Jody Brookman - Local Au Pair Childcare Expert providing childcare solutions for the Metro Philadelphia Area.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday night, January 20th at 7:45 pm at the Rink at Old York Road for our annual ice skating party! For only $7 admission fee you can skate for 2 hours — this includes your skate rental fee. It’s lots of fun when they turn up the music and you grab a friend and skate around. Many au pairs are even on the ice for the first time. Be sure to dress warmly and bring some extra cash for a hot chocolate from The snack bar. Friends are always welcome!

Friday, January 20, 2012

The Rink at Old York Road

www.oyrsc.com

8116 Church Road

Elkins Park, PA 19046

215-635-0661

$7.00 group rate includes skate time and ice skate rental

Free parking is available at the lower lot next to Wall Park. You will need to cross the badge by foot to access the Rink.

English as a Second Language Classes for Fall 2011:

Improve Your Vocabulary
Improve Your Speaking & Listening Skills
Improve Your Writing and Conversational Skills
Enjoy a stress free environment while meeting classmates from other countries!
Enjoy small classes and personalized attention from experienced and patient instructors!

Register two weeks prior to first class and receive early bird discount
10% discount to chamber members
20% discount to Manor alumni

Registration Instructions

English as a Second Language for Academic Purposes
Basic essay writing class for the non-native English speaker. Improve your basic writing skills from a paragraph to essay. Weekly writing homework required.
DATE:  Mondays, Sept. 19 - Dec. 5
TIME:   6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SESSIONS: 12
FEE:  $320/$300 Early Bird            
INSTRUCTOR: George Bezanis, M.Ed.
TEXTBOOK REQUIRED:  (Purchased the first night of class at college bookstore)

English as a Second Language I
This English class is for the real beginner who speaks very little or no English. Learn basic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through small and large group activities.
DATE:  Thursdays, Sept. 22 - Dec. 22  No class Sept. 29  No class Nov. 24
TIME:   6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SESSIONS: 12
FEE:   $320/$300 Early Bird
INSTRUCTOR:  Olena Pawluk, M.S.
TEXTBOOK REQUIRED:  (Purchased the first night of class at college bookstore)

English as a Second Language II
Gain confidence in your use of everyday English by improving your listening and speaking skills. Expand your English vocabulary and improve your conversational skills through interactive small and large group activities.
DATE: Thursdays, Sept. 22 - Dec. 22   No class Sept. 29   No class Nov. 24
TIME:  6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SESSIONS:  12
FEE:   $320/$300 Early Bird
INSTRUCTOR: Stephanie Zangwill, M.P.S.
TEXTBOOK REQUIRED:  (Purchased the first night of class at college bookstore)

Manor College

telephone # 215.885.2360    

700 Fox Chase Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046

In an effort to help keep everyone feeling cool in the summer heat, our August au pair meeting will be at Ice Creations Cafe in Jenkintown, on Wednesday evening, August 17, at 7 p.m.  Ice Creations has ice cream, gelato, water ice, and various coffee drinks and pastries. 

The Cafe is located at 620 Greenwood Avenue in the heart of Jenkintown, across the street from Rhinoceros Toys.  The direct phone number there is 267-627-2781. There is plenty of parking at meters on the street.
 
SAVE-THE-DATE: Our September meeting will be a Back-to-School Safety meeting on Wednesday evening, September 21.  
 
Stay cool! See you soon — Jody

July Au Pair Meeting at Local Art Center:

Please join us on Thursday, July 14th - beginning at 7 p.m. for a free Concert at Alverthorpe Manor in Jenkintown, PA. The event will feature live music from The Large Flowerheads, a band playing 60’s style music — Abington Art Center is on 515 Meetinghouse Road in Jenkintown. Bring a blanket or towel and a picnic dinner and relax on the grass. We’ll have snacks and enjoy the summer time fun. Any questions? Contact Jody at 215-880-9918 or jody.brookman@lcc.culturalcare.com.

The Large Flowerheads enthusiastically bring to life the musical sights and sounds of the ‘60s. Enjoy classic hits from Motown, the British Invasion, American ‘60s Pop, and even some Psychedelic Rock. Relive the days of Flower Power, when peace and love were in the air, and everything was groovy.

For more information visit: www.abingtonartcenter.org

At our recent au pair meeting at my home we discussed the importance of water safety this summer. Following are important tips provided by the Red Cross that will prove useful for all as we prepare for summer vacation 2011 and trips to our local pools and to the beach.

