Costume Party & Movie Night [Moved Indoors]

To help us avoid waking up with the sniffles tomorrow morning, we’re moving our After Hours Movie Night into the Gym. There will be regular Youth Night at 7pm and afterwards, we will make our way into the Gym for a movie (Monster’s Inc.).

Tonight, we will have popcorn, candy (all peanut-free), candy corn & pumpkins, cotton candy, soda, water and chips – all for free!

Dress up in your favorite costume and there will be a prize for the student who wears the funniest or most creative costume!

Hope to see you there & bring a friend!

Camp Parent Meetings

Tonight, we’re hosting a brief online Parent Information Meeting for those who would like to learn more before sending their student to summer camp. Below are the links and the parent meeting should be recorded and will be sent out for those unable to attend.

Jr. High Fuge Camp Zoom Link (7pm)
Password: FUGE

High School Student Life Camp Zoom Link (7:30pm)
Password: SLC

If you have specific questions or circumstances you’d like to discuss, please email us at fbcostudents@fbcofallon.org and we can answer there or arrange a time to talk on the phone!

Update for Youth Night

It seems we just can’t catch a break with the rain on Sunday nights!

Originally, we had a bonfire planned for our Jr. High students tonight after JHM. With the projected rain, we’ve decided to combine the after hours activity with the high school in the Gym.

JHM and High School Youth Night will continue to meet separately at 7pm for worship. At 8pm, students will come together in the Gym for glow-in-the-dark dodgeball, nine square and hang out time. Students will be dismissed at 9pm.

Thank you for your understanding and we cannot wait to see you tonight!

- First Students Team

Student Takeover [Tonight]

Student Takeover hasn’t ended yet! Tonight, our Swerve Students have put together a night that we cannot wait for! Please read the details as some things are slightly different from normal.

JHM (6th-8th Grade)

• 6-9pm in the Gym (use Gym entrance)

• WipeOut course, games and fall snacks

• Pumpkin arts & crafts

• Message from Mariano about overcoming obstacles

• Wear fall colors (orange, yellow, red)

High School (9th-12th Grade)

• 6pm-9pm at the campfire (see map below)

• Bring a lawn chair, bug spray and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty (a little muddy from the rain yesterday)

• Wear flannel or fall colors

• Hangout time – 9-square, cornhole, kickball, etc.

• Hotdogs, smores and fall snacks

• Student-led worship and messages

High School Campfire Area

As a reminder, there will be no Youth Night next Sunday, October 10 as we’ll be gone to our Fall Retreat!

Underground Weekend Location Change

It was announced this week that we are moving our Underground Retreat from two locations back to one location at Lake Sallateeska. The video above from Pastor Bryson explains the why behind this decision but here are the main details you need to know as a parent:

• 6th-12th Grade all together at Lake Sallateeska

• Registration of $125 has been extended to Wednesday, September 22

• Cost for retreat was the same so no partial refunds will be issued

• Website will be updated with new schedule and information this week

• Parent email for those who registered will be send out on September 23

We thank you for your patience and understand and pray this decision is helpful to you as a family! Details are still being updated on our website but you can still register your student and apply for a HelpGo Scholarship online.

Youth Wars (Today!!!)

Youth Wars is today and we are so excited!
Below is the information you’ll need to know for your student:

Registration/Check-in

If you pre-registered your student online, there will be a table for them to check-in at. If you didn’t, that’s okay! Students can check-in at the door so it’s not too late for your student to bring a friend! Parents do not have to check-in their student but are welcome to do so.

Due to the number of students we had pre-register, we’re opening registration earlier so you can drop off your student from 3:30-4:15pm at the back of the Main Entrance Parking Lot.

Schedule

3:30-4:15pm : Check-in (back Main Entrance Parking Lot by Maggie’s Meadow Playground)
4:15-6:00pm : Outdoor games and competitions
6:00pm – Dinner (Gym)
7:00pm – Worship (Worship Center)
9:00pm – Dismissal/Pick Up

Class Colors

12th Grade - White
11th Grade - Red
10th Grade - Blue
9th Grade - Green
8th Grade - Purple
7th Grade - Orange
6th Grade – Yellow

Misc. Notes

• Dinner will have moderate gluten free options but if your student has severe food allergies, you might want to send them/bring them a meal.

