. They make new friends from other AWANA clubs during a week packed with fun, learning and challenge. Encourage them to be a part of this special time.

ELIGIBILITY:

AGE - Entering the sixth grade (or higher) in the fall of 2008.
AWANA ACHIEVEMENT: Complete two handbooks; earn "Excellence" award this year or previously. Each year, thereafter, clubbers must complete one book to be eligible to attend.

Parent’s Handbook
2007-2008
Club Year