Welcome to Mothers of Preschoolers, or as it is affectionately called, MOPS. MOPS is a Christian-based program designed for mothers of preschoolers, infant through kindergarten. The goal of MOPS is to nurture all mothers of preschoolers, to reach out with encouragement, support, and love.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment
is possible any time of the year, as long as space is available. When our program is operating at capacity, a
waiting list is established for interested families.
Space
is made available by openings in the classes of our children’s ministry,
MOPPETS. When openings occur in the
MOPPETS classes, the MOPPETS chairperson will use her judgment to place
families with children of the appropriate age from the waiting list. Please ask for the waiting list policy if
further clarification is needed.
MEETING STRUCTURE
Children
are dropped off at the east wing, and mothers meet in the west wing. Moms have social time, snack, announcements,
a brief prayer and a presentation on a special topic which has been chosen to
teach and encourage mothers. Each
meeting focuses on a different aspect of family life, marriage, childcare, or
self-development. Small discussion
groups assemble to discuss the presented topic.
Periodically, moms will also enjoy making a simple craft during
discussion time.
ARRIVAL OF CHILDREN
When
you and your child arrive at Grace Lutheran, go to the east wing (classroom
end) of the church, locate your child’s nametag on the welcome table and attach
it to the back of your child’s clothing.
The double doors by the welcome table will be closed if you arrive
before 9am. Our teachers use this time
to prepare for the morning and to join in prayer. Please respect this special time by waiting
until someone comes to open the doors.
You are then welcome to take your children to their designated classrooms.
PARKING
Please
avoid using the visitor parking places at either side of the east
entrance. Grace has other business to
conduct during the day and it is important that the visitor spots be left open,
even during the off-weeks.
THE LIBRARY
The
library is located in the east wing, also known as the children’s wing. The library is the 2nd door on the
right, past the nursery. You are welcome
to check out materials.
MOPS SWAP SHOP
There
is a special section of our blog called SWAP
SHOP. This is where MOPS moms may
place free advertisements. This is for
items you would like to sell, find, or trade.
SWAP SHOP cannot be used for
the solicitation of businesses or general invitations to home sales parties.
CELL PHONES
As
a courtesy to all mothers in the group, please be sure to turn off your cell
phone or set it to vibrate during our meetings.
If you feel you must make or accept calls during our meetings, please
leave the meeting area while speaking on the phone.
Thank
you for your cooperation! MOPS is a
wonderful program, and we want everyone to have an enjoyable time to celebrate
being a MOM!
SOLICITATION DURING MOPS
MEETINGS
It
is not permitted to use MOPS as a forum to aggressively promote products or
services. This does not preclude the
distribution of invitations to parties, discussion of businesses or products
among friends, or arranging activities on non-meeting days. There will be a table set aside at meetings
to place literature. MOPS meetings
should focus on appropriate topics and remain a pleasant place to be. It is the responsibility of the steering
committee to select appropriate topics and to inform outside speakers of our
no-solicitation policy. Likewise,
mothers must not aggressively promote their products or services during
meetings.
VOLUNTEERING FOR MOPPETS
MOPPETS
is a wonderful children’s program! It is
important that our moms get a first-hand look at the program. There are also days where situations may leave
us short of helpers. Therefore, MOPS
moms are expected to volunteer at least one morning in our MOPPETS
program. If you cannot assist on the day
that will be assigned to you, it is your responsibility to find another MOPS
mom to trade days with you. If you
cannot find a substitute on your own, please contact the MOPPETS chairperson to
let her know. Moms new to MOPS will be
assigned a date in the latter half of the year so that they may become familiar
with the MOPS program.
MOPS MEMBER ABSENCES
When
repeated absences are noted, it is only fair to allow other mothers and
children who are on the waiting list a spot in the MOPS/MOPPETS program to fill
the empty slots in the children’s ministry.
A mother who misses three consecutive MOPS meetings will be contacted by
the coordinator to determine if she is still interested in attending MOPS. If so, but she misses two more consecutive
MOPS meetings, she and her child will be asked to resign from the MOPS/MOPPETS
rosters. Special consideration is made
for mothers in trying circumstances.
Women who leave their children and do not attend the meetings will also
be dismissed from the program.
