How do you Plan around School Calendar?

[eporter66]

OK - We have so far been able to plan our vacations whenever we want, and still have a few years left, but in the very near future we are going to have to take school into consideration.

Our daughter starts Kindergarten this year, and we have a vacation planned for October. Hopefully she will be adjusted and the week wont throw her off. We have heard from other parents that the schools get tough pretty early on about taking kids out of school.

How do/did you plan your vacations? I honestly have no desire to be in WDW for Spring Break, that just does not seem like a vacation. So - give me your planning tips, thoughts, and ideas. I dont think I am interested in summer vacation either - we have such a short summer, I would rather be here to enjoy it, no need to go to Florida. I guess I am closing my options

Thanks

 

[daisyduck123]

I pull mine out every year. They have missed at least 5 or 6 school days every year for WDW trips. A week missed from elementary school is not going to make or break anybody. I pull myself out as well!

Next year though, DD14 will be junior & is signed up for five AP classes. So we will work around vacations. If it weren't for those five classes though, I'd be pulling the kids out again.

 

[JW2]

We are in the same situation although my guys are now in grade 4 and 2. I don't feel comfortable pulling them out of school for a full week anymore although I know they can handle it. We did last year realizing that it was the last year. Other parents completely disagree and there have been many debates re: pros and cons - I personally think you have to go with whatever is comfortable with your own personal feelings.

Two options we are thinking about - end of August just before school restarts - they are usually bored of summer by then and the nights can be a little cool here. (But I'm with you that summer is so short and beautiful here - I have no desire to go in the middle of summer!!) For us, we are looking at our Thanksgiving which is in October - we have the Monday off and this year, the Friday following that Monday is a PD day (professional development - kids are off) - so they would actually only miss 3 days of school. I know your Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays but I wonder if there is another long weekend that isn't so busy and you could bridge it so your child only misses 1 or 2 days on either side of a long weekend - or if you are lucky with your school calendar that like us, there is a PD day near a long weekend? I'm still "iffy" about them even missing 3 days ... probably being over cautious.

 

[rcmsfeb04]

Great thread!

My oldest is starting 1st grade this fall so we've scheduled a trip for Feb vacation (last week of Feb.) We've never gone in the peak season and I have already begun to worry that it will be too crowded.

If school break doesn't end up working for us we'll probably do two shorter trips each year when there's a teach conference day (day off for students). They typically are on Fridays so we'd probably pull her out of school on the Wednesday or Thursday before and Monday after the trip. We'll have to wait and see how it goes....

We won't consider going in the summer because we live in New England. I'd rather go down when it's cold here...meaning November to early May.

Thanks for asking the question, I can't wait to read the other members thoughts on this.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Our two youngest are in high school now and between class and sports schedules it get harder and harder to find time. We usually do a couple of longer weekends a year between sports seasons. That's why we have a trip planned for veterans day week in November. Two days out of school and it gives us five nights at Disney and it is just after the fall sports season ends.

We just took ours out of school for two days a few weeks ago and we got to watch the space shuttle launch as we were standing in front of Cinderella's Castle. How cool is that? It was worth whatever they missed in class those days.

One suggestion that I'd give is to look for those teacher conference/in-service days in the school schedule. Often that creates an opportunity to extend a weekend and not miss a day of class.

HBC

 

[twinklebug]

DD just started HS this year and I'm hitting the lack of flexibility problem. Long weekends are just too rushed so I won't do those. The school system inserts a ton of professional development days into the school year, arranging them on Tuesdays or Thursdays and although many parents take advantage of these for quick trips I just can't do that to her. So those long weekends become impossible too.

My plan for upcoming year working with the school schedule is to have a longer summer vacation, probably take advantage of christmas break to visit family in the area, and use the Feb. Vacation as it's not too too crowded if you take advantage of the evening EMHs, and go once again after school is out in June. You get used to the heat and/or crowds & learn when to take a break and when to hit what. (TGM was great for teaching me a few tricks even when I thought I was already a pro )

Plans change though. I'm willing to roll with it & that is one of the reasons I LOVE DVC.. flexibility.

