Question for those with teenagers in high school

[MouseCrazy96]

My husband and I are starting to plan a WDW trip for 2008. :woohoo: There will be roughly 11 people going on this trip. We were wanting to go in the spring or fall and were leaning more towards going in the fall. But just this weekend my parents said that we could only go when school is out, because my younger brother (16yrs during trip) can't miss school. I wasn't expecting this to be a problem since my dad has taken us out of school for trips before and didn't really care what the schools thought. (of course he always made sure we did our school work and such) Anyway, my parents seem dead set that the trip has to be in the summer when school is out. DH and I were really wanting to avoid the summer months because of the heat and the crowds. What do you do if you have a child or teenager in school and you don't want to take them out of school for a trip? Do you just suck it up and go in the summer or is there another solution to my dilema? Please help! Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. :wave2: (oh and incase you are wondering there will not be any other kids/teens on the trip who are in school, so its just my brother's school schedule we have to deal with)

[Fintastic]

I don't have a child in school yet, but when she's older I'd have no problem taking her out of class for a family trip. I'd discuss this with the teachers and get the homework ahead of time if possible, but I wouldn't avoid trips during the school year. My parents never took us anywhere, but DH says some of his fondest childhood memories consist of him sitting in school, anticipating that call from the office that his parents were there to pick him up and then they'd take off on vacation!

[DVCLiz]

It would have been almost impossible for DD to make up a week of missed classes when she was in high school. Elementary and middle school, yes, but in high school she had a heavy courseload of Honors and Ap classes, and a week would have been brutal. I wouldn't have put her through it for a vacation. A week of illness, maybe, but not a trip to WDW. I'd plan for spring break if it's not Easter like some are, or early summer as soon as school is out.

[MouseCrazy96]

Thanks for your input! I feel the same way. I don't think my parents have changed their feelings about taking him out of school but they said that the schools are cracking down on kids taking off for vacations and that the schools in our area "don't allow it" anymore! :sad2: I would still take him out. I too always looked forward to leaving school knowing that I was headed for a great vacation. :banana: I think kids need a break from school during the school year other than just summer.

[Traveliz]

I would not take a high schooler out - here there are extra tests for kids who miss three days of school in a semester or actually no finals for those who miss less than three days of school...its an incentive to get them to school and pretty much no high school kids want to take the tests...they may choose to take the tests but the scores will only help them and can't hurt them.

I know that is a whole other argument but at any rate here kids just won't leave school unless deathly ill.

We would do our Disney trips at Spring Break (great great weather), right before Christmas (kids get out mid December here) or even the week between Christmas and New Years (although crowds are wild then. Of course we did summer also.

Good luck.

Liz

[Nicolepa]

I don't know when you go back to school, but when my dd started school we started going the 3rd or 4th week in August (we don't ever start until Sept). Most people are back in school by then so the lines are tolerable. The heat is awful, but not much different from when we'd go in Sept.

Otherwise spring break, or mid winter break if you have one.

[tripplanner]

I would take a kid out of Elementary in a heartbeat for a family vacation, but once they start middle school and especially High school it's just too hard on the kid to miss the days. We have kids in Middle school and now plan vacations to Disney only on their breaks. We are going for a week in November because it's their Fall Break. A lot of school systems now have several long breaks throughout the year. I would get a school calendar and plan the trip on one of those breaks. Our school system does a week Fall Break, a week Christmas break, and a week spring break.

[kldmom2000]

I can share my own personal experience with you.... my parents pulled me out for a week every year and we'd go to Florida for a total of 2 weeks (one week would be April vacation and we'd still be there for the following week). When I got to HS, they figured it would be no problem as usual. WRONG. I had teachers that forbid a week of school being missed for a family vacation and they refused to allow me to make up any of the work/tests that were given while I was away. I had been an A/B student up until then and once I missed that week of school and teachers would not offer any assistance on make-ups, I fell way behind.... I ended the year with mostly C's :( :( my Freshman year and had to retake Algebra the following year to avoid summer school :( After that, my parents left me with my grandparents while they went except for one year when they went in July.... This was approx. 17 yrs ago too! (Ack-am I really getting that old now?!??! LOL!)

