Private school parents: Need your thoughts

[joshsmom]

I've pulled DS9 out a few different years for trips to WDW. This year his last day of school is 5/25. We're going to Disney on 5/23. He will miss cleaning out his desk, the school carnival, and the distribution of report cards. Yep, it's worth it!!

BTW, I've NEVER had any trouble when I pulled him out of school. He goes to a Catholic school and has since Pre-K. They are very flexible for me. Now, as he gets older, I think it might be more difficult to "catch up". My nephew just came back from a 9 day vacation (cruise) and he has a lot to do!! He's in 8th grade and knew he would have a lot when he came home!

 

[PolyAddict]

My 3 DD's attend Catholic School prek, 6th and 8th.

I have not taken them out since my 1st 2 were in prek and 1st.

It's definently frowned on.

I would not do it with the oldest 2, too much work to make up.

Michele

 

[kandeebunny]

In high school if I missed more than 3 days of school per quarter we could be dismissed/expelled from school.

 

[Sarahsal]

My dd's are in private school, and at the first parents night at school each year we are told that vacations are greatly frowned upon. It is also in the handbook. Yes, if you go the teachers try to help you catch up, but it can be difficult. I mentioned missing one day, and my 6th grader was not happy-how in the world would she make up all that work, she asked. In the upper grades at her school, it is hard enough to keep up with all the homework, much less doing all the classwork, too. Fortunately for me, I happen to agree with the policy. We vacation during Easter break and in the summer. Not saying other people's choices aren't valid, just that this is ours.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

DS goes to private school, and we took him out for a week last year to go to DW with no problem. His teacher even gave us all the work he'd be missing, so that he could complete it on the drive there/back.

 

[iLoveEeyore2]

I've taken my DD out of both public and private school. (She was in public K through 2nd). I had no problems with either one. I even took one of her friends when she was in eighth grade. She always made up her work and has always had good grades. I would never have done it if she was struggling in school.

She started HS last yr, so we went in June when school let out. We decided we would take her out for 3 days this May (they have off the other 2 days.) I haven't decided how I am going to handle it. As others have mentioned, they have a 12 day limit on absences. If they miss more than 12 days, they have to make them up when school lets out. As of now, she won't go over the 12 days if we take her out. She will be asking the teachers for her work in advance, so I guess I'll just notify the attendance office ahead of time.

I'd much rather go before the summer season. We went last June and it was so hot and crowded!!! I can't even imagine how bad it gets in July & August.

 

[Reflection]

My daughter is in private school this year for 6th grade. I find private school more flexible than public school. She is a very good student, but I have not pulled her out school for leisure travel because the work pace is much faster than public school, and I don't want her to get behind. The teachers will work with her to bring her up to speed--I know this from when she was absent for a week this winter with flu--but we'll continue to keep WDW travel to the summer months.

 

[Junebugwv]

When I had 2 in a private school, we took them out of school for a week to go to WDW. We were also homeschooling 2 and had no trouble getting permission for them. Even the DD in college joined us- the college allowed her and her fiance to take finals early so they would go with us (Do you think the fact that his father was the academic dean made a difference?) So everyone was quite cooperative. As for my part, I was very appreciative of the extra work the teachers at the private school did to prepare the work for my children. So I prepared a full family meal for each of them and took it to school on the day I picked up the extra work. The teachers appreciated the meal for their families. Maybe a gift certificate for a fast food restaurant would be an idea if anyone is interested.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

All our 3 ds go to private/christian school, little ds goes to one school and the older 2 ds go to high school. While the schools understand, the high school is pretty strict and generally says, you know that is an unexcused abs. etc. Well also, I now take in mind all the missed work they have to do, so generally we go during their school breaks. We are leaving next sunday for a week, their spring break. I am taking 1 extra day, mon. the 2nd of may I think, I only did this because alot of the sunday flights back were full and I got a cheaper airfare by waiting till monday return. So they will only miss l day of school.

 

[Ziggie]

My daughter was in the International Baccalaureate Program which has a very strict rule against any form of absenteeism. Students are dismissed from the program if they can not attend (this includes illness as well). Believe me, it was a strain on us as a family in regards to going on trips.

So, for the duration of the time she was enrolled until she graduated, we planned very short mini-Disney trips. Anything long-term was out of the question.