Kids missing school for a cruise!!

[AllThatJazz]

About to be a junior. Most I have ever missed was a whole school week my sophomore year for a cruise. I talked to all of my teachers and many of them agreed it was a special occasion and gave me work ahead of time.

Junior year - I will be missing 3 full days for a cruise. That's all I'm missing. I think if your children can have a mature conversation with a teacher and explain the situation, they can do so at any age.

Just a note - I take all honor classes and 2 AP's.

 

[travelgirl06]

We are switching from private to public school this year for him, so we'll have a LOT less flexibility. I'm not worried about his getting behind, I'm worried about Texas' strict laws on missing public school days.

I'm already worried about this and my DD doesn't start kindergarten for two years (our neighborhood feeds into a great elementary, otherwise I might already be researching private school options). I understand that they are trying to mitigate kids missing school, but it irks me that it is apparently very strict (at least from what I read on these boards).

Growing up, I was a competitive figure skater and missed about 5-8 days of school each winter for competitions (we didn't have control over dates and there were usually at least two out-of-state competitions a year). My mom's rule was as long a I kept up with my work it was okay, but if i started to fall behind we would cut back on skating. I continued skating seriously through my junior year of high school, granted I was a good student and always did whatever I could before the trip, but it was still tough to get caught back up. I missed one day of college though to go watch a competition and that was a different story - never voluntarily missed another day after that

 

[PurdueMouse]

When my boys were in 4/5 grades they missed 10 days, 5 in August for WDW and 5 in May for DCL. We didn't have any problems. Once they hit high school it was impossible to miss between the school work and sports.

 

[twopeasonepod]

My 8-year-old twins go to private school and miss all the time for cruises. One week (of summer school) for Alaska 2012, two weeks for Pixar California coast/DLR 2012, three weeks for EBTA last year, two weeks for WBPC in May, three weeks for WBTA/WDW this Sept, one week for their bday coming up in March (doing B2B so second leg during their spring break), etc etc. Plus many other non-cruise missed school days.

It's what we've chosen for our kids. Their school still takes our money. Experiencing different cultures, history, family time is important blah blah blah. I missed school as a kid and still got my doctorate so I'm pretty sure they'll be okay.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[conandrob240]

We try not to do this but next year is parents 50th anniversary and in order to take 10 people, we had to pick an " off" week. So, kids will miss 4 days of school. I don't think this should be common practice for the older one (15 yrs old) but for such a special occasion, I think it is ok. NOt worried at all about the 7 and 5 yr olds missing school.

 

[tinkmom2]

My kids have both missed a few days to a week at times over the years for Disney. Most of the time I try to work around spring break schedules. We did go on cruises and to WDW once in October and once in November though. Our next cruise my oldest daughter will be a Sophomore in high school. Our cruise is scheduled to leave the week before Spring break. Here in WI they are pretty good about letting the kids out. Her teachers will know far in advance. This will be our second March cruise.

 

[belac]

DS is only in 1st and from the time he was in preK we have taken him out about a total of 10 days each year.
This past year I got a tiny bit of push back from his teacher, but I insisted and she said she understood with costs etc...
She never provided HW or missed class assignments prior to vacations. He had to make up the work once back home. I was told that she doesn't know what or how far the class would progress, so couldn't actually provide assignments beforehand. Also she said they should enjoy it and try journaling about each evening before bed and that would suffice as creative writing workshop (so he wouldn't have to do that missed work) so that was good.
Actually liked that because we didn't have to worry about homework on vacation too. That little journal is also a great way for kiddos to keep all the memories and settled him down before bed so win win. Making up work afterwards took a few weekends but we did it as routine and added a few sheets each weekend to regular HW.
Don't know what is to come but I have a feeling we will continue doing so till there is another way

 

[CaliforniaMama]

I think sometimes the wrong parents are worried about strict attendance policies. You wouldn't believe how much school some children miss for very little reason. Some kids miss a day every week. The parents of these kids don't really worry about attendance policies. If your child doesn't miss a lot of school already, I wouldn't worry about it. If I could cruise during the school year, I would pull my children out of school to do so. I will, however, say this. Don't expect the teacher to reteach the missed lessons. This can be problematic, especially in math. Make sure you find out exactly what was taught during the absence and teach your child yourself. If your child struggles at all in school, I would be sure to make sure they get the content missed. That will have to come from mom or dad because the class will have moved on while you are enjoying your cruise. Thanks to the person who mentioned that putting together independent study packets is a lot of extra work for the teacher! At least say thank you. Just saying.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Our kids have never missed more than a few days at a time, however, we just booked our first DCL for 2015, and they will be missing a full week for the cruise, as well as a day or two for the parks. They will be in 5th, 7th, and 11th at that time.

 

[jrabbit]

Through Middle School our kids periodically missed 3 to 8 days for cruises or disneyland. The "great / funny" thing about this is that we gave the teaches plenty of warning, picked up the "homework / subjects to be covered" on the day before we left. We made our kids get through the work and inevitably they would be 2 to 3 weeks AHEAD of their classmates. Basically it was a joke. The schools want the butts in the seats so they get paid, education come in second. The primary reason that we "had" to stop with the school year vacations is because it interfered with sports. Oops, that puts education in third place.