PREPARING YOUR CHILDREN
Please
label all children’s
belongings. Dress children
appropriately, since older children go out to the playground as weather
permits. Children should come to MOPPETS
in closed-toe shoes only. No sandals,
please. If your child is starting to
potty train, please discuss this with the teacher so they will be better able
to respond to the child’s needs.
For
children in the nursery, a sign-in sheet is provided for you to inform teachers
about your child’s special needs. Let them
know if your child is breast- or bottle-fed, when they are likely to be hungry
again, and what snacks your child may or may not have. If your child is bottle-fed, please provide
enough formula/milk for 2 hours. Also,
leave a labeled diaper bag with the child.
The bag should include diapers, wipes and labeled bottles or sippy cups.
SNACKS
MOPS
members are assigned to discussion groups. On designated days, these groups will
bring brunch items for moms and snacks or supplies for the MOPPETS
program. This will also be your day to
help clean up after the meeting. On end-of-semester
brunch days, ALL moms bring food.
DUES AND FEES
Dues
and fees are paid by semester and are due at the first MOPS meeting each
semester.
Dues
for fall semester are as follows:
MOPPETS
fee: $45 for 1st child, $40 for 2nd child, additional
children are free
MOPS
dues: $45 per mom
MOPS
to MOM Connection fee (International fee): $25
Dues
for spring semester are as follows:
MOPPETS
fee: $45 for 1st child, $40 for 2nd child, additional
children are free
MOPS
dues: $45 per mom
We
are blessed that Grace Lutheran Church sponsors our MOPS and MOPPETS programs. During the “off-weeks” when only the children
meet, moms are encouraged to donate $1.00 per child. The MOPPETS fees and off-week donations
defray the costs of operating the MOPPETS program. The children will meet approximately 28 times
this year, 13 of them being off-weeks.
$13.00 total in off-week
donations
+ $90.00
MOPPETS fee ($45.00 each semester)
____________________________
$103.00 / 28 times a year = $3.68
for 2 hours of loving childcare!
The
$45 MOPS dues are used to purchase refreshments and craft supplies and to cover
other administrative costs associated with the program. A woman joining MOPS after the semester has
begun can pay a prorated fee based on the month in which she joins MOPS.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships
are available to moms who have financial limitations. A limited number of partial scholarships are
available each year. MOPS expects moms
to pay at least 50% of their MOPS fees.
If you cannot pay 50%, please speak to our finance chairperson. If you would like to apply for a scholarship,
an application must be completed and submitted to the finance chairperson as
soon as possible before the first MOPS meeting.
All information will remain confidential among the scholarship
committee. Individuals will be notified
prior to their first meeting if they are recipients.
FUNDRAISING
Many
semesters, MOPS expenditures actually exceed the $45 dues collected. For that reason, our MOPS group may do at
least one fundraiser per year. As a
member, you will be asked to participate in these fundraisers. Fundraisers are not, however, a requirement.
SNOW POLICY
If
the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) is closed or delayed due
to inclement weather, then our MOPS meeting and childcare will also be
cancelled for that day. School
closings/delays are announced on radio stations WWWY (105), WKKG-WCSI (101.5)
and WRZQ (107.3). There will not be a specific announcement regarding MOPS.
VISITORS TO MOPS
MOPS
may occasionally host a Visitor Day for moms who would like to visit a MOPS
meeting to help them decide if they would like to join. The event would be advertised, and visitors
can register with Grace Lutheran so that childcare in the MOPPETS program can
be arranged. Alternatively, mothers may
attend one non-Visitor Day meeting.
Childcare cannot be made available for visitors on non-Visitor Day days,
however. Registration fees are not
assessed for one-day visitors.
MOTHERS WHO OFFER
CHILDCARE IN THEIR HOMES
Mothers
who offer childcare in their homes for children other than their own may not
bring the extra children and enroll them in the MOPPETS program. Please recognize and understand that space is
limited in the children’s ministry.
MOPPETS BABY POLICY
Babies
that are 3 months of age or more are to be taken to MOPPETS. We all love our babies, but they can be very
distracting both to the mother and others. The ladies who work in MOPPETS love your child
and will give your child the best care they can. We are VERY fortunate to have MOPPETS, as most
MOPS groups do not. Please take
advantage of the resource MOPPETS provides and enjoy your time at MOPS! If any problem should arise with your child,
Lisa Brunni (director of MOPPETS) will bring him or her to you.
