OT - to the teachers - first 2 days of school question?

[flateacher]

check with the school and district. They all have different policies.

In our school if you do not show up on the first day you are considered "not enrolled". If you also do not show up on the second day you must re-enroll your child and hope another has not taken your spot.

Our first day we review policies and procedures and the second (I at least) start teaching. Many of my fellow teachers also start collecting the summer assignments.

I think it depends on the school - for my school I would say - do not miss the first two days.

 

[camlov]

I teach Jr High Math. Like many others I cover school/class rules on day one and start teaching day two. Our school also has a drop policy if you don't show the first day.
With regards to your child- If you child is shy, uncomfortable in new situations, struggles with school, or unorganized in any way I would say the first two days are a must.

 

[danygirl]

I would try to find another time to take vacation. My kids have homework the first night and would hate to start the new year two steps behind.

 

[descovy]

I took my kids out for a week just once. My oldest was in 6th. grade and she begged me to never do it again.

Homework had to be caught up while doing regular homework. So that made double the homework stress. And she did get zeros for in class quizzes.

She missed out too on some great extracurricular events too. She couldn't try out for the school play. She missed 3 events in drill team and couldn't try out for officer. Her GS troop went on a great field trip while she was gone.

My dd13 would not be happy with me if she missed the first 2 days of school. The exciting stuff like decorating her locker... Catching up with friends. First days are exciting.

For our family it isn't worth it. Going during school is because its convenient or cheaper for ME. It isn't for my kids. It's for ME. As far as my kids are concerned, they'd prefer to vacation on holidays, and not miss out.

So all that said... What do your kids think? If it academics isn't the issue, how do they feel about missing 2 days of school and the consequences? In the end, it's the KIDS who live with the consequences, not us. They miss out, not us.

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

delete

 

[kokomos]

I know better than getting involved. If your kids think they can manage finding classes and cathcing up 2 days later have a great trip.
As for some schools dropping you after day 2 and you have to re enroll even better,. That means they cant even count those 2 days against them. If its going to be a big deal with the school go ahead and withdraw them at the end of the year and enroll them when you return.
Im surprised so many people are against family vacations. Not everyone can go on vacation when school is out.
Im so tired of the school thinking they own my children. They are my kids, its my money and OUR vacation time. and yes they are honor students who might miss a couple of days a year if they are sick or a week every few years for vacation.

 

[mistysue]

The only opinions that matter are your children's teachers, administration and the children themselves...
It's nice that the teachers here don't seem to mind, but DD missed the open house before school this year. She was there for the first day- we missed that little "drop in for 10 minutes and say 'hi" open house- We have heard about it multiple times this year and when I tried to address a homework issue a couple weeks ago I STILL heard about how we were the only family who couldn't get to open house.
We have ONE 15 day span in the year for a family vacation and open house is on day 10 of it... but that excuse still isn't enough. According to her school our family should not vacation because she might miss too much if we don't go to the "optional" open house.

It has set her back all year and pegged us as the irresponsible family (and we are actually involved, unlike 90% of the parents). I wish I knew before because it's just not worth it.

 

[tikistitch]

I would just ask your kids how they think they would feel if they missed the first couple of days of class. Every child is different, and they're both at the age where they might have a pretty good understanding of what they'll feel like if they're not at the first couple of days with friends they already have or to make new friends. I know that around 8th grade, I would have been devastated to miss the first couple of days. Those are the days everyone established which tables we sat at and who to talk to in the halls between classes, and who to sit next to in class if a teacher didn't have a seating chart. Socially is probably where your kids will have some hiccups. I wouldn't say it would necessarily be a big issue, but it might be worth just asking them how they'd feel and then decide whether or not to go based off of that.

Academically I think your kids would be fine, unless your 8th grader is taking any pre-ap level courses. All of mine usually started teaching on day one and had homework on day one with a test on the first Friday.

 

[ohionola]

As a teacher, I hate it when kids miss the first couple of days of school. It is during those days that the child is learning about classroom rules, procedures, setting up notebooks and other time consuming things. I find that kids that miss those days end up confused and always a little behind on things for the first few weeks. By December you won't be able to notice they missed them but you will early on.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I seriously doubt it would cause much of a problem. In the case of "block scheduling" it would hurt even less. The first few days of school, in many cases students are going to be shuffled in and out of classes due to scheduling changes etc... I know the administration preaches about hit them hard and give meaningful instruction on DAY 1, but it will all have to be done over because the schedules and stuff will be changing a lot the first week or so.

You might talk to their teachers ahead of time and find out what's going to be going on and see if there is any way they can get that stuff early...worth a shot to save that much money.

 

[karliebug]

As a teacher, I hate it when kids miss the first couple of days of school. It is during those days that the child is learning about classroom rules, procedures, setting up notebooks and other time consuming things. I find that kids that miss those days end up confused and always a little behind on things for the first few weeks. By December you won't be able to notice they missed them but you will early on.

I am a teacher and agree with this. Children do a lot of this plus "getting to know you" type activities to build friendships, building tours, homework policies and rules, etc. those first few days. Older students go over the course requirements, receive books and materials,etc. I would avoid missing during the first week of class.

 

[pocomom]

A little different perspective here... I have no problem with my kids missing school (when they attend public) assuming of course they are doing well academically, for family events, vacations etc. Family life is important too and should be supported! However, I would not have them miss the first few days of school because it is an exciting time for them. Shopping for the new school supplies, packing their backpacks for the first time, seeing their school friends again after summer break, meeting their new teacher, and that first week of school, they love it and I wouldn't want to take that from them if I ddin't have too. Now a few weeks later when they are bored and tired of it again, absolutely! It is of course a personal decision but something to consider.

