letter for teacher

[zoie101]

does anyone have a copy of a letter they sent to teachers and principal for taking your children out of school for a Disney Vacation?
TIA

 

[mousetravel]

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml

 

[abdmom]

That letter will just end up posted in the faculty room to give all the teachers a good laugh.

Just write a letter giving the dates of your family vacation and asking for any homework that the teachers could send home in advance. Be aware that many school districts have a specific form to fill out and have a maximum limit on the number of days that may be excused each year. Usually, it is the principal's office or the district office which must be notified, not just the teacher.

 

[imthatgirl]

that letter is ridiculous, sorry.
just write a simple letter and then go in and talk to the teacher.

 

[princesspiglet]

yea, that letter is a little much. Here is what I sent in with DD during kindergarten:

Dear Mrs. Kyper,

During the week of Nov 18-22, Athena will be out of school celebrating her birthday with Mickey Mouse in Disney World! Please let me know if there are any assignments I need to take with us on the trip or if she will be allowed to make them up when she comes back. Please call if you have any questions.

Lisa .........
Athenas mommy

Short and simple. In our school district kids are allowed up to 10 days for family field trips. You don't need a detailed explanation for it.

 

[HGD24]

I have many friends who are teachers and honestly, a letter like that is pure bs and they know it. Don't waste their time having to read through it. Just write a short, honest note telling them that you're going on a family vacation and would like any homework that needs to be done during that time.

 

[AmyinNC]

I actually just used that letter this morning and got the prior approval that we needed. I changed a few things, but not much. It probably depends on your school system and what grade your kids are in. Our school system has some very strict rules and are only allowed 3 absences each semester. Approval will not be given for just a vacation. While students are absent, they must receive educational instruction equal to what they would receive in school. Getting our high schooler approval was a bear.

Even when we come back we have to fill out some more forms to get the absences as excused.

Amy

 

[LadyShea]

Depends on the school. Our school district doesn't excuse absences for vacations, period.

Some require that any possible educational benefits be spelled out before approval is given, and that letter is appropriate if there is such a requirement.

 

[abandcsmom]

Here's what I emailed to my daughters teachers today (she's in first grade and her class has 2 teachers that co-teach).

I wanted to give you both a heads up that we are planning a family trip to Disney World at the end of October and Caroline will be out of school Tuesday, October 21-Thursday, October 23. Because of the nature of my husband's business it is nearly impossible for us to get away as a family during the summer. We did plan this around a week there was a Teacher Workday, though, so Caroline wouldn't be missing so many days in a row. We will be more than happy to take work along with us for her to complete so she doesn't get behind. Please feel free to pass this information along to Madame Walters, as well, in case there would be anything she would need to do for French class.

Kristen

They already emailed me back.

Please remind me closer to the actual date and we will put together some work for her.

Thanks,

 

[HGD24]

What do the schools that don't allow abscences for family vacation do if you just take your kid out for a vacation against their approval?

 

[mlynn]

I just wrote my DD6 teacher last week that.
Dear Mrs. m
R. Will be out of school from such and such dates. We will be on a family vacation. Please if it isn't to much trouble to have my dd work ready so we can make sure she gets it all done.

Thank you.

Well the teacher called me that night to tell me to have a great vacation and all work willl be sent home a week before our trip. The note was short and to the point.

 

[LadyShea]

What do the schools that don't allow abscences for family vacation do if you just take your kid out for a vacation against their approval?

Again it depends on the attendance policy. Ours has various levels of consequences (including truancy hearings and holding the kid back regardless of performance) for x number of unexcused absences, and x number of total absences. Vacations are not excused.

If the absences are unexcused the school does not require the teacher to allow them to make up missed work or tests...meaning they could take 0s for any missed work. It doesn't disallow it either, and some teachers will give the kids their assignments, but you take your chances.

