Out of School - letting teachers know

[The SS Girls]

I wanted to get some input. Daughter is in 7th grade, and in 4 weeks, I am taking her out of school for our very first REAL vacation (more than two nights away from home) to WDW Yeah, I am SO excited!
I need to notify the school, and her individual teachers of her upcoming absence. She will be missing 12 SCHOOL days. Hopefully most of them will be excited for her and cooperative with the school work.

Any suggestions for how to word the email? I have started a few, but, I am feeling befuddled. We have not taken time from school in the past and she is a solid A student. its still early in the school year so most of it is review.

Thanks so much!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I am taking DS (3rd grade) and DD (K'garten) out the last week of Sept. I'm sure middle school is much different from elem. Anyway, I'm not worried about DD, I know her teacher very well and in kindergarten they send a calendar home the first of the month with all of their homework assignments for the month. DS(3rd grade) is another story, poor thing, he got the meanest teacher (even parents have said so). She gives alot of homework, he spent almost an hour yesterday on it. I've heard that she is a real control freak, very strict and I dread having to talk to her. I plan to do it in person and then send in a letter after when they come back.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Here is how we have handled it in the past, and again this year...

Our school sends home a guide book at the begining of each school year, outlining all of their policies and such. Inside is a form used to request advance permission for an 'excused absense'. Generally, anything that is considered an educational experience & that serves as an appropriate supplement to classroom learning--trips to WDW included--may be excused. So we filled out his request form and submitted it on the second day of school. Maximum number of days a student may be 'excused' from classes (in our district) per year is five--anything over that is considered 'unexcused', and students are not permitted to make up work that is missed due to an unexcused absence.

My DS had actually already told his teachers on the first day that he would be traveling to WDW in October, so they are aware. Our school holds a 'Back to School Night' next week, where we have the opportunity (as parents) to meet with his teachers in person... and we will be talking with them all about the upcoming trip to FL then as well. When we get closer to the actual dates for our trip, I will likely follow up by sending written notes in with my son for each teacher, requesting their guidance as to what work he may be able to complete in advance or while on our trip, along with asking if there are any special assignments they would like him to complete relative to his WDW experiences.

Two years ago, his teacher simply asked that he keep a written journal of his trip, in which he recorded what interesting facts he learned each day and included photos that he took himself. He also completed an EPCOT passport (in which he had CM's from each of the countries write a little something about their homeland in their native language), and then he later gave a presentation in front of the class regarding some of the things that he learned & experienced. The teacher(s) also began giving him his 'regular' assigments & homework sheets about two weeks in advance of our trip, so that he could complete much of his work prior to (as oppossed to during) our actual travels. DS not only had no trouble at all keeping up with his classwork, but actually was about a week or two ahead in his lessons when we returned (in comparison to the kids who had been in class). He has always been a solid 'A' student... so I do not have many concerns about his missing a few days of classess this early into the school year.

My advice would be to check into what your own school district's policies are regarding absenses due to travel. And then also take the time to talk with each teacher in person, so that there are no unpleasant surprises.

 

[3mickeys&me]

I just wrote a note to each of my kids teachers explaining that they would be out of school because our family was going on a trip to Disney World and the dates they would miss. I requested that assignments be sent home for any missed work.
Both my boys teachers were really cool about it and just had them do a journal and wanted them to take a disposible camara and share pictures with the class when they returned. They were in 1st and 3rd last year when they missed 8 days of school for our WDW and Our Wonder Cruise.

 

[SnowWhite]

We are taking my DD out of 3rd grade for a total of 8 school days in October and I had intended to talk to her teacher on the first day of school (not to ask permission but to inform him) but he came to our yard sale last weekend and my husband asked if he thought DD should bring some work with her. He said, "Are you kidding?" "Can you imagine taking her on such a magical vacation and asking her to do homework"? "She can simply catch up when she gets back!"
He knows she is a good student and was only concerned about her falling behind on her math but said she will just have to catch up....he didn't believe in doing homework on vacation! He told us to take her and show her the best time! (Actually with our schedule I can't imagine when she would have had time for homework!!!) Oh well, no more stressing about talking to the teacher!!!

 

[The SS Girls]

Thanks for the input.

I sent an email to the team leader, (fancy word for contact person for the grade), asking for a brief meeting at his earliest convenience. I am hopeful that he will be understanding and cooperative about the 2 1/2 week absence. Our school also has an open house, meet and greet, in a few weeks, but I think that is too short of notice for the teachers.

Oh, yeah, I got my plastic thingy in the mail today!! Got the luggage tags! I guess its REALLY happening. We are DISNEY bound.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

My DS has only missed 2 days from school for our Disney trips. His school is very strict about missing school. They send a letter home at the beginning of every year saying that all vacations should be taken in the summer or over school breaks. (Only in a perfect world though!) They are only allowd to miss 10 unexcused days. We just try to plan as close to the school Christmas break as possible and let the teacher know we are going. He will only miss two days this year too.

 

[jtopp]

Some teachers balk at extended vacation trips during the school year, claiming the missed educational experience cannot be interrupted for something as trivial as quality family bonding. Bull@#&%. I, or my children, would not pass up the family vacation for anything. Our vacations must be scheduled around work calenders and weather reports. Our childrens teachers have had varied responses, ranging from "have a great time" to "I'll give you homework to do in the evenings of your trip". Either way, the trip experience is worth the extra catch up work they do when they get back.

 

[Danemom]

I have the same problem. I think there was a website with a form letter to send schools. If I remember right, it was pretty good and had some of the educational benefits of a Disney vacation listed. Can anyone help with the site's address?
Thanks!!!

ETA: I found a couple at http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SE.shtml
HTH!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Our school district has the same policy as many: only 5 days may be requested, in writing, for a family vacation.

