Snow Days to Change Last Day of School!

[barbnbrian]

Ok, now that I've already purchased five flights for the end of June, I'm now worried about whether the kids will even be done with school since they will have so many snow days to make up. Our school district started school in August before Labor Day, and the last day of school was originally supposed to be June 13th. I've already booked flights for June 25th, returning on June 30th. Our projected last day of school is now at June 21st I believe, possibly even June 22nd. Pulling them out of school the last few days is not an option because they are in high school and have exams up to the last day of school.

Not only will this affect my reservation at Bay Lake Towers (probably won't be able to get a 2 bdrm unit if I need to change the dates), I will incur change fees if I need to change the flight days! I'm hoping they will start taking days away from the Feb. and April school breaks! Any school districts doing this - taking away the school break weeks so the kids don't have too many days to make up in June?

Enough already with this SNOW!

 

[NJBILL]

Ok, now that I've already purchased five flights for the end of June, I'm now worried about whether the kids will even be done with school since they will have so many snow days to make up. Our school district started school in August before Labor Day, and the last day of school was originally supposed to be June 13th. I've already booked flights for June 25th, returning on June 30th. Our projected last day of school is now at June 21st I believe, possibly even June 22nd. Pulling them out of school the last few days is not an option because they are in high school and have exams up to the last day of school.

Not only will this affect my reservation at Bay Lake Towers (probably won't be able to get a 2 bdrm unit if I need to change the dates), I will incur change fees if I need to change the flight days! I'm hoping they will start taking days away from the Feb. and April school breaks! Any school districts doing this - taking away the school break weeks so the kids don't have too many days to make up in June?

Enough already with this SNOW!

I would speak to the high school Principal and explain your situation. They may be able to accomodate any test you child may potentially miss. I am a school board member and schools have the flexibility to do this if they choose to do so. Some schools are more accomodating than others. I would STOP BY (not call) and speak to them before I changed my plans or worried too much.

 

[seashoreCM]

Include in your in person spiel that your kids will be willing to take the tests before they go on vacation. Then plan accordingly including having your kids do extra school work and drill at home on days when school was cancelled and on weekends. The 25'th is far enough from the 13'th (a 2 week buffer zone wwould have been better on your part) that the school should be able to accommodate kids who are going on vacation on an individual basis.

Get everything packed in advance so if school goes right up to the day before (the 24'th) all you need to do is jump in the car and head to the airport on the day of. Perhaps buy "another" backpack so it too can be packed and ready to go prior to getting home on the last school day. Maybe another belt so it too can be packed days in advance and the kid still has one to wear.

 

[JB2K]

I had a similar trip planned, but this latest round of snow/ice in my area will close school for at least 2 days.

That said, I scrubbed my trip (we drive to WDW), as my child needs to be at school.

WDW will always be there...

 

[NJBILL]

I had a similar trip planned, but this latest round of snow/ice in my area will close school for at least 2 days.

That said, I scrubbed my trip (we drive to WDW), as my child needs to be at school...

Some schools will shorten their "Spring/Easter" break when this situation occurs rather than run "over" too many days. I encourage you to speak to your school before you change any plans...

 

[pixeegrl]

Our Spring Break was canceled last year because we used so many days and already had 5 built into the calendar. Like PP mentioned talk with someone at your school about possibly taking the exams a couple of days ahead. My High schooler doesn't have exams that last week thank goodness!

 

[curlyjbs]

How can they have exams up until the last day? Dont grades need to be in? That really stinks!

~C

 

[Goofygirl17]

We got a survey today from our Superintendent with 3 options for adjusting the calendar. Today is our 6th snow day and we'll probably be out tomorrow too.

The three options are;
Lose 4 days of Feb vacation
Lose 4 days of April vacation
Go to school the week of June 27th (with no A/C )

If teachers have plans (all paid etc) for the vacation that is lost they can go but will work those days at the end of June.

Good luck!

PS- We haven't had a Feb vacation for 15 years or so. We only have it this year because we agreed to take a contract freeze to save money so they put those 3 days back in.

Crazy winter weather!!

 

[sam_gordon]

How can they have exams up until the last day? Dont grades need to be in? That really stinks!

~C

I think I remember having finals in high school on the last day or two. I'm pretty sure all our grades got mailed to us (instead of handed out in class). Things might have changed since then... the busses all had holes under the seats so we could use our feet ala 'The Flintstones'.

 

[DCbride]

Isn't is crazy that you planned for almost 2 weeks of time between? I would definitely talk to the principal, especially about the exam schedule. If enough people are having problems with the long year, maybe the BOE will come up with a plan.