We just took my oldest DD out of 1st grade to go in Sept. and our city (different from where I grew up) also frowns upon family vacations during school time. The city does not permit more than 10 absences in total per year or it's an automatic repeat of the grade level the next year. We took our chances and I took her out for 4 days..... and I can tell you that the stress and PITA problems I endured for taking her out of FIRST grade will prevent me from doing it again! :rotfl: I would LOVE to go again in Sept/Oct as we LOVED the F& W festival and MNSSHP, but next year unfortunately we'll have to go either in July or August.... we'll just have to make do with the heat and humidity I guess......

Good luck to you in your decision!!! It's a difficult one to make and everyone's circumstances are different....

[marciemi]

Sorry, double post!

[marciemi]

Count me in in the "it's too hard to miss" crowd. We also pulled our kids many times up to and even including middle school (although we wouldn't have done that, DH was sent to Disney on business and just couldn't pass it up, but the kids only missed 3 days). Now with oldest DS in high school, between school, sports, and marching band, there's no way I would feel comfortable having him try to make it all up. High school is "real world". I've read a ton of threads on this subject (do some searches) and there are always parents saying "the school/teacher/principal can't tell me what to do with MY kid". Then something like "so what if they give him a zero, who cares?". Well, if you're talking 2nd grade, that may be true. But if you're talking high school, the student cares, the colleges care, and the teachers may care. Even teachers who allow makeup work can still be biased against the student for the rest of the year (even a subconscious "oh, his family doesn't view school as important" can affect a subjective grade). Colleges are hard enough to get into these day (let alone scholarships!) so I just couldn't feel comfortable taking that chance. Maybe up to a couple days, 3 at the max, in a district that allowed it (a lot don't). But this is why we're going next July (sigh!) during the hottest, most crowded time of year!

[Schmeck]

We go in August, right before the hours are shortened - I think it's around the 15th when they do that at WDW? Anyways, the late nights are really fun, and we take long afternoon breaks in the pool or in the air conditioned room.

My kids are 12 and 15, and I don't want them to miss the school time. I feel like it's not only hard for them to make up all of the work, it's not fair to the class or the teacher if the teacher has to spend time getting my kids back up to speed.

[juligrl]

You didn't say if your brother was involved in any school activities (band, sports, etc.). I know I could not have gone in the fall during high school due to band commitments, in the winter due to indoor colorguard commitments, or in the spring due to musical commitments. The only option for us was a very beginning of summer vacation when there was some lienency on band rehearsal commitments (two excused vacations - summers only).
We did our DW vacation starting on the last day of school - out of school and to the airport for a well deserved week of WDW. Crowds weren't horrendous. It was a little hot, but not unbearable.

Another thought: Maybe he's not as motivated of a student as you were, or he's taking challenging classes and your parents are making a decision they feel is in the best interest for him. I think deciding to pull a child out of school for vacation is a decision that has to be based on each child individually. What was okay for you may not be okay for him.

Hope everything works out for you.

[powellrj]

because of No Child Left Behind, most schools now have very strict attendence policies.

What was true a couple of years ago is no longer true now. With block schedules, a couple days can mean almost a week of classes missed.

We never had a problem taking the kids out in lower grades, but once they reach middle and high school and you have extras like band, choir, sports and drama, a couple days can really make a difference.

[we3disneygo]

:thumbsup2 we just took dd12 out for a week in Sept. she didn't have alot of school work, they gave it to her before she left, she did miss out on some note in science class but other than that......were planning on taking her out when she's in high school...for her 16th birthday bash....... :cheer2: princess: :Pinkbounc :wizard:

[nowellsl]

What about during Christmas break. Our last day before the holiday is 12/15 this year and we're heading down on 12/17. My DD is in college now and no way can she miss school! The closer you get to Christmas the more crowded it is, but we went last year on 12/17 and it wasn't too bad.

