Does it seem like the days are getting longer, but the hours are getting shorter?
Too much to do and never enough time to do it all? Continue reading
Tag Archives: washington
St. Patrick’s Day 2018
DCC Au Pairs having St. Patrick’s Day fun! (Photo: Scott Montgomery)
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17th and has been celebrated in the US since 1737. St. Patrick is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Traditional icons of the day are the shamrock, leprechaun, the color green and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Celebration Ideas
Washington, DC commemorates St. Patrick’s Day every year with a variety of festivals and parades held in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Here are some ways you can celebrate:
- Celebrate the season at a one of the St. Patrick’s Day parades in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
- Ireland on the Wharf: Celebrate the beauty and tradition of the Emerald Isle with bagpipers, Irish dancers, live music, and plenty of family-friendly activities on March 10 at DC’s Southwest Waterfront
- Au Pair in America’s St. Patrick’s Day pinboard has lots of creative suggestions for crafts, baking, and other fun ideas.
- Take your picture in front of a green fountain! The White House was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. Traditionally, the White House fountain has been dyed green on March 17th in celebration of the holiday.
On March 15, 2018, the fountain on the South Lawn of the White House turned green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)
2018 Options for Those Last Few Education Hours
Do you know how many total classroom hours you need to complete in your first year?
Image: Alan Cleaver (Flickr)
Au pairs are required to earn at least six academic credits during their year by completing classes/courses at accredited US post-secondary colleges and universities.
6 academic credits = approximately 8 CEUs = approximately 80 classroom hours
(The absolute minimum accepted is 72 hours.)
Certain combinations of classes can leave you just a few hours short of the requirement. Here are several options for completing those last few hours. Information listed is correct as of February 28, 2018, and is subject to change. Consult the university websites for full information.
Virginia International University Saturday Museum Classes
Students spend 5 hours participating in an interactive, themed museum tour facilitated by ESL instructors.
- Credits: 5 hours (.5 CEUs)
- Cost: $40 (+$20 for new VIU students)
- Schedule: Held almost every Saturday morning (10:30 am or 11:30 am)
- Location: DC-area museums
Virginia International University Grammar Tune-Up
Grammar Tune-Up is a special weekend course for au pairs and is designed to target common errors made by intermediate to advanced-level English learners. Students will gain confidence facing their trouble spots in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
- Credits: 15 hours (1.5 CEUs)
- Cost: $120 (+$20 for new VIU students)
- Schedule: April 7 and 14 from 9 am – 3 pm
- Location: Fairfax, VA campus (4401 Village Drive)
University of Virgin Islands Experience America through Art Galleries & Museums
Students self-guide through a local museum over a 3 hour period and complete an outside assignment where they create a detailed pictorial report of the visit, due within 7 days of the course.
- Credits: 5 hours (.5 CEUs)
- Cost: $50
- Schedule: Held on a Saturday (10 am or 1:30pm) in DC-area museums
Looking for longer classes that offer more credits? For a complete list of classes approved for your DC-area cluster, click on this link.
Celebrate Labor Day 2017!
This year, we will celebrate Labor Day on Monday, September 4th. Labor Day Weekend is a new holiday for many au pairs. Here is a brief history of this American holiday (from Holiday Insights), ideas of ways to celebrate with your host children, and DC-area events.
Summer Fun for DC Kids (2017)
Image: anokarina (Flickr)
In need of some ideas to keep the kids entertained this summer? Here’s a roundup of several great local blogs full of suggestions designed to keep whining to a minimum.
Indoorsy DC
- New to the scene, this local blog is a great source for indoor activities and events with the kids.
- Don’t miss these posts: Indoor Pools and Delaware Beaches Edition
KidFriendly DC
- Where to Play on the Weekdays and The Weekend Round-Up are updated weekly with suggestions on local events and fun places to take the kids.
- Seasonal suggestions also include the 2017 KFDC Guide to Best of Summer in DC and Live Entertainment on Stages around the DMV this Summer
Our Kids
- Don’t miss this comprehensive list of the DC area’s local seasonal activities.
- Wondering if it’s worth taking the kids to one of the many local happenings? Read the reviews before you go!
Red Tricycle
- The Family Events Calendar is a great source for events.
- Looking for some relief from the sun? Here are 7 Local Playgrounds with Tons of Shade.
