Dealing W/ Middle School Re: WDW Trip

[aripantaloon]

My kids aren't old enough yet for school (well, DD4 is in pre-school), but I don't think I would ever take them out of school during finals week for a family vacation. One can make the argument that it's "just" middle school, but those exams are important as well. To tell a child that it's ok to get 0's (if that's the policy) on exams because it's for family time is really not a good mesage to send, IMO. To me, that's just telling the child that you can just do what you want and not worry about the consequences because they are meaningless.

Since you didn't say that there was a severe illness in the family or other compelling reason why you NEED to take the trip that week, I'd say to take it another time. I'm sure that your DH, an adult, will understand that trivial things like being at Disney during a specific week have to be put on the back burner when it comes to education.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I'd see what your school says.

Our school district is really strict on unexcused absences. You can not make them up any work you miss. You just get zeros. That being said they are more lenient at Elementary school level but come middle school they aren't.

I personally would still ask and if I was told no I would look for a different option. Since you want to see it at Christmas and do a MVMCP you have a big window to see it all in. We went the last week of November last year. It was cheaper than going the week before Christmas and all the decor was up and we went to the party. We picked a weekend that my dd already had an extra day off due to a teacher in service day.

Perhaps you can pick a different week that is still during the season?

 

[momof1princess]

thank you all for your responses thus far! i agree with most of you-i'm wanting to go spring break 2009 so i don't have to deal w/ dd's teachers at all, lol, but perhaps there'll be another time during the holiday season we can go. it WOULD be easier for DH to do it the week before christmas since he's always off work anyway, but DD's education comes first. i'm going to test the waters with her teachers and see what happens, but i think DH is going to have to put on his big boy undies and deal with whatever i can work out, lol.

 

[HopperFan]

Would be zeros here too. Often the teachers really have no choice in the matter when it comes to district policy. They don't want to jeopardize their position and I can't blame them. Something like that should only be cleared by the Principal. Your teacher may tell you what they feel, but if you don't turn in the documentation the school requires for the absences....doesn't really matter what teacher says. Our school - that note goes to administration. The all new education laws have placed States, Districts and Local schools in a position that they have to be strict. It jeopardizes funding and school progress reports. I would choose to go at another time.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I'm a middle school teacher. I am usually very cool about taking kids out of school for trips, but during exams is a different story. Around here, you would have to make them up on the teacher workday or you get zeros for them, unless there is a medical reason.

When it comes to the final exam grades, here teachers don't have a choice (unless unite tests, quizzes, etc.) We have to follow district policy.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS is in middle school this year and they are HARD CORE on attendance. When DH takes DS to the orthodontist he shows his driver's license, signs him out, and they go get DS. The next day DS has to bring a print out from the orthodontist to have the absence excused. And we get a voice mail stating that DS missed whatever classes!!

Vacations are not excused. I got a letter from the truant office when DS was in 3rd grade threatening me with a Class C misdemeanor and a $500 fine for taking DS to WDW for 4 days.

It really depends on the district's policy.

 

[joyerbides]

Not to throw cold water on your trip--but we have a very strict school district. Some schools are more strict than others--I would not assume "it will be OK," esp. if the school has testing that week. At our school, they get zeros for family trips--weddings included! The only thing we were allowed to do was turn in an assignment early that was due the Monday after Easter. Teachers are not allowed to give tests early, etc. Elaine

I know what you mean. DS14 starts High School in the fall. We were going to go the 3rd week in December (the week before school let out). I called the school to find out the policy on absences. They told me that the attendance policy in place for HS is if they miss 5 days in a quarter, they fail the entire quarter. If they miss 3 days, they will drop a full letter grade. Really I know that they want the kids in school. I appreciate that. But it makes it completely impossible to go anywhere unless they are on break. What about the kids that miss absolutely no school, have good grades and want to take a vacation during a specific time. What do they really do the week before X-mas break anyway? NOT MUCH! Soooo..... we cannot go during that time. We will be going during X-Mas week, during the HUGE crowds and during the priciest times. I am still happy we are going, but it kind of put a damper on things Definately check with the schools, before pulling them out. You never know.

 

[srwarden1928]

Where I teach, only four absences may be excused per semester without a doctor's note. Unexcused absences result in zeros--no makeups. Exams count 20% of the grade in the course. Exams can NEVER be taken early by school board policy. I wouldnt do it here. Where you are may be different.

 

[a1tinkfans]

My husband is a middle school assistant principal and in our district they do frown on absences during exams. You really need to check out your district's policies. I can't imagine any district absolutely refusing to work with you if you let them know in advance, but you need to check just to make sure. As a teacher myself I really appreciate being told in advance if a student is going to be absent. I would never give extra work, but I've always found parents want to help their children complete the work before they leave and then it's not hanging like a "death sentence" for a student when he returns. I am a parent myself(DD9 and DS3). So many of my children never leave our small town, much less explore the US or the world like we are fortunate to do. I think a trip to WDW or anywhere appropriate is just as valuable and important as the work they complete in school. We are taking a trip with our 4 year olds to the beach on Tuesday. We live an hour away from the beach and out of 90 4K students at least half have never seen the Atlantic Ocean!!!!!! We are going to the aquarium and eating in the restaurant there, stopping by Ben and Jerry's for free ice cream(It's their annual free ice cream day! We lucked up! ) and then it's off to walk on a pier and play on the beach in the sand(everyone will have their own bucket and shovel!!!!!) All children need these background experiences in order to make the connections they need to in the classroom. It's very hard to teach a 4 year old about wild animals if they have never seen any up close and personal(nearest zoo is only 1 1/2 hours away-our numbers go up to about 85% who have never been there!!!)

So sorry!!! Didn't mean to birdwalk like that! Bottom line: check on the policies and let the teachers know in advance!!!!

WILL YOU MOVE TO OUR DISTRICT???
If more TEACHERS were thinking along your reasoning it'd be a much happier place. My childs teacher PILED on work when we were out 3 days (cause we told her) and then DID NOT EVEN GRADE IT. Learned our lesson, we "go with the flow" and if you're out, you're sick!