How do you tell your kids school(s)?

[erika412]

We're not going until November, but I"m already starting to stress about this.

We'll have a first grader, one in kindergarten, and one in a toddler program. I'm not worried about the baby as we've been with that particular school for 5+ years now, but the older two will be at a school that has been new to us this year (the oldest is now in kindergarten there.)

When do I tell them? What do I say? What about homework for the first grader?

I shouldn't be stressing about it, but we're also pulling them out in January for a trip to Hawaii (can't pass it up since we won't be paying for it). Then there might be a day or two around spring break either.

 

[sk!mom]

You didn't mention how many days they will be out with the different trips but if they are in public school then you need to find out what the attendance policy is, and if your trips will violate it, how strictly is it enforced.

If the time out won't violate any policies, then I wouldn't worry about it with children so young. In that case, I would send a note maybe a week before each trip letting the teacher know and asking if she would like for your child to complete any work while you are away. If you're within the rules, then it shouldn't be a big deal or anything to stress about.

 

[laughinplace199]

I take my kids out of school for a few days every year. I usually tell their teachers about a month in advance. The school's policy is that no work will be given in advance - it all has to be made up when the kids return. A few days before our trip, I send in a note to each teacher saying something to the effect of "Jimmy will be absent on April 20-23 for a family vacation."

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!
1st grade teacher here

Just write the teacher a note 1-2 weeks before your trip. Keep it brief & to the point. It doesn't need to be long & please don't tell her on the first day of school or on Back to School Night (as I've read some people here on the DIS state that they do).

I would not ask for the work ahead of time, as it is very time consuming to get it together. You may want to state that upon your return you will see that your child completes any make-up work you give.

Go ahead & have a great trip! I, btw, pull my own DD14 & DS11 out every year for WDW. And myself as well!

 

[erika412]

You didn't mention how many days they will be out with the different trips but if they are in public school then you need to find out what the attendance policy is, and if your trips will violate it, how strictly is it enforced.

Ah, yes, I should have mentioned it. They are not in public schools. Disney will be 5 or 6 school days. Hawaii will be a total of 10 vacation days including weekends and might overlap MLK day.

 

[erika412]

Thanks Daisyduck. It is nice to get the teacher's perspective!

 

[shoney]

What I usually do is speak to the teacher a month or so in advance (it just so happens teacher conferences have fallen at a convenient time) and tell them we are going on vacation. Then I politely tell them that "we would appreciate work in advance if your schedule allows you do so. If not, please be assured we will work with "insert name" to make up any work necessary."

So far, the teachers have asked me to e-mail them a week before we go to remind them and they all say they will "try to get work together"...so far all have come through and we have had work for them. (they are in 2nd and 4th and we've been doing this for 4 years)

Have a great time!!!!

 

[hockeymom3]

I am taking a 1st and 2nd grader out of school for 2 weeks and I will notify their teachers a week before we go. I don't plan on taking school work with us as I am not taking my work to do there either - its a vacation.

From what I gather from friends/neighbours teachers don't send homework either and they don't need to know about it in advance- if they want them to catch up on it when we get back, thats ok but I really don't think (at that age especially) its a big deal.

 

[Steph9072]

We will be taking dd who will be in 3rd and ds who will be in pre-school out the week after Thanksgiving. I plan to tell there teachers when we do the home visit before school starts. They both go/or will go to Lutheran Schools and the teachers do home visits before school starts. Then I will remind them at parent teacher conf. at the end of the first 1/4. Then again beginning of Nov. That way we can collect all the work for that week.

HTH

 

[trac96]

we are leaving in 5 days for disney and i told my son's teachers a few weeks prior. he's in 10th grade. as it ends up he's on break now for easter vacation till the 17th, then the weekend, then off to disney on monday the 20th. so basically he's done with school during april. he's loving that of course. but anyways, at our school you have to fill out paper work in order to get approved or not. it's always not approved but you still just go. by filling out the paper work it allows the kids to make up work once back. they get the same amount of days missed to make up the work once back. if you don't fill out the paper work kids don't get to make up any work at all, and get zero's on all assignments. all day's missed are mark un-excused at our school. we take him out every other year for disney and have never came across a problem.

 

[Kies99]

Our school district actually has forms that need to be filled out by the parents and signed by the parents, teacher and principal giving approval for the absence.

We just filled this out last week as we are going to the beach the first week in May. The form asks for the basics: child's name, teacher, room #, etc...

It then asks for a written reason explaining the "EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE" of the trip (that's exactly what the form said). I had to do a little bit of Google-ing to come up with an excuse, but happy to say it was approved.

