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After 9 years in the exurban wilderness outside Houston, I've had it altogether with the culture / heat / humidity, and between my daughter (a young teenager) and I, we've finally prevailed upon DH for a move to New England. I've been reading here for a couple of weeks (and researching hard online), in preparation for a trip up in June for a closer look. We will likely be focusing on the Amherst / Mont Vernon area.
Moving with a young teen, though, brings its own set of challenges. We haven't decided whether it makes sense to move this year (going into 8th grade), or waiting a year until our daughter is ready to enter high school.
Is there anyone on these forums who has a teen currently in this school system? I have lots of questions.... like...
Is there much emphasis on / community support for sports? And related to that, where does the HS swim team practice? (Is there a natatorium at the high school?)
What's the teen culture like? One of the things we're trying to get away from is the upscale-suburban focus on commercialism, and the hostile climate that creates.
What activities are there for young people in the Amherst / Mont Vernon area?
I'm sure you'll get more informative replies from people here on CD who live in Amherst (i don't), but I can say that there is an emphasis on sports in Amherst schools - and what is not offered through school may be offered through Amherst's Recreation programs. My kids have been participating in Amherst's track & field which offers quality coaching. here's the Rec. Dept. link - looks like you can even see their HS sports schedule: MyRecDept.com (http://www.myrecdept.com/nh/amherst/default2.asp - broken link)
You will find quality sports and other opportunities for your young teen.
Personally I hated anything before high school but LOVED high school so my take is that I imagine that moving during 8th grade would work the best; for 3 reasons:
1) 8th Grade was the "easiest" year of middle school because you were the "oldest"
2) She'd make some friends BEFORE entering high school
3) Since Amherst/Mont Vernon share schools (not sure about middle schools, but if they are separate), starting in 8th grade would give her some "association" to a local past.
I'd also guess that getting her active in something ASAP would be the fastest way to make friends once you move here...so if you moved here over the summer before 9th but she could start something immediately...that would probably be fine too.
Just my 2 cents, but you know your child and I'm not even a parent.
Just my 2 cents, but you know your child and I'm not even a parent.
LOL!!! That hit me funny, cuz you're bang-on right even if you're not a parent. Yes, getting her involved in the sports she's familiar with, right out of the gate, is exactly what I'm thinking will get her up and running quickest. She competes in both volleyball and swimming, year round. Not sure how that will translate there yet, but it's a big driver.
lisa g -- I checked the link, thanks! Looks like they have a summer swim team running (that's always fun!) -- and I saw stuff I'd like to do as well.
Thanks so much! Hopefully somebody local will be able to help with the some of the other questions.
Glad to be of service. I will say that anything pre-middle school is just sports-lite when compared to kids sports in a warmer climate so good thing you are moving your child now and not in elementary school if sports is a consideration!
I have heard the Y in Merrimack offers good swim instruction/swim team, but I have also heard there are boogers in the pool there...
Also, many S NH schools have wonderful music instruction, bands, jazz bands, marching bands...really very good, if you are interested.
I have three daughters in the Amherst school system. One is graduating Souhegan, one is going into junior year, and one will be in 8th grade at AMS next year. Amherst is a really good sports town. My kids have played field hockey, lacrosse, skiing, swim teams, basketball, and volleyball at different levels. Souhegan has a good swim program; I believe that anyone who wants to be on the team can be; no cuts. The school does not have a pool and practices are at Hampshire Hills. Welcome to Hampshire Hills - Your Partner in Health and Fitness A lot of people in town belong to Jasper Valley (Jasper Valley Swim & Tennis Club - Amherst, New Hampshire for the summer which has a good swim team as does Hampshire Hills. You can swim year round if you want.
I would not see any problem moving here and starting 8th grade. NH people are friendly and many people are from somewhere else. Mont Vernon has its own school for K - 6 and they come to AMS in 7th grade and then go to Souhegan.
Teen culture is probably like most places. I don't see it as overly commercial as Amherst is more rural than suburban; Nashua and Manchester are not really large cities.
