Letter to School About Absence...HELP!

[newholiday]

This will be the 4th fall we've taken DS out of school for a Disney vaca. This yr we're pulling him for 5 school days.
We havent had any problems yet.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I took my son out almost every year from kindergarten through 5th grade. Never an issue at all. I always told the teacher early in the year and then reminded them with a letter stating when we would be gone and why. " We are going to wdw". This past year in 5th his teacher asked if I wanted the paper work to make it excused. I asked what difference it made and she told me the only difference was what form it was recorded on. I asked her if it mattered if it was excused or not and she said not in the least. I also asked if he would end up missing a lot of days sick would it be an issue and she said, oh that could be taken care if. We did not do the excused thing that year or ever and it has never been a problem.
My letter aways informs and not ask permission.
BTW- In NC children are not required to be in school until age 7 but once you enroll them you are required to abide by the attendance policy.

Good luck and don't worry.

Jordans' mom

 

[NADINENURSE]

My Father-in-Law is now deciding he also must give his 2 cents worth. Last year we went end of September, and end of May, school was in sessions both times. We also notified the teachers. We recieved less grief from the school than we did from my Father-in-Law. He even felt it was necessary to call up the school and without giving his name, ask what would happen if a child misses 5 days of school. DEAR GOD ! Now, we are going again 9/23 - 9/30, using AP rate, airfare $49 each way, could not be cheaper, we are strictly middle class, not only can we not afford the higher rates at school breaks, but can not stand the crowds. Well nothing did happen last year when they missed 5 days of school, they made up the work, yes, a little behind when we came back, but they caught up.

Again, dear Father-in-Law feels compelled to call the school AGAIN this year to ask, again without mentioning names, if it is okay to miss school. As if the answer will change from last year ? He is totally on his own soap-box about this, even arguing that the school will lose money because my 2 kids will not be there, mind you, this district has 8 elementary schools, 3 huge middle schools, I think 3 high schools. Kids are taken out for weeks !! at time for anything you can possibly imagine. I'm very careful, speak with the school and get the work for them to do. I have even taken pictures at Pop Century, AKL and Allstar resorts of them doing their homework !! I definatley agree, this is your only family, you go thru life once, there will be many other days of school I'm sure I will get blasted for this, I am not a school hater, came from a family of teachers, bet you can guess what I do !!, but family comes first.

 

[lovesdumbo]

nadinenurse-next time DON'T tell him! I learned the hard way. I wasn't going to tell MIL we were going this Jan but then we did (much too early) and she couldn't believe we'd risk the kids lives on a plane for some frivolity. Her response "you're going to have to bring snowsuits on the plane...." Well, I haven't told her about our Oct trip yet and I am not going to-DH can tell her if he wants. I don't know what she'll say about DD missing 6 days of kindergarten. BTW-we put our kids at more risk to go visit her every weekend.

 

[luvmy2sams]

I agree with the other posters wholeheartedly! That policy seems way too excessive for a kindergartener, and I can't imagine having to prove I couldn't take the vacation at any other time of the year. I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this, and I hope that everything is resolved quickly and painlessly.

We're taking DD out of kindergarten for our trip in October. She'll only miss 4 days of school since we scheduled the trip during her Fall Break. DD and I spoke with her teacher regarding possible makeup work and assignments she could complete while out of the classroom. The teacher was shaking her head before I even finished and simply stated "it's only kindergarten". I'm really thankful for our small, private school after reading what others have had to go through simply to have some family vacation time.

Good luck and have a magical trip!

 

[sheilafri]

Do whatever you have to do, but absolutely TAKE THIS TRIP AND DON'T FEEL GUITLY ABOUT YOUR CHILD MISSING SCHOOL!

My problem used to be me. I thought it was crucial that the kids not miss school. Four years ago when DD20 was a junior I pulled then DD16, DS14 and DS8 out for a week in Europe (I wanted to go off season to save $). The school was enthusiastic! They realized that the children would learn far more in the week away from school than if they were in it.

Since then I have also pulled them for a trip to WDW, Disneyland and some college visits. They learn something from each trip even though you may not yet realize what it is. Most importantly, you have some family memories to cherish. My kids still tease me about being obsessed with the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Now that my two older children are in college, family vacation time is nearly impossible to schedule. I deeply regret not taking more vacations with all my children when they were younger.