[Hannathy]

There is no way my DD could miss a week of High School! We took her out for 3 days in 3rd grade no problem but not now, these grades count. She is in all advanced and AP classes and she would not physically be able to make up all the work, she would run out of hours. She also has her heart set on a couple of very competitive colleges and yes a B can make a difference in getting in or not.
Do remember that while he is trying to make up the work he will be getting more work based on what he missed the week he was gone. This could be a killer in Chemistry or an advanced Math class where all the work builds on itself.

We have gone over Easter- which really wasn't that bad, the long hours made up for the crowds. This year we went the last week of August and that worked out great. I applaud your parents for putting his interest first.

[DavidHobart]

***************** has a great crowd calendar. It can help you sort through the various recommendations you are receiving in terms of how busy the parks are.

To minimize the crowds you will face, you would want to go either right after they get out of school, or right before they re-enter school, depending on your calendar. This means if your kids get out in mid to late June and return after Labor Day, go in late August or even over Labor Day--unlike most holidays, Labor Day is not a majhor crowd problem. If your kids get out in early June, go then.

If you can go in December before Christmas, that's a perfect time. The crowds are low until the week that includes Christmas, and Disney does the holidays very well.

[CarolinaBlue]

My oldest is in 11th grade and has never missed a day of school, so because of that, I would not take her out for a vacation. Yes, it limits us to when we can go. We have been in June, August, and during Christmas break. The week before Christmas was the best for us. Thankfully, we only have two years of this left and then we can go anytime we want (I homeschool my youngest). :cool1:

[Hedy]

In high school, you can be pretty much done for if you miss a day. I agree with your parents.

[4lilpoohs]

I had a hard time finding a time to go. I don't want to take my kids out of school. In the summer my kids have sports that they can't miss. So I finally decided on December. Last year I saw that my kids weren't doing any work the week before break. Their last day is the 15th. So we are leaving the 12th after school. I feel comfortable taking them out the last couple of days. The crowds will be lower the beginning of our trip and the weather will be nice. We can't wait to go :banana:

[mamacatnv]

I agree with what all the high school parents say and agree with your parents - it is too hard on the older kids.

We always head to FL for 2 1/2 weeks so we can visit the grandparents and then go to WDW. Since the summer heat will never be an option for me and Easter break is not long enough, Christmas is the only time we have ever been to WDW.

Here is what we are doing: We are headed to WDW on Jan 1 - 9. after spending a week with the Grandparents. My High Schooler will miss the first 2 days back from Christmas break, he agreed that this would be ok before I ever booked it. Coming back in from the holiday, it is almost the end of the semester and they are starting to gear up for finals prep. I will call him in sick, no pre-arranged time off, way too much hassle.

[graygables]

My older 2 have graduated, but I took them out all the time and they did just fine. My parents with us and my attitude with my own has always been if they can make the grade without their bum warming the seat, then the school has no say in the matter. Parents are allowing schools to usurp their authority when it comes to the care, custody, and control of OUR children. "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) and good parents have done nothing to stop the public school systems from wresting that control.

Off the soapbox, if your parents are firm your options will be to go when school is out or leave him behind and exclude him from the family vacation. Not quite the message I'd want to send my kid though. :(

[Sunny37]

... Parents are allowing schools to usurp their authority when it comes to the care, custody, and control of OUR children. "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) and good parents have done nothing to stop the public school systems from wresting that control.

:(

Evil? A little over the top there, don't ya think? :rolleyes:

[mamacatnv]

Don't get me started on what I think of the public schools telling me how to parent :teeth:

However, when it comes to a high schooler being pulled out of school I really think the student themselves needs to have some if not most of the input. They are the ones that have to make the grade so to speak. From what I have read a number of the posters kids don't want to miss that much school.

