For those who take their children out of school to go on a WDW vacation...

[DadofBuzz]

...I have a few questions. First, the background...we're planning a family trip for 12/03, and our son will be in 2nd grade (daughter will not be in kindergarten until 2004.) I'd like for this to be a knock-down, drag-out trip to WDW, complete with a two-week stay - to see other attractions in Central FLA as well. The two weeks, however, would not be over the holiday season, so we would not benefit from a holiday break at all. My wife thinks two weeks is too long. Now the questions...

Have others out there done stays as long as two weeks?
If so, did it impact your child negatively when returning to school? (i.e. they fell behind in school work)
How about school work -- did your child attempt to keep up with the work being assigned in classes during the vacation?
Did you or the school discuss some Disney-related 'projects' that your child could do while in WDW to share with their class when they returned?

Sorry for all the questions....but I'd really like to see thoughts on this issue...hope it generates some responses!

 

[zurgswife]

Have others out there done stays as long as two weeks?

Personally our longest stay has been 1 week....but I have friends that take there kids out of school for a 2 week family trip every year...

If so, did it impact your child negatively when returning to school? (i.e. they fell behind in school work)

I've read a variety of threads on this subject and IMHO most responses have stated no adverse impact....for my kids durnig the last trip we pulled them out 4 grade, 2 grade, 1st they all did quite well after the trip.

Did you or the school discuss some Disney-related 'projects' that your child could do while in WDW to share with their class when they returned?

All my kids were required to write a journal about their week. We as a family put together a rather extensive EPCOT notebook...the kids research the countries and the talk with the CM from that country...every now and then you get a great CM that will share all sorts of stuff about their homeland...My kids absolutely love EPCOT and I think it's because they have learned so much about the countries over the years....

PS...We will be there in 12/03 for 2 weeks also but we will be taking advantage of the Christmas holidays...

 

[c&m]

Here's our experience: We went for 2 weeks last October. Our DD was in Grade 1. Taking her out of school for 2 weeks had no impact on her schooling for the rest of the year. I informed the teacher well in advance of the impending trip and asked her to set aside homework assignments. Each day on the trip, our DD did a page of Math, a page of Phonics, a page in her journal, and a reading assignment. Needless to say, with all that she was experiencing at Disney, her journal entries were not a page but 2 to 3 pages each day!!! When we returned, our DD blended back into the rhythm of school with no problems.

She shared her experience with her classmates by bringing back some Mickey Mouse shaped cookies to show and share. Our youngest DD, who is in preschool, shared her experience by bringing back a Disney book/tape for her preschool classmates to enjoy.

Have fun planning for your "knock-down, drag-out" trip. Sounds like it'll be a blast!!!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I have taken my DS out in kindergarten, 1st and 3rd for about a week each year. In first we were able to work around teacher work days and he only missed three days but the others he missed five days. I have never had a problem or a regret doing this. I have felt some hesitation when others mentioned two week trip but I think that with a second grader, you would be ok with it. In NC, 2nd grade is more review of 1st grade material with very little new concepts added. If she did well in first grade, I would think she would be OK. I doubt that if you do the work her teacher sends along, that she will have any trouble catching up. In first the teacher did not ask us to do any make up work but last year in 3rd she sent along some things to do. We did a lot before we went and some on the way down and finished the day we got back home. If the teacher does give her everything she misses you might need to plan some down-homework time while at WDW. OK now that I am done rambling, I say GO and have a blast!!

Jordan's mom

 

[emsamom]

We have been taking our kids out of school for 7-9 days (days of school missed) every year since 1996. My older 2 kids were in middle school and high school and we have never had a problem. My younger 2 are now in 3rd and 5th grade, I will be taking them out for 8 1/2 days in Oct this year. I always send in a letter letting the teacher know our travel dates (I send this about 3 weeks before we leave and then another letter the week before we leave) and have never had a problem, the teachers always send home work and we try to make time to do it at WDW!!! (Usually it gets done at the airport or if we drive, on the way home!!) Seriously, I try to take at least 30 minutes each day at Dw to do some homework. None of my children have ever had problems when returning to school. They have gone back to school and never had a hard time in class. The only Disney related projects that have been assigned have been a daily journal that had to be shared with the class upon returning to school.

