Do you take your kids out of school to go??

[mtmdsb]

We are taking my 14 year old eighth grade DD and her friend out of school in 2 weeks to go. The teachers have been very supportive. SOL and standardized testing are being done this week. Notes were sent to school at the beginning of the year so they have been aware since Sept. Also sent notes again March 1 to remind them and ask for homework. Teachers have offered extra credit for different things. French teacher asked DD to interview someone at Epcot France.

I have taken her out of school in the past for various trips as well. I usually leave it up to my DD before we plan a trip.

Teresa

 

[dhardawa]

Yes, I do it at least once a year. I get her homework and she has never had a problem with falling behind. I think time with family and what is gained from a family vacation outweighs missing a week of school.

Now, don't get me wrong. If she were struggling academically or falling behind, I wouldn't do it. But, she is making straight A's so I don't really worry too much.

 

[dolly-dawne]

Go and make your memories, life does not wait for you to make them. I have always taken my kids out of school for disney trips. They can be great learning experiences. Sometimes teachers have given me a hard time but not usually. My boys are now in 8th ,4th and kindergarten. They are your kids do with them what you may. I believe that any grade missed can be made up and if not ...if your child gets a c instead of a b for that term...then you know why. It will not affect the person they grow up to be -in fact your trip with family will definately be what makes them better people. Have fun and enjoy-its only a grade.:

 

[stitchlover]

Our DD (age 11) will miss one day of school for our trip. Even that is pushing my husband's tolerance for missing school when not sick.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Yes! We took out kids last year for our big family vacation (DH had been deployed and we renewed our vows at WDW) and they missed 10 days. A few weeks ago we found out that DH has a conference in Orlando in May of this year, so we are pulling them out again--although they have no idea we are going to Disney!!!! They will miss 7 days. They get 5 days of excused "educational" trip days, so two days of our trip this year will be unexcused. The teachers always give them their work and allow them to make up tests, etc. when they get back.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I know this does not count, 2 years ago we went to WDW in Sept. Our DD was only in preschool then, but after that trip we decided that that is when we will only go to WDW due to less crowds and cheaper hotel rates. My DD's doctor takes his kids (and he has 5) out every Nov. to go to the World. Schools are usually accommodating for family trips, just as long as if they get their homework done while they are gone.

 

[Starr W.]

I don't think affluence has anything to do with a school district's view on vacations during the school year. I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the nation (and am one of its poorer residents!), and my son's one day missed for WDW this year was unexcused. You vacation at your own risk. His elementary school principals didn't care but his middle school one sure does. I anticipate that it will be even harder as he ages because the schools here are extremely competitive and pride themselves on rigorous academics. Heck, everyone goes to college and they limit school visits to just a handful; anything more is unexcused as well.

I am an alumni of our district and it has been one of the top 3 in NW Ohio for about 30 yrs. Now the vacation stuff was very frowned upon in my day and they would give you grief about it, but then alot of people didn't take kids out for a week and I think there was a lot more respect for school officials. I think the reason they have gotten more lenient or let it go is that I have seen parents have meltdowns at board meetings, in school offices about things like this. As long as you are around for the "official" count days in October & Feb. and state testing, they are very likely to give you the okay to go. It is an unexcused ab. but it is one that is known to the school.

Now I would not take my kids out for a full week, I feel that is way too much for them to miss. 1-2 days before a break, I have no problem with since they rarely do much anyway.


I really love the parents who have "doctor's appt's" for all their kids at 11 am on Fridays and don't bring them back to school. I have glanced at the sign out sheet when I have signed my son out a 1/2 early to get to an appointment.

 

[acadia1960]

We have no hesitation in pulling DS out of school for vacations etc. In fact we pulled him out on Feb 1 for 3.5 months to go on a business trip with my husband to Florida. Our school district does not have him enrolled right now, but when we get back in May we will re-enroll him for the remainder of the school year. I am home schooling & his school actually let me sign out some of his books, they have been helpful. Most of the time vacations are taken when DS is not on a school break, just because we like less crowded times. If we are just going for a couple of weeks, I always ask for some type of school work to take with us.

 

[SGMCO]

Yes, I did last year in early October and
we'll do it again this September.
My Son is in 5th grade this year and
will be in 6th next year.
We find it better to do it a the beginning
of the school year whenever the teacher
is just starting to get a schedule worked out and
not as much homework yet.
We always do the homework needed
for that week before we go so
we won't have to do it when we get back.
We just work everything out with his teacher ahead of time.
We let the teacher know as soon as school starts
that we have this trip planned so that
she can help us plan ahead with school work.
We didn't have a problem last year and
I'm sure we won't this year.

