New Dilemma -- HELP!

[turnlisa]

Well, I set up our vacation for February 11th through February 18th. Thanked my lucky stars that my DS's school district decided not to have President's Week as their mid-winter break. Got a great rate with AAA at WL in a Woods View and started counting down the days.

THEN DISASTER STRUCK!

Received a letter from the school district on Friday that due to some students taking classes at other schools we would be changing mid-winter break. Apparently, our break isn't in line with these schools and we want the students to not miss a week of instruction. Now, mid-winter break is during the dreaded President's Week. This means I will have to book peak season rather than value season, more than likely lose my AAA discount and have to battle crowds. The school district has said that those with plans that cannot be changed will not be penalized for missing that week. Also that work can be made up. My DH says that we should just pull DS out of school and go the week we originally planned. I am really tempted to since it will probably cost me about $1500 to change our plans. DS is a good student and the district says that work can be made up. What would you do? I am looking for any and all answers.

 

[Pembo]

Take him out of school and go when you originally planned. You will save $ and the crowds will be better. If the district said it is okay, then do it!

 

[mommystieg]

I agree -- if you already made plans and the school is willing to work with you then go.

 

[Stimpy]

If the school is willing to work with you, that's great. I would take into consideration how old and what grade your child is in though. A week could be alot to miss for an older student. But as long as your child is doing well and you feel he won't miss that much, I would definately take advantage of their offer.

 

[turnlisa]

My DS is in 4th grade. In the past we have yanked him from school for vacations to WDW, but I was hoping to avoid it this year.

 

[livvyb]

I say take him out of school...not your fault that they changed the week on you. Speak to his teacher's ahead of time to get any work that you might be able to do during that week. What would happen if you changed your vacation and the school rechanged their schedule due to popular demand of other parents in the same boat as you? That has happened in our school district!

 

[pyrxtc]

Take him and go! Have fun! Don't worry about it!

 

[cinderella97]

I agree-take him and go. We are pulling our dd who's in 3rd grade out this year for 2 1/2 days. Our school decided to be off the other 2 1/2 days, but the high school is out for the whole week. I know it doesn't make sense. Everyone was pretty upset. We will be off President's week, usually it's the second week in Feb. I was pretty bummed when it was listed at President's week.

 

[applepwnz]

I agree, there's nothing wrong with taking kid's out of school to go to Disney. When I was a kid, my parents/grandparents did it a few times. If you're concerned about the schoolwork, just have your child ask their teacher(s) if they could have any of the work for then ahead of time, and if they could have their homework for then to do during the vacation, that's what my parents did for me. As long as your children aren't in college LOL (right about now.. I think that I probably wouldn't be able to leave for a vacation.) Although if they're in elementry/middle/high school, they should be fine.

 

[tinaluis]

Take him out and have a great time!!! Avoid President's Week AT ALL COSTS!!! We were there once during President's Week and it was VERY crowded. We waited almost 3 hours for a rental car alone.

 

[ainmama2001]

Keep your current plans. In addition to missed work, you can have him do a little "report" on the countries in Epcot for his class.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would go ahead with your plans since they are already made and the school changed vacation breaks midstream. I think its reasonable that they excuse the absence and allow the kids to make up the work missed.

We scheduled a Disney Cruise during presidents week as that was when my kids had winter break in MA and then decided to move so DH could take advantage of a great career opportunity. The first home we tried to purchase was in a district that didn't have the winter break at all, you can bet I was going to go ahead with our vacation plans. Unfortunately that home purchase fell through and we are now in a district with the winter break the same week as the cuise, phew.

So - I understand completely and if it were my family I would keep the reservations you have. If the teacher can put the work aside ahead of time help him do a bit each day so it dosen't get overwhelming.

Good luck whatever you decide.
TJ

 

[daisyduck123]

Keep your trip as planned. I wouldn't even give it another thought. Your school system is even giving its permission. Go have fun. We pull our DD11 & DS7 out every year for 5 days...would never go during peak season...way too crowded. They are going to remember a fabulous vacation the rest of their lives....but a week in school will be forgotten by summer vacation.
(And I'm an elementary school teacher)

 

[scorpad99]

we take our kids out of school for disney, i will only go off peak..............too crowded during holidays! I say go for it! We are going this year the week b4 thanksgiving til black friday, hope the crowds dont get too bad! My kids will be missing 4 days for this trip, as we leave on a friday morning and they will miss that day, mon, tues, and wed (thurs is thanksgiving , so they r off thurs and fri) have fun, life it too short!

 

[turnlisa]

Thanks for all the great replies! I have decided to not sweat it and just go. I will change it so that he only misses 5 days (I was planning on the Friday before as well) and just have him do the work during his vacation when we return. Hopefully his teacher will give us everything. I really do appreciate all of you helping to make my decision.

 

[DISLOVE]

TAKE HIM OUT OF SCHOOL! Absolutely... family time is important! And I would never rearrange a vacation to Disney World.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

Yes, I too say "Take Him Out Of School!"