Just sent out the dreaded school notes - Yikes!

[angels05]

Sent notes today to kids' schools. This is a very special trip for us (celebrating oldest dd turning 18, and our 20th anniversary), but I know that our schools frown on this. I'm waiting to see what kind of feedback I get - wish me luck!

 

[SGB13]

Sending pixie dust your way!

 

[mlill]

Don't worry about the schools! You guys will have an excellent vacation!!! (You deserve it!) Your kids will make up the work, that's all the schools need to know! I'll talk to you later...

-Me!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Be glad you don't live in Texas! I got a lovely notice that DS9 is a truant and I am facing possible misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500. He missed 4 days for our WDW trip and he made up the work. Our district is just a little rigid.

Have a WONDERFUL vacation!! There is no substitute for time with your family!

 

[Snoopymom]

Sending pixie dust. I felt this way and ds was only missing two days of Kindergarten. Things sure have changed. Let us know.

 

[disneyaggie]

Be glad you don't live in Texas! I got a lovely notice that DS9 is a truant and I am facing possible misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500. He missed 4 days for our WDW trip and he made up the work. Our district is just a little rigid.

Have a WONDERFUL vacation!! There is no substitute for time with your family!

Unbelievable! But yet kids are roaming the streets and nothing happens to their folks, I bet!

Sounds as bad as that idiot Denton County DA who's teen shot children with an air rifle and it has quickly been swept under the rug! Almost 9 months later the grand jury "conveniently" has not received the case. And this was even after the story hit the news and with a follow up story!

I hope it all works out for you. Go get 'em, tiger!

 

[Ashes8380]

I just don't understand school districts getting all up in arms about this. I went to WDW and missed an entire week when I was about 9 (the same age as someone's kid who posted before me). And guess what? I turned out okay! I'm in college now, and doing well, and that week missed of third grade did me no harm whatsoever. To this day I still have tons of memories of my trip, but very few of the rest of that year. I'm in school, studying to be a teacher now, and I just don't get this attitude about it. Good luck with your district!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Be glad you don't live in Texas! I got a lovely notice that DS9 is a truant and I am facing possible misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500. He missed 4 days for our WDW trip and he made up the work. Our district is just a little rigid.

But, according to all the recent threads, parents have no right to complain about the rights of schools and teachers to control and intrude in our lives.


Ohhh yes!!! I amost forgot... Angels05, have a WONDERFUL trip!!!!

 

[ckret01]

Makes me want to home school when I have kids. What a pain!

Good luck and pixie dust to you

 

[MinnieM3]

I got notes from 2 parents today letting me know that their (respective) kids would be out on Monday and Tuesday of next week. One's going to Hawaii and one to Chicago!

My note back said I was so jealous (to the Hawaii one..I know her well!) and I hope they have a great trip. I let them have the choice of either having the kids take the 2 tests they'll miss after they get back or they can take it with them and do it on the trip (or before at home, whatever!). There really isn't any classwork on those 2 days that is critical for them to make up.

(Monday we have a special Thanksgiving activity that takes up most of the day).

I ended my notes with wishes for a wonderful time.

Just like every part of life, not all teachers are the same! Some of us are nice and kind and understanding.

 

[mtdevine615]

MinnieM3, I think maybe your one of the few understanding teachers left. I was ready for a fight with taking the kids out of school for 6 days in January, but to my surprise all I got from the teachers was how jealous they were also. I guess not all school districts have gone crazy. Maine

 

[WIcruizer]

Like anything else, some school districts are cracking down on this because the "wink and nod" policy has been abused. The school calendar is there for all to see. There are plenty of opportunities during the year to work around it and minimize or eliminate missed days. But since we're becoming an "all that matters is ME" society, the districts have to watch it more closely.

More and more districts in suburbia feel that school days are becoming more and more "optional." I'm sure you can appreciate it has gotten out of control to a certain point. My suggestion, again, is to organize a grass roots effort to change the policy, vote for different school board members, attend meetings, etc. rather than teach your children to ignore rules that are inconvenient.

 

[mommaU4]

For our upcoming trip our kids will miss a total of 6 days and it doesn't bother me at all. Of course my kids are the smartest in the whole world and I'm young and pretty so no one would dare say no to me anyways!!!!!!