• If you need to pick up your student early, please make sure you let a First Student Staff member know.

• Students are welcome to arrive late if they need!

What To Expect Tomorrow At First Students

Hey, First Student Families!

We're excited to kickoff the new school year with your student tomorrow! We know these transition Sundays can be exciting but also a little confusing so take a moment to read through what's happening tomorrow and feel free to reply if you have any questions and someone from the First Students team will answer as soon as possible!

Starting on Sunday, August 8, students are officially recognized at FBCO for their new grade for the 21-22 school year. This means that students will move up to a new grade and meet their new Life Group leader.

For our 6th & 7th graders (21-22 school year), you will now begin meeting in the Gym instead of the KidsLife Area.

For those who graduated high school in 2021, there are two Young Adult Life Groups that meets at 9:40 in Rooms A351 and A364.

There will be free donuts, milk, orange juice and coffee for breakfast, as well as some fun ice breaker games and a Chick-fil-A gift card giveaway!

New First Student apparel will be available for sale tomorrow morning in the Main Entrance Lobby from 9:15-9:45am, 10:45-11:05am, and 11:50am-12:15pm. Apparel will also be available for sale before/after Youth Night!

Cash, card or check is accepted. Sizes are limited.

We are so excited that starting Sunday, August 8, our Youth Night will be at 7pm! That's right – JHM is moving from 5pm to 7pm! Students will continue to meet separate (High School in Worship Center, JHM in Gym) but will be one drop off, one pick up for families.

We are asking that ALL students check-in in the Main Entrance Lobby tomorrow night and that students arrive at 6:45pm in order to help get them through check-in and start on time.

This Youth Night will include worship, message, games and a Nintendo Switch giveaway! Invite a friend, you won't want to miss it!

Youth Wars is a one-day event where students come to be recharged and challenged spiritually as the new school year begins. The day is packed with team games (dress in your team colors!), dynamic worship, and guest speaker, Gerald Fadayomi.

There is no cost, but we ask that you RSVP online by Wednesday, September 8 to help us prepare teams & food.

Underground Wknd Registration Opens August 8!

Underground Wknd is our annual fall retreat and is often student’s favorite weekend of the year! The weekend is for 6th-12th graders and will be packed with community, games, worship, Bible study and spiritual renewal.

This year, we are taking our Jr. High (6th-8th grade) and High School (9th-12th grade) to separate locations – but the same weekend! Please see the Underground Parent Packet for additional details about location, schedule, packing list, etc.

Please check our website for the parent packet, registration link, HelpGo Scholarship and Time Away information.

Attached is a calendar of First Student Events for the 21-22 school year. 

If you have any questions, please REPLY and someone from the First Students Team will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for allowing us to serve your families this year!

Student Life Mission Sites

Hello, Student Life Parents!

We are just a few days away from camp and we are excited as we know that God is going to move and work in our student's lives!

Please take a moment to read ALL the content of this email as there are important details you need to know. We know you have received several emails/messages about camp and we appreciate your grace and patience these past few months.


PACKING LIST FOR CAMP

• Bible, pen and notebook

• Bedding and pillow

• Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, etc.)

• Towels and washcloths

• Money for lunch on Monday and Friday (approx. $20-$30)

• Sunscreen/Bug Spray

• Closed-toe shoes (required for mission sites)

• Water bottle for Mission Sites

• Spending money for Student Life Store (optional)

HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (ATTACHED)

While students are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors, the Student Life Health Questionaire with a parent's signature is still required to be completed within 24 hours of departure for camp. You may complete this form and submit it on Sunday at church or before we depart for camp on Monday morning. Additional copies will be available for those who need them.

DEPARTING ON MONDAY MORNING

As a reminder, we are departing promptly at 7am in order to arrive at camp on time. Students and parents should arrive at the Gym at 6am where we will get luggage organized.



If you have any questions about Student Life, please send an email and someone from the First Students Team will reply as soon as possible. Thank you!

Forms Need ASAP!

Hey Student Life Leaders!

