School Note

[tinkerjo]

My first grader is in a school out of district, so is limited to 5 unexcused absences she could have (or they could theoretically bump her out the following year!) I've already assumed our trip in January will be unexcused. So the couple other times I've pulled her out this year (family wedding, etc) I found little ways to show the teacher we had lessons and got them excused. Hadn't considered trying to make Disney educational. These are good ideas, even if we didn't do all 5 days but just our AK and Epcot days. I'll try!

I hate that school districts do this. As a parent/grandparent. I am a huge believer that quality family time trumps a week at school no matter what the trip. (Dont get me wrong, they still need to go to school and keep up with their lessons 98% of the time) there really is a lot to learn without making it “learning” for a first grader. Good luck and have a great vacation!!! We are going in January also so we are hoping for a snowstorm while we are gone. It’s a little harder for a high schooler to make up work but either way we will have a blast!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I hate that school districts do this. As a parent/grandparent. I am a huge believer that quality family time trumps a week at school no matter what the trip. (Dont get me wrong, they still need to go to school and keep up with their lessons 98% of the time) there really is a lot to learn without making it “learning” for a first grader. Good luck and have a great vacation!!! We are going in January also so we are hoping for a snowstorm while we are gone. It’s a little harder for a high schooler to make up work but either way we will have a blast!!

Homeschool or online school is the best if you feel that way it gives you the ultimate control.

That said various states have rules over compulsory attendance. In my state it's not required to attend school until age 7 but if enrolled prior to that age you would need to maintain attendance in school. So if you feel family time trumps school in my state don't enroll your child until legally required to problem solved. Although there's likely negative effects from delaying school enrollment.

 

[Kcnc]

I hate that school districts do this. As a parent/grandparent. I am a huge believer that quality family time trumps a week at school no matter what the trip. (Dont get me wrong, they still need to go to school and keep up with their lessons 98% of the time) there really is a lot to learn without making it “learning” for a first grader. Good luck and have a great vacation!!! We are going in January also so we are hoping for a snowstorm while we are gone. It’s a little harder for a high schooler to make up work but either way we will have a blast!!

Oh I hadn't considered how a snowstorm would be helpful. I was hoping it wouldn't snow while we were away so we wouldn't miss it. But then a snow day would be nice!

We try to get away mid-winter while the kids are still little. With my husband's job we don't get much time together during summer months. I don't know how we will continue to manage it as they get older and have more work/sports/etc but just one year at a time. Last year we went to FL too, and went to Kennedy Space Center for one of the days. Educational for kids and grown ups!

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Homeschool or online school is the best if you feel that way it gives you the ultimate control.

That said various states have rules over compulsory attendance. In my state it's not required to attend school until age 7 but if enrolled prior to that age you would need to maintain attendance in school. So if you feel family time trumps school in my state don't enroll your child until legally required to problem solved. Although there's likely negative effects from delaying school enrollment.

We delayed school enrollment/homeschooled kindergarten. My kid started first grade with his peers at age 6.5. The main negative effect is he's really bored because he already learned all the material last year. It did take a little longer for him to adjust to the classroom setting at the beginning of the year, but now he is used to it, though he hates it.

Edited to add: in our state, kids have to start school the school year they turn 7.

 

[MEC004]

It depends on the state - I think it may be TX with the strict rules.

It is TX. However, it is all bark and no bite. I’m a teacher and I’ve seen kids permitted after missing like 40+ days.

 

[DisneyOma]

My kid's school takes the kids to Epcot and Animal Kingdom on field trips, so schools must think it's educational. My ither kid's school goes to Sea World and Busch Gardens (the physics class goes there). I have also homeschooled my kids and all of the things listed above are valid tings that you can learn in a real world environment. It's funny that people assume that if you're having fun, it must mean that you're not learning. The same thing for video games and YouTube. My kids learn a ton from Game Theory and Film Theory and playing MInecraft.

Although I will say, when I take my kids out of school for vacation (because I feel like the travel experience is much more enriching than what they're usually learning), I simply state that my child will not be in school on these dates due to travel. I don't explain where they are going or what they will be learning. I don't think the law requires that.

You can learn from every "real world environment" so why need to include any of it in a letter that's going to be thrown out of put in a folder to never be opened again? It's Disney, a theme park, and I'm guessing the family is going there to go on the attractions.

You are right! I like to be creative and fun with things and the school already knows we are going but I have to submit a letter for formality reasons and I want it to be fun when they read it!

As long as you make it short, because otherwise you are wasting that person's time. They're just going to put that letter in a folder, or sign some form and throw it all away.

 

[Pickles516]

Personally, I don't feel like you need to give your school note an educational twist. They see you're going to Disney and they get it. Our schools (Mass) have never had a problem with taking my kids out for a week through elementary school as long as I give plenty of notice and ask what the kids should do while they are missing school. Usually it's been something like reading every night (part of their schoolwork anyway) and keeping a journal while they're there. One year my daughter had some math sheets to complete which she did on the plane. But I'd say just be honest that it's a family vacation and they will understand. I think if you start trying to explain how it's educational, they'll just roll their eyes.

Yeah, we don’t care what’s in the note. If you’re trying to convince me that your Disney trip is educational in order to get my approval for the absences I’m just going to make a weird face before throwing out the letter, instead of just throwing out the letter lol

 

[brockash]

Hi! We are taking our kiddos out of school for vacation in November and I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on what to include to make it "educational"? We have been trying to go on this trip for three years and we are so ready to go! I am looking for some fun ideas to include in our letter to the school to give it an educational "twist"!

As long as it's a public school...just tell them you'll be out of town. That's all they need to know. There's no reason to stress yourself out about trying to put a twist on anything. As long as your kids don't have a history of extreme absences with failing grades; the schools won't think twice about it.

 

[brockash]

It is TX. However, it is all bark and no bite. I’m a teacher and I’ve seen kids permitted after missing like 40+ days.

I'm a school counselor and have been in a number of states. Taking any action on truancy is 100% a last resort everywhere. It only ever comes up if the student has a long pattern of EXTREME absences and is failing.