Does the please excuse absense letter really work and when to tell teacher?

[quentina]

got it

I still don't have a good understanding of how many days our school district allows ... the whole, excused/unexcused thing confuses me...

Our district gives us 10 days, per year, for vacations. I use every one of them.....I have since Kinder. My kids are in 7th, 2nd and one just starting K.

In our schools, unexcused means that you did not send in an excuse!

 

[Marshay]

Our district gives us 10 days, per year, for vacations. I use every one of them.....I have since Kinder. My kids are in 7th, 2nd and one just starting K.

In our schools, unexcused means that you did not send in an excuse!

I read the policy on-line and it states that "the principal may excuse students who are absent for ... trips or activities that enhance or extend the student's education, when approved by the Principal in advance."

This seems to me that if Principal is open-minded to a Diseny vacation, we shouldn't have a problem ... but if he/she has a thing against it, then we won't get it approved.

Sounds very arbitrary to me so I'm still confused...

Further reading told me that teachers are required to provide make-up work and "reasonable time" to do it after student comes back from trip.

So at least we won't get 0's for missed work!

 

[TruBlu]

I am really worried about this. I'll be pulling my kids for the first time in December. I have a 3rd and 6th grader. I'm not really worried about Elementary School, but I'm very uneasy about Middle School. We didn't have a choice about going during school. Our trip was planned in June, but I got very sick and needed emergency surgery (the morning we were supposed to leave). This is a make-up trip for the kids (and ME). I hope the school will be OK with it, but we are going no matter what.

 

[jimandami]

I read the policy on-line and it states that "the principal may excuse students who are absent for ... trips or activities that enhance or extend the student's education, when approved by the Principal in advance."

This seems to me that if Principal is open-minded to a Diseny vacation, we shouldn't have a problem ... but if he/she has a thing against it, then we won't get it approved.

Sounds very arbitrary to me so I'm still confused...

Further reading told me that teachers are required to provide make-up work and "reasonable time" to do it after student comes back from trip.

So at least we won't get 0's for missed work!

We took DS6 out of kinder for Disney and our school has the same policy. All we had to do was submit an application and tell them where we were going. When we got back, my son had to submit a report about what he learned. Since he was in kinder, we took pictures of the countries, animal kingdom stuff, etc..and had him write one or two words under each picture. It actually turned out pretty cute and his absences were excused.

 

[Marshay]

We took DS6 out of kinder for Disney and our school has the same policy. All we had to do was submit an application and tell them where we were going. When we got back, my son had to submit a report about what he learned. Since he was in kinder, we took pictures of the countries, animal kingdom stuff, etc..and had him write one or two words under each picture. It actually turned out pretty cute and his absences were excused.

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping to do. I figure it will also make a cute keepsake over the years, too (since we plan to go to WDW as much as we can until schoolwork is too tough or principal says no).

For those of you who've done this before, do sick days also fall into the excused/unexcused category? I.e., a doctor's note makes them excused? but what about the times child is sick (say, just a cold/fever) but you don't go to doc b/c all doc is going to say is to stay home and rest.

Does this mean I should always go to doc just to get the excuse?

I know each district is different .. just trying to figure out how it may be done...

THANKS so much for your help on this. This newbie-Kindergarten mom GREATLY appreciates your help!

 

[tzolkin]

In our district there are a few limited excused absences (mainly just illness). When we go on a trip those are considered "unexcused" absences, but there are no consequences outlined for such absences.

I have always told the teachers (elem) about a month in advance of the trip and then followed up with them a week or two before. (I always make sure to plan around state testing and any important events.) I have never said anything to the school until after we return-- a simple note stating "DD was absent May 1-15. Our family was out of town." Since I know it's going to be unexcused, I have never seen any reason to let them know in advance or give any details. It's a very small school, so I'm sure everyone knows that we went to Disney anyway.


I'm a bit nervous about this year. We're going at the end of Sept (we usually go much later in the school year) and my oldest DD is starting 7th grade (1st year at the HS in our district). I have read their handbook and there is again nothing about consequences for unexcused absences, but I'm just hoping the teachers don't give her/us a hard time.

 

[wmharley]

the joys of homeschooling.

On a side note... you can always, in addition to your work from the teacher, design a lapbook (google for "lapbook" on sites and resources) on your trip. You could do a lapbook on one aspect of the trip, or the overall trip. Heck, they could do one of each park, but remember to try and focus on educational items.

Not only will your children have a blast, it will be a good reminder of the trip, years later.

My DD is doing a unit lesson on dolphins, which is incorporating science, math, etc related to dolphins. Then she will do a lapbook on what she's learned. We will turn that in and show our evaluator for next year.

