Take kids out of school or go in August?

[Disneyland_Mama]

I have a situation with our Aug '07 vacation.... need my Dis-peeps help.

I have commited our family to a "Grand Gathering" with Dbro & his family and our parents (total of 10 ppl) for August '07 and I really would prefer going in Sept. '07 (less crowds). However, Dbro doesn't want to take his boys out of school for a trip to WDW. Boys are 10 and 15. I'm willing to take my DD5 out of school for the 10 day trip, but Dbro is not too willing. Technically, they'd only miss 5 days of school.

My question..... how do I convince him to go in Sept, rather than Aug? I know going in the off season will make all the difference in the world... but I have to get Dbro to agree.
DH says I should wait to see if Free Dining is offered and use that as my bait. But I hate to be deceptive to Dbro.

What you think??
TIA!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Five days of school is way too much to miss at the beginning of the school year, especially for a high schooler. There is no way I'd do it.

Even for your 5 year old, I'd think twice about doing this.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I agree with lost*in*cyberspace. I would not take a high schooler out for 5 days.

 

[bigbabyblues]

When does school start for the kids? We went the last week of August and it wasn't too crowded at all. I wouldn't/won't take my ds5 out of school for vacation either, but that's just me.

 

[Jenniww]

I am taking my kids out for four days. BUT my kids are honor students and will have no problems when they get back.
I think it depends on your kids and their ages.

 

[MiniGirl]

I have no problem taking my 7 year old out of school, but it is usually just 1 1/2 days. She has no problem. However, I would also be hesitant to take a high schooler out of school for 5 days. Also, chances are they'd be unexcused absences. In our school district, our kids are allowed 9 unexcused absences. More than that, and the grade has to be repeated -- regardless of grades. Crazy, I know, but that is the rules. I'd hate to give my kids 5 of them within the first month of school.

 

[npealer]

I think it may be harder for a HS to miss that much at the beginning of the school year. I have no problem taking my son out of school but he is in Kinder and is ahead of his class. He has no problem catching up. But for me the older he gets and how he does in school will dictate if we will continue that practice. I really think it has a lot to do with your child and their ages too.

 

[crazelion]

Mid to end August is a excellent time go WDW less crowds. I agree don't take the kids out school. August is great time to go.

 

[MSSANDRA]

This is last year we will take DS out. High School is just too tough to make up.

 

[ksloane]

I agree with not taking out of school. My DD is only 6 (1st grade) and makes all A's with out effort, but I wouldn't allow her to miss 5 days of school for vacation. (Of course I'm neurotic and she's only missed one day of school since she started and that was in Pre-K.)


As a high school teacher I can also tell you that missing the 1st 5 days of my class would not be impossible, but would provide a challenge as I start lots of habits during that 1st week that it would take most students a while to catch on to and thus getting them behind (in knowledge and grades).

I In our school district, our kids are allowed 9 unexcused absences. More than that, and the grade has to be repeated -- regardless of grades. Crazy, I know, but that is the rules. I'd hate to give my kids 5 of them within the first month of school.

That's actually a state law in Texas for public schools. Tends to not always be enforced, but it is the law.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Hmmm.... sounds like we'll be going in August.

We live in CA and school starts the Wednesday after Labor Day, Sept 5th, I think.
The High Schooler is a straight A student, as is the 10 yo. DD will be starting Kinder next year, so she would miss the 2nd week of Kinder. Not a big deal, but the other kids, I'd feel guilty if they fell behind.

Thanks for all your insight!

 

[shellytc]

I have a DS 9 in third grade, we have taken him out of school every year since kindergarten. He is honor roll and diligent about doing his work (even while at WDW). This year we asked Dniece to come with us. She is 16 in High School and she chose no on her own. She went with us in middle school and did fine. She is an honor roll student as well. But she said she the week were going was during her A block schedule which has her hardest classes and didn't want to chance getting behind.

I respect her decision.

