How do you word your school note?

[calie_j]

I'm wondering how others word the notes they send to school not only for notice of a vacation but also for dr's appts and such? My wording just seems kind of lame and I'm looking for the "correct" way to do it. Also do you use a full size sheet of paper/ the smaller writing tablet size/ small notebook size of 6 x 4? What's the proper etiquette for school notes?

Thanks, Calie

PS: I'm not looking for a debate on right or wrong or an excuse to take the kids out of school for a vacation. The school handbook says vacations are excused and I've already talked to the teachers and they're all fine with it I just need to send the formal notice to the office so they can get their assignments. I don't need to make it sound like it's educational or it's to visit family we never see even if that is part of the reason for the trip.

 

[HillPete]

I don't think it really matters what kind of paper you use. As long as it's legible, they probably don't care. Now, for my son's school I wrote something like this:
Dear Teachers (or whatever)
My son, Goofy, will be on vacation with his family from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3. He will return to school on October 4. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.
--Goofy's Mom

and then I put my cell and home numbers. I use nearly the same wording for every note. I.E. Goofy will be going home with Donald today, please feel free to call with any questions, or Goofy was late for school due to a previously arranged doctor's visit... You get the idea.

I really don't think the school needs a huge amount of info. When I was teaching, we really only wanted to know the info that pertained to us. When will he be gone, when will he be back, who has permission to pick up. Stuff like that. Less is more.

Have a great trip!

--H

 

[FourFlans]

Our principal has a policy allowing one excused family trip per year, with prior approval. I had already talked with both teachers at the start of the school year to let the know of our trip planned for December. I just recently emailed our principal letting her know of the trip, the dates, and a few of the activities I have planned to bring in the "educational requirement" for the excused absence. We've emailed back and forth a few times, and she's been very impressed with our plans (which, by the way, I mostly got through the links at the top of this Board for kids activities and such). I think short and sweet, but firm, is the best way to go.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I agree with short and sweet but firm. Never ask permission just state the facts.

My son billy will be absent from 4-3-05 to 4-10-05 as we will be traveling to Flordia. Thanks in advance for getting all his asignment together for him. I wil be sure that he completes and returns them in a timely manner. We do apprecaite any work that you already have planned ahead of time so that we can get a "head-start" before the trip.
Thanks again for all you do,
Jane Doe.

Send about two weeks before the trip.

The last day before you go send a one line reminder.

Just to remind you that Billy will be absent next week. Please send any make-up work home so we can be sure he stays caught up.

Follow the trip by sending a small token WDW gift and being sure that he does indeed complete the work and offer to bring him eary or pick him up late in order for him to make up test or projects.

Done it like this many times, and never had a problem at all.

Good luck,
JOrdan's mom

 

[oogieboogie]

My standard letter:

Principal
School

cc: Kid's teacher

Dear Principal,

This letter is to inform you that (child's name), Room 101, will not be in school from MM/DD/YYYY to MM/DD/YYYY due to a family vacation. I would appreciate it if any work be given prior to this date, otherwise all work will be completed after he returns.

If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me at (123) 456-7890.

Thank you.

That's it. No more, no less. I usually have it typed, printed 2x - one for the school office and another for the teacher just as an FYI.

 

[MomofKatie]

I printed up our letter on the computer, and printed it out on regular letter sized paper. I made 2 copies- one for the principal, and one for the teacher. I modified a form letter that is on allearsnet.com:


Please be advised Tink will be out of school from x/xx to x/xx. We ask that her absences be excused.

The reason for Tink's absence is that our family will be out of the state during this time. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that Tink will be learning many things during this trip and that her education will continue in her absence from school.

The major things she will be learning about:

-Different cultures of the world by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase.

-Math skills due to having her own spending money- she will be adding and subtracting, as well as budgeting.

-Tink will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, resorts, and water parks using the Disney Transportation system.

-She will keep a daily journal of her activities and experiences, aiding in her writing and spelling practice.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for Tink and hope you agree not to charge her with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for Tink to take any assignments with her to be turned in when we return, please let us know as soon as possible. Tink will understand that she may need to do extra assignments when she returns to school after our trip as well.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

Tink's Mom
(123) 456-7890


In our school district, we must get permission from the administration to have the absences excused. We had no problem with this letter (2 years in a row).

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I'm in high school, but my mom will still write a note, so it counts as an excused absence. She usually writes Dear Mr/Mrs-----, Julie will be out of school on (dates). She will get missed school work from her teachers. Thanks. Then she'll write our home phone number.

It works, and I don't get those days counted on as absences.

 

[tjmw2727]

My note is short and sweet - much like oogiebooie's.

I address it to the teacher and copy the admin, I simply put the dates and that xx is out with our permission. I don't put the destination nor do I try and justify it as educational. DH and I both sign the note and of course we will have spoken with the teachers well in advance as well.

I ask for any work that can be given ahead of time and offer to help the teacher put it together if possible. I also promise that work assigned will be done.

When speaking to teachers they often feel put out by last minute request for vacation work. So I give them advance notice and offer to help if possible. The other thing that bothers them is when they take the time to put together the work and the student dosen't do it - I would feel a bit put out as well.

HTH
TJ

 

[daisyduck123]

I've been teaching for 15 years.
I can tell you that you do not need to put a lot of time & effort into your note. It's only going to be quickly read once & never seen again. Just make it short & to the point. It does not really matter what it is written on (we've gotten notes written on everything from fancy stationary to the back of grocery store recepts). Just make sure you sign & date it.

 

[fran99999]

I write the same for out sick.

(Sons/daughters name) will be out of school from date to date as we will be on a family vacation. If you have any requirements due during this absence please send home and it will be returned promptly.

Thank you,

xxxx

home/cell ##
When sick same thing.

Name was out on (date) because he/she was sick.

Thank you

xxx
home/cell #

I did have one teacher that called me to find out what was wrong. LOL I told him in detail exactly what was wrong. DD had stomach flu and her first ###. As you can imagine he never called or asked for more details again.
This was at a private school and no other teacher ever asked either.