Pulling kids out of school for trip

[kangamangus]

Hello everyone, sorry if this has already been posted somewhere else. The last two trips we took our oldest was in 1st grade and then this past February in 7th grade. I was stressed about taking her out in 7th grade but I set up a meeting with the teachers and explained why we had to go when we did ( Husband owns his own business and works for himself and there are very few weeks we can find coverage for him-he owns a bread route-) The school was very accomodating and fun time was had by everyone on our trip. Our next planned trip is for her freshman year in late October...once again I feel sick about taking her out of school (she is an A student) I'm not worried about her grades but some of the way the policy manual words family vacations....basically I would probably have to go down to the school again and "plead my case" my friends think it's silly and I should just say to the school we are taking a family vacation, what does she need to do (write a paper on countries about Epcot ect...) so that it can have some educational value. Any other families out there struggle with when to take the family? It is impossible for hubby to get time off during the summer (hoping this changes in a few years if we can hire a part time driver) and his weeks are limited to when another driver is open to cover the route...any advice?

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

I completely understand what you're going through! We are in the process of planning our next trip and we will have a 2nd grader and one in Kindergarten. My husband is a Law Enforcement Officer who works crazy shifts and has to bid for time off. Needless to say, it's difficult to time off during the summer or spring break when everyone else wants time off too. In addition to being a Full-time LEO, we also own our own business. Two full time jobs makes for a lot of stress and a lot of time spent apart.

We have made the decision that while our children's education is important, the time our family spends together is more important. They can always make up the work, but we will never get the time back. Pulling them out of school is something I'm choosing not to feel bad about.

Also, our school's policy (private school) is that as long as the school is notified at least 10 days in advance, then a family vacation is considered an excused absence.

Search your heart and research the school's policies (which it sounds like you have) and make your decision whatever that may be...and refuse to feel bad about it! It's your family

 

[Lavitz]

Your DD is around the age when most start worrying about pulling them out of school because they don't want to fall behind. Honestly at that age I'd only be a little worried about missing an important math chapter, besides that you can honestly miss a week of anything and she'll be fine. I would think most teachers would only care if a struggling student missed a week because they might not be able to recover from it, but if they're a strong student it shouldn't matter.

Although I've hears some elementary schools have rules about how many days you can miss before they hold you back a grade? Not sure where these people leave, where I live you can't be held back even if you don't hand in a single piece of work the entire year

 

[kangamangus]

I just read the Thornton Academy manual again and it's kinda vague but then again maybe not...hahaha it states : . Maine Law defines Excused Absence as:
1.Personal Illness;
2. An appointment with a health professional that must be made
du
ring the regular school day;
3. Observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance
is required during the regular school day;
4. A family emergency;
5. A planned absence for a personal or educational purpose that has
been approved; or
6. Education disruption resulting from homelessness, unplanned
psychiatric hospitalization, unplanned hospitalization for a medical
emergency, foster care placement, or youth development center placement.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Go talk to them as you've done in the past

 

[dragitoff]

I just read the Thornton Academy manual again and it's kinda vague but then again maybe not...hahaha it states : . Maine Law defines Excused Absence as:
1.Personal Illness;
2. An appointment with a health professional that must be made
du
ring the regular school day;
3. Observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance
is required during the regular school day;
4. A family emergency;
5. A planned absence for a personal or educational purpose that has
been approved; or
6. Education disruption resulting from homelessness, unplanned
psychiatric hospitalization, unplanned hospitalization for a medical
emergency, foster care placement, or youth development center placement.

Without being blasphemous, couldn't you say you are a Disneyologist or something like that?