As Student Life is approaching, it has come to our attention that we did not include the Student Life Participation Forms for you to complete! These forms are a requirement for us to bring you as a leader this summer.

We are so sorry for the inconvenience!

Attached is the form and a notary is required for these forms.

Eden Hines is a notary but has limited availability due to travel/vacation. Please see if there is a time that works for your schedule:

• Eden will NOT be available on Sunday, June 27

• Eden WILL be available on Monday afternoon and Tuesday (June 28th and 29th)

• Eden will NOT be available from June 30 - July 6

• Eden WILL be available on Wednesday, July 7

The last day we can accept forms for camp is Wednesday, July 7. Of course, you can always find another person to notarize these forms as well.

Again, we are so sorry for the short notice and appreciate your help!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us and someone from the First Students team will reply as soon as possible!

Updated to Student Life Guidelines

Masks Optional, Not Required

It was shared that masks are no longer required for students while indoors (they were already not required when outdoors). Students are still more than welcome to wear masks while indoors/outdoors if they feel more comfortable doing so. We are so sorry if this impacts your involvement with Student Life this summer! If it does, please email us so we can work on refunds and other arrangements.

Late Fee For Payment/Paperwork

Student Life has recently changed guidelines regarding payment and paperwork submission. In light of this, there will be a $50 late fee for any student that does not have BOTH paperwork and payment submitted on time.

As a reminder, the following is due no later than Sunday, June 27:

• SLMC Participation Form signed and notarized (see below)

• Full payment due (make any checks payable to FBCO)

So you can note the dates for those who may be traveling – June 20 is Father's Day and Eden Hines will be out of town on June 27 (deadline date) and will not be available as a notary.

Both Pastor Bryson and Eden Hines are available on Sunday mornings in the Gym from 9:00-9:45am and 10:45-11am for questions, notary, and to submit paperwork.

SLMC Participation Form Information

Camp Location/Date: Cedarville University (July 12-16)
Group Leader: Bryson McGuire
Group Leader Cell Number: 417-429-7611

Updated Covid & Dress Code Guidelines

Hey, Fuge Parents!

We again recognize that we have sent a lot of communication regarding Fuge Camp, and we appreciate your grace as this is our first time attending Fuge and are learning new things. Below is the information we just received regarding covid guidelines and dress codes.

Masks Suggested, Not Required

Fuge Camp has been following local & facility guidelines regarding mask requirements. It was announced just this morning that masks are no longer required for students while indoors (they were already not required when outdoors). Students are still more than welcome to wear masks while indoors/outdoors if they feel more comfortable doing so.

Please know that if we thought this would have been a possibility, we would have communicated this, but we wanted to make sure you knew this information as soon as possible!

We are so sorry if this impacts your student's involvement at Fuge. If it does, please email us so we can work on refunds and other arrangements.

Dress Code Update

Fuge Camp has also slightly relaxed its dress code regarding the length of shorts. While all shorts worn (for both guys and girls) should be modest, they recognize that some students have a hard time finding shorts that fit the dress code due to the length of their arms.

Fuge is now allowing individual churches to discern appropriate dress codes. So for our group, here is what we're asking:

• Shorts do not have to be fingertip length but should be modest and cover their body well. If an Adult Leader from FBCO or a Fuge Staffer does not believe their clothing is appropriate, we will ask them to change.

• Girls may wear leggings as long as it covers their backside.

• Girls should not wear shirts that cover their shorts. It should be obvious that they are wearing pants/shorts.

• Guys should wear modest shorts and should not wear shirts that expose their torso/stomachs. Guys are not allowed to take off their shirts when outdoors or when in common areas.

New Free Time Options

With the change in Covid/mask requirements, the following free time options are now available to students:

• Pool (again, please wear modest attire)

• Rockwall

• Snack Shop

• Outdoor Games

• More!

Thank You!

We want to thank you for your prayers and for entrusting us with your student for this next week! We believe God has amazing things in store for your student and look forward to all that He is going to do!

If you have any questions, please send us an email, and someone from the First Students Team will respond as soon as possible or stop by the Gym on Sunday morning/night to talk with someone.

Fuge Camp!

Hey, Fuge Parents!

