Going to WDW during school year

[red riding hood]

We are planning our trip to WDW in Feb. Because my husband is the Store Manager for a large grocery store, his boss has informed them that they are not to take vacations around major holidays (I really want to go at Christmas) or during the summer (we live near a large lake and many people vacation here so they are extremely busy). We have one child who will be in school. (2nd grade) I read in one of the many books that I have purchased, that teachers hate it when parents take kids out of school for a week. I don't want to tick anybody off, but if we are going to take a family vacation, we don't really have much choice. Our schools start here in 2 weeks and don't get out until the beginning of summer. What have been the reactions of your child's teachers if you have taken children out of school?

 

[dnoyes]

You're going to get all kinds of answers to this one ....

But, as for us we have done this many times and have never had any problems with the teachers. Just let them know ahead of time and most will work it out for your child to make up any work they may miss.

A family vacation is all part of being a family IMO

 

[traveling G-MA]

I was also wondering about how teachers react to kids being taken out of school for vacations. We have a kindergartner this year and was trying to make plans for WDW in May, at end of school year. He would miss about 5 or 6 days. We can fly for free then ,costs are less and less crowds. School has not started yet and we don't have a teacher to ask, so I was thinking about calling the Principal to see what he says.

 

[lovemickeyworld]

Oh my, a post so true to my heart! I agree, you will hear many answers to this one as well. I think in your case, it sounds like you really have no choice but to go when your hubby can go, and family vacations are also important in growing up.

We have always taken a beach or Disney vacation in the fall or early spring, and last year we did a Disney Cruise in January. Our daughter was in Kindergarten for the cruise. It was fine. No questions asked. Neighbors with kids in the same school district all said you can get away with this up until about 3-4th grade. After that, it's nearly impossible due to the amount of work given. Especially in HS or if kids are in AP type classes.

Recently we moved to NC. DD will be in 1st grade this year, and I really wanted to go to WDW during one of the first two weeks of Dec. Prices lower, crowds lower, but still decorated. I decided against it for our own personal reasons. We just booked our trip where we will go down the day after she ends for winter break. We'll be in the park for xmas eve and Christmas Day! Since we don't have family here anyway, we decided to go as a special family Christmas for the three of us.

My main concern as that this new school system STRONGLY discourages it. They state a child cannot miss more than 10 days of school or they will not be promoted to the next grade. So, I did not feel comfortable using up 5 of those days, in case of illness, or if we have to travel back North for an emergency such as a funeral.

Yes, it's costing us more, but I already feel a weight off my shoulders that I don't have to do any explaining to teachers, etc. Like that feeling of having to go the Principle's office, silly, I know, but I'm now relieved that I don't even have to have the conversation.

Now, if I could just figure out what to do about Santa!

good luck to you, I think you have to do what you have to do!

 

[Gabkatt]

We have taken our kids out of school for vacation every year since they started. We always go the last week in Sept. I own my own business and that seems to be the only time we get free to go on vacation.

As far as the teachers, they have been great every year!! (they have been Disney Fanatics just like us) Not even a questionable look as if "what are thinking taking children out of school for a vacation". I would have been fine to just have my kids make up the work when we got back, but every year the teachers have put together a packet of homework. I know this puts a burden back on the teacher however, we let the school know well in advance and the teachers have done this on their own accord.

Our school district also has a policy against taking kids out of school for vacation. If you call the school you will find this is a suggestion. It doesn't mean your child will be penalized in any way.

I know this is a hot topic so before I get flamed I want to mention my background (I have on other posts so forgive me if you have already read this). I own an agency to counsel and mentor at-risk youth. I have several child psychologists that work for me. My DW is a social worker for childrens services. I our profession this topic has come up many times and it always seams to come down to knowing your kids. My DD'S get straight A's and have no problem keeping up, but not all kids can do that. If your child is stuggling in school than you might want to wait until summer. Everything else seams to be opinions and guilt trips.
A family that plays together, stays together!

 

[allaboutmm]

We have always taken are boys out of school to go to WDW. They missed 3 or 4 days each time. Our school system has a form you fill out about a month b/f you go, just notifying them. They pass it on to the teachers, and its their own personal choice if they want them to give homework. The few times they having been giving homework to do on vacation, its simple. Most of the time something to do w/ the trip. Even though I am a teacher, I do believe that education through school and testing is not everything. You live once, some lesson do not come from a book.

