Kao parent information leaflet

Parent’s Information

26th – 28th July 2013

Travel Information We have a great new venue for KAO this year, and whilst some of you will happily rely on your Satnav to get you there, others may prefer to have some directions in advance. So this page is for you!

(Directions taken from St Mark’s website, so please don’t blame me if you get lost!!)

St Mark’s College, Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JD By road from South & East Essex From Colchester and Braintree via A120, or from Chelmsford via A130, to Dunmow Then follow B184 through Thaxted to Saffron Walden. Immediately on entering Saffron Walden, turn left at the mini-roundabout, at the Lord Butler Leisure Centre on the left, into Peaslands Road for half a mile. Continue straight across the crossroads into Borough Lane, turn left at the first miniroundabout, and immediately take the right hand exit at the second, following sign for Audley End. Cross zebra-crossing and pass the Saffron Walden County High School on the left, and then take the second left at the sign for College of St. Mark through Audley End Village. At fork, bear left towards Abbey Barn – do not continue straight towards St Mark’s reception.

By road via M11 from the South Exit M11 at Junction 8 and take A120, then B1383 following brown tourist signs for Audley End House.

After leaving Newport, continue northwards for a further mile. Do not turn right at the round-about, but turn right further on at the brown tourist sign “Audley End House – all traffic” – after the “The Fighting Cocks” pub. Continue along Wendon Road to T junction. Turn left onto Audley End Road and then next left at the sign for College of St. Mark through Audley End Village. At fork, bear left towards Abbey Barn – do not continue straight towards St Mark’s reception.

From South/Essex

Alternatively: Exit M11 at Junction 9a and follow brown tourist signs for Audley End House, through Great Chesterford and Littlebury (B1383). About 1 mile after Littlebury, turn left at the sign for Audley End House, pass the main entrance to the House, then turn right at the sign for College of St. Mark.

St Mark’s College Abbey Barn parking area

From M11 South

St Mark’s College

St Mark’s College Abbey Barn parking area

Staff

Registration Area Boys

Boys

Girls

Boys

Staff

Girls

Girls

Girls

Arrival and Departure Arrival Registration will take place from 6:00pm, with the opening session starting at 7:00pm.

Please ensure that your child has had a meal before arrival, as we will not be having an evening meal at KAO on Friday.

On arrival, follow directions to the Abbey Barn. A member of the KAO team will meet you and show you to the registration area where you will need to have your child’s medical consent form and any medication ready to pass to our First Aider. A member of the KAO team will then show your child to their room. As in previous years we ask parents not to go into the children’s rooms.

Departure This year we will be holding a final celebration at 3:15pm to which parents and family members are invited. Members of the KAO team will be on hand to greet you, from 3:00pm. As with arrival, parking will be at the Abbey Barn.

Emergency Contact Details In the event of an emergency please phone: St Mark’s College Office – Sam La Roche (Operations Supervisor) Tel: 01799 522006 Captain Graham Slader (Divisional Children’s Officer) Tel: 07717 580500 If you are unable to contact us at St Mark’s, please phone: Major Jacquie Hanover (Divisional Director for Evangelism) Tel: 07889 756571

KAO Staff Team Graham Slader Paul Waldron Sue Farrar Carla Stevens Chris Hull Della Chubb Adam Rowland Ollie Goldsmith Peter Haskew Fiona Gaudion Celia Lunn

Guests

DHQ (Event Director & Child Protection Officer) Wickford (Asst. Director & Programme Co-ordinator) Chelmsford (Medical Officer) Chelmsford Chelmsford Chelmsford Clacton Romford Romford Wickford Newark (formerly Leigh on Sea)

(correct at time of print)

We are pleased that the following people will be visiting us during the weekend: Andrea Harrison Children’s Ministries Unit – THQ Carl Jobson International Development – THQ Major Jacquie Hanover Divisional Director for Evangelism – DHQ Majors Norman & Margaret Ord Divisional Leaders - DHQ

Practical Information Medication should be kept separate and handed to our Medical Officer at registration together with dosage instructions.

If you need an inhaler for asthma - you will need to bring two with you. One for yourself and one for our first aider. If only one is brought, this will have to be handed to the first aider.

