May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[disneycruising]

We woke up to a dusting here in WA (about 1000 ft elevation) and it is still snowing but not sticking. The girls woke up excited about the idea of no school and weren't too happy when I told them they had school.

congrats on the new motorhome and being so close to your dream!

I just noticed that you live in Bonney Lake, WA. We use to live in the South Hill area of Puyallup. Near Fred Meyers... oh how I miss Fred Meyers. I could find everything I needed in one store. Plus, the free childcare while I shopped. Let me tell you...I did lots of "shopping" when my kids were little.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Let's just hope the laws don't get even more restrictive. I hope just like you said that the high school is more accepting and not so restrictive in the absence arena.

Noel

I think that is a remote possibility. I mean, how much more restrictive can they get? I too hope that the high school is less restrictive. The lady at the school district office claimed that the restrictive part was for the elementary and jr. high, since they don't want abused and neglected children to fall through the cracks, as she said. I understand but there needs to be some leniency.

I checked out the websites because I was a little bored today and I think I found the loophole you are looking for. The child/ren need to attend a minimum of 180 days (total days in school less abcenses, holidays, etc. Actual seat time in the class) if you kids have hit that amount, then they have met the state requirements, so how could they be truant? That is the state law that ALL school districts have to meet. They can schedule more, but the state only requires a minimum of 180 days. And yes that was the state of Tennessee!!!

That is a good one. I am not sure how many days they schedule but I am betting that it is pretty close to 180. I am going to check that out. You guys are the best!

I think it's good you're communicating with everyone. Even if the laws change, "they" will all know that you've been trying to work within the system for OVER A YEAR. That really has to count for something. Good to hear your DD can still advance under the current rules.

Good luck at the high school!!

Carolyn

Thanks for the good wishes. I will keep everyone updated about how it is going to go.

 

[birkner]

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

Please accept our condolences at the loss of your grandfather. Our warmest thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Noel and John

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[disneylover5]

I am totally flabbergasted and disgusted with my school district. I have inquired of the school district as to what the consequences would be to take my daughter out of school for the two weeks for this cruise. The response is that no matter what, if I take my daughter out of school for two weeks, I will be referred to juvenile court for prosecution for keeping my daughter out of school.

The fact that I have let them know ahead of time, tried to make arrangements, and been totally upfront about it, makes absolutely no difference!! They will simply stick it to me good.

There is no independent study available either. I have been told that if I want to avoid prosecution, I must withdraw her from school. And then re-enroll her when I come back in town. I am waiting to hear from the school as to whether or not she will be held back from being promoted to the next grade if I take her out for that many days.

She will be in the fourth grade!!!!

Can you believe this nonsense!!

I understand the need for rules. But I don't understand how you can lump me in the same category as parents who just don't send their kids to school because they don't care, are abusive and so forth. I don't belong in that category and I am quite upset to be put in that situation.

Okay, vent over.

I would would have been livid!! Everyone here has jumped in and helped. It is so neat how we are there for each other. That being said I would still be livid.

Good luck, I am sure youwill find a loop hole....sounds like you have found several already!

I was just on the DCL site and they are showing 2 cats with availabilty. This is for two adults only.

05/10/2008 15-Night Westbound Panama Cruise Category 04 : Deluxe Family Stateroom w/ Verandah $ 9,589.84

05/10/2008 15-Night Westbound Panama Cruise Category 06 : Deluxe Stateroom w/ Verandah $ 8,309.84

I have 2 ADULTS for CAT 6 - $6,777.48...you know, for a sold out ship $8,309.84 does not sound that bad considering I got 1st tier pricing!! I would pay $8,000 for us for this trip for sure (but I am glad I am paying $6,777!)

In this case, she could get a doctor's note and the absences would be excused. Now, I just need to find a shady doctor.....(joking)

My niece is a doctor.......not sure if they will accept a note from a DC Doctor!!

I'm headed to Baltimore tomorrow on business. Hope it's warmer there.

I was in Baltimore today for a meeting...just got home. It was 53 degrees when I left.

Anyone know how to go about changing user name on here?

Have you tried the Tech Board? You can post your request there.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=43

I don't know how the STAR compares to the WASL (WA state test), but ours is usually done for the 2 weeks immediately following spring break. That has always meant it was over by the first week in May. Of course next year they moved spring break forward a week which moved the WASL forward! I have already talked with the school secretary and the principal about trying to ensure that the 4th graders are done by the 8th. We were hoping to take the red eye out on the 8th and spend the 9th in florida getting ready (ok, get one quick day in at WDW ) . I won't know an answer for a bit, and luckily plane tickets won't be ready for purchase until end of june. If they aren't done until the 9th...would anyone else think it is cutting it too close to fly the red eye from seattle on the 9th and land at orlando around 8am on the 10th?