 

[skw444]

A little different perspective here... I have no problem with my kids missing school (when they attend public) assuming of course they are doing well academically, for family events, vacations etc. Family life is important too and should be supported! However, I would not have them miss the first few days of school because it is an exciting time for them. Shopping for the new school supplies, packing their backpacks for the first time, seeing their school friends again after summer break, meeting their new teacher, and that first week of school, they love it and I wouldn't want to take that from them if I ddin't have too. Now a few weeks later when they are bored and tired of it again, absolutely! It is of course a personal decision but something to consider.

I agree with this. I am one that has taken my kids out of school week 4 several times in the past. However, I wouldn't do it the first week of school because of the social aspect of it.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

The only opinions that matter are your children's teachers, administration and the children themselves...
It's nice that the teachers here don't seem to mind, but DD missed the open house before school this year. She was there for the first day- we missed that little "drop in for 10 minutes and say 'hi" open house- We have heard about it multiple times this year and when I tried to address a homework issue a couple weeks ago I STILL heard about how we were the only family who couldn't get to open house.
We have ONE 15 day span in the year for a family vacation and open house is on day 10 of it... but that excuse still isn't enough. According to her school our family should not vacation because she might miss too much if we don't go to the "optional" open house.

It has set her back all year and pegged us as the irresponsible family (and we are actually involved, unlike 90% of the parents). I wish I knew before because it's just not worth it.

Oy! My kids attend a charter school, Ks on it's own, 1 & 2 are together, 3-5 and then 6-8, kids have the same teachers *including their home room teacher for all combined years, we don't attend open houses unless they're moving up a level. They always send an email - We missed you at the open house; are you still coming to school this year?" Good grief, yes they are - nothing's changed, same class rooms, same fellow students, same teachers.

 

[sweetdana]

I would say if your children are extremly well behaved and know the rules and follow them, I would do it.

If your kid ( ugg mine is) needs re-enforcment of the specific rules, ect then I wouldn't.

Educationally they will miss nothing.. they will miss the fun new friends/rules/ect.. but I wouldn't hesitate..

 

[teacherforhi]

You know, I can't tell a parent not to take their child out for the first of school, but inside, I'm going to heave a big sigh of frustration. For me, that child is now two days behind on placement tests for reading and math, missed classroom procedures, and how to set up their folders and notebook.

When they do return, they want to socialize after not seeing their friends for the summer, but that time is passed. However, I have to time from my classes to teach them the procedures everyone else has heard.

It's aggravating.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I like that the teachers are saying it's OK.


But the personality of the kids is important, and if they would feel at a loss because they weren't there from the beginning, it's worth taking into consideration. I was extremely shy, and although I despised being in school from 1st through 12th grades (college and grad school were OK), I would not have wanted to miss the first days. Would have made me feel new and uncomfortable. Then again, assuming your kids's schools are "normal", they are in the last grades of each one and probably won't feel as new as if they were going into 6th and 9th.

I agree 100% with this. I am not a huge opponent of having kids miss a day or two of school, but the first two days makes it tricky. I was a great student and had plenty of friends but would have hated walking into school two days later than everyone else at the start of a school year. I would feel like I was playing catch up right from the start and I definitely wouldn't have truly enjoyed the vacation knowing that I would be walking into the first day for me after everyone else was settled. Ask your kids.

 

[ICan'tWait]

OP here - I did ask the kids about missing the first two days of school and if they remember doing any kind of testing those first couple days. Neither could remember. Also just saying the words "miss school" and they're all for that. lol I was even trying to point out the bad things about missing the first couple days of school but they weren't interested. Not sure if it's a boy thing or just an example of how much they love school... I'll try talking with them more. I also called the middle school and the attendance office said a lot of people are still on vacation the first couple days of school and they don't worry about it all. She did say they could be "unenrolled" as a couple people here mentioned but that if I call the week before she will take care of it and that it's really just a click of the button either way. Anyway, something I'm still thinking about and would not take lightly. Thanks for all the input. It is helpful.

 

[blessedby3]

I find it interesting that some people are posting that their school districts say absolutely you cant miss week 1 and the last week of school. We must have a great school system, because we have taken our kids out (at various times) of school and have never had a problem. We have taken them out all the way up through 12th grade.
The last 5 days of school is one of my favorite times to get a jump start on vacations. They are never doing anything except parties, field days, watching or going to the movies, etc.
I have never taken mine out for the first few days (mainly because I couldnt do WDW in late August Yikes...the heat and humidity!), but I wouldnt have a problem with it. My kids see their friends throughout the summer and dont need two days to get re-aquinted. They also dont generally have homework or schoolwork in the first few days (we always start on a Wednesday). If your kids are okay with it, and the school doesnt have a policy against it...I say save $500 and book it then!

 

[Aliceacc]

I find it interesting that some people are posting that their school districts say absolutely you cant miss week 1 and the last week of school. We must have a great school system, because we have taken our kids out (at various times) of school and have never had a problem. We have taken them out all the way up through 12th grade.
The last 5 days of school is one of my favorite times to get a jump start on vacations. They are never doing anything except parties, field days, watching or going to the movies, etc.
!

In high school?? Aren't they taking final exams?