note for school

[mo3]

I am a teacher(Elementary) and do not care if kids miss school for vacation. I'm jealous that I can't do the same thing! We always travel in the summer in the blistering heat. However, it is considered an illegal absence and that is how it is marked. I have no idea what that actually means--what I do know is that the schools lose state funding for each illegal absence. (In NY) Apparently, it is against the law to keep your child home from school for a vacation, although I have NEVER heard of any legal ramifications for this, and I routinely have 10 or more students do this every year.

A lot of parents today both work and are unable to coordinate their vacations during school breaks. I remember years ago when I worked in an office, the competition for Feb recess and Easter weeks was fierce, as they could not have all employees out at the same time.

I respectfully request that they not ask for work in advance. School policy is that missed work be made up upon return--but I have parents complain about this every year. Some teachers want you to make up work before you return, others would rather wait until return. If you are not sure, ask. But I suggest you don't demand (as many parents do) packets of work to be delivered before your trip. If you're going to take them out of school, you might as well enjoy it.

WDW is such a huge investment, and for many a once in a lifetime trip. If your kids are young and you can swing it, I say take them out of school and go when the weather is nice and the crowds are low.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I don't like the letter.
2) Although (POSSIBLY) a learning experience, IT IS A VACATION!
3) We took our kids out of school EVERY year for vacations.
4) I did not give the schools a choice.
5) Family time together is far more important than 4-5 days of school.
6) The kids did their homework daily while away.
7) Sometimes schools feel they have power they do not have.
8) I am not shy in taking on some petty school bureaucrat.

I am a teacher and there is NO WAY my school would allow vacation days to count as unexcused absences.

We once had a private school try to tell us this. After I threatened a lawsuit, they relented and cooperated. Public or Private, and regardless of the published attendance policy, excused absences are what the PARENTS say it is, not the school - at least per legal precedent.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Last year we knew DD would miss 3 days of school (2nd Grade) for our WDW trip in October. We didn't write the teacher a letter - instead both my DH & I attended "Meet The Teacher" night that our school held the week school started (in August) and we told DD's teacher of the planned absence then. Her teacher was new to the school district and said she'd talk to Administration to see how it would be handled. Administration approved the absense - as unexcused - and allowed DD to get the work she would miss in advance. Everything worked out well.

This year we aren't going to WDW but next year we are going in October and DD (4th Grade by then) will miss 2 days of school. After Elementary School we'll be going during summer breaks.

Debbie

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I have always taken my kids out of school for a vacation. For one reason, its great to be together as a family, another reason, to avoid the crowds. I've talked with the teachers that my kids have and none of them have a problem with it. Now, my son is entering HS. I will not take him out for a vacation. Work load being too heavy and such. Elementary school...I do not have a problem with taking kids out of school.
My daughter is going with me this September, about two weeks after school starts. She'll miss 4 days total. I've already talked with her teacher about it and her reply was "How wonderful!! and What a lucky girl!". They incorporate her trip into her homework, by journaling and such, and she does her homework each day while she's there. To me, its so worth it. Of course, this is just my humble opinion

 

[zdad]

my DW runs the attendance office at one of the local Jr Highs. The notes she gets simply say "Family Trip". At the very beginning of school and the very end, it is not uncommon. There are even arrangements made to take their final exams early, so "family trips" can start.

Personally, we never have never taken the kids out of school. We figure that if we are going to constantly drill into their heads the importance of it, and the need to be responsible about attneding and working hard, we'd be a bit hypocritical if we pulled them out for a vacation. We just plan our trips around the school days. (This is not intended as a flame to those who do take their kids out occasionally. There are situations where that is the best choice.)

Z

 

[BikeFan]

We once had a private school try to tell us this. After I threatened a lawsuit, they relented and cooperated. Public or Private, and regardless of the published attendance policy, excused absences are what the PARENTS say it is, not the school - at least per legal precedent.

I'd be interested in a case cite for that. And doesn't that vary state by state?

 

[teacherforhi]

We once had a private school try to tell us this. After I threatened a lawsuit, they relented and cooperated. Public or Private, and regardless of the published attendance policy, excused absences are what the PARENTS say it is, not the school - at least per legal precedent.

I'm going to have to disagree with this. If it were true, then there would be some children who would miss half a school year and then their parents would just show up and claim they were excused absences. This is why we always ask for notes when a child returns as a absence. If your note says, "Please excuse Johnny. He was sick yesterday," it's an excused absence. However, if your child is out for more than five days, a doctor's note would be better because if you need to appeal later (in case your child goes over the limit), a doctor's note will go a lot further than mom's.