 

[allshookup]

I've never taken my kids out for more than 2 1/2 days (Thanksgiving week), but even a couple of days was getting to be too much for them. We seemed to be in a rush to get last minute projects/homework in, the kids were exhausted by the time we got to WDW & then they were trying to make up schoolwork when we got back & they were already wiped. This year I actually got a warning from the high school because I took DD out 2 days & she had already been out sick 1 day in the same semester.

The summer is hot, but we just prefer to go when the kids are rested, not rushing to get things done & having a week or two to rest before heading back to school. We enjoy the summer in WDW anyway, yes it's hot, but we can pack light, kids can swim late & the park hours are longer.

 

[edk35]

I pull mine out every year. They have missed at least 5 or 6 school days every year for WDW trips. A week missed from elementary school is not going to make or break anybody. I pull myself out as well!

Next year though, DD14 will be junior & is signed up for five AP classes. So we will work around vacations. If it weren't for those five classes though, I'd be pulling the kids out again.

5 AP classes Laurie

 

[edk35]

We are in the same boat as others with high schoolers plus our Sr. daughter is starting college this fall so we will have a NEW schedule to contend with. We have had 2 days off in Jan. to go with a weekend and we usually pull them out 1 or 2 days to go with the days off. Our Jan. trips are some of my faves. They miss the start of a new semester for their 1 or 2 days so it is not that big a deal. Then in Nov. our schools here are off the entire week of Thanksgiving and that helps HOWEVER dd will not have that off. Plus her spring break is not the same as our sons once she is in college. We have never wanted to be at WDW for spring break anyway. I think we have resigned ourselves to summer only trips for a while. It is harder each year with the ages of the kids and their high school sports/activity schedules.

We even have a hard time coming up with time in the summer because as kids get older....their sports schedules get more involved. Our ds who is in the 9th grade pretty much plays soccer year round so we are not kinda locked into the mid to late July for a vacation. I have really enjoyed the summer trips the past two summers too. We have our third planned this summer.

So my advice....take them out when they are young......because as they get older....it is harder and harder. Once my kids hit middle/high school...I am only willing to pull them out 2 school days per trip.

 

[JimMIA]

Our DD is in first grade and we routinely pull her out for a week at a time for vacations. We get homework assignments and she does some every day. She understands that she has to have 100% of the homework done before we return home, or there will be no more weeks off from school.

The teachers/school don't like it, but to be honest, we don't think it hurts her at all. It actually hurts her new love of ice skating more than it hurts her academics.

As she gets older, though, that will change. Certainly before she gets to high school academic demands and extracurricular activities will make it impossible.

But for now, we actually intentionally vacation during the school year because the school kids aren't there and every place we go is less crowded. That's not such a big deal for us at WDW, but it's huge in the National Parks we visit.

 

[Sandisw]

As a teacher and someone who loves to go to WDW every year, I think it is a personal preference, but I think that the effect on your child should be seriously considered when making the decision.

When parents ask me (I teach Kindergarten but have always been in the primary grades), my professional answer is that it is district policy not to do it. But personally, I have no issue, especially when they are young and can handle the time away from school.

However, if you do choose to have your child miss school, then please consider not expecting or demanding that a teacher give you the work that will be missed ahead of time.

It is sometimes impossible to do this and very time consuming. Personally, I don't always get to things that I plan and many times, carry them to the next week.

I am not suggesting that parents should not ask the teacher, but rather be understanding if the teacher prefers to wait, even though it means more work for your child when they get back.

One district I worked for even changed the policy and told parents that work would not be given ahead of time. It even went so far as to say that it was the teacher's decision on whether to let the child even make it up.

Most teachers, especially at the elementary level, always gave students the work when they returned, and gave them extra time to complete it.

So, before you do take children out of school, be sure you know whether there is a policy about making up the missed work and/or tests.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I too take my kids out of school for our WDW vaca's. DD is in K and DS is in 2nd grade. I will continue to take them out for our vaca's until HS or if it gets to be too much for them then I'll stop. I'm lucky, so far the teachers I have encountered have said that family time is just as important and to have a great time. I'm sure this will change as they get older but as long as their grades aren't affected, we'll keep taking them out.