 

[imthatgirl]

What do the schools that don't allow abscences for family vacation do if you just take your kid out for a vacation against their approval?

you knwo its all in how they word things. they actually cant tell you you cant take your child out for whatever reason. they can tell you that it wont be excused and that they can only have 6 or 9 or whatever it is, unexcused absesnce. they can also not pass your child for missing more than the alloted days, but they really cant tell you that you cant take your child out of school.
though they do seem to use some pretty strong language in the handbooks, dont they.

 

[HGD24]

I'm really shocked by these policys and the possible results of going against them. I'm always hearing from my friends who are teachers that because of the "no child left behind" act, they are constantly having to pass children on to the next grade, even though they have horrible grades and their learning levels show that they are not ready to advance. I can't imagine a child being kept behind because their family went on vacation - wow!

 

[jboysen]

I'm really shocked by these policys and the possible results of going against them. I'm always hearing from my friends who are teachers that because of the "no child left behind" act, they are constantly having to pass children on to the next grade, even though they have horrible grades and their learning levels show that they are not ready to advance. I can't imagine a child being kept behind because their family went on vacation - wow!

You have to realize though that the school doesn't get money if the children are not on school. At least that is the case in MN. Schools are more about the money now a days than actual education. Pass the kid, so we get money, tell parents their kid can't be absent for family vacations, so we can get money. Then they wonder why some of us want the choice as to where to send our children to school. Charter schools have been poping up in record numbers because parents are wanting more of a say in thier childs education.

 

[melcan]

You have to realize though that the school doesn't get money if the children are not on school. At least that is the case in MN. Schools are more about the money now a days than actual education. Pass the kid, so we get money, tell parents their kid can't be absent for family vacations, so we can get money. Then they wonder why some of us want the choice as to where to send our children to school. Charter schools have been poping up in record numbers because parents are wanting more of a say in thier childs education.

Same here. I have heard of some school districts charging for the time missed. They haven't started that in our district yet, but sometimes I just want to ask "How much do I owe you".

 

[swkmom]

Same here. I have heard of some school districts charging for the time missed. They haven't started that in our district yet, but sometimes I just want to ask "How much do I owe you".

My SIL and nieces live in a school district that has been known to charge parents for days missed. Our district allows 5 unexcused absences each year. After that if there are absences without doctor's excuses and the absences total 10 unexcused the school district files a petition on the parents in magistrate court and you can actually be arrested!
BTW I don't agree with this policy, maybe I would if it were 15-20.

 

[notslohg]

I used the letter last year...dd(7th), dd(K), dd(2nd) the middle school gave me no problem what so ever. Elementary...by telephone, directly after learning of our trip, informed me they would have to report me to social services...I asked them to please go ahead and report me so we could get it over with. I never heard anymore about it. I completely agree...I think it's all about the money the school recieves each day per child attendance. The teachers had no problem sending the girls work to take with them. Some schools do require that you show the educational value of the trip in order to count it as an excused absence-so I thought, while a bit cheesy, the letter was wonderful.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I talked with my DD's teacher and she told me a letter was unnecessary. She said they just needed a note on the first day that DD returned to school.

She also told me they don't give homework stuff in advance and that the school would consider our WDW trip non-excused and the Principal makes no exceptions. This info is in our Gwinnett County School paperwork but I was hoping to get an exception.

I believe the teacher - I met the new Principal last week. I'm hoping the nice elementary school I enjoyed volunteering at doesn't turn into a nightmare elementary school.

 

[happymommy]

My kids have always been in private school, so I don't know about public ones. But, honestly, the teachers don't care where you're going! I'd let them know, short and to the point, that you will be gone X days.

Is it really their business WHY the kids will be gone? If it's the public school, what are they going to do? Arrest you? For goodness sake, many of us have to vacation at different times. If the child was sick, do they REALLY need a doctors note? My kids' old Catholic school said they did when they were sick, but I never sent a note even from me when they had been absent. And, when we missed the last week of school (yes we were in WDW) one year, I just called them in sick every day.

I guess my point is, you are the ones paying the salaries. It is up to you what you do with your kids. Just don't give more information than necessary. Do what you want - it's your life, not the teachers.