I know you can help me with this.

[CruiseBoundnKY]

I have to write a letter to the school (my ds is in 1st grade) about why

(1) the trip has educational purpose, (2) significant educational value, and (3) how the activity is directly related to one of the core curriculum subjects of English, science, math, social studies, foreign language or the arts.

Please help me come up with this letter. I had a great one when we went on the Disney cruise last year, but this year we are doing the "world" and MVMCP. I'm sick and just not on my best game thinking wise .

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Karen

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Wow, we live in different world's. So you have to give the school a reason your going on vacation??

Anyways, I would talk about the cultural experiences, maybe take a checklist of local wildlife and plant life??
Can I ask you if you will acctually follow through on this stuff, or are you just going to kick back and relax and enjoy the vacation?

 

[samshane]

Instead of writing a letter can you just go and talk to the principal first? It may be a lot less "work" that you think.

Then again, I don't know how your school is... and, after reading on here, I have discovered how different every school can be. Do you have a copy of the old letter saved? You could just follow that format and modify where needed.

Wish I could be more help... my experience was pretty easy (but our circumstances are very different). Good luck!

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Actually, last year we homeschooled so I'm pretty good at making all things educational.

I've just been sick for over a week now, trying to get ready for vacation and Thanksgiving and my mind is kinda blown right now. I figured someone had been through this and could help with the letter.

We will be going to all parks and taking our time since we will be there for several days.

 

[sk8jdgca]

Here is the one I used from the mouseforless
http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml

 

[robinsegg]

To whom it may concern:
My son will be going to Walt Disney World. In science, he will be seeing animals grouped as they would be in their wild habitats, from each continent instead of from each classification. He will also see and try new technology at work as well as being exposed to information on conservation and clean energy concepts. In social studies, he will also be introduced to foods and languages from 10 foreign countries. A number of classic novel concepts will be experienced, hopefully causing interest in reading the original one day. He will have the opportunity to help us add and subtract the prices of meals and souvenirs, as well as work on time concepts. Mosaics, paintings, sculptures and film will all be witnessed while there.
Thank you for understanding the truly educational value of this family trip, as described above.
Sincerely,

 

[tink1969]

I have never heard of having to write a letter and explain to the school why I am taking my child on vacation. What would happen if you didn't write the letter? Would they refuse you taking the child on the trip? I hardly think so.
Maybe they are just jealous because they found out that you are going to Disney!

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Thanks guys, I'm using the one from the mouse for less.

The principal can excuse up to 5 days without it going before the school board or becoming a truency issue. With so much sickness this year I really want it to be excused because heaven forbid my little darlings get the swine flu...again!!! My son woke up one Friday with what we thought was the flu and didn't go to school. The following Friday, he woke up with a GI bug that was HORRIBLE!!! The next week, he came down with swine flu. So you see, I have to get these excused. I fear that the flu season is no where near over and if we got it again "mommy's note's" will only get you so far with the school. I have had doctor's notes for everything, but I just want to stay in good graces with the school.

Thanks for everything. I just had writer's block this morning and couldn't get it out.

Karen

 

[here757]

I have never heard of having to write a letter and explain to the school why I am taking my child on vacation. What would happen if you didn't write the letter? Would they refuse you taking the child on the trip? I hardly think so.
Maybe they are just jealous because they found out that you are going to Disney!

its not that at all...
the school systems around here will count each day as unexcused absent.. which means the child cant make the grades up. any homework. class work. tests .. would all be zeros.
that would be very hard for the child to make up.

some school systems are "hip " to the disney letters and do not grant premission to go

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

To Whom it may concern.
Little Johnny will be out of school so we can have a family vacation to Disney World. If you dont like it too bad. See you in a few weeks.

Signed vacation bound

 

[2Tiggies]

To Whom it may concern.
Little Johnny will be out of school so we can have a family vacation to Disney World. If you dont like it too bad. See you in a few weeks.

Signed vacation bound

Robinsegg had a good basic outline. I know you used the one from Mouseforless though. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[santa's surpriz]

I had to fill out a form that needed to be approved by the administration and had 3-4 lines, I just wrote we are going to WDW and thought would some educational value with many things I have planned. period. I did not try to justify or sugar coat anything, because any way you look at a vacation is still a vacation After talking to the principal on a different occasion she mentioned that she appreciated my forwardness and honesty.

I did ask her teacher if there anything my dd could do and she asked that we do a journal of what we did, favorite parts, and if there was anything that she learned.

 

[DawnM]

It all has to do with money. The schools don't get any money for that child unless it is an illness.

Dawn

its not that at all...
the school systems around here will count each day as unexcused absent.. which means the child cant make the grades up. any homework. class work. tests .. would all be zeros.
that would be very hard for the child to make up.

some school systems are "hip " to the disney letters and do not grant premission to go

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Robinsegg had a good basic outline. I know you used the one from Mouseforless though. Let us know how it turns out.

