Missing School for Disney... Yay or nay?

[kahluacream]

We're planning a trip to WDW for the year DS starts kindergarten. We would like to travel in late April/early May when the parks are less hot and less crowded, but this would involve taking him out of school for a week.

My question... Is it worth it to do this, or should we just wait until he finishes school in mid-June?

Any kindergarten teachers out there?? Any parents of young children who have missed school to vacation in WDW??

I'd really appreciate your feedback. Thanks!
kahluacream is online now Edit/Delete Message

 

[blessedby3]

Yes, Yes, Yes, Pull him out. It is so easy at this age. I have 3 that we will be taking out after Thanksgiving. 10th grade, 5th grade, and 1st grade. We have done this before- only for Disney- and it works well for us. I know that some say dont take the older ones out, but for us DD15 and DS10 are straight A students and do their work before we go. DD6 will do the same with her first grade work. We enjoy the vacation much more to go in off season when it is not too hot AND not too crowded. We went in July ONCE and never again to DIsney in the summer OR on spring break, Christmas break, etc. There is not much you child will be missing from Kindergarten that you can not go over with him on the car ride down, plane, etc. Children at this age are easy to take out of school. Go for it and enjoy!!!

 

[luvthatdisney]

kahluacream, this topic can open a big can of worms as their are some strong opinions about it. Not flaming you for bringing it up, but just beware!!

As for my opinion, I have taken my kids out of school in the past - when they were younger, ds is now 15 and dd will be 11 in 3 weeks. The last time I took them out of school was in March 2002. DS was in 5th grade and dd was in 2nd grade. Both had good grades and both of their teachers were fine with it. DD teacher gave her work to do on the way there and back (we drove) also both of them had a make a journal of what they saw and things they did while we were there. They received grades for them upon their return. We included pictures and the classes also got to view them - which my kids thought was great.

As for now 3 years later, ds is not doing well in school (will be starting high school in August) and I would not even consider taking him out of school due to this. It is very hard to keep him on track as it is - without adding a vacation right in the middle. DD grades are find and I would not hesitate taking her out again (will be starting 6th grade in August). That is the reason our next trip is in August - before school starts!

This just my .02 worth. Hope it helps!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Go for it! We have taken our DDs out every year so far and now my oldest is 9 and going into 4th grade. This year (November) will probably (maybe) our last time taking her out for a trip. I would never want her school work to be affected by taking her out. So far, she's doing very well in school.

In 2006 when she's in 5th grade, I'm planning on a long weekend with her missing 2 or 3 days.

It's much easier when they are young then when they get into the higher grades...they start missing more and more work.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad; do what best for your family.

 

[Disneyrsh]

We have 5 and 6 year old daughters and we've had no problem taking them out of school-we go usually in Jan, March, May, early Dec, Sept-not all at once, but these are the times of year we usually vacation in, and they're all school times.

What I did was arrange ahead of time with the teachers for the girls to do some sort of goofy project about being on vacation (they are, after all, in preschool and kindergarten, and school should still be fun), and get any homework ahead of time.

We don't know how it'll be as they get older, but I always tell my husband that the only way I'd do homeschooling is if public school started to interfere with our disney vacations!

That time together in Disney as a family is more precious to us than anything.

 

[jbd]

Hi. I'm a middle school teacher and I have to say that pulling kids out of school for vacation can go either way. It should be fine with such a young child, just tell the school you're going. A few times we've had students go on vacation without telling us and we've worried when they didn't come in for a week. We called home and then emergency numbers just to check on the child's safety.

There are other issues with older kids, too. Either students will ask for the work they will miss and not do it. Or they'll never ask and take forever and a half to make it up. But then there are those children who have all the work done on the plane ! Also it helps the teachers if we're told in advance. Then we can have a couple of days to get materials together that are appropriate to take on a trip. It's very difficult and sometimes impossible to gather materials the day the child is leaving.

There may be a way for your child's teacher to work in your child's disney experience into a learning experience for the whole class.

Go and have fun!
~jbd

 

[janice1234]

i agree with the other posters, your child is in kindergarten, go for it. we also have taken the kids out of school 3 times in december for family disney trips.my son high school -1o grade, did not do well this last december trip, making up work and so on. so we will be going in august, hot,hot, hot. enjoy your trip.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I have a dd staring first grade this year, we would have taken her out in a heartbeat to go to disney in sept this year its my school, I am in nursing school, that is against it Anyway, I say go for it, make some parts of the trip a learning experience if you want. My DD LOVED the Kidcot and cant wait to go back and do it again as well as learn about the countries.


