Catagories Sold Out - Fl to CA

[lookingforward]

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[smchan]

Originally posted by lookingforward
But I want to ask one thing, how do parents with kids plan on getting them out of school for this much time right at the end of the school year??

2 words: home school!

But then who said anything about the kids going? They need some quality, bonding time with grandma.

Sam

 

[Juli]

Hear! Hear! Sam!

Only problem is, Grandma & Grandpa are coming along for the educational benefits of this trip. I am so glad that we didn't have to worry about "school". It will be one giant unit study culminating in a trip to the destinations we've learned about.

Should I be thanking my kids for this?

Juli

Originally posted by smchan
2 words: home school!

But then who said anything about the kids going? They need some quality, bonding time with grandma.

Sam

 

[cats mom]

Originally posted by lookingforward
I think this cruise will be wonderful for those who booked early! But I want to ask one thing, how do parents with kids plan on getting them out of school for this much time right at the end of the school year?? I would have loved to book it but even here in south florida school is not over until the end of May.

We're in Arizona

In our district the last day of school in 2005 is May 26 (a half day) A lot of the graduation ceremonies are actually the week before - so in most cases grades will be in by 5/14.
Probably not a lot of serious school work going on that last 7 or 8 days of the year.

I would think the August dates would be tougher - at least here. School starts 8/15 for the 2005 - 06 school year. The Aug. dates would put kids out of school the first 3 weeks of the new year.

Guess it just depends where people are traveling from and what their particular schedules are.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by Juli
It will be one giant unit study culminating in a trip to the destinations we've learned about.

LOL! I have to say that's one of the coolest benefits of home schooling, other than being able to take advantage of off-season travel discounts. We get to visit a lot of cool places for the purposes of education.

My kid, God bless him, knows more than I do about various animals. "Dad, that's not just a butterfly, that's an Eastern Swallowtail." "No dad, that's a toad, not a frog."

With my mother, he had this exchange:
Kid: "Nana, what's your favorite cold climate animal"
Mom: "I guess a penguin."
Kid: "What kind of penguin?"
Mom: "Um, the black and white kind?"
Kid: "My favorite is the Rock Hopper. They live in the Antartic."

And to think he's only 6!

Sam

 

[SandraLee]

Frankly, for a 3rd grader, missing the last 9 days of school, won't make a bit of difference. For an older child, it would be impossible to miss high school finals, but for the elementary school crowd, it is a non-issue.

I'm planning on making sure we don't miss any other days that year, and if his grade drops 1 level, does it really matter at 3rd grade? Really?

 

[macbaby]

I was just on the DCL site and can not bring up the Westbound cruise ("no trip available for that date" message). Eastbound is showing categories 8 and 9 only!

 

[seaulater]

Last year took our DD (10) 5th grade for 2 weeks in May on RCL through Panama Canal.

Mentioned it to her teacher. Her reply....she'll learn alot more on a cruise through the Panama Canal than sitting in this classroom!
COOL TEACHER!

We did journalling each night, a report and pictures and reported to class upon return. Plus DD was required to read a book we had purchased about the PC before we left so she knew the impact and history of the canal.

Linda

 

[Drcell01]

My DD will be 14 at the time of the FL sailing. The schools here in Central NY go until June 26th (aprox.) and sometimes longer if they take more snow days than allocated (we had 181.2" of snow here this past winter). The two weeks in May we are taking for this cruise will not be as critical as the second and third week in June when the students here take their Regents (NY state has a standardized set of tests rather than finals set by the teachers) exams.

Our thought is that the learning experience of a trip of this type has much more value than the two weeks in the classroom. Our DD has always had exceptional grades (even with the two weeks we take to go to WDW twice every year). We are hopeful that her teachers will provide her with some of the assignments that she can complete during her trip.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Years ago my mom took me on a cruise--it was 3rd grade--sometime in the spring. My teacher said that I had to journal while on my trip--it was a 4-day cruise--but with drive time, I was out of school a week.

On another note--home school is legal in all 50 states...so if it makes you feel better, you can create a curriculum or unit study for while you are away (but don't get too caught up in recreating school--make it fun!!!)...reading books prior to the cruise, do some internet research, make the trip educational and fun. Homeschooling families vacation all of the time this way--so I see nothing wrong with removing a child from school for this purpose. Just make sure the absence does not inhibit whether or not they will be promoted to the next grade.

Also--I am guessing the teachers would have their lesson plans out ahead of time--so why not get the plans and have your children work ahead of the game--works well if they are into it--might not work so well if your child has special needs.

 

[lookingforward]

I wish our school would allow the absence. I know for sure that my high schooler can't miss it, but I agree that in elementary school it would be possible!

 

[dianthus]

Originally posted by Drcell01
My DD will be 14 at the time of the FL sailing. The schools here in Central NY go until June 26th (aprox.) and sometimes longer if they take more snow days than allocated (we had 181.2" of snow here this past winter). The two weeks in May we are taking for this cruise will not be as critical as the second and third week in June when the students here take their Regents (NY state has a standardized set of tests rather than finals set by the teachers) exams.

Our thought is that the learning experience of a trip of this type has much more value than the two weeks in the classroom. Our DD has always had exceptional grades (even with the two weeks we take to go to WDW twice every year). We are hopeful that her teachers will provide her with some of the assignments that she can complete during her trip.

Bob~ Our sentiments as well! We view travel as an extension of the classroom. Our school year ends late for the same reason- snow! We usually take our DD (who will be 14 next May as well) out for 2 weeks each school year for travel, but it's never been all at once. Our DD has super grades & in all AP courses, so I'm not concerned. I ordered the book Seaulater recommended so she can read it beforehand & present some project ideas for her Teachers next year before we go.

Please come over to the cruise meets board and join our FL to CA Panama Canal thread! Jeff has set up a web page with all the DISer info that is great. I'll PM you with my DD Taylor's email address, so they can get to know each other online before the cruise. It's our 5th one. Taylor has made so many friends onboard this way & has had a blast every cruise!

Our cruise is up $2300 over what we booked it for early 5/5. It's really unbelievable. A CM I spoke to the other day didn't feel there would be too much available on 5/11, as 90% of her customers deposited immediately on 5/5. Wow!