Newbie w/ ques about kids missing school

[mommagoofof4]

We are going to WDW in October, so 2 of my 4 kids will be missing a week of school. Question is, have many of you done this and how did you prepare the kids and teachers for it?
So far my plan has been to set up a conference with the teachers shortly after the school year begins to let them know my plans. I want to let the teachers know that I want to be sure that the kids are doing well enough that a week out will not cause them to fall too far behind.
My kids very rarely miss school, in fact between them both they missed a total of 3 days last year. Both of them do well in school and have made good grades in the past.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[CEDmom]

Last year DD7 missed 3 days of 2nd grade for WDW and she'll be missing the same amount this year. Last year I told her teacher at the beginning of the year and then discussed it more closer to our trip (we went in Nov). She asked that DD keep a journal each day (a few sentences) of what she did. She loves reading so we brought several books with us. I'm hoping her teacher this year is as understanding.

 

[powellrj]

it really depends on the school. Many schools don't have a problem, while other schools like mine will report any absence over 5 days to CPS and you will get a letter.

Our school has a limit in how many days you can miss and will consider you truant, while other schools will give you lots of encouragement!

I would start by asking other parents in your district before you ask the school to see what they have done in other parents cases before you talk to the school.

 

[my3disneygirls]

it really depends on the school. Many schools don't have a problem, while other schools like mine will report any absence over 5 days to CPS and you will get a letter.

Our school has a limit in how many days you can miss and will consider you truant, while other schools will give you lots of encouragement!

I would start by asking other parents in your district before you ask the school to see what they have done in other parents cases before you talk to the school.

What!? Doesn't CPS have better things to do then look into a family who took their kids on a vacation? That seems a bit extreme.

In my school district I have never had a problem. For grammer school I just talk to the teacher and send in a reminder note a few days ahead of time. In Intermediate I had my daughter talk to her teachers and get the work. Some were OK and some were jerks about it. Good life lesson for DD about dealing with different types of people.

 

[MagikMom]

We have pulled the kids out in October in the past when they were in Elementary school. Like another poster said, they were given an assignment to keep a daily journal. My DD is now in High School and DS will be starting middle school so we can't pull them out anymore. I think pulling them out is fine for elementary school.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

First off- kids miss out on school for all types of things.

I missed a week of school to go on Sacred Torch, which is a ROTC field trip through France, Belgium, Germany, in my Junior year.

I missed a week of school to go to drill competition in England my Sophomore year.

I missed another week to go to another German city my Junior year.

AND I also missed a week to go to EuroDisney my Junior year! (Dang- I had it good that year!)

That was just my highschool years- I could have missed more school if only we could have afforded the trips, but alas- Airforce personnel only get paid so much!

This year, my son will be starting middle school and my daughter is in 2nd grade. I have no problem pulling them out to go to WDW. It is not only a fun family vacation, but WDW has a lot of educational areas and just the act of leaving this state alone and going to a state across the nation will teach my kids a little more about this world!

I plan on sending a note first day of school- letting the teachers know. We'll be going about 2 weeks into school- they'll still be reviewing last year's stuff anyways. Also, I'll be MAKING my kids keep their own personal journals about the trip- not for school's sake, but for their sake.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher here

I pull myself & my own kids (DD13 & DS9) out every year for WDW trips.
Last year, they missed 6 days...the year before, they each missed 11.

I would not ask for a conference with the teachers just to discuss your upcoming vacation...teachers have enough to do without losing precious planning time by adding conferences because of vacations. I think everything you could want to discuss could be taken care of in a note.

I would just send her a note, about 2-3 weeks prior to your trip, stating:
1) the starting & ending dates of the time your children will be gone
2) that you would love to have the assignments ahead of time, but if that's not possible, your children will complete the work upon return of vacation


**Also...we always bring all the teachers back great souvenirs.
Last year, each teacher got a WWDW canvas tote bag.

Hope you all have a great trip!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Welcome to the DIS!