Grade and middle school are a separate animal IMO. The OP asked about High School specifically.

[mickeymousemom]

We're leaving Friday for week long trip. I have 3 DD's..17,12, and 3. Since we've been doing this for awhile, I've found that in elementary school it's much easier to take them out. It gets a little more difficult in middle school, but it's doable. I learned last year, after taking my oldest out of high school for a full week for the first time, that it just takes too much out of her.

This year we are going during Fall Break. They will miss this Friday, then Monday(both all day)...Tues and Wed they will miss a half day each then they miss nothing Thurs and Fri due to Fall Break. This helps so much. We still don't have to go in the summer. Two years ago we took them out a little early for Christmas Break and spent the week before Christmas down there. I think there's a compromise here somewhere, you just need to find it! :goodvibes

[graygables]

Evil? A little over the top there, don't ya think? :rolleyes:

sorry, but I'm not going to alter a direct quote. The evil part was less important than the good men doing nothing part. Oh, and I meant "women", too, in case anyone wants to point that one out. :sad2:

[Deesknee]

I haven't read all the other posts, so please forgive if this is a repeat.
I've taken my 3 kids out of school numerous times for WDW vacations. They have missed preschool right up to and including 9th grd. I will not take them out a year that they have State mandated testing. I am fortunate, my kids do well in school. The deal with us is if they are not honor roll they don't get to miss school for anything other than sickness. This is a given with our family. I know it helps them to keep their grades up. They tell me so. We have gone a few times in the summer. They don't enjoy it as much. They love the fall when the weather is perfect and the crowds are low.
We take them out during either Columbus day (monday holiday), or Veterans Day (always Nov. 11th), we plan so they only miss max of 4 days of school. I understand alot of schools are making this more and more difficult. I have only had a problem once, so far anyway. I stressed the value of family time. I pointed out that most kids don't get enough quality family time. I reminded the principal that experts blame that for alot of violence, drug abuse, drop out rate, teen pregnancy, etc. He really couldn't argue. I then reinforced to my children how important it is for them to get good grades, especially since I just debated with the principal about how important family vacations are.

[carrie1626]

Here in Wisconsin, there are two opportunities to have a week's vacation in the fall and kids miss 3 (as opposed to 5) days of school. They are off the last Thurs and Friday EVERY Oct. and then the week of Thanksgiving. My HS DD will miss 3 days the week of Thanksgiving, my DS (middle school) will only miss two.
I would Not take a child over elementary school age out for a whole week, too much pressure on them, because our school does not allow work to be completed ahead of time.

[SplshMtnLvr28]

I missed four days on our last trip, and it was pretty bad. I had tons of tests to make up when I got back, not to mention it was homecoming week, and I missed a lot of the marching for band, so I was pretty lost. We're going to try and go in the last few weeks of August during the summer, since the crowds won't be too bad.

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Here in Wisconsin, there are two opportunities to have a week's vacation in the fall and kids miss 3 (as opposed to 5) days of school. They are off the last Thurs and Friday EVERY Oct. and then the week of Thanksgiving. My HS DD will miss 3 days the week of Thanksgiving, my DS (middle school) will only miss two.
I would Not take a child over elementary school age out for a whole week, too much pressure on them, because our school does not allow work to be completed ahead of time.

Where in WI is Pleasant Prairie? I live in WI too, and we get the last Thurs and Friday off too, and then Nov 22. - 24 for Thanksgiving. We used to go to WDW in the last thurs and fri and October, but it's starting to get way too crowded.

[marciemi]

Hi fellow Wisconsinites! Okay, I'm a misplaced Michigander who just moved to Green Bay this summer and doesn't even know what you call people from Wisconsin yet (Wisconsiners?)