Our team has been praying for this next week of camp and is looking forward to all that God is going to do in our student's lives! We know you've received a few emails/updates about camp but we want to make sure you feel confident and prepared to send your child to camp next week.

This email contains the detail for Fuge Camp. We know it can be a lot of information so use the too-long, didn't read (TLDR) sections for highlighted information.

Preparing for Camp

Attached to this email is a packing list of what you need to bring. The main highlighted things to include are:

• Linens, towels, pillows, and blankets

• Refillable water bottle

• Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes (for Mission Sites)

• Bible, notepad, and pen

• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)

• Spending money for snacks and camp store (optional)

• Money for lunch on Monday and Friday (approx. $20-$30)

• Summer, outdoor clothing – please pack clothes you do not mind getting dirty from our mission sites.

• Favorite sports team/athletic attire for Mega Relay

TLDR: Please review the attached document for schedule, dress code, and packing list.

Leaving for Camp

Please arrive at 9am on Monday, June 14 in the Gym. If you arrive before 8:30am, there may not be a First Students member as we have to prepare transportation so please be patient until someone arrives. In order to arrive on time, we must leave no later than 10am. If you do not arrive by 9:30am, please know that you will be contacted. If you arrive late, you will have to arrange transportation to camp for your student.

TLDR: Arrive Monday morning at 9am in the Gym. We will leave at exactly 10am.

Health Questionnaire

Some have already submitted their student's health questionnaire form and we apologize for any confusion this may have caused. This form was sent to you in order to make you aware of Fuge health expectations. The form must be submitted within 24 of leaving for camp. You may turn this in on Sunday during Life Groups or Youth Night or you may also bring this with you on Monday morning. If your student does not this, Fuge will not let them participate until a parent/guardian has signed a completed form. There will be copies available on Sunday and Monday morning.

TLDR: Health Questionnaires must be completed within 24 hours of leaving for camp. Your student cannot participate at camp without a signed form.

Masks Guidelines

Fuge Camp will follow local/facility guidelines for masks. At SBU, maks are not required when outdoors but will be required when indoors. Students will not be required to wear masks while on the bus or in their rooms. The church will bring some extra, disposable masks for those who lose theirs or forget them. These will be limited so please send your student with a couple of extras just in case.

TLDR: Masks are required when indoors (not in rooms) but not required for outdoors.

Contact & Communication

As a reminder, phones are not allowed during group time, worship, or mission site projects. Below is the First Students Team contact information. If there is an emergency or something urgent, please call us. If you have a general question or want to check in on your student, please text us.

Bryson McGuire: 417-429-7611
Eden Hines: 618-960-9958
Evan Morris: 618-401-1567

You may receive occasional text message updates from the First Students team. We will use this to inform you of any updates, departure time, and anticipated arrival back home (estimated to be 5pm on Friday)

TLDR: Please call us if an emergency or urgent. Please text for general questions or updates.

Thank You!

We want to thank you for your prayers and for entrusting us with your student for this next week! We believe God has amazing things in store for your student and look forward to all that He is going to do!

If you have any questions, please REPLY to this email, and someone from the First Students Team will respond as soon as possible or stop by the Gym on Sunday morning/night to talk with someone.

Getting Ready for Student Life!

Hello Student Life Parents!

Student Life has recently changed guidelines regarding payment and paperwork submission. In light of this, there will be a $50 late fee for any student that does not have BOTH paperwork and payment submitted on time.

As a reminder, the following is due no later than Sunday, June 27:

• SLMC Participation Form signed and notarized (see below)

• Full payment due (make any checks payable to FBCO)

So you can note the dates for those who may be traveling – June 20 is Father's Day and Eden Hines will be out of town on June 27 (deadline date) and will not be available as a notary.

Both Pastor Bryson and Eden Hines are available on Sunday mornings in the Gym from 9:00-9:45am and 10:45-11am for questions, notary, and to submit paperwork.

SLMC Participation Form Information

Camp Location/Date: Cedarville University (July 12-16)
Group Leader: Bryson McGuire
Group Leader Cell Number: 417-429-7611

Extra Spots Available

Hello Parents!