The Red Cross recommends people always swim in areas with lifeguard protection.  In addition, adults should constantly supervise children no matter how well they can swim, how shallow the water or whether or not there are lifeguards.

Always practice safe habits in and around the water.  In addition to swimming with a buddy in a supervised area, the Red Cross recommends you follow these simple tips:

• Check the water first if someone is missing.
• If someone is in the water and needs help, reach or throw something out to them - don’t go in unless you are trained.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well.  Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and swim classes as well as first aid and CPR courses to learn what to do.
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Actively supervise children whenever around water - even if lifeguards are present.  Avoid distractions.

The Red Cross offers swim lessons for kids of all ages, starting with parent and child water orientation classes for children as young as 6 months to about 3 years old, preschool lessons for children about 4-5 years old, and learn-to-swim lessons for children about age 6 through adults. For more details, visit http://www.redcross.org/.

Beat the heat and join me for an Ice Cream Social at my home on Tuesday, July 7th, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. 

I look forward to hosting our local au pairs at my house on Tuesday night!

Bring yourself or bring a friend — we’ll supply the ice cream. It will be a fun way to celebrate the start of summer.

See you soon…

– Jody

(215) 880-9918

Register Now for ESL Classes at Manor College in Jenkintown, PA

Summer English Class Information at Manor College:
700 Fox Chase Road
Jenkintown, PA 19046

www.manor.edu

telephone information: 215-884-2218 

 
English as a Second Language - Level I

This class is for the real beginner who speaks very little or no English. Students will learn basic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through small and large group activities.
DATE: Thursdays, June 2 - August 18
TIME: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
FEE: $300
SESSIONS: 12 (Hours 36)
INSTRUCTOR: Olena Pawluk, M.S.
TEXTBOOK REQUIRED (Purchased the first night of class at college bookstore.)

 
English as a Second Language - Level II

Gain confidence in your use of everyday English by improving your listening and speaking skills. Expand your English vocabulary and improve your conversational skills through interactive small and large group activities.
DATE: Thursdays, June 2 - August 18
TIME: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm   
FEE: $300
SESSIONS: 12 (Hours 36)
INSTRUCTOR: Stephanie Zangwill, M.P.S.
TEXTBOOK REQUIRED (Purchased the first night of class at college bookstore.)

Please contact me with questions: 215-880-9918.

Cultural Care Au Pair Launches Monthly Payment Plan Pilot in Pennsylvania!

GREAT NEWS FOR PENNSYLVANIA HOST FAMILIES … a Monthly Payment Plan with lower upfront costs and extended payment plan is now available for our local families.  While the Au pair program has always been one of the most affordable child care options for families, Cultural Care has made it even more accessible to Pennsylvania families by offering a payment plan option that allows families to pay the program fee in monthly installments.

Under our Monthly Payment Plan (MPP), a family’s payment schedule includes:

     *      Application fee of $75
     *      Selection fee of $275 due upon finalling
     *      $1495 + domestic transportation fee, due 30 days before the au pair’s arrival
     *      8 monthly installments of $760, starting 1 month after the au pair’s arrival

Any eligible discounts would be applied to the final payment of $760 except applicable application fee waivers ($75).   Please note, the discount cap in Pennsylvania, should you choose this payment plan is $500.   As always, referral discounts do not apply to the maximum discount amount, but will also be applied to the final payment.

If you have any questions about the new pilot payment plan option, please call Local Coordinator, Jody Brookman at: 215-880-9918.

 Hip Hop Dance Party
 
Sunday, April 10th, 2011

We are having our second annual Hip Hop Dance Party at Zero Gravity Dance Company. We’ll have lots of fun as Miss Liz teaches us a few new moves for a hip hop routine. Snacks will be provided. Please bring a water bottle and be sure to wear your sneakers. 

 
Zero Gravity Dance Studio — *******located in the basement level of the building
 
8080 Old York Road — Elkins Park Square — where Fitness 19 is located and the Marco Polo Restaurant. There is plenty of free parking.
 
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME AT 1:00 PM — Allow for extra time to find the dance studio which is located in THE BASEMENT — There will be signs posted!)
 
 
Cost = $5 per person (this is to be paid if you dance or not)
 
Check out the web-site:
http://zerogravitydance.com/index.html

See you Sunday at 1:00 p.m.!
 
Jody