Take kids out of school for free dining?

[New_Disney_Lifer]

Hey Everyone!

I know this is a bit of testy topic but I'm having the hardest time deciding.

We have been to the World in May 07 and March/April 08.

We stayed off site in May 07 and did not have access to the wonderful DDP. We loved going in May because the crowds were moderate but we lived off awful food.

In March 08, we stayed onsite at the All star Sports with the ddp. It was a great trip. With the ddp, we were able to try many restaurants and enjoyed it immensely.

Which brings me to my dilemma...

I'd really like to take advantage of the great "Free Dining" offer and go over Labor Day or even later September.

So... Does anyone take their kids out of school in the beginning of the school year for vacation? Is this well received by your kids teachers?

Just FYI - I have 3 children, one in school (soon to be 2). I have taken her out of school for both trips. We've always done journals and educational things with her. Plus, Disney was her only absences for both years.

Any insight is appreciated!
:)

[RFrank9504]

Hey Everyone!

I know this is a bit of testy topic but I'm having the hardest time deciding.

We have been to the World in May 07 and March/April 08.

We stayed off site in May 07 and did not have access to the wonderful DDP. We loved going in May because the crowds were moderate but we lived off awful food.

In March 08, we stayed onsite at the All star Sports with the ddp. It was a great trip. With the ddp, we were able to try many restaurants and enjoyed it immensely.

Which brings me to my dilemma...

I'd really like to take advantage of the great "Free Dining" offer and go over Labor Day or even later September.

So... Does anyone take their kids out of school in the beginning of the school year for vacation? Is this well received by your kids teachers?

Just FYI - I have 3 children, one in school (soon to be 2). I have taken her out of school for both trips. We've always done journals and educational things with her. Plus, Disney was her only absences for both years.

Any insight is appreciated!
:)
Yeppers-and I love it.....they dont really miss much and we ask for extra assignments too. I don't think its a big deal until the kids are older say high school. (IMO)

[pumpkinbuddy]

We did the same. We hate doing it but if you plan carefully you can minimize the time you need to take them out of school. Does your school have the calendar for next school year out yet?

[RMulieri]

Seriously, it depends on whether your child will be able to handle the make up work, and on the school district.Some schools are thrilled that kids can enjoy family time and have no problem with it.My school system hates it and flips out( no make up work and zeros for work missed).

[wishtdream]

We did it last year and would do it again this year if DD was not switching schools. DD's teacher last year said she would learn more on Vacation than in school during that time because they were doing review of what was learned the year before.

[PortieOwner]

My parents both have PhDs in Education and they always took us out of school for family vacations. I eventually got a PhD myself so missing school didn't matter much!

[jrasmom]

In 2006 we took ours out for a week (then 1st grade & 4th grade)to go to WDW.

Of course ours were enrolled in a small Christian school so the 'hoops' you sometimes have to jump through with a public school system weren't what we had to do.
We did take their weeks worth of assignments with us and they did it on the 13 hour drive down and/or home. I didn't regret it then, nor 9 weeks later when they brought home report cards with straight A's. ;0)

And yes, we're returning in September to take advantage of the free dining, if we had to budget in food too we'd never be able to afford the trip at all, but they won't really be 'taken out of school' this time as we're now homeschoolers. And the oldest one has opted to stay home so it's just going to be the middle who really misses school. We'll just start our years worth of work a week early so we can leave it all home while we're gone and just enjoy our trip!

[kadesha]

My daughter will be in kindergarten this year, and I am also a preschool teacher. I'm taking personal days and pulling her from school for the first few days before Thanksgiving break so we can go see the Christmas decorations at Disney! I've always wanted to go during that time. I don't see a problem with it as long as the work is made up.

[victorandbellasmom]

We've taken our kids annually out of school for trips since our oldest was in kindergarten. We've never had any issues with their teachers or principals. When ds was in 2nd grade and dd in preschool, we pulled them out of school for 2 weeks in Sept/Oct for DL, one week in March for DL and 1 week in May for Hong Kong DL. I know, that was a bit excessive, but again no issues arose.

This past year, we pulled the kids out again(now in 1st & 4th grade) in October and had no issues with the schools. The kids were given some assignments for the trip and others were made up when they got back. We did notice that ds had academic issues from missing a week from school (granted, it was his first year in a new school in an accelerated program) His teacher didn't say anything to us, it was just something we noticed at home. And although I don't see a problem in the future from the school (teachers/principals) for pulling him out, dh and i have agreed to not pull him out of school for trips from now on.

We're going during the 1st week of dining this year since the kids don't start til the day after labor day. Now if they do a bounceback for FD for 2009, I'm hoping it'll be before school starts too.

