Educational letter for school excuse/taking the kids out of school

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Holy cow! Really? That sucks. But once you stay within the 10 days then it should be okay?? What about something like a family wedding or a trip cross country to visit sick/elderly grandparents? Would those reasons be valid?

According to our handbook, medical emergencies in the family would be an excused absence, family wedding would not be. Sicknesses are excused as long as you have a Dr's excuse to return to school. But who wants to take the kid to the doctor every time they feel under the weather? Ya know? Most kids don't have to go to the doctor for one absence but if you are at or near your 10 day mark for unexcused absences then you would have to go to the doctor. I am fortunate my kids have not missed school for illness EVER. So the sick days won't be a problem for us.

 

[Green Tea]

Oh my. We just always called it what it was, a trip to Disney World. Said we'd take their books and they would keep up with classwork. It never occurred to me to use that ridiculous letter I've seen here before.

 

[cabanafrau]

According to our handbook, medical emergencies in the family would be an excused absence, family wedding would not be. Sicknesses are excused as long as you have a Dr's excuse to return to school. But who wants to take the kid to the doctor every time they feel under the weather? Ya know? Most kids don't have to go to the doctor for one absence but if you are at or near your 10 day mark for unexcused absences then you would have to go to the doctor. I am fortunate my kids have not missed school for illness EVER. So the sick days won't be a problem for us.

Gulp, OP, knock some wood. I sure hope your kids have continued good luck with no sick days. Two years ago younger DD got going on a tear of sick days just after winter break. Not fun. Last year she got the perfect attendance award on awards night & the next week was sick as a dog & missed a day.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Oh my. We just always called it what it was, a trip to Disney World. Said we'd take their books and they would keep up with classwork. It never occurred to me to use that ridiculous letter I've seen here before.

It never occurred to me to use it either. That's why I never saved the threads that had the letter in it, but our school is requesting it. I want the absences excused so I am giving them the letter.

 

[quentina]

OK....I copied, pasted and saved this. Not sure who posted it but, I had it saved:


RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

* Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.

* American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.

* Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.

* Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.

* Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

 

[disney1990]

This is what we face where I live. Sick, Death in the Family yes, educational trip to Disney World, NO. All the letters in the world won't change the policy.

Students will receive a zero (0) for all work done on the day of an unexcused absence and will not be given the opportunity to make up work missed because of an unlawful absence.

 

[aprilgail2]

I never told the school that our trips were anything other than a family vacation...

thats what I do- I just call the school and say we are going away for the week for vacation. In grade school I would tell the teachers a week in advance and sometimes they would send work home but most of the time they just said "have a great time" and that was that.

If absences are unexcused and you get MORE THAN 10 unexcused absences in one school year they will fail you and refer the parents to court and possible fines for truancy. At least that is what MY school district in MY state does, according to the Administrators office and our school's guidance councilor. Not sure how other states and other schools handle it.

wow that is harsh LOL- our school they have the option to leave them back after missing 30 days. But that is just an option-my daughter missed 36 days between vacation time and being sick and she didn't get left back.

 

[surfgirl]

Now whether or not my kids LEARN anything on this trip matters NONE to me. I didn't plan this trip as furthering the kid's education.

{snip}
I am taking the kids out for (7) school days. {snip} The fact that they would even CONSIDER excusing those absences thrills me.

So....

you booked a trip not expecting them to be excused and not intending it to be educational full well knowing the state's policy on unexcused days.

Now, you found out that if you lie to the principal, it might be considered excused.

What are you teaching your kids ? It is ok to lie to the principal because it is for a family vacation ?

-------------------------
my perspective: I don't care if you take your kids out - we do it. I don't lie. I don't advertise if it is Disney - I say it is a family vacation to Florida (which it is). This year, we are going to London and the kids are missing 2 days of school, so yes, I do it.

I think the letter is a crock of stew.

 

[MrsPete]

Holy cow! Really? That sucks. But once you stay within the 10 days then it should be okay?? What about something like a family wedding or a trip cross country to visit sick/elderly grandparents? Would those reasons be valid?

Visit your county/state's website, and you can see exactly what's considered valid for your area. For us, these things are excused:

The child himself is sick (not his brother is sick and he's staying home too; teen parents aren't excused for their children's illnesses).
The child has a doctor, dentist, orthodontic appointment (could be a well visit or sick visit -- not mom has a doctor's appointment and needs the teen to drive).
The child is attending a funeral for an immediate family member (mother, father, sibling, grandparent).
The child is required to be in court.
The child's family is quarantined because of illness.
The child is on an educational trip approved by the principal in advance (theme parks aren't considered educational, whereas a trip to Paris or South America might be).
The child is a high school junior or senior and is visiting a college.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

So....

you booked a trip not expecting them to be excused and not intending it to be educational full well knowing the state's policy on unexcused days.

Now, you found out that if you lie to the principal, it might be considered excused.

What are you teaching your kids ? It is ok to lie to the principal because it is for a family vacation ?

-------------------------
my perspective: I don't care if you take your kids out - we do it. I don't lie. I don't advertise if it is Disney - I say it is a family vacation to Florida (which it is). This year, we are going to London and the kids are missing 2 days of school, so yes, I do it.

I think the letter is a crock of stew.

I didn't know the school's policy on how many days a kid could miss. I found out after I booked the trip. I knew from talking to ppl that it was either 10 or 12. Wasn't sure which. But I called the school board and the actual school and talked to ppl at both places.

