STX Bound - Soon - Help!!

Hello Iw,

Has your husband located a guest house or inn to stay at for a few days/weeks while he finds an apartment?

Have you began the teacher search? If you click on Home at the top of this very page and then click on schools/education you will find links to the Dept. of Education district sites and to private schools that have web sites. You can find application/employment information on those sites or at least contact information.

I had an Aggie contact on St. Croix, can't find it right now. Will get back to you.

--Islander

Hello Islander (&all),

Thank you for your response - my husband has not yet located a place to stay - he's thinking about the Pink Fancy for a few days -until he can get a better feel - if you know of somthing else; please let us know.

I have begun my job search -I will make a brief visit second week of May, and hope to make some contacts. Thank you for the local education info.!

I did have a question - My children 2nd & Kindergarten next year will attend school. I have read that the private chools are preferable - is this only Good Hope & Country Day, or are there others? How are the public schools for elementary?

Also, what is the community like on StX - We have lived in a small town- (with no diversity), and I grew up in Canada with lots of different cultures - I would like for my children to benefit from a cultural diversity - my daughter currently attends a Montessori School where diversity abounds! This has been a very positive experience - I would like to continue on this path.

We are extremely excited about the prospect of relocating - just have to make it to June - We are a family that enjoys being together - We've done the workaholic-so we can have a bigger house-and go on better vacation-than our neighbors-thing! - THAT IS NO WAY TO LIVE LIFE! We are coming with no delusions - We know that we will downsize and simplify - We can't wait!

Look forward to meeting all of you who have been so inspirational! Thank You!
lw

Hey lw,
We arrive on STX on the 16th (yes I should be packing right now) and we also have 2 young children. My dd will be in 2nd grade next school year and my ds will be 4 in August.
There are a few other schools, secular and religious, besides Good Hope and Country Day.
I think we are pretty much set on continuing homeschooling, and I am going to do my best to organize some kind of support group...so, perhaps you could add homeschooling to your list of educational options.
If you like Montessori, maybe the Manor School would be a good option? I can't find much info online, but it was listed on a Montessori website, so who knows.

Best Wishes,
Brandy

Do you know if many people home school there children on STX? Any home schooling groups?

Hi Stephanie! I don't know any homeschoolers other than us yet, but we have only been here since April 16th. I have some flyers ready to be posted in public places about homeschooling with my contact info and website.

We visited 3 "good" private schools and I was truly unimpressed with any of them. I am spoiled though, I will admit, by our joys in homeschooling and having excellent public schools back home to make a comparison.

Feel free to PM me or email me at stxhsmom@yahoo.com

: )
Brandy

Hi Stephanie and Brandy,

We are planning a move in the next year with our 5 year old, 2 year old and new baby. I'm trying to keep in touch with other families who are also moving with young children. We were thinking that we will be sending our kids to the St. Croix Country Day School.

We thought of homeschooling, but we thought it might be just too crazy for us! We have heard good reviews of Country Day, but have not visited. I have to say I am disappointed to hear that Brandy was unimpressed. I'm a little concerned now. What were your concerns Brandy?

Stephanie, what age are your children and when are you planning to move?

Kat

Hello Brandy,

Could you give a more expanded review of your thoughts on the schools you visited; what was good, bad, what didn't impress you, what did, what were the teachers or adminstrators like that you met with, the campus etc...

Thank you,
--Islander

Hey Islander : )

I have my notes, but they are in the car which is at work with my husband today. I will give you a brief review now, though. All the representatives were very nice, and were able to answer all of our questions well.
I have to say again, I am spoiled by the public and private schools back home.

All of the campuses were about the same as far as general condition. The Country Day campus does have the swimming pool used by the STX Dolphins swim team on it. My overall impression of the campuses was that of a summer camp. I have no idea why I remembered this, but the layout and the kid art made me think of old Camp Greenhill in Texas.

The thing I didn't like about AZ Academy was that the grounds are shared with a plant nursery. Call me weird, but I don't like the idea of strangers/customers coming and going at will so close to young children.

All of the schools really emphasized admissions testing, and that puts me off a bit. I don't feel that testing is a very good measure of a child's academic future, but more a reflection on what's happening with the child on the testing day.

None of the schools were able to accommodate my requests for individualized instruction based on achievement levels. For example, my 6yo reads very well, on a 5th grade level. She is average for maths. There would be no advanced class to challenge her with reading.

The AZ Academy did cap the class sizes at either 9 or 10 students per class, which is great! Country Day and Good Hope both had a really wide range of non-academic activities.

One of the schools mentioned Everyday Math, which I don't like. I can't remember which, though! It's a spiral math program rather than a mastery program. Like "new" math. You either love it or hate it.

I know this isn't a great review, each person really should go and get a feel for the schools since I went in with what most people consider 'weird' criteria. We love homeschooling and I feel that the private schools here can't come close to the academic superiority, if you will, of one-on-one customized education.

Ummm...costs: Good Hope and Country Day, both are approximately $840 per mo or so plus fees and AZ Academy would run closer to $700 per mo with the fees.

Hope this helps a bit : )
Brandy

Thanks Brandy 🙂

How did your weekend exploration/house trip over on the east end go?

--Islander

We went lookng, but it poured rain on us! Looking out over the water and seeing the rain clouds was really pretty! I had to stop and take pictures.

We are still looking for a house to rent, though. We couldn't get up the hills in the rain. Well, we probably could have but I chickened out : )

Brandy