A different kind of ? about missing school

[jeeperwy]

I need some opinions. We currently have a trip planned for May. My DS8 would miss 5 days of school. This is usually not a problem, because he is a strong student. We went to DL last Oct, and he missed 3 days. This would have been a total of 8, but he has come down with the flu and will be required to miss 3 days (plus the weekend) until he is cleared to return to school. My question is would you postpone the trip until next school year (probably fall) so that he doesn't miss the extra 5 days, or would you go ahead and go in May?
Any opinions would be appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Kari

 

[Jennasmomma]

It all depends. Are your plans for beginning, middle, or end of May? When do they get out of school?

Like in my situation...if my trip was for the end of May. I'd still go because she gets out of school around June 5-ish.

 

[laceemouse]

Does your distict have some kind of policy about the number of maximum days a kid can miss per year? We homeschool now, but when my kids were in school we only took the 2 oldest out ONCE for a vacation. They were good students but the disticts we were in always frowned upon taking them out. I have to admit one of my big concerns was should they also have a few sick days together it would add up. The older they got, the more work there would be to make up. Also, can you change your plans without losing money or causing any other big problems?? He could get sick next year too, we seemed to have something go around and everyone get it at least once a year.

 

[jeeperwy]

Thanks for the replies so far. I am checking with the district tomorrow about the number of days a student can miss. Our trip is scheduled for May 2-9, and they don't get out of school until June 5th. I am right before my total package would be due, so I could still cancel or postpone without any penalty.

I'm just confused on what to do.

Thanks,
Kari

 

[Jennasmomma]

I know in my dd's district.. its 21 UNexcused days absent. So like with the flu....if I took her to the dr (which of course you did!) that is excused.. The Vacation wouldnt obviously but it would be under the 21 days.

Thankfully she's still in intermediate school (4-6) and me writing a note she was sick is enough to excuse it.

 

[samijam]

I will be keeping my boys 9 & 10 out for 5 days in April/May. My son was ill in Oct and missed 3 days already and I think another for a Dr. apt.
My District has a 19 day policy. But to be honest I don't care! I am their mother and I think they can handle it. Mainly because my boys are good students and I know they will not fall behind. I will not tell the school we are going to Disney I will simply say they will be out of School due to matters outside my Control( The matters are I do not want to go during april vacation ) The way I see it Teachers get 20 Personal Days in our district and so will my kids. Maybe thats a bad attitude but I feel strongly that i know what is in my kids best interest. I think if you feel it is ok then that's all you need. It's all I need. I have made it very clear that my boys must keep up reading work and get all work done while on the plane. We should be fine.

 

[daisyduck123]

I would still plan my trip.

My DS8 got pnuemonia the first day back at school after Christmas break. Then he missed over a week of school.

Later in Jan. we he missed a full week when we went to Disney.

He'll miss 5-7 days (right now we're booked for a week but may change it to 9 days) for our upcoming May trip.

He's an excellent student.
I'm a teacher at his school.

Also have a DD11 (7th grade) who missed school too in Jan. for our trip. When we came back the next week, the school had a special "end of 2nd marking period assembly" to award students making the honor roll & Principal's Honor Roll. DD made Principal's Honor Roll & she & 2 other students, out of over 300 students received Academic Achievement Awards.

Now we joke that we should go to Disney every marking period!!! (DD did not receive all those awards after the 1st marking period...when we did not go to Disney!!

See what a well-deserved vacation can do for a child!!!

 

[Schmeck]

OTOH, my daughter received her one and only B after she missed 7 days of school for a family reunion at WDW. We got as much work done before the trip, contactd the teachers and principal, etc., about it, but one teacher refused to let her hand one paper in when we got back, (a paper she had forgotten to give my daughter earlier) and she got a B. We still joke that maybe we shouldn't have gone on that trip, LOL!

 

[Marseeya]

Thanks for the replies so far. I am checking with the district tomorrow about the number of days a student can miss. Our trip is scheduled for May 2-9, and they don't get out of school until June 5th. I am right before my total package would be due, so I could still cancel or postpone without any penalty.

I'm just confused on what to do.

Thanks,
Kari

Is there any reason you can't schedule your trip for June? My kids get out June 2, and we're leaving June 3.

 

[samijam]

Well there are a lot of reasons we can't do June first my kid's are in school until the 20th of June and they will be spending the month of July with Grandparents in Florida. June, July and August are my busiest times at work ( also when I make most of my money for the entire year) Those are the legit reasons. The real reason is crowds. I am a laid back person and do not think the summer crowds are for me. Selfish I know but I work too hard to go on a stressful vacation.