Our district builds in 3 days, which used to be enough...not anymore! We did have to go a few days during spring break.

Having any school go beyond June 25 is crazy- especialy with no AC!

 

[sunemom]

I am a teacher and our students take final exams on the last day of school. Students have early dismissal days during this time. Teachers are required to grade all exams each afternoon and put the grade in the computer. We also go one extra day beyond the student school year which allows us to finalize grades.

As far as your children taking their final exams early- it is done often, especially when you had so many unplanned snow days. You received a lot of good advice from previous posters. I also recommend going in person and speaking with the school.

Due to so many snow days in the past few years, I didn't take any chances this year and booked our vacation in July.

Good luck.

 

[bjscheel]

Yep, wish I knew when they would be out. We were supposed to get out the Thurs before Memorial Day. Today and tomorrow are snow days, making 3 so far.

Flights are cheaper beginning of June, I figure crowds will be less the earlier in June, room discounts go through 6/14...but I don't know when we get out. I can't take off the 16th/17th of June, so it has to be before that or after.

Last year we had 9 snow days and I think they took two days off spring break. I think we should skip spring break and just get out earlier! I do taxes at work, so I don't feel I can go anywhere over spring break. A fall break would be nice!

 

[Brian Noble]

We normally never schedule any vacations for that first week of summer vacation, exactly for this reason. So far, we've never had enough snow days to push us over the edge, but you never know.

 

[dioxide45]

Taking days from Spring Break to makeup lost school days may help the OP, but what about all those parents that have vacation plans over Spring Break? I bet they won't be pleased.

 

[sam_gordon]

We were supposed to get out the Tuesday before Memorial Day. I booked our departing flight for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and returning a week after Memorial Day. Our school schedule has been changed... 8 days extended, making the day we return from Fl the student's last day. I plan on waiting until March or April and letting the school know our kids won't be attending that final week. We've had airfare booked for 5 months, and are renting points for DVC, so we've got $$ tied up that we can't get back.

Since our oldest is only in Middle School, they don't have finals and I figure this would be the last year we can take a trip for her birthday because she'll have to deal with finals in HS.

 

[barbnbrian]

Yes, we have exams up to the last day of school. The last four days of school are exam days and 1/2 days and the teachers scan the exam grade into the computers. H.S. graduation is the last day of school as well, so seniors are taking exams right up to graduation day!

Another day off today due to ice and freezing rain! Ahh weather in New England!

I will definitely speak to the school administration if I need to. The trip affects my two daughters and two friends that are joining us, 2 freshman and 2 juniors in H.S. It's a special 18th birthday trip for one of the girls.

 

[seashoreCM]

Since school facilities are open on both sides of a mid-year makeup day span, it should be easier for students to catch up after missing those days compared with missing end of the year makeup days.

 

[Elmo007]

Last year in my district they tried to extend school by two days at the end. The problem is that school ends on Friday and summer camps start the following monday. Many of the staff work at camps and would have had problems with that schedule, not to mention the students/campers who have somewhere else to be.

I guess they have it best in NYC where they only closed 9 times in the last 33 years.

 

[goofy4tink]

How can they have exams up until the last day? Dont grades need to be in? That really stinks!

~C

Our high school also has final exams for the last 3-4 days of the year. Grades are sent out in the mail. Drives me nuts but it seems to be how they keep the kids from leaving school early for vacation.
This is the one reason I don't schedule anything for June. I really wanted to book a cruise but I figured I could very well have to scrub it if we had too many snow days...so booked for April vacation instead. It was more expensive but that's just how it is. If the school were to take April vacation away, then so be it. Our kids get 9 days out of school...for any reason. My dd has missed 1 day so far this year due to illness. She will be missing the 2 days before April vacation, so she would miss 7 days total for that trip if vacation were to be taken away. Cutting it close but nothing I can do. I would lose about $3000, plus airfare at this point, not to mention my DVC points!!

 

[packofprincesses]

I'm in the boat, but fortunately my kiddos are in elementary. We had snowday #8 today and we have NO built in snowdays..they are ALL tacked on to the end. We were supposed to get out May 20, but right now our last day is the Wednesday AFTER Memorial Day! We are leaving for WDW on May 28th! I talked to my kids teachers and they both said, "Who cares?" That goes to show you how great the plan is to tack days on at the end...! They do NOTHING at the end of the year in elementary! (I was a teacher before being a SAHM!).