My kids are also off next week Thu and Fri and have a half day Wednesday so we're heading to Mall of America and hoping it won't be too crowded with all of Wisconsin off. We actually considered Disney, but want to spend a longer time there so are going for 2 weeks over the summer instead.

Unfortunately, we only get Thu and Fri off for Thanksgiving, with a full day on Wednesday. In Michigan, they always got Wednesday off as well, so now that we finally want to do something over Thanksgiving (drive home to Michigan!) they get a shorter time.

Anyway, I'm from just north of Green Bay - where in Wisconsin are the rest of you located?

[Goofy4Disney!]

I haven't read all the other posts, so please forgive if this is a repeat.
I've taken my 3 kids out of school numerous times for WDW vacations. They have missed preschool right up to and including 9th grd. I will not take them out a year that they have State mandated testing. I am fortunate, my kids do well in school. The deal with us is if they are not honor roll they don't get to miss school for anything other than sickness. This is a given with our family. I know it helps them to keep their grades up. They tell me so. We have gone a few times in the summer. They don't enjoy it as much. They love the fall when the weather is perfect and the crowds are low.
We take them out during either Columbus day (monday holiday), or Veterans Day (always Nov. 11th), we plan so they only miss max of 4 days of school. I understand alot of schools are making this more and more difficult. I have only had a problem once, so far anyway. I stressed the value of family time. I pointed out that most kids don't get enough quality family time. I reminded the principal that experts blame that for alot of violence, drug abuse, drop out rate, teen pregnancy, etc. He really couldn't argue. I then reinforced to my children how important it is for them to get good grades, especially since I just debated with the principal about how important family vacations are.

I live in MA too. (north of Boston) but here, they started a new rule, (effective next month) if the kids miss more than three days, they automatically go on AF (administrative failure) and they get a 49 factored in to every grade they would have gotten that semester. This year I made it so my DD only missed three and a half days (we went this past columbus day week) and the rule has always been 5 absences until now. Next year, I'm trying to plan our vacation, and since there will be a new rule, I'm sort of stuck as to when to go. My DS will be the only one left in school (his first year of high school). So far, I have booked for thanksgiving week at the Poly, but love the October weather, crowds, etc. so much better.

[Schmeck]

Well, just found out our prinicipal was absent for two days - on a trip to WDW! :rotfl: I guess that makes it easier for us if we ever plan a trip during schooltime...

[Disneyfaninmn]

Go right before christmas break like, maybe 2 days and go though chritmas break. That way you will get a 2 day break from the crowds and not miss much school! :thumbsup2

[fromscratchmom]

Well, this may not be much help, but for what it's worth, I think that it depends entirely on his teachers at the time, so it is very difficult to plan this far in advance. My DH had heard that it was totally and completely "not allowed" here where we live. I asked a friend who works for our school system and she laughed and said that parents do it all the time.

Turns out that it doesn't effect us anymore. We decided to have nothing more to do with public education. For the folks who were paying attention to the Burke quote and the tiny follow-up to it. I think it was very apropos. It is a choice, one way or another if people care to think and decide or just roll with the times. The courts in some states have already made it a matter of law that parents have no say on anything once they put their kids into public schools. And I think good parents ought to be paying attention to the situation rather than assuming that nothing could really be going that far wrong in our society. While it sounds like a very serious and difficult topic, it is not in any way as depressing or worrisome to me as I once thought that it was. Turning our back on our local public school district has brought nothing but good things into our lives. We are very happy family, living in a fairly good community among many people who agree with our choice and are supportive of it. Here's to hoping for peace, joy and happiness in the lives of all of you as well!

[mommycoz]

In the past it was no problem....Now, it's a real nightmare....We will be coming down 11/9 - 11/13 this year....not a full week...but the best we could do...The kids (1 in high school - 2 in Junior HIgh & 2 in elementary), will only be missing two days of school.....the 9th & 10th....There is no school on the 13th so that will be our travel home day....Only gives us four days at WDW...but, it's better than none.