Actually i've never been to the site. Thats how I feel. Our trip to Mexice last year the same week were going to disney this year. I told my sons teacher to her face its ok if he misses that week because its the last week before christmas holidays and the kids only watch movies and play games anyway. She was not to amused with me. My wife hit my arm too. I said what tell me im wrong. The teacher tried to but in the end i was right lol. Either way my kids education isnt going to hirt if i remove them from school for a week or 2 in a year. My wife is going to make the note for the kids lol. She let me off the hook. Geeeeee i wonder why.

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

To Whom it may concern.
Little Johnny will be out of school so we can have a family vacation to Disney World. If you dont like it too bad. See you in a few weeks.

Signed vacation bound

I LOVE it and if I hadn't already sent the letters to school I would've used this one.

Thanks for my morning laugh.

Karen

 

[nicki.momof3]

It all has to do with money. The schools don't get any money for that child unless it is an illness.

Dawn

Not sure how your state funds schools but in the state we live in schools are not funded on a "per day basis" making the above statement totally inacurate. Student count is done 2 times a year and that is how funding is based.

As a teacher - it is not all about $$$. It is about your childs education. Children are only in school 180 days a year (give or take a few weeks). With 365 days in a year there are plenty non schools days to travel. There is a huge double standard. As a teacher, I know my students parents would freak out if I took a week off to go on vacation. But is alright for the parents to pull their children out of class for a week or more and no matter what they do on vacation I still have to catch them up when they get back. A homework packet can not make up for a week of missed instruction.

Yes, there are always special sitatutions why families have to travel on school days and that is fine with me adn most other teachers. Take your children and travel have a great time. Family vactions are priceless and you will gain life lasting memories. Miss as much school as you feel is appropriate but don't try to give the school a silly letter that tries to make it sound eduational. Your going on vacation (great - have a wonderful time) but be honest in your letter. Call it what it is - a great vacation to WDW.

OK - off my soapbox.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Not sure how your state funds schools but in the state we live in schools are not funded on a "per day basis" making the above statement totally inacurate. Student count is done 2 times a year and that is how funding is based.

As a teacher - it is not all about $$$. It is about your childs education. Children are only in school 180 days a year (give or take a few weeks). With 365 days in a year there are plenty non schools days to travel. There is a huge double standard. As a teacher, I know my students parents would freak out if I took a week off to go on vacation. But is alright for the parents to pull their children out of class for a week or more and no matter what they do on vacation I still have to catch them up when they get back. A homework packet can not make up for a week of missed instruction.

Yes, there are always special sitatutions why families have to travel on school days and that is fine with me adn most other teachers. Take your children and travel have a great time. Family vactions are priceless and you will gain life lasting memories. Miss as much school as you feel is appropriate but don't try to give the school a silly letter that tries to make it sound eduational. Your going on vacation (great - have a wonderful time) but be honest in your letter. Call it what it is - a great vacation to WDW.

OK - off my soapbox.

I agree with most your letter. What i dissagree with is you think we will freak out if you take time out to go on vacation. Not me I say go and enjoy. How can i take my kids out and expect you not to go yourself. You above all should agree that the prices of holidays double when kids are out of school. Thats one reason why we go when we do. Not to mention Disney world in July and August is just way to hot for us northern folks lol. I agree a holiday is just that dont lie and make it something its not.

 

[robinsegg]

I agree a holiday is just that dont lie and make it something its not.

As someone who homeschools, I take a bit of exception to the above quoted statement. The letter I wrote (upthread) is precisely what I would expect my children to be doing while we go to WDW next year. As a matter of fact, I believe that people learn better when they don't realize they're learning, so I *look* for such opportunities for the kids to learn in such surroundings. To say that it's lying to say the kids can be educated, just because the kids aren't in a classroom setting, is a bit insulting.

 

[nicki.momof3]

What i dissagree with is you think we will freak out if you take time out to go on vacation. Not me I say go and enjoy. How can i take my kids out and expect you not to go yourself. You above all should agree that the prices of holidays double when kids are out of school. Thats one reason why we go when we do. Not to mention Disney world in July and August is just way to hot for us northern folks lol. I agree a holiday is just that dont lie and make it something its not.

Glad to hear someone understands teachers miss school sometimes. You are a teachers dream parent. I wish everyone was like you. I was out recently due a a sick mother (3 school days) and I had an email from a parent - than another email from the same parent 2 days later wanting to know why I did not respond yet. Clearly their child know I was absent.

I agree the holiday prices are higher and for many that is a reason to go during school - I 100% agree and wish them a great trip - just call it that - A TRIP.

 

[nicki.momof3]

As someone who homeschools, I take a bit of exception to the above quoted statement. The letter I wrote (upthread) is precisely what I would expect my children to be doing while we go to WDW next year. As a matter of fact, I believe that people learn better when they don't realize they're learning, so I *look* for such opportunities for the kids to learn in such surroundings. To say that it's lying to say the kids can be educated, just because the kids aren't in a classroom setting, is a bit insulting.

Sorry if you were insulted. But a vacation is a vacation. You can call it what you want but it still is a vacation. Yes, you will learn new and interesting things while on vacation but you do that in everyday life outside of school. Taking my kid to the playground can be educational (physics of a moving swing, math - counting # of kids on each structure) but it can not replace structured academic time on task. We learn from everything around us that does not mean we do not need to go to school.