Does anyone else's kid's school think you are crazy asking these kind of questions already?!

In VA we take SOL's. Standard of Learning. This is a test the kids take but it is really relecting on job the teachers are doing. The kids take the tests but the scores reflect directly on the teacher. The teachers really scare the kids about these tests......just plain crazy in my view. I tell my kids do not worry.

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

Heartfelt sympathy and many prayers and pixie dust your way. May God wrap his arms around you and your family in your time of mourning. Please know he is no longer in pain, please know and trust he is in a better place now.

 

[amesmom]

No, this is one that our Pastors are doing on their own. They have done a DVD and we are gathering in smallgroups during the week to prepare for the Sunday Sermon.....

I am going to look this one up though...I guess you liked it?

I just thought it might be the same book because he also had a chapter on fasting. I did enjoy the book, although I have to admit I don't practice all of the disciplines he discusses---particularly fasting. He discusses 12 different spiritual disciplines. I particularly need to take to heart his advice about simplicity (oh and that fasting thing, too, I suppose.

 

[katypop]

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

Oh, I am so sorry It is so hard to say goodbye to a loved one.
Kathe

 

[amesmom]

Woke up to about 3 inches of snow this morning. Not too bad though, our house is at 600 feet and the snow was at about 500 feet, so once I got down to the "valley floor" the roads were clear, just a few flurries on the way to work.
I'm home early today because we are going to pick up our new motorhome! Gotta go buy sheets too, oh and an egg cooker. We are so excited. This is our retirement dream! 13 months from today we are outta here!

Congrats on the new motorhome.

 

[LiserAnn]

I got a phone call from the school district attendence personnel and I was told that I could withdraw my daughter and then re-enroll her after we come back. There are no requirements that she be in class any particular number of days to be promoted to the next grade, if she is passing when we withdraw then the absence will not effect her promotion.

Well that must be somewhat of a relief?!

 

[amesmom]

TammyAlphabet: I see you've gotten lots of good advice and support already from the folks here, so I will just add that I would be angry too. I know the rules are there for a reason, and if everyone wanted a special exception, I guess it would be a big mess. But still really makes you mad.

I am not going to deal with the issue of taking my kids out until next year. I will have one in fourth grade (like yours) and another in first. I am going to wait until just before or after Christmas break to talk to the principal. That way, they can see that I am a responsible parent who sends her kids to school, yada, yada, yada. We don't have an attendance policy except to say that "regular attendance is essential..." and "chronic absenteeism creates a genuine hardship for a student and is considered a serious problem." No mention of specific # of days.

Homeschooling is growing in popularity here, and I have several friends who homeschool. I do know that it may be a possibility that I have to remove the kids from school, enroll them in homeschooling and then reenroll in the fall. It would be a lot of hassle,however. And DS9 would NOT want to go back to school, so I don't even want to open that door.

BTW, our school district schedules EXACTLY 180 days of school. No leeway there. Interestingly enough, homeschoolers only need to be "in school" 148 days a year.

 

[amesmom]

For those of us dealing with the issue of taking our kids out of school for trips, here's a direct quote from one of my education textbooks. This is from The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, p. 11:

"Background knowledge is one reason why children who read the most (or those who travel the most) bring the largest amount of information to the table and thus understand more of what the teacher or textbook is teaching. Thus children whose families bring them to museums and zoos, who visit historic sites, who travel abroad or camp in remote areas, accumulate huge chunks of background knowledge without even studying."

Just something to encourage us that it is OK to take our children on these trips. They will learn so much. We just need to convince the state legislators, school boards, and administrators of the same thing.

 

[pahrumpgirl]

Carol, we have 4 grandsons and one granddaughter and yes, she is spoiled. She spent the night with us last Thurs so I could take her to a dental appt on Friday and of course we had to go shopping Thurs evening. Well, we did need milk ....4 tops, 2 pair of jeans and a pack of socks later... She is 11 and fun to be with.

Unfortunately our granddaughter will be in San Diego, CA but I am sure we will find a way to spoil her anyway.

Woke up to about 3 inches of snow this morning. Not too bad though, our house is at 600 feet and the snow was at about 500 feet, so once I got down to the "valley floor" the roads were clear, just a few flurries on the way to work.
I'm home early today because we are going to pick up our new motorhome! Gotta go buy sheets too, oh and an egg cooker. We are so excited. This is our retirement dream! 13 months from today we are outta here!

Congratulations on the motorhome. My DH and I have been talking about getting one for a couple of years now for when he retires. We bought into DVC, though, last September so now the quandry is a motorhome or more DVC.

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

So sorry for you loss. You are in our prayers during this rough time.