 

[JPN4265]

This has got to be my all time favorite question, (Mayber the mug's) I'm going to set back and watch the fireworks!!!!

 

[01Sweetpea]

When we went in 2004, my boys were in 3rd & 5th grade, they missed 6 school days. Although they didn't miss alot, and were able to make it all up, my oldest son asked not to EVER miss that much school again.

This year we are going over Thanksgiving week. The kids, now in 6th & 8th grade will miss the 2 days right before the holiday. They were both fine with missing the 2 days.

Once my oldest gets into HS there will be NO MISSING of school for vacations.

 

[lovemickeyworld]

SweetPea, can I just ask why your 5th grade son decided he didn't want to miss school again? Did he go back to a lot of work, or felt he couldn't make it up again? Or something entirely different? Also what are your reasons for not going during HS? I know my old neighbors also said they'd never be able to do it, but one of their daughters was highly advanced and taking lots of extra classes and activities as well.

I think everyone has to clearly make their own choices. I totally agree about "family" time and feel that is very important. Our situation is slightly different, in that both my husband and I are home full time anyway. Vacations are still nice as a change of venue, and just the day to day rat race.

 

[red riding hood]

Thanks to all of you for you thoughts. I will definitely take the advice. My DS is a great student -- so far.

I am honestly jealous of those of you that can go around a holiday. But there is the problem. What do people do to celebrate those holidays ? -- EAT!!! His busiest times of the year are Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Easter, July 4th, Labor Day, the Super Bowl and now that he is near the lake anytime is a good time to cook out!!!! Maybe if everyone will just quit eating so much (j/k) we can take a family vacation that won't tick anybody off!! I honestly couldn't believe it when his boss told him that no one in the store is to take vacations during the busy summer months. It has gotten painfully obvious that she can't understand because she doesn't have children much less children in school. DH works 6 - 7 days a week as it is. We would like to be able to spend some time together as a family at least one full week out of the year. Sorry -- I seem to have gotten on my soap box - AGAIN!!

 

[thebecka]

We're going February 3rd and DD10 will be missing 2 full and 2 half days. We usually try to plan our trips around teacher training and report card times, as it seems like there really isn't much class work going on. We contact the teacher in advance and ask if we will be missing any assignments, if not we volunteer for my daughter to keep a journal of her trip. Not only does she have something to present to her teacher or classroom, but also she gets a great souvenir of the trip. I usually print special homemade stationary and we decorate the cover with stickers and drawling.
I love going back and looking at previous travel journals. Looking at a vacation from a childs point of view is extreemly entertaining and educational.
I hope this helps.
Have a great trip!!!!

 

[red riding hood]

Where are you staying, thebecka? We still haven't nailed that down yet.

 

[disneyfan6301]

I am going to answer this from a teacher's point of view---GO!! I teach and have had students taken out for vacations (Disney, beach, even for a month to go to India). No big deal. Just get the work ahead of time. This will give them something to do on the way. As a teacher, I would rather know and give work then have the student come back after and then have to gather up all the work.

Now, as a parent, I do the same thing!! Once we went in Sept and saw the low crowds and cooler temps, my DH decided we would always go in the fall. DS now plays football, so we go in Nov. or Dec after the season has ended. I have never had any problems with the teachers. They have all been great. One suggestion--if you have any work out of the textbook, try to photocopy the pages. The books get heavy.

As an earlier post said--do this now. Once my DS hits high school, there is no way I would take him out for a trip.

 

[chigirl]

We are planning our trip to WDW in Feb. Because my husband is the Store Manager for a large grocery store, his boss has informed them that they are not to take vacations around major holidays (I really want to go at Christmas) or during the summer (we live near a large lake and many people vacation here so they are extremely busy). We have one child who will be in school. (2nd grade) I read in one of the many books that I have purchased, that teachers hate it when parents take kids out of school for a week. I don't want to tick anybody off, but if we are going to take a family vacation, we don't really have much choice. Our schools start here in 2 weeks and don't get out until the beginning of summer. What have been the reactions of your child's teachers if you have taken children out of school?