 

[mickeymom629]

Around Halloween in 1999 I took my four children (DS12, DS10,
DD8 and DS5) out of school for two weeks to go to WDW and to visit relatives in Fla. We had a great time (of course) and they survived whatever schoolwork they had to make up. I had told the teachers at the beginning of the school year and as the trip got closer, I sent in letters requesting some advance work. They did get some and spent some time on our vacation doing it. For children in middle school and elementary, my kids would agree that missing some days of school is okay.

 

[mickeymom629]

Now my kids are three years older and I have a cruise in Jan. 03 booked. My DS15 is concerned because he will miss 3 days at the start of a new semester. How did your high schoolers recover from missing school; it's so much more frowned upon at that age. I don't know whether to cancel or not. But the price is so reasonable (we need two adjoining rooms) and I really don't think 3 days is so much. I feel guilty, but I also think it's an opportunity we may not have again (we've never cruised). Any advice?

 

[sha_lyn]

Please check with the attendance rules for your school district. Here if a child misses 8 or more unexcused days they will automatically fail that grade. Also they do not give work for unexcused absences and the student would get 0's for all the work missed during the 2 weeks. In the lower grades teachers have been known to work around the unexcused absence/no make-up work rule. Once they reach 4 or 5 grade it is almost impossible for a student to miss school days for a vacation and it not hurt their grades.

 

[DadofBuzz]

Thanks for all the feedback...based on experiences being posted, it seems like the younger the children are, the more likely it is that the time missed will be okay.

We should consider ourselves lucky that our son likes to do his school work, so I don't think taking some time out on the way down (we'll probably drive) and when we're there (we do have 2 weeks, after all) will be too much for him. He likes Epcot, so I like the idea of doing something that will incorporate him learning some things while visiting there -- SeaWorld could be another place where he could do some 'extra credit' for school.

Not that I'd need to convince anyone on these boards the merits of WDW, but I did forget to mention in my original post -- both my daughter and son will be celebrating their birthdays during the trip. How can my spouse say no to that?

 

[emsamom]

mickeymom629...

My son was a sophomore, my dtr was in 8th grade-school policy here in MI is 10 absences per semester--they missed 10 days that semester for DW. They took notes to all of their teachers telling them of our trip and asking for homework. I also sent a letter to the main office telliing them of our trip. No one gave me a hard time about them missing the 2 weeks.Just had to make sure that they did not miss another dayof school that semester or they would loose credit. All of their teachers gave them homework which they completed while we were gone. They did not have a problem when they returned to class. My son was an average student (B/C range). I would not feel guilty about your son missing 3 days, alot of kids miss more than that. I would contact the new teachers,if any, for that semester and ask for any homework. I think family vacations are very important and I would not pass up the opportunity to go!!!! Have fun!!!!!!

 

[emsamom]

mickeymom 629...

Also wanted to add that was the last year my son, the sophomore, went to DW with us. He did not want to go after that. I guess 3 straight years of DW was enough for him!!! So I am glad that I took them. Now he only vacations with us when we ski.

 

[mickeymom629]

Thanks for your advice and encouragement. It's funny (or sad?)
about what you said about your son not going to WDW vacations
anymore with you because we went in April 2002 and I was trying to plan another trip this summer (but it was gone before I knew it) and my DS15 couldn't believe I wanted to go back again so soon. He doesn't want to miss the cruise, but he wouldn't mind staying home either (alone, that is--I've already told him that I would arrange for a relative to stay with him). I think family vacations are going to be like pulling teeth with him, unless I offer to take a friend (which is more responsiblity than I think I want these days). Anyway, I will take your advice and talk to the new semester teachers before we go and make sure how many, if any, unexcused absences are allowed. I was going to write a note saying that he had been sick so that he could make up the work, but he thinks the teachers will find out it wasn't true. Oh well. I'll keep my plans and my fingers crossed. Thanks again.

 

[4greatboys]

My 2 oldest boys are 12 and 15. I am taking them out of school for 1 week end of Sept. Our schools here are not to crazy about taking the kids out of school but I dont do it every yr. It does get much hard as they get older, plus my boys both play football so they will miss a week of practice. I think from now on we will just do the long weekends, maybe having them miss only about 3 days of school. I dont see why its such a bog deal to the schools if you child has good attendance (other than the trip days) and makes good grades (guess they miss the money they are not getting when your kid is out). And just as these 2 graduate and I can again vacation whenever, I have 2 little ones starting school, lol.

