Missing school

[YourMajesty]

We took DS out of kindergarten last year for 5 days. I told his teacher but this being our first didn't even let the school office know he would be out. We had a message when we got home wondering about his absence. I did feel a little scattered-brained on that one! They didn't seem to care he was out and I'm not sure about an official policy. We are going to try a spring break trip this year. We have a fall break in October also that is 3 days and I would like to try a trip this time also. DH is always off the week between Christmas and New Year's and we would like to try a trip at least once. I think for us 5 days would be the max we would want the kids to miss. We love making memories!

 

[Leota]

Elementary school, we always took DS out of school. We did likewise in Jr. High & it didn't work out too well for him - too much happens too fast - in foriegn language especially...

Now that he's in high school I wouldn't be able to take him out for more than 2 days - 2 weeks & he'd never recover, academically.....

I think it depends entirely on each individual child, their age, their curriculum. You know these variables best.... follow your gut instinct.

 

[stm61]

my best friend and I have always taken our kids out of school for vacations, her every yr, me maybe every 2 or 3 yrs. We live in a shore area where most people are either working a job that doesn't allow vacations during high tourist times (summer, spring break, holidays) or are working seasonal jobs like fishing, farming, construction, etc. That being said, her oldest started high school last yr. The lower grade schools all allow something like 15 or 20 absences. The high school allows 5. We're still going but trying to find a wk where they're already off a day. Just wanted to warn those whose kids are still young that the policy's change as the kids get older.

 

[eeyore kelly]

This is an interesting thread. I would have never dreamed of taking the kids out of school for anything except illness.

We live in South Louisiana, and my DH works outside all year long. A vacation in the heat is no vacation for him, and the summertime is when he makes the most overtime. we are planning our WDW trip during mardi gras, so instead of kids missing 5 days of school, they will miss only 3. That week is commonly referred to as review week anyway.

 

[firecracker]

I teach high school and this is difficult for teachers too. Many parents are obnoxious when "telling" a teacher about a trip and very demanding about how they want their child's work (either before or after the trip--whichever way is most inconvenient for the teacher, it seems). It is a hassle to get 2 weeks of work around for a high schooler--my lesson plans change daily in most of my classes depending on how they "get" the material that day.

The other extreme is that you never see or hear from the parents. The child is expected to get his own work made up. Well, high schoolers are known for their prioritizing their schoolwork--it's ALWAYS #1 on their list! So, the kid doesn't make up his work, his grade is in the toilet, mid-terms or quarter grades go home and guess who's fault it is? Not Johnny's! It's MY fault for not chasing the kid around begging for his work!

Bottom line...if you're going to pull your child out, please be as considerate of the teacher as possible and don't blame us if he falls behind.

the other bottom line--I'm really just jealous because I wish I could go to WDW in September and October but I've got to teach!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

The most days we have done is 6 in elementry school. I agree that parents have the right to take their kids out at any time, but sometimes it can be so hard on kids that it might not be worth it. Two weeks in middle or high school would be very hard to make up. At that age I think you really need to let your child help make the decission as to whether or not it is worth it. 10 days with block classes would be a killer. My DS is in middle this year and they have block classes. Our plans are to now plan around a week in October that they have two days off. That way he misses three days instead of 5 or 6. WE really can not afford two weeks so sadly that's not an issue for us. Just make sure that missing two week is the right choice for your child.

Jordan's mom

 

[DrTomorrow]

A simple - and judgement-free - word of warning. Over in the Disney Vacation Club forum, there's a thread discussing just this topic, and several parents have been rudely surprised that their school districts have new policies. Any more than 5 non-doctor's-note-excused absences means a failure for the semester.