The bottom line is that it's the parents' choice as to whether or not to pull their child out of school for a vacation. I'll never tell a parent that they can't or shouldn't do that. However, at the same time, a parent can't come to me and tell me that I MUST provide them with a homework packet before the trip. (I won't. Nine times out of ten it disappears somewhere on vacation.) It's also not MY responsibility to stay after school to catch your child up and what he/she missed on those days. I'll send the work home; in my district, the child has two days for every one missed to make up the work. If it isn't finished within the time frame, it goes down as a zero.

 

[MickeyMousesGal]

My parents have taken me out of school to go to Walt Disney World every year. I just have to keep my grades up. My teachers would give me all of my homework the day that I would leave. When I got back, I would have it all done and be ahead of the class. All of my teachers have been nice and kind enough to give me my homework before I left. I would take 7-9d out of school even though we were there for 11d. I have had no problems with homework. My 5th grade teacher even gave me my homework 1 week before I left, and I almost got it all done before I left for the trip!


Jessica

 

[VSL]

One trip in Dec she baffled the band director of almost 30 yrs by asking him if he knew what a Carrolon (sp?) was. MY DD was able to teach the band director a thing or 2 he didn't know lol

'Cast In Bronze'! I bought the 'Arrival' CD in EPCOT in '99

I LOVED that carillon. My music teacher knew what I was talking about though

As far as taking your children out of school is concerned, I can't really comment - I'll be missing nearly two full weeks of Uni in December! (and it's my final year.. oops!)

(BTW, bells in cathedral's and such are also known as carillons)

 

[babar41]

The strong opinions on this subject always amazes me! I would like to remind everyone that the op said she is talking about having her child miss the first 2 or 3 days of school. Most of the time that first week in school is just getting settled, I find it difficult to believe her child will miss anything that can not be made up. And contrary to some opinions here I believe any vacation is a learning experience for children. It opens their eyes to the world being larger than their own back yard. Will WDW be fun? Darn tooting it will be! But who says education can't be fun?

Most of us aren't born knowing what we want to be when we grow up. Every experience we have helps us to become who we are. Going through the World may instill a desire to learn more about another country or the desire to learn another language. Seeing all of the marvelous technologies at WDW may spark a desire to become an inventor. Going through the Land may call to the gardner in this child. AK (although it's not a zoo!), may bring an interest in caring for the animals or environment. I could go on, but hopefully I've made my point.

Schools have field trips. They take children to plays, zoos, farms, factories,... they do this because it is a great way to educate children in an environment that the kids don't even know they are learning!

Soooooo, how about if instead of taking your kids out of school for a vacation you take them out for a field trip! Be smart, don't take them out during finals or during important times or events that can not be made up.

 

[babar41]

In elementary and middle school, you can miss 20 days, which gives you more leeway, but if you go over, only illness and family emergencies will be able to be appealed.

I have a problem with the schools systems that have rules without someone looking at the overall situation. A few years back when I had a daughter in middle school we had a very rough winter. There were a few flus that were going around, and 2 in particular that we so rough that you were sick 7 to 10 days. For almost a month 1/3 to 1/2 of her school was out sick. How do I know? I worked in the health room. Anyway I received one of those letters. You know the ones I'm talking about "Your child has had excessive absences." I called the school and explained that EVERY absence had been followed with a doctors visit with the doctor saying my daughter should stay home from school, that unfortunately my daughter had caught EVERY virus that was going around. The school said not to worry about it, they knew that up to half of their kids were out because of sickness, but that the letter was automatic, and that half the school had gotten letter. This did not make me feel better! When you know that the kids are missing school due to illness, illness that they caught at your school because people send their kids to school sick so they won't miss a day, and you automatically send a letter to half the school telling them if this continues legal action could be taken.... I just think this is WRONG! Surely someone should look at the whole situation!

 

[GoN2WDW]

Sorry, we pulled our DD out of school for WDW in K, 1, 3, 4, 6 and don't regret it at all. Fortunately for us, she has always been a very good student and it has not affected her grades. If it did, we wouldn't have done it. Yep, we got a letter from school reminding us that she had hit 5 absences, but it is required by the school that they do so. I just honestly told the teachers ahead of time that a family trip was planned and she would make up any missed work. I think that form letter referenced in this thread is hokey! Let's face facts, we are all going to WDW because we want to, not because of the educational value!