As the voice of experience, take this vacation and even more in the future.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

This winter, our two oldest will be graduating college and moving to different states. Our two youngest (twins), who are 15, will be going into their sophmore year in high school. We have a January trip planned and our 15 y.o.'s will be missing 5, maybe 6 days of school. This will more than likely be our last family vacation for who knows how long.
We live in Pa., any suggestions on what to say to the school? When shud we approach them about this?

 

[bounceytigger]

Mom2Ashli----AWESOME LETTER!!! I'm saving it for future use! (My DS is only 2-1/2.....but we'll need it eventually!)

Thanks for sharing that link!

To the OP---good luck....I think you've gotten some excellent replies! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Puffy2]

For the kindgergartener, this is not a big deal. Or it shouldn't be. Just take your child and be firm with the school - if they require a letter, fine. If they want an essay - fine (I'd do the "essay" before I left home - the ideas of the Hall of Presidents is good. Also Epcot, with the countries. AK has the exhibit with the dinos, MGM with the old movies (film "history"...) and backlot tour.

For highschool - it really is harder for the kids to miss a whole week - this gets into messing up their grades they need for college/graduation. But if you let their teachers know what you want to do well prior to going perhaps they will work with you. The problem is that in hs they usually have several teachers.

This is one reason why I homeschool - I like to do things on my own schedule.....

 

[Mad4Dizne]

Home schooling is looking better and better to me!!!!!

Loved!!!!! the letter
Flo

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

thanks folks.......I did find that letter and it looks like it will help.

 

[Tink561]

Originally posted by Puffy2
This is one reason why I homeschool - I like to do things on my own schedule.....

I agree completely! This is a big benefit to homeschooling.

 

[Anne MN]

I agree- it is just kindgergarten! I will be taking twin DD out of school for a week at the end of sept, they only difference is this is one of their "Wish" trips.

DD missed the last month of 3rd grade last year due to surgeries, and is likely to miss a lot of school this year! (she will be have a transplant)

So I am of the view that you tell the school what you are doing, it is YOUR tax dollars at work.

DD's don't start school till the 7th of sept, so 3 weeks after school starts, they get a break.

I could go on about this district and all the "fun" I have been thru with them! I am too the point that I don't ask, I tell ! that is the only way that I get anywhere with anyone!
I will tell the teacher when I have a meeting with them next week. I hope she doesn't get a teacher like she had last year! I stopped at the school to get something for DD, and I walked to the classroom, I could hear the teacher yelling at a student. I had a few choice words for her and I had a couple of better words for the principal!! The new principal is teacher friendly and I have seen borderline verbally threatning to parents. so it should be a "FUN" year

 

[disneysnowflake]

I'm going to tell my school exactly the way it is.

My husband works road construction. He isn't permitted to take vacation time during peak months (April until the end of October).

My husband used to work at a job for 20 years where he had 5 weeks of paid vacation. Three years ago that jobsite went closed. DH had to get this new job and now has a whopping 6 DAYS of vacation time. He works about 70 hours a week. Most weeks he works 6 days a week... many times 7 days a week. We haven't eaten dinner with him since April. We rarely see him anymore.

My sister is a teacher and was giving me a lot of grief over taking the boys out of school for Disney.

I told her it was none of her business. I wish my husband could leave for work at 7:45am and be home at 3:30pm every day like she does. I wish my husband had every weekend off like she does. I wish my husband had all Summer off like she does. I wish my husband had Thanksgiving vacation, Christmas Vacation, President's Day, Easter Vacation, and Spring Break off like she does. I also wish my husband had the 10 days of paid sick time each year to use like she does.

After I said that she never mentioned it again.

Some people don't realize what people in the blue collar world have to do to earn a living. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to work the same schedule as the school does.

