Help me write a letter for school

[mh1973]

I am taking my kids out for 3 days to go Disney, and we are actually doing one of the YES programs, properties of motion. I was talking with sons science teacher and she told me to write a letter to the principal explaining the class that we will be attending and the other educational opportunities like the countries at EPCOT and that it will probably get approved as excused absence. She said she pulled her kids out to go to Disney!

So, this is not a debate on should or shouldn't I pull them from school. I just need helping writing this letter? Any suggestions? What would you put?

 

[wehavesix]

Do you have some written material describing the program your child is participating in? I would include that along with your specific plans for any other educational type activities. As far as the world showcase, I would list the countries and some of the activities/experiences your child will get from visiting there. Talk about the storytelling, shows, displays, foods, music, etc. that is typical to each country. Hope this helps and y'all have a great time.

 

[SemiSurf]

I am 21 now and living in Birimingham, AL. But i grew up in Miami, FL. My family and I used to have AP's every year and visit almost every other weekend (Plus my Aunt lived in Orlando, so we always had a free place to stay!) Anyways, the point of my mini-story, is that when i was in 6th grade we actually took a FIELD TRIP to EPCOT for my Geography class! It was an all day trip, left early and arrived back late, but it was for EDUCATIONAL purposes to learn about the different countries of the world! We were given the Epcot Passports and had to have them stamped in each country after we learned something and then turn them in at the end of the trip. It was awesome! So schools do take kids out of school to go to Disney for education. Just thought i would share...good luck with your letter!

 

[pickles]

Dear Mr Principal,

Disney is great.
School stinks.
My kids are going to Disney.
It is ok, I am the parent and you work for me, and they have my permission.

See ya in a few days

Sincerely,
mh1973

PS we will be sure to bring you a mickey rice krispy treat

 

[Flight]

I have pulled my kids out of school with the following letter:

Dear School,

My kids will be out of school on the following dates for a family vacation.

Signed,

Flight

No other explanation needed.

 

[billybobblockhead]

I guess first off you should spell principal correctly.

Now, as a school principal, I've excused Disney vacations probably a dozen or more times, but only after the work that the student has missed has been turned in and graded. My best piece of advice?? Don't BS in the letter. Go straight to what you are doing, if you feel like you need to do that. Actually, Flight has a pretty good letter too, but as a principal, I would want to know more, simply because if you are going to the beach for a week, there is no way that I would excuse it. However, Disney (and Sea World, and Kennedy Space Center, and Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone, etc...) is a little different simply because there is so much new "stuff" there that is highly educational. If he/she refuses to excuse the absences, as him/her if it is possible to excuse them after missed work has been turned in, along with the YES stuff that you will be doing. That should do it. Do know that some folks are real hard-butts about stuff like this (my own son's principal is that way, and I know her on a personal, first name basis & work in the same district). Also, a call or a visit to the principal works wonders, simply because it let's everyone know that you really do care about your child and his/her education. That's hard for a lot of folks because they feel intimidated, but still worth it in the long run.

Enjoy your time. If you went to my school, it would definitely be excused. Hope it works out for you.

 

[mh1973]

I guess first off you should spell principal correctly

Sorry, I was just typing so fast. I am going to include the YES brochure.

 

[appletini]

1st off, forget about the school. Think FAMILY!!! Don't tell them anything, they work for you. See the problem, people in this country are too scared of any "authority". Fa get a bout it! You know your kid(s) better than anyone, right? Can they handle the work when they get back? Will it be too much for them to be out? Anything important going on they need to be there for? That about covers it I think. You won't get too many posting on this anyways Enjoy your trip!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

What grades are the kids?

EPCOT is going to be a big advantage to the educational value because that is what the park is geared towards.

If the kids are elementary aged, I would see if a journal of some form would work, maybe get a CM to teach the kids how to say certain words in the native tongue of the country (like Hello and Goodbye for example). Maybe have them be able to spell it too. They could collect the world!

If the kids are older, there has to be something they could write up and track during your trip.

Good luck!

 

[jjod96]

I googled "Disney excuse letter" and found a great letter that I adapted to our trip but it gave me a starting point!!! Map reading, money skills with spending money, not only the different cultures of the countries represented in world showcase but also those represented by the other guests that you will meet and talk to during your stay.....good lucK!!!!


HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

 

[jey]

DH always goes in and speaks directly to the principal and teacher. We gone for a week every other year. Everyone is great about it. This DS is in 2nd grade. His teacher sent home all his work for the week home early. We leave Friday night and the work is almost done. Be honest with them. Make sure you give them plenty of notice. It is not fair to go in at the last minute.

 

[Go Saints!]

I am a teacher, and at our school your child would not be excused. The letter would not count towards an excused absence because this is a vacation, even if you are taking some of the classes. I do suggest you ask all of your children's teachers for any work that may be missed on those days and have your child prepared to take any tests missed the day they return. This way they are not behind when they return. I hope you have a wonderful trip with great weather while you are there!

 

[mh1973]

I did ask for the work, my 4th grade teacher told us not to worry about, we will take care of it when we get back. I think I will just send a letter stating the dates that will be missed and the YES program that we are attending and send the brochure with it. My kids don't miss school anyways, so 3 days will be fine for them. They are in 4th and 6th grade.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Dear Mr Principal,

Disney is great.
School stinks.
My kids are going to Disney.
It is ok, I am the parent and you work for me, and they have my permission.

See ya in a few days

Sincerely,
mh1973

Would love to write this one....

Dear School,

My kids will be out of school on the following dates for a family vacation.

Signed,

but this is what I usually do. I do talk to DS8's teacher, although it has been awhile since we've pulled him from school. DS16 on the other hand has been pulled several times over the years, just not recently. DH and I just decided last night, if we can get things figured out.... we are going at the end of next month, and yep... pulling them out for a week.

enjoy your trip!

 

[rgf207]

I have pulled my kids out of school with the following letter:

Dear School,

My kids will be out of school on the following dates for a family vacation.

Signed,

Flight

No other explanation needed.

This doesn't really help the OP. The principal needs a letter stating why the trip is educational and it may be excused. Your letter does not provide that.

Google "Disney Excuse Letter" and you will find results. Basically just pad it however you want. You are basically just stating reasons and it's up the principal to accept/reject it.

Bottom line is Disney is a fun vacation and not educational . People can spin it however they want. I hope the Principal excuses it. Have a great time

 

[GovieMom]

Bottom line is Disney is a fun vacation and not educational . People can spin it however they want. I hope the Principal excuses it. Have a great time

Agreed, but also hope you can get it excused.

 

[pickles]

Bottom line is Disney is a fun vacation and not educational . People can spin it however they want. I hope the Principal excuses it. Have a great time

Odd as a homeschooler I can tell you Disney is VERY educational. My son has learned about hydrolics and how the animatronic stuff has been made to work.

How illusions are created
He has learned about the life and history of Walt Disney

he has read about the different countries he visited while at Disney.

he visited Bush Camp at AKL and learned about African animals as well as some African cultural things.

He has listened to the hall of presidents and learned about presidents and with the carousel of progress he got to learn about how my mom grew up and how I grew up. So, he learned some American history and culture

Inspired by Tom Sawyers island he has since read some Mark twain stories and no one had to force him into like they o when you hit high school and madatory reading
Disney is a great well of teaching and inspiration to learn more. It is all how you approach it.
Disney can be all about the rides or it can be a lot more in depth and thought provoking. Pretty much the same way all of life is

 

[rgf207]

Agreed, but also hope you can get it excused.

Yes. I do hope the OP gets it excused. I wasn't intending to be mean. I was just saying I think she should pad it to make it seem as educational as she can.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

Not sure what my parents did when we took our WDW vacations but since we always went "Jersey Week" I was really only missing 3 half days of school. However my mom was a teacher so I'm sure she did something so it was an excused absence.

What my teacher had me do in 4th grade was get "documentation" of what I did in Disney and then do an oral report of my trip. I was out spoken as a kid in school so I had no problem doing this... plus it was a quick and easy way for me to talk about my trip to all my friends.

 

[mh1973]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I did as a couple posters suggested and googled Disney excuse letter, found a great one and changed it up a little. Leaving in the morning!