 

[lacy1101]

The strong opinions on this subject always amazes me! I would like to remind everyone that the op said she is talking about having her child miss the first 2 or 3 days of school.

I agree, babar41. I would also like to humbly remind everyone that she didn't ask for our opinions on whether or not she should take her children out of school. She only asked what we thought about the letter.

 

[shelby_36]

Yep, as a teacher I wouldn't have time to read all that. Our policy (as most schools) are cut and dry. We accept unlimited dr. excuses. We accept 5 parent notes per year(doesn't matter if you are home having a yard sale or in Europe. We allow 5 days unexcused before the required truancy days kick in..all of this is county policy that gets kicked over to the truancy department.
If you are only going for a few days you shouldn't have a problem as long as you don't anticipate other needless days off through the year that will get you a visit from a truancy officer. Teachers do appreciate it when you get their work ahead of time, but remember that graded work still needs to be completed after they arrive home so they will have several days in from recess etc to make this up.
Other than that a short note..please excuse susie from class xx/xx/xx-xx/xx/x we'll be out of town. Will be plenty. Don't need anything fancy.

 

[tygerlilli]

I think this part is kind of hysterical though:

..."[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...."

I'm so sure that kids would be taking notes on their growing navigational skills and sociological knowledge

 

[VSL]

If you are only going for a few days you shouldn't have a problem as long as you don't anticipate other needless days off through the year that will get you a visit from a truancy officer.

OT, but..
We used to call the 'truancy officer' the 'dickabodie' in my school (and probably most comprehensive/secondary schools throughout the area do).
I have no idea what it means though.

 

[jerbroni]

That letter from mouseforless is a terrible example. Any teacher is going to see right through the 'educational' nonsense. It's almost insulting to expect anybody to buy into that, especially since they left out 'the child will learn to appreciate the nutritional value of smoked turkey legs and Mickey ice cream bars.'

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The letter is insulting. I'd laugh in your face if you handed me that. I'd probably say something like if you're going to hand me BS, at least make it good BS.

 

[teacherforhi]

I have a problem with the schools systems that have rules without someone looking at the overall situation. A few years back when I had a daughter in middle school we had a very rough winter. There were a few flus that were going around, and 2 in particular that we so rough that you were sick 7 to 10 days. For almost a month 1/3 to 1/2 of her school was out sick. How do I know? I worked in the health room. Anyway I received one of those letters. You know the ones I'm talking about "Your child has had excessive absences." I called the school and explained that EVERY absence had been followed with a doctors visit with the doctor saying my daughter should stay home from school, that unfortunately my daughter had caught EVERY virus that was going around. The school said not to worry about it, they knew that up to half of their kids were out because of sickness, but that the letter was automatic, and that half the school had gotten letter. This did not make me feel better! When you know that the kids are missing school due to illness, illness that they caught at your school because people send their kids to school sick so they won't miss a day, and you automatically send a letter to half the school telling them if this continues legal action could be taken.... I just think this is WRONG! Surely someone should look at the whole situation!

I don't see what the problem is. If your child had exceeded the maximum number of absences, it would have been a simple matter to write an appeal based on the doctor's recommendations for your child to stay home. The letter is just a reminder that your child has 'x' number of absences and may be running out of allowable days. There's no chance she would have been retained based on this, but it isn't the attendance officer's job to go through each child's record and determine if it's important for that letter to be sent. It's just automatically sent to every parent.

 

[Sinderelli]

Are you trying to say "excused absences?" Some district, we never had to pay the subs when we took off a couple of days. Bummer for you. Nor were kids penalized for taking 2 or 3 days out.>>>>

Sorry, I did mean "excused absences". I am not against taking children out of school for a vacation, I just do not see how it can count as an excused absence. I teach in a Catholic elementary school, and our policy states that excused absences must have a dr.'s note or are related to a death in the family, etc. On the other hand, we really have no penalty for unexcused absences other than more than 17 of them and your child "COULD" repeat the current grade (not always enforced). Basically, my post was to say that I'm jealous! I would love to go during school time and beat the crowds but..the penalties for the teachers are too harsh. So for those of you who are able to...have a great time. BTW, I have always had the parents of my students tell me in a straight forward manner that they were taking their children out for a vacation. I appreciated their honesty and worked with them to have the child make up the work upon his return.

The letter sounded a little contrived to me. I know of some teachers who would share it with others and they may have a good laugh at your expense. I would be honest and matter of fact about it. After all, it is your decision!