I ,too, am in the same position as your husband. I work for a major company you all know and I cannot go June-August or after October 31-Jan on vacation, so we are going 10/22-10/29. Son is in 3rd, daughter is in 8th...daughter is an honor roll student and son is a great student, too! Our school district is okay with this and we make sure all work is caught up, etc...plus we've always done stuff to supplement school (we go to the library all the time, museums, zoos, etc and we both volunteer for the schools) so it is a non-issue.

People need to realise that those in some industries don't work a schedule akin to everyone else's! So many people are self-involved and think they are entitled to the world on a silver platter...they forget there are people like your husband who have to toil away long hours so they can get their thanksgiving fixings, etc or they have to sacrifice their Thanksgiving to get to bed by a reasonable time to be at their store by 4am for the 5am opening because consumers like to shop at the crack of dawn on Black Friday!

Go and enjoy...seriously, what are your kids going to miss at school in one week? If it was a cycle of constant days off for no reason, that would be a problem....any teacher who gets upset either is freaking out over standardized testing or is just jelous they are not going on such a great trip!!!

 

[mom2dzb]

Just this spring I took my 2nd grader and my 4th grader out of school for a week to visit Disneyland. I planned the vacation for after the mandatory standardized testing, hoping that the kids wouldn't miss anything too important. (My 4th grader's teacher thought I was the best parent in the world for asking about the dates for these tests to plan around, by the way.) Both my kids are excellent students, so I wasn't worried. My 4th grader, though, did miss out on important things and had difficulty with some subjects the rest of the year. It will only get harder as they get older. We'll probably plan shorter trips from now on.

And on make-up work . . . I'm not gonna ask my kids to do school work while they are away on vacation. It's no fun for any of us. I'd suggest trying to get the make-up work a week before the trip. Your child can do the make-up slowly over the weeks before and after the trip, if needs be. (I've yet to get a teacher who'll supply make-up work that far in advance, though.)

 

[Tortuga Joy]

Hi fellow South Carolinian! Welcome to the boards! As far as your question goes, it looks like you've gotten some great answers. As for us, we are going Sept 23 thru Oct 1. Our kids are 16, 14 and 5. The older ones are home schooled so we take everything with us and they will do a project relating to Epcot in some way. The little one starts K this year and I just don't think missing that time will hurt her that much. Anyway, family time is very important to us...you never know what might happen...better take and make the good times as long as you can! In fact, we are taking my son's best friend who does go to middle school. He's never been to Disney...parents have been unable to take him and they have no problem taking him out of school. I'm sure a huge packet of work will hitch a ride with us!

I also think since it's a little cheaper, I'd do it anyway. We need to save every bit we can.

By the way, we are in Columbia so welcome again!

 

[mmmcq]

This is actually the first trip where we will take the kids out of school - two out of high school. It's a surprise for the kids and probably one of our last family vacations as our oldest DD will be off to college next August. We also have a DD in first grade.

If I asked my older girls now if they'd go, they'd say no. One of them had a perfect attendance record last year (missed on day this year for an extremely sick day) and I'll be messing up her record this year for WDW and a few college visits in the fall. The other DD hates to miss classes and have rely on friends for notes, etc. High school administrators and teachers really frown on taking kids out. But it'll be November - the fall sports will have just ended and with Thanksgiving there won't be much going on Wed of that week......so we're giving it a shot. I may regret it later.

 

[Swimnoid]

DD is 19 now and a sophomore in college (with a 3.66 avg no less--brag brag! ) We took her out of school for Disney every year from K-12 with no problem at all. Early on we would go around Labor Day so she would miss 4 days. Later they had a long weekend in Oct and she would usually miss 3 days. We are in NC with the strict no school missing rule but we NEVER had a problem. Every year the teachers were great about it. Sometimes they would send work to do; sometimes they would say dont worry about it! She even missed a final once when we went at Christmas and they had to make up a snow day...still no problem. She made it up when we got back.

Take your young'un out of school and have a fantatstic time. It will make for great memories you will cherish forever.

 

[eeyorelori]

Your all lucky to just have to ask the teachers in my district we must send a letter of the dates explain why you want that time off and it must go through the school district. Then if it is approved the teachers cant say anything ...I just tell them that we farm and only time off the whole year they arent busy is jan and feb... Besides that we only ever asked for a trip once so they no we arent the type that take the kids out all the time..

 

[HappyLawyer]

this may turn into a heated topic, all i say is, do what you want, don't seek approval from others, go when you can and most of all have a blast