I am sure this has been asked....

[Suellen]

My DD start kindy in the fall. We always take a trip in the fall.

I have know idea what the school will be like. Do they generally give a hard time about taking them out for a week at this age?

DH says he doesn't care and he will call her in sick everyday. I don't really want to start off the school year in a fight with them.

We have a parent orientation night just before we leave for our May trip. So I think I will ask ~ because I want to be able to book a bounce back offer if there is one.

Also is there typically a break in October? I could live with waiting until October... but we don't want to miss MNSSHP.

Anyone have any thoughts on what the schools "general" opinion on taking them out for a week when in Kindy?

 

[eeyorethegreat]

This is usually a hot topic, so be prepared for getting some err "strong" opinions on the subject. I suggest that you talk to the teacher and make your decisions based on the teacher's response and the policies of the district. Calling her in sick likely would not work as you would need a signed doctor's note from your child's physician stating her illness. As far as breaks in October we get Columbus day off other than that there is no vacation scheduled for Oct in Maine. Do what will be best for your child. Is the best advice I have for you.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I am a kindergarten teacher and people do it. In fact, one child just got back last week. The mother asked and I sent home the week's work and he did it on the way there and back.

I cant say that I absolutely love it and that sending him worksheets to do in the car makes up for direct teaching. But I do know it will only get harder to take her out the further along in school she gets.

Not much help, am I??

 

[iwrbnd]

I would do it while they're young because when they are in middle and high school it's almost impossible!

 

[Fantasmic23]

I am a kindergarten teacher and people do it. In fact, one child just got back last week. The mother asked and I sent home the week's work and he did it on the way there and back.

I cant say that I absolutely love it and that sending him worksheets to do in the car makes up for direct teaching. But I do know it will only get harder to take her out the further along in school she gets.

Not much help, am I??

As a teacher, when would you suggest alerting teachers about an upcoming trip? We have a November 29 - December 4 trip planned. Would sometime in September be okay? I don't want to overwhelm the teachers (especially since I know how hectic and busy the first month of school can be) but I also want to give them adequate notice. Thanks!

 

[littlbugmom]

The answers to your questions will be so varied. Our school district is supportive of family vacations for the most part. Family vacations are encouraged as long as testing is not missed and they are not too frequent. We pull our kids out for a week every 2 years. We work around teacher conference days because the kids are off 2 days for that. I feel lucky because I've heard other people talk about very strict rules.

Generally, it's easier to take them out of school when they are young.

Our district has 2 days off in October for professional days. November gives us 2 days off for conferences and then 3 days off for Thanksgiving. We did Thanksgiving last time and it wasn't bad. We're using the 2 conference days next time. (to avoid Thanksgiving crowds)

Go to your school's website and look up the policy. That way, you go into the orientation pretty much knowing the policy but able to ask for clarification if you have any questions about it.

 

[badblackpug]

This probably won't be helpful, but absentee policies vary from district to district. Some districts are stricter than others. All have different policies on excused/unexcused absences and the ramifications of unexcused absences. I suggest you check with your school district.

 

[luvmikids]

I will be taking my 10 year old and 8 year old to WDW in Feb/2011. We will be out for 7 days. I don't completely like taking them out for this long but I know when they get to be in middle school and high school we will not be doing this. (our middle school starts in 6th grade) I think for a kindergartner, you should be fine.

 

[kittycat9]

Does your child's school have a website? If so, go check out this year's school calendar. You can get an idea of next year's calendar by looking at this year's dates. Granted Teacher Enrichment dates can vary, but holidays and quarterly closings should remain the same. If memory serves there is a quarter end for our district around the end of october/mid-october.

And we are taking our first grader out next year, the week after thanksgiving. He will be receiving his lessons while we are away.

 

[ShannonMB]

I have taken DD out of school for a Disney trip in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, and there hasn't been any problem. 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were so excited for her and wanted to come in her suitcase! As PPs have said, it definitely varies by the school/district as to what's allowed, so I would ask in May in your case. Our school just requires a 2 week written notice for the absences to be excused. I don't think you'll come up with too much resistance, as I'm sure it's done all the time. As long as she's up to speed and not struggling, I imagine everything will be just fine as it has been for us.

Best of luck!

 

[dizneechic]

Does your child's school have a website? If so, go check out this year's school calendar. You can get an idea of next year's calendar by looking at this year's dates. Granted Teacher Enrichment dates can vary, but holidays and quarterly closings should remain the same.

I was going to suggest this as well. Ours has already posted the 2010/2011 school year calendar so we know all of our 1/2 days, days off and when mandated testing will be.