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We are going Sept 18 - Sept 25. DD will be a junior in HS and DS will be in the 8th grade. They both earn high honors and we have never taken them out of school before. It feels like the best thing we have ever done. They will miss 5 days of school but will make up the work. It is our experience that the beginning of the school year is NOT labor intensive and I am confident they can make up all the work over the 2 day weekend before they go back.

[Raiderhouse]

We took our son out in May and it was no big deal! We will probably do it again next time we go!!:banana:

[Belle4mygrl]

I homeschool my children. We begin school after our vacation or we take a fall break earlier than planned.

I remember being in school and it was hard for me to catch up when I was out a few days for sickness or whatever. I imagine it depends on the child, subjects, and teachers. Math was hard for me and if I missed I was LOST. I still have nightmares about missing Algebra II and then coming in for a test. :faint:

[Fainfamily5]

Hi,

I am a teacher and a mom of 3 school aged children. We took our kids out for 2 days before Thanksgiving this past Nov. for Disney and they will miss a week in Sept. for Free Dining. My younger kids go to the school where I work and my oldest is in MS now and he is really the only one I worry about. I don't know the teachers well on the 7th grade team. But I will contact them as soon as his schedule comes out and tell them that he will miss but will be glad to make up the work. I think going earlier in the school year is better. This will only be our second week of school here, so mainly he will still be learning the routine and each teacher's policies, so hopefully not too much work to make up. So anyways.... We are looking forward to our trip and couldn't pass up FD!!!!!

[all4disney98]

We are taking our kids out of school for the first week of school this coming year. We did it last year as well.

I talked to my son's teacher and she said her parents did it for her each year growing up as well. She is big on the importance of family time. She was also ok with the timing in the school year because there are no tests yet and the first few days there is no homework yet so less to makeup. We will skip years where there are transitions to new schools of course as well as when they start having multiple teachers in middle school. For now though, it is working our for us.

[ImaFunMom]

Yes - if we can go on a family trip, we do. We usually plan one vacation during the year that involves school being in session. The make-up work has been minimal, and it's so much less crowded when school is "in." Also, we took our kids to NYC a couple of years ago in the fall and took them out of school for that. It was a business trip for DH and we tagged along free (frequent flyer miles).

[tonuki]

Definitely take your kids out of school! I know I LOVED going on vacations while I was in school and it never caused a problem. You just do your homework at home and voila you can miss school. I always thought it was funner than going during Spring Break when everyone else went. Just go ahead at do it :thumbsup2

[J. Worthington Foulfellow]

Not to be a cranky-sounding wet blanket, but I have to disagree with most of you. As a former elementary school teacher myself, I know how critical the first two weeks or so of the school year can be. It's not so much the "three 'rs" that students miss out on during those first few weeks, but getting acclimated into a new classroom, a new teacher, and new classmates.

While I think family time at any age is highly important, I also know "school-time" should rank right up there as well. In my time teaching, I saw many cases of students who missed a healthy percentage of the first few weeks of school have difficulty getting back into the swing of things when they return.

All of the other students have had time to ease back into things...getting used to the idea of their "job" starting back up. New bonds are made and old bonds are reinforced. The teacher has had time to get to know the student as well, and vice-versa.

Even though no new material may be covered, a child who has missed a week or so of school early on is still "behind" before they start.

I am surprised some of you have posted that teachers didn't care if students missed the first week of school. For me, it was always one of the most precious times of the year.

But again, I have to restate....I am not saying those of you who choose to do this are somehow bad parents or something....far from it.

We all choose on what we wish to focus.

[all4disney98]

Not to be a cranky-sounding wet blanket, but I have to disagree with most of you. As a former elementary school teacher myself, I know how critical the first two weeks or so of the school year can be. It's not so much the "three 'rs" that students miss out on during those first few weeks, but getting acclimated into a new classroom, a new teacher, and new classmates.

While I think family time at any age is highly important, I also know "school-time" should rank right up there as well. In my time teaching, I saw many cases of students who missed a healthy percentage of the first few weeks of school have difficulty getting back into the swing of things when they return.

All of the other students have had time to ease back into things...getting used to the idea of their "job" starting back up. New bonds are made and old bonds are reinforced. The teacher has had time to get to know the student as well, and vice-versa.

Even though no new material may be covered, a child who has missed a week or so of school early on is still "behind" before they start.

I am surprised some of you have posted that teachers didn't care if students missed the first week of school. For me, it was always one of the most precious times of the year.

But again, I have to restate....I am not saying those of you who choose to do this are somehow bad parents or something....far from it.

We all choose on what we wish to focus.

I appreciate your opinion. I asked my son's teachers ahead of time for the reasons you stated, I value their opinions greatly and that is why I asked. I have already spoken to his teacher about next year and she had the same opinion as this year's.

