school excuse letter

[ahilly]

I had to write my "excuse letter" to DD's teacher for our upcoming trip and would love to share if anyone is interested. I did some searching and found the letter for Disney vacation on that other site and did some editing. I then sent it on to my DSis, who happens to be a HS english teacher, for more editing. She revised it even more and told me that as a teacher she likes simple, understanding and to the point. I will share if anyone is interested. I don't think I can post it here or can I? Just PM me with your info.

 

[brownhouse]

I would like to see the letter. I have 2 young daughters who will be missing a week of school this December. If you can't post it you can send to ggolibel@gmail.com. THANKS!

 

[Jana49]

Please post it here. Our whole family of grown kids and grandkids is going in March, and my DD and DIL may need tips.

 

[Graciesmom77]

I would also like a xopy if you can't post it here. Thanks so much.

Michelle

 

[ahilly]

Please post it here. Our whole family of grown kids and grandkids is going in March, and my DD and DIL may need tips.

I would also like a xopy if you can't post it here. Thanks so much.

Michelle

I just pm'ed both of you ladies. Let me know if you need anything else.
Angela

 

[ahilly]

brownhouse I emailed you a copy.

 

[mommylovesdisneymore]

Please amy I have a copy? We are going in December my 5th grader may have a problem I am not sure yet!

 

[*love*2*shop]

DATE:

TO: [school official]

FROM:

RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

• Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.
• American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.
• Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.
• Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.
• Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

[Parent's Signture]_________

 

[CEDmom]

Personally I wouldn't try to pass off WDW as educational. Yes, it can be but, let's be honest, that's not what the trip is for. Schools can see right through the pretense. You're better off just saying you're taking a family vacation and leave it at that.

BTW, our DD missed 3 days last year and will miss 3 day this year for our trips. She's in 3rd grade.

 

[ahilly]

This is my version of what I gave to DD's teacher/principal for our upcoming trip(I hope it is okay that I posted a copy). Like I stated earlier I took the simple and straight to the point route. The school just needs to know that DD will be out of school.

DATE: insert date

TO: teacher’s name

FROM: parents/guardian

RE: student’s name, date of vacation

We would like to inform you that student will be out of school from dates of trip. We ask that her absences be excused as we will be on a family vacation. Unfortunately due to restrictions at work this was the only possible time for us to take this trip.

We are asking that you please provide us with any work that student will need to complete. We would appreciate this work before we leave, but if it is more convenient for you to give it after we return, we understand. I plan on having her keep a daily journal of her daily activities. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Parents/guardian
An email/phone/cell phone

 

[Mom2JoeyandBen]

As a teacher, I know that I would have to show that letter to my Principal and she would not excuse it. Good Luck trying though. I think it will depend on the school and the teacher. If this letter came from my best student I would try to get it excused for them, but if it came from my student that never did homework and was a goof off in class then no way.

 

[gris gris]

As a teacher, I know that I would have to show that letter to my Principal and she would not excuse it. Good Luck trying though. I think it will depend on the school and the teacher. If this letter came from my best student I would try to get it excused for them, but if it came from my student that never did homework and was a goof off in class then no way.

What happens if the principal does not excuse it and you take the kid on vacation anyway? I think it's sad that families have to beg a teacher/principal for family time. You can probably tell I have no experience with this (my DD just started kindergarten). We're taking a Florida trip (not Disney) in March and DD will miss 6 days of school. Should I be prepared to plead my case with a principal?

 

[*love*2*shop]

WHY WOULD IT MATTER wHAT KIND OF FAMILY A LETTER CAME FROM???

If this letter came from my best student I would try to get it excused for them, but if it came from my student that never did homework and was a goof off in class then no way.

 

[MiniGirl]

Mine was very simple and right to the point.

Dear Teacher (of course, I put her name here),

This is just a note to let you know that [student] will be out of school from [starting date] to [ending date]. My daughter will definitely make up any missed assignments. Please let me know how you like to handle this.

Sincerely,


That was it. I knew it wouldn't be excused, so I didn't even ask. I didn't even say why she would be missing school -- just that she wouldn't be there. Now, of course, my dd talked about the upcoming trip, so the teacher did know. I sent this note several weeks before the trip in case the teacher wanted to give my dd her work early. She sent a note back saying that she can make it up on her return. I also sent in another note the week before we left reminding her that my dd wouldn't be in school the following week. Her response was simply to send back a note telling us to have a great time and enjoy our vacation.

Sweet, simple, and to the point. My dd does very well in school. I feel no need to seek approval or permission to take her on a family trip.

 

[*love*2*shop]

..

 

[yrdlyprincess]

Wow! I feel really bad for the short note that I did. The district has a basic note, where are you going, who with, what is the educational value, dates and that's it. Now DD is only in 1st grade but I asked the teacher for work, she gave me some (I think that some teachers understand that you are going to be having busy days & nights) I'm glad I didn't have to write an "essay" to get mine out of school.

 

[disneymarie]

I had to submit in trip-licat a form to the school and board for approval. Disney is considered an educational absence in our district,.Our school is great about finding the culture, animals, Epcots tour of rhe seeds, and countries. Among some other facts they share when they return the animal hospital, the petting area, African village and playing drums. Although the know there is fantasy, characters, and rides, ultimatly all kids are vacumms of information.

A big thing this year is a sluthing for my daughter, and the passports of the world. She is not a ride person nor I , and she is not a pretty princess, type , but I am!

I wish we had money to do sea world, She does want to go back to Midievil TImes, perhaps the outside village area though.Getting pricy there too.

Oh well, she will take a slideshow back and note that the trip is completed as the prior approval was already delt with.
di
PS that has been just these last two years.

 

[momto2inKC]

When mine are missing for vacation I just simply tell the school :name: will be gone from date to date. We're going on vacation to Florida. If it's possible we'd love to have all their make up work before we leave, if not, we'll make it up in a timely manner.
I don't expect it to be excused and i've never understood why it should be.

 

[LadyShea]

What happens if the principal does not excuse it and you take the kid on vacation anyway? I think it's sad that families have to beg a teacher/principal for family time. You can probably tell I have no experience with this (my DD just started kindergarten). We're taking a Florida trip (not Disney) in March and DD will miss 6 days of school. Should I be prepared to plead my case with a principal?

It depends on the school's or state's attendance policy what kind of letter needs to be written or what has to be done

Some make children repeat the grade if they have X number of unexcused absence days, regardless of their performance

Some require that there be some kind of educational benefit in order to get the absences excused

Some call in the truant officer or require court appearances for more than X number of absences, excused or unexcused

Some don't care as long as the work is done

Read this thread for some surprisingly strict policies http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1608191

DS isn't in school yet, so I haven't had to worry about it, but if I choose to take him out for WDW (as we are planning to do January trips annually) then I will do what I can to get them excused. If that means writing a letter exhorting the educational benefits then so be it.

 

[Mom2JoeyandBen]

WHY WOULD IT MATTER wHAT KIND OF FAMILY A LETTER CAME FROM???

It matters because a student who does their homework and has good parental support is more likley to also actually find Disney an educational experince. I would be more likely to agree that they could find something educational out of Disney because I know that their parents are going to be their teachers on the trip. But whatever it comes down to, it ends us being the school's decision whether to excuse it or not. Personally I probably wouldn't get it excused in my school, but I would still give the child their work so they wouldn't miss it.
.