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AU PAIR TRAVEL
Au Pairs Traveling outside the United States
Any au pair who is planning to travel outside of the United States during her program term must make sure she checks with the embassy or consulate of the country being visited to find out if an additional visa is required. It is also important that she checks the status of her J1 visa in her passport and the date of expiration. She must have her DS2019 signed by a member of staff in the Stamford office and returned before she departs for her trip. It must be an original signature for validation. The DS2019 should be mailed at least three weeks prior to the departure date for the trip. It should be mailed with the travel validation request form which can be found here: http://www.aupairinamerica.com/pdf/travform.pdf and a return self addressed stamped envelope and a check for $10 if the au pair wants it to be returned by 2 day UPS delivery. Any questions about visa status or travel validation can be directed to Evelyn Blum at eblum@aifs.com
VALENTINES DAY – FEBRUARY 14, 2015
Fireworks in Philadelphia
Visitphilly.com Official Visitor And Travel Site
#VisitPhilly
New Year’s Eve Fireworks In Philadelphia 2015
Ring in the New Year with two fireworks shows on the Delaware River Waterfront
Philadelphia will ring in 2015 not once but two times during the SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Delaware River Waterfront. Credit: M. Stanley for DRWC
Description
Date:
December 31, 2014 – January 1, 2015
First show: 6 p.m.
Second show: Midnight
Overview
Ring in 2015 twice during SugarHouse Casino’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Delaware River Waterfront. With fireworks shows along the Delaware River at 6 p.m. and midnight, you’ll have plenty of time to find perfect spot to watch the spectacular displays.
Philadelphia’s main attraction on New Year’s Eve draws thousands of people to the Delaware River Waterfront each year. Conveniently located within a short walk of Old City, Society Hill and South Street, Penn’s Landing becomes a festive party with revelers of all ages delighting in a breathtaking fireworks display.
First Show: 6 p.m.
Families or those looking to celebrate the New Year a couple hours early are in luck: The first fireworks show goes down at 6 p.m. on the Delaware River waterfront. With the sun already set an hour before, the setting should be perfect for a wonderful show.
Second Show: Midnight
To officially ring in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display, head to the Delaware River waterfront with friends or family before midnight to snag a great seat for the festivities. The 15-minute show starts right at 12 a.m.
Getting There And Parking
If you’re not already in the neighborhood, catch a cab or hop on SEPTA’s Blue Line to Old City. From there it’s approximately a five-minute walk to Penn’s Landing.
If you must drive, there are multiple parking lots up and down Columbus Boulevard. Head to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s official parking page for hourly rates and locations of parking lots.
Arrive with time to pick out your spot to watch the fireworks display, but not too early — December is typically a chilly month in the city.
The show, approximately 15 minutes in length, has a beautiful backdrop with the illuminated Benjamin Franklin Bridge and, if viewed from Camden, the Philadelphia skyline.
After the show, make your way back to Old City, where you can choose from countless places to continue the celebration.
Best Places To Watch
The Delaware River Waterfront, both Philadelphia and New Jersey sides, features fantastic views of the fireworks display.
Fall Activities to do with your kids
Fun Things to do with Your Kids
Looking for activity ideas for your host children? Au Pair in America has a variety of Pinterest boards with ideas.
Check out the Kid’s Stuff Pinboard.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Au Pairs
Back to School Tips
Kids in our cluster will be returning to school soon. This will mean changes to the au pair schedule and possibly to the duties. It is very important to communicate these changes to avoid problems.
I suggest you discuss the following (if applicable):
- Au pair’s work schedule
- The children’s school and activity schedules
- Where the children get dropped off and picked up and who will be doing this
- What to do if a child is staying home sick, late to school, does not get off the bus (if they are supposed to)
- How to tell if school has been cancelled or delayed for bad weather
- Add the au pair to your list of people allowed to pick up the kids from school
- What to pack for lunch
- The routine after school (do they have free time before starting homework, what to give for snack, any chores, where do they put their backpacks & lunchboxes)
- How to communicate about what’s going on at school. (Kids in Care Log Books are available upon request from APIA)
Here are some Printable Fill-in-the-Blank School Notes for parents. You may print these out and use them for times when the kids are absent, late, have early dismissal or you need to give permission for something.