Oh, and our school district will give the homework in advance to complete and turn in when they get back. Any test/quizzes will be made up the day they return.

 

[NU2WDW]

What I usually do is speak to the teacher a month or so in advance (it just so happens teacher conferences have fallen at a convenient time) and tell them we are going on vacation. Then I politely tell them that "we would appreciate work in advance if your schedule allows you do so. If not, please be assured we will work with "insert name" to make up any work necessary."

So far, the teachers have asked me to e-mail them a week before we go to remind them and they all say they will "try to get work together"...so far all have come through and we have had work for them. (they are in 2nd and 4th and we've been doing this for 4 years)

Have a great time!!!!

We leave next Friday and this is exactly how we did it. Ours are in 1st grade and kindergarden.

 

[princessmom29]

I hate to say this but that's a lot of school to miss!! A week and then closer to two plus some time around spring break!! Be prepared for your child's teacher not to like it. Your kids, your choice but I just can't see any school being ok with that much time for vacations in one year. In our school system that child would not get credit for the year and have to repeat. There are 4 parent note absences and 5 unexcused allowed before loss of credit. Anything outside the 4 parent notes have to be doctor's note or they will not be excused.

 

[MiniGirl]

Our district is pretty strict about absences. A doctor's note must be provided or the absence will be unexcused. After a certain number of unexcused absences, the parents are sent a letter or receive a visit from some very official sounding person. The school also retains the right to have a child repeat the grade if a certain number of days are missed -- regardless of how well the child is doing.

We like to travel and our children have not had any problems, but we got to a point where we were taking our kids to the doctor's office for a cold because it was either that or send them to school sick. We will be homeschooling both dds starting next year, so this is no longer a concern for us.

However, my letters were short and sweet:

Mrs. Teacher,

My daughter, name here, will be absent from (beginning date here) to (end date here). Please let me know how you like to handle making up missed work.

Sincerely,


I found no need to go into details or explanations or anything of the like. The absences are unexcused and that is that. Of course, the teacher knows where we are going and what we are doing. My dds would tell them and we may even chat about it. For the note though, only a sentense or two is needed.

 

[PollyannaMom]

DS is missing 2 extra days before the official spring break. I sent a note about a week ahead asking "in addition to keeping a journal, is there is anything you'd like me to cover with him while we're away?" It -

1) lets her know you are taking it seriously, as you expect up front to have them at least do a journal.

2) gives her the option to send something without the pressure / impression that you expect her to do extra prep work.

That way, if she happens to have some stuff run off ahead, she can send it - or she can just tell you to do the journal and practice math facts or whatever.

I do agree about checking the handbook, though. There may be an offical form or something at your school.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

When i took DD out of 1st grade for our trip after thanksgiving I typed up & printed out a fun letter to the teacher & principal. I even put some pictures on there.
I also wrote that Id have my DD do fun learning things while we were down there, like read the menu, signs, etc & count hidden mickeys.
The teacher got a kick outta it & told her to have fun & wanted to hear all about it when she got back
I bought one of those Epcot Passports & she gave it to the teacher for her class...she loved it!

I think if your honest about it & let them know you will still have her doing some reading or counting, i think they will be fine with it.
Its High school that I heard was tough when it comes time for vacations during class days

 

[InkspressYourself]

Just write the teacher a note 1-2 weeks before your trip. Keep it brief & to the point. It doesn't need to be long & please don't tell her on the first day of school or on Back to School Night (as I've read some people here on the DIS state that they do).

Why is it bad to mention it on Back to School Night? My dh always wants to tell them as soon as he meets them. In his mind, he feels like he's being dishonest if he doesn't say so right away.

Dawn

 

[mjkacmom]

Why is it bad to mention it on Back to School Night? My dh always wants to tell them as soon as he meets them. In his mind, he feels like he's being dishonest if he doesn't say so right away.

Dawn

Because back to school night is not about your child - it's about learning about the school/classroom. It is never appropriate to discuss anything regarding your individual child with the teacher on back to school night.

 

[InkspressYourself]

Because back to school night is not about your child - it's about learning about the school/classroom. It is never appropriate to discuss anything regarding your individual child with the teacher on back to school night.

Thanks for the reply. I guess that makes sense. I wonder how Back to school nights are in other schools. Usually my dh and I are the only ones in the room (it's a pretty small school)

Anyway, I never want to mention it then, because I think it makes us look like slackers. I'd rather them get to know us a little better before they decide that.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Anyway, I never want to mention it then, because I think it makes us look like slackers. I'd rather them get to know us a little better before they decide that.

I feel the same way!!