So frustrated right now - school start date change

[rotlex]

Forgive the rant. I just need to vent it!

We plan our Disney trips a year out. Usually book a bounce back etc. We just learned this morning, our school district has decided to start school before Labor Day this year. August 31st, right in the middle of our currently planned trip! AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! How the heck can they make this decision 5 months before the start of the school year? What the heck?!?!?!?!

OK, now that that is done. What would you do? I know there are always discussions here on missing school for vacations, and I normally would not do that, but this is the first 4 days of school. Our son is going to 1st grade, and our daughter 8th. The first week can swing two ways. They either do nothing all week but orient, or they start off running. This is VERY frustrating, especially as the bounce back dates for our trip don't let us move it up any further.

Thoughts? Anyone face anything similar recently?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If it were me, I would change the dates and if that was not possible I would cancel the trip.

 

[Disneylover99]

Forgive the rant. I just need to vent it!

We plan our Disney trips a year out. Usually book a bounce back etc. We just learned this morning, our school district has decided to start school before Labor Day this year. August 31st, right in the middle of our currently planned trip! AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! How the heck can they make this decision 5 months before the start of the school year? What the heck?!?!?!?!

OK, now that that is done. What would you do? I know there are always discussions here on missing school for vacations, and I normally would not do that, but this is the first 4 days of school. Our son is going to 1st grade, and our daughter 8th. The first week can swing two ways. They either do nothing all week but orient, or they start off running. This is VERY frustrating, especially as the bounce back dates for our trip don't let us move it up any further.

Thoughts? Anyone face anything similar recently?

Orientation is just as important, if not more important then the academic aspect IMO. I would not let my child miss four days at the beginning of the school year.

I agree it's frustrating though, and I may be in the same boat as you because our school calendar is not yet out.

 

[dbramer]

In my classroom (high school), we start with content first day. Missing the first four days of school would seriously hinder understanding later on. We have a block schedule, so that would be equivalent to eight days of content missed. The first grader might not notice, but the eighth grader would.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I would change my trip dates. I've had my kids miss the first day of school, but for a kid, four days could be a social nightmare. The other kids in class will know the routine, will have their books, supplies, seat assignments.
It could be just me because of how shy my boys were in elementary school, but it would have been awful for them to miss so much time so early in the year.
Can you move your trip up a week? Or back to the first set of holidays in the fall (for us Rosh Hashana was a good time, it is not a holiday for my religion, and the schools were closed)?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My kids would never want to miss the first four days of school.
I would change dates or cancel

 

[LBIJim]

First grade: skipping the first four days shouldn't be a problem.
Eighth grade: might put your child behind where it's difficult to catch up.

If it were me, I'd relunctantly cancel the vacation.

 

[richmo]

...We plan our Disney trips a year out. Usually book a bounce back etc. We just learned this morning, our school district has decided to start school before Labor Day this year. August 31st, right in the middle of our currently planned trip! AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! How the heck can they make this decision 5 months before the start of the school year? What the heck?!?!?!?!...Anyone face anything similar recently?

There's going to probably be a lot of that this year. Labor Day is as late as it can be (Sep. 7). Our district also usually starts after Labor Day, but they're also planning an August 31 start this time. The first time (that I know of) they did that, many had the same reaction as you. They did it again more recently, but sent out notes way in advance saying the next school year was going to start before Labor Day.

 

[Dawnlight]

I wouldn't cancel. I would not worry at all about the 1st grader and missing 4 days. I would try to contact the school and teacher for the 8th grader and explain the situation. I've had friends traveling overseas with their children and they've missed the start of school with no issues at all. One of my children's classmates this year was in Greece at the start of the year and settled in just fine.

It's four days, not a lifetime. Go, have fun, then jump into the school year.

 

[pigletgirl]

That is tough! I'm sure with Labor Day being so late is why they pushed it up. Could you bump your trip up a week?

 

[2Kds2K9]

I'd change the dates. My DS missed the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th day of 9th grade due to illness. When he went back on the 5th day, many teachers did not know him and thought he was a new student. HUH? AND I distinctly remember when I was in 4th grade missing the first week due to vacation. When I came back the class was already into the multiplication tables and I felt really lost.

In your case, the first grader might feel awkward coming in after the first few days, but I'm sure they'll get over it. The 8th grader could miss quite a bit of work. That could be an issue.

Good luck.