I would check to see the school's attendance policy. Also, what grade are your kids in? I think that matters somewhat as to how easy it is for them to miss days of school. I might just let the teacher know by stopping at the school at the end of the day -- or the morning rather than having a conference about it.

When I took my daughter out I told the teacher that I would be will ing to work iwth my daughter to help get her caught up and if there was anything she wanted to send home afterward with photocopies for me I would do whatever I could.

 

[LJRJR]

I have taken my DD out to go to Disney in Kindergarten and then in 1st grade, I dont have any plans for this year yet, but that will probably change. I always took the opportunity at the parent teacher fall conference to let the teacher know that my DD would be out in the spring for about a week. I did not ask how the teacher felt about it, I did not appologize for her upcoming absence, I just said that she would be out for a week during the month of May for a family vacation, and that she would certainly make up any missed work. Then about a month before I went I would remind the teacher and then about one week I would send in a note. I would not take my child out of school if she was struggling with her work. Of course if your school district has strict rules, that is a different story. Where I live, nothing much is said, and as I stated before, I dont ask permission from the teacher, since I am not looking for someone elses opinion. I belive that time alone with the family is a very important experience, and I cannot always go on vacation when school is out. Good Luck.

 

[clandrum]

When my daughter was in kindergarten I took her out of school for 6 days to go to WD. Her teacher and princpal loved the idea and since she excelled in school it was ok. The next year we moved and she started off first grade in a new school. This year we did not do a trip to WD because my daughter was diagnosed with asthma she began seeing the doctor every week while trying to get her meds right and the asthma under control. Throughout the school year she missed a total of 12 days. On the 7th absence I recieved a note from the school social worker stating that from now on I would be required to provide a doctors note if any further absences occured if I did not do this I would be turned into CPS. Please keep in mind that I was in close contact with the office about every absence and my daughter excelled in every subject not to mention she was the best reader in her class. I was also up at the school at least once a week if not more volunteering and tutoring students. I complied with the bringing in the doctors note it was not hard considering I was there every week and we finished up the school year fine. This year my DD's asthma is under control and we are planning a trip she will miss 8 days of school this year. I am anxious about what the school will say. To cover my keester I am emailing the princpal and teacher at the begining of the school year and then two weeks prior to the trip. Of course I will also talk to the teacher. It is insane the steps that good parents have to take. I wonder how many parents got letters for sending their children to school sick and not taking care of them then in turn making my daughter sick with her fragile immune system.

See you at Disney World Nov 29- Dec 9, 2007

 

[sbanders]

I'm a foster parent that deals with CPS a great deal. Because the school system is a mandated reporters they have to report anyone/everyone after so many days missed. I can tell you even if you are reported you still wouldn't have anything to worry about. As long as everything was explainable.. I'm actually taking "foster" kids out of school for 5 days next month. With CPS approval..


Sarah

 

[lady9]

Ditto on not requesting a conference to discuss the vacation. Honestly, if a parent told me about a vacation at the beginning of the school year that wasn't for a few months, I wouldn't remember. The first month of school is so crazy with trying to learn all the personalities of the kids, get a schedule, remember who has speech therapy, OT, PT, etc. I would, at the very earliest, tell the teacher 2 weeks ahead. If you want school work, ask nicely. You may or may not get it. From my point of view, I prefer the families to have their quality time together and not worry about the work. As a teacher, it is easier for me to give another child in the class a folder to collect any handouts for the time the child is gone. At the end of each day, I write down what we covered and place that in the folder as well. When the child return, I am happy to help with the make-up work or send it home. If your children are good students, I wouldn't worry about it. Double check you district's attendance policy. I know in the neighboring district that vacations are not an excused absence and students recieve a 0% in each subject each day they miss. (Personally, I don't agree with this because many parents can't help when they can get their vacations).

