Let DS miss last week of Kinder?

[naomi78155]

to go on vacation?

I have having such a hard time deciding. We are planning a trip coming up for either late mate or early June.

We really want to go at the least crowded time possible.

DS loves school and gets out May 28. We were going to leave then for a week, but I heard Memorial Day weekend is a nightmare. Also that a lot of Florida school kids have field trips during this time?

Anyhow, would you take your child out of school the last week? Kindergarten graduation is the 21st, then they have a whole week after that . So they must just watch movies and play that week, I am assuming.
I just don't know if he would be "missing out" on things with his school friends and that time to make memories?

WWYD? Thanks.

Oh, and for what its worth, it is going to be a surprise trip, so asking him flat out isn't really an option.

 

[mamaLori05]

If you are going to be there for the graduation, then I don't see it as a big deal. I personally wouldn't want to miss the graduation, but that is just me. Beyond that, no, I don't think he would be missing much, besides a bunch of crazy kids that are excited about summer vacation!

 

[sk!mom]

I wouldn't surprise him if he's going to miss the last week of school. Both of my kids would have needed time to get excited about that. I would have done it with DS- he'd have thought it cool to ditch a week and head off on vacation. I probably wouldn't have with DD. She had the most wonderful, fun Kindergarten teacher and would not have wanted to miss a minute.

That being said, we've been twice over Memorial Day and the crowds didn't seem much different than the following week.

 

[naomi78155]

We will be home for graduation, wouldn't dare miss that little white cap and gown.

Either we would leave the day after graduation, or a week after (May 29-June3).

Thanks for the input.

BTW: I asked him if he would rather have fun time with his friends at school, or go on vacay, he squealed "vacation"! before I could finish the sentence. He must know something is up.

 

[happymommy]

My kids missed the last week of K and 2nd - I just called them in sick every day. You'd have to know the school (private, Catholic, and strict). I only told my best friend, so no other parents knew.

Honestly, they missed nothing. It was all half days of cleaning out their desks and an ice cream social (for my DS, who was anaphylactic to dairy anyway?).

It was a lot of fun.

 

[rookie78]

It does not seem like a big deal to miss the last week. It is a lot better than taking him out in the middle of the school. It is not like he really knows when his last day of school is, just say the 21st is your last day and school will be out.

Have you looked at the crowd calendars to see if there is really a difference if you go a week early? If there is not a difference then I would go after school is really out.

It is just kindergatern, not high school so don't sweat the small stuff!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We went May 28-June 2, 2008, and the crowds were darn near perfect. We arrived the day after Memorial Day, and you'd never have known there were crowds. I'm not sure when Memorial Day falls this year, but I don't think it would be a big deal to wait until he got out of school, crowd-wise.

 

[daisyduck123]

1st grade teacher chiming in

By all means....miss the last week of Kindergarten.

FWIW, your child may not be marked "absent" anyway. Our final report cards are completed & printed out about a week before the end of the school year...this gives our principal enough time to read all 640 of them.

In order to have them completed this early, each student is just considered "present" that last week of school. Only if our attendance secretary knows ahead of time (like if you send in a note notifying the office of an impending vacation) will she go in & mark your child absent for each day.

 

[deepmagic]

our family (2 small kiddos) will be at WDW 5/23. we struggled w/same issue of missing last week of school. The following week is not only Memorial Day week, but it's also gay days. Two strong reasons for our decision on dates for our trip. So, daughter will miss next to last week of school...but summer's not an option b/c of DH's work schedule.

 

[jcc0621]

We did this last year for DS. Graduation was on the 12th, but the last day of school was not until the 23rd. I sent DS to camp instead. I spoke to the teacher and the aide ahead of time who said that the last week is just cleaning and "playing" no real teaching going on. I was glad I did this, as about a week after school was out DS had a birthday party for one of his friends and I was talking to his mom. She said that by Wednesday the teacher was telling the kids to bring in toys and games (which is no no normally). I was glad I sent him to camp.

I would check with the teacher and see what she has planned for that week after graduation.

 

[sk!mom]

our family (2 small kiddos) will be at WDW 5/23. we struggled w/same issue of missing last week of school. The following week is not only Memorial Day week, but it's also gay days. Two strong reasons for our decision on dates for our trip. So, daughter will miss next to last week of school...but summer's not an option b/c of DH's work schedule.

We've been 3 times during Gay Days with no noticeable difference in crowds. Twice the trip included Memorial Day and once we arrived after Memorial Day but neither was an issue.

 

[MaryAz]

Our DD will miss the last week of K. Already have told the teacher. No cute graduation for us so nothing really to miss.

 

[Bugsmom73]

I would. DD missed the last 2 days of first grade.

 

[flipflopmom]

K teacher here. In my room, after the end of the year ceremony, parties, cleaning, and fun. No worries!

 

[happymommy]

1st grade teacher chiming in

By all means....miss the last week of Kindergarten.

FWIW, your child may not be marked "absent" anyway. Our final report cards are completed & printed out about a week before the end of the school year...this gives our principal enough time to read all 640 of them.

In order to have them completed this early, each student is just considered "present" that last week of school. Only if our attendance secretary knows ahead of time (like if you send in a note notifying the office of an impending vacation) will she go in & mark your child absent for each day.

I didn't know that, but found out yes, it was true at my kids' old school - they weren't even marked absent for the week I called them in sick.

We chose that week as it would be less crowded, plus we got a great deal.