If you do decide that your family vacation justifies taking your child out of school, please make sure you know your district's policy for their grade.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Last year our school board addressed vacation time in the student handbook. We were allowed 5 "family vacation" days, which would be counted as excused absences. They did not mention family vacation time in the handbook this year.
I bought APs for DS and me when we were down there for Spring Break 2004 thinking I would get 2 more trips in before they expired. I have one trip scheduled for the week after Christmas. We are driving because I do not want to be at the airport during the Christmas/New Year holiday. Our school resumes on Monday, Jan. 3rd after the holidays. We will still be on the road coming home so he will miss one day there. Then I found out that Spring Break 2005 is not until after the date my APs expire so I had make a decision. Do I forget about another trip or plan another trip before the APs expire??? I checked our school calendar and the Friday before President's day, there is no school. So we will leave on that Friday and since President's Day is Monday (no school) he will miss 4 days of school for that trip. When we had our open house I talked with the principal aferwards about our vacation time. He told me to write him a letter and to put down the dates I had vacation time scheduled and he would see what he could do! I got the letter off last Friday. I did not want to jinx it by saying where we are going. Some people just wouldn't understand...IMAGINE THAT!!! Keep your fingers crossed that they will consider it an excused absence! I still have a problem with it, but I'll get over it!

TC

 

[PlutoPony]

These threads are always interesting to read, and show the differences in how education is viewed/managed across the country (which is fascinating to me). Many times I see the argument that "my parents took me out of school all the time when I was a kid, and it was no problem for me so I can do it for my kids"...... Hello - the schools AREN'T the same as they were even 5 years ago!!!! The pressure on kids and the school system to actually SHOW visible yearly progress is real, a concept that really didn't even exist when I was a kid. I don't mean to start a discussion about whether it's OK to pull kids out of school or not, but please view the education system as it really is today, not when you were a kid....

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

We plan to take our DD out of school until middle school. I feel her later school years are more important for college and testing. We take a lot of trips with family and feel that family time is important for our child as well as academic time will be (she's only 4). I really feel that this topic is a personal choice and I respect everyone's feelings about it.

I had this discussion with my niece's (by marriage) sister who is a teacher. She is strongly against taking any child out of school for vacation at any age. She said it interupts the "flow" of learning with the group. So I asked her, how many day's did she take off last year? She stuttered and finally fessed up to taking 20 days off! I asked her, "Don't you feel that taking those days interupted the "flow" of learning for the children?" I remember substitutes just sitting there while we just read or did problems. There was no real "teaching" when the teacher was absent. She had no good argument for it. If teachers are against taking kids out, they should be an example too.

My dad was a teacher and I understand fully of a teacher's life and responsibilities. I still won't have any quams about pulling my kid out of school till middleschool.

 

[AFMom]

I suppose I would prefer to not have to take our kids out of school for 5 days this fall, but my husband is military and hasn't been allowed to take any leave/vacation in 12 months! This is the first chance we'll have - and only chance for many months- to take any vacation. Our school frowns heavilty upon it - but oh well!!! We really need this time together.
Also, here is a link to a really comprehensive excuse note for WDW vacations!

http://www.themouseforless.com/SchoolExcuse/SE.shtml

I'm horrible at links, but I think that will work!

 

[bugbugmom]

I will be taking my DD9 out of school. She'll be missing 4.5 days of school. I emailed her teacher and received a reply. Usually they don't give homework until the student returns to school. However, he said that he didn't want her to get behind and will be sending her homework on her last day. Awesome!!! Major pixie dust. I'll definitely will get her teacher a souviner. Any suggestions?

 

[suerob]

I wish I could trade places with those of you that take your kids out of school for 2 weeks! Where we live in SC, kids can only miss 10 days per year! This seems very ridiculous to me but that's the way it is. We will take our children out of school this year for the second year in a row but only for 3 days. Even that makes me nervous but fortunately, they usually don't get sick very much. Every time they get a sniffle I freak out and give them medicine and make them rest. They are only in kindergarten and second grade but still enfore the attendance policy.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

My kids will be missing 5 days, the second week of school.