Our school has 80 children, 6 teachers and there are 12 children in his class. He knows not only everyone in his grade but in all of the others as well. We have a very special school and all of the teachers know all of the children and vice versa so I am not worried too much about him feeling uncomfortable returning to school after our vacation and missing 4 days of school.

As I mentioned earlier, we won't be missing school in 2009 because he and his classmates will be switching to a new school with new staff and teachers and I would be concerned with all of the points you made.

I really have chosen to focus on my children and what is in their best interest and we make our decision one year at a time. (But thank you for your points because some have told me not to worry when he switches schools and your points have just reinforced my gut feeling that we should skip a year!)

[Fainfamily5]

[QUOTE=J. Worthington Foulfellow;25771338]

I am surprised some of you have posted that teachers didn't care if students missed the first week of school. For me, it was always one of the most precious times of the year.

As I stated before I am also an Elementary school teacher and I take my kids out of school for family trips and we will be in Dinsey after school has only been in for 7 days. However I think it is those parents that are the involved parents that will make sure that their children are well adjusted no matter what time of the year they take their children out of school. If a parent takes the time to post here and ask for people's opinions and they have already talked to their teachers, then I definitely do not feel like those students will suffer.

[Marcy Mouse]

I think that it should be based on how you feel. I personally value family time. I have taken my son out of school for a week because the fall was when we were financially able to go.

I do think school is important but I also know that if this is something (a forever memory) that you give to your child that is a life lesson.

Just my to cents!

Marcy

[anbouk]

Well, I guess it depends on the principal. Our's prefers NOT to have the kids taken out for vacations, makes absolute NO exceptions, because then we will be starting something......Anyway, here on the East Coast kids start after Labor Day so we will be ok! :thumbsup2

[stace1214]

As an elementary school teacher, I have to say that it truly depends on the child. If your child is shy and takes a while to adjust to a new classroom situation, it's probably not the best idea, but that being said, if you child is quick to adapt-then do it! The first two weeks are important for getting a feel for the classroom, classmates and teacher, so my personal opinion is that it would be better for someone to miss days later in September. In all honesty, it's probably better to miss days in September rather than later in the yea. Alot of teachers have a problem with kids being taken out for vacation, but the way I see it, if that's when you can go, then go! Have fun! And send the class a postcard- my students love it when we get postcards from a classmates who is away.

[jellybeans0607]

when do your kids start back?
we have gone for free dining for the past 3 years, this will be our 3rd actually. our kids start school the wednesday after labor day(generally) so we go the last week of august, which is usually the first week of the dining plan.
of course we cut it close every year. last year we got home on tuesday and they returned to school wednesday.
i would not take my kids out during the first month of school.

[toostsmom]

Our elementary school is very good about this - as long as we make arrangements with the teacher prior to our trip. Otherwise it will be considered an unexcused absense. I'm taking my DD out Sept 22-24, plus the weekend - that gives us 5 days at Disney, and she only misses 3 days of school. It's never been a problem before for her, or the teacher. She's been in this school now for 4 yrs and they're very accommodating.

[New_Disney_Lifer]

Thank you all so much for your advice!

We are from New England. We generally go back to school the last week in August. We have done 2 previous trips to Disney (March and May) and have taken our kids out of school with little trouble. I've always checked with my daughters teacher ahead of time. They have given me no trouble but I've received the "Our school system has a strict attendance policy" reminder from our principal when clearing test dates with her.

I'd really LOVE to try and take advantage of Free Dining if it is offered next year. We were aiming to go back in October anyway during Columbus Day weekend. I figured we would just push it up a few weeks and go toward the end of the month of September. Of course, If the dates cooperate. :)

I loved hearing everyone's opinions. My first priority is my child's education. I would never do anything to jeopardize that but I feel that family time is as important. Their work will be made up. We focus on educational things to do while we are there, keep a journal, and also send postcards.

Thank you Again for your thoughts! Now to continue to hope for Free dining to return. :)

[DisOrBust]

I have taken my girls out every year for a week. In our professions we do not have the luxury of planning around our kids off times. I have never heard anything but "Family comes first" from any teacher or administrator.

[Justin the Hook]

We have to take our kids out of school. My wife and I cannot have off work over the summer, so our kids miss school every year for all of our vacations. Nothing against schools, but we need vacations now last year was the 1st year we had to pull 2 out of school and they are still in ES, but I doubt it'll change when they get older.

[jessica23]

Not an issue for us as dd is in year round school and we just go on her breaks, but I probably wouldn't do it the first few weeks of school. I don't see any problem throughout the rest of the year, but I would hate for them to miss the first few weeks, that is why we are going the first week of free dining since my middle dd starts preschool the next week and I don't want her to miss it. JMO of course! :)