 

[princessmom29]

I have not read all the replies, but coming form a teacher: We have seen all of the letters floating around on the internet, and DO NOT appreciate getting them. We know what WDW is, and that the primary purpose of the trip is NOT eductional. It is a family vacation, and the primary focus is to have fun, not to replace a week of school. Those letters do nothing to convince anyone otherwise. I don't begrudge anyone a trip, but don't really care of someone trying to convince me it is a huge educational revelation. Yes, your child may learn something along the way, but it is a leisure trip. We all know that. I prefer to know at least a couple of weeks in advance so that I can set aside after school time to catch the child up when he/she returns. The sooner I know, the easier it is for me to plan.

ETA: In our school system, there is no allowance made for anyone but the school board ot excuse a trip,and I have never seen them excuse Disney. Students get 4 parent notes and can use those, but the 5th day is always unexcused. I am required to give my high schoolers zeros for the work done on the day of unexcused absences. It truly depends on the school system as to wether pelading your case will do any good, but in most cases the teacher doesn't have the power to make that decision.

 

[crisi]

I vote "verbally as soon as possible" with 'written reminder about two weeks before the trip.' And agree, don't ask permission, simply state you are going. If you are willing to take advice on how to make this easier for everyone (i.e. send work home, do a journal, whatever), state that - if you aren't going to do the worksheets the teacher sends home anyway, don't bother to say you will. And do check attendence policies. When you talk to the teacher in a few weeks is a good time to discover that your trip might put you in contact with a social worker or that your kid will not be allowed make up work or whatever policies your district has in place.

 

[princessmom29]

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping to do. I figure it will also make a cute keepsake over the years, too (since we plan to go to WDW as much as we can until schoolwork is too tough or principal says no).

For those of you who've done this before, do sick days also fall into the excused/unexcused category? I.e., a doctor's note makes them excused? but what about the times child is sick (say, just a cold/fever) but you don't go to doc b/c all doc is going to say is to stay home and rest.

Does this mean I should always go to doc just to get the excuse?

I know each district is different .. just trying to figure out how it may be done...

THANKS so much for your help on this. This newbie-Kindergarten mom GREATLY appreciates your help!

In our school system children can be excused 4 times a semester simply with a parent note saying please excuse. After that it has to be doctor or court note or it is unexcused. In upper grades that means zeros for missed work, and the 5th unexcused absence means a loss of credit for the semester. If I knew I was taking a weeklong trip I knew would not be excused I would be getting doctor's notes for everything and saving my parent notes.

 

[WiggleWorm]

Tell the teacher now since you already know you are going. In our district, a family trip is an unexcused absence, so you don't need a note. A reminder to the teacher as it gets closer is all you need. You can check with your school to see how many unexcused absences you are allowed - it's 10 in our district. I'm sure your child's teacher knows what your number is. Have fun!!

 

[Sparkleshine]

Why don't you just ask the teacher at 'meet the teacher' time? Simply state that you have a vacation planned that will require your child to miss some school and when would they prefer to be made aware of the date. This way if the teacher wants to know super early or just before you will have it covered!! The teacher can also make you aware of any unforseen attendace repercussions.

 

[Marshay]

In our school system children can be excused 4 times a semester simply with a parent note saying please excuse. After that it has to be doctor or court note or it is unexcused. In upper grades that means zeros for missed work, and the 5th unexcused absence means a loss of credit for the semester. If I knew I was taking a weeklong trip I knew would not be excused I would be getting doctor's notes for everything and saving my parent notes.

Sounds like that is what I'll be doing -- getting doc notes if we get sick. I'm hoping to take 5 days off...I talked to another mom and she said we get 10 days (although I still haven't found it in writing)

Tell the teacher now since you already know you are going. In our district, a family trip is an unexcused absence, so you don't need a note. A reminder to the teacher as it gets closer is all you need. You can check with your school to see how many unexcused absences you are allowed - it's 10 in our district. I'm sure your child's teacher knows what your number is. Have fun!!

yep, will do!

Why don't you just ask the teacher at 'meet the teacher' time? Simply state that you have a vacation planned that will require your child to miss some school and when would they prefer to be made aware of the date. This way if the teacher wants to know super early or just before you will have it covered!! The teacher can also make you aware of any unforseen attendace repercussions.

Yes this is what I will do. I like the way you phrased it. I'll just mention a family trip is planned and ask her how she prefers I handle it. I don't want to overload her but if she's the type who wants to know waaaay in advance, I can do that for her.

I will also keep the note really simple and not try to tell the teacher how education Disney is!

Many thanks to all!

