FAQ Page - Important Information for Parents and Guardians

Is my child ready for ROAR! VBS? If your child has never been to Apostles VBS, here are some things you can talk about to help your child’s butterflies. When your child arrives at Apostles VBS, they will be assigned to a group: up to 5 members in each preschool group and 5 or 6 members in each elementary group.  Each preschool and elementary group will have a leader who will care and guide the children to the various stations. 

There will be a lot of people at Apostles ROAR! VBS.  We typically have 75 to 100 kids K-5th grade and up to 50 preschoolers.  Your child will be in the large group at the Opening Celebration and the Closing Send-Off.  Kids get really excited at VBS, so during the Opening and Closing, expect more loud noises from the children around them to the music in front of them. After the Opening, crews will rotate through various stations such as snacks, games, and Bible lesson. At Apostles VBS, your child will also participate in a cool mission offering to Safe Families of Raleigh, to help make a difference in our community!

Will my child get to be with his/her friends?  When you register your child, there is a section where you can list certain children you would like your child to be with.  We will definitely ensure that children are paired with an invited friend!  If you register before May 31, we will do everything we can to grant your requests.  However, if you register in June, we can’t guarantee every child will get to be with who they want to be, but we will do our best.  The earlier you register, the better the chance your child gets to be with who they want to be. 

Who will my child be “crew-ed” with? In ROAR! VBS, our children are placed in groups called “Crews”.  Each crew will be assigned a number.  In our preschool crews, your child will be in a crew with 3-year-old, 4-year-old and Kindergarten age children.  Children who have never gone to kindergarten will be in a preschool crew. Elementary age children will be placed in crews with four or five other children of varying ages, 1^st through 5^th grade.

What if my preschool age child is not a regular attender at the Church of the Apostles?  Younger children are sometimes not ready for VBS, particularly in a new place with people they do not know, and they can have a rough time transitioning.  We have found that 3 and 4-year-old children connect more confidently in unfamiliar places when a parent (or guardian/caregiver) is nearby.  This makes the week run smoothly for our children as well as our volunteer staff.  Having a familiar person nearby is a tremendous help to our preschool crew leaders so they can focus on their crew.

 With this in mind, we ask that one parent (or guardian/caregiver/grandparent) of our 3 and 4-year-old preschoolers who do not regularly attend Church of the Apostles, participate as a VBS volunteer!

*PLEASE NOTE:  Most children settle down after they transition into their crew and are having fun with the other children.  However, if your child continues to cry for 10-15 minutes, the crew leader will notify a director or director assistant and the director will contact the parent/guardian or caregiver.

Where do I drop off my child at the beginning of the VBS day?

Your child’s crew assignment (crew number) will be emailed to you before VBS begins. Numbered crew signs will be posted throughout the sanctuary to let you know where your child's crew will gather.

On Sunday evening, preschool children are taken to meet their crew leader in the Indoor Playground area, located on the left as you enter the front door of the sanctuary Main Lobby. 

On Monday through Thursday morning, preschool children are to be taken directly to their crew leader at the front of the sanctuary.

On all five days, the elementary children will be taken to the sanctuary to meet their crew leader.

How will I pick up my child at the end of the VBS day?  Preschool children will be picked up in the Indoor Playground area, to the left as you enter the front door of the Main lobby.  Elementary age children are picked up in the sanctuary at the end of the Closing session.  Check in with your child’s crew leader before leaving with your child.

What if I need to add someone on the pick-up list?  You will need to send a signed note with your child or personally notify the volunteer at the Registration Desk during VBS week where you can fill out a permission form. 

What if I need to pick up my child early or bring them late? We understand busy schedules.  You will just need to visit the person at our Information Desk, and we will be able to locate your child or their crew. The Information Desk will be set up in the Apostles Main lobby, just outside the sanctuary. 

What if my child can’t come all week?  No problem!  Even if your child can only come to 1 day, that’s okay! 

I have a child who is too old to participate.  Can they help in any way? Absolutely!  Kids 6th grade and up make great volunteers.  Just sign up your older child as a volunteer.  But we also like to encourage you as a parent to volunteer.  VBS is a great opportunity for families to serve and worship together.  

If you still have questions, please feel free to contact Stacey Wiley at Stacey@apostles-raleigh.org.