 

[kerry34]

My sister in law (who is also a teacher),made a few comments about me taking my kids out school last March for our trip to Disney. I just laughed. My mom and aunts had planned on taking my grandmother down, but unfortunately she passed away last January unexpectedly. They were going to cancel the trip because they all agreed that without my grandmother going they just couldnt see going without kids, so last minute we were asked to go. I said the heck with it, took the kids out of school and went. I had no regrets since we had a very difficult year (my grandfather passed away also ten months before my grandmother). We all needed some fun. Of course I didnt escape comments made by my inlaws, but some people just dont realize when something is none of their concern, generally parents know their children well enough to make proper decisions for them. We are going for the first time during a school break next year. DD11 is starting middle school, and she doesnt always adjust well to new situations so we thought it best to go during vacation so she wouldnt be overwhelmed. If not for that I wouldnt hesitate taking them out of school again and going during the year.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

I'm sorry to say, but I don't think it's any business of the schools if you take your child out for a vaca or not. This is your child and if you want to take him/her out of school, that is your priority.

Where I live everytime we turn around the school is asking for money. The levy here failed and they cut bussing back. Now I am going to have pay for books fees and every year now when DS brings them home when school is out of the summer only 10 to 12 pages is missing from 2 to 3 books for the whole year. Plus the price for school lunches is to much for what little they get.

I guess what I am trying to say is if you can take a vaca during the vaule season, take it!!! For us the amount of money that we are always giving to the schools, we need to go around value season or when we have saved up enough money. If I want to take my kids out of school for 10 days, I'll do it! Last time I checked, I had these kids and I am "paying" {property tax, etc} the school's to teach them.

After our last trip in August, we were surprised that DD made it through all the heat {she doesn't sweat right to cool her body down like "normal" people do}. But we did notice once we got back to the room she really wasn't acting herself. So for the next trip we are going back when it's not so hot, which of course is during the school year.

To quote Flo from "Mel's Diner" "Kiss my grits, school!!!"

 

[pms122765]

My parents always told the school - "My kids grade's are up & they will stay up & if you don't like it I will take all 8 of my kids out of your school & go somewhere else."

Always worked for us - but that was years ago.

Now - I tell the schools - death in the family in Japan - My wife is Japanese & we have had to go back on the spur of the moment a few times for real - so I just use that ploy.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My oldest is starting kindergarten Sept 10th. The school had a playdate at the playground for the kids Friday so they could meet teacher and classmates. My DD's teacher saw her Minnie hat and asked her if she got it at Disney. I told her we were going in Oct and DD would miss a week of school and she said "oh that's WONDERFUL!" I asked when I should give her the exact dates and she said a few days ahead.

 

[Misty89]

What happens if you don't write the letter?

What happens if they don't "approve" of your reasons?

This seems ridiculous, especially for kindergarten

i QUITE agree! that is totally not called for! -
i have a kindergartener and a 7th grader...they are both being pulled for 1 week at the same time, so really, my kids will be off for thanksgiving break nov 24th ( early release day) and wont be back to school until dec 6th.
i think you should be honest and tell tehm that YOUR FAMILY is going on vacation and thats that....i dont think for one second you need to explain where, why and for how long you are going.....thats is none of there business.






* very opinionated this AM, no flames please

I told her we were going in Oct and DD would miss a week of school and she said "oh that's WONDERFUL!" I asked when I should give her the exact dates and she said a few days ahead.

this is the same reaction i got from DD kindergarten teacher, my DD also told her are going to eat at cinderellas castle....her reply.... " my dad and i went there too!"

 

[lucy_love_]

Originally posted by disneysnowflake
I'm going to tell my school exactly the way it is.

My husband works road construction. He isn't permitted to take vacation time during peak months (April until the end of October).

My husband used to work at a job for 20 years where he had 5 weeks of paid vacation. Three years ago that jobsite went closed. DH had to get this new job and now has a whopping 6 DAYS of vacation time. He works about 70 hours a week. Most weeks he works 6 days a week... many times 7 days a week. We haven't eaten dinner with him since April. We rarely see him anymore.

My sister is a teacher and was giving me a lot of grief over taking the boys out of school for Disney.

I told her it was none of her business. I wish my husband could leave for work at 7:45am and be home at 3:30pm every day like she does. I wish my husband had every weekend off like she does. I wish my husband had all Summer off like she does. I wish my husband had Thanksgiving vacation, Christmas Vacation, President's Day, Easter Vacation, and Spring Break off like she does. I also wish my husband had the 10 days of paid sick time each year to use like she does.

After I said that she never mentioned it again.

Some people don't realize what people in the blue collar world have to do to earn a living. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to work the same schedule as the school does.

WELL SAID

i couldnt agree more

love

lucy