Commuting from, afterschool programs and school curriculum in Windham, Hollis and other nearby towns (Londonderry: home search)

[cmudak2009]

We are relocating to the area from out of state, and have been looking at Hollis and Windham, and my biggest challenge is before and after school care for my kids (3rd & 4th grades); I am wondering what other working parents in either town might do on days when there is early dismissal or when school is closed if having the kids stay at home is not an option. (Meanwhile I discovered Londonderry has a great before/afterschool program (as well as many other wonderful community aspects and offerings) and am including that area in our search now too). I don't want to eliminate Hollis and Windham as options until I fully understand what resources are available to the kids when Mom is away at work

Also, I will be commuting into Nutting Lake/Tewksbury (MA), so perspective on which location (Hollis, Windham, Londonderry or any other town) should be the easier commute would also be (immensely) helpful (I have been told Hwy 3 is a bear - but which part, above or below 495? is 128/38 an option?). Or would it be, not so much the specific town as a matter of how close a specific home might be to the expressway/travel route?

Additionally I am wondering if anyone knows what foreign language(s) might be offered at the elementary school level in Hollis. And, if other elementary schools in the general area might be offering foreign language (it appears Windham offers Spanish/French to the upper elementary grades).

Thank you in advance!
CC

[BF66389]

The drive from Hollis would be FAR better than Windham, straight shot down 3.

3 is worst inside of 128/95 (obviously). It also jams up a little just after the 495 merge, since you would be working just south of the 495 merge you could jump off 3 earlier and take a local road there...either way- I'd estimate 30 minutes as an average during PEAK traffic and not a bad drive at all (unless you are from somewhere like North Dakota so your frame of reference for traffic is very different than mine from NJ and VA/DC).

I do it everyday from Exit 7 in NH to just before 95/128...that drive takes about 25-45 minutes. The rest is getting to/from 3 and to/from my work (total commute runs 35-60 minutes).

93 is worse and getting down 93 then cutting west wouldn't be fun.

Hollis has better schools than Windham and I think it has a more defined town center. Don't get me wrong- Windham is great too...but that's what I've picked up and observed. I do not have kids so unfortunately I can't give you any firsthand info on languages, etc.

I would call the schools directly and ask...best answer you can get (about curriculum and after-school programs). I know there are many kids activities in the area (Hollis), no idea which are "structured/formal" or not...

[cmudak2009]

This is very helpful. I have been commuting most recently in Chicago and LA and - so to your point, it sounds like the paradigm of bad traffic may indeed me different. So, thank you for your perspective! I am very happy at the prospect of including Hollis in our home search!