As for how far in advance? I would mention it maybe 2-3 weeks before you go and send in a formal note about 1 week ahead of time. Teachers can't keep track of their kids personal schedules so if you give them too much advance notice they won't remember (and you shouldn't expect them to). I wouldn't recommend playing the calling in sick game, as one of the pp's mentioned you may end up needing a dr's note to return if you miss a certain amount of days. Even schools with the strictest attendance policies can be flexible on a case by case basis. Just let them know ahead of time and ask if there is anything you can take with you or cover while you are away to keep your child on track with the class.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Our district requires us to fill out and submit a "vacation request" 2 weeks ahead of time and there's a maximum of 5 days allowed per school year. We pulled our oldest twice, once in K and once in 1st. Both years we did it the week of Labor Day so he only missed 4 actual days of school, but it was close to the beginning of the year (he went to school 2 weeks and was off a week). I felt like the class would still be reviewing, getting settled, etc, and that was the best time for him to miss.

Just check your district's policies and go from there.

 

[SnowWhite607]

As a teacher, when would you suggest alerting teachers about an upcoming trip? We have a November 29 - December 4 trip planned. Would sometime in September be okay? I don't want to overwhelm the teachers (especially since I know how hectic and busy the first month of school can be) but I also want to give them adequate notice. Thanks!

Oh that should be plenty of notice! I had rather be told far in advance rather than 2 days before and then expected to get a week's worth of work together.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You need to find out the policy of your school district and talk with the child's teacher and the school principal. The only thing the rest of us can do is tell you how our districts work.

 

[Suellen]

Our school district has a crappy site. I could barely find out what I needed to bring with me to register her.

I feel like Kindergarten it shouldn't matter since it isn't actually even required here.

And of course I know you can't tell me our school districts policy ~ but just wondering what peoples experience have been when doing it.

I am going to be in big trouble if they require a Dr's note every time she is sick. I heard this year they didn't want them coming in if they had ANY signs of the flu. i.e. cough, sore throat etc. those are NOT things I would bring them to the Drs for normally. Her symptoms do tend to run a little longer b/c I don't believe in antibiotics for every little thing. Though of course they rarely do get sick. The only sick visit to the drs. my 4.5 year old had was when her fever hit 105 ~ I thought that warranted a visit and you know what? They said it was viral and just keep treating as we had. But I digress.

I guess I will ask when I go and then hope that the teacher she gets assigned will be accepting of it.

It is the same school system I went to eh, 20 years ago, and I am guessing things have changed a lot!

 

[RMulieri]

The answer is...It depends on YOUR district. That said, my district has a trip form to fill out and return no later than 2 weeks before the trip.We notified DD's teacher a month before.But this is only for grades k-3.After that they do it on a case by case basis, and at 5th grade NO vacation trips are excused.We also came back( even at the K level) to plenty of makeup work.Importan to realize that Kindergarten is alot more work now than when we went years ago.They are learning sight words and begin to read in Kindergarten

 

[Suellen]

What do you mean by sight words? She already knows how to read. I really hope they are going to challenge her.

Gosh I hope it is harder than when I was there ~ we only went 2.5 hours a day and I remember coloring and learning my ABC's

I figure early is better to take her out.

 

[RMulieri]

What do you mean by sight words? She already knows how to read. I really hope they are going to challenge her.

Gosh I hope it is harder than when I was there ~ we only went 2.5 hours a day and I remember coloring and learning my ABC's

I figure early is better to take her out.

Words that they need to know on sight : like ,us, his ,she ,they etc..You can google more info.In Kindergarten the first few months are essentially review to see what each kid knows.They then start a host of other things..Beginning reading is taught.Writing is taught,If your child can read already it will be good for her.Right now in Kindergarten my 6yr old is learning history ,geography etc.I am stunned. Beginning Math skills are also taught( money, adding,subtracting ,graphing).I was told her Math skills are at a 2nd grade level already..The stuff they are doing in Kindergarten now astounds me..It seems it is now more like our 1st grade. and Preschool is the new old Kindergarten

 

[moparop]

Our district wants you to let them know as early as possible and it is considered an excused absense. We do not get any time off in October right now, but I was looking over our caledar for 2011-2012 and we get one day that year.

 

[Suellen]

Words that they need to know on sight : like ,us, his ,she ,they etc..You can google more info.In Kindergarten the first few months are essentially review to see what each kid knows.They then start a host of other things..Beginning reading is taught.Writing is taught,If your child can read already it will be good for her.Right now in Kindergarten my 6yr old is learning history ,geography etc.I am stunned. Beginning Math skills are also taught( money, adding,subtracting ,graphing).I was told her Math skills are at a 2nd grade level already..The stuff they are doing in Kindergarten now astounds me..It seems it is now more like our 1st grade. and Preschool is the new old Kindergarten

Well History and Geography will be good for her. We can work on Geography at Epcot right??? It IS her favorite park!

I am glad to know it has been stepped up some. I have been worried about her being bored ~ but she is excited though!