Even if your DB agreed to the trip, his DS may not be too happy. It is harder to catch up. And if he is a good student (like you state), his standards may be hard to live up to...

I would stick with the late August date and not push it.
Have a great trip.

shelly

 

[daisyduck123]

Each family's situation is different. It depends on the type of student your child is, & many families have other circumstances to consider as well.

This year, my DD12 (8th grade) & DS8 (3rd grade) will miss 6 days in May for our WDW trip.

Last year we went to WDW twice & they missed a total of 11 days.
They had no problems with schoolwork & a week after we returned from Disney, DD received the academic achievement award at her school's assembly (only 3 kids get this out of about 400 students).

So I have no problelm with my kids missing school.

I would stick with your August dates....that is what your brother agreed to.

 

[Elmo888]

I just don't think that you should try to convince your DBro to take his kids out of school. They are his kids and his decision. It wouldn't hurt to tell him now that free dining may be offered at that time so he can have all of the info to make an informed decision.

I don't disagree with taking kids out of school, because I am. But every situation/family/child is different, and maybe your DBro has different information. I'm taking a first grader out, and I'm sure that the decision to take a high schooler out for 5 days would be much different.

In any case, it sounds like a good family trip!

 

[MinnieGi]

When are you going in August? Mid to late August is a low attendance time. Plus free dining started mid-August last year.

I'm glad to hear you are no longer going to try to talk your Dbro into a Sept. trip. Missing a week of school so early in the year I think would be hard espcially with a HS'er.

 

[Ariel8676]

We have gone to WDW the last week of August the last 2 years..its a great time to go..very hot, but low attendance...

 

[dsnymomof4]

Sorry, but I have to agree with everyone else on this one. We took DD12 out of school last December and it was very hard for him to catch up. Since you've already "committed" to the August trip, I think you should stick with it. We've gone the last week of August twice and the crowds are not that bad. And if the free dining is offerred again, it might include the last few weeks of August too! Have a great trip!

 

[kangareaux]

I have a situation with our Aug '07 vacation.... need my Dis-peeps help.

Dbro doesn't want to take his boys out of school for a trip to WDW. Boys are 10 and 15. I'm willing to take my DD5 out of school for the 10 day trip, but Dbro is not too willing. Technically, they'd only miss 5 days of school.

My question..... how do I convince him to go in Sept, rather than Aug? I know going in the off season will make all the difference in the world... but I have to get Dbro to agree.
DH says I should wait to see if Free Dining is offered and use that as my bait. But I hate to be deceptive to Dbro.

What you think??
TIA!!

Age is the Key. I wouldn't ask a 15 year old to miss a week of school. It's a lot harder to make up at that age. If it were me I'd bite the bullet and fight the crowd. I understand you want the smaller crowds. We are missing school a week for that very reason. (DH does not do well packed in like a sardine for long periods of time ) But my kids are all in elementary school. MUCH easier to miss and do the make up work. High school is just a whole different situation.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Thanks for all your replies... negative and positive.

This would be Dbro and his familys first trip to WDW and I really want it to be a great trip for them... well for all of us. As the "planner" of the trip, I am considering all options. True, we are booked for Aug 21- 30 at POFQ and we are crossing our fingers for free dining. We went last year in Sept. (I didn't have school-aged kids at the time as DD was 4 and DS was 2) and the crowds were non existant. I know DBro HATES crowds, so I am considering that as well. I know the 10 yo will do just fine, as he has no problem maintaining his grades. Now the 15 yo has to work very hard for good grades.
I think I will throw all the options and information out on the table with Dro and SIL and let them make the decision.

Thanks again, Dis-ers!

 

[lori1043]

I believe that family time is just as important as schooling. I know it is a tough decision but if mine were doing well, no failing or bad grades happening-I'd go in a heartbeat off season and take them out of school. If you drive and it is a long drive, you can use that time wisely for the HS'er. As far as younger grades, i'd have no problem taking them out-esp if they are in 4th and below. It really is a personal decision, as you can see in all thse postings.