Need help writing letter to Principal

[MEredhead]

This is my first time taking DD out of school for a vacation. I didnt realize I needed to write a letter to the principal since its not a school vacation. DD is in kindergarten so I am learning the ropes! Does anyone have any tips or examples of what I should write?? She is a good student so I am not worried about her missing school.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I was lucky and was able to tell the secretary that we would be gone from X to X for a family vacation. No more questions asked.
I think in your situation I would keep it simple. I wouldn't go in to great detail about what your child will learn on vacation and so on, just give him the facts.

 

[Minniemouse07]

My "official" notice to the school was really simple and stated that dd would be out from XX to XX due to a family trip.

I did separately email her teacher about a month before to remind her of our trip and outlined all the things we were doing w/ dd to involve her in the planning and what we would do while at WDW.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Brief and to the point is usually appreciated.

 

[Wildflowerz]

"Little Susie will be out of school from April 1 - April 5 on vacation with her family.

Thank you,
Susie's Mom"

Done and done.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

I agree, just be brief and state it's a family vacation. If they then refuse/take issue then you write all the bit about why you feel it beneficial for them (which I personally tend to go for the fact it is a family vacation and in this day and age of the decline of the family unit it's exceptionally important to us and how we feel education exceeds beyond the classroom and does not stop at the end of a school day and then we also state our kids have good attendance ordinarily and that they are achieving in class and how a trip would not be detrimental to their progress)

 

[holly7347]

I guess I need to check into this too. We will be taking DD out of school 1 day for a trip in October. She will also be in kindergarten. She does go to preschool at the school she will be attending kidergarten at next year. In preschool they are allowed to miss but our school has a very strict attendance policy. They are only allowed 9 absences per year and after so many they need dr.'s notes and they have sent home several letters stating that vacations should NOT be scheduled during the school year and even the first week after school ends incase they need to make up school days. I'm hoping that they really aren't as strict as they sound that those rules are just inplace for frequent offenders. But they do mention truancy and pressing charges in the handbook

In your case I agree make it simple and sweet. DD will be out of school on XYZ days for a family trip. I would also give the teacher a copy just so he/she is aware.

 

[npmommie]

Brief to the point. she will be out of school x date to x date. thats it.
she is in kindergarten, not even at compulsory school age. there should be no questions asked, no problems.
have fun!!

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

When I wrote our, I didn't even use the word vacation.... I just said that I am writing to inform you that "childs name" would be out of state with her family from *date* - *date*. Sorry for the inconvenience, if at all possible, if any homework could be sent ahead of time we can work on it during the travel days. Otherwise we will make it up as soon as possible on the return to school.

 

[momof3girls6712]

I adapted a letter I found from a link here. I do not remember where excatly, but the teachers loved it.

DATE:

TO: [school official]

FROM:

RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

• Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.
• American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.
• Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.
• Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.
• Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

[Parent's Signture]_________

 

[Princess_Michelle]

.

 

[MEredhead]

I would have to agree that I was surprised when I mentioned it to the my DD's teacher about our vacation that she told me I needed to write a letter to the principal - which is why this whole thread started. On the other hand - while I dont agree I should need to ask permission I do understand why the schools are cracking down. We are holding our principals and teachers responsible for a certain level and quality of teaching. It obviously is hard to do that when a % of the school population doesnt take attendance seriously. Unfortunately rules are put in place for the minority and its the majority that suffers.

 

[bzzymom]

Each school district has a different policy on absences. I am fortunate that our school is understanding about it. They do discourage it, but, it does happen. It is acceptable as long as the child gets his/her work completed in a timely fashion, and the policy clearly states that the teacher does not have to come up with a lesson plan ahead of time to accomodate the student. However, when we have taked DS out of school, they gave us math papers to work on.

 

[dogodisney]

Am I the only one who thinks that it is ABSURD that fully grown adults, who have given birth to and rasied their own children for the past several years, just fine, have to ask permission to take their OWN children on vacation???

Not flaming anyone or anything. I just wonder sometimes why people are so complacent about being told what their family can and cannot do by the public school system?? Just bringing it up b/c I think someone needs to.....

I for one am talking my kids out of school for a week in September. I know the school board frowns upon it but that's their problem. It is not considered an excused absense in our district and did not know that some districts excused vacations
I plan on talking with the teachers ahead of time and then I will write a note to the schools when we get back. My kids hardly ever miss school so it should not be a bid deal. Both my DDs will be in high school in the fall so we may not have many opportunities to do this. My DGD will be just starting Kindergarten so I don't see that there should eb a problen with her missing a week. We went during summer break before but it was so hot and crowded we couldn't enjoy it. from the researchimg I have done, Disney is always crowded during school breaks. I feel that if we're spending thousands of $ than I want us to be able to enjoy it.

My brother and someone else I know (from 2 different states) got a letter reprimanding them for taking their kids out of school for a vacation. Both of them are very good parents with good kids.
So, I know to expect to receive a letter too.

 

[KimD]

For us they don't excuse them but they don't mind either. What I really like is they offer an Independant Study contract if you are going to miss 5 or more personal days. Basically you get a packet of work, the parent signs a contract stating that the work will be done and turned in on the first day back and it's like they were never absent. Nothing is recorded on her record. So for us it's almost better to take out for 5 or more then there is nothing showing she was absent!

I go sign the contract and pick up her packet tomorrow morning...'cause on Thursday we are OFF to WDW!

 

[LadyShea]

Am I the only one who thinks that it is ABSURD that fully grown adults, who have given birth to and rasied their own children for the past several years, just fine, have to ask permission to take their OWN children on vacation???

Not flaming anyone or anything. I just wonder sometimes why people are so complacent about being told what their family can and cannot do by the public school system?? Just bringing it up b/c I think someone needs to.....

That's how I feel as well, and my DS is only 2. I was raised by total hippies though, and these draconian attendance policies make me feel all "anti-establishment"

I seriously only started considering homeschooling after dealing with our school district so we could take our niece to WDW

 

[mommytoone]

We were given a Vacation form to fill out. It stated that DD would be out for xx days due to vacation. I did not have to write a letter. I would just be short and to the point.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[dogodisney]

For us they don't excuse them but they don't mind either. What I really like is they offer an Independant Study contract if you are going to miss 5 or more personal days. Basically you get a packet of work, the parent signs a contract stating that the work will be done and turned in on the first day back and it's like they were never absent. Nothing is recorded on her record. So for us it's almost better to take out for 5 or more then there is nothing showing she was absent!

I go sign the contract and pick up her packet tomorrow morning...'cause on Thursday we are OFF to WDW!

Now that is reasonable.

I can't take my kids out of school during this time of year because there are only 2 & 1/2 weeks left of school.

Too much going on for them this time of year.

Have a great trip.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Am I the only one who thinks that it is ABSURD that fully grown adults, who have given birth to and rasied their own children for the past several years, just fine, have to ask permission to take their OWN children on vacation???

Not flaming anyone or anything. I just wonder sometimes why people are so complacent about being told what their family can and cannot do by the public school system?? Just bringing it up b/c I think someone needs to.....

My thoughts exactly!