Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is introducing a new, exciting, and affordable educational opportunity for Au Pairs and other international students in the Boston area and throughout New England.

Au Pairs can complete their entire educational requirement for $500 at BHCC in Boston over two intensive weekends this fall. There is both a 40 hour, one-weekend (3 credit equivalent) and 80 hour, two-weekend (6 credit equivalent) option available. Online registration will be available later in August, but space will be limited in each of the four weekends offered this fall. Interested Au Pairs are encouraged to email aupairweekend@bhcc.mass.edu to reserve a spot ASAP and note which weekend(s) they would like to attend.

Please visit BHCC’s web page for all the important details including course descriptions, cost, dates, and schedule.  http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/aupair

Are you ready for the hectic back-to-school schedule? Are you happy with your childcare solution for the fall? Will you have the help you need with the kids’ laundry, meals, homework, pick-up and drop-off?

The ability to customize your childcare is more affordable than ever. For one week only, between Monday, August 16th and Tuesday, August 24th, you will be eligible for:

- a $550 program fee discount
- complimentary overseas connection service during the matching process (a $150 value)
The total value of this promotion is $700!*

For more information (including promo code) please contact Marion at 781-648-2410 or marion.goodwin@lcc.culturalcare.com

*To qualify for this promotion, you must apply between August 16 and August 24, 2010 and welcome an au pair into your home by October 22, 2010. Selection fee of $275 must be paid at time of selection of au pair.

~Join  MassBay’s class “Journey Through North America” and East Coast EdVentures on a fun weekend adventure this fall to Niagara Falls, Washington D.C., Philadelphia or Montreal, Canada.~

(This Class will earn you 3 educational credits)

ecedventures@comcast.net

Children have a natural curiosity and attraction to water. However, drowning is a leading cause of death among young children, both nationally and in Massachusetts. To help prevent water-related injury and drowning:

• Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water at all times. Whenever infants and toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within an arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”
• Adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity while supervising children, not even for a moment. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Learn to swim. Be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend swimming classes as the primary means of drowning prevention for children younger than four. Constant, careful supervision and barriers such as pool fencing are necessary even when children have completed swimming classes.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as “water wings,” “noodles,” or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets (personal flotation devices). These toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool after use so children are not tempted to reach for them.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas.
• Always swim with a buddy.
• Select swimming sites that have lifeguards, whenever possible.

If you Have a Swimming Pool at Home

• Install a four-sided pool fence that completely separates the house and play area of the yard from the pool area. The fence should be at least four feet high.
• Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of reach of children.
• After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can’t get back into it.
• Consider additional barriers such as automatic door locks or alarms to prevent access or notify you if someone enters the pool area.
• Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd’s hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.

Source: www.mass.gov

With a limited budget, au pairs are always looking for great activities at a bargain.  Did you know that there are a number of fantastic websites out there that can make finding those bargains a little bit easier?  For major discounts on museum admission, retail stores, outdoor adventures, spa treatments and more, I encourage you to check out resources such as:

Group On:  www.groupon.com
Living Social:  www.livingsocial.com
Ever Save:  www.eversave.com

You can choose to check these kinds of sites randomly or sign up for a daily deal alert.  They have offers in cities across the country and you can save between 50% and 90% on some amazing things.  Some of these sites require a minimum number of people to sign up before the deal is valid and others have no minimum so it’s important to check the fine print.  The basic concept of these sites is to offer great stuff for a great price.

(Thank you to Natalie Jordan for this great tip!)

You’re invited to bring your friends and join us for a night of dancing, music, and fun as we cruise around Boston Harbor and take in the sights by night! See Boston as you’ve never seen it before!

There will also be a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

When: Saturday, August 28th, 2010 4:30 pm -9:00 pm

Location: 1 Long Wharf, Boston MA

Ticket Price: $15.00 non-refundable ticket fee per au pair

The cruise sets sail promptly at 6:00 PM. Check in will begin at 4:30 PM.
Deadline to Register: Tickets will be sold on a first come - first served basis, you must register and submit payment by August 10th to reserve a ticket. Please be advised this event may sell out quickly and we encourage you to register and purchase tickets ASAP.

Click here to register!

Cultural Care Au Pair loves bringing host families and au pairs together to enjoy everything the organization has to offer. Although there have been some pretty fantastic events in the past, this one is bound to be one of the best yet!

Cultural Care Au Pair is thrilled to invite you to an evening of family fun and entertainment at Kimball Farm in Westford, Massachusetts. What better way to spend a summer evening than with bumper boats, miniature golf, ice-cream and more! This family entertainment package has a $20 value, but we are pleased to offer it to you for only $5 per person!

Not only will you and your kids have a fun filled evening, but our sponsors- John Hancock, Bay Colony Advisory Group, and Welsh & Parker Insurance- will be on site the day of the event offering advice on college savings plans, investments, and home and car insurance.

Here are the details: :
Date: Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Kimball Farm
400 Littleton Road
Westford, MA 01886
Click Here for Directions
Ticket Price: $5 (children under 4 are free!)
All ticket orders must be received by Sunday, July 18th

So buy your tickets and mark the calendars, you don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity!

We invite you to apply now to take advantage of the opportunity to save on our program. And, once you welcome your au pair into your home you will receive a Sony Blu-Ray disc player! The Blu-ray Disc player lets families watch movies together in full high-defition picture.

Apply to Cultural Care Au Pair from Thursday, July 15th - Tuesday, July 20th using promotion code, PCBR2010 to earn

YOUR TOTAL SAVINGS IS UP TO $1,000!

We hope that you will take advantage of this great savings and apply now for free.

*To qualify for this promotion, you must apply between July 15 and July 20, 2010 and welcome an au pair into your home by October 22, 2010. Selection fee of $275 must be paid at time of selection of au pair. Total waivers and discounts cannot exceed $650. Sony Blu-Ray disc player will be sent to host family within 30 days of au pair’s arrival to host family home. Sony Blu-Ray disc player cannot be substituted for cash, gift card, program fee discount or any other disc player.

Always supervise children when on playgrounds. Maintain visual and auditory contact at all times.

Ensure that children use age- and size-appropriate playground equipment.

Prevent unsafe behaviors like pushing, shoving, crowding and inappropriate use of equipment.

Continually enforce the rules of safe play.
Remove hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s clothing. Never allow children to wear necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings while on playgrounds.
Tie shoelaces to prevent tripping and entanglement in equipment and look for trip hazards on the playground.
Make sure that children use playground equipment in a safe manner.
Make sure the surface of any playground on which children are playing is safe.
Check for unsafe design elements on the playground. Examples are the following: open “S” hooks; equipment which is not securely anchored; openings between three and one half inches and nine inches which could allow head entrapment; inadequate spacing between equipment; platforms with no guard rails; and protrusions or sharp edges that could cut a child or catch a string or item of clothing.
Make sure playground is regularly maintained.

I will be offering a 2nd meeting this month (for all of you who couldn’t or didn’t want to come to the movie “Eclipse” or need to make up for a meeting you have missed in the past). Please remember that you are not allowed to miss more than 2 meetings in order to remain in good standing with the program and visa regulations.

So, please meet me in the little courtyard right next to Starbucks in Davis Square (Somerville) on Sunday, July 25th at 6-7:30pm. Davis Square is easily accessible by train (Red Line). This meeting will be free, “low-key” and a great opportunity for you to meet and connect with other au pairs. You are welcome to bring friends!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Marion