Along with Souhegan (varsity, JV, freshman), there are independent teams such as Hard Rock. HardRock Volleyball Club 2008-2009 My daughter played on that team for a couple of years.
Let me know if you have any other questions...
seamusnh, thank you VERY much! The vb club link made my daughter oh-so happy! And learning that the HS swim team practices at Hampshire Hills helps a lot! HH seems to have a year-round competitive swim team as well? I'm going to call them today.
I need to call the school district as well, since there appear to be some fairly profound curricular differences. Souhegan HS's approach is fascinating, and I think it would suit my dau. well. However, the 8th gr. looks totally different from what she'd be doing here if we wait a year -- and we may very well have to do just that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seamusnh
Teen culture is probably like most places. I don't see it as overly commercial as Amherst is more rural than suburban; Nashua and Manchester are not really large cities.
I used the wrong word, I think. What's really bugging me about this area is consumerism (rather than commercialism). In spite of the economic downturn, the kids here are fairly obsessed w/ designer labels, cellphones, and texting -- and the middle school "drama" that haunts those years is totally overwhelming. Many ugly incidents and bullying.
I also see what I can only think of as "entitlement" attitudes in the teens here, and I'm kind of hoping that's a function, too, of the immediate environment. What's your impression of your area in this regard?
You're probably directing this question to seamusnh, but as a Hollis parent I can't help but comment on teen culture, consumerism, entitlement attitude, etc. In neighboring Hollis, it does exist among teens, however I would not say any of that is widespread - it is nothing compared to the teen culture in SoCal - which included some scary race wars as well. Remember that it is more rural here than your Houston suburb, agricultural communities which turned into bedroom communities, populated by the most serious sports fans I have encountered, a huge emphasis on kids sports.
The teen attitudes you describe are a function of the immediate environment - which is created by parents too lazy to impose responsibility on kids while providing a constant flow of stuff. Don't mean to turn this into a rant but parents create these spoiled kids. I can say that my son's nicest friends have chores and responsibilities at home, but none of my daughter's friends have any...I suppose this happens in many communities, but the more urban/commercial, the more rampant. Many families here live on large properties, some with barns, which require good old fashioned hard work to maintain through the seasons - probably more kids here get their hands dirty than in an urban suburb. At least I am hoping so.
Again, as a non-parent; I can only share my experiences as a resident of a neighboring but similar socio-economic town:
First- cell phones & texting are everywhere; they aren't really a function of culture/environment so much as a new form of communication. That said- when we were at a Memorial Day function yesterday the teens who were there were not pounding away on their cell phones, likewise I don't see kids texting away while eating with their parents at restaurants. So in short- kids text...but *most* kids I've seen in the area have not been doing so at innapropriate times.
Second- on entitlement: I see plenty of kids working and have gotten 2 fliers from kids looking to mow lawns/walk dogs, etc. While this doesn't necessarily say much about entitlement; it does at least show kids trying to get out there and get money on their own...we don't have many neighbors with that age children- so getting 2 fliers is actually a pretty large percentage of the kids.
In short it really boils down to parenting. Some have taken the lessons "give your kids a better/easier life than you had" of our depression-era grandparents a little too far; while others have continued to teach the values of hard work. Culturally I think Hollis at least still places value on individual hard-work. Parents might be financially able to offer more to their children due to the towns in question, but I also see the kids doing their part to a large extent. IE- there is nothing wrong with a kid getting a new car (new cars ARE safer for the most part); as long as the kid is also doing their part to earn what they get...
I've also noticed more brand consciousness amoung the less financially able (mainly in parts of MA); this always blows my mind...
I also see what I can only think of as "entitlement" attitudes in the teens here, and I'm kind of hoping that's a function, too, of the immediate environment. What's your impression of your area in this regard?
Teens are exposed to the consumerism and entitlement culture via cable TV, the internet, etc. so that is a given everywhere. It comes down to parenting. The schools can help. Souhegan High:
The local girl scouts have some charitable initiatives as does our local church which has a teen fast for social action each year and a crop walk....
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