[carrie1626]

note: SplshMtnLlvr28

Pleasant Prairie borders are:

I-94 on the West
Illinois to the South
Lake Michigan to the East
Kenosha to the North

We're between Milwaukee (30miles) and Chicago (50miles)

[laceemouse]

Well, this may not be much help, but for what it's worth, I think that it depends entirely on his teachers at the time, so it is very difficult to plan this far in advance. My DH had heard that it was totally and completely "not allowed" here where we live. I asked a friend who works for our school system and she laughed and said that parents do it all the time.

Turns out that it doesn't effect us anymore. We decided to have nothing more to do with public education. For the folks who were paying attention to the Burke quote and the tiny follow-up to it. I think it was very apropos. It is a choice, one way or another if people care to think and decide or just roll with the times. The courts in some states have already made it a matter of law that parents have no say on anything once they put their kids into public schools. And I think good parents ought to be paying attention to the situation rather than assuming that nothing could really be going that far wrong in our society. While it sounds like a very serious and difficult topic, it is not in any way as depressing or worrisome to me as I once thought that it was. Turning our back on our local public school district has brought nothing but good things into our lives. We are very happy family, living in a fairly good community among many people who agree with our choice and are supportive of it. Here's to hoping for peace, joy and happiness in the lives of all of you as well!
Hmmm, I guess I missed something :confused3 ! Are you in private school now or are you homeschooling? FWIW, I agree with you. We pulled ours out of PS a couple of years ago and are now happily homeschooling. It is not for everybody though, I know that for sure!
To the OP, school is very different now than it was even a few years ago. We were always in very competitive, highly rated schools. Kids in high school hated to miss even if they were sick, no way would they want to miss for vacation. If your grades suffer it is major in high school, colleges are so competitive now!
Does your brother have any other spring, fall, or winter break? I have to say we have been at all times of the year and with FP and good planning even the crowded times are not that bad. Last year we went the week before Christmas and had a great time :woohoo: !!
Also, we never, never, EVER lived in a district where the principal or teachers would take time off for vacation, NEVER!!!

[kellyg403]

We took our HS girls out of school for one week in Sept for the first time this year. Last year we went the week school let out for Christmas and they only missed one day. I probably won't do it again. With activities and missed school work, even though we did alot before we left, it just seemed to take forever to catch up. Don't get me wrong, we all enjoyed the break from real life and in a pinch if we had to would do again. But, if there are other options we would rather do that. I have 2 stepd's who visit with their mom in AZ all summer, and my kids see their dad most summers and some holiday breaks but he is more flexible about changing weeks or delaying picking them up. It just was too tough on the girls. The HS has makeup days, Saturday schools so missing the days turned out to be not so much the problem as the missed classroom instruction time. Depending on the child could be a big deal.

Kelly

[HappyDznyCamper]

I don't know if this was brought up(didn't read all the posts), but in Knox county the HS schools have "time for time". Basically if you miss more than 6 days of any class you have to make up that time to get credit for the class. Since we have block scheduals that means you must make up 6 days for 4 classes, on a regular 7 or 8 course day that would be that many more make up classes on Sat and after school.

[MSSANDRA]

We really though that 5th grade would be our last out of school trip. our middle school however has no problem with taking them out and DS has kept his grades high so we are going again this year which is our last year before high school. Our high school is on a block 1/2 year plan that is very much like college credits. The only way I would consider taking him out then is to do what some friends have done with thier kids. Plan the classes that you are taking so that the time of the trip is a semester when your child has really light classes. Avoid classes that semester that would be hard to make up such as labs or a high level math and instead take some of their electives such as PE, band ect. That might make for a harder semester or two but it might be workable?????

We are going to approach this trip as it will be our last winter trip and live it up a little bit!!!!!!!!!

MSSANDRA