- Tours That Don’t Bore: 9 Museum Tours Kids Love
- Spray, Splash, Play, Repeat: Your Summer Splash Pad Guide
And last, but not least, our very own cluster blog…
Capital City Au Pairs
- Life in DC is a comprehensive list of all of the many blogs, people, places, and activities that make living in DC so wonderful.
- Don’t miss our monthly posts with calendar ideas and seasonal activities.
- APIA’s Pinterest boards have oodles of suggestions.
- APIA’s Camp Au Pair Pinterest boards are a treasure trove of fun activities.
2017 Summer Day Camps
Illustration: www.hikingArtist.com (Flickr)
Does it seem like the days are getting longer, but the hours are getting shorter?
Too much to do and never enough time to do it all? Continue reading
St. Patrick’s Day 2017
St. Patrick’s Day fun at our March cluster meeting (Photo: Scott Montgomery)
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17th and has been celebrated in the US since 1737. St. Patrick is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Traditional icons of the day are the shamrock, leprechaun, the color green and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Celebration Ideas on March 17th
- Au Pair in America’s St. Patrick’s Day pinboard has lots of creative suggestions for crafts, baking, and other fun ideas.
- Take your picture in front of a green fountain! The White House was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. For the past several years, the White House fountain has been dyed green on March 17th in celebration of the holiday.
Options for Those Last Few Education Hours
How many total classroom hours do Au Pairs need to complete in their first year?
Image: Alan Cleaver (Flickr)
Au pairs are required earn at least six academic credits during their year by completing classes/courses at accredited US post-secondary colleges and universities.
6 academic credits = approximately 8 CEUs = approximately 80 classroom hours
(The absolute minimum accepted is 72 hours.)
Certain combinations of classes can leave you just a few hours short of the requirement. Here are several options for completing those last few hours. Prices listed are correct as of February 10, 2017 and are subject to change. Consult the university websites for full information.
Virginia International University Saturday Museum Classes
5 hours (.5 CEUs) for $40 (+$20 reg. fee)
Held almost every Saturday morning (10:30am) in DC. Metro-accessible locations.
Students will spend a day at a different museum each week and participate in an interactive, themed museum tour facilitated by ESL instructors.
University of Virgin Islands Experience America through Art Galleries & Museums
5 hours (.5 CEUs) for $40
Held once per month on a Saturday (10 am or 1:30pm) in DC. Metro-accessible locations.
Students self-guide through a local museum over a 3 hour period and complete an outside assignment. The assignment is creating a detailed pictorial report of the visit, due within 7 days of the course.
University of Virgin Islands Fitness Fridays
2 hours (.2 CEUs) for $20
Held once per month on a Friday evening (8 pm) in DC. Metro accessible location.
A fitness class where students will stretch, move and exercise. Register early, space is limited.
-adapted from a post by Christine Connally
Why Are Cluster Meetings Important?
Recent cluster meetings have included touring the US Capitol and outdoor movie screenings.
Cluster meetings are an integral part of an au pair’s experience in America and au pairs are highly encouraged to attend. Au Pair in America requires that counselors provide a cluster meeting per month. Our cluster meetings are scheduled on weekdays and weekends, in order to accommodate the varied schedules of the host families in our area.
Cluster meetings offer the opportunity to:
- Enjoy the many wonderful places and activities in and around Washington, DC
- Meet one another, make new friends from other countries and socialize
- Develop a relationship with your counselor
- Celebrate American holidays, welcome and say farewell to other au pairs
- Learn child development and safety tips
- Support each other by sharing experiences
Our cluster volunteered to make sandwiches for Martha’s Table
International Potluck Dinner with Guest Speaker (Photo Credit: Christie Jorge-Tresolini)
Cluster meetings are an important part of an au pair’s cultural exchange. While it’s understood that sometimes work conflicts make this impossible, host parents are encouraged to free up their schedules so that au pairs can attend.
Upcoming cluster meetings are listed in cluster newsletters and posted in the DCC Host Families Facebook Group and the Cluster DCC Facebook Group (for au pairs) so that they can be added to the family calendar.
Au pairs are expected to attend cluster meetings and should contact their counselor prior to the meeting if they cannot attend. Host families are expected to provide the time and transportation for the au pair to attend cluster meetings. Au pairs and host families are encouraged to offer cluster meeting ideas.