 

[the Fidge]

DH's company does not permit summer or fall vacations and spring too! DH has some seniority and the latest we can go is the 2nd week of April which is DH and DS birthdays so it works out. DS gets pulled out since we don't see much of Dad till winter!!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

We have 3 kids, DS9(4th grade), DD7(1st), & DD20 months. We have taken our kids out of school every Sept. or Oct. to go to WDW. They do their reading and homework while down there (or before we go). We don't find crowds enjoyable - Crowds & Summer Heat - no way.

 

[Jubilee]

My daughter is 1.5 right now, but yes, we would.

 

[deejohn]

We ALWAYS take our kids out of school for WDW. I get the school calendar right away and then plan around "special" holidays like teacher workshops. We usually leave on a Tues and return the following Tues. The airfare is cheaper and they usually only miss about 2-3 actual school days.

I also notify the teachers ASAP and tell the kids to expect assignments. In 2006, we had a great time and very little to make up, since the kids were off Thurs & Fri with Wed being a class trip for 2 of them. In all they missed 2 days – no make up work either!!!! My kids are in 6th, 3rd and 1st grade.

The teachers also told me this year that they are seeing more and more parents doing this to save money and miss the crowds.

We have never had a bad experience with the teachers or the trips – good weather, low crowds, and great discounts/prices.

I highly recommend it.

 

[jiminy]

DH's company does not permit summer or fall vacations and spring too! DH has some seniority and the latest we can go is the 2nd week of April which is DH and DS birthdays so it works out. DS gets pulled out since we don't see much of Dad till winter!!!!

I'm just curious, I've seen others post about this before too, but how can a company stop you from taking vacations at a certain time of year? I mean, summer, fall and spring? Do you mind my asking what kind of job it is?

 

[Zoemakes5]

We have and do take the kids out. But, we do try to reduce the amount of time by tacking it on to existing vacations.
Last time, we went to CA in November. We went the week of Thanksgiving. One boy was out for two days, one for three, but we got a 10 day vacation (the first two days of which were in DLR).
The time before, we went to WDW in April. We went during a week where the boys had conferences for one of the days, and we missed two other ones.
This time, we're going right before spring break. To avoid the Easter week crowds, we're heading out on the 28th, spending the 29-31st at DLR and then the rest of the week with our family. The boys will miss two days of school.
I took them out of school for a week to travel to see family. This was shortly after DD was born and we flew out to see nana and papa and show off the new baby.
With my son in Middle school now, I try to limit those kind of days, too much going on each day. But I wouldn't say never.

 

[Jubilee]

I'm just curious, I've seen others post about this before too, but how can a company stop you from taking vacations at a certain time of year? I mean, summer, fall and spring? Do you mind my asking what kind of job it is?

My husband's is not the same exactly, but he is a restaurant manager in a private owned fine dining restaurant and you can bet there are certain times of year we can't take vacations. He has never even taken a sick day!

 

[leighe]

I would only take DD out of school if it was the only time we could vacation as a family. I would never take her out of school just to avoid heat or crowds or to save money.

 

[ms_mckenna]

We took the kids out of school this year for our trip in November. We are going this summer but in the future we will be pulling them out to go in Nov or Dec again. In fact we are planning a GG in 08 and have told everyone that we will be going while the kids are in school so if they want to join our group they should be aware of this. Course I work for the district as a sub and our principal and super are both on board with us pulling them out of school. We actually ended up with excused absences our last trip for both of the kids. Plus DH works in an industry that is usually gearing up in the summer so that is usually not an option for us to take that time off as a family.

 

[kinntj]

We're pulling our DD5 out of school next year from K. We'll take it on a year to year basis on account of teacher and homework. I like to see how well they are doing in school to decide. Once they hit middle school I would not pull them out. I would wait until spring or summer break.

 

[jiminy]

My husband's is not the same exactly, but he is a restaurant manager in a private owned fine dining restaurant and you can bet there are certain times of year we can't take vacations. He has never even taken a sick day!

I can certainly understand that! I'm sure Mother's Day, Valentine's day, etc are really hard times to get away. I was just curious b/c she said spring summer and fall.....that doesn't leave much time for travel. Has to be hard.