For those of us dealing with the issue of taking our kids out of school for trips, here's a direct quote from one of my education textbooks. This is from The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, p. 11:

"Background knowledge is one reason why children who read the most (or those who travel the most) bring the largest amount of information to the table and thus understand more of what the teacher or textbook is teaching. Thus children whose families bring them to museums and zoos, who visit historic sites, who travel abroad or camp in remote areas, accumulate huge chunks of background knowledge without even studying."

Just something to encourage us that it is OK to take our children on these trips. They will learn so much. We just need to convince the state legislators, school boards, and administrators of the same thing.

My dad was in the Army so I did a lot of traveling while growing up. Thank goodness schools weren't near as worried about the dollar, etc. as they are now. Whenever Dad got a leave Mom would go to the school and they would say sure, the kids will learn far more traveling than they will in the classroom. We spent 3 years in Germany and did a lot of traveling over there. Saw things that most children would only read about. At the time I didn't think it was so great but looking back I am so thankful for the opportunities and the knowledge I gained. As well as the wander lust. I travel every chance I get now and am glad that I can learn from real life not just books (although I love to read too ).

Carol

 

[fourmcds]

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers and whatnot they helped me get through all this.

Sorry to hear about your loss. to you and your family.

 

[fourmcds]

I just noticed that you live in Bonney Lake, WA. We use to live in the South Hill area of Puyallup. Near Fred Meyers... oh how I miss Fred Meyers. I could find everything I needed in one store. Plus, the free childcare while I shopped. Let me tell you...I did lots of "shopping" when my kids were little.

Depending on how long ago you moved, this area has changed dramatically...but we still have "Freddies" but unfortunately my oldest is too old for the child care room, so I now shop with them both

 

[LiserAnn]

We were hoping to take the red eye out on the 8th and spend the 9th in florida getting ready (ok, get one quick day in at WDW ) . I won't know an answer for a bit, and luckily plane tickets won't be ready for purchase until end of june. If they aren't done until the 9th...would anyone else think it is cutting it too close to fly the red eye from seattle on the 9th and land at orlando around 8am on the 10th?

We're hoping to find a red eye from CA also. I know it's exhausting but that will work the best for the school situation. The flight I'm thinking of would also get in around 8am on the 10th.

 

[been2marceline]

Karen,

I live about three miles from Longaberger's headquarters, the largest basket in the world. When I worked I went past it twice a day almost every day. I am only about a 1/2 hour or so from the factory. My mom was in to the baskets and my cousin is into them but the only ones I have are the ones that I have inherited or have been given. I just don't have the room for them and all my Disney stuff and off course Mickey and friends take priority.

Carol,

Received my fishmail extender yesterday!! It is just AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

The picture doesn't do it justice. It is so well made and I just love it!!

Thank you and Doug so much!! I can't wait to use it!!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

I was hoping the STAR testing last day would be May 9 - do you think/know it will be later? My school doesn't have any rules on absense (their budget isn't dependant on the state - contributions make the bulk of it). So I'm not concerned about missing school as they don't lose funding. But I know they will give me an awful time if we miss the testing. It is always after the first week-end in May I thought - May 12 sounds like it would be late to start. Maybe it is different in each school?
Thanks, Lisa

Lisa,

It took me 3 phone calls to get the date for this year!! I can't believe how disorganized middle school is in relationship to our elementary school. I got so spoiled with people who actually HAD A CLUE!!

Anywoo... Our testing ends on the 11th this year, so my assumption is that it will end on the same Friday next year for our school in the Bay Area. They have a make-up date the following Monday, but you might be able to work out make-up dates prior to the end of the testing.

Karen

 

[LiserAnn]

Sound of freedom, Lisa!! We hear it almost constantly and, yes, it was REALLY active this weekend. As I type, I can hear (feel!) a helicopter overhead. Sorry that you lost sleep and I imagine if you don't hear it all the time, it would be scary. We hear and feel it so much that it makes me smile. (Ok, so our oldest DS is now a Marine and we are especially proud...a little biased.) We're even pretty good at differentiating between activity at Pendleton and earthquakes!

Carolyn-I was thinking you were probably able to hear it more than me. I guess it was unnerving just because I'm not used to it, it was late and in my home it sounded like (at first), someone was shaking a door trying to come in. And then my mind starting thinking of what our soldiers hear every night/day over in Iraq...it's gotta be rough over there!

 

[been2marceline]

I love Krispy Kreme and am so glad we have them here in the UK at last. But they have to be hot off the line otherwise they're just not the same. Now there's an idea for the new ships, install a Krispy Kreme 'donut theater'! I don't suppose all that hot oil would be a good idea on a rolling ship though.

A friend of mine puts them in the Microwave for about 5 to 10 seconds and they are almost as fabulous as "hot off the line".

Karen

 

[LiserAnn]

Thank you everyone for the pixie dust and thoughts. My grandfather passed away this afternoon and is finally not suffering any longer.

I'm sorry to hear that but glad that he's no longer suffering.