Moving with kids

There really aren't any subdivisions as such where neighborhood kids get together like in the States. Houses are built sort of higgledy-piggely so count yourself lucky if your neighbors have children the same age as yours. Can't help with the other questions. There might be some moving stories that include kids in the link up above.

Hi Everyone:

Thanks to several of you and some research of my own, I am aware that when relocating to the USVI with kids it is advisable to include private school tuition in the budget-we're thinking most seriously about STT. Are there any readers of this board that have personal experiences they could share about making the move with school age children? Any special tips with regard to the school application process? How to help the kids wrap their heads around the move? Social activities or groups for them to get involved with and make new friends?

Also, I'm figuring that like here in New York, there must be some areas that are more "kid friendly." I read in another post about areas on STX that are more popular with "Continentals" with kids. Are there any similar areas on STT that we should look at?

Thanks.

Unfortunately, most people who can do better will not put their children into the Public School system....that being said, I graduated from St. Croix Central High and I went on to college and earned a Masters Degree in a highly technical field. There are a lot of distractions in the Public School system, and it takes a lot of parenting to ensure success...but that goes for any school.

OK...on St. Croix there are two private schools with stellar reputations: St. Croix Country Day School and Good Hope School. Both schools get close to 100 percent of their graduates into mainland colleges. They have very aggresive, efficient college counseling departments. The kids get into colleges ranging from Harvard to Darthmouth to ones you never heard of. The average tuition is about 9K per year, but it varies by grade. You should contact the school and verify. Country day School has a website www.stxcountryday.com.

There is no such thing as "kid friendly" areas here on St. Croix. The kids get together at each other's homes. Once a kid develops a circle of friends, he/she hangs out with that circle and they do things together. The trick is to monitor the circle and keep your kids away from the bad influences. Entertainment here is geared towards things you do at either your house or somebody else's house. We used to have rowdy nightclubs here that were frequented by kids (Hondo's comes to mind) but those places never survive on St. Croix. It is now all about getting together at somebody's house and watching the 60-inch plasma TV and playing with the PlayStation, Wii, etc. The kid has to be outgoing, make new friends, and then hang out with that circle. If you go to a school like Country Day or Good Hope, the racial makeup is very diverse. Your child will have kids of all races in his/her circle of friends. In the public schools, the racial demographic is less diverse.

Country Day School will test your child to determine his/her academic status. They also have tuition assistance. If you get a job with the school your child's tuition gets waivered. However, the turnaround rate is very low.

You may want to do some more research and also consider St. Croix. Do not worry too much about the fear-mongering on this board about crime. There is a certain way that you move to the Virgin Islands, and I run the risk of getting flamed for saying this but that's OK, if I can help somebody.

My criteria:

1. Know your budget. The place where you live will have the most impact on your stay here. This is not the place to try to move to and live on the cheap.

2. Select your neighborhood very carefully. Try to find a balance between the flat-out ostentatious neighborhoods like Shoys (on St. Croix) and the neighborhoods that are more modest. If you go live someplace simply because the rent was cheap, you may have undesirable elements living too close for your comfort. If you go for some ostentatious neighborhood you run the risk of appearing to be seeking exclusivity. Look for a peaceful, established neighborhood where the residents take pride in their properties. A good example is Estate St. George on St. Croix. You will see well-tended lawns, nice homes, and no burglar bars.

3. Be self-contained as far as entertainment. You have to possess the capacity to enjoy simple things, like spending evening at home with your family. There are no huge iMax theaters here, the shopping malls are smaller than some stateside strip malls, and a lot of things you take for granted do not exist here.

4. Remember that people who have lived in the continental United States are unbelievably spoiled, and don't realize it. Imagine having to wait for weeks to get your telephone service. There is only one cable company on St. croix, so you may have to get a satellite dish. You may not find some of your favorite products in the supermarket, and the produce section may make you burst into tears. If you are used to having every convenience imaginable at your fingertips you will not be happy here.

5. Cultivate positive people for friends. You will find a lot of negative people here.

6. Remember that it is NOT paradise. The Eagles said it best in the song "The Last resort"...'if you call someplace 'paradise', kiss it goodbye"

hmmm...some very sage advice there, Native Son...

native son, i dont know if anone could have said it better

Thanks, aussie...how are you doing today?

native son, i dont know if anone could have said it better

Thanks for the compliment 🙂

Thanks for asking, Native Son! Please see my post on another thread.

RedEye,
Moving with kids is like an experience you will never believe. We have just moved from NC to the beautiful island of St. John with 3
{count em} 3 teenagers. 15,16 & 18. But so far they have done very well in the adjustment. We have had a few whimpers and complaints but we remind them constantly of how lucky they are to have an experience such as this. There is not too many places on STJ for the youth to gather except school so we are checking out various alternatives like the St. John School of the Arts and church activities.
May I ask how old your children are? We included our kids in "everything" before we arrived on island and they were involved in most of the travel and logistical maneuverings. And we rented a home with a pool- that seemed to put a smile on their faces too. Keep positive and roll right over the bumps in the road when they show up.

Jan

For St. Thomas, here is a link to Sts. Peter & Paul School http://www.spps.vi/ and on the link above that says "Schools" you'll find links to Antilles & I think the Montessori school. The private schools here on St. Thomas are VERY good.

Thanks everyone!

Kids are 10 & 13.

I'd be happy to read what anyone else has to say also.