We've recently been informed by Fuge Camp (completed 7th-8th graders) that our host site has additional, limited spots available. We wanted to give those who missed the deadline one last opportunity to sign up!

If you’re considering sending your student, please read the following carefully:

• Please keep in mind that no spots are guaranteed as other churches may fill them first.

• If you want to send your student to Fuge Camp, please contact us as soon as possible. We will add students in order of how we receive requests. For example – if there are ten student requests but Fuge only has five spots available, only the first five will be able to attend. This likely won’t happen, but just in case.

• The deadline to respond is Thursday, May 20. Any requests after this cannot be guaranteed.

Fuge Camp Details

• Date: June 14-18, 2021

• Location: Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO

• Cost: $300/student

• Age: Completed 7th & 8th Grade (20-21 School Year)

If you have any questions or are interested in sending your student Fuge this summer, please reach out as soon as possible!

Fuge Camp Mask Update (5.11.21)

Hello Fuge Parents!

Fuge Camp has just announced a change to their mask policy where students and leaders will no longer be required to wear face coverings outside unless required by local guidelines (not likely for our location). At this time, face coverings are still to be worn while indoors.

The next and last update before Fuge Camp will be on June 4.

MAY 30 DEADLINE

• Final Payment Due

• Signed and notarized Fuge Camp Participation form due

• Photocopy of insurance card due (if you do not have insurance, you will need to note this somewhere on the Fuge Camp Participation form) This is only for Fuge as Student Life does not require this.

Fuge Camp Participation Form

Eden Hines, our Ministry Assistant, is a notary and is available from 9:00-9:45am each Sunday morning in the Gym to notarize forms. You may also schedule a time to come to the church office to have this done. If you have a student attending Student Life Camp, you may also bring that form at the same time.

Please use the following information to complete the form:

Name of Location/Date: Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO | June 14-18

Name of Church: First Baptist Church O’Fallon, IL

Group Leader: Bryson McGuire

Group Leader’s Cell Phone: 417-429-7611

Church Address: 1111 E Hwy 50 O’Fallon, IL 622269

Attendance & Payment

If you decide not to send your student to Fuge camp this summer, we are unable to refund your deposit as this has already been paid to Fuge Camp.

If you decide not to send your student between May 30 - June 12, we are unable to refund any amount as this has already been paid to Fuge Camp. If there is a student on the waiting list and can take your student’s place, we may be able to get your money back – but there are no guarantees.

If there are any questions you have or anything you feel we haven’t addressed yet, please reply or call us here at the church at 618-632-6223.

Fuge Parent Update (4.28.21)

Hello Fuge Parents!

We are about one month away from the final payment and paperwork is due for Fuge Camp and wanted to send this reminder email with dates, paperwork, and information that you will need.

We know that sending your child away for a week can be nerve-wracking so if there are any questions you have or anything you feel we haven’t addressed yet, please reply or call us here at the church at 618-632-6223.

Important Dates for Fuge

• May 30 – Final payment due

• May 30 – Signed and notarized Fuge Camp Participation form due

• May 30 – Photocopy of insurance card due (if you do not have insurance, you will need to note this somewhere on the Fuge Camp Participation form) This is only for Fuge as Student Life does not require this.

Fuge Camp Participation Form

Eden Hines, our Ministry Assistant, is a notary and is available from 9:00-9:45am each Sunday morning in the Gym to notarize forms. You may also schedule a time to come to the church office to have this done. If you have a student attending Student Life Camp, you may also bring that form at the same time.

Please use the following information to complete the form:

Name of Location/Date: Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO | June 14-18

Name of Church: First Baptist Church O’Fallon, IL

Group Leader: Bryson McGuire

Group Leader’s Cell Phone: 417-429-7611

Church Address: 1111 E Hwy 50 O’Fallon, IL 622269

COVID-19 & Health Guidelines

Attached are the current guidelines and expectations for attending Fuge Camp this summer. There are still scheduled updates for May 7 and June 4 that may result in changing guidelines. We will do our best to communicate those with you as soon as we know them.

Attendance & Payment

If you decide not to send your student to Fuge camp this summer, we are unable to refund your deposit as this has already been paid to Fuge Camp.