 

[daisyduck123]

5 AP classes Laurie

I know, I know.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

DH is a teacher, so we've always done the spring break trip, summer, or Christmas. Believe me...I would love to go a week at the end of January, but it's just not in the cards for us. Even if I pulled the kids out, there's no way that DH could go.

If I were going to pull the kids out (because of my kids' ages - 13 and 7), I would tie it to an existing break (e.g., Christmas, Thanksgiving, in service days, etc.). They won't miss a ton of work, and Dis always does GREAT things around holidays! I know it costs more points, and the parks are more crowded, but we've really enjoyed going on spring break. We leave this Friday, and I can't wait!!!

The other thing that will start to impact your trips with school aged children is sports. My son plays hockey and baseball, and this summer, we'll have a two week window where we can travel. We always work around it, as he's getting to the age where it's just not acceptable to leave for a week during the season.

 

[JennSaint]

Our boys miss 2-3 days of school before President's week. That way we usually have a few days in the parks before they become a madhouse. I don't like them missing more than 3 days just too much work to make up. Most teachers don't like giving work ahead of time and I just don't blame them.

 

[Disneymom2266]

I love this topic.. there are so many opinions. When our youngest DD was in elementary school, we were lucky to have her in a year round school, so her breaks were three weeks each, with 6 weeks in the summer. We always went in Sept. when she was off for that break. That is how we came to love WDW,without the crowds. Now, since she`s been in high school, we`ve had to plan around school schedule. At our school, if you`re on a sport, you better not miss practice due to vacations,etc. or you won`t play when you get back. So, as they get older, it gets harder and harder to plan. Also, as a parent, you know your own kids better than anyone. Whether they can handle being out of school and making up the work. So, to me, it`s a very subjective decision. Whatever works best for your family.... do it.

 

[Disneymom2266]

oops, I meant oldes DD!

 

[JVL1018]

I just pull mine out-they do well in school-if they were struggling I would make do on school vacations.
I never ever ask for work ahead of time, the teacher shouldn't have to do anything extra because I'm making th choice to pull the kids out. District policy is that the kids get zeros for the work they miss. I write a note saying that we will be away, and that while I understand the kids cannot make up work for credit, I would be more than happy to have them do their work anyway.
Most of the time they get the work upon their return-sometimes they get a few things prior to vacation(mostly spelling work)sometimes they have to keep a journal.

Depending on your spring break, that may be a good time to go. We used to always have off the last week of April(now we have off early April around Easter because school testing is rthe end of April @@)and we went to WDW that last week in 2007 and it was fantastic, low crowds, great weather.

We've also gone the week leading up to Labor Day and while it is hot, the crowds have been totally manageable(even with free dining out). We planned the same for this year, but we recently got the schedule and for the first time we are starting prior to Labor Day, so we are pulling the kids out for the first 3 days, which I am not thrilled about but what can you do?

ETA: Mine are still in grammar school, I know there will come a time when they can't be pulled out because the work will be too much to make up, but for now, it;s fine.

 

[dcfromva]

Our DS has graduated HS, so this is all behind us.
After he entered middle school, the most we would do is a day (and it had to be for something really special). In HS, we wouldn't take him out of school at all. Our county has sanctions in place for a very small number of absences (I think it is 3 days per semester). Added to the fact that the pace was quicker and he was involved in sports, etc and it was just too difficult.

What we did do is schedule trips during school holidays. Our county always had a two day break around elections and another two day break at the end of January. It can be busy during these holidays, but nothing like Thanksgiving and Christmas. If we planned for a Friday afternoon flight (WDW is only a 2 hour flight), we could get to the World by 8pm. (Now, with EMH--EPCOT would be open for a few more hours!) Then we would have Sat/Sun/Mon to visit the parks and finish up on Tues by shopping at DTD and catch an evening flight home...

 

[mom of princessx2]

I am glad to read this because our oldest DD starts K in the fall (actually the first week of Aug) and we are taking her out for a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Don't know how the school will respond but heck K isn't even mandatory. I don't think I will do it every year and in the future I will try to coincide it with scheduled days off at least until HS but it is good to know that others do it as well.