I didn't do it to thumb my nose at the school or anything, I just miscalculated Rosh Hashana.

I think if your kids are good students and are resilient, it's okay for them to miss some school in favor of making memories with mom and dad.

 

[DisneyDiver]

Originally posted by suerob
I wish I could trade places with those of you that take your kids out of school for 2 weeks! Where we live in SC, kids can only miss 10 days per year! This seems very ridiculous to me but that's the way it is. We will take our children out of school this year for the second year in a row but only for 3 days. Even that makes me nervous but fortunately, they usually don't get sick very much. Every time they get a sniffle I freak out and give them medicine and make them rest. They are only in kindergarten and second grade but still enfore the attendance policy.

Are you saying the school includes sick days in that 10 day period?! Please tell me I'm wrong...

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

In Greenville county schools (SC), they are allowed 10 UNEXCUSED abscences. I haven't asked if the two days I am taking my kids out for our Oct. trip will be excused or not, but today I sent the note in to the teacher telling her that DS6 will be missing the two days. I will again send a note in about a week before our trip. I have been worrying quite a bit about the 2 days, but this thread is making me feel a little better about it. I'm not sure I would feel comfortable about taking my kids out of school for 2 weeks, but to each his own!!

The 10 days in my county of SC does NOT include sick days..I can't see any reason why a child would be out of school for 10 unexcused days.

I clicked on the excuse letter mentioned earlier in this thread, that is really a comprehensive note, IMO,TMI. All I wrote in my note was that we were taking a family trip, and that he will be missing two days of school. And any make up work that he can do would be greatly appreciated. I guess if I was taking him out for a week or more, I would go with the long winded letter, but I feel that they either have a policy of excusing the child for this reason, or they don't. And there isn't much I can argue, if they don't. Who are we kidding...educational..OK..but we are going to have fun and family time...

After reading some more posts on this thread, I am going to also send a note to the administrative office.

 

[disneynewbee]

Originally posted by a Really Bad Egg
This is an interesting thread. I would have never dreamed of taking the kids out of school for anything except illness.

Can I ask why? Is the time off the school systems offer not adequate to plan vacations? Please note that I am curious, not judgemental.

Thanks.

The reason I need to go in the off season is because my youngest daughter who is two has had lung surgery and the heat causes her to wheeze and have breething problems. I would have liked to have worked around a long wkend or teacher days but since everything with disney has to be planned so far in advance and I just was able to get this years schedule that was not possible.

 

[The Duchess]

DS (6-in kindergarten) will miss 11 days for our WDW trip. We've gone our last 3 WDW tips at the end of October and really wanted to go again at that time.

Now DH has an unexpected convention in Anaheim, so he'll miss another 4 days! I don't think kindergarten is even mandatory in MASS, so I'm not too worried.

Probably, this will be our last "long" WDW trip during school, though.

 

[disneynewbee]

Originally posted by a Really Bad Egg
This is an interesting thread. I would have never dreamed of taking the kids out of school for anything except illness.

Can I ask why? Is the time off the school systems offer not adequate to plan vacations? Please note that I am curious, not judgemental.

Thanks.

The reason I need to go in the off season is because my youngest daughter who is two has had lung surgery and the heat causes her to wheeze and have breething problems. I would have liked to have worked around a long wkend or teacher days but since everything with disney has to be planned so far in advance and I just was able to get this years schedule that was not possible.

 

[felixdacat]

that darn no child left behind act is what has caused many schools to get real tight about attendance. In our district, scores on tests is the first criteria to "pass" NCLB and the 2nd is
attendance. If you have 7 unexcused absences they call in social workers! The principal also checks to see if you are writing
sick notes for your child on mondays/fridays and may ask for a dr's note if they are frequent.

Our DD just started kindy are we feel forced to start taking
vacation when "everyone else" does.

This is why we took our big trip last may to WDW and DCL

If you live in an area where attendance is not measured for your school, then you probably have more leeway.

sandy