I don't think I am lying to anybody. I am doing what the guidance councilor told me I should do. To submit a letter to the principal stating all the ways a Disney vacation can be educational. It wasn't my idea, but I am doing it to get the days excused.

As for the PP whose school district doesn't allow kids to make up work on unexcused absences, THAT to me is harsh. Any kind of absence at our school the kid can make up the work. Because if my kid doesn't go to school because he is SICK but I don't take him to the doctor, that is unexcused, but they still give them the make up work.

Obviously our guidance councilor has experience dealing with families taking the kids to Disney and what the school wants in order to excuse the absence.

If my kids actually does learn things while we are there, GREAT! But that's not why we are going.

 

[quentina]

WOW.....our school allows 10 days of vacations per school year. THey seem to be pretty easy to get approved...I have used 10 days, each year, and never had one denied. I have never had an issue nor, have I used the excuse. THey provide a pre-printed form, all kids go on one form and it is distributed to all the schools (one in middle, 2 in elem).

I guess we are lucky as they do count as excused.

 

[Ceila]

So....

you booked a trip not expecting them to be excused and not intending it to be educational full well knowing the state's policy on unexcused days.

Now, you found out that if you lie to the principal, it might be considered excused.

What are you teaching your kids ? It is ok to lie to the principal because it is for a family vacation ?

-------------------------
my perspective: I don't care if you take your kids out - we do it. I don't lie. I don't advertise if it is Disney - I say it is a family vacation to Florida (which it is). This year, we are going to London and the kids are missing 2 days of school, so yes, I do it.

I think the letter is a crock of stew.

Wow. Tell us how you really feel. And I think that a lie of omission is pretty miuch the same as a lie. Either own it or don't.

 

[okeydokey]

I don't care what you put on the letter, a trip to Disney is not an educational experience, it is a vacation. I wish you could just say that and be done with it.

 

[MrsPete]

Oh my. We just always called it what it was, a trip to Disney World. Said we'd take their books and they would keep up with classwork. It never occurred to me to use that ridiculous letter I've seen here before.

Honesty's always the best policy. A trip to Disney is a fun vacation. Don't pretend it's anything else.

Likely you're going to be working with the school system for years to come; don't lose their respect by trying to pretend that the 15 minutes of educational activites in which you'll engage makes the trip something more than a fun family vacation. The principal's probably been to Disney World and is aware that 95% of what you'll do during a typical Disney trip is a great experience . . . but not educational.

 

[rgf207]

Head on over to the Theme Parks board and check out the 20+ page thread on this same topic. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799976

Bottom line, don't write a letter stating how educational a WDW trip is and list the reasons unless you want your letter passed around the teacher's lounge while everyone gets a good laugh.

WDW trips are not educational. It's a vacation. Take you child(ren) out if you want. It's your decision. Just be prepared for the absences to be unexcused and don't expect the teacher to prepare work ahead of time for your child(ren).

Have a great time!

 

[Missy1961]

Head on over to the Theme Parks board and check out the 20+ page thread on this same topic. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799976

Bottom line, don't write a letter stating how educational a WDW trip is and list the reasons unless you want your letter passed around the teacher's lounge while everyone gets a good laugh.

WDW trips are not educational. It's a vacation. Take you child(ren) out if you want. It's your decision. Just be prepared for the absences to be unexcused and don't expect the teacher to prepare work ahead of time for your child(ren).

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Head on over to the Theme Parks board and check out the 20+ page thread on this same topic. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799976

Bottom line, don't write a letter stating how educational a WDW trip is and list the reasons unless you want your letter passed around the teacher's lounge while everyone gets a good laugh.

WDW trips are not educational. It's a vacation. Take you child(ren) out if you want. It's your decision. Just be prepared for the absences to be unexcused and don't expect the teacher to prepare work ahead of time for your child(ren).

Have a great time!

But see that's the beauty of it...the absences will be excused and the teachers WILL prepare the work for them ahead of time. Just because you think it should go one way doesn't mean that's how it's going to go.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Head on over to the Theme Parks board and check out the 20+ page thread on this same topic. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799976

Bottom line, don't write a letter stating how educational a WDW trip is and list the reasons unless you want your letter passed around the teacher's lounge while everyone gets a good laugh.

WDW trips are not educational. It's a vacation. Take you child(ren) out if you want. It's your decision. Just be prepared for the absences to be unexcused and don't expect the teacher to prepare work ahead of time for your child(ren).

Have a great time!

Thanks for the link. I will go read it now. It's probably the thread I was looking for earlier but couldn't find.

 

[sam_gordon]

OP, a similar thing happened to me this past spring. We planned our vacation, the kids wouldn't miss ANY school, then winter came. Because of having to make up so many snow days (7?), my kids were going to miss 4 days of school.

I talked to principals at both schools (middle school & elementary). I told them we will miss the last couple days of school, we're going to Disney. BOTH principals told me write something up (as it being educational) and they'll be excused.

I also don't believe using "education" is a valid excuse to go on vacation, but I did what the principals requested.

 

[surfgirl]

Wow. Tell us how you really feel. And I think that a lie of omission is pretty miuch the same as a lie. Either own it or don't.

I do own it. I wrote in the official request, "family vacation to Florida". When the principal asked me, I looked her in the eye and said, "Disney." She smiled and told me to have a good time. Didn't advertise it, didn't lie. Of course, I fully admit this was elementary school and it wasn't 7 days, either.


opinion ? sure... its a posting board. Aren't we all entitled to share ours ? I wasn't rude or didn't call names. I made my point. Or are we only allowed to hold hands and sing kumbaya ?