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WaywardChildren Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 11 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3
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Posted: Jan 21 2007 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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Hi ladies -
I have been on the CatholicCM list in the past but am new to the bulletin board format.
I am in need of some help - it looks as if our family will be making a move to Connecticut (we are now in Texas) where my husband will be commuting to New York City to work.
I am trying to gather all the information I can and am looking for other Catholic homeschoolers in CT so I can ask some questions.
Two of my children have special needs, one is medically fragile so I need to be near to a children's hospital - I will have to find all new doctors and have questions about the homeschool community and resources available what type of resources are available in the state for children with special needs. Here, she is homebound and we have a teacher who come to our home, we work together (I have the best of both worlds for this child.)
I am wondering if there are any particularly good school districts to work with in the state. Are there any particularly good cities to live in? Are there any cities I should avoid all together? Why is West Haven cheaper than the surrounding areas?
We are looking along the south end of the state, no further east than New Haven - is that a good part of the state to live in? My dh wants to take the amtrack train into the city for work, so how far north can we live that will allow him to make a reasonable commute?
As you can see, I have many, many questions and more will be coming so, if there is anyone here from that area - HELP!!!!!
Paz;
Kimberly
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hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
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Posted: Jan 21 2007 at 3:54pm | IP Logged
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Kimberly -
I don't live in Connecticut, but I did at one time. Having access to Yale-New Haven hospital is probably a good idea for you. It is in New Haven (that's kind of obvious) and is an excellent medical center. West Haven is maybe a little more run down than some places, but it certainly has nice sections. Much of the housing in Connecticut is older, with many lovely streets with mature trees and a real *town* feel about it. Almost every town has some kind of town green, like a park in the central part of the town. You will have 4 distinct seasons of nearly equal length, which I enjoyed. I don't know about the homeschooling situation as I lived there before children, but I'm sure there are others who can help you with that -- maybe Noreen?
Best wishes as you prepare to relocate.
Peace,
Nancy
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kingvozzo Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005 Location: Maine
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2653
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Posted: Jan 21 2007 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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Kimberley, I've been meaning to post all day, but have been running all around...
We moved back to CT in mid-2005. We were in New Haven for 2 years, but we're a bit further north now, just a bit south of Hartford. My oldest was born at Yale-New Haven--it's reputation is well-deserved. Although, I will add, we have CT Children's Medical Center up here in Hartford, just for comparison's sake
Where in TX are you? We were down there for the 6 years in between our CT jaunts
I believe the communter line ends in New Haven. There are some really nice towns along the line, although that's one of the pricier parts of the state to live in, because one can still live there and commute to NYC.
I'm not familiar at all with the school districts, but I imagine they'd be pretty forthcoming with info once you get a tighter focus on where you might be.
My thoughts are a bit jumbled at the moment, but pm me, please. I'd love to be able to help answer some more questions!
__________________ Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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Hi Kim -
I am a CT native, but moved to VA after college. I grew up in New Haven county. CT is a pretty liberal state -- most of the Catholics don't vote their faith. However, there are TONS of beautiful old churches. (Saint Mary's in New Haven run by the Dominicans right in the heart of Yale is beautiful!)
New Haven is a great old city -- I worked in at the Knights of Columbus in New Haven for six summers (88 - 92). At that time, there were some dangerous sections and they had shootings in certain neighborhoods. So make sure you ask your real estate agent about the neighborhood etc. As said, West Haven is a little more run down. And as far as cities to avoid, I've never heard good things about Bridgeport.
People from New Haven do commute to NYC, but it is more common for people in Fairfield county (but Fairfield County is much more expensive). The commuter train is called Metro North - I'm sure they have train times listed (I'm not sure where in NYC your husband will work).
My mom had no trouble homeschooling -- but she was also a public school teacher and knew half the school board in our town -- Cheshire. She would get together once a month with other homeschoolers on first Friday. I wish I had more homeschooling connections for you -- but it's been almost ten years since my brother was homeschooled.
Good luck!
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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WaywardChildren Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 11 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3
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Posted: Jan 23 2007 at 7:18am | IP Logged
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Thank you ladies,
Your information has been so helpful. My husband is in CT and NY this week working on a project and looking around, so I am able to pass on what you have told me.
Paz,
Kimberly
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mom2mpr Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1550
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Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 2:12pm | IP Logged
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Kimberly,
Stratford is nice and "commutable" to NYC. There is a MetroNorth station in the center of town. I grew up there and still have family there. The schools are good and there are great resources for special needs kids. You would be about 20 minutes to Yale-New Haven Hospital and if needed could use some NYC hospitals. Bridgeport Hospital is now aligned with Yale so if you are in that area and choose to use Bridgeport you have the Yale connection. I wouldn't go much further than Stratford or Milford along the coast because it is quite a long commute-even on the train. Other decent places to live include Milford(train station), Shelton(no train), Trumbull(no train), Danbury area(has a train station-but I don't know a lot about that area) and that is all I can think of right now. Bridgeport is not necessarily a great place to live. There are nice sections but it doesn't have a good reputation and taxes are high and it is a high crime city. If you were going to live there I would recommend renting over buying and making sure you were in a decent location.
I have little info on homeschooling but could get some as a CT friend was looking into it a few years ago and might still have contacts and resources. She has some homeschooling friends. My ds was only 1 when we left and it was just an "idea" to me then.
I'd be happy to help if you need more info.
Anne
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hmbress Forum Pro
Joined: April 19 2007 Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline Posts: 313
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Posted: March 31 2009 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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Any Connecticut moms who can help me with questions I have regarding a possible move to Windsor (Hartford area)? If so, please see this post.
Thanks a ton.
__________________ Heather Rose (ds13, ds10)
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