 

[cindyfan]

I've taken my DD out of school just about every year since 1998. Most of the time it has been just for 3-5 days, never more than 6.
The younger the child, the easier it is.
Also, the time of year makes a huge difference!!!
It is tougher to pull them out early in the school year. They are still getting settled and used to the new grade, etc.
When my DD was in 3rd grade we pulled her out for 5 days in Oct. She had a very unorganized teacher .......
anyway, the teacher gave her assignments. She actually gave her 2 and 1/2 weeks worth of work!!!!
We really struggled to get it all done. BUT....there was alot of papers that she did not give instructions to, etc.
And it was tough!!!! When we got back, I met with the teacher, only to have her say "OH, I probably didn't need to give her that because we won't get to that til next week!" and "well, I actually gave those papers to the class as extra credit!"
I was furious with her for dumping all this unnneccessary work on a 3rd grader!!!!!
But that was the only time it was really an issue. And I blame that on the teacher!

But, if you get the work, try to get it early enough that you can review the instructions before you go....just so that you aren't pulling your hair out!
Then set up a specific time each day to do school work.
We set aside early morning, while DH was getting ready. And the journal and reading were done just before bed. Also helped settle her down to sleep.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Cindyfan is right about checking the work to make sure you are straight on everything before your go. Last year DS's reading teacher had sent several worksheets, vocabulary projects etc. and I just happened to look over it before we left as we were leaving his reading assignments for the travel time. She had forgotten to send the reading book all the work was from! DS was not happy I made us go back for it. The reading however was the easiest thing to go while traveling and I was glad we didn 't come home to extra work.


Jordan's mom

 

[Lowe6]

Shylyn it sounds like you need to remind the school system that this is a family vaca & your tax $$$$ are paying that teachers salary.

When I took my kids out the first time... The teacher gave me all their homework & the tests that needed to be administered. We did them in the car & all of their 2 weeks worth of work was done in 2 hrs. including the tests. That goes to show you that 90 % of school is nothing more than socialization & babysitting.

My children learned more from their experience than anything they ever would have learned during those 2 wks. GO FOR IT !!!
They will be fine I promise

 

[TLS4Mickey]

This will be the first time that I'll take DS out of school for WDW. He's in 4th grade this year. Last year he missed the first full week of school because we took a family trip to Myrtle beach, SC. Every year before that we had taken "long weekends". We have never had a problem with him missing school. Our district doesn't consider this an unexcused absence if you fill out a form before the trip and state some of the educucational values of the trip. In the case of Disney, I'm sure there is plenty to learn in Epcot. So check with the office at the school and see what options you have. The school will more than likely send homework along so that there won't be that much to make up when you return.

 

[wickid witch]

I would check the student handbook for the particular school's policy. I quote from my daughter's middle school handbook:

"We discourage taking students out of school for a vacation, but understand that for some families this might be their only option. Since vacation should be a time for fun, enjoyment and relaxation for both parents and students, homework is not usually assigned. It is very difficult for a teacher to project ahead for academic assignments, which usually have to be teacher-directed. However, by special arrangements with teachers, specific assignments may be agreed upon such as keeping alog, reading, etc. Make-up work shall be assigned at the teacher's discretion upon the student's return to school."

DD is generally an honor roll student so I am not expecting any difficulty keeping her out of school for 6 school days in October. DS is not quite as reliable of a student will have to work harder to make up his assignments (senior year).

 

[SheDaisy0088]

My son is in Kindergarden. He is also in a private school. We are going to be going to Disney for 4 days this month. Granted we live in Florida. However, ,we are going to be up there for 2 school days. We let his teacher know that we will be gone those days. She thanked us for letting her know. She said that she doesn't want to give him to much work to do. Also depending on where he is... ahead of everyone or behind whe will determine what/how much work she will give him to do while we are there.

No condemnations, no belittling. I am glad that she understands that family time is important.

 

[KarlainKY]

Our school district is quite strict about this, ridiculously so, I think. The max amount of unexcused absences is 6. Even so, we took our son (4th grade straight-A student) out for two days right before the Christmas break last year. The only thing he missed was the holiday party and "watching videos". That December trip was the best one we've had to date, and I'm not a bit sorry. We beat the Christmas rush, but still got to see all the decorations and attended MVMCP.

Since we have "year round" school here, he gets two weeks off in early October, which we will spend at WDW, of course!