If you decide not to send your student between May 30 - June 12, we are unable to refund any amount as this has already been paid to Fuge Camp. If there is a student on the waiting list and can take your student’s place, we may be able to get your money back – but there are no guarantees.

Again, if there are any questions you have or anything you feel we haven’t addressed yet, please reply or call us here at the church at 618-632-6223.

Upcoming Events (April - May 2021)

Hey First Student Families!

We know the end of the school year can be very chaotic for families and want to make sure we keep you up-to-date with the different opportunities and events happening here at First Students!

Food Fight (canceled due to scheduling conflicts)

At the start of the semester, we shared a tentative “Food Fight” event on Saturday, April 17 but this has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict and will not be rescheduled.

JHM Class Wars | April 18 | 5-6pm

• This is a theme night for our 7-8 grade students

• Games, class competitions, and giveaways!

• 7th Grade should wear blue and 8th Grade should wear red (prize for the most spirited/best dressed).

• Free and no sign-up is required.

• It will be a regular High School Worship service at 7pm.

High School Banquet | April 30 | 6-8pm

• Seniors and their immediate family (parents & siblings) may attend for free (email fbcostudents@fbcofallon.org for promo code)

• Students must purchase tickets online by April 25. The cost is $10/student. We cannot accept walk-ups

• The evening is semi-formal/formal attire

• Dinner and desserts provided

Girls’ Night | May 9 | 7-9pm

• This is a night for our 7-12th grade girls and their mothers/mother figures

• The evening is semi-formal

• Includes dinner, games, and giveaways

• Guest Speaker: Vickie Munton

• The cost is $5/person and sign-up is required by Wednesday, May 5th.

JHM 5.0 Amazing Race | May 16 | 5-8:30pm

• The event is free and dinner is provided

• For students 5th-8th grade (20-21 school year) and parents of 5th-6th graders

• KidsCare will be provided for free. You must sign up by May 2 (sign up below)

• 5th-6th Grade Parents will meet Pastor Bryson & learn more about First Students

• Please sign up online by Monday, May 10

Summer Camp

• Currently, there are TWO spots left for Fuge Camp (7-8 Grade / June 14-18).

• There are no spots left for Student Life Mission Camp

• Emails have been sent & letters have been mailed to those who are registered

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US

We're Talking About Sex

Hey First Student Families!

Here is a quick message from Pastor Bryson regarding our Define The Relationship series this Sunday night and the conversation we're going to be having about purity and sex.

We know that the conversations around sex can raise red flags for parents so we want you to know why this message and what it looks like.

Define Not Describe

We believe the Bible defines sex and that it's the parent's role to describe it. Meaning, we're not talking about the details of sex, instead, we're talking about the biblical principles of sex and how they can navigate purity in a world where sex is on display everywhere (pornography, Netflix, movies, social media, etc.).

The goal of this message is to reinforce what you've already taught them at home and not to be a replacement for this conversation with you.

For our JHM, we will take a very foundational approach to the subject and will be focused on the idea of lust and purity. For our High School, we will speak more directly about the subject of sex.

This Will Be Mild Compared to What They Know/Have Seen

The difficult truth we have to wrestle with is that our students likely already know or have seen sex in some form. In fact, the latest stats show that the new average age of exposure to internet pornography is 8 years old.

If they only learn about sex from their friends, the internet, and movies, they will grow up with a distorted view of sexuality that will not lead to healthy lives, marriages, or homes in the future.

For many students, this message will be G-rated compared to what they may have already heard from friends or saw online.

This Will Reach Lost Students

Teenagers are curious about sex and are very driven by it – even if they don't act upon it. Oftentimes, these types of messages bring in students who would normally never set foot through the doors of a church. We believe this is our opportunity to reach them with the gospel.

This Will Set Some Students Free

Statistically speaking, 90% of teenage males and 60% of teenage girls struggle with pornography in some capacity. Many have never heard a message like this in church and we believe that when you know the truth, the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).

Many students hide this struggle because of guilt, shame, or embarrassment and we want the church to be a place where they find support, hope, and healing.

If you have any questions you'd like for us to answer, please email us and we would be happy to hear and answer any questions you might have!

THIS IS US!