LOL I can't even type that with a straight face!

Seriously, it wasn't a big deal for their teachers. The most they said was to have them keep a journal if they wanted to. Wasn't even a requirement!! One teacher said "Take me with you!!"

I know this is such a hot topic around here and I don't get it. If it bothers you don't take yours out, but don't judge others who do. To each their own. And as far as some schools being so strict, that I'll never understand. Isn't there something better we can do with our time and resources than to threaten them with charges and fines if they go on vacation any time other than summer or X-mas break?

 

[stm61]

I took my kids out last Sept. They missed 1/2 day Fri, ok my ds was about to get on the bus by the time I got there, but his sister's were signed out early. They also missed all 5 days the following wk. All the teacher's said have fun, ds's teacher's in 7th gr sent a hw packet that they really didn't expect to be done. He made up anything he missed after he got back. The girl's are in 1st and didn't have to make up anything. About a month after we got back I got a letter from the middle school. It very nicely informed me of the district attendance policy and exactly how many unexcused days my ds is allowed to miss and any penalty's if he went over the allowed amount. Never heard from the elementary school. Seems like the teacher's have no say here, it's up to the attendance office or district office or whoever else tracks absences.

 

[mrsv98]

More and more districts in suburbia feel that school days are becoming more and more "optional." I'm sure you can appreciate it has gotten out of control to a certain point. My suggestion, again, is to organize a grass roots effort to change the policy, vote for different school board members, attend meetings, etc. rather than teach your children to ignore rules that are inconvenient.

That is a pretty harsh attitutde. When my DD's school district does away with Institute days, school improvement days, non-contact days, early release days, late-opening days (planned not for weather) and freakin' Casmir Polaski day, then I will rethink our family vacation policy.

It is difficult for DH to get time off, he works a high-stress, high-pressure job and our family time is precious. At this point DD is only in KDG, but until we see that missing school is an issue for her, we will decide when we will go on vacation. I do not believe that taking DD out of school is "teach(ing) my child to ignore the rules that are inconvenient", I believe we are teaching her that our family time is important. Each parent needs to make this decision based on their own family needs, and no one else should judge them.

 

[WIcruizer]

Each parent needs to make this decision based on their own family needs, and no one else should judge them.

That sounds great, but it's naive. If it's ok with the school, fine. But what if it was an unexcused absense? In some school districts there's some pretty serious ramifications for truancy. Whether you think that's right or wrong, it's irrelevant. What if you or other parents feel that taking 5 weeks off during the year is YOUR decision? That's what's happening, and that's why attendance is being tracked more closely in some districts.

When my DD's school district does away with Institute days, school improvement days, non-contact days, early release days, late-opening days (planned not for weather) and freakin' Casmir Polaski day, then I will rethink our family vacation policy.

You proved my point, all these days are avilable, in addition to Christmas, Spring, and Summer breaks. Plenty of time to minimize or eliminate missed days.

 

[swilphil]

Remember, the teachers don't set the attendance policy. That is done by the district's administration office with approval from the school board. In 14 years of teaching at 3 different schools, teachers were never asked for feedback regarding absences due to family vacations.

I actually think the days right before or after a school break, like the one next week, is the perfect time to miss if you must. Just give the teacher plenty of notice to prepare assignments in advance.

 

[angels05]

Thanks for all your support. One of my dd's teachers asked her if this was the only time we could go. She said yes, and he said, "Well, your parents must not be teachers." Actually, I am a teacher, but I quit teaching when my children were born. I know education is important, but so is our family time. My oldest dd will be going to college next year, so this is probably the last big vacation for us to all take together. I do believe we are teaching our kids a valuable lesson.

Thanks for the pixie dust, and I'll let you know if I hear anything else - I'm sure I will.

 

[daisyduck123]

Have a great trip. I'm soo envious!!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Sent our letter in last week - have not heard anything from the school, but DD's teacher is very understanding. She mentioned a journal and keeping up on reading - she was happy when I mentioned the journal was already planned, along with other learning opportunities - and the "Behind the Seeds" tour. She was pleasantly surprised.

I agree with "mrsv98"!!! - add to that over an hour once a week for kids to leave for "religious instruction" (which I am opposed to) - during which time there is NO new instruction in the classroom - and they have a hard sell telling me every moment in necessary!!!!