Welcome to the Nursery.

On Sundays, the Nursery at St. Andrew the Apostle offers parents the chance to attend Mass without the distractions that little children can create. Parents who use our Nursery appreciate the opportunity to focus on the liturgy, while knowing that their children are being cared for. This childcare facility is located west of the St. Andrew church building.

Children ages 1-5 are welcome in the Sunday Nursery. The Nursery is open on Sunday mornings -- from September 1 through May 31 -- for the 8:30 and 10:15 AM Masses. It is open on Sundays -- from June 1 through August 31 – for the 9:00 AM Mass only. Generally, we can accommodate a maximum of 10-12 children in the Nursery at one time. Therefore, there may be certain Mass times during which we cannot take any additional little ones.

Check-In

When parents arrive to check in their child for the Nursery, they are welcomed by a staff person or volunteer-parent. They are asked to put their child’s name on a sign-in sheet. And they are also asked leave their name(s) and a cell phone number, just in case the Nursery staff might need to make contact because their child needs them. Therefore, parents with children in the Nursery, on Sundays, should keep their cell phones on vibrate mode when they go to Mass.

Check-Out

When parents return to the Nursery, after Mass, for check-out, please be patient. The staff and volunteers present will check out children one by one in a safe and proper manner -- and they will make sure that parents initial a sign-out form, receive all of their child’s belongings, and hear comments about how their child did.

The St. Andrew’s Sunday Nursery is a co-op! Those parents who use it should plan to volunteer to work in the Nursery on one Sunday every 4-6 weeks. A volunteer sign-in sheet is always available on the front counter. Volunteer teenagers, and parents without Nursery children, are also asked to volunteer.

Nursery Operation Guidelines - Sunday Mornings  St. Andrew the Apostle Parish

Nursery workers should follow these guidelines on Sunday mornings:

• Arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the first Mass during which there will be Nursery coverage
  • unlock the main Nursery door
  • set up the children’s play areas/environment as needed
  • check the air-conditioning or heat setting
  • put out on front counter: parent-and-child “sign in” sheets; nametags; “volunteer sign-up” forms; a bottle of hand sanitizer; and pens
• There must be at least two qualified, adult staff members and/or volunteers present in order to check children in to the Nursery at any given time (generally, the Nursery can accommodate a maximum of 10-12 children – ages 1-5 -- at one time)
• Put a nametag on to identify yourself as Nursery worker
• As parents and kids arrive, see that each parent signs in properly on a “sign in” sheet and leaves a cell phone number at which they can be reached (by phone-vibrate mode) while they are at Mass
• Place a nametag on each little child who enters the Nursery – also tag their bags, cups, bottles, and/or other belongings
• If a child becomes inconsolable or needs her/his parent for some reason, call the parent(s) on their cell phone
• If weather allows for play in the outside area of the Nursery, there must be at least one adult present – with the children -- outside at all times
• When check-out time arrives – ensure that each child is checked out of the Nursery in a safe, orderly, and proper manner
  • ask parents to be patient, as they arrive at the door, if necessary
  • check one child out at a time
  • the parent(s) of each child should initial a sign-out of their child(ren)
  • give parents all of their child’s belongings
  • share comments, as needed/desired, about how their child(ren) did
  • show each parent a Volunteer Sign-Up Form; ask each to volunteer to help during a future Mass time, if they have not yet done so
• After the last Mass time on each Sunday – please complete the following “clean up” steps:
  • pick up toys and put them away
  • organize “sign-in” sheets and “volunteer sign-up” forms on the front counter
  • cleanse/wipe off various surfaces with wet-wipes
  • turn off the A-C or heat
  • lock the door to the outside play area
  • turn off all Nursery lights
  • lock the main door as you leave (press lock button on the door handle on inside of the main Nursery door)

For more information, please contact the Nursery Coordinator. Adrianna.