 

[sajetto]

I'm a kindergarten teacher and already know that one of my students will be gone to Disney in March and the school year hasn't even started! I do like to know as soon as the parents can tell me. Will I remember the exact dates? No way! BUT, it does help me with advance planning b/c I have the ballpark time in my head. So, I would say tell the teacher at your upcoming meeting and then send a reminder letter for the office 2 weeks ahead. It wouldn't hurt to send an email reminder a few days before if the teacher is getting work together for you. I know I need all the help I can get remembering that!

As another teacher I completely agree with this. So, go with both options A and C.

 

[jimandami]

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping to do. I figure it will also make a cute keepsake over the years, too (since we plan to go to WDW as much as we can until schoolwork is too tough or principal says no).

For those of you who've done this before, do sick days also fall into the excused/unexcused category? I.e., a doctor's note makes them excused? but what about the times child is sick (say, just a cold/fever) but you don't go to doc b/c all doc is going to say is to stay home and rest.

Does this mean I should always go to doc just to get the excuse?

I know each district is different .. just trying to figure out how it may be done...

THANKS so much for your help on this. This newbie-Kindergarten mom GREATLY appreciates your help!

As far as illness, in our district all illnesses are excused with a doctor's note. DS was sick a lot in kinder (he is 6 and has had probably 20 ear infections, strep 15 times, and pneumonia 5 times, not to mention mono, gi bugs, etc...). If he was sick but we felt he didn't need to go to the doctor, we just called the office and told them his symptoms. They would then have us come pick up a note (which is on official paper and has an official seal) which we would send in with DS when he went back to school. Hope that helps! ETA: I think our pedi office was so helpful because they were just grateful we weren't bringing him in....they are very busy!!

 

[crisi]

For us, anything more than some number results in a warning letter - excused or not. Anything more than that + some number ends up with a visit from the social worker.

If your kids are really ill or your circumstances are special, very likely you've been working with the social worker already. My daughter had a girl in her class whose brother died of cancer. The family was ALREADY working with the social worker, so there weren't reprocussions.

But policies vary state by state, district by district and sometimes school by school - you need to understand yours. However, few schools are going to penalize a kindergartner - its a practice year to some extent for her and for you. If child #4 is a Junior in High School and you are still being blindsided by attendence policies.....

 

[Happy Mom2]

Thank you all for your responses. I am going to mention it to the teacher when we meet on Friday, then will follow up with a letter two weeks before we go.

I reviewed the attendance policy, and apparently, we (Louisiana) have a state law. Absenses are excused only with a doctor's note, in obervance of a religious holiday, or if the principal approves the absense. I guess I will be speaking to the principal also. Whether it is excused or not, I plan on making up any work.

 

[taylor3297]

We are going in Dec and my dd will miss a week of 2nd grade. I already have a copy of the "Request for Excused Absence For Educational Reasons" form that I will be required to fill out.

I know my dd's principal will approve it. Heck, we go to Boone every year to cut down our Christmas tree. I sent a note just stating we were out of town. (DD only missed one day) Principal stopped me after school one day and asked where we went. I explained the family tradition and next thing I know I get a copy of the form to fill out for that one day.

Anyway, I will be filling out the form fairly early in the school year.

 

[2poohbears]

Thank you all for your responses. I am going to mention it to the teacher when we meet on Friday, then will follow up with a letter two weeks before we go.

I reviewed the attendance policy, and apparently, we (Louisiana) have a state law. Absenses are excused only with a doctor's note, in obervance of a religious holiday, or if the principal approves the absense. I guess I will be speaking to the principal also. Whether it is excused or not, I plan on making up any work.

Make sure the info you have on attendance policy is updated. I just read an article in the paper a few days ago that said there are changes to the policy this year in Louisiana.

ETA---this is the article I just read about attendance changes for this year:
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/2...udents-to-spend-more-time-in-school-this-year

I hope you have a good school with an understanding/empathetic principal. When my twins were in pre-k at public school (pre-k is offered in our parish), we took the kids out for 5 days. It happened that one of my sons had a stomach virus earlier in the year, and was absent for a few days, without going to the doc - so he was 1 day away from being over the days allowed for unexcused absences...they sent me a letter in the mail stating that if he missed 1 more unexcused day they would send my name to the DA's office. this for PRE-K. They missed learning 2 letters that week, which they already knew. it was ridiculous. and I should add that I notified the teacher 2 months in advance, and sent a letter to the principal's office & teacher the week before and the day before we left....not to mention that PRE-K is NOT a required grade.

 

[npmommie]

OP,
I would not worry at all about this. Your state has compulsory attendance beginning at age 7, your dd is only 5 or 6?
there will be no repercussions for this.
she is not even mandated by law to be in school yet.
just tell the teacher you are going, keep it short and simple.
and most of all ENJOY!!