Any experience taking kids out of kindergarten?

[Greenfield1984]

Hello,

Just looking for experience from fellow Canadians (or more specifically Ontarioans) about taking kids out of school. I'm planning our 2011 WDW trip and would like to go at the end of September. Our DD will have just turned 4 and will therefore be starting her first year of Junior Kindergarten.

Now, its just kindergarten, and I personally have no issues with her missing school, but I've read horror stories on the family board about kids not being allowed out of school, and was wondering what were your experiences with it? I'd want to take her out for 6 days at the end of Sept (so just a couple of weeks after school starts).

We want to go during FD, but we'll also have a 6 month old and want to avoid the heat as much as possible...and while I know it'll still be HOT in September, it's better than August.

Any experience?

 

[Susan2771]

We took our daughter out for 10 nights at the start June who was in JK, and there were no problems. We had to provide a note at the office, gave one to her teacher and just reminded her teacher a couple of days before we left. Both the principal and her teacher asked our daughter if they could come as well
It wasn't an excused absence or anything but not a single person at her school gave us a hard time about it. She goes to school in Toronto. Have a great time planning your trip

 

[gem21]

I think it really depends on your school board, or even school in particular. Check the school policies. At most of the schools I've worked at, it's acceptable, but teachers are not required to provide extra work or help the child catch up. Of course it's only JK, so it's not like she'll be missing anything much. (Not saying JK isn't important, but in the grand scheme of things missing 1 week won't harm her in the long run!)

Have fun!

 

[encinc]

Don't worry about it. Kindergarten is an optional program in Ontario, so I don't think that the schools can complain about absences. Our boys are going into SK and Grade Two. We've taken at least one week long vacation every year. Their kindergarten teacher has been fantastic. We've asked about taking work with us, and she sent their journals, but told us only to do them if they wanted to.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I agree that missing that week is really no big deal in JK but you do need to discuss it with the teacher before hand.

I think the only issue with going at that time will have more to do with not giving your child enough time to adjust to the new school routine. Unless she has been in daycare full time it could be difficult for her to settle in.

As to the heat issue...it won't be any cooler in September than August.... at least not that you would notice. You will still most likely have temps in the 90's and high humidity. If the temp is of concern you should wait until end of October or early November.

 

[oddboysmum]

I am taking all my kids out of school at the end of September 2011. My youngest will be starting JK, my middle child will be starting Grade 1 and my oldest in Grade 10 .... but for me the cost savings and low crowds was what made my decision .... beside it's an experience for them .... so no school for them (my bad LOL)

 

[LdnCpl]

We took our son out in JK and SK. We didn't ask, we politely told them we were going... here's the week we'll be gone.

As a friend said to me '' What's he gonna miss, a colouring test?''

 

[Greenfield1984]

Thank you all for your responses! Especially given that JK is not mandatory, I figure that I won't have any problems...and I know it might disrupt her getting used to a new class, but she does fantastic in daycare and adapted really well when she had to change classes there, so I think she'll be OK. I just needed to hear reassurance as she is my first child that I need to start worrying about these things with!

And Dancin disney Style, I know the heat won't be much (if at all) better in September, but it makes my DH feel better to go then, so we'll just pretend. We'd go later in the year, but really want to take advantage of free dining, so Sept it is.

Thanks again for all your helpful responses!

 

[dancin Disney style]

And Dancin disney Style, I know the heat won't be much (if at all) better in September, but it makes my DH feel better to go then, so we'll just pretend. We'd go later in the year, but really want to take advantage of free dining, so Sept it is.

LOL... in case you didn't know there is free dining thru December 21 for most nights and beyond that it is now being offered thru Sept. 2011.

 

[SaraMc]

DS is going into JK too in Sept. We are going to WDW in Feb. He's coming out for the week. Its the all day every day program but Im really not worried. In the grand scheme of things I would rather go on vacation and take them out of school then try to go when everyone else is trying to go on vacation.

 

[DutchsMommy]

We've taken DS out of school every year since JK and he is fine. I believe in family vacations, and NOT during 120 degree FL summer. I'm unapologetic and really dont think skipping a week of school is a big deal (as you can see by my ticker LOL). So, go for it!

 

[aristocat65]

I agree that missing that week is really no big deal in JK but you do need to discuss it with the teacher before hand.

I think the only issue with going at that time will have more to do with not giving your child enough time to adjust to the new school routine. Unless she has been in daycare full time it could be difficult for her to settle in.

As to the heat issue...it won't be any cooler in September than August.... at least not that you would notice. You will still most likely have temps in the 90's and high humidity. If the temp is of concern you should wait until end of October or early November.

I'm not from Ontario, so can't comment from the school regulations viewpoint, BUT I do agree with Dancin' about September. We took our son out of Kindergarten, grade 2,3 and 5 for Disney trips, but never in September. For most kids September is a really important time of adjustment. I usually did February or May. (I sure wish we could still do that!)

 

[JACH1976]

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[Thumper_ehhhhh]

We have taken our kids out of school many many times over the years for trips. Last december we went to disney for 2 weeks. We take them out for long weekends too. Like fridays or mondays so we can get a jump for camping. No problems. Just tell the teachers the truth. We have pulled them for 3 disney trips and 2 mexico trips and many many fridays with no problems. That is in Halton school board.

 

[Greenfield1984]

LOL... in case you didn't know there is free dining thru December 21 for most nights and beyond that it is now being offered thru Sept. 2011.

I do know that, thanks We're planning this trip for NEXT September, 2011.

Again, thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with this.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

We took DS out of JK for a trip to Disney and had no problems, in fact the teacher encouraged it because he could come back and tell all the kids about his trip. I would reccomend telling the teacher as soon as possible the only issue we had was Jk has a staggered start in our area so even though we booked for closer to the end of Sept., DS missed out a little bit on the bonding with his classmates.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

We pulled DS out last September (GR3) and he had a hard time adjusting to the homework load etc when we got back. My DD was in SK and had no problems at all. We are doing an "adults only" trip this September but we are going to go again in May with the kids, so we'll see how it affects him this year!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I take my kids out every year for a week. Last year Dec and year before in Feb DD#1 missed a week in gr 1 and Gr 2 and DD#2 missed a week in JK and SK both had no problem catching up and they will both miss a week again this Dec. I find the school in the States are much more pickey about kids missing school then here in Canada

 

[ptdealer]

We have taken my son out two weeks every year since jk, this year is grade 3
we are going in December for 10 days, my husband works in the tourist industry and summer vacations are not an option for us. The teachers always supply work for my son , he is in french immersion. My daughter is in 3rd year university and has to wait till she graduates to join the family for the Christmas trips again.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I'm a teacher, and I normally have no problems with children missing school. I find it annoying when parents ask for work and then don't do it, though. (Not saying you'll be doing that, it's just a little annoying! ) My nephew started grade one last year and my sister pulled him out to go to Florida in May. It caused him A LOT of anxiety. He started crying before school the week before they left, and then had a hard time coming back. I now worry about children that get stressed over things. My DN really struggled with the change in routine. It all depends on the child. You know your child best, do what you think is right.