Need letter for school

[Gillian]

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.

That is way more than my school would want for kindergarten. I think it's better to keep it simple and focus on things that your child/nephew has learned in school already that will be reinforced at WDW. When you imply that he's learning a year's worth of stuff in one week it kind of sounds silly, you know?

My son has learned a lot this year (money, maps, time, early American history) that we will cover again at Disney and I think it's great to have real world experience. I'm very excited about having him use money, map our route to Florida and learn about time (using a watch, basically). Although I'd rather skip the hall of Presidents, I know he will think it's cool!

 

[KerriSue]

When I took my DS6 out of class for our WDW trip (one week) the school actually had me disenroll him for that week for homeschooling. They then gave me the work that the class would do for the week. When we got back home all things were a go. Back to class. It had to do something with the funding they get for the students in class. This way, I think, they still got paid.

 

[DawnM]

We try to make every experience educational since we are homeschoolers, but I have to tell you that the educational experience this last trip to Epcot was lost on my 5 year old.

We are currently adopting a child from China. So, we went to the China exibit and spent extra time talking about it and about where our "baby" would come from etc.....

My 5 year old got wide-eyed and said, "We are getting a baby from Epcot????"

Oh dear!,

Dawn

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I guess I have it good! AFter reading threads like this, I was prepared to do battle with the administration. Both teachers know and are fine with the girls being gone. DD's kindergarten teacher is as excited about the trip as we are! She took her family last summer and had a blast. I asked her if I needed to write her a note to make it official, she said "just tell the office".

So I stopped in the office and said "the girls will be gone these days later in April." The secretary didn't ask what for, just wrote done their names and hte dates.

Done!

 

[swillis]

Dear school

Little Timmy and Suzy will be out of school for 5 days. During that time they will be learning to relax, have fun doing really crazy stuff and eating ice cream until they puke.

Have a wonderful day!!!!!!
The adults who intend to do the same thing.


Please I am so glad our school isn't like this. Yes they do have make up work or get it early. Thats fine with us.

THIS is the letter I "wanted" to write!!!

 

[PrincessNED]

We try to make every experience educational since we are homeschoolers, but I have to tell you that the educational experience this last trip to Epcot was lost on my 5 year old.

We are currently adopting a child from China. So, we went to the China exibit and spent extra time talking about it and about where our "baby" would come from etc.....

My 5 year old got wide-eyed and said, "We are getting a baby from Epcot????"Oh dear!,

Dawn

 

[mickeyluv]

Our daughter (3rd grade) will be missing five days of school at the beginning of May for our WDW trip. I've talked with her teacher about it and she's okay with it. I don't think she's really happy about it, but just okay. We actually changed our vacation week due to EOG testing. We were suppose to be gone during that time, so fortunately we were able to change our dates around. Our daughter has done very well in school. She's has made the honor roll every marking period this year and is a very good student. Some would say that has no bearing on being out of school but I would say it does. She is not struggling with her school subjects. If she were then that would be a different story. Her teacher just asked me this week had I discussed our plans with the principal yet. No, I haven't. I'm sorry, but I really don't feel as if there is anything to discuss. I'm just going to go in and tell her that we are going to be in Florida on vacation for this particular week and she will not be in school during this time. She hasn't missed but like 3 or 4 days all year. I feel family time is so very important. Not saying that school isn't, because it is, but I don't feel that missing 5 days of school for this trip is going to hurt her education. I just really don't feel like getting a lecture from the principal!! I know she means well, but when all is said and done, she is still my child and if I thought this was going to be detremental to her education then we wouldn't be going.

 

[lorrainesy]

Wow GurGie that is a kick butt letter. I hope you don't mind if I borrow it. We are going to WDW for 10 days and 5 of them are school days (YIKES!!!) I will send them that letter and sound smart.....then maybe they won't think I am an idiot for letting him miss so much school

 

[PrincessNED]

With all respect to those out there who are educators,

The act of taking your child out of school for a week or two for quality family time has no bearing on their abilities to be properly educated in life. last I checked no one writes college entrance exams at age 12.

Similarly I think it is crazy to expect homework to be done while on such a trip. " wait nephew - we can't go on splash mountain until you finish your sonnet"

Sure if you want to make the child write a report or something after their return as a creative writing exercise - great ( Heck have em write a trip report on the DIS , I'll read it)

I as a child was never taken out of school for a trip - but I can certainly tell you I can't remember a single vacation where I did not learn something.

