Doing the ANNOYED Dance!!!

[ratlenhum]

OMG I'm flipping and really annoyed!! I live on Long Island. Never in my entire school life did we ever start school before Labor day. We usually start on the Tuesday or Wednesday afterward depending on the date. My son has been going to school for 7 years and never in his school time have we started before Labor Day.

In January I got an awesome PIN and booked 8/24-8/31 at AKL. We decided to add 2 days to it and stay until 9/2. We'd fly home that Friday night and have 3 days to unwind, settle in and get him to school on Tuesday, possibly Wednesday. I checked the district website before booking in January and again before changing our ressies and next year's calender wasn't up yet. I went to the site today to check something else and noticed the 2011-2012 calender was posted.

School starts on SEPTEMBER 2ND!! FRIDAY before Labor Day are they insane???? ONE day of school before a 3 day weekend. I'm aggravated. I asked my husband if we should switch back to departing 8/31 and he said no, leave it. We're not coming back 2 days early for 1 day of school that they won't be doing anything anyway! When I changed dates my airfare cost me $150 more which I hated to do but did anyway.

WWYD? Would you come back for one day before a 3 day weekend? My trip is 4 1/2 months away and now I have a knot in my stomach about the last day of it.

 

[Miaka]

I wouldn't stress about it honestly. We planned our trip for the day after the kids' last day of school, but I live in Iowa and snow happened, so now, our trip starts on teusday, and the last day of school is Friday. I'm not postponing my trip for the few days especially the last 4 days of school when nothing really happens. I feel that you are not going to miss anything Super relavent on the first day of school except where the classroom is. And if it's a school your son has been going to for a while, he'll already be familiar with the school. that's my view. hope it helps

 

[LynneyPooh]

As a teacher- my response is go to Disney! the first day of school is rules, regulations and expectations. My thought is if you are worried enough to wonder should you change your trip, then you will be worried enough to make sure your son reads and follows classroom/school rules.
It also may be that they use this day as registration. You can either register early or when you return. Don't sweat it! and HAVE FUN!!!

 

[lllGurulll]

I wouldn't think twice about it. Go to Disney and have fun.

Feel lucky they are only starting one day before Labor day. Our district starts a week and a half before labor day. Annoys the heck out of me.

 

[ratlenhum]

Thanks! I feel better.

My son is only 9 and in special ed. He's been going to school 11 months out of the year since he was 2, one day won't make a difference. LOL He will have the same teacher and 8 out of 12 kids in his class will be the same. So it's not like he has a lot of adjustments to make.

I just hate the idea of him starting his year off with an absence.

 

[KSL]

We had a very similar experience -- my DH teaches (upstate NY) and in all my years growing up here and in his 7 years with this district, never have they started as early as they are going to for the 2011-2012 school year. We booked our trip last fall and at that time the calendar of course wasn't ready, but we booked based on previous years and never thought he'd need to be back so soon. We knew we were only giving him a day or so before going back, but definitely thought we'd be back in time. Well, next year, teachers will be due back on the Tuesday before Labor Day, which is the day we're returning home. As soon as he found out he discussed it with his principal and explained how we made the decision (way before the calendar was out -- not like he saw the calendar and THEN decided to book a vacation that would conflict) and she was OK with him missing that first conference day.

Ok, enough about my situation - sorry - just know that there are others in the boat with you! Given your son's familiarity with the class/teacher/etc. and that it's only one day, I think you should all keep the plans you have. Maybe send a note to the teacher over the summer just to give her a heads-up? It might make you and your son feel better that the teacher knows ahead of time and can be planning for it, etc.

 

[ratlenhum]

KSL, our full calender wasn't up, just next year and the starting date so it may have to do with way other things fall throughout the year.

I just can't understand how we can start on Tues Sept 7th this year and not Tues Sept 6th next. Last year was the first time since my son has been in school that we even started on Tuesday instead of Wednesday because we usually end our summer with an autism surfing event on the Tuesday after Labor Day.

I am going to mention it to his teacher Friday at the class party, and again at the end of the year. We usually get the school supply list that last week before labor day which drives me nuts too because by then half the stuff is hard to find. I want to see if she can clue me in ahead of time and I'll get everything. I want to see if it's okay with her if I have someone drop his stuff off on Friday so they can set his stuff up. That's what they usually do the first day and I don't want his first day back to be stressful because he has to set up while the other kids are doing something else.

I'm glad your husband's boss was cool about him missing the first day. I know how strict they can be about teachers missing days. Last year, we lost the Monday of spring break because of too many snow days used, and a lot of teachers had to change travel plans they had made months before.