I have received several gifts from students' vacation and although I don't feel it is necessary, it certainly is appreciated. My favorite gift is a novelty pencil or pen from the place the child visits. I received a cute Mickey shaped pencil, a pencil with a parrot topper from the zoo in San Diego, and a cute Pooh pen. I like to be able to use the gift from the child. It makes them feel special.

 

[DisTeach1]

Our schools have something called an Independent Learning Contract for anything 5 days or more. You fill it out and the student is excused from regular work, but has to complete the contract, which the teacher fills out. It's an official form that means that the district gets paid for the absences the student is gone. If you don't do this, the teacher is under no obligation to provide work or excuse the absenses.

 

[allyphoe]

Our school district's written policy says: "A student must be in attendance a minimum of ninety per cent (90%) of the time during a semester in order to receive a passing grade." Excused absences (illness, school activities, suspension, "unavoidable emergencies," and religious holidays) don't count against the 8 days you could be absent and still pass.

 

[DisneyBarlans]

My 11 year old DS just started middle school, and if he misses more than 5 days he's considered truant. We know we'll miss at least 3 days for Disney World this year, so hopefully he won't get sick and miss any more time.

 

[mommagoofof4]

Thnak you all so much for your advice!
Never occured to me that a conference would be overboard but that does make sense to me.
I'll definetly send a note and catch up with their teachers after school. They are in 2nd and 4th grade so I'm not too worried.
Thanks all!

 

[katieandallycat]

Our schools have something called an Independent Learning Contract for anything 5 days or more. You fill it out and the student is excused from regular work, but has to complete the contract, which the teacher fills out. It's an official form that means that the district gets paid for the absences the student is gone. If you don't do this, the teacher is under no obligation to provide work or excuse the absenses.

This is out districts policy as well. You must be out 5 day, but no more then 10. Our younger DD was in 2nd grade, and all work was turned in to the teacher (she was so excited about the trip the weekend before she did all 16 pages before we left). Our older DD was in 7th, because there are 6 teachers, it had to be turned into the office before school started on the day of her return, in order to count.
We have never had any problem finishing, and since they do then get paid, and the absences doen't even show up on her report card, I have no problem taking them out. Especially if they keep their grades up (our older DD did managed to stay on the principal's honor roll for the entire 7th grade <straight A's>)

 

[tina_la]

Two of my three children will be missing 5 days of school for our disney trip in september. I am sending a note asking if the teacher prefers to send work with them or for the kids to complete it when we return. I had teachers in junior high who gave me F's on my mid terms for missing to go to Disney. I was an A/ B student so it didn't affect my grades very much but talk about a downer. My mother asked what was she supposed to do leave a 13 year old kid by herself while the family went to Disney. I think school is VERY important but for most kids this is a trip they will have memories of forever. I did and I hope my kids do.


dd 11
ds 8
ds 1

 

[jonna30]

I am pulling mine out for 6 days. Yes, they will be busy making up the work. But, think of all of the time wasted at school with fundraising assemblies, SOMETIMES when there is a sub that doesn't know what work to do, the time it takes for the teacher to deal with squabbles amongst kids, etc. Don't worry! You know your child best and you will know if they missed too much or not. If they missed too much, you will just have to spend some extra time helping them get caught up. Have fun!!!!!!

 

[powellrj]

I'm a foster parent that deals with CPS a great deal. Because the school system is a mandated reporters they have to report anyone/everyone after so many days missed. I can tell you even if you are reported you still wouldn't have anything to worry about. As long as everything was explainable.. I'm actually taking "foster" kids out of school for 5 days next month. With CPS approval..


Sarah

thats good to know. I know many of my friends have gotten the letter, and I was warned on my last trip that if we missed one more day I would be getting one. Talk about putting the FOG in someone! Luckly we had only missed 3 days and the last 4 days were a school holiday so the dreaded letter never arrived. The most heartbreaking time was when a dear friend took her kids out to travel accross the country to attend her sisters funeral who had died in while in the army and she had the dreaded letter waiting on her return.