Only a small portion of knowledge comes from books, the largest portion from experiences.

Just my opinion.

 

[mumzie2three]

With all respect to those out there who are educators,

The act of taking your child out of school for a week or two for quality family time has no bearing on their abilities to be properly educated in life. last I checked no one writes college entrance exams at age 12.

Similarly I think it is crazy to expect homework to be done while on such a trip. " wait nephew - we can't go on splash mountain until you finish your sonnet"

Sure if you want to make the child write a report or something after their return as a creative writing exercise - great ( Heck have em write a trip report on the DIS , I'll read it)

I as a child was never taken out of school for a trip - but I can certainly tell you I can't remember a single vacation where I did not learn something.

Only a small portion of knowledge comes from books, the largest portion from experiences.

Just my opinion.

Princess, I agree with you 100%!

 

[PrincessNED]

Thanks Mumzie for your support ,

I fully expect to be flamed by some for my opinion.

And I'm sure as my DD( 5) goes through school that I'll have a polite ( or not so) discussion with some administrator or this very subject.

Being from Canada - the only rational time to go to florida is when its -30 here during the school year.

I suspect most parents who are caring enough to let their children experience DW would also be caring enough to ensure their children are capable of keeping up to their school's curriculum.

IMO days absent means nothing - does the kid know the material should be all that matters.

Same concept applies to many jobs ( mine included) - Its not how many hours I put in but how I produce that matters.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

We try to make every experience educational since we are homeschoolers, but I have to tell you that the educational experience this last trip to Epcot was lost on my 5 year old.

We are currently adopting a child from China. So, we went to the China exibit and spent extra time talking about it and about where our "baby" would come from etc.....

My 5 year old got wide-eyed and said, "We are getting a baby from Epcot????"

Oh dear!,

Dawn

Oh! That is just precious!!!! Please tell us that you will write it down in your new child's book. What a cute little memory!!! P.S. My best friend and the Godmother of my children, adopted three little girls from China. How precious these three are to us. Good luck with your adoption!!!!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

With all respect to those out there who are educators,

The act of taking your child out of school for a week or two for quality family time has no bearing on their abilities to be properly educated in life. last I checked no one writes college entrance exams at age 12.

Similarly I think it is crazy to expect homework to be done while on such a trip. " wait nephew - we can't go on splash mountain until you finish your sonnet"

Sure if you want to make the child write a report or something after their return as a creative writing exercise - great ( Heck have em write a trip report on the DIS , I'll read it)

I as a child was never taken out of school for a trip - but I can certainly tell you I can't remember a single vacation where I did not learn something.

Only a small portion of knowledge comes from books, the largest portion from experiences.

Just my opinion.

Excellent post!!! I just wanted to add a funny story - we pulled our three kids from school this past Jan/Feb for a cruise as the situation presented itself and we really needed to take this time as a family. Our kids teachers all expressed congrat's and well wished to our faces and our son's teacher only sent minimal make up work but my daughter's Kindergarten teacher must have sent over 20 sheets of things to COLOR!!! Our kids all make great grades, but DD in Kindergarten is already reading and in a special accelerated reading club, which the teacher informed us is rare. She has also exceeded expectations in math, science, computer and so on. So why on earth the coloring???? I should also add, my DD is in an art program and has been taking lessons for the past two years. In fact, when she was in preschool, her teacher asked if she had private lessons because she was a step ahead of the class. She is just a visual person and does well in these areas. At any rate, after coloring for an hour here and there before, during and on the ride home from our trip, I decided that our family would have a pow wow. My 3 year old, my 8 year old and myself all sat down with DD - 6, and colored every page sent home! Never heard a word either.

 

[PrincessNED]

Well you know colouring is very important and we must keep up with the rest of the class. that whole inside the lines debate and all...

 

[PrincessGail]

Thank you all for the replies. I typed the letter and mailed it yesterday. Now, I really don't care what the school thinks. No matter anyway, we are still going. I agree that family time is very important but it has really gotten put at the bottom of the list sometimes. I am ready for a vacation from the everyday rat race

Food for thought. I found this quote in my daily planner and thought I would share it.

The trouble with a rat race is that even when you win, you are still a
rat. --- Lily Tomlin