Spring break or Summer?

[PoohBearFamily]

We used to leave Friday after school and come back the following Sunday evening. So about 9 full days. It worked out well.

That's a wonderful plan! Maybe we'll do that to just stick with 5 days.

 

[PoohBearFamily]

Our school district only allows 5 preapproved absence, but I’d still only probably do a week of school. If you leave friday night, you could come back on Sunday. Or if you have any days off, that are just random, you could use that to get an extra day.

I'll email our school secretary today and double check but I believe it's also 5 days. So Friday to the following Sunday would be the best option! I don't have to school calendar for next year yet to see if there are any Teacher in service days yet.

 

[PoohBearFamily]

What her school policy stated (that she didn't know), was that you can't take your children out of school before or after a holiday. It was just a couple of days, like one or two, before and after. It was a long drive to where they were going. She ended up getting letters in the mail about being truant. She had to "appear" at the school. It was a mess. At the end of it all, it didn't get erased from the record.

Gosh that's so scary! We'll certainly be communicating and double checking the whole time if we decide to take our kid out. I'd just hate to go through this.

 

[Blondie58]

I would pick early June because many schools are still in session and crowds may be lower. As a retired educator with 40 years experience I like your thoughts on your little one being in school and not missing instructional time. Others may disagree but this is my opinion. (We traveled to Disney twice in July as not to miss work (adults) and school (kids). I think is is sad teachers do not want to be in the classroom instructing students and serve those that pay their salary. Yet some of the same have been told not to post vacation pics on social media. I am so glad I live in an area where teaching is respected because teachers are respectful. Again, my opinion. Have a great trip when you do go.

 

[PoohBearFamily]

I would pick early June because many schools are still in session and crowds may be lower. As a retired educator with 40 years experience I like your thoughts on your little one being in school and not missing instructional time. Others may disagree but this is my opinion. (We traveled to Disney twice in July as not to miss work (adults) and school (kids). I think is is sad teachers do not want to be in the classroom instructing students and serve those that pay their salary. Yet some of the same have been told not to post vacation pics on social media. I am so glad I live in an area where teaching is respected because teachers are respectful. Again, my opinion. Have a great trip when you do go.

Thank you so much! I appreciate you sharing your perspective, I always find hearing teacher's sides on matters valuable.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I'll email our school secretary today and double check but I believe it's also 5 days. So Friday to the following Sunday would be the best option! I don't have to school calendar for next year yet to see if there are any Teacher in service days yet.

check when In Service days are this school year will most likely be close in dates

 

[scrappinginontario]

Totally a personal decision but until my daughter was in Grade 5, it was no problem at all for me to pull her from school for 7 days for our Disney trips. Until then she could easily catch up with what she missed. Gr 5 was a little tougher and Gr 6 would have been even harder.

My friend is a teacher and said that there is absolutely nothing she can teach a child that is as important as what they'll learn and experience during a family vacation.

So for Grade 1, unless your school board has restrictions - go for it!!!

 

[PoohBearFamily]

check when In Service days are this school year will most likely be close in dates

Good idea, I'll check it out!

 

[PoohBearFamily]

Totally a personal decision but until my daughter was in Grade 5, it was no problem at all for me to pull her from school for 7 days for our Disney trips. Until then she could easily catch up with what she missed. Gr 5 was a little tougher and Gr 6 would have been even harder.

My friend is a teacher and said that there is absolutely nothing she can teach a child that is as important as what they'll learn and experience during a family vacation.

So for Grade 1, unless your school board has restrictions - go for it!!!

I just checked in with our school and was told that it takes 2 weeks of unexcused absences before there are any issues in the district, and let them know the dates ahead of time so teachers can plan some assignments ahead if they wish. Sounds like it's a go!

Thank you for sharing what your friend said. We're thinking of taking off on a flight on a Friday, and coming back the following Sunday so that'd be 5 - 6 school days at most. . I'm excited to be have the ablility to miss the spring break/summer crowds!

 

[lanejudy]

So March, do you mean early before spring break? Is it warm enough to swim?

When in March is your break? With the late Easter next year, I think March probably won't be as super-crowded as closer to Easter. I'd go during break rather than pulling out of school, but as you see many do that.

As to swimming -- depends where you live. I'm in the northeast and my DD has enjoyed the WDW pools in December and February, even when we were the only ones in the pool area (because everyone else was bundled in jeans and jackets). If you are from a warmer climate, March may feel cool; though kids tend to enjoy a pool anytime.

 

[Jtrem]

If your oldest is only in 1st grade, I would pull for a week. In the last 10 years or so have gone numerous times and will say that our trips when pulled out of school were better crowd and heat wise. We did 2 trips in June and although maybe not as hot as later in summer still had miserably hot days. I wish I could still take them out of school to go but now in high school and middle school so would be too difficult to catch up missing days. Enjoy the less crowded times and ability to take out of school when they are young.

 

[PoohBearFamily]

When in March is your break? With the late Easter next year, I think March probably won't be as super-crowded as closer to Easter. I'd go during break rather than pulling out of school, but as you see many do that.

As to swimming -- depends where you live. I'm in the northeast and my DD has enjoyed the WDW pools in December and February, even when we were the only ones in the pool area (because everyone else was bundled in jeans and jackets). If you are from a warmer climate, March may feel cool; though kids tend to enjoy a pool anytime.

I'm not sure when spring break is next year! But if it's closer to Easter I'd definitely choose early summer over that. However I'm now thinking of just doing a week, maybe first week of May, since I learned from his school one week is no biggie.

Kids do totally enjoy a pool anytime, especially if it's heated! Good point!

 

[PoohBearFamily]

If your oldest is only in 1st grade, I would pull for a week. In the last 10 years or so have gone numerous times and will say that our trips when pulled out of school were better crowd and heat wise. We did 2 trips in June and although maybe not as hot as later in summer still had miserably hot days. I wish I could still take them out of school to go but now in high school and middle school so would be too difficult to catch up missing days. Enjoy the less crowded times and ability to take out of school when they are young.

I'm thinking first week of May! Thanks for this advice, we're definitely leaning that way now that I've heard directly from his school 1 week is nothing to worry about.