Opinion on School Calendar - Labor Day 2009

[disykat]

I've found a new way to annoy people. From now on whenever Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. fall later and people comment (because they always do) I'm going to be the one insisting they're not late. Being deliberately obtuse is so fun!

 

[RumpleMom]

Our 2 local school districts usually start the last week of August, if no construction is going on, after Labor Day, if they are renovating a school in the district.

The preschool starts 2 weeks after the public school. They set their schedule so that families have a chance to get the older kids in their school routine, then the little ones start.

 

[belle&beast]

Up to just last year we always started the week before Labor Day. Now as a teacher I report back August 11 and my DD starts school (private school) on August 13. Our summer is almost over!!! We will be done before Memorial Day as long as we do not have extra snow days to make up. I really would prefer to start after Labor Day and go longer into June- going to school in early to mid-August feels liek we are missing out on summer and it is much cooler and rainier in early June.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My guess it would starts after Labor Daay. I know here in NJ I dont ever remember starting back before.. Its always the wed after.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Depending on when you booked your Oct cruise, the price may have gone up. The earlier you book, the lower the price so it may have even gone up a lot! Also in late May they have added in a fuel surcharge for new bookings. I wouldn't cancel the Oct cruise until seeing the school schedule since you probably have a better price than what they're offering now.

Thanks for the advice.
If I book the August 29th cruise and it ends up we start school before Labor Day next year, we'll just rebook for the following year instead.

also jmho, I wouldn't stress out about missing preschool. My kids teachers all say Have a great trip!! up until around 4 th grade. Now that ds is in middle school, we are really trying to not have him miss more than a day or 2 here and there.
good luck!!

It IS only pre-k at that point, afterall. Is she really going to be missing major stuff?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks for the advice.
If I book the August 29th cruise and it ends up we start school before Labor Day next year, we'll just rebook for the following year instead.


It IS only pre-k at that point, afterall. Is she really going to be missing major stuff?

My younger ds is going into 3rd grade. His 2nd grade teacher who our older ds also had, would tell all the parents at back to school night (both times),
"I believe in family vacations so if you get the chance to go to Disney World, do it! For Pete's sake, it's only 2nd grade. It won't hurt their chances of getting into Harvard just because they missed a week of 2nd grade."

I wanted to give her a standing ovation (both times) but no one else did. I was so glad my 2nd ds had her too. Not only is she an awesome teacher but she understands family time is good too and their whole life doesn't have to be just school. She would have them write journals, about 3 sentences per day.
I think in preschool, my ds didn't even have to do that. (younger ds was in public preschool/special ed. to get speech therapy.) They were all for going to WDW.

We booked another 7 day for 2009 too over the teacher's convention week (2 days off) usually Election day falls the same week so they only miss 2 days. My neighbor has a son in HS and says do it all now while it's easy (she thinks even MS is easy to miss. once they get to HS, they get really behind just to miss 1 day.)

Good thing I didn't know about DCL when my kids were pre K. We'd be totally broke by now.

 

[cogero]

I just tell the teachers we are going on vacation because that is when DH gets vacation and if they don't want to give me the work to take with me my daughter will make it up as I see fit.

My DH is a police officer so we have to choose vacation that is available when we get it. All of the teachers we have had so far understand that. DD is going into the 2nd grade next month and we are planning a trip for March/April and I will be pulling her out but I am a really anal parent with school work and if I don't feel the school is giving her enough I give extra or require her to read.

I wouldn't worry about missing school until after 1st grade.

 

[Jeninindy]

Yes, that was very informative and helpful. If I had to take a guess, I'd say that it is always after Labor Day no matter what.
Thanks!

We always start in August...this year it is August 13th.....

Quick question though.....why are you so concerned about the starting date. Are you going away on a trip and trying to plan it? If so, call the school district to see if they have a preliminary calendar...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Quick question though.....why are you so concerned about the starting date. Are you going away on a trip and trying to plan it? If so, call the school district to see if they have a preliminary calendar...

We were thinking of going south for the last week of August until Labor Day. I called the school but they didn't know yet and couldn't even give me an answer.

 

[Jeninindy]

Thanks for the advice.
If I book the August 29th cruise and it ends up we start school before Labor Day next year, we'll just rebook for the following year instead.


It IS only pre-k at that point, afterall. Is she really going to be missing major stuff?

HECK NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go on the cruise and have fun!!!! Don't even think twice about missing some days of pre-k.......

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm from PA, and we've been starting school the week before Labor Day for the past 8 years or so now. This year, we start Aug. 25. I teach pre-school in a private pre-school, and our school always starts the Monday following Labor Day. I start Sept. 8 this year.

 

[Ephany]

We started today, August 1st and on Friday to boot. Apparently this area usually starts early though, so it's consistent with the past schedules. Growing up though, we never started before Labor Day, although that was in the Northwest.

My DD missed a week of pre-K a few months ago, the teacher encouraged us to go to WDW in early May when the temps were cooler and prices were lower. I hope things work out for you.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Yeah, we're still mulling this one over. If it really is not a big deal to miss out on a week of Pre-K, then maybe OCtober would be fine. Lots to think about!

 

[huey duey & luey]

we ALWAYS start after Labor Day no matter when it falls

eta maybe I should look at that 8/29 cruise

 

[pixiesilk]

As a teacher, I start back on August 7. The students come back on the 14th. I am just glad that the schools are air conditioned as it is extremely hot here right now.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

we ALWAYS start after Labor Day no matter when it falls

eta maybe I should look at that 8/29 cruise

Tara, if you book that cruise then there would not be one doubt left in my mind!!!!

 

[Disney_Angel]

This is in PA and it is a private school.

I am not looking for a definite answer from anyone, just opinions for those with children or who work in education.

I am also in PA and my dd attends a public cyber charter school. We have two options. A) to start in mid August and work to May or B) to start AFTER labor day and work till June.

I would expect that the kids in Pennsylvania WILL start later then usual next year.

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

I wish our kids started after Labor Day - our public schools start next Monday (Aug 11).

 

[huey duey & luey]

Tara, if you book that cruise then there would not be one doubt left in my mind!!!!

would love too, Scott cant take off the end of the month

I have my eye on the 8/15 cruise

the Oct one puts you in wdw at the right time

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Heck - our kids start on August 7th!!!! Whatever happened to the 3 month summer vacation that we had when I was a kid?!?!?