I've heard this with regards to college - it applies to high school too

"Without High School (or college) there would not be any High School (college) Sports" --- Tim Allen on one of his TV shows.​

 

[LambertLion]

We were thinking about this too! The next upcoming Hawaii cruise is in September next year, a month after my son will start 3rd grade. (Someone please tell me why a cruise line themed towards families and kids would put the one Hawaiian cruise they do in a blue moon, during the first month of school for most all kids in the US??!?!?!?). We have been going back and forth on it, as he'd miss 8 or 9 days of school (I think Labor Day is in the first cruise window), very early in the year if we go. I don't see the school being too happy about that, but the cruise works out otherwise for us as we were planning to go to Hawaii anyway during his fall or spring break. We are likely not going to do it, but my mind just keeps coming back to figure out a way to make it feasible. First world problems eh?

 

[geoly1]

Sigh...these threads make me sad...both my kids grandmothers have passed & I am so thankful for the time they got to spend with them ....& continue to spend with their grandfathers....take your kids out of school...enjoy your family....I never give the schools too much information about where we are going & when....it is all "family obligation" ..that is all they need to know & they can't argue with that!

 

[jrabbit]

My 20-20 hindsight says that we should have taken better advantages of these types of opportunities when they arose.

It's a hard decision - and the memories will last a lifetime. Missing a bunch of school "up front" is hard because of getting to know his classmates. But 3rd grade - he probably knows most of them and is friends with them and they have played together all summer! (at least that's the way it works in my small town)

 

[harrisb1964]

I am a teacher and I take my son out a week in Feb . every year to DW or on a cruise. The great memories, new countries,how magical it has been for him(especially in DW for the first time when he was 5 ), I would not trade that for anything. And far as the work is concerned, honestly a lot of it was busy work that can easily be made up. After we returned from DW in Jan . his first year, his teacher called and complained all he wanted was to talk DW. After I hung up thought , that would be because his five, and that we definitely got our money's worth ! ( lol )

 

[squirrel]

We were thinking about this too! The next upcoming Hawaii cruise is in September next year, a month after my son will start 3rd grade. (Someone please tell me why a cruise line themed towards families and kids would put the one Hawaiian cruise they do in a blue moon, during the first month of school for most all kids in the US??!?!?!?). We have been going back and forth on it, as he'd miss 8 or 9 days of school (I think Labor Day is in the first cruise window), very early in the year if we go. I don't see the school being too happy about that, but the cruise works out otherwise for us as we were planning to go to Hawaii anyway during his fall or spring break. We are likely not going to do it, but my mind just keeps coming back to figure out a way to make it feasible. First world problems eh?

I love going on vacation in September. I have taken my nieces on many trips to WDW and last year we did DCL and DLR. They normally miss 2 weeks as I don't do short trips. Last year was only 12 nights so this year I'm making up for the missed nights by doing a TA (14 nights + 2 nights in Barcelona + flying time). Neither one will be coming on this trip.

Teachers here are on strike. They sent home all the kid's work and stuff on Thursday and don't expect to be back before the official end of the year which is on June 26th. So if I had my own kid, I'd say too bad. If the teachers can strike at the end of the year for two weeks, I highly doubt they will miss much in the first two weeks!

 

[Bexy83]

Sorry to hijack your thread, found it very interesting reading about your vacations and taking children out of school.
I'm from the uk and things are ridiculous here at the moment, the government is trying to stop parents taking children out at all, parents have a fine to pay per child, per parent for taking them during school time. This is from 4 years old. If you refuse to take the fine then legal action is taken. If your child is 'sick' some schools are asking for evidence (yeah right!) at our kids school the head teacher has been asking for holiday invoices to check the dates are correct that you are saying you are/aren't away.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

When our son was in grade school we took him out for a week. Once he hit Jr. High we went over a week in either October and November. In our school district there was one week each month that had Thursday and Friday off so he only missed three days. Our school district had no problems with family vacations as long as you gave the teachers a two week notice, each of them signing off. Only one had a problem with it but he still did excellent even after missing those days.

 

[sweetlovin']

Sorry to hijack your thread, found it very interesting reading about your vacations and taking children out of school.
I'm from the uk and things are ridiculous here at the moment, the government is trying to stop parents taking children out at all, parents have a fine to pay per child, per parent for taking them during school time. This is from 4 years old. If you refuse to take the fine then legal action is taken. If your child is 'sick' some schools are asking for evidence (yeah right!) at our kids school the head teacher has been asking for holiday invoices to check the dates are correct that you are saying you are/aren't away.

How much is the fine? That is crazy to me, but I would pay it to go off season depending on the price. Isn't it enough that your paying taxes for schooling?

 

[ktate82]

Sorry to hijack your thread, found it very interesting reading about your vacations and taking children out of school.
I'm from the uk and things are ridiculous here at the moment, the government is trying to stop parents taking children out at all, parents have a fine to pay per child, per parent for taking them during school time. This is from 4 years old. If you refuse to take the fine then legal action is taken. If your child is 'sick' some schools are asking for evidence (yeah right!) at our kids school the head teacher has been asking for holiday invoices to check the dates are correct that you are saying you are/aren't away.

That is crazy! We have been homeschooling for the past two years, but this year we are going to try traditional school again. We have moved and the new school offers more advanced programs that will challenge the kids more. But a big part of my issue was when I would go to take them out of school for a dentist or doctor apt, the school wanted a note. Um, I'm here and I'm the parent telling you where I'm going...Do you think I'm lying? And if I do want to take them out to go somewhere else, is it any of your business? I'm paying to raise my kids and until the school takes over that cost and time, I'll do what I want! Rant over.....

 

[LambertLion]

Appreciate the advice all!! You guys have us really leaning towards doing this! We'll make our decision by our next cruise in October and book onboard if we do.