We've never had a problem in the past (DS's do well in school) and we always ask for assignments a week or so before we leave. Nice to get the work done before we leave. I feel bad for the kids I see on the plane coming back struggling to work through a packet of homework after a long, tiring trip.

This year my youngest DS moved up to the Jr/Sr HS, complete w/new asst. admin. When I approached him @ orientation to discuss the procedure for vacation requests; he actually rolled his eyes @ me and told me that family vacations are frowned upon and must be pre-approved by the district. I told him that the trip was indeed an educational experience and my DS would be going with or without his approval. What a look on his face, I'm sure I made quite an impression!

Only class I'm worried about is Algebra, sort of hard to preassign math homework...probably will have to do it on vacation.

 

[The SS Girls]

I spoke with the team leader today, and he was very excited for DD.

DD is in pre-algerbra, and we are making up flash cards from problems in her book, and we are bringing a small white board with pen for her to do while we wait in line, before sleep, and on the plane. She is very smart, so she should catch up in no time. Most of the work thru mid October is review anyway.

 

[tikilyn]

Some of you are so lucky to have great people working in your schools. I went up to speak with the Principal and well lets just say he was nice and all but didn't have his facts straight. Our schools are very strict. My dd just enter PreK and the principal said if she has 10 or more unexcused absents in the year they will retain her Then he went on to advise me to withdraw her from school and when we return to just reenroll her again. I asked if she would be guaranteed a spot when we got back and he said no!! Umm. No I'm not withdrawing her from school. I told him she take the 5 days unexcused.

This was before meet the teacher night. Finally that night came and when I was speaking to the teacher I told her what the Principal had said and she was so shocked! First she tells me that they don't retain PreK or Kindergarden!! and then she went on to say that they were told not to tell parents to withdraw their kids from school. This came from the Principal himself!!

I am going to write the teacher a letter and give it to her that Thursday before we leave. Should I still write a letter to the Principal? I really don't want to deal with him again. Should I just give the teacher both of the letters and let her deliver it to him?

Sabrina

 

[Pinnie]

Some thing to keep in mind when looking at a district's policy on attendance is that attendance is going to be set to a FEDERAL guideline due to NCLB. Here is an exerpt from the NCLB law:

In addition to test-score requirements, schools and subgroups must meet state testing participation requirements, as well as attendance requirements. Under these rules, 95 percent of students must take the state determined test; average daily attendance in a K-8 school must be 92 percent; and 70 percent of high school students must pass the Grade 10 state tests.

pinnie

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

A note on follow up:

As a teacher, I struggle with students' leaving school for vacation. On the one hand, I am glad that they have that opportunity and can share it with their families (so important!), but on the other, almost none of my students ever completes the work that they ask for before going on vacation. I don't give students the same work that is done in class, but actually combine assignments and activities into 1-2 tasks that ensure learning the most important things - and it's a real insult when students return empty-handed, with no consideration of the extra work I did to accommodate them, and usually excuses from parents who don't "walk the walk" about valuing education.

That said, the people here on the DIS seem unusually concerned for their children's education and less likely to act this way (I wish you all were in my school district!). However, I always think of this issue when parents ask about taking students out of school for WDW. Go and have fun! Inform your school as you see fit. Just if you don't think your child will have the time or desire to complete work, don't ask the teacher for the work in the first place. Thanks for listening.

 

[The SS Girls]

I am going to write the teacher a letter and give it to her that Thursday before we leave. Should I still write a letter to the Principal? I really don't want to deal with him again. Should I just give the teacher both of the letters and let her deliver it to him? Sabrina

I wouldn't provoke the Principal, you have quite a few years ahead of you in the 'system'. Send a quick reminder note to the teacher the week before you leave, asking what you can do to keep you child up to date, and then the day before, another note, wishing them a good week, and you will see them when you get back.

IMHO, is PRE-K, isn't that basically a socialization, letter recognition, play with edu-tainment toys, lets get you ready for the educational process?

I didn't read what state you are from, but, isn't PreK optional??

GO, have an amazing time, and when you get back your child will have so much to share with the group, DD will be the 'Belle of the Ball"

 

[delilah]

We are taking my son out of school to take a trip to WDW the first week of November (Oct 31-4). After looking at the school year calendar, and the point schedule for DVC and keeping in mind our work schedules, call schedules, and the fact my husband has five more vacation days to use or lose by Jan 1, this was the best week for us. Christmas break this year is broken up to be in three separate work weeks. The week before Christmas includes the Christmas program and party at school, then off Thurs and Fri. I am on call one of the weekends during Christmas break, so, we can't take off that weekend. I am actually on call one the weekends of spring break, also, so we couldn't go then, either. Fortunately, our principal has already excused his absence.

I am philosophically opposed to taking my son out of school for vacation, as a matter of fact. It is more frustrating for me, however, dealing with the #@!
who does our call schedule, to make him realize that it is actually quite difficult to convince somebody to trade call for a weekend that nobody wants to be on call, like Christmas, New Years or Easter. I got Christmas weekend 2004 and Easter weekend 2005.

 

[mbb]

out for 3 1/2 weeks in February....and have done so for the last two years.

Will we continue to do so i the future? I don't know.

What I do know is that DH and I prepare before we go for "educational" opportunities for the boys:
They each have to pick a country in Epcot to "report" on when we get home...language, maps, Kidcot facts, etc... we talk about the stories that make up Disney movies, and read some of the "original" stories that attractions are based on, before we go...we've sat on a park bench and counted the number of people that walk by for 10 minutes - how many people will walk by 30 minutes - should we stay and count?..

Educational?..I think so...
Great family time?...Definitely. Some of our "best fun" has been on those benches

..and yep, we do the "homework", too Generally at the breakfast table - everyone is fired up to "Get IT Done!!" LOL