Our annual Au Pair Birthday Party was held on Friday, July 26-this is the day that we celebrate all of our au pairs’ birthdays with a BBQ and birthday cake for all. The weather was beautiful, and the evening was fun and festive!
Tag Archives: au pair
Pool Safety
Parents and families can build on their current safety systems at pools and spas by adopting additional water safety steps. Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you can never know which one might save a child’s life—until it does.
- Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water
- Teach children basic water safety tips
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
- Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa
- If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first
- Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors
- Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim
- Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly
- Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.
If you own a pool or spa:
- Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.
- Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.
- If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing pools or spas.
- Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water
- Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask your pool service provider if you do not know
- Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order
- Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm
Memorial Day Celebration
Background
Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.
What do people do?
It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials to honor everyone, who has died, and those, who have died in military service, in particular. In National Cemeteries, volunteers place an American flag on each grave.
Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year.
Public life
Memorial Day is a federal holiday. All non-essential Government offices are closed, as are schools, businesses and other organizations. Most public transit systems do not run on their regular schedule. Many people see Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to go on a short vacation or visit family or friends. This can cause some congestion on highways and at airports.
Easter Sunday in the United States.
Quick Facts
Easter Sunday March 31 ,2013.
Easter Sunday is an important day in the Christian church calendar because it celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.
What do people do?
Many churches hold special services on Easter Sunday, which celebrate the Jesus Christ’s resurrection after his crucifixion. Many people also decorate eggs. These can be hard boiled eggs that can be eaten later, but may also be model eggs made of plastic, chocolate, candy or other materials. It is also common to organize Easter egg hunts. Eggs of some form are hidden, supposedly by a rabbit or hare. People, especially children, then search for them. In some areas, Easter egg hunts are a popular way for local businesses to promote themselves or may even be organized by churches.
Background
In Pagan times, many groups of people organized spring festivals. Many of these celebrated the re-birth of nature, the return the land to fertility and the birth of many young animals. These are the origins of the Easter eggs that we still hunt for and eat.
In Christian times, the spring began to be associated with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday and the resurrection is remembered on Easter Sunday. The idea of the resurrection joined with the ideas of re-birth in Pagan beliefs.
10 Easy Easter Crafts for Kids
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/easy-easter-crafts-for-kids
March 20. First Day of Spring.
First Day Of Spring 2013: Vernal Equinox Comes On March 20
Spring! Wonderful, warm, beautiful spring is almost here.
At 7:02 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 20, the sun will cross directly over the Earth’s equator during a moment known as the vernal equinox when both day and night are about equal — also the official start of the new season. The seasons are reversed for those in the Southern Hemisphere and the event instead signals the beginning of fall.
Spring will last three months until June 21, and summer will carry on until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 at 4:44 p.m, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17, because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It has become a holiday all around the world, where everyone can share in the fun and be Irish for the day.
Fun Ideas with the Kids
St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Fun Facts
- The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
- One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
- Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
Time for Taxes.
Why do we pay taxes? Everyone pays taxes – they can be in the form of sales taxes (on clothes, gasoline, food in restaurants, to name few) and income taxes. Tax dollars are used to keep many services running that all citizens need. They also pay for Social Security, health care, national defense and social programs such as food stamps and public housing.
As a temporary member of the community of the USA, au pairs are potentially required to pay income taxes. They use the 1080-EZ NR form (for non-residents).
Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday, in Christian churches, is the first day of the penitential season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday some Christians have a smudge of ashes placed on their foreheads as a sign of penitence.
Valentines Day-February 14th
Valentine’s Day is February 14th!
Au Pairs give loving care to their host families every day. Au Pair in America has provided 27 years as the world’s most experienced intercultural childcare program.
Au pairs become full-fledged family members, sharing a cultural exchange experience that often leads to a lasting relationship with the host family.
Au Pairs come to the USA for cultural exchange and to provide childcare to busy families. They stay for one year and then have the option to extend for a second year. Au Pairs are 18 to 26 years old when they arrive in the USA. Please check out www.aupairinamerica.com for more information!
Au Pairs will be making Valentine cards with their host children. Here’s how:
What you’ll need:
- 8.5 x 11 construction paper or card stock in various colors and/or patterns
- Valentine and/or heart stickers
- Scissors
- Pinking shears (optional)
- Glue stick or white craft or school glue
- Glitter (pink, red, white)
How to make it:
- Begin by cutting a piece of construction paper or card stock into four equal pieces.
- Fold quartered paper in half to make a card.
- For the easiest version, appropriate for preschoolers, use stickers to decorate or cut out hearts from a different color of construction paper or card stock to glue onto your cards. Experiment with different patterns, florals look great contrasted with stripes on a solid background.
- Younger children love glitter! Use a bottle of glue to “draw” on a heart or phrase (such as “Be Mine”). Sprinkle glue generously with pink, red or white glitter and let dry over night. Tap off excess glitter when completely dry.
- For the older set, let them use pinking sheers to cut out heart shapes and glue onto cards. Again, use contrasting patterns and colors to create a charming design.
- Once glue is dry, cards may curl up a little. Place cards between the pages of a heavy cookbook or phone book and leave over night.
Upcoming Cluster Meetings for 2013
January-Dave and Busters Arcade
February-76ers Basketball Game, Philadelphia
March-Chinatown Brunch, Philadelphia
April-Laser tag
May-Bowling
June-Phillies Baseball Game
July-Summer Barbeque
August-Education Information Meeting
September-Hard Rock Cafe, Philadelphia
October-Eastern State Penitentiary Tour
November-International Thanksgiving Dessert Party
December-Holiday Party