Enjoy

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS was in kindergarten last year and we pulled him out twice. Once for a trip to the Caribbean in November and then again in January for WDW. He had no problem. He goes to a Catholic school and the teachers are real good about it. This year we are going to WDW in September and again I will pull him out of 1st grade this time for a week. DS went to a birthday party yesterday for one of his classmates. That family is going to WDW in Dec. Her kids are in 1st grade, 3rd grade and 5th grade. And she is pulling all 3 out for a week. I feel that I'm doing it while I can, because once he gets older, I won't be able to.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

IMO..its worth it. Especially for the crowd factor. My dd is only 3 so we don't have to worry about this yet. I just asked hubby what he thought, and he said he wouldn't take her out of school for more than 3 or 4 days for a vacation. Hello..the school week is only 5 days..at the 3 or 4 day point..whats an extra day???? So i can see that will be a debate when I want to take her out of school at the beggining of December every year to go on Vacation. I think school is important..but I think family time is important too, and enjoying that family time at a cheaper cost, less crowded, cooler time of the year is going to happen, i am all for missing a few days.
Just me though.

 

[oogieboogie]

I say take them out while there still in K-5, especially kindergarten. The workload isn't that extensive yet and unless the school or school district gives you a hard time, then I would absolutely take them out.

My son was taken out of first grade a total of 12 days for 2 separate trips. The teachers and principal was fine with it, and he's still at the top of his class at the end of the school period.

This year, he'll be gone for a week out of school for another disney trip. I don't try to justify it with WDW being an educational trip, etc etc... I just tell the school he's going on a family vacation and that he'll make up the work. It's much easier when their young like this. I know once he gets to middle school we won't have that luxury of pulling him out of school because the workload will be bigger and harder.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

go for it...its wayyyyyyyyyyy easier when kids only have one teacher or are young and dont have much work.

 

[unixadm]

I'll echo "Go for it"

Our DS 4 (will be 5 in December) starts Pre-K in August. We are pulling him out for Disney in September and for the Disney Cruise in January.

I will probably pull him out of Kindergarden next October for Disney again.

At this age, the experiences they have at Disney, on other similiar type vacations, and spending time with the family far outweighs the missed school days, IMO.

When they get older, then it has to be looked at on a child by child basis....if they are extremly good student, then it makes sense....if they are not, then the loss of school days is not a good thing.

 

[tatooed goofy]

As a teacher, I have to say it can go either way. I have had good experiences and bad. Don't ask for homework if you are not sure they are going to do it. If your child is a strong student, it works fine. If not, it can be harder when they return. Some things need to be made up and others can be ignored. Definately, I agree it is a lot easier when they are little do it and not when they are older. As I always say, IMO---Do what is best for your family and children! Good luck!

8/2003-POLY
8/2005-POFQ

 

[jenny2]

Yes, yes, yes! I feel so strongly because... we're doing exactly the same thing, lol. Taking my DD (5) who will be in Kindergarten out for a week for the first week of May. You will find people who believe very strongly one way or the other... but in the end it's up to you. It does get harder as they get older (not impossible, just harder) and the benifit from going at such a wonderful time is definitely worth it IMHO.

Go and enjoy!

 

[Jen D]

Always a hot topic!... but with kindergarten, I wouldn't worry too much about taking them out for a week. Should be fine.

 

[twoeeyy]

our daughters missing 6 days of middle school for a birthday trip to Mickey this Oct. We did this last year also and had no problems. her teachers were REALLY good about it they said that since she missed 6 days of school she would have 12 to do all she missed. We did make sure that she did not miss anymore the rest of the year, Luckily she never got sick

 

[Disney Ella]

We took our DDs out of school for two days in kindergarten, five days in first grade and five days in third grade. This year (4th grade), they will miss 2 days and I think our days of taking WDW trips during school time will be coming to an end as school gets more demanding.

Taking off time during kindergarten shouldn't be a problem. It's not like there will be any calculus tests to miss. Have a great trip!

 

[Disneynut4ever]

Nobody's opinion matters more than yours. Do what you think is right for your child. My experience is that it is really okay to take them out of school. I have done it several times now, and my kids are doing just fine in school. I have always given their teachers at least a month's notice and it seems to work out fine. (I can't believe someone mentioned the idea that the homework would not get done. If you are agreeing to have the child make up his/her work, you really should make sure that it does.) Anyway, I used to say, "this is a great trip but we can't take them out next year because they will have more homework." It never happens. The following year, we plan another trip, and end it saying "this is a great trip but we can't take them out next year because they are too old." We last took our kids in December when they were in 2nd and 4th grades and said that was it. My daughter actually ended up doing more work than the regular kids because they had two snow days while we were gong. She wasn't happy. This year we are planning a December trip and my kids will be in 2nd, 5th, and 7th. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Stimpy]

If you can do it, go for it! But Check with your school too! Our district does not allow absences for vacations. The child is marked as a "unexcused absence". Our teachers are not allowed to give work ahead of time and they are not obligated to give the make up work. The kids may get zeros for the work they miss (depending on how the teacher feels about the policy).

That being said, we have taken DS out of school for a vacation anyway in Kindergarten and will do so in 1st grade for 3 days. The school's policy really gets me mad. I am the parent and I will do what is best for my children. Spending family time with my DH and I is important. He works a crazy schedule where we don't see much of him and can not get school vacation times off. We do try to take the time when there are 3 day weekends and when no big tests(ie. state tests) are scheduled.

DS did well in school and is a very intellegent kid. If he starts slacking, no more vacations during the school year.