<p>warriorboy -- we will have to compare teachers/times/etc once we are closer to August and the schedules are more set. Interesting that both boys are in Honors Geo and Honors Spanish II.</p>
<p>How much Spanish has your son had? I am hoping it isn't too hard or too easy for my son.</p>
<p>When looking into flights, definitely consider Southwest Airlines. You can get some pretty cheap fares, they fly out of Denver and into Bradley Airport (Hartford/Springfield), Manchester, NH and Albany, NY (all reasonably close to NMH - I think Bradley is the closest, but I'm not certain) and it's an incredibly reliable airline.</p>
<p>There is also a shuttle service from Bradley to various locations in the area, called Valley Transporter. I know they do go to Northfield but I don't know how often or how much it would cost. It might be expensive; still, it's probably a good option in terms of getting your son to school on his own. They have a website so you could Google them for more info.</p>
<p>Bradley is closest to NMH, then Albany. Manchester does have Southwest, but it is located north of Boston, so better for schools in New Hampshire, than NMH.</p>
<p>The Manchester, Vermont outlets do have some good stores.</p>
<p>And, I am sure that a lot of kids, particularly international ones, and those from far away, will be arriving without parents. Don't worry, we adults who will be there dropping off kids will be happy to "adopt" and assist others as needed. :)</p>
<p>Does anybody know if we get to request a dorm or if they choose it for us?</p>
<p>And do I have to be in Honors Algebra 1 to go into Honors Geometry, because they don't offer Honors at my school, but I want to be in Honors next year?</p>
<p>It takes us a little over an hour to get to Bradley and 1 1/2 hours to get to Manchester. I've never used Bradley, but my first choice is always Manchester. If you have a boarding pass, you can make your flight even if you show up at the last minute. It's the easiest airport there is. I should add, though, that we don't fly to get to NMH...if we did, I would use Bradley because of the proximity.</p>
<p>stef...what has your son done in Spanish so far? My son had complete Spanish I and II; I had him request Honors Spanish II because I remembered how much more difficult the NMH courses were than our public school from when my older son attended. My son was not bored; it was an appropriate selection for him.</p>
<p>I flew into Bradley when I went to the revisit day and it was very easy. To get there from SF you have to go to Houston and then to Bradley or to Chicago. If you're from Colorado than it would probably be easier to do a connecting flight, especially since there aren't many directs from the west to Bradley since it is a small airport.</p>
<p>My son has taken 2 full years of Spanish at a pretty rigorous private day school. I assume that the placement test will give them an idea of whether this is an appropriate placement.</p>
<p>jazlyntrue - Did you take the math placement test? I would call the office of student affairs about your placement if you have any concerns. My son's school has students take Algebra I then Algebra II. He took them in 7th and
8th grade. (It's a 7-12 school.) They were both HS honors classes so I really expect him to be prepared to do honors geometry. </p>
<p>I'm a little concerned about the English. This was his area of weakness this year so I hope he is prepared!!! He psyched about taking the computer class. I thought that he should take the acting class, but it wasn't my decision.</p>
<p>keylyme - Is there any issue with the kids getting enough history in by the time they graduate. Do you think colleges look at religiuos studies as a type of history???</p>
<p>I just read the note attached to the Spanish Placement test and it mentions a phone call at a later date to determine the students ability to speak the language. That'll be interesting. I'm not sure how verbal he is.</p>
<p>warriorboy -- did you actually get a spanish placement test, or just a form for the teacher to fill out with info on what had been covered? My son didn't get any type of an actual test.</p>
<p>they did tell us, when we asked about placement during the revisit, that the Spanish teacher usually calls in late July to talk to them (mostly in Spanish, I guess) to check the placement. I can't imagine that most kids going into Spanish II would be very verbal -- so I wouldn't worry too much. I am a little worried that she may think my son is ready for a higher placement. He had one semester of intro Spanish (just fun stuff -- colors, food, etc), one year of strong Spanish in 7th grade and then 8th grade was a new teacher -- and he learned almost nothing!</p>
<p>This summer he is going to the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy in California for 4 weeks to study Spanish. The kids take a language pledge where they agree to speak nothing but Spanish. It ends in late July -- I have a feeling that if the teacher calls him at the end of those 4 weeks (when he will be used to speaking in Spanish constantly) that he may sound better than he is (or what he will remember come spring semester). I am just hoping he learns enough to take Spanish II Honors, instead of repeating Spanigh I again.</p>