 

[rotlex]

Thanks for the replies here. Good to hear varying opinions. The most frustrating part to me is the short notice. I mean, we know when labor day is going to be for the next 100 years or so, so why can't the district have this listed out at least 2-3 years on advance. Have to really think on this one.

 

[3Gsandme]

I wouldn't be comfortable having my kids miss the first week of school. So much happens in that time and I don't just mean academics. I'd call and see if you can change your dates around while keeping your current offer. Since you'd be moving your dates in sooner, I bet you can. Good luck!

 

[pigletgirl]

Thanks for the replies here. Good to hear varying opinions. The most frustrating part to me is the short notice. I mean, we know when labor day is going to be for the next 100 years or so, so why can't the district have this listed out at least 2-3 years on advance. Have to really think on this one.

I think there are many different reasons why they don't publish the school calender years in advanced. Maybe the budget? It's just a good reminder to book the vacation at a time when you know they won't be in school.

 

[daughtersrus]

Forgive the rant. I just need to vent it!

We plan our Disney trips a year out. Usually book a bounce back etc. We just learned this morning, our school district has decided to start school before Labor Day this year. August 31st, right in the middle of our currently planned trip! AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! How the heck can they make this decision 5 months before the start of the school year? What the heck?!?!?!?!

OK, now that that is done. What would you do? I know there are always discussions here on missing school for vacations, and I normally would not do that, but this is the first 4 days of school. Our son is going to 1st grade, and our daughter 8th. The first week can swing two ways. They either do nothing all week but orient, or they start off running. This is VERY frustrating, especially as the bounce back dates for our trip don't let us move it up any further.

Thoughts? Anyone face anything similar recently?

Our district always approves the calendar well in advance. The 2016-2017 was approved last November.

The end of the year is adjusted if we have snow/cold days.

 

[nkereina]

What's the bounceback? Is it free dining or something that could be publicly offered later or earlier than your dates? I'd probably bite the bullet and change the dates, dropping the bounceback if necessary. Keep your fingers crossed for a public offer you can take advantage of.

That being said, I did miss my first full week of my senior year of high school with appendicitis and I was fine when I came back. Perhaps once you learn who their teachers are, you could reach out and explain the situation and see what the plans are and if they can give them any work to do ahead of time (especially the 8th grader). That would be my last ditch effort before entirely cancelling the trip.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

I'm taking my daughter out, who will be 1st grade, but its 6 weeks into the school year. I think it depends on the child too. Mine is very timid & shy.

That being said, I would probably not take her out after 5th grade. Too much to miss that I can't help her catch up on.

 

[undertheradar]

Forgive the rant. I just need to vent it!

We plan our Disney trips a year out. Usually book a bounce back etc. We just learned this morning, our school district has decided to start school before Labor Day this year. August 31st, right in the middle of our currently planned trip! AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! How the heck can they make this decision 5 months before the start of the school year? What the heck?!?!?!?!

OK, now that that is done. What would you do? I know there are always discussions here on missing school for vacations, and I normally would not do that, but this is the first 4 days of school. Our son is going to 1st grade, and our daughter 8th. The first week can swing two ways. They either do nothing all week but orient, or they start off running. This is VERY frustrating, especially as the bounce back dates for our trip don't let us move it up any further.

Thoughts? Anyone face anything similar recently?

Isn't the obvious solution for you to change your dates now? You know roughly 5 months out that if you reschedule your vacation dates you completely end the issue. Save the stress that you might be placing on your kids and move the trip.

 

[Colleen27]

You said you can't move it up. Can you push it back so that the kids would miss as little school as possible, but not during the first week? I hate when we start before Labor Day because we start and then we immediately have a four-day weekend for the holiday, so if it were me I'd be trying to push the trip back to overlap the long weekend. That way the kids are there for the get-to-know-you, school supply lists, going over classroom expectations stuff that goes on in the first few days before heading off on the trip.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I hate that they don't release school calendars earlier! I know exactly how you feel. I don't expect years in advance, but at least one year. We want to plan a spring break 2016 trip, but we probably can't book anything until late August. Our school releases the calendar really late every year.

I wouldn't worry at all about the 1st grade child. I would be concerned about the 8th grader. I think I would try to change the dates of the trip if possible, but if it isn't possible I wouldn't cancel. I would contact the school and let them know what's going on. My DS missed his 6th grade orientation, and it was his first year of middle school. So it was a big transition. Our schools aren't allowed to start before Labor Day, but when i booked our trip I didn't realize they held orientation the week before school starts.