Tag Archives: school

Back to School Planning

Back to school time is here. This can mean changes to the au pair schedule and possibly to the duties.  It is very important to communicate these changes to avoid problems.

Here is a list of topics to consider discussing:

  • 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)
  • Driving laws regarding stopping for school buses
  • How to tell if school has been canceled or delayed for bad weather
  • Add the au pair to your list of people allowed to pick up the kids from school and explain the process
  • What to pack for lunch
  • The routine after school (do they have free time before starting homework, what to give for a snack, any chores, where do they put their backpacks & lunchboxes)
  • How to communicate about what’s going on at school. Your Kids in Care logbook from Au Pair in America can be a great two-way communication tool for keeping track of schedules, afterschool activities and day to day info that needs to be transferred between host parents and au pair.
  • If your au pair will be the one going through the children’s backpack and helping with homework, consider designating an area for putting things that need to be read and/or signed by parents.

Here are some Printable Fill-in-the-Blank School Notes for parents. You can print these out and have them ready for times when the kids are absent, late, have an early dismissal or you need to give permission for something.

Check out Au Pair in America’s Pinterest School Tips and Ideas pinboard for things like organization ideas, back to school traditions, printable lunch box notes, and fun lunch recipes.

 

Let’s play school!

Emma Willard was born on this day in Connecticut in 1787. She was self-educated and thought it was very important for girls to learn the same subjects that were being taught to boys. She started the first school to teach math and science to girls and the first college to educate women.

Young children love to play school. You can take turns being the teacher. Read a book out loud in front of the ‘class.’ (Children that can’t read yet still like to ‘read’ to others. If you have a small chalkboard or white board you can put assignments or lessons on the board. Paper and pencils are important for the work that needs to be done, but don’t forget to have recess!

School safety

It is that time of year again when students of all ages get ready for the first day of school.  Here are some tips to assist with the “back to school” transition and hopefully great start to the new school year.

MAKING THE FIRST DAY EASIER

  • Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
  • Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She’ll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her positive memories about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
  • Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
  • If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.

BACKPACK SAFETY

  • Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
  • Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the your child’s body weight.
  • Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
  • Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.

To be safe when they travel to and from school, follow these simple safety rules:

AT THE BUS STOP:

  • Always walk to the bus stop. Never run.
  • Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left facing traffic.
  • Always go to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
  • While at the bus stop, wait in a safe place away from the road. Do not run and play while waiting.
  • Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Always go straight home and tell you parents if a stranger tries to talk to you or pick you up.
  • Wait for the bus to arrive, watch for red flashing lights and the stop sign to be extended, and cross only when all traffic has stopped. Look left, right, and left again before crossing.

ON THE BUS:

  • Go directly to a seat. Remain seated and facing forward for the entire ride.
  • Talk quietly (so the driver will not be distracted).
  • If you need to talk to the bus driver: wait for the bus to stop, raise your hand, and call the driver’s name.
  • Never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Never play with the emergency exits.
  • Keep the aisles clear at all times.
  • If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.

EXIT THE BUS:

  • When getting off the bus make sure you walk (not run) three more steps away from the door. This is the best place to be around a bus. Stay away from the bus wheels and watch out for moving cars!
  • Once you get off the bus, go straight home so an adult will know where you are.
  • Only get on and off the bus at your designated stop. If you need to get off the bus somewhere else, you will need to have a note from your parents.
  • If you leave something on the bus, never return to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you come back and they may begin moving the bus.

    • Also, if you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up, so they will know where you are.

Why should I audit?

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.

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Fredericksburg is fortunate to have the University of Mary Washington which is an excellent school that has a special program for au pairs to audit classes. Check out the link below for more information:

http://academics.umw.edu/registrar/registration-instructions-for-nondegree-students-and-auditors/