Children should practise putting on sun cream, as KAO staff are not able to administer this.

If your child uses deodorant/ body spray, please bring a roll-on alternative as ‘spray wars’ in past years have resulted in sore eyes/breathing difficulties etc.

Stud earrings may be worn, but you may be asked to cover them with plasters during some of the activities, so it would be advisable to leave all jewellery at home.

Please ensure that younger children (especially those who are away from home on their own for the first time) are able to shower and dry themselves without assistance.

Please remember to pack your child’s box. If you are able to count the contents prior to KAO and write the amount on the name label that would be very helpful. We will be making a presentation of the total amount raised to Carl from International Development on Sunday.

Code of Conduct We are so pleased that your child is coming to KAO this year, and we want them to have an amazing time as they make new friends and enjoy the programme of games, craft, worship and more!

This Code of Conduct has been put together so that all children and staff can take responsibility for their behaviour during KAO, with the understanding and support of the parents. Please take time before KAO to share this with your child so that they are aware of what is expected. A copy is attached to the medical consent form which we ask both you and your child to sign.

We ask all children:  To treat everyone involved in the event with respect at all times regardless of age, race, ability or gender  To follow the request that no mobile telephones, laptops or other electronic equipment should be brought to KAO.  To show respect for St Mark’s College property by keeping rooms clean and tidy, not eating food in bedrooms, using litter bins provided and reporting any damage to the staff.  To abide by the instructions given regarding out-of-bounds areas.  Not to publish any photos taken at KAO (not every parent will have given permission for their child’s photo to be taken).  Never to use equipment or an activity area unless a member of staff is present.

Please understand the following:  If a young person is posing a danger to themselves or others by their behaviour (including bullying), arrangements will be made for them to go home. KAO adopts the Safe & Sound Counter Bullying Policy  For the sake of the whole group we ask all young people not to behave in a way or to bring material that is inappropriate to the age of the young people at KAO (ages 7-12 years).

Staff are also asked to sign a code of conduct for the event. For your knowledge, this includes an agreement that:  They will work according to Safe & Sound and Safe from Home policies at all times  There will always be at least two adults with a group of young people  They will not make personal social contact with the young person outside the context of the activities  Should any staff member wish to keep in contact with a young person after KAO it will be with parent’s knowledge and consent, and through the DHQ office.

Kit List Some of the activities and games may result in the children getting wet or messy, so please don’t pack their best clothes! We do hope that the weather will be fine but ask that you keep an eye on the forecast and pack accordingly. All bedding is provided by St Mark’s College. Please do not send your children with electronic items such as phones and games.

Food is not allowed in the bedrooms, so there is no Tuck Shop at KAO this year. However, each child is invited to bring something to share for an organised ‘midnight feast’ and the ‘superhero party’. We would like your child to get some sleep following the feast and party, so please could we ask you to pack things like savoury snacks, biscuits or crisps rather than lots of sweets! (No nut products please) Each child will receive a water bottle on arrival at KAO that they can fill up with squash or water during the day, and keep when they go home, so please do not send children with fizzy drinks.

Packed! Items T-Shirts (including one that can get wet/messy) Long sleeved shirts Jumper or fleece Shorts Long trousers/ jeans Costume for “Superhero Party” Socks Underwear Pyjamas Swimming costume/trunks – we are not swimming but for wet/messy challenges!

Jacket or coat (waterproof if possible) Trainers or suitable outdoor footwear Towel x 2 A bag for dirty / wet clothes Tissues or handkerchiefs Wash bag containing - soap in a box/shower gel/shampoo/ flannel/toothbrush /toothpaste Sun hat and sun cream just in case! – children must be able to apply themselves Insect repellent in case of midges at dusk Pens, pencils, felt tips or crayons in pencil case Torch & spare batteries box (with contents counted it possible) Food contribution for “Midnight Feast” & “Superhero Party” packed separately to hand in at registration (savoury snacks/biscuits/crisps/etc.)

Younger children may find it helpful to bring a cuddly toy for bedtime Completed Medical Consent Form Left behind! Please do not bring the following Mobile phones, iPads, tablets, etc.

Portable game consoles (DS, etc.) iPods, MP3 players, etc.

Sweets, food containing nuts, and fizzy drinks