Missing the first day of kindergarten

[Unearned Happiness]

A couple months ago we planned and booked our first family WDW trip for August. We tried to schedule it one week prior to school starting, hoping that would mean lower crowds. Well, we've since found out that the first day of school is earlier than prior years, meaning if we leave the trip as-is, our boys (5, 7, 10) will miss their first day of school.

Here's the rub. Our youngest starts kindergarten this year. He didn't do preschool, so this is his very first day of school ever. I feel terrible about him missing it.

We're staying off-site in a condo and our tickets are through the Education Series. We're making some calls to see if our dates can be rescheduled at little to no cost.

If it doesn't work out and we keep the trip as planned, obviously it's not the end of the world. But if it's possible and practical to move our dates around, I'd like to.

So I'm curious. How many hoops would you jump through to reschedule your plans under these circumstances? If you're a kindergarten teacher, I am especially interested in your opinion.

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, in DD's case, anything that we had to. Places at her school are awarded via lottery, and if you miss the first day, you forfeit your place (someone on the waiting list will get it instead.) The only exception is for severe illness of the child, verified by a physician. The only other quality alternative here at that late date would be private school, so that extra day of vacation would cost us around $6K.

We have already re-scheduled our vacation this year because they moved up the previously announced start date by 3 days. (They are doing it to build in extra snow days, as the state had to give a special dispensation this year for all of the schools that would not get in their required number of classroom days.)

 

[NinaBella]

I would not want my child to miss an important school day like the first day of kindergarten. I would adjust my trip.

 

[Leveretttltl]

I just don't think I could let my child miss her first day of kindergarten. We miss school for Disney at other times during the year, but her first day of kindergarten was such a big deal for her (and us) there is no way I would have wanted her to miss it.

 

[mom2cinderella]

I wouldn't want a kindergartener to miss the first day.

Especially in our district. Here they do gentle start; the first three days, 1/3 of the class goes each day. So my kids would have missed out on a calmer first day with extra attention from the teacher.

Plus it's a milestone!

That being said, it happens and I doubt very much that there is any actual negative impact to the kid.

 

[3Gsandme]

I'm flexible about kids missing school. However, for a first time school goer? I wouldn't be okay with him missing that day. This is a huge transition and you don't want him behind the 8 ball.

 

[okeydokey]

I would do anything I could to change the trip including paying extra. There is no way we would skip the first day of Kindergarten.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I agree with PPs--I would definitely not miss the first day of school for any kindergartener (or any student starting a new school). This is ESPECIALLY true for a kid who has never been to preschool.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

as pps have said try not to miss but make sure he will still have a spot if you can not change. in one grandson's district, you could loose you spot at close by school and end up bussed to another school which means any of kids could be at separate schools ie 3 different schools for 3 kids, that could happened based on where opening are at for each grade, just for missing first day of school

 

[bdcp]

My oldest DS(30) missed his first day of kindergarten because he had a stomach virus. It might be a "milestone" of sorts, but it's so minor in the grand scheme of things. There are much bigger milestones ahead and some your child will actually remember. My DS remembers a lot from that age, but he doesn't remember missing his first day of public school. It didn't set him back, ruin his life, etc. He's 30, had a college degree, is fully employed, owns his own home, etc. I only remembered it because of this thread. His first day will still be "his" first day.

 

[Hannathy]

If he hasn't went to ANY structured preschool I would think it is critical that he be there. He is already going to be behind the other kids as far as knowing the ins and outs of being in a class, lining up, putting his stuff in his cubbie, etc. The first day is when they go over all the rules and how the room is run and he has absolutely no reference to these activities at all so he will be very lost if he walks in once things are rolling.

Is there any way that 1 of you could leave with him and the others stay and finish the vacation as is? then the change fees if any would be a lot less than for the whole family. We did that one year for my
DD when she was starting HS. My DH and her flew out 2 days earlier than my DS and myself.


In the grand scheme of his life, this is minor but for a child who has never been to school, any school it could lead to some confusion and upsets that he shouldn't have to deal with at 5 just for an extra day of vacation.

 

[scottandtisha]

My oldest DS(30) missed his first day of kindergarten because he had a stomach virus. It might be a "milestone" of sorts, but it's so minor in the grand scheme of things. There are much bigger milestones ahead and some your child will actually remember. My DS remembers a lot from that age, but he doesn't remember missing his first day of public school. It didn't set him back, ruin his life, etc. He's 30, had a college degree, is fully employed, owns his own home, etc. I only remembered it because of this thread. His first day will still be "his" first day.

This

 

[marmalade]

I'm pulling my kids out next month for the 2nd time this year for a trip to WDW. So I have no problem pulling my kids out of school for family vacations, but I would never have either of my kids miss their first day of school let alone their first day of kindergarten.

It may only just be one day in the great big plan of life, but it is one of the more important days that shouldn't be missed if it can be avoided.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[irishdislovr]

I would change it or cancel it if I had to. For all the kids' sakes, not just the kindergartner. The first day is when you learn the teacher's rules and routines, etc. Missing the first day is like being the new kid in the middle of the year.
I missed a first day when I was in gr 3 because we were on a trip back home. I have pulled my kids out of school every year for vacations, but never the first day/week.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I have been a kindergarten teacher for 8 years and as a teacher and a mom, I would never let my child miss the first day. Do whatever you can. While we spend weeks teaching rules and routines in kindergarten, the first day is the first time the children meet the teacher, their classroom, and their peers.
Will your child be ok if he misses. Yes but I would do whatever I could to make sure he's there on the first day.
Good luck

 

[teachmedis]

Well I'm sure my views are stronger because I am a teacher but there's no way my kiddos would miss their first day (or honestly any day) for a family vacation. I'm sure that's a flammable response but I've dealt with it in my own classroom and it's hard for kids to catch up. I'm not exaggerating when I say you can still see gaps in their learning weeks later. It's just a day and not a whole vacation but it's a BIG day. I would do whatever it takes.

 

[Lisa71]

I would never miss the first day of any grade. Very important socially and he won't be the only new kid.

 

[Disneylover99]

Kindergarten teacher here....

While I agree that it's not ideal to miss the first day of school, I'm in the camp of, it's not the end of the world. I wouldn't worry too much.

However, we meet with the families ahead of time and have interviews. We actually go through rules and routines with the child and parents so they can help reinforce these rules at home.

Is it possible to meet with the teacher ahead of time?

 

[Unearned Happiness]

*UPDATE*

Adjusting the condo dates will work, so that's one hurdle out of the way.

Now I need to get in touch with the fine folks in the Y.E.S. department on Monday. I booked our tickets through them, so I'll have to get the kids enrolled in different classes. Looks like the only available ones are a week earlier. Assuming there's no problem doing that, then we're good to go. Everyone will make it to school on time

 

[MSSANDRA]

In our district the kindergarten children begin on a staggered schedule. 1/3 of the kids each day for the first three days and everyone on the 4th day and they will work with you if you need to choose a certain day. If your school does this, it would not be an issue at least for the youngest. First days are pretty special and I would give your older kids at least some input as to whether they are ok with missing or not.