 

[MandiC]

I'd say your trip falls into #5.
For us, there is absolutely no way we can vacation from March-September with my husband's job. He works for commission only and that is busy season. Going on vacation during that time could really hit our savings for the winter when work is slow. Family vacations will have to be during October-February and I refuse to go during Christmas break (I'm sure it'd be fun at some point, but crowds to the point that parks are closing at max capacity doesn't sound fun with kids and a plan) so we take them out of school and will continue to do so (for any family vacation, not just Disney because even if we aren't worried about crowds we enjoy being around family for the holidays).
Personally for our vacation this year I just sent an email to the secretary at the girls school asking if there was anything I needed to do, she said nope, have a great time and enjoy your vacation!

 

[KristenFNJ]

I am all for taking the kids out of school for vacation That said, I also know that in my school district, high school is broken down into 4 "quarter" marking periods, and for all kids they have 3 quarters of gym and one of health. I think there are also some elective cycles that have 4 separate quarter courses. I believe there is a limit of 4 "unexcused" absences for a quarter course (16 for a full-year course), and while vacations are allowed, they are officially recorded as "unexcused." So, a week-long vacation during a quarter course would result in failing the course. It sounds like your school's policy enables you to get approval for things such as this trip, and I would imagine that such approval would override any other standard they have set. But just check and make sure that she's not dealing anything like "quarter courses" and if so, make sure that the approval covers her!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[ahunt]

I book during school for budget reasons. No guilt here. I just told the school were going and that was the end. They were excited for us. If you're an involved parent you'll know your kid best. If you're not worried the school won't I'm sure. Don't ask...just tell them you're going. Don't leave it open for debate.

 

[emily94]

My parents have pulled me out of all grade levels to go to Disney. Personally, I've never experienced any problem. I think when the kids are young, in my opinion, elementary age, it is best to go to the teachers directly and just say "hey [child's name here] is going to be absent from __/__ to __/__" and ask for any sort of work packets that your child can do before your family leaves, on the plane/car, or even during a break when you're at the parks. Maybe bring a couple Disney themed books to read for that age as well? In my experience, teachers understand pulling your kids out of school, especially for a trip that can be considered "once in a lifetime." But making sure they don't fall behind is extremely important!

For middle school to high school, I would suggest your child approaching the teachers. This is honestly a great time for them to learn these mature skills about approaching and asking what is best to remedy the situation. I was also an A student in high school thumbsup2 congrats on her getting good grades, tell her to keep it up!!) and had no issue with not attending school for a few days. Obviously she is motivated to do well in school. Again, ask the teachers if there is any work she can turn in early or do while on the trip. Do her syllabi have due dates for big projects or papers? If they fall on or around your trip, make sure she gets them done early! Just think, what will she do in college, when I am not here to make sure she gets to class? High school is such a great time to learn self motivation and getting things done early, not just on time. When she is approaching her teachers, make sure she has these suggestions, i.e. "I will turn in my paper to you on Thursday before I leave" (even if it is due next Tuesday when you're gone), "I will turn in math problems #50-100 before I leave" etc.

Note: I went to private Catholic school all my life and the rules I experienced may be slightly different than other private schools and/or other school districts! But I really hope it all helps

 

[SandyinMonterey]

For us, we don't take our daughter out of school for vacation. I feel she will miss too much and believe that the class room instruction by the teacher is very important. At her school (private) is states in the handbook that pulling children out of school for vacation purposes is highly discouraged and that the school and teachers are under no obligation to provide miss work. A friend of mine took her son out of school for just 3 days and received a truance letter from the school. She had done this in the past but was not aware that school policy has changed (this is a public school). Find out the school's policy exactly. Only you know your children, family, etc. and you'll make the best decision for your family.

 

[emily94]

At her school (private) is states in the handbook that pulling children out of school for vacation purposes is highly discouraged and that the school and teachers are under no obligation to provide miss work.

WOW this seems hard core! My private school had a similar rule that you had to get work before you left rather than when you got back. If you ask when you got back, they did not have to give it to you.

 

[mjkacmom]

WOW this seems hard core! My private school had a similar rule that you had to get work before you left rather than when you got back. If you ask when you got back, they did not have to give it to you.