If the au pair will be the one going through the children’s back pack and helping with homework, I suggest you designate an area for putting things that need to be read and/or signed by parents.
Car Seat Safety is a Shared Responsibility
Child Car Seat Laws in PA
Use of proper child car seats is important for your child’s safety. Pennsylvania law requires you to have your child in an appropriate car seat, or you risk a $75 fine.
Follow these guidelines when buying a car seat for your child:
- Children under 4 years old: Use a federally approved child car seat, appropriate for the height and weight of your child.
- 4 to 8 years old: Use a booster seat until your child reaches the height and weight maximum.
Car seats and booster seats save lives, there is no doubt about it. But, just having the car seat in the car is not enough. Car seats and booster seats can only save lives if they are properly installed and used.
Host Parents
- It is your responsibility to show the au pair how to properly use your car seats and/or booster seats.
- If you expect her to change seats to different vehicles, show her how to install them properly.
- If you do not want her to remove and re-install car seats, make that expectation clear.
- Even if the au pair has a separate car that she is the only one driving the kids in, please check the installation of the seats periodically.
Au Pairs
- You are responsible for making sure that you understand how to buckle the children safely in their seats and be sure that they are safely buckled in every time you take them in the car with you.
- The car should not move unless everyone is buckled.
- Make it a habit to check the seats each time you put the children in to see that the seat is secure and not too loose.
- If the seat is not working properly or you cannot figure out how to get it tight, ask your host parents as soon as possible.
- If your host parents have asked you not to remove the car seat(s), please follow that rule.
- If you need to remove the seat for some reason, ask them for help putting the seat bac
4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS IN PHILLY
Philly 4th of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks
Date: July 4, 2014
Time: 7-11 p.m.
Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway
SUMMER SAFETY
During the summer months we need to take some added precautions to keep children safe in the sun and by the water.
- · Avoid long periods of sun exposure especially between 10am and 4pm
- · Apply sunscreen of at least 15 SPF that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and wear on sunny and cloudy days.
- · Infants should be dressed in lightweight clothing covering as much skin as possible and brimmed hats to shade the face
- · Stay hydrated, drink water throughout the day
- · Intense activities and sports should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels
- Never leave children or animals in a car unattended.
Actively supervise children in and around the water, giving them your undivided attention. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults. Be very clear who is in charge.
- When in the water there should be an adult at arms length from young children at all times
- Children who cannot swim or who are not strong swimmers should wear water wings or life jackets when in the water
- Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
- Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
- If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
- Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.
Have a Safe Summer!!
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IN THE UNITED STATES
Spring Time Change: When Does Daylight Savings Time 2014 Begin?
Daylight Savings Time 2014 begins before Easter when days become longer and longer heading closer to the Spring Equinox.
So if you are asking, “When does Daylights Savings 2014 time begin?” The answer is the date Daylight Savings Time (DST) will begin on Sunday March 9, 2014.
The rest of the United States will also turn their clocks forward on March 9, 2014 with the exception of Hawaii and Arizona because those states do not practice Daylight Savings Time.
This means that we lose (not gain) an hour when we turn our clocks ahead an hour to 3:00 a.m. when our clocks reach 2 a.m. on Sunday.
A helpful way to remember whether to set our clocks ahead or behind one hour during the Daylight Savings Time change for Spring 2014 is to “Fall Back” and “Spring Ahead.”
Daylight Savings Time 2014 will end on Sunday November 2, 2014.
TAXES 2013
2013 Taxes are owed for Au pairs who earned more than $3900.00 in 2013
Here is link for tax information