 

[Marseeya]

Well there are a lot of reasons we can't do June first my kid's are in school until the 20th of June and they will be spending the month of July with Grandparents in Florida. June, July and August are my busiest times at work ( also when I make most of my money for the entire year) Those are the legit reasons. The real reason is crowds. I am a laid back person and do not think the summer crowds are for me. Selfish I know but I work too hard to go on a stressful vacation.

But the OP's kids get out June 5th.

I'm as laid back as the next person and my June trip was absolutely incredible. Thanks to all the Tour Guide Mike advice, crowds weren't an issue for us.

 

[samijam]

For me to go in early June. I would still keep my kids out of school for 5 days. so I think April/May is best for us. I wish my kids last day of school was june 5 oh well

 

[stahshee]

I would go! You say he is a strong student so no prob

 

[roadtripper]

The way I see it Teachers get 20 Personal Days in our district and so will my kids. Maybe thats a bad attitude but I feel strongly that i know what is in my kids best interest.

Wow-- I teach in RI, and I'd love to know which district gives 20 personal days! And also which teachers actually take them

 

[PlutoPony]

You might want to check and see what days your school will be doing testing (we call them SOL's - Standards of Learning in VA, don't know about other places). The May/June timeframe is typically when those tests are given and it's probably a good idea if your child is there right before they're given for review or doesn't have to take them at another time...

 

[paigevz]

He's 8, probably 2nd grade? Even if he was in third, in Texas, there would be no tests at that time. Didn't notice where he is, though, and have no idea what others do.

I say, it's okay, if the absences won't go over. There will be only a few weeks left when he returns.........enough time to make up anything missed, but not so much time that he's liable to have another big illness. If he's doing well, he will still be doing well then, and not too much brand-new stuff to be learned the last month...........more making sure everything is cemented and packed against summer damage!

I thought the same thing when I read 20 personal days for teachers. We get half that for sick days, only allowed half of that for personal reasons, but personally, I don't know any teachers who take them! Generally, other than illness or kids' illnesses, all the teachers I know don't miss.

For the teacher who has done...............how is it you don't have parents all over you? Boy, the parents around here would get really upset if we took off all that time whether ill or not. I had a group of them in the prinicipal's office demanding I come back from maternity leave because they didn't like my long-term sub! I told them I'd be back when I originally told them I'd be back.........one of them told me "Stick the kid in daycare"........direct quote. This from a stay at home mom!

 

[ryka]

He's 8, probably 2nd grade? Even if he was in third, in Texas, there would be no tests at that time. Didn't notice where he is, though, and have no idea what others do.

Here in NJ they have testing in grades k-5 taken between March-May.

 

[SunshineOR]

Just take him out and have a good time! He's a good student, let the school know ahead of time and they can make arrangements for him to take any tests before or after the trip. Unfortunate that he got sick and the days are racking up, but sometimes those things happen. One year I took dd out of school for a cruise vacation, came home to the news my grandmother passed and had her out of school another three days to deal with that. Those days were in a row, unlike your son's situation! Have a great trip.

 

[daisyduck123]

For the teacher who has done...............how is it you don't have parents all over you? Boy, the parents around here would get really upset if we took off all that time whether ill or not. I had a group of them in the prinicipal's office demanding I come back from maternity leave because they didn't like my long-term sub! I told them I'd be back when I originally told them I'd be back.........one of them told me "Stick the kid in daycare"........direct quote. This from a stay at home mom!

I think I'm the teacher you are referring to.
I have never had a parent complain (I'm knocking on wood right now) about my being gone. I can only guess that it's because I'm such an awesome teacher that they think I deserve a break?

Well, seriously, I always have a great sub....like one of our former, retired reading specialists who taught at our school for 20 years.

Also, I teach in an extemely affluent community...the families are always taking vacations, so I think they understand. My Disney trip last month even overlapped with one of my student's Disney trips. While I was at the park, I did actually glance around once or twice to see if I could spot him.

I am truly lucky to be at the school I am at.

 

[paigevz]

Yep, Daisyduck....................

My long term sub was a retired teacher, too, and she was following my plans to the letter...........they just thought she was expecting too much.

I may have to seriously consider switching districts!

I consider myself pretty good too, , but my oh my do people want things their way or the highway here!