Our schools usually will not give work ahead of time. I pulled in elementary, but high school is a different story - they don't have to excuse the absence, so your child could end up with a failing grade. How to make up that biology lab? I did pull my kids out for 2 days, and they managed to make up the work. They weren't too happy about it, though!

Middle school can also be hard, but at least the child's GPA doesn't count yet.

 

[smiths02]

I work in a district where vacation will not count as excused. Teachers do not have to allow students to make-up work for unexcused absences. My son was sick and missed 5 days excused (not in a row), and the school's computer system had "redflagged" him. There is no way I would pull him out for vacation (and I couldn't get off of work anyhow).

In deference to the schools, not only is attendance important for the child's education, the federal laws have put an emphasis on attendance for schools to meet "Annual Yearly Progress."

I would go and ask about #5. If they say this doesn't count, I wouldn't want my 9th grader to miss school.

 

[kangamangus]

Well since I have over a year to prepare, my plan is to go to the school once she starts there next fall. I will have to obviously clarify whether our trip would count as excused or not....unexcused absences are a different story with missing more then 3 with no excuse means you meet with the headmaster. I also plan to ask other families with high schoolers in our area how they made it work and what happened when they went on vacation for a week during the school year. Thanks everyone for your advice!

 

[3princes+1princess]

I have always pulled my kids out, I would never travel during their breaks. It would not be a vacation at all when I am hot and it's crowded. I would be a mean mom to be with.

This year when we go back, my children will be 10th grade (who will be missing both a band and a show choir competition), 7th grade (with special needs), 4th grade and 1st grade. I am homeschooling the two youngest this year, so that won't be a problem. But I plan on telling the older two's school that the kids will be absent. I never give a reason unless they ask and we have never had an issue. We nicely ask for work ahead of time, but if not I state that we will work hard when we get back to get all school work in asap.

They will remember the vacations forever and family time always trumps school or activities in this house. If there is a way to work out doing 'it all', I will, but that's kind of hard from FL

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

My kids will be missing 2 weeks of school :/ .They'll miss the week we go to Disney (week before Halloween) and week after our winter break is over (beg of January) for a cruise my dad decided to give us all as our holiday present. I normally wouldn't do this much time off but I figured since DD is only in 2nd grade and DS pre-k, it's not a huge deal. But honestly I don't see anything wrong with kids being out of school for vacations 1 week during the school year. Not all parents can or want to travel during school breaks.

 

[luvdisney87]

I'm pulling myself( I'm a teacher) and my 9th grade DD out of school to go to WDW. We need to go during free dining to be able to afford it. I'm shocked at the different policies schools have concerning absences. I truly believe traveling itself is a valuable experience. It teaches life skills about using airports, hiring taxis, scheduling,etc. Though I should add that it makes me a little nervous this year hoping she can keep up but her teachers have reassured me that she will be fine.

 

[Bamagirl43]

We live in one of those areas where vacation absence is unexcused and you cannot make up any work. I believe after the third unexcused absence, something unpleasant happens. My gripe is that the gov't seems to forget that my children belong to me and as a parent I always know what is best. My children are good students and only miss a few days per year. So, come April we will take a few days off from school and go to Disney. My choices will be a)write a "sick" excuse for them or (b) get the nasty truant letter which I will promptly throw in the trash. Do what's right for your family.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I pulled DD out of school once or twice a year for family vacations from
K-8th grade.
Elementary school is easy-- conference with their teacher, do a few worksheets, maybe keep a journal.
Middle school was contacting each teacher, and making up work ahead of vacation. This was also fairly easy because the middle school teachers team teach.
High school is a whole different ball game. DD has a tough schedule with all honors classes. She was ill with a stomach bug last year and missed two days. It took her almost 2 weeks to catch up. She had no study halls, so all make up work had to be done before and after school.
We are able to utilize a fall break for her bday trip in October. She will miss about 2 class periods, since we need to head to the airport--that's all I'm willing to pull her.