School Question

[korzmom]

we are taking our children out of school for 3 days for our annual disney thanksgiving, but this year the school says NO to vacation . My delema is WE ARE GOING and i dont care what the school says, but what should i write on their notes when they go back? should I lie? what does that teach my children,or should i just say , we were away for the holiday? and they wouldnt get any of their make up work....I DONT WANT TO STIR UP A CONTROVERSY,(THAT THREAD IS ALREADY OUT THERE).... I just feel that 3 days is that big of a deal, and around the holiday where they do just about nothing because half of the teachers are out....why do some schools follow this policy and others dont? UGH! so what are your opinions on what to write on that note????

 

[aunt lissa]

I have just one question? Since when have schools been able to tell you when you can and can't take a vacation? I had no idea they were able to run your life so much!

 

[FreshTressa]

I wouldn't lie, but doesn't it just count as an unexcused absence? Is there a punishment involved with an unexcused absence?

What happens to the assignments your child misses? Do they get zeros for them? I guess I would want to know more about what the consequences would be before deciding.

 

[believe]

I would tell the truth...the school will find out from others if not your own children who want to tell their friends all about their vacation.

I have just one question? Since when have schools been able to tell you when you can and can't take a vacation? I had no idea they were able to run your life so much!

For as long as I can remember it is up to each school district to decide if vacations taken during school time are excused or unexcused.

I wouldn't lie, but doesn't it just count as an unexcused absence? Is there a punishment involved with an unexcused absence?What happens to the assignments your child misses? Do they get zeros for them? I guess I would want to know more about what the consequences would be before deciding.

It would probably be considered unexcused if it is against school policy and the children would not be allowed to make up any schoolwork and they would get zeros, unless they have a teacher that still allows them to do so.

 

[disneychrista]

I wouldn lie, because as you said that is teaching your children to lie. I would take them out, if they don't allow vacation, what about calling it family time?

 

[Cinders]

Begin by digging out those lovely papers they give out at the beginning of the school year and read exactly what it says about missed days. Ours say something about allowing 5 preplanned family vacation days. Schools have been known to highly discourage people from taking these unexcused days off because then they get less government money. Determine exactly who told you "No" If its the principal explain this is the only time of year you can take a family vacation due to the type of work you do or the fact that you may not have seniority to take a vacation during the peak times like summer break, spring break or Christmas break. Then try to work individually through the teachers to see if they'll let your children "make-up" the work before or after your trip. If it wont affect their grades then it doesnt matter if they are excused days or not.

I would really encouraged you to try to get this fixed before the trip and not wait until after to send in a note that isnt true. Although a note saying Great Aunt Minnie in Orlando passed away might be humourous I'd still try to fix it before and not after the trip.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

korzmom- I see you are in PA. Some of the "not allowing" vacations may be due to the new PSSA requirements and how attendance affects the school district's scores. I've heard that one of the districts in our county has also said no.

As far as I know, my district's policy is to allow 5 days absence for "field trips". A form must be submitted and signed by the school in advance of the trip.

We're planning Thanksgiving 2004
1) less missed school days
2) weather conditions in FL
3) WDW crowds prior to TG day
I'm hoping that since they allow the 5 days, I can take advantage of the 3 school days the week of TG and add two days from the week before, making a nice 9 day week in Orlando, from say Thur before to Sat after.

 

[Twigs]

First let me start by saying that I have taken my kids out of school to go to Disney. It is not allowed in our district and I think the main reason is that the schools lose state aid for the those days. I also know they have made a stricter policy regarding this last year. There are some families who take thier children out of school for a week at a times SEVERAL times during the school year which I do feel is too much. We usually have taken them out when In Nov. when they had Veterans Day off and a half day for conferences, so they missed 3 1/2 days. Last year I had to change my plans because we found out that the State social studies DBQ's were that week and I wasn't going to let them miss state testing. I have always let the teacher know why they were off and got work for them to make up. So for "official" purposes I would call the nurses or attendance office the night before the 1st day they are missing and leave a recording stating that they will not be in school for ___ days due to a family obligation, or personal reasons. Apparantly they are not allowed to question you if it is stated this way(but like I said I always told the teacher because kids will talk and I did not want them to think it was OK to lie).

Check out your school districts website and look for their attendance policy, that should help celear up some of your questions.

DH and I have also decided that we will not be taking them out of school at least for the next 3 years as they just started middle school and the amount of work they have to make up missing 1 day is unbelievable. The kids here are under so much pressure due to all the NYS testing that we have. They are in 6th grade and are already starting to prepare for the 8th grade DBQ's and ELA's.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That stinks. If the kids are in elementary and will get zeros I think I could handle that.
Find out the truancy policy. I suppose the school could get "mean" if they wanted to.

Middle school or High school, no way. Kids go to school sick so they don't have to miss anything.

Our school has 5 days of vacation time allowed.

 

[Lynn CC]

You didn't say what grade your kids are in, but we took DS out every year for atleast a week, sometimes he missed 8 days every year from Kindergarten until he went to HS. It's very hard for them when they're in HS AP classes... there's no way he wants to miss all that work.
So take them while they can go, say it's a family reunion or something.