<p>My son's math teacher was very strong (and he had her for all 3 years of middle school) so I think he will do fine in math class, but I have the same concerns for English -- definitely his weakest area. He only wrote 2 papers (and they were only 3 pages long) in 8th grade. I am seriously thinking we are going to contact the learning center (or whatever NMH calls it) and see if we can get someone to work with him on a regular basis for English and also for time management (his other weakness). </p>
<p>jazlyn -- I can't remember what grade you are going into. 9th graders are assigned to specific dorms and assigned roommates. I don't know about upper grade levels.</p>
<p>Smiledog, BrooklynGuy, and everyone else with suggestions and information -- thanks! I think I will be able to manage to get him dropped off this year -- I am going to do my best to afford it and I have a contingency plan in place (thanks again neatoburrito!) I don't plan to pick him up at the end of the year, nor will I plan to drop him off in 10th grade. I figure that by then, he knows the school, has friends, etc -- and I won't need to spend 1K+ just to drop him off. We will just plan on visiting during parent days in later years. We are trying to convince his grandparents to visit him at NMH during one of the parent weekends (there are 3), which would save us some money and he would still have someone there to see him.</p>
<p>My son received an actual paper test. The top of it says for students who have completed Spanish I. It had questions on both sides and he needed to write a paragraph. We just got it a week ago. I thought that my son might be better off taking Spanish Honors I so it wouldn't be as difficult. I'm not sure what the work load will be like. He'd prefer to go into Spanish II. He'd rather work a little harder. (He's not his mother's child.)</p>
<p>Well, we haven't gotten that yet -- but perhaps it is in the mail. My son would rather not work too hard -- he wants to be able to manage the work without sweating bullets. I think Spanish II Honors would be the best -- he picks up stuff quickly and will have 2 1/2 years of Spanish plus the 4 week summer program (which is supposed to be equal to a year of high school spanish) and then he will spend 3 weeks in Spain over christmas break.</p>
<p>I guess if it is too easy, they can move him up -- and if it is too hard, they can move him down.</p>
<p>hsmomstef - Wow! I just read the info about what your son is doing this summer for Spanish. He may be ready for Spanish 3. Is he visiting someond during Xmas break or is he going there to study?</p>
<p>I can't get my son to do anything during the summer unless it involves soccer or lacrosse. </p>
<p>We did get the results of his placement test and he was placed in the Spanish II honors, but now I'm worried about how he will compare to kids like your son who are doing language intensives...</p>
<p>Consider yourselves lucky. I can't get D to even complete the Spanish placement test. She says it's not due until the 21st, what's the rush. If pushed she says, hey, I'm not a nerd like you guys.</p>
<p>I can't believe I was upset at her going away. Now, August 28 can't come soon enough...LOL</p>
<p>I laughed so hard when I read your comments laxtaxi. My son makes comments like this all the time. I suggested that he do something during the summer of an intellectual nature and gave examples of what others were doing. His response was that "he had a life and obviously these other kids didn't" He is pretty busy with his Select lacrosse team. Is your daughter going to be a freshman? Tell her take the test because classes can fill up or there could be a conflict!! It sounds like our kids could be friends.</p>
<p>hahaha. that's exactly how my conversations with my dad went about the paperwork.</p>
<p>No, D will be in 10th. Spouse and I have a strategy for the Spanish test and for the summer reading. </p>
<p>Spanish test strategy is unoriginal. </p>
<p>D: "Mommy/Daddy, can you give me a ride to X?"
US: "I don't know, sweetie, have you finished your Spanish test for NMH yet?"
D: "UUGGHHH. I hate you. I can't wait until August 28."
US: That's nice, dear. I hope you'll get your Spanish test done before then.</p>
<p>Summer reading is a bit more original. Spouse and I are both (re)reading what she has chosen. I just reread All Quiet on the Western Front. We are going to start conversations with her about the books.</p>
<p>Me: "Sweetie, have you noticed that the protagonist's despair in AQWF regarding the war's purpose could be applied to today's conflict in Iraq?"
D: "UUGGHHH. I hate you. I can't wait until August 28."
Me: That's nice, dear. I hope you'll get your summer reading done before then.</p>
<p>Laxtaxi: you always have the best ideas! The summer reading for incoming 9th graders at Andover is Grapes of Wrath for all students. So, we are reading it as well, and niece has only read a few chapters. I will have to try some creative prompts about migrations.</p>
<p>Well, my son hasn't even thought about summer reading yet except to ask how many books that he has to read...</p>
<p>My son is almost through All Quiet. I was really hoping he'd be zipping through books left and right this summer, but alas this is not the case. Right now he is playing FIFA Soccer on his GameCube. He generally does not play many video games, but every now and then goes on a FIFA or Guitar Hero bender. Right now it's FIFA because he is in extreme soccer mode these days.</p>
<p>Well, at last we bought the book, Bean Trees. He also bought another book and has been reading it instead. He's not too excited about anything on the list that he needs to choose another book from. Has anyone read Hoot or Endurance and can share what they are about?</p>