School Absence Note?

[WeluvDisney2]

There was a great letter to school that someone had posted a while ago. It was asking the school to excuse their child's absence from school during their Disney trip because of all the wonderful things they will be learning while they are there. I cannot seem to find it. If anyone knows what I am talking about, would you mind posting it? Thanks!!

Also, please don't flame me for taking my kids out of school for our Disney trip. Everyone must do what is best for their own family.

 

[Beth76]

Does your trip have to be educational for it to be excused?

 

[Annette_VA]

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SE.shtml

 

[kirbsam]

no flames here. take the kids out of school to go to disney once a year. just never used the educational benefits thing. always thought it was sort of a crock. we love rides, the atmosphere, the fireworks, the 3d movies. all of it. i am sure they learn, but the biggest thing they learn is patience(waiting for buses, and waiting in lines), tolerance(doing what others want to do), and gluttony. love it.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SE.shtml

YES! Thanks Annette!

 

[WeluvDisney2]

no flames here. take the kids out of school to go to disney once a year. just never used the educational benefits thing. always thought it was sort of a crock. we love rides, the atmosphere, the fireworks, the 3d movies. all of it. i am sure they learn, but the biggest thing they learn is patience(waiting for buses, and waiting in lines), tolerance(doing what others want to do), and gluttony. love it.

 

[crzyred]

No flames from me. My parents always took me out of school for trips.

What I do find annoying is that in that letter it asked that this be an "excused absence." Is this customary? At my school it was always, and still is, that if you the parent are saying your child will not be there, then it's excused. Is it the same way with sicknesses? How do they know you aren't just saying your child is sick?
( I'm not trying to sound mean and judgmental about this, I really just am curious as to how this works. )

 

[bethbuchall]

No flames from me. My parents always took me out of school for trips.

What I do find annoying is that in that letter it asked that this be an "excused absence." Is this customary? At my school it was always, and still is, that if you the parent are saying your child will not be there, then it's excused. Is it the same way with sicknesses? How do they know you aren't just saying your child is sick?
( I'm not trying to sound mean and judgmental about this, I really just am curious as to how this works. )

No flames from me either.

In our district all vacation absences are considered unexcused, and there is no way to make them excused. Technically, the teachers don't have to let the students make up assignments. There may be other repercussions as well. We haven't taken the kids out of school for vacation since my oldest was in 7th grade. It's just too hard to make up labs and PE now. The high school teachers are less accommodating, but the elementary teachers did assign work and allow make ups even though they didn't have to. Excused absences are only for illness and family funerals. They don't know if a parent is lying about an illness. There may be a certain number of days after which you need to send in a doctor's note, but I'm not sure on that.

 

[minnieandmickey]

I was at my DD IEP yesterday and told her teacher, psychologist, and high school counselor that she would be out in Oct for a week long cruise. Since I work in the district I knew it would be unexcused, and according to the HS handbook she would have to do a Saturday school per day she missed. I asked if she could start her Saturday school now, you know what they said to do, call her in sick!

 

[KimAshton]

I was at my DD IEP yesterday and told her teacher, psychologist, and high school counselor that she would be out in Oct for a week long cruise. Since I work in the district I knew it would be unexcused, and according to the HS handbook she would have to do a Saturday school per day she missed. I asked if she could start her Saturday school now, you know what they said to do, call her in sick!

Just remember to call her in sick. Seriously when I was in high school if they didn't get a call they would call home etc.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

at the school i'm student teaching at they have a new "vacation rule" this year that parents have to fill out a detailed paper for their vacation AND they must have written approval from the parents employers stating they are taking the vacation and they can only take during school. My co-op teacher wanted to take a few days off in the spring to go to WDW (she hates the summer heat) but now can't b/c all the vacation time is now unexcused and it would look bad for her child to be unexcused and she obviously can't lie and say she is sick lol.

 

[KimAshton]

wow times have changed since I have been in school

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

wow times have changed since I have been in school

i agree. I'm only 22 but when i was in elementary school, parents signed a form saying where they were going and the dates they would be out and the teacher got the work together for the student to do and that was it. I was amazed to hear it has now come down to having the parents employers write a detailed letter as to why the family is going on vacation!! Times have changed!!

 

[DMickey28]

I don't have kids in school yet so take this with a grain of salt!

The amount of say these schools have in how we plan our lives and the lives of our family is utterly ridiculous. Maybe parents were more responsible when I was growing up and therefor the schools (ie. government) didn't feel the need to regulate so much. I don't know.

Seriously, a letter from your employer saying you can't go any other time??? I have never planned a vacation on when my employer said I could go .. of course some times are better than others and there are times when vacation could be denied but it's not like we only had ONE week a year that we could go. The whole idea of going to Disney during school is the weather and crowds.

Seems crazy to me ... All the more reason I am learning all I can about homeschooling right now!! (If I have spelled something wrong or my grammer is not 100% in this post, please don't flame me and tell me I don't have the education to homeschool my kids!! Thanks!!)

 

[Cool-Beans]

I wouldn't beg them to excuse the absence, especially on the grounds of theme parks being educational. I'd just call up and find out if vacations are excused absences or not. If they are, tell them she'll be out.

If they aren't, say thanks and when the time rolls around, call her in sick.

 

[Daxx]

Teacher here and I don't buy into the whole "making Disney educational" thing either! But that is NOT a flame!!! I say that b/c I have pulled my child out of school for a Disney trip and I didn't do anything to remotely support "educational purposes"!!! I think parents like to say this to make it seem "kosher". Just take your kid, go and have fun! And bring me back a souvenier! I used to have issues about pulling kids out for vaca. but have decided that people need it and as long as it doesn't interfere w/state testing (which is a pain in the neck to make up). Life's too short. Heck, you could call your kid in sick and be in FL and how the heck would anyone know the difference if you didn't mention it beforehand!? I have a lot of parents do this to avoid unexcused absences. The kids come back and I say "Feeling better?" and they say "No, I went to Disney/Hockey tournament/insert state name here!" As long as I have a note from parents stating child was sick, it is listed as a sick day on attendance records.

Unfortunately, our school's policy states that teachers cannot give work prior to a vaca. You have to wait until you come back to get your schoolwork.

 

[MM27]

Okay, as the teacher I would have stopped reading that letter after "Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused."

 

[Henryseafood]

i beleive the time we spend with our children (and goodness knows with the work pressures it is far little than we would like) is far more beneficial than detrimental it seems to me that most days in the government schools is spent watching movies being wharehoused or disciplined for very minor infractions i take my children several times a year and have seen amazing attitude benefits everytime i return

 

[CathrynRose]

I wouldn't beg them to excuse the absence, especially on the grounds of theme parks being educational. I'd just call up and find out if vacations are excused absences or not. If they are, tell them she'll be out.

If they aren't, say thanks and when the time rolls around, call her in sick.

I agree.

I dont even mess around - I send a note that says "Please be advised, (son) will be out beginning such and such, returning such and such.... for a family vacation.

Any problems, call me.

And I sign it.


That is.

And Cool Beans - I like your siggy.

 

[Cool-Beans]

And Cool Beans - I like your siggy.

LOL, it wasn't deleted. I just can't find anything I want in there.

Maybe I should pm Ash and ask her for some ugly animal!