Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law
(Effective October 1, 2012)
• Every child under 8 years old must ride in an appropriate child restraint* unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches or taller.
• Every child from 8 to 16 years old who is not secured in a child restraint must be secured in a vehicle seat belt.
Protect your children as they ride!
Children under 13 years old should ride in the back seat. The back seat is the safest.
For over fifty years, Eagle Cove School (formerly Gibson Island Country School) has been providing an excellent education for girls and boys in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. Within a supportive and nurturing environment, students build a strong foundation for the future through a challenging and comprehensive academic program. Au pairs with Au Pair in America met on a Sunday afternoon earlier in September at this beautiful facility located right on the water in Pasadena for a pizza party. The weather was beautiful and the children and parents enjoyed the many playgrounds and incredible scenery. To learn more about hosting an au pair in the greater Annapolis area, visit Au Pair in America on the web at www.aupairinamerica.com or the local blog at https://blogs.aupairinamerica.com/abc/://blogs.aupairinamerica.com/abc/. Feel free to contact the local counselor Natasha Wrobel at (410) 695-1208. For more information about the school please visit http://www.eaglecoveschool.org/about-us.
Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish Holiday commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year. It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the high Holidays specifically set aside to focus on repentance that concludes with the holiday of Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is the start of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar. It is the New Year for people, animals, and legal contracts. Jewish people believe Rosh Hashanah represents either analogically or literally the creation of the World, or Universe. On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people all over the world gather in synagogues to celebrate the day. The holiday is celebrated with sweet foods, like apples dipped in honey and honey cake and round Challot made with honey and raisins as a wish for a sweet year. Here is a link to children’s games and activities to celebrate the holiday. It includes information, art projects, crafts, stories and recipes:
http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/354744/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm
Rosh Hashanah will is celebrated for two days, Monday September 17th and Tuesday September 18th. The two day holiday will begin at sundown on Sunday evening.
At the end of summer and before school officially began for children, au pairs from the Annapolis cluster met for ice cream on Main Street to welcome the new summer arrivals. Afterwards we enjoyed a wonderful show under the stars (it didn’t rain on us until the very last minute!) called Xandu at the Annapolis Outdoor Summer Garden Theater on Dock Street. We even had an opportunity to meet some of the local actors which was a great treat! 
A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited for coming up the idea for Labor Day. In 1872, after working many long hours under poor conditions, McGuire rallied 100,000 workers to go on strike. The workers marched through the streets of New York City, demanding a better work environment. McGuire spent a decade fighting for worker’s rights. In 1882, he proposed the idea to create a special holiday for workers. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade. Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September. And in 1894, Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday. Au pairs and host families can find labor day activities includes crafts, word searches and coloring pages at this link: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/labor-day/
Full version is at http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/host_family_tips/transtioning.asp>
Here are some things to think about which might help everyone in your household prepare for your au pair’s departure:
~Young children perceive time differently than adults. Therefore, your preparation for the departure should not begin too far in advance.
~Discuss the possibility of staying in touch with letters, e-mail, or even pictures if your child does not write. Be sure you have the au pair’s address, and make plans to write.
~Create a small photo album for your children to look at. After your au pair leaves this can hold important memories for them.
~Make sure there is an opportunity to say good-bye. Make it clear when it will be the last time your children will be seeing the au pair.
~If you are having another au pair arrive, discuss the arrival plans with your child.
In 1870 the last spike was nailed to complete the coast-to-coast railroad. This train track helped to open up the western area of the US to development. Trains still hold a fascination – whether it is Thomas the Tank, Brio or electric trains, children love to build tracks.
Baltimore has a wonderful Train Museum. Check it out on www.borail.org and look for the Calendar of Events under Kids’ Zone.
When it comes to the Education requirement, au pairs can be confused by the phrase “not less than six semester hours of academic credit OR its equivalent.” What that means is that au pairs do not NEED to take credit classes. In fact, some colleges or universities will not allow J-1 visa holders to register for credit classes, as they “save” these for degree seeking students.
BUT au pairs can easily take non-credit or Continuing Studies classes. And some colleges and universities may allow them to “Audit” a credit class. This means that the au pair can sit in the class and do the assignments and take the tests but she will not get a grade for any work done, only a “pass or fail”. The cost may or may not be less to audit a class. Each individual school will have its own policy. Au Pairs should consult with their Community Counselor to see which schools offer this option.
Photo found on Bing
